Kapitel 166: Chapter 165: Qualification!

The Electromagnetic Cannon was different from the Railgun. While the Railgun relied on pure electromagnetic propulsion, the Electromagnetic Cannon harnessed both electric energy and centrifugal force generated by high-speed rotation.

Though it lacked the piercing power of the Railgun, it compensated with sheer destructive potential. In fact, it was Kaminari's most powerful attack yet.

But such immense power came with a cost. When the Electromagnetic Cannon collided with the giant bear's blood-infused Destruction Beam, the resulting explosion didn't just obliterate the battlefield, it overwhelmed Kaminari's Registeel construct and directly endangered him.

He had been too close to the center of the blast.

Forced to abandon his meditative state, Kaminari canceled his control over the Registeel. His survival instincts took over, and in a flash of desperation, he activated his High-Voltage mode and retreated at the speed of sound.

Picture it:

A swirling ball of golden and crimson energy expanded violently, tearing through everything in its path. Trees, animals, and even the ground itself were consumed, leaving a barren crater in its wake.

Kaminari ran, lightning surging through his body, the edge of the explosion only centimeters behind him. The expanding energy felt like it was breathing down his neck.

He didn't need calculations or theories to know what would happen if it touched him. Even his Cancer's Golden Cloth wouldn't protect him.

He knew this with absolute certainty.

The desire to survive screamed at him, warning him to keep running no matter what.

Finally, just as the energy wave began to dissipate, Kaminari skidded to a halt, his breathing ragged.

"That was way too close…" Kaminari muttered, the lingering fear evident in his wide eyes.

He glanced back at the battlefield, where the explosion had carved out a massive crater. The devastation stretched for fifty meters in every direction.

Looking at the barren, smoldering ground, Kaminari couldn't help but exhale in disbelief. "This is insane… The radius alone is massive."

He chuckled dryly, his confidence returning. "But with that kind of power, even if that thing survived, it'd definitely be on its last legs."

But as Kaminari scanned the battlefield, his smirk faded.

There, in the middle of the crater, stood the five-meter giant bear.

Its once-majestic black fur was charred, clumps of it burned away to reveal scorched, pitted skin. Black smoke rose from its battered frame, filling the air with the acrid stench of burning flesh.

It had clearly taken severe damage, but it was still standing.

Kaminari's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just resilience—this was something unnatural.

The explosion hadn't just been his attack; it had also included the bear's own Destruction Beam. The combined force should have been enough to overwhelm even the toughest opponent.

Yet, somehow, it still refused to fall.

The answer became clear as Kaminari observed the bear's movements.

It was weakened. The massive creature's body swayed unsteadily, its energy depleted. The intense Destruction Beam had drained its reserves of "blood energy."

Kaminari now understood why that ability was only used in moments of desperation. Every time the bear fired one of those beams, it consumed a significant amount of its vital energy.

And from the looks of it, this latest attack had pushed the bear to its limit.

"ROAR!!!"

Even so, the giant bear let out a deafening roar, its bloodshot eyes fixed on Kaminari. It wasn't the roar of a king or a predator, it was the mournful, defiant cry of a mother who had lost everything.

Kaminari's expression hardened. He didn't flinch, nor did he show pity. Instead, he crouched slightly and clasped his left hand over his right wrist.

"Maybe Hideo and his grandson did something unforgivable to you…" Kaminari said quietly.

"But I'm sorry. I'm human."

"Zzzzzt!"

Golden electricity crackled in Kaminari's right hand, growing brighter and more intense with each passing second. The sound was sharper, harsher than anything he'd unleashed before—even the Lightning Dragon's Roar and the Electromagnetic Cannon.

On the other side, the giant bear's instincts kicked into overdrive. Every nerve in its body screamed of impending doom.

Danger.

"ROAR!!!"

The bear, now more beast than creature, roared again, its primal instincts driving it to fight. But the advanced AI in Kaminari's battle suit, Pikachu, had already confirmed through scans that the bear's current strength was at its lowest.

It couldn't win.

"It's time to end this," Kaminari muttered. His golden eyes glinted with resolve. "Under this Raikiri... even the heavens would split."

The electric energy in Kaminari's palm condensed into a dark golden sphere, crackling wildly with power.

In a flash of light, Kaminari vanished, leaving only a streak of golden lightning in his wake.

"ROAR!!!"

The bear felt it—a cold, deadly pressure bearing down on it. In desperation, it opened its mouth one last time, gathering the remnants of its strength.

"Buzz!"

A blood-colored energy cluster formed in its jaws, but this time its once-mighty body visibly shrank. Its desperation had forced it to sacrifice more of its already depleted reserves.

"BOOM!!!"

With a roar filled with rage, despair, and sorrow, the bear unleashed its final attack. A massive beam of blood-red energy tore through the air, hurtling toward the golden streak that was Kaminari.

The two forces collided.

"ZZZZZT!!!"

Instead of exploding, the two attacks ground against each other, like claws tearing through fabric.

Kaminari pushed forward, his dark golden sphere tearing apart the blood-red beam with sheer, unrelenting power. Meter by meter, he closed the distance between himself and the bear.

"I hope you are reincarnated as something else in your next life." Kaminari said solemnly as he approached.

To his surprise, the words didn't come from a place of arrogance—they carried a genuine sense of finality, almost like a prayer.

But just as Kaminari prepared to deliver the finishing blow, a voice rang out.

"Stop! Kaminari!!"

The voice was familiar, sharp and commanding.

Before Kaminari could process what was happening, a streak of white shot through the air at twice the speed of sound. It coiled around Kaminari's wrist, yanking it away from the bear and slamming the charged Raikiri into the ground.

"BOOM!!!"

The ground erupted, but the bear remained untouched.

Another streak of white wrapped around the bear's neck, pulling it to the ground with surprising gentleness. Though the bear was immobilized, it was still alive.

"Master?!" Kaminari exclaimed, staring at the figure that had suddenly appeared.

Standing not far from him was Edgeshot, his sharp eyes calm yet firm.

"Kaminari," Edgeshot said, his voice steady but grave, "we are not qualified to kill it."

Kaminari blinked, stunned. His mind raced, but no words came out.

In the distance, the blurry figures of Hideo and Ryoichi could be seen, though they were too far away to intervene.

"What?" Kaminari whispered, frozen in place.

The battlefield fell silent, leaving Kaminari to grapple with the weight of Edgeshot's words. What explanation could his master possibly give?

***

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Kapitel 167: Chapter 166: Kaminari’s Choice

"What… what do you mean we're not qualified to kill this bear?!"

Kaminari frowned, clearly confused and frustrated.

"This giant bear is ten—no, twenty times more dangerous than an ordinary black bear!" he argued. "It's full of hatred for humans. If we don't kill it now, what are we supposed to do? Stick it in a zoo?"

Edgeshot, however, remained calm.

"I'm not saying it can't be killed," he replied. "I'm saying we don't have the qualifications to do so."

"Qualifications?!" Kaminari exclaimed, his frustration boiling over. "What qualifications do we need to put down a monster that's already attacked people?!"

Edgeshot's expression didn't waver as he began to explain.

"The black bear is a species listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species," he said.

"In Japan, black bears were once found across Kyushu, Honshu, and Shikoku. But the population in Kyushu went extinct decades ago. Every black bear left in the wild must be treated with caution. That's why our laws strictly prohibit killing black bears without the proper authorization."

Edgeshot's tone grew serious as he continued. "And by law, we are not authorized to kill this bear."

"You're saying we can't kill it? Then what—are we supposed to just let it go?" Kaminari shot back, his tone sharp.

Edgeshot sighed but remained patient. "Of course not. As you said, it's far too dangerous to let it go. The best course of action is to restrain it, notify the police, and let them hand it over to professional hunters."

"Hunters?" Kaminari raised an eyebrow.

"That's right," Edgeshot nodded. "Even we, as heroes, aren't allowed to hunt black bears without a bear hunting license. Neither are the police."

"Then who does have a bear hunting license?" Kaminari's irritation flared. "This is ridiculous. There are so many rules, regulations, and red tape!"

"Professional hunters," Edgeshot answered simply. "Usually, when a black bear attacks, either we or the police contact the local hunting club to send someone over."

"Hunting club…?" Kaminari's golden eyes flickered toward Hideo and Ryoichi Sato in the distance, still standing silently nearby.

"So, if we find a professional hunter with a bear hunting license, we can kill this bear legally?"

"That's correct," Edgeshot replied, following Kaminari's gaze toward the two Matagi hunters. His eyes narrowed slightly as realization struck him. "And it seems we already have hunters here, don't we?"

Without another word, Kaminari strode past Edgeshot and walked toward Hideo and Ryoichi.

"Excuse me," he asked directly, "do either of you have a bear hunting license?"

Hideo and Ryoichi exchanged a glance before the elder nodded.

"Of course," Hideo replied. "Not only do I have one, but Ryoichi does as well. He earned his license just last year."

The old man's voice carried a note of pride as he spoke of his grandson's achievement.

"That's perfect," Kaminari said with a faint smile. "Here's the situation: while we had the authority to fight the giant bear, we're not legally qualified to finish it off. So, could I ask you to take care of it?"

Kaminari emphasized the word "qualified," a sharp undertone in his voice as he said it.

To his surprise, Hideo hesitated before shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," Hideo said gravely. "Though I appreciate you saving us, as a Matagi hunter, I cannot agree to your request."

"What?" Kaminari asked, frowning in disbelief.

Hideo explained, his tone resolute.

"Matagi hunters have their own traditions. Matagi hunters do not finish off animals that others have subdued. Bear hunting must always be the work of the Matagi themselves, from beginning to end. That is the sacred tradition we've upheld for centuries."

Kaminari's jaw tightened. He let out a hollow laugh, anger simmering beneath the surface.

"Rules… traditions… Is everyone just obsessed with following arbitrary rules today?"

At that moment, Edgeshot walked over. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Kaminari lowered his voice, explaining Hideo's refusal.

"In that case," Edgeshot said thoughtfully, "we'll have to stabilize the bear's condition and transfer it to the authorities. They can handle it."

Kaminari didn't agree. To him, it was far simpler—and safer—to end the threat here and now. Record the act as evidence, leave the bear's body to nourish the ecosystem, and move on.

For such a dangerous creature, this seemed like the most logical solution.

His gaze shifted to Ryoichi, who was crouching nearby, his expression troubled. A thought struck Kaminari, and he addressed the young man.

"Your name is Ryoichi, right?"

Ryoichi looked up, startled. "Ah, yes. We met on the Shinkansen before," he replied nervously.

"Why did you and your grandfather come all the way out here to hunt this giant bear?" Kaminari asked, his voice calm but probing.

"Uh… well…" Ryoichi hesitated, glancing at his grandfather before lowering his head. "It was to… to make a name for ourselves."

He sighed and continued, his voice filled with frustration.

"After black bears were listed as protected animals, we Matagi could only hunt them in small numbers, and even then, only under strict conditions. Applying for a bear hunting license is a long and complicated process, so many descendants of ghost hunters have simply given up the profession entirely.

"With no one left to carry on the traditions and no attention from the outside world, my grandfather and I were worried that the legacy of the Matagi would disappear."

Ryoichi paused before adding quietly, "So, when we heard about the 'three-meter black bear' causing havoc, I suggested we take it down ourselves to bring the Matagi name back into the spotlight."

"Ryoichi!" Hideo interrupted sternly. "But you cannot go against tradition! I've told you this countless times—what makes us sacred is our adherence to those traditions!"

Kaminari's golden eyes narrowed. He sensed an opportunity.

"Ryoichi," he said softly, "look at that bear. That's no ordinary three-meter black bear. It's a five-meter giant that's awakened a Quirk—a true Bear King."

He stepped closer, his voice lowering.

"Think about it. If a photo of you standing proudly over this bear, sword in hand, was published in the media, you'd instantly become a legend.

"'The strongest and youngest Matagi hunter,' they'd call you. A new Matagi hero who personally brought down a Quirk-enhanced monster. Isn't that what you've always dreamed of?"

Ryoichi's eyes widened. The fire of ambition flickered in his gaze, growing brighter with every word.

"The strongest… the youngest…" he murmured, swallowing nervously.

"Ryoichi!" Hideo shouted, his voice filled with anger. "No! You must not betray the name of the Matagi!"

But Ryoichi didn't respond. His hands trembled as he drew the Matagi blade from his belt, the traditional weapon used to finish off bears. Step by step, he approached the injured giant bear.

"Ryoichi!" Hideo shouted again, furious and heartbroken. He turned to Kaminari, his voice filled with rage.

"What have you done?! You've pushed him to betray everything the Matagi stands for!"

Kaminari met the old man's glare without flinching. His voice was calm, almost cold.

"I didn't push him to do anything," Kaminari said simply. "I gave him an opportunity, to achieve his dream through his own efforts. You should be thanking me."

He turned to Edgeshot, his golden gaze sharp.

"This follows the rules, doesn't it?"

Edgeshot hesitated for a moment before nodding. "…It does."

To be honest, Edgeshot hadn't expected Kaminari to take such a direct approach. He realized that the young hero didn't care about fame or recognition. What Kaminari cared about was solving problems and asserting his own values.

Kaminari glanced at the bear one last time before giving an order to his battle suit's AI.

"'Pikachu,' record everything. Make sure to get high-definition shots of Ryoichi finishing the job."

"Yes, Master," the AI replied.

***

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