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BOOM!
The Durahan's body didn't just break; it detonated. The high-frequency tachyon energy turned the monster into a localized shower of disintegrating crystals, as if it had been kicked into a liquid state before being vaporized. Black, viscous ichor splattered across the pavement in a display of violent aesthetics, yet Kenji remained untouched. His crimson armor gleamed under the distorted light of the Hollow, not a single drop of filth marring its surface.
Qingyi silently grabbed Zhu Yuan's hand and pulled her back. The surrounding Ethereals, witnessing their "General" being erased in a single strike, had already scattered into the ruins. If even mindless monsters knew when to run, two elite humans weren't about to stand their ground against a god.
Zhu Yuan, however, was as stubborn as ever. She stood her ground, aiming her signature pistol at Kenji. Her orange eyes showed no fear—only a sharp, professional vigilance.
"Thank you for the assistance, Knight," she said, her voice echoing in the hollowed-out street. "But I have too many questions to let you walk away. Please, lower your weapon and come back to the Public Security Bureau with me to give a formal statement."
Qingyi felt her vision go dark with frustration. This idiot truly has a death wish, she thought. A statement? Now? She had just watched that kick deliver a physical impact in the tens of tons. Heaven help anyone who tried to detain a person who could kick a building into rubble.
Kenji said nothing. He merely reached for the switch on the side of his belt.
[CLOCK UP]
The world instantly ground to a halt. To Kenji, the sound of the wind died away. He could see individual strands of Zhu Yuan's hair drifting through the air with agonizing slowness. He watched Qingyi's hand move toward her three-section staff, a motion so glacial it would take minutes to complete.
Zhu Yuan realized the Knight had vanished from her sight, but years of combat-honed intuition screamed that something was wrong. As she moved to pivot, her back hit something solid and cold—like a reinforced steel wall.
Someone was behind her.
Her scalp tingled. She was standing back-to-back with the entity. When had he moved? How could he cross thirty meters in the span of a heartbeat? This wasn't just speed; it was a fundamental violation of physics.
"Security Officer," Kenji's voice came from behind her, low and electronically distorted. "The Ethereals are our common enemy. That makes us allies, doesn't it?"
It was a warning—a quiet reminder not to provoke a Rider. Kenji wasn't a villain, but he wasn't about to be treated like a "destabilizing factor" that needed to be caged.
"Your identity is unknown," Zhu Yuan said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline. "The PSB has a duty to regulate anomalies that threaten the order of New Eridu."
"Goodbye, Captain. I'll be back the next time the monsters need a cleaning."
Kenji realized there was no arguing with her. She was a "by the book" officer to her core. It was a good thing he actually liked her; otherwise, her stubbornness would be a real headache.
"Who are you?" Zhu Yuan demanded.
"I walk the path of Heaven... I am the one who oversees all."
Kenji didn't wait for a rebuttal. Still within the accelerated timeframe of Clock Up, he moved. To the two women, he simply blinked out of existence.
"Did he... did he just come out of a Tokusatsu show?" Qingyi exhaled, finally relaxing her guard. "No, even Star Crest Knight doesn't have that kind of output. That guy could probably solo a Great Demon King and be home for dinner. That was terrifying."
"Where's Kenji?"
Zhu Yuan knew the gap in power was too vast to pursue the Knight. She'd just have to file a report and let the higher-ups lose sleep over it. Right now, her priority was the rookie who had taken a lethal blow for her.
"He's over there!"
Qingyi pointed to the ruins. Kenji was leaning against a shattered concrete pillar, poking his head out and waving weakly at them.
"Still here... still alive," he croaked.
"You're awake!" Qingyi jogged over, checking him for broken bones. "Did you see that guy? The Knight?"
"I saw him," Kenji said, playing the part of the dazed survivor perfectly. "He's our savior, isn't he? If he hadn't shown up, I'd probably be a line item on a casualty report by now."
"I don't know," Qingyi muttered, looking around the empty street. "Saving people is one thing, but that kind of power is... unsettling."
"Actions speak louder than intentions, Senior," Kenji countered, shaking his head. "He killed the monsters and didn't touch a hair on our heads. That's enough for me to be grateful."
Qingyi slapped his shoulder, making him wince. "You little brat. Such a pragmatist."
Zhu Yuan walked over, her gaze softening as she looked at Kenji. "You shouldn't have jumped in like that, Kenji. I could have found a way out. You took a massive risk."
"You would have died," Kenji said, his voice turning serious. "You saved me in the air earlier; I wasn't going to just watch you get cut in half. Besides, you hired me as a heavy-armor vanguard. There's no such thing as a tank hiding behind his teammates."
The memory of their mutual rescue brought a flicker of a smile to Zhu Yuan's face. She looked at his battered shield and then at his determined expression.
"You have a point," she conceded. "I saw how you held the line. You're qualified. As of right now, you're officially a permanent member of the Criminal Investigation Special Task Force."
"Does that mean a double salary?" Kenji asked, his eyes lighting up. "Yay! Payday!" He gave her a clumsy peace sign.
Zhu Yuan and Qingyi both laughed. It was a classic "young person" reaction. In a world of Hollows and cosmic horrors, it was refreshing to see someone who just wanted to get paid.
With the Durahan eliminated, the Ether-density in the area began to plummet. The Companion Hollow was already shrinking, its boundaries drawing back. Following the guidance of the PSB technicians over the radio, the trio navigated their way through a fire escape and back into the reality of Fourteenth Street.
Outside, they were met with the cheers of the logistics teams and the relief of the Air Police. In New Eridu, every successful return from a Hollow was a victory worth celebrating. Kenji leaned against the side of the transport vehicle, watching the sunset.
The job was dangerous, the pay was decent, and he had a god-like beetle in his pocket. Not bad for a first day, he thought.
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