Capítulo 17: Chapter 17: A Lone Wolf's Gaze
Shinya's POV
Shinya sat at his desk, frustration gnawing at him as he flipped through the latest report. The chaos in the city had escalated—more SP users were emerging, each one more violent and reckless than the last. He knew the source. It was Shogo, pulling the strings, orchestrating something bigger. But every lead Shinya chased vanished just as he got close. His hands clenched into fists as the report in front of him offered nothing but dead ends.
His mind wandered back to the battle with Reiji and the drug-enhanced thugs. That strange flame Reiji had wielded—connected to the Vongola legacy—had left a deep impression on Shinya. He hadn't yet fully grasped its power, but he knew one thing: it had Shogo's attention, and that was dangerous.
Shinya leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. The Cloud Ring sat heavy in his pocket, its presence a constant reminder of the path he had tentatively chosen. He hadn't worn it yet, wasn't even sure what the ring could do. But he knew it was tied to the Vongola legacy and, possibly, to the fight he was now embroiled in. Part of him was curious—would it give him an edge in the hunt for Shogo? But another part of him wasn't ready to accept what the ring symbolized. Not yet.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. One of his informants walked in, a grim look on his face.
"I found something," the informant said, tossing a crumpled piece of paper onto Shinya's desk. "There's a new group moving in the underground, pushing some kind of drug. They're calling it 'Amp,' and it's enhancing SP users—temporarily. The problem is, it's unstable. People are dying, and those that don't… well, they become unpredictable."
Shinya picked up the paper, scanning the details. His jaw tightened. Amp was spreading faster than he thought, destabilizing the delicate balance of the underground. But there was something more—he could feel it. Shogo was behind this, stirring up chaos to achieve something larger.
Reiji's POV
Reiji adjusted the collar of his jacket as he made his way through the winding alleys of the underground district. The rumors he had been following led him deeper into the city's dark side. Every step he took, the atmosphere grew thicker, more oppressive. This was the world Chuuya Nakahara navigated, a place where only the strongest survived.
The description of Chuuya was clear: a powerful SP user who could manipulate gravity and lived by his own rules. Reiji had heard whispers about him for weeks now—rumors of a lone wolf causing chaos wherever he went. But tracking Chuuya down was no easy task. People were afraid of him, and those who weren't feared talking about him.
Reiji clenched his fists as he walked. He needed to find Chuuya. If he could convince someone as powerful as Chuuya to join him, it would bring him one step closer to rebuilding the Vongola family. And yet, something gnawed at him—how could he offer Chuuya anything when he barely had a foothold himself?
Still, he couldn't let that doubt stop him. As he turned another corner, the sound of a commotion drew his attention. Voices raised in anger, followed by the unmistakable clash of fists hitting flesh.
He moved toward the noise, his pace quickening. Rounding the corner, Reiji found himself in the midst of a brawl. The alley was filled with men throwing punches, their bodies twisting in violent combat. And there, in the center of the chaos, was the man he had been looking for.
Chuuya Nakahara.
Reiji's breath caught in his throat as he watched the red-haired fighter move through the crowd like a storm. Chuuya's movements were fluid, every punch and kick precise and devastating. He took on multiple opponents at once, his gravity manipulation turning the tide of the fight in his favor. Bodies were flung into the air, crashing into walls with bone-shattering force.
But despite the chaos around him, Chuuya's expression was one of boredom, as if the fight didn't interest him in the slightest.
Reiji watched, momentarily frozen by the sheer power on display. Chuuya was everything the rumors had said and more. But before he could think too much about it, one of the thugs lunged toward Reiji, his fist swinging wide.
Instinctively, Reiji ducked, countering with a quick punch to the thug's gut, sending him stumbling back. Another attacker charged at him, but Reiji was ready, using his agility to dodge and strike back. The fight was chaotic, but Reiji fought with a singular focus—he had to prove himself, not just to Chuuya but to himself.
The fight seemed to stretch on forever, but eventually, the attackers fell back, some unconscious, others retreating into the shadows. Reiji stood amidst the wreckage, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Chuuya, meanwhile, dusted off his jacket, looking around at the fallen bodies with disinterest. Then his sharp eyes landed on Reiji.
"Is that it?" Chuuya muttered, his voice carrying a note of irritation. "What a waste of time."
He turned his attention fully to Reiji, his gaze intense and piercing. "And who the hell are you?"
Reiji straightened, still catching his breath. "I'm Reiji. I've been looking for you."
Chuuya's eyebrow raised slightly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "You've been looking for me? Kid, you don't look like you belong in this part of town."
"I came to ask you to join me," Reiji said, his voice steady, despite the exhaustion weighing on him.
Chuuya let out a short, mocking laugh. "Join you? In what, exactly?"
Reiji swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. "In rebuilding the Vongola family."
Chuuya's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, his presence almost suffocating as he loomed over Reiji. "You're telling me that you, on your own, think you can rebuild the Vongola? And you want me to help you?"
Reiji didn't back down. "Yes."
Chuuya studied him for a long moment, then snorted. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But guts don't mean anything down here. You're alone, you've got nothing, and you think I'm going to follow you?" He shook his head, turning away. "Forget it."
Reiji felt panic rise in his chest as Chuuya started to walk away. "Wait!" he called out, desperation creeping into his voice. "Just give me a chance—"
"Kid, you've got nothing to offer me," Chuuya interrupted, not even bothering to look back. "Come find me when you do."
And with that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Reiji standing alone in the alley, unsure of what to do next.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder