The Final Act

Bunkyo Ward.

Todai Hospital.

"Wait, I'm healed?!"

Suddenly sitting up from the hospital bed, the young policewoman with a short bob, Kawai Mai, touched her entire body in astonishment.

"This... this isn't scientific at all!"

She kicked off the sheets and stepped onto the floor with bare feet. Re-experiencing the sensation of "walking" made the young policewoman leap for joy, and she didn't forget to grab the hands of the girl who had treated her, thanking her excitedly.

"Thank you, thank you so much."

"You're welcome. Now, I'm off to school."

Having finished treating her target, Amame Ei prepared to leave. In her view, anyone qualified for her to "take action" and heal was either wealthy or noble.

The woman before her, only a few years older than herself, might well be the heiress to some massive conglomerate.

Although Amame Ei's current status was far more noble, long since surpassing that of a wealthy young lady.

She still disliked socializing with "big shots"—it was too hypocritical.

Sigh.

Yu-kun, Sora, and Nao-chan.

Being accepted by "parents" and being able to stick with her sister every day.

But Amame Ei, who once knew them as friends, understood that her current identity was no longer suitable for contact with them.

Whether such a change was good or bad was truly hard to say.

Lost in thought, Amame Ei left the ward and headed to school.

Fuji Seiko, who had just entered the room, saw her junior Kawai Mai bouncing around and revealed a relieved smile.

"Senior!"

"That person just now... and, the hospital fees here must be very expensive, right?"

Although she was just a young woman fresh out of the academy, Kawai Mai understood that being transferred to such a high-end private hospital and receiving treatment from a high school student with magical powers was something her ordinary parents could never have managed.

That left only her senior.

"I will pay you back for the treatment costs."

As she bowed to express her gratitude, the young policewoman made a sincere promise, causing Iori Ichika, who had just walked in, to scoff.

"Little girl, you couldn't possibly repay this debt."

?

"Who are you?"

"This is the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department's Supernatural Countermeasures Division: Chief Superintendent Iori Ichika."

Fuji Seiko introduced her to the young policewoman.

?!

"Good day, Chief!"

Facing a "high-ranking official" like a Chief Superintendent, Kawai Mai reflexively stood at attention and saluted.

The highest-ranking officer she had ever encountered was a Superintendent from the Adachi Ward police station.

"No need to be nervous."

"Come."

Iori Ichika snapped her fingers, and a stern Public Security Bureau officer in a formal suit walked into the ward holding a document folder.

"Officer Kawai Mai, this is your transfer order."

"Effective immediately, you are assigned to the 'Supernatural Countermeasures Division' as a logistics member of the Second Mobile Unit, with the rank of Assistant Inspector."

The stone-faced officer announced it by the book.

"You may refuse this order, in which case—you will be charged with 'treason'."

"Eh? Eh?! EHHH!!"

First, she was "touched" by a high school student and miraculously healed.

Now, she was being transferred to some "Supernatural Countermeasures Division." And the most ridiculous part was that refusing was equivalent to treason?

The young policewoman looked dazed; it seemed her brain had stopped functioning due to overload.

"Mai, this is the price."

Fuji Seiko patted her junior on the shoulder, causing Iori Ichika to pout.

"Hey, hey, hey, why are you saying such discouraging things in front of me, the Division Chief?"

"Others have to go through layers of screening and investigation just to get into my division. The salary and benefits are several times higher than a normal unit!"

"But the risks are also several times higher, aren't they?"

After getting familiar with her superior, the usually serious Fuji Seiko had become much more casual.

More than several times over!

Normal police officers mostly deal with petty theft; it is rare to encounter a "major case" involving a corpse even once a year.

Yet, the as-of-yet unannounced Supernatural Countermeasures Division has to face all sorts of invisible, intangible evil spirits, monsters with miraculous abilities, and transcendent beings daring enough to slaughter armies head-on.

"Senpai, you are also..."

"Mm, I am the captain of the Second Mobile Unit."

"Then fine, I'll join!"

"Eh?!"

"Are we starting work right now?"

Having just joined the Supernatural Countermeasures Division's Second Mobile Unit and changed into a police uniform, Kawai Mai had barely stepped out of the hospital before being ushered into a mobile command vehicle.

"Hahaha, this is what they call speed being the essence of war."

Facing the flustered young policewoman, Iori Ichika gestured with her chin toward the two rows of computers and the several personnel inside the command vehicle.

"If there's anything you don't understand, ask them on the way."

"Move out!"

From the outside, this motorcade looked like a classic eighties Nissan Vanette—simply put, a Japanese "bread van."

In an organization like the Metropolitan Police Department, the higher-ups still clung to the aesthetics of decades past: this style of vehicle was something only government departments would use.

However, beneath the plain exterior, it was packed with a massive amount of high-tech equipment.

"This mission has only one objective,"

Inside the lead bread—ahem, the van.

Allowing several researchers to busy themselves around her while calibrating her gear, Iori Ichika looked at Fuji Seiko.

"Beat Tanimura Wataru until he is critically injured!"

High in the sky, A crow spread its wings and soared, following above the motorcade.

At the same time, its pitch-black pupils shifted, noticing a number of drones gathering in the sky ahead, emitting a "buzzing" sound.

When the altitude reached a certain point, people on the ground could only see a black speck if they looked up; yet, the high-resolution cameras on the drones could clearly capture every movement on the ground.

The appearance of these things proved that Japan was preparing to make a move on Tanimura Wataru.

A perfect opportunity!

Since he was worried about not having a place to openly display his ninjutsu, Akihi Yu didn't mind adding fuel to the fire.

On the other side, Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa Secondary Education School.

"Teacher, I'm going to the restroom."

After raising his hand, Kishida Jun left on his own accord and arrived at the restroom; ten seconds later, he returned to the classroom and sat down.

However, this was merely a Water Clone; the real Kishida Jun had already leaped out of the restroom window and snapped open an umbrella with a swish.

The umbrella shielded his face, avoiding the school's several security cameras, and he arrived silently at a nearby river, taking a leap.

Splash.

A ripple spread out.

The rivers that crisscrossed all of Tokyo were his best hidden tunnels.

Daishimaecho, "This problem should be solved this way."

In a small restaurant, Tanimura Wataru was guiding the young girl beside him in her studies.

After all, he had once been a university student; if not for the accident, he should have been working as a tutor while continuing his own education.

"Hoshino,"

The chef from the kitchen poked his head out helplessly.

"I don't want to interrupt your studying, but Honda-san just delivered the seafood; give me a hand—"

"Let me do it."

Hearing the chef say this, Tanimura Wataru took the initiative to stand up.

This young girl, who bore a striking resemblance to Akemi, was already one of his few—no, his only friend.

Therefore, ever since she began working and studying in earnest, Tanimura Wataru didn't mind tutoring her during his "off-hours." He hadn't noticed it himself, but this was a form of compensation: if he had been by Akemi's side back then, that tragedy would never have happened.

"That would be truly appreciated, please, this way."

Following the chef out the back door, a van was parked not far away.

This type of vehicle could be used for family trips, or the rear seats could be removed to transport large quantities of goods, making it a favorite model for many merchants.

However—

Twitching his nose, Tanimura Wataru caught a multitude of scents emanating from the vehicle!

Bang.

Turning around and sprinting back toward the restaurant, the chef slammed the back door shut.

Tanimura Wataru didn't pay any mind to that ordinary person; instead, he stared at the vehicle before him, crouching slightly.

He had been careless.

Lost in the act of teaching, he hadn't even noticed that the scent of humans in the vicinity had thinned to a certain degree: proof that the residents of this street had already been secretly evacuated.

And the goal, of course, was to capture him.

Bang!!

The rear door of the van was kicked open, and with a metallic clang, a military boot stepped onto the ground.

"Yo, long time no see."

???

"Officer Iori?"

Even Tanimura Wataru was stunned for a moment, because:

"What, are you shocked by my 'new clothes'?"

No.

The opponent's equipment did indeed surprise Tanimura Wataru, But what shocked him even more was the faint aura of a demon emanating from the policewoman!

Stepping out of the van, her entire body encased in metal armor, Iori Ichika tapped her chest plate with her thumb:

"The ONYX IV Exoskeleton Armor from America; this is a rare piece of hardware just shipped from the Lockheed Martin laboratories."

Indeed, Iori Ichika was wearing a suit of armor that reeked of "high-tech"; through the gaps in the plating, one could see pitch-black cables and silver-white metal struts—clearly the marks of an emergency rush job.

"Don't be surprised. Exoskeletons like this have been used by militaries around the world for a long time."

It was just that most of them were partial exoskeletons.

For instance, those equipped on the upper limbs to assist in carrying artillery shells, or those on the legs to provide extra power for individual soldiers to climb.

However, there were two major problems with exoskeletons: first, the energy issue. Carrying more exoskeleton equipment required a more powerful energy supply, while heavier portable energy sources increased the load on the exoskeleton itself. Thus, most exoskeletons were attached to the human body in the form of frames, striving to minimize weight.

Therefore, while this "ONYX IV Exoskeleton Armor" certainly looked high-tech, an ordinary soldier wouldn't be able to take more than a few steps while wearing it.

As for the second problem, of course, it was the cost!

How much was the life of a grunt worth? Why put millions of dollars worth of equipment on them to send them to the battlefield?

"Unfortunately for you, those of us who possess supernatural power are perfectly capable of fighting while carrying such weight; and as for the cost—"

Swish.

Fully armored, Iori Ichika drew a short baton from her waist.

With a press of a button, a foot-long column of electricity erupted from the tip of the baton, high-voltage arcs dancing through the air like silver snakes, crackling with explosive sound.

"The big conglomerates have made it clear: money is no object."

As long as they get a piece of the pie, Bang!!

Stomping her foot, the armored Iori Ichika lunged forward, her "electric baton" raised high.

"Surrender—"

"ROAR!!!"

Yet, how could Tanimura Wataru not resist?

Amidst a roar, his figure suddenly elongated, his flowing fur replacing his clothes as he transformed into an upright wolf-man.

The next moment, the two collided violently; machine clashed against muscle, and sparks showered from the impact of steel against claws.

Hm?

This is truly an eye-opener.

High in the sky, the crow circling with wings spread out gave a human-like "start."

He watched the scene below: a "Poor Man's Iron Man" doing battle with a "Werewolf Ninja."

As expected, one could not underestimate the power of technology; not only could they extract "Mana Serum," but they could even produce combat-ready exoskeleton armor.

After observing for a while, Akihi Yu discovered that the strength of that exoskeleton armor was exaggerated. Tanimura Wataru's claws could barely break its defense, likely due to some high-strength alloy, while the "stun baton" in Iori Ichika's hand would cause electric sparks to explode upon contact, leaving Tanimura Wataru convulsing and billowing with thick black smoke.

If not for the physical enhancement brought about by the Inuzuka clan's Four-Legged Technique, Tanimura Wataru would have already been lying on the ground.

Tanimura Wataru possessed greater speed, strength, and constitution, but that woman from the island nation had sturdy armor and equally impressive weaponry; coupled with her fluid combat techniques, she was actually suppressing Tanimura Wataru.

Tsk.

A melee unit without technique is just fodder.

There is a reason why taijutsu is one of the three foundations of a ninja.

No, this won't do.

Being beaten while suppressed by his opponent, Tanimura Wataru felt incredibly stifled. His own attacks missed repeatedly, while the opponent's attacks were continuous and relentless—it was impossible to fight like this.

Retreat first.

Although he had been beaten black and blue, fortunately, the "demonic power" within his body was still quite abundant.

Seizing an opportunity, Tanimura Wataru rolled backward in a wretched state, landed on all fours, and leaped toward the nearby rooftop.

?!

Yet, at that very instant, The fur all over his body stood on end, and a feeling of extreme danger welled up in his heart.

Swish.

He twisted his waist and turned in mid-air, and a line of blood suddenly spurted from the outside of his thigh.

Bang!

At the same time, the sound of a gunshot finally arrived.

???

As he tumbled and fell, Tanimura Wataru's gaze swept across the area and discovered a woman, also wearing "high-tech armor," half-crouched on the roof of a nearby building, holding a sniper rifle.

Most importantly, a faint trace of "demonic power" radiated from her as well.

Damn it, there's another one.

"Commander, I missed the vital spot."

Fuji Seiko's voice rang out in the earpiece, and Iori Ichika, charging forward in long strides, curled her lips into a grin.

"It doesn't matter."

If he were taken down in just a few hits, this play wouldn't be able to continue.

While charging, Iori Ichika turned her body to lead with her armored shoulder, crashing into the courtyard where Tanimura Wataru had fallen.

Boom!

The brick-and-mortar courtyard shattered with a roar, and amidst a cloud of dust and smoke, Iori Ichika burst into the courtyard.

"Now is not the time for a rest, little doggy!"

Tanimura Wataru had lost.

The crow in the sky flickered its eyes.

Although he possessed the Inuzuka secret techniques, Tanimura Wataru was, after all, only a genin—and a genin with no combat experience, if one didn't count bullying the weak.

Now, facing two fully armed opponents, even if they only possessed mana levels below that of a genin, they still suppressed Tanimura Wataru with the aid of technology. Under the interference of long-range sniping, he couldn't even manage to escape.

If there were no surprises, he would be beaten to his knees by these two women.

Hmm, next up should be the beauty saving the beast.

Just as Iori Ichika was about to notify the "female lead" to take her position, a hurried voice came through the earpiece.

"Warning, warning!"

"An inexplicable fog has appeared on the scene—it's the Rain Woman!"

Why is she here too?!