Kapitel 7: Chapter 7: Igniting the Flame
The alley was deathly quiet, save for the faint rustle of a breeze through the narrow space between the buildings. Reiji stood tense, his eyes darting between the group of thugs that surrounded him. Their leader, a tall man with a twisted grin and a dangerous gleam in his eyes, stepped closer. The man's cronies closed in from all sides, cutting off any chance of escape.
Reiji's heart raced, adrenaline pumping through his veins. His instincts screamed at him to be careful, to watch for any sign of attack, but he could feel the tension building, like a taut wire about to snap.
"You're out of options, kid," the leader sneered, his voice low and threatening. "Hand over what you've got, and maybe I won't let my boys break you in half."
Reiji's fingers brushed the ring on his hand. The weight of it was a reminder of the power that lay just beyond his reach, the Dying Will Flame that had flickered to life inside him once before. He had to summon it, but no matter how hard he tried, the flame wouldn't come. His mind raced. What had triggered it before? In the mansion, it had felt instinctive, like something buried deep inside him had been unleashed when he needed it most.
But now, as the thugs closed in, that power seemed distant, just out of reach.
The first thug lunged at him, a knife glinting in the dim light. Reiji dodged, his body moving with the sharpness that had surprised him in the past. His instincts, honed by the hyper intuition that had been awakened within him, guided him as he countered with a swift punch. The thug stumbled back, groaning in pain, but the others weren't far behind.
They came at him in waves, fists and knives flashing in the dark. Reiji ducked and weaved between their attacks, his body moving faster than his mind could process. His hyper intuition allowed him to stay ahead of them, dodging their strikes and landing blows of his own, but he was tiring quickly. His muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps. He had taken down three of the thugs, but the leader remained, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Not bad, kid," the man chuckled, stepping forward. "But you're running out of steam. Let's see how you handle me."
The leader raised his hand, and suddenly, the air around him crackled with energy. A strange, dark light flickered around his fingers, coiling like black flames. Reiji's eyes widened in shock. This guy has powers! He had known something was off about the man, but he hadn't expected him to be able to use abilities like this.
Before Reiji could react, the leader unleashed a wave of dark energy, slamming into Reiji's chest and sending him crashing into the wall behind him. Pain exploded through his body, and for a moment, the world spun. His vision blurred, and his limbs felt heavy, like they were made of lead.
Reiji gasped for breath, struggling to get back on his feet, but the leader was already closing in, his dark energy swirling around him like a storm. The other thugs stood back, watching with smirks on their faces, confident that their boss would finish the job.
"You really should've just handed over the goods, kid," the leader taunted, raising his hand for another strike. "Now I'm gonna have to break you."
Reiji's heart pounded in his chest. Is this how it ends? His mind raced, searching for a way out, but nothing came. He was too tired, too drained. The Dying Will Flame—the one power that could save him—was still just beyond his reach.
As the leader's energy gathered for the final blow, Reiji's mind flashed back to that moment in the mansion, when the remnant had spoken to him. "Use it well." The words echoed in his mind, stirring something deep inside him. The Dying Will Flame—it wasn't just a power to be called upon. It was tied to his very will, his very soul.
I can't die here, Reiji thought, his fists clenching as his body trembled with determination. I have to survive. I have to uncover the truth. I have to rebuild the Vongola… and protect myself.
Something inside him snapped.
In an instant, the flame ignited. Orange flames burst to life on Reiji's forehead, a searing heat flooding his body. His mind cleared, the pain faded, and suddenly, the world seemed sharper, more focused. The energy coursing through him was overwhelming but familiar—like an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
The leader froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as the flames roared to life. "What the—?"
Reiji didn't give him a chance to finish. Moving faster than he ever had before, he surged forward, flames trailing behind him like a comet. His fists collided with the leader's chest, and with a single, powerful strike, Reiji sent him crashing to the ground, the dark energy around him dissipating into the night.
The remaining thugs stared in shock, their leader groaning on the ground at Reiji's feet. For a moment, they hesitated, uncertain whether to run or fight, but Reiji's fierce, flame-lit gaze made the choice for them. One by one, they turned and fled, disappearing into the darkness.
Reiji stood there, panting heavily, the flames flickering on his forehead as his heartbeat began to slow. His body ached, but the victory was his. He had won. The Dying Will Flame had saved him again.
Before Reiji could catch his breath, a voice called out from the shadows.
"Are you alright?"
Reiji's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the alley for the source of the voice. A figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into the faint light of the streetlamp. The man was tall and lean, his dark hair messy yet sharp in contrast to the rest of his composed demeanor. He wore a long, dark coat and approached cautiously, his gaze flicking from the fallen thugs to the orange flames still flickering on Reiji's forehead.
His expression was neutral, calm, as though what he was seeing wasn't entirely unfamiliar.
"You're a superpower user, huh?" the man asked casually, as if commenting on the weather. "Not bad… but if you've got flames like that, you might want to think about using them before things get out of hand."
Reiji blinked, still catching his breath. This man was unlike anyone he had met. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—a confidence that made Reiji feel like he had been watched for some time.
Before Reiji could respond, the man crouched down and pulled a pair of handcuffs from his coat pocket, snapping them onto the unconscious thug's wrists. He worked efficiently, cuffing the remaining thugs with standard cuffs, but when he reached the leader, Reiji noticed that the cuffs were different—thicker, more reinforced, with a faint glow of energy surrounding them.
Reiji's curiosity got the better of him. "What are you doing?"
The man glanced up briefly. "Just securing them for transport. Can't let a guy with abilities like this run free. He's going to need special holding, considering his powers."
Reiji's mind raced. Special holding?
Once the man was finished cuffing the leader, he stood up and offered Reiji a casual look. "You should be more careful. Superpower users need to be registered. Otherwise, you'll end up getting classified as a vigilante." He paused before adding, "Name's Shinya Kogami."
Reiji frowned, still trying to make sense of everything. "And… you're doing what exactly?"
Shinya pulled the leader to his feet with practiced ease. "I work with a division that deals with people like these. Criminals with abilities. We can't have them running around causing trouble."
Reiji watched as Shinya began to haul the leader toward the end of the alley, his calm demeanor never wavering. "You're taking them to… jail?"
Shinya smirked slightly. "Something like that."
Before Reiji could ask any more questions, Shinya glanced back over his shoulder. "Stay out of trouble, kid. If you're going to use your powers, make sure you know what you're getting into. The wrong people take notice… and you'll end up with more than just a fight on your hands."
With that, Shinya disappeared into the night, the thugs in tow, leaving Reiji standing alone in the alley. The flames on his forehead had dimmed, but his mind was still racing with questions.
Who was that guy? And how did he know so much about people with powers?
Reiji clenched his fists, the weight of the Dying Will Flame still fresh in his mind. This city… there was more going on here than he had ever imagined.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein