"Arata... Why couldn't you have told us the item was a person." Kuzaki groaned. She walked into the room. The doctors watching the body turned and pulled out pistols. Her gaze grew annoyed as she shot needles at all of them.
Hikaru walked into the laboratory and turned to Norimo, "You coming?"
"Yeah... just catching my breath." She stepped over the bodies carefully. "Gross..."
As they got to the body, Hikaru's eyes widened. He stepped back and removed his headphones, his music still playing.
"Novikoff..." He whispered.
Kuzaki lit a cigarette and sighed, "Shaun Novikoff..."
After a second, Norimo turned to them, confused. "Who's that?"
She stomped out her cigarette and said, "The strongest guy to ever live. He was psychopathic, killing anyone who got near." She walked to the box and started dragging it over. "All because of one stupid power..."
"Is it even okay to pick him up? I mean... this guy... Let's call Arata."
Norimo's eyes widened slightly. "I think we need to leave."
He turned to her, "What- Nori- We can't just leave his body here-"
"He'll find his way out."
Kuzaki turned and grabbed both of them. As soon as she did, Novikoff woke up. He shot up, breathing heavily. With the tense air steadily intensifying, he asked, "I haven't heard this song before... What is it?" His gaze darted to Hikaru's headphones.
The three didn't speak before him, worried he'd be unstable at the slightest movement.
He glared at them. "What is it?!" He yelled.
"Hip- hip hop music." Norimo squeaked.
Ignoring her, Novikoff walked up to Hikaru, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him into the wall. "What is it? I like it so you better tell me or else shit I kill the others." He asked with a smile.
He coughed and reluctantly told him the song.
"Thank you." He laughed as he grabbed Hikaru again and threw him into the other side of the room. "Eighty-six beats per minute... I can deal with this." He turned to Kuzaki and Norimo and ordered, "You two can leave now."
Hikaru stood back up, "You are not gonna be giving me any time to breath are you?"
"My entourage of songs was limited when you woke me early. I'm very attuned to sounds, as you know." He said and started moving at Hikaru quickly. They started fighting in hand-to-hand.
I need some distance... shit this guy is going to overpower me! He kicked him away with the speed and force of a train. What was his tempo? It seemed around my song's tempo. He threw off his headphones.
"Y'know..." Novikoff cracked his neck and dropped out of the hole made by the impact. "I already know that power of yours."
Hikaru stepped back a bit. How? Is he just smart? That will make this a lot harder. He took a deep breath.
"Force or physics manipulation. I forget the exact term for it. Breaking the laws of physics themselves by changing the impacting and resulting force. Am I correct so far?"
"So what if you are right?"
"If I'm right kid that means you're a dead man. The guy I fought before being incapacitated had your power and some enhanced senses. You don't have his awareness or power precision," Threatened Novikoff. "You're done."
"You have Tempo Fighting, correct?" He got in position to charge.
Novikoff smirked, "Oh you've studied. Did I make that much of an impact? That's just one of four. You only need to know of two. I have shock absorption and tempo fighting. The latter forces me to fight along with the tempo of a playlist shuffling in my head. I can focus on any part of the song and attacking you at the tempo is better for me along with other factors." He started walking forward at Hikaru.
He dashed forward, aiming to hit his stomach. Novikoff swiftly swatted his face, redirecting him into the wall. "Do not interrupt me. You are terrible at your job. Why the hell are you even here? Listen, kid, being locked up gave me the focus I needed. I'm not the psychopath you think I am right now... Now if you'll excuse me, I have a country to carry on my back."
Hikaru laughed, "Sorry... but I'm not letting you head back to Russia. They are already the top family in the country. They don't need you."
"Then let's hope you can carry the rest of the world on your back," Novikoff said, patting his back and walking to the elevator.
"Don't walk away, coward!" He kicked the ground with his power. A small earthquake started as the part of the ground the powerful man was on began to rise towards the ceiling.
As he felt the ground tremor, he jumped up. Part of the ground shot up towards him. He planted his feet and pushed the ceiling up with his left arm. It wouldn't budge. With Novikoff stuck between the ceiling and the risen floor segment Hikaru dashed at at high speeds, moving faster than a normal human could comprehend. He positioned himself behind him before boosting himself forward and kneeing his back. The impact sent Novikoff flying into the wall and Hikaru back a few feet.
A shadow of the former user. Pitiful. He thought to himself as he collided with the wall. He looked up. The buildings gotta collapse soon. His eyes then darted to some of the pillars. Alright. Time to end this.
Paying this no mind, Hikaru strategized. He's not moving to any tempo... Perhaps he's testing me? Suddenly, Novikoff went in for a series of punches. He punched his throat, gut, and the side of his face and then kicked him in the side before he had a chance to breathe.
As he watched Hikaru roll, a metal pipe fell through the ceiling. This'll get him. He caught it and threw it at him.
"Shit!" He seethed and ducked. Noticing the danger, he instinctively slapped the pipe into the ceiling hard enough for it to get lodged in.
"Tch... you're quick, I'll give you that." He grew a little annoyed. Hikaru's survival skills were getting on his nerves. Though... he's getting sloppy. How should I finish him off... He thought as he grabbed his arm and threw him into a support pillar. The impact created a Hikaru-shaped crater that destabilized and broke the pillar.
The building started collapsing. Screams of those on higher floors echoed through the cracks of debris. At the same time, moonlight trickled in through the gaps in the ceiling.
Novikoff started breathing out smoke. His breaths were long and deep. He took a stance and stood there.
Hikaru stopped. What the hell? I don't remember him breathing out smoke in the notes. Taking a step back, he readied his defense. He wasn't moving an inch aside from breathing out smoke. Seeing as he wasn't taking the opportunity to attack again, he called Kuzaki, "This guy's crazy."
"We know that. Get your ass out of there or else you'll be killed. I'm surprised you've survived this long already."
"Got it" He started running towards the elevator, staying cautious of the man.
"Dumbass." Novikoff's voice echoed through his head in that moment. Appearing in front of Hikaru, he delivered a clean blow to the throat, followed by a punch to the gut. He kneed him in the air before kicking him to the right, lodging him into the wall.
I should've been more cautious! Hikaru thought. Pieces of the wall stabbed into his body. Dust filled the area. He coughed and went unconscious.
He sighed, "The world needs a feast of chaos and someone to make the dish. I am the one who stirs the pot. You only serve as an ingredient for my legacy. With that, I'll be off now." Novikoff walked off, making sure to grab Hikaru's phone, using his unconscious face to unlock it.
The dust cloud filled the area.
"Waking up early fucked up my playlist..." Novikoff groaned as he searched for his favorite song on Hikaru's phone. After listening to it in full he grinned and said, "There we go..." before crushing the phone.
-----------Meanwhile-----------
Kuzaki and Norimo were on a rooftop overseeing the factory.
"Arata what the fuck?! Shaun Novikoff was awakened. You didn't even tell us what we were looking for!" She yelled on a call.
He remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly contemplating what the next move should be in this situation. "I'll send a helicopter for you three. Get to the zone I have sent." He hung up.
She signaled to Norimo that they had to move.
"But what about Hikaru." She looked worried.
"He'll be fine. Hikaru will be able to catch up with us, we just need to get the hell out of here." She said as she texted him the location.
As they ran, Norimo turned to the building once more, in shock. "He's coming." She looked over at the building's garage entrance.
Novikoff walked out, brushing off the dust. Immediately, he glared at them, noticing their powerful presence.
The one with the silver hair is the stronger one. I should take her out to be safe... not like it matters. He grabbed one of the thugs' rifles off of their corpse.
"Watch out!" Norimo jumped at Kuzaki, knocking her over. The bullet he shot at her pierced her ear. She started bleeding.
"Fuck... you see the helicopter yet?" She asked as they ran away, making sure to stay low. "It hurts..."
He began sprinting towards them, jumping over cars and other obstacles at a rapid pace. His gaze focused on where he sensed their power.
Norimo started calling Arata once again.
"Why are you calling now?" He asked.
"Shaun Novikoff defeated Hikaru. Kuzaki is wounded and he is chasing us now. We need backup as soon as possible.
Shuffling noises could be heard in the background. His agency was just now finding out about this as well. "I will send some agents over. Do not lead him to the helicopter."
The call ended and Kuzaki turned around. How am I going to keep him away in time for reinforcements... She paced around.
"What's your plan?" Norimo asked, trembling from his approaching presence.
"We win." She sighed as she rolled up her sleeves.
After a moment of silence, Novikoff sprung up to the roof. His attention immediately focused on Kuzaki. Smoke
"Back." She ordered Norimo, glancing in her direction.
Norimo jumped back. As his punch collided with the ground, the shockwave knocked them all back. They landed on their feet.
"My instincts don't lie. You're a threat. Don't make me kill potential like yours." He began moving in a rhythm, striking Kuzaki in the head multiple times.
There's that rhythm... Hikaru would be better at this- Her train of thought was broken by a strike to her throat, sending her toward the wall with a spin. She caught herself on the wall, crouching on it with gunung. The adrenaline of the fight began to get to her as she smirked.
"Now you're starting to take this seriously. Are you going to actually fight now?" He was still moving to the rhythm of his song. His leg bumped to the tempo.
With blood tricking down her head, she laughed, "Did you use this rhythm against Hikaru?"
"Not really. Didn't need to." He scratched his head.
"I'll take this fight with honor then!" She exclaimed as the needles by her feet exploded. The blast sent her next to Novikoff as she stabbed into him with claw-like needles, pulling him with her off the building.
As the two began falling, Kuzaki threw him into the building, crashing him through a window. Following him into the hole she made, she fired needles at him. I need to act fast.
She's clever. Bad at using her environment it seems... He ripped the needles out of his arm and used one of them to block the others coming in, the needles melting the skin on his hand along the way. Looks like those melt my skin... Ah. I see her plan now. I can't let those touch me at all.
"Can't heal those wounds, huh?" Kuzaki returned to her calm disposition.
"You're a tough one. Lot more enjoyable than the other guy."
"Good." She jumped back. It started to rain. It was like a storm had started suddenly.
It was just raining... What is she planning? Novikoff tilted his head a little in confusion.
Suddenly, two women in similar outfits dropped down into the room. One created a chopping motion and then all the rain droplets started firing at him.
"Streamline formation." One ordered.
"Yup." The other answered.
Shit- they baited me! He immediately dropped his rhythm and moved behind a desk, flipping it to act as some cover. Instead, the raindrops went around the desk. He only barely dodged them as they flowed in one area. As they hit the ground, they made a crater. High pressure... I gotta kill them quickly.
The two moved with Kuzaki to surround Novikoff. "Glad the Rainmaker could make it," Kuzaki said.
Novikoff glared at the droplets now surrounding him like bullets waiting to be fired. Rainmaker...
The Rainmaker is a hero duo comprised of Nana Takaki and Tomoko Hagiwara. Nana can change the weather to make it rain, while Tomoko can manipulate water to her will. They are among the last few heroes in Japan, trying to bring back the Age of Heroism.
"Storm formation!" Tomoko yelled, waving her arm in front of her to direct more droplets.
"Mhm," Nana replied. At that moment, they circled him in different directions, attacking him with a barrage of punches and droplets.
These must be current-day heroes... Novikoff thought. It must be a duo. A rain-setter and someone with water manipulation... Truly troublesome. I need a different tempo. Faster! He began to hum a faster rhythm for him to follow. It's risky but it'll work. He then turned and punched Nana in the stomach, cutting off the rhythm afterward. She flew into the desk. The rain suddenly stopped as she went unconscious. Tomoko was left with the rain that had already fallen.
"Nana!" The other cried out, moving in for a more desperate assault.
Novikoff scoffed, "Heroes these days are weaklings it seems." He walked toward Nana and grabbed her by the ponytail before slamming her face into the desk again, breaking it in half. Her face was covered in blood. He dropped out of tempo just before
Surprised at his brutality, Kuzaki ran forward to assist Tomoko. "I've got you!"
The two of them rushed forward and began to attack again.
I don't have time for this. He dodged some of their attacks and grabbed Nana by the hair, tossing her body off the building. Tomoko's eyes darted to the body immediately, and Novikoff used that opportunity to grab her by the neck. He began to choke her. Novikoff's grip tightened around Tomoko's throat, her eyes wide with panic as she struggled to free herself. She clawed at his arm, her powers faltering as she gasped for breath.
But then—Novikoff felt the shift in the air around Kuzaki. With a sneer, Novikoff loosened his grip on Tomoko just enough to throw her down hard. She crumpled to the ground, coughing. The spiked lady is getting ready for something. More heroes could be arriving. I should retreat while I still can.
He pressed his foot against Tomoko's back, pinning her down with just enough pressure to show he could end her life with a single stomp. His eyes darted to Kuzaki, and he raised a hand.
"Take one more step, and she dies." Novikoff glared. I hate to have to resort to cliche methods, but it'll get me out of this...
Kuzaki froze, her fists clenched. Another helicopter could be heard moving toward their location.
"Good-" He began releasing smoke once more from his mouth. "Ah... That's my cue. Perhaps we will meet again." He lifts his foot off of Tomoko's back and jumps off the building. After a few seconds, the sound of his landing could be heard.
He must have lived that... Kuzaki thought. She looked down at Tomoko. Shit... How could I have let this happen?
END OF CHAPTER