Harder than any fist was the heart determined to protect his comrades.
The towering, gorilla-like boy gasped for air, his eyes blazing with unwavering resolve as he launched himself fearlessly at the figure before him.
Even if this sudden arrival had crushed everyone with overwhelming force in mere moments, as long as his fists kept moving, it wasn't over yet.
It was a good thing that Hattori Hanzou had an upset stomach today and didn't come, and that Fremea Seivelun was busy catching up on schoolwork. Otherwise, their whole group would have been wiped out.
"Natsume-san, there's something on his body. Judging by the abnormal muscle contractions, it seems to have severe side effects."
"Then again, anyone who can survive in this environment shouldn't be underestimated."
Shirai Kuroko watched as Komaba Ritoku shattered two phantom images with successive kicks, a look of surprise on her face.
He was a Level 0, an esper without powers. To pull off such feats, he must be equipped with some kind of high-tech gear.
Breaking free of the relentless wind pressure wall purely with physical strength, then crossing seven or eight meters in a single stride—that was far beyond the realm of a normal person.
And judging by the gorilla-like boy's ruthless moves, he was clearly a veteran used to combat. Caught off guard, someone like him could pose a real threat even to a Level 3 esper like her.
It was only through sheer grit that one could survive in these gray areas, even forcing espers to think twice before moving against their people.
"He looks like he's struggling quite a bit," Natsume Sonoko said hesitantly, noting that his fighting style relied entirely on raw stamina and endurance.
But she still hadn't pinpointed the danger Shirai had mentioned earlier.
In terms of pure threat level, he didn't seem much different from other armed Level 0s. Perhaps Natsume had simply grown too strong, making her indifferent to most conventional dangers.
Or perhaps the danger wasn't these individuals themselves, but the potential crisis they represented.
Level 0s received little attention or respect from Academy City, much like how the neglect of basic science had led to the backlash from the dark side organization STUDY.
If these scattered armed Level 0s were ever united, it could at least spark a disturbance significant enough to make Academy City take notice.
As for causing any real, lasting damage to the city—even giving the armed Level 0s their highest estimate, Natsume found it impossible to believe.
After all, she alone was more than enough to suppress all of them, and that wasn't even factoring in Reiko's enhancements.
When it came to ordinary humans, a certain Level 5 esper had every reason to be confident.
"Honestly, we came here to uphold public morals and crack down on crime. It's just Shirai-san's reputation is so... well, you know."
"Who could've guessed the moment Shirai-san showed up, everyone would react like they'd seen a ghost?"
A certain bun-girl muttered under her breath, observing the tense standoff before her.
She was starting to understand why Shirai was so familiar with the armed Level 0s. It seemed they were old acquaintances, constantly running into each other.
"Just phantoms? So there's at least one light-based and one air-control esper among the attackers. But I can't immediately think of any suspects that fit the bill."
Komaba Ritoku's brow furrowed slightly as he realized his attacks were ineffective, his mind racing. He'd only seen two people, but with optical abilities in play, hiding their true numbers was entirely possible.
But before he could process this further, his gaze was drawn to a spot a few meters away.
Watching Hamazura Shiage making exaggerated faces over there, a wave of confusion washed over Komaba.
What was this guy suddenly up to? His own movements slowed slightly in response.
Komaba knew Hamazura well. This was him signaling to stand down, to let Hamazura handle it.
However, the moment he let up, an intense, tearing sensation shot through the gorilla-like boy's muscles. Veins bulged at his temples, and sweat poured uncontrollably from his forehead.
To use a tool called the Hard Taper, Komaba's body endured unimaginable strain; it felt like every bone was vibrating violently. Only through relentless training could he reduce the side effects and extend its usage time.
For those without talent to gain power to resist espers, this pain was the necessary price. He had long been prepared for this.
As for the Hard Taper, it was a discarded piece of technology, seemingly a perfect match for them—the Level 0s discarded by Academy City.
"They're Judgment members from Tokiwadai, Komaba. Hold on a second."
"How can we help you two... Miss?" Hamazura finally managed to catch his breath, shouting with some difficulty, plastering a completely harmless smile on his face.
He even swallowed the potentially teasing term 'ojousan,' opting for the simplest form of address.
The sudden wind pressure earlier had been unbearable, throwing him off balance and trapping his words in his mouth. Now, he was finally able to speak.
But if it would resolve the situation, he was willing to do anything—grovel until his forehead bled, lick their shoes clean, even burn his own savings passbook with a lighter... anything.
That was his meager resolve.
This vague determination had been born within Hamazura Shiage without him even realizing it, a resolve he would eventually carry to its extreme for a girl soon to enter his life.
Even the lowliest of guys must have something they refuse to let go of, something they'd fight for with everything they have, even if it means losing it all.
"Judgment?" Komaba was taken aback. He hadn't gotten a good look at them before, let alone noticed the green armbands.
But with Hamazura's reminder, it clicked—someone had shouted 'Judgment' earlier.
"Judgment here."
"Good thing you stopped when you did. Otherwise, the girl next to me has a terrible temper and a strange habit of tossing people into trash cans."
Shirai Kuroko suddenly appeared amidst the group, displaying her Judgment armband while casually slandering the bun-girl, having clearly overheard her muttering.
"We're not here to fight. And even if Shirai-san is really that annoying, you all overreacted a bit."
The bun-girl stated bluntly, reforming a single phantom image on the ground.
She didn't bother making one for Shirai, though, since she was already standing on solid ground.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.