Chapter 6: Disposable Heroes

The first rays of the sun illuminated the cold pine forest on the outskirts of “La Ciudad Blanca*“. A flock of crows circled the smoking crater left by the previous night’s battle, where echoes of wailing and lightning still lingered. Between their squawks, Asim Nasr opened his coal-black eyes and ran his trembling hands through his feathered hair, which had somehow grown at least four centimeters longer.

—What. the f...?— He shivered as the morning breeze brushed against his bare back. His clothes were gone. —No way!— He hurriedly covered himself with his hands, glancing around to make sure nobody had caught him like this. He had a reputation to protect.

When he realized he was alone,one of his little feathered buddies caught his eye. Guiding him to a pile of ashes and burnt rags, where a bracelet identical to the one they’d locked onto him inside the shelter lay half-buried.

—The stupid bracelet?— He lifted it out of the sparks with a stick, only to realize the one on his own wrist was gone. He’d tried countless times to remove the electroshock band before, but it had never budged. Before he could inspect it any closer, a familiar hiss called out to him.

— You are not leaving much to the imagination,Booty-chan.— A girl with crane-like feathered hair, covered in ash, smirked as she limped toward him.

—Vanessa!— Nazz rushed over just as she stumbled, catching her against his chest.

—Sōdesu ka*... Guess you still haven’t grown up.— She smiled weakly, cheeks flushed, eyes closed.

—Oh, shut up, dummy.— Nazz froze when he saw the horrible burn covering her back. —Seriously... are you okay, Vane?

Before Nasr could drown in guilt over what his outburst had caused, a soot-covered sheet landed over both of them.

—Hey! Hands off!— someone shouted, yanking them apart. —You’re gonna ruin Van-chan’s future husband prospects!

—Big bro!— Vanessa gasped as her falcon dropped casually from a nearby branch.

—Hawk! Dude, how are you even alive?— Nazz laughed, wrapping the scorched sheet around himself like a toga.

—I... think...— Hawk grinned, raising a confident fist. —I accidentally pulled off... “Shunkanidō*.”

Hours earlier, as Hawk clashed talons with the massive mountain lion, the Chimera’s deadly lightning—seconds away from incinerating him—triggered his Awakening. Golden light engulfed his feathered body before he vanished in a flash, leaving only his tan tactical vest behind. He reappeared at sunrise, fast asleep in a pine tree.

—Still... I’ve got a lot to figure out.— He scratched pine needles out of his hair with an embarrassed smile.

—Instant Teleportation? Dude, that’s awesome!— Nazz threw up a pair of rock horns, already hyping Hawk’s new Awakening. —Wait... didn’t Master tell you to quit naming your techniques?

—Only because your loud mouth blew our cover.— Vanessa bonked him on the head.

—Ow! Hey—ow!— She instantly winced, her joke ending as pain shot through her burned back and her knees buckled.

—Van-chan!— Hawk rushed over, searching through his sister’s pockets until he found a syringe and a small vial tucked inside her vest.

—I’m... okay, bro.— She clenched her teeth as he prepared the injection. —We can’t stop now... That fat jerk isn’t getting away.

—Forget the mission! She’s losing blood!— Nazz dropped beside them.

Process: https://youtube.com/shorts/uMWEJFftMlc?is=Mda_qnfB0Brrvrel

—The mission comes first. End of discussion.— Hawk’s cold, hawk-like stare shut him down.

—Forget that! Vanessa comes first!— Nazz shoved him backward. —I’m not letting her die over some stupid mission!

The Hinotori answered with silent, judgmental stares.

—Yeah... figures.— Nazz scratched the back of his neck and looked away. —This is exactly why my parents wanted me out of your crazy cult.

He turned his back on them. To the Hinotori, the mission always came before a person’s life. Just like the Sensei had drilled into them.

— But, what about the victims? — Hawk followed to confront him. — Do you think your parents cared about them?... If we were all that cowardly, no one would survive these beasts!

— Co... Cowards? — The crow tried to hit him in the face. — What do you know about my parents, asshole!

— The only thing I know, Asim, is that your people will suffer greatly if you don’t do something! — He caught her blow effortlessly.

— So what! Leave that to the freaking police —, he snatched his arm. — I owe shit to the morons who locked me up —, he said, when he felt Vanessa lean against his back.

— Hundreds of children have died because of this —, she formed a trembling fist on the crow’s shoulder blade. — That puma hybrid was just the beginning. Their leader, “El Elfo*“, is much worse. You have to go back, Asim... The six of us have to work together!