Chapter 81

Spring in Kiburatos is truly bright and sunny.

The warm sunlight heats the skin, and the cool breeze blowing over it makes for a pleasant day.

Unlike Abidos, which is covered in sand dunes, even though Gehenna was nearby, there was no uncomfortable or hot sensation felt.

Because of this, the activities of the students have increased, and as a result, there have been more incidents occurring in various parts of Kiburatos.

However, thanks to the diligent work of the students who act as police officers for each academy, I’ve been able to relax.

Anyway, what am I doing on such a bright day?

“Hmph…”

I was sitting on the rooftop of a building meditating.

The experience of taking a nap with Iroha turned out to be unexpectedly helpful to me, so it’s become a routine and a form of training.

It’s not just for inner peace; by focusing with extrasensory perception, I can perceive the ‘force’ that moves restlessly within my body.

Yeah, the ‘force.’

It’s not like the magic energy you’d find in a fantasy world.

Just ‘force.’ The flow of mass. Energy. Strictly speaking, it’s more like the vital energy that remains within my body, fused with the realm of mystery.

It’s also the source of my superhuman power.

I can see the force moving faintly yet explosively and violently. For now, it’s like a boiling wave moving purely on instinct, but…

If I focus…

Swoosh…

I slowly exhale, erase all surrounding sensations, and focus my extrasensory perception inward.

I then extend my hand towards the air and clench it.

Using my heightened extrasensory perception, I grasp the force’s direction and guide it where I want.

I slowly start to move that ‘force.’

From my upper body to my waist, from the waist to my shoulders, from the shoulders to my wrist, and finally to the destination at the tip of my fist.

I contract my muscles, shift my weight, and designate the direction.

For a brief moment, my whole body twitches following the movement of the force, and eventually, I unleash the power concentrated on the tip of my fist with speed.

“Grk…”

To others, it might just seem like I slightly extended my fist…

Bang!

But the result was rather different.

It sounded like a balloon bursting.

The energy released from my fist was far from insignificant.

If I had truly attacked in earnest, it could have shattered a rock with ease.

“Not bad.”

Yet, the one responsible for creating this phenomenon only showed a rather calm reaction.

As if they weren’t entirely satisfied.

‘Hmm. I can only manage this much even after concentrating.’

Even after concentrating for several seconds and activating my extrasensory perception, the power wasn’t as satisfying as I hoped.

If the strength I feel within my body is 10, then the power I’ve managed to harness is probably less than 1.

Of course, this usage method is unfamiliar, after all. The technique I’m using now is based on some martial arts from my previous life and is similar to that.

Fa Qing (發勁).

A technique that delivers kinetic energy over a distance to strike an opponent, a form of close-range attack.

Although different from what I’ve achieved so far, it’s the same in that it employs energy – strength – to strike a single point.

Still, this is a skill that can’t be fully described as one that controls ‘force’.

‘Since it can only be used by relying on sensation and instinct, that’s the biggest flaw.’

Ever since I couldn’t adapt to my enhanced physical abilities after the total war with Binah – known as the “Iron Snake Eradication Battle” – I’ve felt a faint sensation.

It was definitely the sensation of the ‘force’ within my body. Because of that, I sought a way to utilize it and discovered this method.

‘This isn’t a way to stabilize my enhanced abilities, but it’s important that I’ve learned to move and use it based on sensation.’

The force within the body that could only be perceived when focusing in meditation and activating extrasensory perception.

The essence of this technique is explosively releasing that energy in the desired position and direction.

For now, that is all it entails, but if I continue training and mastering it, I can surely do more.

Manifesting it not just from the fingertips but from various parts of my body, stabilizing the force, or perhaps even using techniques like the ones seen in fantasy or martial arts novels.

‘For now, it’s purely in the realm of imagination.’

Above all, it takes too long to prepare to use in actual combat, and there are several points to improve.

Of course, even so, I’m satisfied. It means a different kind of battle will be possible compared to simply relying on sensation, as I’ve done so far.

‘It’s definitely a significant advantage.’

Just swinging my fist with added strength and deliberately concentrating that power into my fist signify very different things.

Even though I’m currently reliant on extrasensory perception and instinct, I’ll eventually be able to use it at will.

When that time comes, who knows, maybe I’ll exert strength like the Hulk – no, even exceeding the Hulk’s strength.

“Looking forward to it.”

Smiling as I imagined the distant future, I stood up at that moment.

Ping!

A notification of a MomoTalk message went off.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked the notification.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

[Amy: Hey, get here quick. You’re supposed to return today, right? The leader’s not in the right mind, so bring a gift.]

Ah. Was this the day I was supposed to return?

I’d better go back quickly; otherwise, Himari might get upset.

[Me: I’ll be right there]

After sending off a brief reply to Amy, I stretched.

I was planning to return anyway, so I had already said my goodbyes in advance.

And my luggage was also packed.

“Should I head out?”

I muttered that while reviewing everything in my mind.

I’ve made some gains, and I’ve had plenty of rest.

The situations in Abidos and Gehenna will stabilize soon, and there won’t be major incidents for a while.

The main story will move to Millennium next, and there’s still some time before the Eden Treaty.

My room is arranged, I’ve built connections, and I’ve grown.

In other words, I’ve finished almost everything I have to do here.

And most importantly…

“It’s getting hard to ignore.”

Since my extrasensory perception was signaling all sorts of chaos and incidents happening around me.

“Let’s head back.”

To Millennium.

And to Silk.

It was time to announce to the villains lurking and observing slowly that I’ve returned.

2.

Millennium Science School.

As the name implies, Millennium mainly entrusts public security management to unmanned robots.

Since incidents that happen here are neither severe nor widespread compared to other academies, they can be resolved by unmanned robots.

However, after the main story officially began, the atmosphere in Kiburatos underwent a rapid transformation.

Once the chaos had spread across the pristine white canvas, it couldn’t be erased easily.

Moreover, with Silk on her break, the small groups across the city began asserting themselves while watching the situation, and the frequency of incomprehensible events started increasing at that point.

An incident occurred in Millennium.

“What?”

“A winged figure. Though not actual wings, they’re in the form of jet packs that seem to be beyond individual craftsmanship.”

“If not an individual, then who…?”

At Yuka’s questioning voice, Noah shook her head.

The Millennium Engineering Department could indeed produce such technology. It was hard to specify someone since there were no identifiers or ways to infer the manufacturing process that would help determine the developer or company.

Even now, it was impossible to capture them with unmanned robots (AMAS).

Besides, C&C was currently unavailable as they’re working on another task.

Moreover, another startling fact that reached Noah.

“They’re said to be currently escaping after raiding cash from three banks.”

“Them? There’s more than one?”

“Yes. A figure wearing a full-body suit that seems to be the leader, and two others with small jet packs compared to the leader’s.”

They were temporarily named ‘Valtor’ because their appearance resembled a vulture.

The all-black suit, the massive wing-like jet pack, and the way they fly away after hunting their targets fit the nickname.

Though no casualties occurred, they committed the grave offense of bank robbery and needed to be apprehended.

However…

“Where did such individuals come from…?”

Yuka expressed her difficulties, having never heard of such adversaries in Kiburatos. Even if helicopters were launched to chase them now, whether they could actually catch them was dubious.

“Huh. We could use Silk right now…”

“Indeed.”

Yuka deeply felt Silk’s absence.

Still, she couldn’t abandon her own mission, so she was trying to think of ways when…

“Ah?”

Noah suddenly let out a gasp.

She was staring at her tablet PC as if it would bore through, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Noah?”

“Y-Yuka-san. Just take a look at this for a moment.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

Confused, Noah showed the screen to Yuka.

And then…

“Huh?”

Yuka couldn’t help but gasp.

Because…

[Yo, everyone! It’s Silk, Silk is back!!!]

Through the screen, the familiar figure of the hero was captured along with that shout.

3.

The news came as soon as I returned.

Apparently, the characters known as ‘Valtor’ had appeared in Millennium City, causing a ruckus and robbing the banks.

Though there were no casualties, it was more than enough for me to step in. And with a name like ‘Valtor’…

Of course, it wasn’t exactly the same ‘Valtor’ as seen in the original work.

Unlike in movies or comics, these were more like something resembling a vulture, and the weapons they used were different as well.

Strictly speaking, these villains could best be described as similar to ‘Valtor’ but of a different type.

But having already experienced the ‘genre shift,’ I knew this situation belonged on that continuum.

Then.

The task at hand was undeniably clear.

“Senior, I might be a bit late.”

“Yeah, I heard. Another villain appeared, right?”

“Yes. I’m counting on your support.”

[…Got it. Hmm, it’s been a while since I last heard your voice.]

“Hehe. Likewise, Senior.”

I will go to punish the villains as a hero.

Boom-!!

I pushed off the ground and leaped high into the sky.

Then I flew through the city with my web shooter.

The streets of the city passing by in a flash below.

The citizens calling out my name from below.

The refreshing sensation of the wind after such a long while.

Feeling everything, I activated extrasensory perception in the air above Millennium City.

“There you are.”

My senses expanded, and time seemed to stop as I perceived a distant presence.

The presence of three people flying in the same manner as me.

It seemed they were heading towards the next bank, diving towards the ground.

I quickly approached them with my web shooter.

And then.

“Hectopascal Kick!!!!!”

Approaching the bank swiftly, I aimed a flying kick at the head of the leader who was diving ahead.

KWAANG-!

The Valtor No.1 crashed.

And it was all thanks to my kick.

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