The baboon charged straight at Rose, its right arm extended in a powerful strike. Rose didn't flinch. She met its attack not with a simple parry, but with a cross-guard deflection, twisting her swords to redirect the monster's momentum. The baboon's massive fist slammed into a nearby car, sending the vehicle spinning as Rose used the opening to dart forward, a blur of motion.
She launched into a flurry of targeted strikes, her obsidian blades a deadly dance. She aimed for the baboon's glowing eyes, the joints in its knees, and the soft flesh beneath its arms, but its hide was like armored stone. The blades scraped with a metallic shriek, leaving only shallow gouges. The creature roared in a mix of fury and confusion, a deep sound that rattled the ground.
The baboon swiped at her, but Rose was too fast, too fluid. She used a series of quick lunging ripostes, ducking under its swings and darting around its powerful legs, forcing it to chase her. This wasn't a head-on battle; it was a deadly game of speed and strategy.
Frustrated, the baboon let out a guttural shriek and stomped the ground. A shockwave of pure force erupted from its feet, cracking the concrete. Rose was thrown backward, her body tumbling through the air, but she used her swords to dig into the ground, stopping her slide just before she hit a wall. She spat a mouthful of dust, a defiant grin on her face.
Seeing her momentarily stunned, the baboon ripped a heavy street lamp from the ground and swung it like a baseball bat. Rose's eyes widened. She couldn't dodge in time. Instead, she crossed her swords in a desperate bracing block, meeting the lamp post with all her strength. The impact was immense. The short swords held, but the force of the blow was overwhelming. The air was knocked from her lungs, and she was sent flying, crashing brutally into the pavement. A sharp, cracking sound echoed as her head hit the concrete. Blood gushed from her scalp as her vision swam with blinding pain.
The remaining agents of Squad 6 watched in horror. "No! Lady Rose!" Agent Chen screamed, his pistol dropping from his numb fingers.
The baboon turned its attention to the agents, its eyes blazing with fury. But Rose slowly stood up, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the cracked pavement. Her body was screaming in protest, but her determination was a solid, burning ember in her chest. "And just where do you think you're going, you monkey?" she growled, her eyes locked on the baboon, a defiant grin spreading across her face.
Just then, 10 sleek black cars arrived, their tires screeching to a halt. SSD agents in black and white suits emerged, immediately cordoning off the area. From the lead car, SSD Director Yamato stepped out, his expression stern and focused. The baboon, sensing a new target, charged straight at Director Yamato. The SSD agents moved to form a protective barrier, but Director Yamato simply stood his ground. Rose, despite her injuries, stood tall, her eyes fixed on the baboon, unable to move.
As the baboon neared Director Yamato, he opened the passenger door behind him. The baboon, sensing a sudden and overwhelming surge of danger, stopped its charge. It took a hesitant step back, then another.
A young man emerged from the car. He stood tall, with striking red and white hair that seemed to glow in the light. He wore a simple black t-shirt with a skull design, black pants, and a red jersey with the number "SQUAD 0" emblazoned on the back. His eyes, a sharp, piercing red, met the baboon's.
"Now, monkey," he said, his voice calm and even. "Why don't you come here so I can kill you quickly and painlessly?" His gaze was unnerving, an unblinking intensity that seemed to bore into the baboon's very soul.
The baboon, its primal fear now a crippling terror, let out a terrified whimper. It abruptly turned away from the man and, with a newfound urgency, charged toward the one target it knew it could beat: Rose.
Rose's body betrayed her, her grip on her swords failing. The damage and blood loss were taking their toll, and her vision was starting to blur. Is this the end? she thought. A defiant grin spread across her face. "No, I refuse to die like this. Not before I've even had a boyfriend." She summoned her last ounce of strength and tightened her grip, but it was too late.
The baboon's massive hand was inches from her face when a fiery blur appeared beside it. Before Rose could even process what was happening, the man with the red and white hair reappeared behind her. He swiftly scooped her into his arms and leapt into the air, dodging the baboon's attack by mere inches. The baboon's hand closed on empty air.
As they soared through the air, the man turned, his eyes locked on the baboon. With a fierce determination, he launched a powerful kick. His leg was a blur of motion, a streak of red and orange flame engulfed his leg, moving with impossible speed. The kick connected with a loud crack, striking the baboon's horn and shattering it instantly. The force didn't stop there. It continued, slamming into the baboon's face with a devastating impact.
With a final, sickening thump, the monster's body was made to explode. A violent eruption of flesh and bone burst outward, sending a shockwave of red mist and mangled viscera in all directions. Shards of its shattered horn and jagged bone fragments became deadly shrapnel, slicing through the air. A sudden, thick rain of blood began to fall, painting the pavement crimson.
In stark contrast, the man landed softly on the ground, still holding Rose. He gently placed her in the care of the SSD medics, who rushed to her side. "Take her to the SSD hospital," he instructed, "and get the others treated, too."
With a nod, the medics carefully lifted Rose and the others, rushing them away. The man watched them go before getting back into the car he had arrived in. Director Yamato joined him, and with a quiet efficiency, they drove away.
The remaining members of Squad 6 stood in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on the departing car. "Did you see that?" one of them, Agent Chen, breathed, his voice laced with awe. "That's what I call strong. So that's Squad 0 for you."
Another agent, still shaking his head, chuckled. "Funny thing is, I don't think the SSD has a Squad 0. The strongest squad is Squad 1, right?"
"I don't know," Agent Chen said, his eyes still wide. "But one thing's for sure: that guy is not someone you want to mess with."
As they continued to discuss the encounter, their voices grew softer, their faces still etched with a mix of confusion and admiration. The mystery of the man and his true identity lingered in the air, leaving the Squad 6 members wondering if they had just witnessed something truly extraordinary.