In a wide, quiet field, Satou Yuga stood alone. His breath steady, his eyes focused, sweat dripping from his forehead. He was training—testing his new ability: Mental Link Copy.
"If I've fought them long enough or faced their power before… I can activate their ability without even touching them, through a memory link," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly—
"Big bro!"
Satou turned. A small girl with short hair and bright eyes ran up to him.
"Ayame?" Satou smiled. "What are you doing here?"
"Dad said you've been training forever. I missed you…" Ayame said softly, handing over a small box. "I brought your favorite snacks."
Satou gently patted her head. "Thanks… But Ayame, I've got something to deal with. A friend's coming. Go home for now, okay?"
"Hmph… Fine. But promise to bring me cake later!"
Satou gave a thumbs up. "Deal."
As Ayame walked away, Satou suddenly felt a strange aura—strong, heavy—coming from the fence at the edge of the field.
"Who's there…?"
A masked man stood motionless, staring at him.
Satou narrowed his eyes. "Yo, bastard. What do you want?"
The masked man chuckled.
"Hahaha… Long time no see, Satou Yuga."
Satou frowned. "Oi, asshole. What's so funny?"
"The name's Nikoza. Remember it. Because I'm the one who's going to destroy your life."
"Tch… Did you forget I'm the one who knocked you out back then?" Satou snapped.
Nikoza lunged forward—fast and fierce. Satou threw a punch, but Nikoza dodged and countered with a jab, jab, and an uppercut. The blow was powerful—too powerful for any normal human. Satou staggered back, pain pulsing through his ribs.
"Hahaha! My power is unique, Satou. I don't get tired. I don't even bleed."
"No way… That's not human…"
Satou activated Mental Link Copy, trying to scan and adapt Nikoza's ability.
He threw a punch—but Nikoza caught it mid-air.
"Your power's cool, but the original user was weak. Hahaha!"
And then—CRACK! Nikoza broke Satou's arm.
"Arghhh!!" Satou screamed.
Low kick. Jab to the face. Satou collapsed.
Nikoza stomped on his foot.
"Hey, you bastard! Do you even know who Hiro really is? He's the one who'll become a threat to the entire universe!"
Blood dripping, Satou raised his middle finger.
"Like I give a damn, asshole."
Grimacing in pain, Satou forced himself to stand. He attempted to use Akira's telekinesis, but blood leaked from his nose. "Tch… I can't use copy skills if the original user isn't nearby…"
Still, he didn't back down.
"You think I'm weak, huh?"
Nikoza dashed in again—lightning fast.
But Satou dodged.
"Archetype Override: Upgrade!"
Once he copied a power, Satou could understand its system and transform it into a better version.
"Huh? What do you even call that skill?" Nikoza growled.
Satou smirked. "Tch… Let's just call it… Strongest Punch!"
BOOM!
His fist landed square on Nikoza's face—blood sprayed. Nikoza stumbled back, stunned.
"W-What the hell…?"
Satou didn't stop. He delivered a blow to Nikoza's ribs, dodged a jab, and activated Combat Scan, reading every weakness in Nikoza's body.
Nikoza, now desperate, brought out a technique he had never used before.
"Tch… This punch is gonna hurt. Brace yourself."
Boom Punch—a deadly blow.
But Satou just smiled. "I've known about that move for a long time."
The two clashed. Fists collided.
But Satou's form, his technique, his will—was superior.
CRACK!
His punch landed clean on Nikoza's face again—blood gushed out as Nikoza flew back and hit the ground.
"A-Are you serious…? Am I going to lose… here…?"
BOOOOM!
Silence.
Nikoza lay motionless.
…
Time passed.
Nikoza slowly opened his eyes.
"Ugh… Where am I…?"
He looked beside him—and saw a young girl.
"Eh? Aren't you… Satou Yuga's little sister?"
Ayame crossed her arms. "Looks like you're fine now. Go home."
"Tch… I didn't ask for your help," Nikoza muttered as he got up, wincing.
He walked away, limping slightly.
"…But thanks, Satou Yuga."