"Aughhh, man… my head…" Van groaned as he stirred awake, the pain throbbing lightly behind his eyes. Memories of what happened before he blacked out flashed through his mind like a broken film reel.
Slowly sitting up, he flexed his fingers and glanced down at himself. Something felt… different.
> [Name: Van]
[Level: 1]
[Class: Seeker]
[Combat Rank: Rare]
[Combat Capability: 100]
[Energy: 50/50]
[Health: 50/50]
[Combat Capabilities Enhanced]
[Host's Body Has Been Recalibrated]
Van blinked twice. "No way… This is like something straight out of a video game…"
He leaned back with a wide grin. "If Dame saw this, he'd be sulking with jealousy for days." he thought
His breathing steadied, and his gaze sharpened.
His frame had subtly changed—his muscles slightly more defined, his posture more confident. Even his height had gained a slight edge. His senses tingled, more alert than ever before. It wasn't something an average person would notice… but someone close to him definitely would.
Van shot out of the room, charging down the hallway with a rush of energy. He burst into the room where Kenji and Dame were packing up.
"Hey, buddy," Dame greeted, glancing up. "You stormed out of the room earlier. You good now?"
Van smirked, his tone cool. "I'm more than good."
Kenji raised a brow, observing the subtle changes in Van—his presence, his aura, his confidence. What the hell? He's… different. Stronger. That's not the same kid who walked out of this room an hour ago.
"I might know someone who could help us with this situation," Van said, glancing at Kenji. "It's just a hunch… but if it doesn't work out, we bring them down ourselves."
Kenji crossed his arms. "Well, I've scanned the area. Using my powers… I don't sense anything. What are you planning?"
Van chuckled. "Remember the old man?"
Kenji blinked. "Yeah… Wait—he's strong, sure, but I doubt he could do much here."
"You don't get it," Van said with a grin. "The old man has a group of his own."
Dame nodded knowingly. "Exactly."
Van turned toward the exit. "We might as well pay him a visit. But first… we'll need to convince Miss Lana."
"Leave that to me," Dame said with a confident wink.
Kenji stared at them, confused but amused. Sometimes I wonder if these guys know they live in an orphanage… or if this place is even an orphanage at all.
"You guys do realize it's only a matter of time before they find out I'm here, right?" Kenji said, his voice low but edged with urgency. "An Aetherbrid can sense another... and I'm practically a beacon just standing here."
Dame and Van grinned back at him, unbothered.
"Then we pay Mr. Lee a visit," Van said, cracking his knuckles with a faint grin. "If they show up today… all the better. Perfect timing, actually.
---
Meanwhile…
High above the clouds, a sleek, advanced aircraft cut through the skies. Its hull gleamed in the sunlight, humming with power.
Inside, a handsome boy with sharp yellow hair sat in silence, lost in deep thought. His eyes were distant, calculating.
"First I catch you… then I play make-believe," he muttered. "But how do I do that when Smash is already leading the game…? Guess I'll just have to catch you first."
"Balimoth, let's skip this trail," Kuvin said, glancing up. "He's probably already gone."
Balimoth, the tall, armored leader of the squad, turned with a frown. "Sorry, young Kuvin. These are direct orders from your father. We are to search this entire area for Kenji—especially that orphanage where he was last spotted by Vulture."
Kuvin clenched his jaw. "Then let me go in. If he even suspects we're on his trail, he'll vanish. Fast. I can use the shadow mode and the nano-suit."
Balimoth studied him. After a long pause, he finally nodded. "Your suggestion is sound. Go—but do not fail. You do not want your father's wrath."
Kuvin swallowed hard.
"We'll drop you near the orphanage," Balimoth said. "Infiltrate. Find him. And if he's there—bring him out."
...
In a serene dojo hidden in a secret room at the martial palace sunlight filtered gently
At the center of the hall, an old man sat cross-legged on a vast red mat embroidered with the emblem of two golden wings—a mark long forgotten by the world.
His eyes, closed in meditation, snapped open as heavy metallic footsteps echoed into the hall.
A towering humanoid robot approached, its cold steel form humming with dormant power.
"Mechaman 20K."
The old man's voice was calm, yet brimming with anticipation.
"Activate Training Mode – Level 10."
[Combat Protocol Engaged…]
The robot's optics flared red. It shifted instantly into a combat stance, launching itself forward with a sonic boom.
BOOM!
Like a raging storm, it unleashed a barrage of attacks—jabs, kicks, spinning strikes with piston-powered limbs.
But the old man didn't flinch.
With movements smooth as water and sharp as lightning, he dodged every strike, matching the machine's speed effortlessly.
His palms began to glow—a fierce fusion of yellow and green energy, coalescing into a beastly spear of Ki.
SWOOSH!
In a blink, he darted forward.
The spear struck—precise, devastating—shattering the robot's movement joints in a single instant.
Before the machine could even collapse, he planted his palm on its chest, a Ki-charged burst blasting through its core.
CRASH!
The Mechaman flew across the hall, smashing into the far wall. Sparks flew. Metal crumpled. The machine was reduced to a heap of scrap, beyond salvage.
A smirk tugged at the corner of the old man's lips.
"Bring in more Mechamans," he said, flexing his fingers. "Let's test this new Beast Ki level properly."
One by one, the doors of the dojo slid open. An arsenal of Mechamans marched in, wielding wooden weapons shaped like ancient war tools. Their glowing eyes locked on him.
He readied his stance, his aura crackling wildly.
But before the battle could begin, a voice rang through the dojo:
> "Mr. Lee, you seem to have visitors… Three boys, and a woman."
The old man paused, his smirk deepening.
"Ah… those young ones—and Lana, huh?"
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Interesting timing."
--