Supernatural Expansion

Chapter 42: Extraordinary Expansion

Click.

As she sped forward, the policewoman's finger pressed the release, and the empty magazine slid out.

Before the magazine even hit the ground, Fuji Seiko had already slammed a fresh one into her firearm, her pupils sweeping rapidly across the building ahead:

Three on the left, two on the right.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

In a continuous, overlapping roar, she fired her handgun with the ferocity of a submachine gun.

And this was no spray-and-pray: as the five targets protruding from behind the building were pierced, the policewoman surged forward at high speed. With a push from her feet, she stretched out like a cat, vaulted two meters into the air, and slapped her hand onto the second-floor windowsill.

Swish.

With a single-handed pull, she agilely vaulted up to the second floor.

This superhuman mobility left the experts and high-ranking officials in the command center unable to help but marvel.

"Neural reflex time is approximately 0.05 seconds."

"Emptying a magazine in one second, five hits, one miss."

"Gentlemen, our Super Soldier project has finally succeeded!"

"After all these years of technological development, it was impossible that we couldn't replicate the 'extraordinary'."

The high-ranking officials in the command center were all beaming; this 'Super Soldier's' speed, strength, and reaction times all exceeded human limits. If placed in the Olympics, she could sweep most of the gold medals, and with a weapon in hand, she was fully capable of doing what was seen in 'movies'—unleashing a one-man army assault against a group of hardened criminals.

However, that was all it was.

"Everyone, I must remind you."

Professor Osumi, with his white, bushy beard, stepped forward to pour cold water on their enthusiasm.

"We can only grant people 'yokai power'; we cannot enable the use of various 'yokai arts'."

This was only natural.

Their research, in reality, only granted people mana, not even reaching the level of a genin.

To cast ninjutsu, one still required thousands of repetitions of hand seals: Akihi Yu was, in fact, an Otsutsuki, so naturally, he had no need for such 'backward' methods. The beings he bestowed abilities upon followed the same logic.

They were all entities that could 'manifest whatever they shouted'.

"No matter. Having yokai power is enough. Extraordinary power is already sufficient."

A look of joy appeared on Director Takeya's face. Facing those extraordinary beings—some who came and went without a trace, some with terrifying speed, and others of massive size—the Metropolitan Police Department, and even the Self-Defense Force, had appeared quite feeble.

The most critical factor, was the lack of equivalent power!

And now that the breakthrough from zero had finally been achieved, the significance was monumental—

Bang!

The door to the command center was violently pushed open, slamming against the wall and making everyone shudder.

?!

The high-ranking officials and experts all turned to look.

A figure wearing simple surgical scrubs, radiating a fierce and murderous aura, strode in.

As she stepped into the control room, it felt as if a tiger's fangs were scraping across their faces.

"Ichika,"

Adjusting his non-prescription glasses, Director Takeya spoke.

"How do you feel?"

"Ah~~"

Exhaling a cloud of high-temperature steam, Iori Ichika, who had bulked up by a full size, clenched her fists.

"Fantastic!"

With veins throbbing on her forehead and muscles twitching all over her body, looking like some kind of bio-engineered cyborg, Iori Ichika wore a satisfied expression.

"I feel like I could punch a bear to death right now!"

Faced with the wild-eyed section chief, the high-ranking officials and experts present couldn't help but shrink back slightly.

"Congratulations on becoming a Super Soldier, and also—"

Director Takeya sighed.

"Pull in your killing intent."

"With the way you look, is this some kind of experiment gone rogue, preparing to slaughter the research staff?"

"Ha, Director."

The muscular section chief, A grin that usually invited a beating hung on her ferocious face.

"You say that as if it were ever difficult for me to kill you lot in the past."

This inability to read the room—it was truly the familiar Iori Ichika.

"Speak. Why have you come here?"

Director Takeya had long since given up on discussing etiquette with his capable subordinate.

"Surely you didn't come all this way just to show off your power."

"Of course not."

The veins on her forehead throbbed.

Though she looked ready to snap and kill at any moment, Iori Ichika was, in fact, perfectly clear-headed.

"Director, it is time we subjugated that Shiba Inu."

"Grrr-rumble~~"

In another room of the underground base, the Shiba Inu lay on the lap of a female pet groomer, paddling its short legs, its eyes squinted shut until they were mere slits.

The several pet groomers all wore bitter expressions; during this time, they had deeply experienced the agony of "walking on eggshells around a dog."

This Shiba Inu was a monster—no, it should be called an "extraordinary creature."

It was even more formidable than a tiger!

Especially its intelligence. It knew how to read people's expressions, could perform addition and subtraction within ten, and would deliberately throw tantrums to avoid cooperating with experiments. If it weren't for the fact that it couldn't speak, it would be exactly like a mischievous kindergartner.

However, a kindergartner did not possess the terrifying strength to suppress lions and tigers.

This resulted in the dog actually giving them, the groomers, attitude!

Being ordered around by a dog, and even looked down upon—was there any justice left in this world?

BANG!!

The heavy door was shoved open violently.

The loud noise startled everyone, and the Shiba Inu on the female groomer's lap immediately flipped itself upright.

"Woof?"

The Shiba Inu, having scrambled to its feet, let out a sound of confusion.

It recognized the "female biped" striding in; she often came to its "den," and she carried a dangerous scent on her—the iron box at her waist.

But now, the opponent was not carrying the dangerous iron box, yet she gave the Shiba Inu an even more dangerous feeling!

It was just like facing... its Master!

The opponent's aura was very similar to that of the Master who had bestowed power upon it, though it was significantly weaker.

"All of you, get out."

She tilted her head, signaling for the pet groomers and nutritionists in the room to leave.

Iori Ichika shook her head, her neck bones emitting a series of cracking sounds.

"Little dog."

"Enjoyment time is over. Come help us do some work!"

As she stepped forward, Iori Ichika curled her lips, revealing a ferocious "smile."

"But before that, you need to recognize your place."

"Woof~~?!"

Under the Shiba Inu's astonished gaze, the opponent charged forward, leaped into the air, and kicked toward it!

The battle began.

"Inspector Fuji, your towel."

After testing various weapons, Fuji Seiko walked out of the testing grounds only to see:

"Officer Iori?"

"Hahaha, are you shocked to see that I've become an extraordinary?"

Iori Ichika, her clothes tattered and torn, strode over and threw an arm around Fuji Seiko's shoulder.

At her feet, a Shiba Inu limped along.

After being thoroughly beaten by Iori Ichika, this "arrogant and conceited" Shiba Inu had once again realized the reality that it was just a dog.

This biped was terrifying!

A dog under the fist and foot has no choice but to bow its head.

In fact, if one were to measure only the mana within their bodies, this Shiba Inu was stronger than Iori Ichika.

However, the gap between the two in terms of combat experience and fighting spirit was like heaven and earth. Not long after the fight began, the Shiba Inu voluntarily exposed its belly to surrender.

Having obtained extraordinary power and "beaten" this Shiba Inu into submission, Iori Ichika rubbed her hands together, ready for her next move.

"It's time to close the net on the Collar Project!"

As long as she put on one more act, Tanimura Wataru would be firmly ensnared.

"Huh? What plan?"

"It's nothing, just follow me."

She raised a hand to beckon Fuji Seiko, but the other woman hesitated for a moment.

"Officer, about my junior..."

"That, huh~~"

After a moment of thought, Iori Ichika changed direction.

"Come with me, we're going to find Director Takeya."

"Ask the Miko to intervene and heal her?"

In another command room, after hearing Fuji Seiko's request, Director Takeya beckoned to the secretary beside him.

"When is she free?"

The secretary opened the notebook in her hand, flipped through it, and hesitated before answering.

"She has an opening tomorrow."

?

"It's like this: because the Prime Minister's Residence canceled the slots for the Americans, so..."

Because of a certain lieutenant colonel, the Japanese government was using the excuse that the Miko did not wish to see Americans to cancel the slots for those foreign dignitaries: if they didn't make America cough up some benefits this time, they certainly wouldn't let up!

Do not assume that just because Japan is America's dog, it obeys every command.

In the eighties, when Japan's economy was at its peak, Japan bought America's iconic Empire State Building, bought Rockefeller Center, bought Van Gogh's paintings, and bought the Warner Group. At that time, Japan even published a famous book: The Japan That Can Say No.

In the eyes of the Japanese, they could already buy everything with money.

They sought to raise their autonomous status in all fields, including economy and diplomacy, and even turn the tables to manipulate America.

Later, of course.

The financial bubble burst, and their ambitions vanished like smoke.

But whenever the opportunity arises, Japan will never give up the possibility of biting back!

Now, backed by the extraordinary, they once again had the confidence to negotiate with America.

"Make the arrangements."

As the high-ranking official in charge of the "extraordinary," Director Takeya had at least that much authority; besides, he needed to win over these two freshly minted "extraordinary" subordinates.

"Free up a treatment slot for..."

"Kawai Mai! My... that junior is named Kawai Mai."

An excited Fuji Seiko hurriedly took over the conversation, while simultaneously giving a deep bow.

"Thank you, Director!"

"No need for thanks, this is what you deserve."

"Hmm?"

The next day, Akihi Yu, who had just woken up, sensed another source of mana.

"The Japanese government has some tricks up its sleeve; two extraordinary individuals already."

However, this amount...

He closed his eyes to sense it, and the mana, which was even less than that of a genin, made Akihi Yu shake his head slightly.

Having only mana would at most improve one's hand-to-hand combat ability: even someone like Rock Lee had the "Eight Inner Gates" as a civilian cheat code.

Without ninjutsu to cast, they were merely at the level of a "super minion" and were not to be feared at all.

Thinking this, Akihi Yu walked out of his house, preparing to:

Go grocery shopping!

With Akihi Yu's current strength, sleep was no longer a necessity.

Ninjas in the World of Fire often engaged in intense offensives and defensives that lasted for days and nights; where would they find the time to sleep? One would naturally have a long rest after death!

Therefore, he rose very early, even finding time to buy groceries to prepare breakfast and pack a lunch: if he didn't prepare it, Akiyu Sora would just survive on snacks at noon.

That simply wouldn't do; the nutrition would be unbalanced.

"Mmm~~"

Arriving at a nearby supermarket, Akihi Yu stopped in front of a water tank.

"Boss, give me one."

"No need to process it,"

He pointed at the tank.

The approaching boss scooped up a live octopus, placed it in a plastic bag, and handed it over.

Squid, shrimp, horse mackerel, and the like were all 'regulars' at the supermarket. And what was in Akihi Yu's bag was just a common Common Octopus.

After buying some other vegetables and meat, Akihi Yu did not head home, but instead walked to a small river nearby and lifted the plastic bag in his hand.

"Little guy,"

"You are free--"

With a casual flip of the plastic bag, The octopus fell into the river with a splash.

It even came with a gift of Genin-level mana, as well as the Multi-Size Technique.

"All gifts of fate have their prices marked in the dark. Go now~~"

Akihi Yu turned and left, preparing to go home to cook; meanwhile, the bewildered octopus, following the command in its mind, swam along the river toward Tokyo Bay.