Augmented Showdown

“I was just a kid when the Great Perishing happened. What felt like a few little shakes of the ground to me was the destruction of Tokyo for everyone else.”

Tokiyoshi wrote in his journal while looking out over the horizon of what used to be the city. Now it was nothing more than an abandoned graveyard, a land once full of people reduced to a historical site for mountain climbers.

“Damn… I seriously wonder what kind of summoned beasts could have done this much damage firsthand. We’ve got people in power whose whole job is supposed to be stopping stuff like this, and they still failed this badly? I heard every Class S Mage got wiped out. That’s insane.”

He turned toward the remarkably fancy-looking white cat sitting next to his foot. The cat stood up and opened its mouth.

“Quite right, sir. The underclassmen of the foundation were rather abruptly thrust into the upper echelons. One might say they had very little time to learn before being expected to lead.”

Sunlight shone through the shattered remains of the trampled buildings. From here he could even see the tilted Tokyo Tower.

He leaned over the weak edge of the balcony. “You think… if I’d been older, I could’ve helped? Like… maybe I could’ve actually done something?”

The cat twitched its head and plopped down. “Not at all, sir.”

Tokiyoshi looked down at the cat. “Seriously, man… I would’ve rather you sugarcoated it!”

A creak came from the crumbled house behind them. The cat’s ears rose.

“Something is here, sir. I can sense it.”

Hozumi Tokiyoshi turned toward what remained of a rich benefactor’s house.

He stepped closer. The scratching sound stopped.

“I think you’re just scared, little shikigami. This part of the city’s supposed to be safe. It’s probably nothing. Maybe the place is just collapsing on itself.”

The cat backed up with raised ears. “No, sir. I’m quite certain I’m sensing something. You may remain here, young man, but I wouldn’t advise it.”

The cat slid through a crack in the balcony and landed below. It began parkouring between the rubble until it reached the shattered road.

“Well… nice knowing him. What a kitty—”

A blue shining light vaporized the rubble. A creature crawled out of a bloody, egg-like womb.

“OH SHIT—”

Hozumi made a finger gun and pointed it at the beast. “Well, it’s worth a shot… BANG!”

An energy ball shot from his finger and struck the monster. It didn’t even flinch.

“ЖЖЖЖЖЖЖЖ”

The creature roared and slammed Tokiyoshi off the balcony. He crashed into the road below. The ground shattered under him, and dust blasted across the street.

Hozumi stood up with a plain expression and cracked his back. “Ouchers…! Man, good thing my back isn’t exactly normal. That would’ve left one hell of a bruise— OH, CRAP—!”

He dodged as the creature tried to crush him, bending the road even deeper into the ground.

“Take this, you tur— GUHHH—!”

The beast impaled him, driving a hole straight through his stomach.

“AHH—! LET GO! LET ME GO, YOU BASTARD!”

He poured his energy into his fist and slammed it into the beast’s extended arm. His hand broke instantly.

He looked at his fingers, now bent in all the wrong directions. “Gghhh… damn it! Yeah… I deserved that.”

The creature reeled him in rapidly toward its mouth, but suddenly—

BANG followed by several metallic dings.

The arm piercing Hozumi faded to dust as he collapsed to the ground. The beast stood frozen. A man stood in front of him holding a metal bat surrounded by a blue aura. Hozumi stood up to shake his hand. The man turned toward him with empty eyes.

“Save the thanks. You’re under arrest.”

Tokiyoshi lowered his arms. “Wait, what? Arres—”

The man slammed the bat into his neck, sending him crashing into a wall.

He turned back to the beast. “Now… let’s get this over with.”

He snapped his fingers as the beast charged.

His eyes sharpened on the charging creature. He side-stepped it, dropped a box on the ground, and blocked its extended arm attack with his special bat.

The creature charged again. He snapped his fingers, and the box underneath it exploded into an orange paste that sprayed across the walls.

“After all these years… these guys have gotten pretty damn weak.” He walked toward Hozumi.

Tokiyoshi woke up covered in bandages, left alone under a dark bridge. After returning to reality, he spit on the ground.

“Wait, what?! Why the hell are you arresting me?! I didn’t even break any laws!”

He gritted his teeth.

“Who the hell even are you?!”

The man sat down and refused to meet his eyes. “My name’s Yoon Tae-geon. You’re under arrest because you’ve got a sub-ability without any ties to the organization. That’s enough. And yeah… I know who you are.”

He pulled out Hozumi’s wallet and slid out his ID.

Tokiyoshi spat on the ground again. “YOU?! You’re one of their dogs?! I recognize you! You’re one of those old students! The guys who were supposed to protect us… and failed every damn one of us!”

Yoon stood up and picked up his bat, swinging it in one hand. “I can patch you up. Means I can just as easily tear those wounds back open.”

A hand landed on Yoon’s shoulder. “I’d calm down if I were you.”

Yoon turned and stepped back. “Han…? Professor…? What the hell are you doing here?”

She stood there looking at Tokiyoshi. “Just inspecting the new guy.”