Empire of the Unseen

Shadows Against the Light

The Yakuza office hummed with activity, a quiet symphony of whispered orders, cigarette smoke, and shuffling papers. Hajime leaned against the wall, flipping through the dossier Renji had handed him. Inside were photos, maps, and detailed notes on their next target—a politician who had betrayed the Yakuza by leaking classified information to their rivals.

Loyalty demanded justice.

Renji sat across from him, calmly sipping sake, his expression unreadable. Crow stood near the window, arms crossed, silhouetted against the city lights. Despite the calm, Hajime felt it—an unease creeping up his spine.

"Everything clear, Hajime?" Renji asked, lighting a cigarette with practiced ease.

Hajime closed the dossier. "Clear enough. But this target… He's too clean. He's got protection. Superpowered protection."

Renji smirked. "You're sharp. That's why the Oyabun trusts you with these missions."

Crow finally spoke, his voice cold and clipped. "If protection's an issue, we'll deal with it. No one crosses us and walks away."

Hajime nodded, but his instincts warned him there was more to this mission than they realized.

Revealing the Powers

As they prepped for the mission, Hajime turned to his companions. "I know you've been doing this longer than I have. What exactly can you two do?"

Renji grinned, extending his hand. A faint glow surrounded it, and a sleek dagger materialized. "I'm a Creator. I can generate tools, weapons, whatever I need—so long as I've seen it before."

Crow stepped forward, his shadow rippling unnaturally. "Darkness is my domain. I'm a Shadow Binder. I can weaponize shadows or vanish completely."

Hajime smirked. "So, we've got a craftsman, a ghost, and a strategist. Not bad."

Crow's eyes narrowed. "And you? What's your trick?"

Hajime hesitated, then smirked. "You'll see when the time's right."

The Encounter with Vanguard

The politician's mansion was a fortress, bristling with guards. As they scouted the perimeter, Hajime noticed something unusual: a figure perched on a nearby rooftop.

The figure leapt down, landing with a thud. He was clad in a sleek black-and-blue suit, a silver mask obscuring his face.

Renji's expression darkened. "Vanguard. The hero."

Vanguard folded his arms. "I know why you're here. The Yakuza's chaos ends tonight."

Hajime stepped forward, his calm demeanor masking his irritation. "We don't want trouble. Walk away, and this stays quiet."

Vanguard chuckled. "You think you can intimidate me? You're out of your league."

Crow's shadow surged toward Vanguard, but the hero dodged effortlessly. "So, it's a fight you want."

The Fight

Vanguard charged, his glowing fists slamming into Renji's conjured sword, sparks flying. Hajime hung back, analyzing his movements. Vanguard was fast, too fast for an ordinary human.

"Renji, cover his left!" Hajime shouted. Renji blocked Vanguard's energy blast while Crow's shadows snaked around the hero's legs, binding him momentarily.

Vanguard broke free with a burst of energy, sending Crow reeling. Hajime moved in, his perception of time slowing as he anticipated Vanguard's every move. He delivered a precise blow to the hero's neck, staggering him.

Vanguard smirked, blood trickling from his lip. "Not bad. But you're just criminals playing a game you don't understand."

Hajime stepped back. "Enough. Let's go."

Reluctantly, Renji and Crow followed, disappearing into the night.

First Problems

Back at the headquarters, the Oyabun waited, his expression unreadable.

"You let the hero live," he said, his tone cold.

Hajime stepped forward. "Killing him would've drawn too much attention. We handled it."

The Oyabun's gaze hardened. "This isn't a game, Hajime. Heroes don't stop. Next time, you might not be so lucky."

"I'll deal with them," Hajime replied evenly.

As they left the office, Crow muttered, "The Oyabun's right. Heroes are a problem."

"Every problem has a solution," Hajime replied. "And I'm good at finding them.