[4] I'll be fine, right?

That night, amidst the darkened city bathed in neon lights, a young woman with a striking appearance stood atop a building's roof, observing the chaos unfolding below. Her long, waist-length hair, a deep brown with a neatly cut hime style, fluttered gently in the night breeze. Her sapphire-blue eyes glinted sharply, reflecting an anger that was hard to conceal. Asuka Koukawa, an elite member of the UFS (United Federation of American-Pacific States), was known as one of the strongest soldiers under the command of the DSO (Defense Science Office), a specialised department directly under the UFS Department of Defence. But tonight, she faced a challenge far greater than she had anticipated.

"Asuka, focus. Don't let this chaos distract you," she murmured to herself, her grip tightening around the blade concealed within her prosthetic arm.

Her four prosthetic limbs—two arms and two legs—were not merely tools, but deadly weapons that provided her with superhuman strength and the ability to deploy blades. These prosthetics, developed with the most advanced technology by the DSO, gave her extraordinary power and speed, and combat skills that earned her the nickname "Iron Reaper." The sharp blades concealed within the metal of her limbs were ready to be deployed at any moment to finish her enemies.

The night's mission had started smoothly. Asuka had spent the last three hours tracking a dangerous criminal allied with the Chinese Union. According to intelligence reports, the criminal was carrying the latest biological weapon codenamed "Ghoul." Asuka had managed to ambush them during a cargo transfer at the docks, destroying the armed group protecting the weapon. However, everything turned into a nightmare when the truck supposedly carrying ordinary smuggled goods turned out to contain the Ghoul itself.

The terrifying biological creature had awakened amidst the chaos and was now rampaging through the streets, spreading terror among innocent civilians. The creature's roars echoed, shattering the night's silence, while Asuka could only watch anxiously from the shadows, her body concealed in a tight pink combat suit that highlighted every curve of her athletic form.

"This is dire... This Ghoul shouldn't be roaming free like this," Asuka hissed, her eyes never leaving the creature that was now destroying everything in its path.

Asuka's blue eyes narrowed sharply as her mind worked to find a way to act. As a UFS secret agent, keeping her identity concealed was a top priority. Yet, the situation before her forced her to face a difficult choice. The Ghoul was rampaging through the streets, causing panic that made people flee like ants scattered by water. Time was ticking, and the longer she waited, the greater the risk of her covert operation being exposed.

Taking a deep breath, Asuka prepared to move quickly and decisively. But as she was about to leap from the shadows where she hid, her gaze was drawn to something that made her pause—a man with a handsome face and shimmering white hair standing under the streetlight. The man stood firm, wielding a metal pipe as if ready to face a creature that could tear a human apart with a single blow.

"Oh my God, what is he thinking?!" Asuka shouted inwardly, horrified by the man's seemingly foolish bravery. His face conveyed both confusion and concern. She couldn't understand what would drive someone to confront a Ghoul alone, especially without a suitable weapon.

-GROOOWL!-

The terrifying roar of the Ghoul shattered the night's silence, reverberating through the now desolate streets. The creature, previously engaged in destruction, now turned its attention to the man. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him with seething hatred, muscles tensing in preparation to strike. Yet, the man showed no sign of fear.

Kou, the handsome man with white hair, merely scoffed, his eagle-sharp eyes fixed on the beast before him. Anger boiled within him, clearly visible in his twitching expression. The hand gripping the metal pipe tightened, as if it were a sacred sword from another world.

"This world may be different," Kou muttered with a low but resolute tone, his eyes shining with confidence. "But my swordsmanship will not be overshadowed by an unfamiliar foe."

In an instant, Kou's body moved with a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to follow. His movements were so swift and graceful, it was as if he was dancing on the wind. Each step flowed like water, yet the power in every swing was as sharp as lightning, ready to shatter anything in its path. The technique he used was unlike anything commonly seen in this world—it was a swordsmanship style from another realm, known as the Aslan Sword Style.

"First Form - Sword Dance," Kou whispered softly.

His movements were so rapid and smooth that they resembled a shadow dancing in the moonlight. Kou glided around the Ghoul with breathtaking speed, wielding his metal pipe, now transformed into a lethal weapon. Each slash was precise and focused, targeting the creature's vital points.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment. The monster froze, its eyes widening in shock before its body collapsed to the ground. The sound of flesh splitting and bones cracking filled the air as the Ghoul was sliced into several pieces by Kou's nearly imperceptible movements. Kou stood amidst the debris that was once the terrifying creature, his breathing calm, as if what had just transpired was merely part of his daily routine.

Asuka, watching from the shadows, could only remain silent, her body frozen in profound shock. "What... did I just see...?" she murmured, her voice almost inaudible, mesmerised and astonished by the extraordinary abilities of the man before her.

Her usually calm blue eyes were now filled with confusion and awe. Her gaze was fixed on the man's broad back, which seemed so strong and unshakable. It was as if the world around her had stopped, and Asuka felt caught in a whirlpool of thoughts—who was he? How could someone with such immense power appear in the midst of the city without any warning?

In her confusion, Asuka barely noticed the repeated voice message from her colleagues in her earpiece. "Asuka, status report! What's happening there? Asuka, respond!" The voice that would usually prompt a swift response from her was now merely background noise.

As the sound of police sirens began to wail in the distance, Kou, with a calmness that almost defied logic, walked away leisurely from the scene. His steps were measured, as if what had just occurred was nothing more than a minor disruption in his routine. Each footprint he left on the pavement seemed like part of an illusion he had created—Kou had the ability to manipulate the perceptions of those around him, making them see what he wanted them to see. Effortlessly, he vanished into the crowd, obscuring himself from view and memory, including from the arriving police.

Asuka, snapping out of her trance, quickly grabbed her communication device. "He... he's gone," she reported, her voice still tinged with restrained awe. "That man, he's not ordinary. I'll gather more information and report back."

With her breath still uneven, Asuka turned and began to formulate a plan to track down the mysterious man. Despite her professional instincts urging her to act swiftly, her heart could not ignore the burning curiosity within. Who was this man, and where did such incredible power come from?