February 14, 2013, Thursday, 8:30 am, Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink...
Tokyo was alive with its usual morning bustle, the crisp winter air carrying the distant hum of traffic and the chatter of early commuters. Sunlight filtered through the towering skyscrapers, casting long shadows across the city's streets as pedestrians wrapped in thick coats hurried to their destinations. Despite the chill, the energy of the metropolis never waned: cafés brewed steaming cups of coffee, school bells rang in the distance, and life continued in its rhythmic pulse. Nestled within the heart of this ever-moving city, the Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink stood as a quiet sanctuary, its glass walls reflecting the golden hues of the rising sun. Inside, the cool air carried the sharp scent of freshly resurfaced ice, and the faint sound of blades carving smooth arcs echoed through the vast space. Though sheltered from the city's chaos, the rink had its own energy that pulsed beneath the glistening surface, waiting to be set in motion.
The energy inside the Meiji Jingu Gaien Ice Skating Rink shifted instantly. The sound of restless murmurs spread through the crowd like ripples in water, a growing unease taking hold. Then, a sinister laugh cut through the cold air, laced with something twisted, something wrong. It echoed across the ice, sending an unnatural chill through the atmosphere.
Beyond the civilians, Elric and the sorcerers were already prepared. The moment the eerie presence made itself known, Benikiba and Ino rushed to his side, eyes sharp, their breaths steady despite the sudden tension. They scanned their surroundings, trying to make sense of the disturbance.
Then, the entrance doors swung open. A group of men strode onto the ice, their massive frames draped in hockey uniforms, barely containing their bulging muscles. But it wasn't their size that unsettled the crowd but their eyes. Sinister, glowing red orbs alight with malice. Their grins twisted unnaturally, smiles that promised violence.
Leading the pack was a familiar figure. Hajime Onizuka, the coach-on-probation from Nakameguro High School. His imposing form stepped onto the rink, arms crossed, his presence alone enough to silence the murmuring crowd. The gleeful mockery in his laugh only made it worse, sending a wave of unease through the civilians.
Benikiba and Ino turned to Elric, demanding an explanation.
Elric's voice was steady, but his gaze never left Onizuka. "That man," he said, eyes narrowing, "is the reason why Nakameguro High School is falling apart."
Their expressions darkened as he continued.
"Coach Hajime Onizuka... he is responsible for the chaos brewing at the school. He's the one behind the brainwashing curse objects spreading among students."
Benikiba and Ino stiffened. They had come to Nakameguro High unaware of the depth of the corruption; now, they stood face-to-face with one of its architects.
Elric exhaled through his nose, a thin veil of irritation crossing his features. He had successfully forced Onizuka into a two-week probation, buying himself time to repair the damage at the school. He had planned to fix things quietly, to undo the damage before Onizuka could return.
But then, interlopers happened.
His eyes flickered toward Benikiba and Ino.
Both sorcerers felt an uncomfortable weight settle on them. For all their good intentions, they had stirred a pot that Elric had carefully tried to keep from boiling over.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the city, Nanami suddenly sneezed.
Hina, watching him, raised an eyebrow. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Nanami pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling. "It's nothing," he muttered.
Back at the rink, the tension only thickened. Benikiba and Ino quickly refocused because something was off.
Their sharp senses honed in on the hockey players. Every single one of them was brimming with cursed energy. It wasn't natural. Civilians weren't supposed to have that kind of power.
Benikiba's brows furrowed. "How...?"
Ino's grip on his gloves tightened. "How did civilians attain cursed energy?"
Meanwhile, the hockey players had begun their reign of chaos, turning the rink into their personal playground of intimidation. Their massive forms weaved between unsuspecting skaters, snatching snacks from children's hands with cruel smirks. A few, showing no regard for decency, shoved young skaters aside, sending them sprawling onto the cold ice. The sharp sound of skates screeching echoed through the rink as kids scrambled to get away.
Onizuka was thoroughly enjoying himself.
A man who relished power through fear, he soaked in the uneasy atmosphere with pure amusement. The residents, both locals and foreigners, stood frozen, paralyzed by intimidation. Even the experienced foreign coaches could do nothing, hesitant to intervene against the sheer menace radiating from the team of corrupted players.
Then, Onizuka's sharp gaze locked onto a familiar face.
Coach Kenshiro Asuka.
Standing with Elric and the sorcerers, Asuka initially remained unaware until the predatory grin stretched across Onizuka's face. He sauntered over, his heavy skates clanking against the ice, a rhythm of impending trouble.
Elric tensed, immediately sensing danger. Without hesitation, he turned to Benikiba.
"Get Miruko and the twins out of here," he ordered voice firm.
Benikiba frowned, clearly reluctant to leave at such a crucial moment. But Elric's stare was unwavering. He refused to let his students get dragged into this mess.
"Tch... Fine," she muttered before swiftly vanishing into the crowd, her mission clear.
Ino remained beside Elric, watching the approaching ordeal with narrowed eyes.
Onizuka finally came to a halt in front of Coach Asuka.
Standing inches taller, the corrupt coach looked down at Asuka like he was nothing more than a washed-up insect. His lips curled into a smug grin before his words cut like a blade through the ice-cold air.
"Still dragging yourself around, huh? Pathetic." His voice dripped with mockery. "Tell me, Asuka… how does it feel?"
Asuka remained silent, his expression unreadable, his fists clenched at his sides.
Onizuka leaned in, his voice a venomous whisper, "How does it feel knowing you threw your entire career away for a mistake even a rookie wouldn't make?"
A flicker of pain crossed Asuka's face, but Onizuka wasn't finished. He grinned wider, twisting the knife deeper.
"And let's not forget your fiancée's affair." He chuckled cruelly. "How's it feel knowing she couldn't even wait for you to recover before running into another man's arms?"
The words rippled through the air, hitting harder than a physical blow.
Elric and Ino exchanged a brief glance. They knew Onizuka was cruel, but this… This was deliberate. He wasn't just here to assert dominance; he wanted to break Asuka.
The former Olympian kept his head low, his expression hidden beneath his bangs. His entire body was rigid, trembling with contained fury.
The tension on the ice thickened.
Onizuka smirked, sensing the cracks forming in Asuka's composure, "And your little student? She'll be no different."
The moment the words left Onizuka's lips, Asuka's shoulders jerked. A faint twitch caused a crack in the ice. He was about to snap.
But just before his rage could fully take over, something shifted.
A realization popped into his head. A name surfaced in his mind, crashing over his anger like a freezing wave.
Where was he?
Asuka's sharp eyes darted around the rink, his anger momentarily forgotten. Something was wrong.
One of the hockey players, a particularly large and dangerous one, was missing. His gut twisted.
Onizuka's grin stretched wider. "Oh, don't worry about him," he said, voice soaked in amusement. "That big oaf is just changing into his hockey uniform."
Asuka's breath caught in his throat. A chilling dread slithered down his spine. The name Reika smacked his head like a bat. His heart pounded. He scanned the rink frantically, but she wasn't there.
At that moment, Benikiba returned, her face shadowed with urgency. "Elric," she said, her voice sharp. "I got the twins to safety."
Elric exhaled, about to nod in relief, but then she continued.
"Bad news," Her tone darkened, "The girl is missing."
A heavy silence settled.
Elric closed his eyes for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. He reached up and scratched his head, irritated, "…Of course."
Benikiba's expression tightened.
Miruko and Reika were missing.
Meanwhile, deep within the locker room, Reika sat inside a cabinet in the shoe-changing area, her knees drawn to her chest. The cold, enclosed space did little to calm her trembling heart. She cursed herself and spat at her own cowardice.
Why did I run?
She wiped her tear-streaked face, biting down on her lip. She had fled from a stranger, even though he was talking to her coach. Maybe she had panicked; perhaps it was a mistake, but none of that mattered now.
Because something far worse was lurking nearby.
A heavy thump shook the room.
Reika froze, breath hitching. A massive shadow loomed over the area through the small opening of the cabinet door. The fluorescent light flickered against sweaty, pale skin, a monstrous form that blocked out everything.
Her stomach twisted. She knew who the man was. It was Daisuke "The Glutton" Onishi.
A vile, disgusting predator. His crimes against children were well known; a pedophile who had been arrested but somehow evaded trial due to a lack of evidence. Justice had failed. Society had let him walk free.
And now, he was here.
Reika's hands clamped over her mouth. Every muscle in her body screamed to stay silent. She prayed desperately that he would just pass by.
But then, a horrible sound was heard, "Sniff..."
A grotesque snorting sound filled the air.
Reika's eyes widened in horror.
Another deep sniff. Then, a wet, guttural chuckle, "Something smells… nice."
Her blood ran cold. The Glutton could smell her.
Like a beast tracking its prey, The Glutton sniffed the air again, his thick fingers twitching with excitement. His beady, hungry eyes scanned the row of lockers and cabinets, his breathing ragged as he followed the invisible trail.
Step.
Step.
Step.
He stopped before her cabinet, "I smell a girl…"
His bloated, sweaty hand reached forward, fingers curling around the handle.
Reika felt her stomach drop. Panic overtook her.
The moment the door creaked open, she burst out like a coiled spring, her body moving on sheer survival instinct.
With the grace of an Olympic gymnast, she vaulted over the benches, her feet barely touching the ground.
She could just get away, but then a massive hand snatched her out of the air.
Her left arm was caught. The force nearly yanked her shoulder out of its socket as she was jerked backward.
The Glutton grinned, "Hold on, little angel… Don't be scared."
His voice was sickly sweet, laced with something vile, "Let's play."
Terror consumed her. Reika thrashed, twisting in his grip. Her right foot shot up, a desperate kick aiming straight for his face.
Her heel connected with his nose. It was a solid hit. But he didn't even flinch. The mass of flesh barely moved.
Instead, his grin widened, "That's not very nice…" he murmured. His fingers wrapped around Reika's kicking leg. "You're a bad girl."
Then he squeezed.
Pain exploded through Reika's leg with a crunching pressure. Like her bones were about to shatter under his monstrous grip.
She let out a choked sob, eyes screwing shut against the agony.
And then something tapped against the back of The Glutton's head.
It was a small metallic sound, Clink.
His massive head turned. A single soda can rolled across the floor. And standing a few feet away, Miruko.
Her stance was firm, but her eyes wavered. She had been so sure she could help. That she could save Reika.
But now, Her heart pounded. Because she had underestimated the monster in front of her. And now, it wasn't just about saving Reika. She needed to save herself.
Because the chances of a teenage girl surviving against a fat pig, no… a fat boar, ready to crush his prey… had just dropped drastically.
Back at the rink, the tension had yet to ease.
Ino took a step forward, arms crossed, his voice steady but sharp as he began explaining.
"The guy in the locker room? That's Daisuke "The Glutton" Onishi." His tone was filled with disgust. "A certified creep with a horrific track record. His crimes," he exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching, "let's just say he should've been rotting in a prison cell. But thanks to a lack of evidence, he got off scot-free."
When Ino called The Glutton a creep, Onizuka's head snapped toward him. A mocking chuckle escaped the corrupt coach.
"Oi, oi, oi…" Onizuka smirked, shaking his head. "Careful there, pal. You might wanna watch your mouth. Slander's a crime, y'know. I could sue you for talking bad about my dear friend."
Elric let out a deep sigh. Then, with deliberate ease, he stepped between them and placed his arm across Ino's and Onizuka's shoulders.
A slow, smug smirk tugged at his lips.
"Really?" he said, voice dripping with mock amusement. "Then I should say the same thing," Elric's grin widened, "You fat hippo... I should sue you for talking bad about my friend."
Onizuka's face twisted in disbelief.
Ino, however, felt a small spark of joy. "Elric just called me his friend."
The insult finally sank in, and Onizuka bristled. His face darkened in rage, veins bulging at his thick neck.
"You little shrimp..." he barked, his words boiling over in fury. He was ready to hurl several insults at Elric, but something stopped him.
A strange, nagging deja vu nagged at his head.
His rage flickered with suspicion, "He looked… familiar. But why?"
His eyes scanned the messy, shaggy hair, the unkempt disguise.
Elric's lips curled into a lazy smirk, "The name's Akato."
Ino's eyebrows shot up, "Wait... what?!"
Elric... no, "Akato" continued, keeping his cool demeanor.
"Elric? Oh, you mean my disowned twin brother." He let out a mock sigh. "Yeah, we finally reunited recently. Decided to work together. You know, as brothers do."
Ino barely kept a straight face. "Elric, what the hell are you doing?!"
Akato, one of Elric's aliases, then tilted his head, flashing mock concern.
"And funny enough… I heard from Elric that you were doing bad things." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head dramatically. "And now, seeing it firsthand, I gotta say…"
His smirk sharpened, "I might have to sue you back."
Onizuka's eyelid twitched. "…For what?" he spat.
Akato's smile didn't falter. "For terrorizing my brother." His voice was calm, almost amused. "And the school he works at."
The battle of words was just getting heated.
But before Onizuka could respond, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the tension.
The entire rink froze. A man's voice was heard. It was loud and panic-stricken.
The source came from the shoe-changing area.
Back in the changing room, the air was thick with tension.
Miruko stood firm, facing the monstrous figure of The Glutton. His massive form loomed, his beady eyes filled with dark amusement. Without warning, he dropped Reika to the floor, focusing entirely on Miruko.
The second she saw his bloated frame shift forward, Miruko's instincts screamed. He charged with a weight-defying burst of speed.
Miruko reacted instantly, kicking another soda can straight at his face.
Clink!
It hit its mark, bouncing off his forehead, but the giant didn't flinch. His momentum remained unstoppable. His thick arms lunged forward, attempting to ensnare her in a bone-crushing bear hug.
Miruko ducked low, just in time. She slipped past his grasp, her sharp reflexes guiding her body into a counterattack.
Her fists shot forward, delivering a rapid-fire flurry of jabs to his stomach.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
But the damage did nothing. The Glutton's obese belly absorbed every hit, her blows sinking into the sheer mass of flesh without causing so much as a grunt.
Miruko gritted her teeth.
She kept dodging, weaving, throwing more punches and kicks, attacking every weak spot she could find.
Yet, no matter how many times she struck, the monster didn't slow down.
Then, a backswing was thrown, and his right arm moved like a wrecking ball. Miruko didn't have time to dodge.
CRASH.
His massive limb slammed into her side, sending her flying across the room. Her body smashed into a locker. The metal caved in, the sheer force denting it inward, leaving a crater-like impact.
Pain exploded through her ribs. A warm trickle of blood dripped down her face. Her breath came out ragged. Broken ribs. The realization hit hard.
It felt like she had been struck by a demolition hammer.
Before she could even process the pain, she heard the sound of heavy stomping. The Glutton was approaching.
Miruko's body refused to move. His shadow loomed over her, massive hands reaching forward. His thick fingers wrapped around her throat.
The Glutton lifted her off the ground with one hand, watching her like a cat playing with a wounded bird. His grip tightened.
She gasped, legs kicking helplessly.
The Glutton's disturbing grin stretched wider.
"Y'know..." he murmured, his voice dripping with hunger. "...I usually go for kids, but..."
His beady, glistening eyes ran over her battered form. "You look... appetizing."
A wave of nausea and fear crashed over Miruko. That single word sent pure horror through her chest.
And then he laughed a deep, sinister chuckle.
His sinister grin widened. His thick, sweaty hands reached toward Miruko.
Her vision blurred. Her body weakened. She was losing consciousness.
And then she saw a flash of memories that weren't hers. It was a nightmare, a vision of pain, torment, and suffering. Her heart pounded. Her mind snapped back. Something inside her snapped a spark. Then, a blinding surge of cursed energy released lightning. A violent electric current exploded from her body.
The Glutton's eyes widened in shock, then in agony.
The electric charge surged through his entire body, frying him inside out.
"AAAAAAGH!!"
The scream that tore from his throat was inhuman.
His massive frame convulsed, blue-white lightning arcs burst from his flesh. Smoke poured from his eyes, mouth, and nostrils.
Reika, still trembling on the floor, stared in shock. The room had turned into a lightning storm, arcs of electricity crackling in all directions.
The Glutton's muscles spasmed violently. His massive knees hit the ground. His grip loosened.
Miruko fell to the floor, coughing violently. She sucked in a painful breath, her ribs screaming in protest. Still shaking, she forced herself to her feet and immediately rushed toward Reika.
"Are you okay?" Miruko's voice was rough, her body still tingling from the aftershock of her own attack.
Reika's wide eyes locked onto her. Then she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Miruko.
Tears streamed down her face, "You saved me…!"
Her tiny body trembled, clutching onto Miruko like her last lifeline.
Miruko winced. A sharp, agonizing pain shot through her ribs. Reika's embrace had pressed against her broken bones.
The younger girl quickly pulled back, concerned, "You're hurt!"
Miruko forced a smirk. "It's nothing."
She was lying through her teeth. But she didn't want Reika to worry.
At least her efforts weren't in vain.
But then a low, guttural groan echoed from behind them. Both girls froze.
Slowly, they turned, and their blood ran cold. The Glutton was still alive.
His huge, scorched body twitched. His limbs cracked as he slowly pushed himself up.
Miruko's eyes widened in disbelief, "How…?! After all of that?!"
But something was wrong. The fat titan moved unnaturally. His head twitched, his muscles spasming.
Miruko realized the Glutton was still unconscious. His rage-filled subconscious was taking over.
A grotesque snarl escaped his lips, "Kill... Kill..."
The Glutton charged like a drooling, mindless beast, saying the same thing, "I will kill you, *****!!!"
His shoulders smashed into the walls, breaking through them like a battering ram.
Miruko snatched Reika up, dragging her along. Reika clung to her like a koala, her small arms wrapped around Miruko's torso. Pain exploded through Miruko's ribs from Reika's grip, but she had no choice.
The fat boar was coming. Walls crumbled behind them. The hallway shook under his immense weight.
And then a chorus of panicked screams erupted. Miruko and Reika had just burst into the ice rink with the rampaging beast behind them.
Out from the changing room entrance, a battered Miruko emerged, staggering under the weight of a panicked Reika clinging onto her like a lifeline.
Benikiba, Elric, Ino, and Asuka all froze, their eyes widening at the horrific state Miruko was in. Bruised, bleeding, and barely holding herself up, she pushed forward on pure adrenaline.
Onizuka, however, was confused. "What the hell are you two running from?" he scoffed, his arms crossing impatiently.
Then, a thunderous crash was heard. The walls around the entrance exploded, sending debris flying across the floor.
Dust and rubble rained down, revealing a hulking shadow emerging from the smoke. It was the Glutton.
The moment Asuka saw him, he screamed. It wasn't just the sheer size of the monster that terrified him; it was his eyes. There was no thought, no awareness, just pure, seething, animalistic rage.
Onizuka's smugness instantly shattered. "Oi! Stand down, you idiot!" he barked.
But The Glutton did not listen. Instead, his massive frame barreled forward, his wild eyes locked onto Miruko and Reika.
The ice rink trembled under the sheer force of his stampeding charge.
As Miruko ran, her broken ribs screamed in agony. The moment The Glutton's thick, meaty hand reached out, inches from grabbing her, his vision snapped back to reality. However, something was wrong.
The world tilted sideways. A sudden whiplash of impact. A violent force sent his entire body twisting in midair. He had no idea what hit him.
Two figures stood where he once charged, Benikiba and Elric. They had struck simultaneously.
Benikiba's right hook slammed into his jaw; Elric's side-thrust kick struck to the right temple. The combined force sent the Glutton spinning midair like a twisted ragdoll before he crashed into the ground, motionless.
A sickening silence followed. The infamous beast had been felled in an instant. The entire rink stared in stunned disbelief.
Onizuka's jaw went slack. He had expected an unstoppable monster, yet he was crumpled on the ground like a discarded sack of meat.
Asuka snapped back to reality first, rushing toward Reika.
"Reika!" His eyes darted across her bruised left arm and injured right leg. His stomach twisted. "You... did that thing do this to you?!"
Reika nodded weakly, still trembling. "If... If Miruko-san hadn't saved me… I…" Her voice cracked.
Asuka turned to Miruko. She stood there, barely keeping herself upright, her breaths shallow, her skin slick with sweat and blood.
Despite everything, she chuckled weakly. Elric, standing close by, simply stared at her. His expression was calm, stern. Then, without warning, he flicked her forehead.
"Idiot." His voice was cool, but there was an underlying edge of concern.
Miruko's eyes twitched. She immediately tried to retaliate, but then she coughed violently, crimson blood splattering onto the floor.
Asuka and Benikiba gasped at the sight.
Elric's eyes narrowed. "Broken ribs," he muttered, assessing the damage. His hands moved swiftly, but then he noticed something else.
"Her bruised neck," his expression darkened, "the marks of strangulation..."
For a brief second, Elric's mind plunged into the abyss of memory. He had seen this before, Human traffickers, Religious fanatics, and Megalomaniacs who saw others as disposable toys.
Miruko's injuries weren't just physical. They were a reminder of the victims he had saved in the past. His body tensed.
Then Onizuka snapped out of his shock and snarled. "This... This is assault! You attacked my friend!" His voice was laced with fake confidence. "I can sue you for this in court!"
Elric's head tilted slightly and then spoke, "Shut up."
His voice was low and cold. A chill spread through the ice rink. Onizuka froze.
Elric's seething wrath erupted like a pressure bomb.
The entire rink felt it. A suffocating weight like raw bloodlust made real.
The coaches, the young skaters, and even the hockey players who once stood like untouchable monsters, all of them were paralyzed in fear.
Even Onizuka, for all his bravado, could feel his body trembling.
Then, the atmosphere shifted. Elric's eyes flickered. His anger receded because the Glutton stood up.
Benikiba and Ino stiffened in disbelief. The monster had resurrected.
Ino thought, "How? His jaw was smashed. His temple had been crushed. And yet he stood looking like he did not take any damage."
Still shaken by Elric's aura, the residents shuddered in horror.
Onizuka, however, grinned. His arrogance returned. He strode toward the towering behemoth, laughing, "Well, well! You thought you could put him down? Pathetic."
Onizuka spread his arms dramatically. "You see, all of this? This entire place?" He gestured around the rink. "It's all just a stepping stone for my real goal."
His grin widened, "I'm gonna tear down this rink. The buildings, the surrounding properties? All of it."
He let out a mock sigh, "Gotta make room for something better, you know? Like… a horse racing arena."
His eyes gleamed with cruelty. "And you people?" He sneered. "You're just money trees waiting to be plucked."
Silence fell.
Then he gave a mocking laugh, "So here's the deal. If you all do exactly as I say, maybe, just maybe, I won't sue."
The faces around the rink grew grim. Fear and helplessness sank into the atmosphere. Benikiba's angered expression showed.
But one person remained calm, Elric. His expression barely changed. Instead, his hand moved toward Miruko's side.
Miruko blinked and blushed, "Elric, what the hell...!?"
His fingers searched for something on her bloodied uniform.
Benikiba's eyes twitched, "Elric, what are you... DON'T JUST GROPE HER!"
Then, a click was heard. Elric pulled a small, peculiar device from Miruko's belt loop. It was a hidden camera.
Elric, no, "Akato" unscrewed the back panel.
And then his smirk widened. "Well, well. What do we have here?"
The moment Akato played the recorded footage, Onizuka's face turned pale.
It had captured everything: the Glutton's crimes, his attempted assault on Reika, and his violent rampage.
And then, Akato began listing them like a police officer reciting charges in a courtroom: Multiple counts of child exploitation and endangerment, attempted sexual assault of a minor, unlawful detainment and battery, aggravated assault and bodily harm, destruction of private and public property, and reckless endangerment and incitement of public fear.
Onizuka's forehead dripped with sweat. His confidence shattered. He was in deep, deep trouble. And now, Akato was ready to turn Onizuka's plan into a living nightmare.