BOOM!
Smoke erupted in the mutant arena as the fierce battle between Akito and the Mutant Thief continued.
From the gallery above, Ryo, Kai, and a group of other mutants watched through the thick glass, tension written across their faces.
"The… Mutant Thief's ability… it's powerful!" Kai said, gripping the edge of the railing.
"Yeah…" Ryo nodded slowly, eyes narrowed. "The ability to shoot laser beams from his eyes is no joke. But… I wonder…"
Kai glanced at Ryo, raising a curious eyebrow. "Wonder what?"
Ryo crossed his arms, gaze still fixed on the arena floor. "I wonder why he's called the Mutant Thief. His ability doesn't really explain the nickname."
Down in the arena…
FWOOOOSH!
Akito suddenly reappeared – enlarged back to his normal size. His body was battered and bruised, his breath ragged as he collapsed to the ground. He lay there, chest rising and falling rapidly, struggling to recover from the intensity of the battle.
The Mutant Thief stood a few metres away, completely calm – arms crossed, his stance unwavering.
Not even a scratch marked his body.
Akito slowly pushed himself up from the floor, his limbs trembling. But before he could fully rise–
Step.
The Mutant Thief approached, each step echoing through the arena.
Kai leaned forward from the gallery, his nerves rising. "What… what is he going to do to Akito?"
Ryo sighed, eyes softening with resignation. "I guess… we're getting a new cellmate."
Akito looked up, eyes wide.
And there he was.
The Mutant Thief.
Standing over him.
Akito's enire body shook with fear. The intensity in the Mutant Thief's crimson gaze felt like it could shatter his soul.
Is… is he going to kill me?
The Mutant Thief raised his hand slowly.
Akito instinctively shut his eyes.
He braced for it.
His end.
Then–
"You have fought well, my friend."
Akito's eyes snapped open.
"Huh…?"
He looked up in disbelief. The Mutant Thief was extending his hand to him.
Akito stared, frozen in shock.
He's… not going to kill me?"
"Wait! Is the Mutant Thief… not going to kill Akito?" Kai asked, blinking in surprise from the gallery.
"Maybe…" Ryo said quietly. "Maybe he acknowledges him."
With a hesitant hand, Akito reached up – and accepted the Mutant Thief's help.
The Mutant Thief pulled him to his feet. The two of them stood face to face, their difference in strength now obvious… but so was the silent respect.
The Mutant Thief smirked.
"You have an interesting ability."
Then – without another word – he turned his back and began walking away, his long shadow trailing behind him across the scorched floor of the arena.
Akito could only stand there, eyes wide, heart pounding.
What… just happened?
As Akito stepped back into the gallery after his intense battle with the Mutant Thief, Ryo and Kai immediately rushed toward him.
"AKITO!" Ryou shouted.
Akito looked up at them, breathing hard. "Guys…"
Ryo gripped both of Akito's shoulders, his eyes wide with relief.
"I'm so glad you're still alive."
"Y-Yeah…" Akito muttered, still shaken from the fight.
Kai crossed his arms, his gaze serious. "I wonder why the Mutant Thief spared you."
"Yeah… I also wonder why," Akito said quietly.
He turned his head to the right and noticed the Mutant Thief reuniting with the twin siblings.
"You did so well, hubby," the blonde girl said with a warm smile.
The Mutant Thief returned the smile and casually wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
The blonde boy, still standing nearby with his arms crossed, spoke up with a sharp tone:
"But… why didn't you kill him like the other low-ranked mutants you've killed before?"
The Mutant Thief turned to him and smiled.
"Because…"
Then–
"Um… excuse me?"
All three of them turned to the source of the voice.
It was Akito.
Behind him, Ryo grabbed him arm with urgency. "Um… Akito? We… shouldn't talk to them."
"No." The Mutant Thief raised a hand to stop him, his voice calm but firm.
Ryo froze in place.
The Mutant Thief gently removed his arm from the blonde girl and stood, sliding both hands into his pockets and crossing one leg over the other in a relaxed stance.
"What would you like to say to me, friend?"
Akito clenched his fists. "About… what you said earlier?"
The Mutant Thief tilted his head, smirking. "Be more specific, friend. I said many things to you in the arena."
"When you said… you'd let me join your team. What did you mean by that?"
"I meant what I said," the Mutant Thief replied without hesitation. "You would join the three of us."
"For what, though?" Akito asked.
"For a rebellion." The Mutant Thief's voice was bold, firm.
Kai's eyes widened. "Rebellion?"
The Mutant Thief stepped forward, standing tall with purpose. He pumped a fst to his chest.
"I'm gathering the strongest mutants to rebel against the facility and give our kind the rights they've been denied in this world."
"Their rights…?" Ryo echoed, his voice hushed in awe.
"B-But… why me?" Akito asked.
"It's because I've heard about your ability – Size Manipulation." The Mutant Thief smiled, eyes gleaming with interest. "The moment I did, I knew I wanted you on my team."
He extended his hand toward Akito.
"So, friend – no… Akito–" his voice softened slightly, "will you join us?"
Akito stared at him.
What should I do?
Should I join?
But then…
He turned his head and looked back at Ryo and Kai.
I can't just leave them.
They've been nothing but kind to me since I got here.
Then–
"So…" the Mutant Thief said. "Have you made your decision, Akito?"
Akito turned back to him and nodded.
"Yes… I have." Akito took step forward. "I'll join you guys."
"Akito…" Ryo muttered, stunned.
"But–" Akito added, raising a hand, "under one condition."
The Mutant Thief raised an eyebrow. "Condition?"
"I'll only join… if you also let these two join." Akito pointed back to Ryo and Kai. "They come with me."
The Mutant Thief followed his finger and stared at the two. He then turned to the blonde girl beside him.
"Looks like our family's growing, Ayu."
The girl – Ayu – smiled brightly.
The Mutant Thief turned back to Akito. "Fine."
Akito smiled gratefully and bowed. "Thank you very much!"
Ryo and Kai both looked at Akito in disbelief.
"Akito…" Kai whispered.
But then–
"But…" the Mutant Thief's voice hardened.
The trio froze.
Akito looked up at him cautiously.
"Joining us… means you'll have to abandon your names."
Akito blinked. "Huh?"
The Mutant Thief's golden eyes glanced at Ryo and Kai. They immediately flinched under his gaze.
He smiled slowly.
"Tell me… what are your abilities?"
Ryo and Kai's eyes widened in unison.
"Wait – you don't know our abilities?" Ryo asked, disbelief creeping into his voice.
The Mutant Thief casually shook his head from side to side.
"Nope."
"Then… how did you know Akito's ability?" Kai asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
The Mutant Thief smirked.
"Because I have an informant."
Akito raised an eyebrow. "Informant?"
"Yeah…" The Mutant Thief nodded. "He's quite the speedster – though he does tend to crash into things."
Ryo and Kai glanced at each other, then nodded. They turned their attention back to the Mutant Thief.
"Teleportation!" Ryo announced.
"Shapeshifting!" Kai added.
The Mutant Thief's smirk deepened. "Teleportation and shapeshifting, huh?"
Then–
He suddenly pointed at Akito.
Akito flinched.
"Molecule."
Akito blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
The Mutant Thief then pointed at Ryo.
"Shifter."
And finally, he pointed at Kai."
"Chameleon."
"Those are your names now," he said with finality.
The three just glanced at one another, absorbing the weight of their new identities.
After a long pause, Ryo spoke up.
"Um… can I ask something?" he said, looking at the Mutant Thief.
The Mutant Thief turned to him, silent but listening.
"People call you the Mutant Thief," Ryo said. "But… what does your ability have to do with that nickname?"
The Mutant Thief's smile returned, this time darker… and more mysterious.
"Because…" he said calmly, "the laser beam isn't my true ability."
The trio's eyes widened in shock.
"What?!" Akito exclaimed. "Then… what is your ability?"
The Mutant Thief opened his mouth and answered:
"My true ability is ???."
Silence fell over the group.
Ryo, Kai, and Akito stood frozen, stunned by the mystery left in the air.
Then–
"Now that you guys have your names," the Mutant Thief said cheerfully, "it's time I introduced you to the rest of the team."
He pointed off to the side.
"First – our informant's name is Velocity."
Next, he gestured to the blonde-haired boy.
"He's Mind."
Mind gave a snort nod in greeting.
Then, he turned to the blonde-haired girl.
"She's Ayu."
"Hello," Ayu said sweetly, offering a small smile.
"And me…" the Mutant Thief said, resting a hand on his chest, "I don't really have a name. But… you can just call me…"
"???."
Back in the Present…
The giant Molecule still stood tall atop the golden Tottori Sand Dunes, Hikaru gripped tightly in his enormous hand.
"On that very day…" Molecule began, his voice a low rumble, "Sinister X gave me purpose. And because of that… I'll do anything he asks to give us mutants the rights we deserve."
With a swift flex of his fingers, Molecule squeezed Hikaru harder in his grasp.
"AAAHHH!" Hikaru cried out, writhing as the crushing force tightened around him.
Molecule lifted his fist to eye level, Hikaru still trapped inside, his face contorted in pain.
"So I must take you to Sinister X," Molecule declared, his turquoise eyes glowing with conviction. "And then… we will finally reclaim our rights."
Gritting his teeth, Hikaru winced in agony. "How… does handing me over to your leader… give you your rights back?"
The giant paused, staring at him in silence.
"…I'm not sure," Molecule admitted after a moment, his expression unreadable. "But… if Sinister X is asking for you, then I'm sure he has a plan."
Silence fell.
Hikaru continued to struggle weakly in Molecule's iron grip, pain still pulsing through his body.
Then–
BRRMMM!
A loud mechanical roar echoed across the dunes.
Both Molecule and Hikaru blinked.
"Huh?" the giant muttered.
Turning toward the source of the sound, Molecule's eyes widened.
Three red dune buggies were racing toward him across the desert sands, engines snarling as they tore through the golden terrain.
In Molecule's grasp, Hikaru narrowed his eyes, straining for a clearer look.
Wait… is that–?
In the first buggy, Ikazuchi was at the wheel, a wicked grin on his face as his blonde hair whipped in the wind. Reito sat beside him, calm and composed as ever.
"WHAT'S UP, MOTHERF@%KA!" Ikazuchi shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing like thunder across the dunes.
Hikaru's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ikazuchi?!"
In the second buggy, Haruto was driving, focused and steady, while Moriya rode shotgun beside him, bracing for action.
"We're here to save you, Hikaru!" Haruto yelled, his voice fierce with determination.
And in the third buggy…
…was Daichi.
Alone behind the wheel, his crimson eyes burned with focus, his brown hair whipping wildly in the wind. The fire in his gaze made one thing clear: he wasn't going to let this mutant get away.
Molecule's jaw clenched.
"What?!" he growled. "How have they caught up to me already?!"
Then–
Ssshhh…
A faint sound rustled beneath him.
Molecule looked down, his eyes going wide with alarm.
The sand beneath his massive feet had begun to shift – twisting, rising, wrapping around his leg like a serpent. It spiralled upward, trapping him in place.
Sweat slid down the side of his face.
Damn it…!
TO BE CONTINUED!!!