The Superior Rebirth: A Hero's Awakening

The Devil in the Fog

The scene opened on the cold, cobbled streets of London. Lantern-lit fog clung to the air, trailing behind two boys sprinting through the dark. Blood dripped from their cuts. Breaths were ragged. Jupiter carried an unconscious Jason over his shoulders, legs trembling with each step.

"There has to be someone—" Jupiter's thoughts raced. "Someone who saw the flare... Jason shot it. They should've seen it by now..."

But then—
A voice cut in. Calm. Mocking. Bone-chilling.

"You brats sure are slow at running, huh?" the voice teased from the shadows. "Why don't you ditch that friend of yours and try saving yourself next time?"

Jupiter froze mid-step.

That voice belonged to the monster they were fleeing from. The one who had torn through them like paper, without even trying. The one who came alongside Heinrich on their mission to wipe out the Lantern Society and anyone tied to it.

Yuto Takasugi.

Jupiter staggered, nearly falling backward as Yuto emerged from the fog. His face bore that same twisted grin as before.

"What's the matter?" Yuto taunted, eyes gleaming. "Scared?"

"Like hell I am," Jupiter shot back, though his voice cracked.

"Oh my! What foul language!" Yuto clutched his chest dramatically. "Who raised such a rude little brat?"

"Not your business. Just shut up and leave us alone, freak."

Yuto opened his arms wide. "Then come do something about it. You really think I'd just let you and your little friend walk away? This all could've been avoided if you hadn't tangled with an underworld cult."

"The Lantern Society isn't a cult," Jupiter snapped.

Yuto raised a brow. "You actually believe that garbage?"

"I do."

Carefully, Jupiter propped Jason upright against a wall. His head tilted forward, unconscious. Jupiter stood, fists raised. His purple aura flared faintly from his skin.

"I should've brought my blade," he muttered to himself. "If only I knew something like this would happen when we followed Miss Victoria."

Before he could ready himself fully, a fist exploded across his face. He stumbled back, blood spilling from his nose.

"Losing focus in a fight? Rookie mistake," Yuto said, shaking his hand.

Jupiter retaliated with a punch, but Yuto sidestepped effortlessly. A counterstrike to the ribs. An elbow to the jaw. A flurry of blows followed, relentless. Jupiter cried out as a brutal kick launched him across the stone road.

Yuto strolled forward, calm as ever, not even glancing at Jason's battered form. His eyes were locked on Jupiter—the stubborn kid who still dared to stand.

The fight was over before it began. Another punch sent Jupiter flying into a brick wall with a sickening crunch. His head struck the stone. Blood trickled down his forehead. His vision blurred.

His thoughts spiraled.

"Why am I so weak?"

"I couldn't even help Jason. I couldn't fight back. I couldn't stop him."

"Maybe I'm not as special as everyone thinks."

"I'm not like Xavier. I wish I was."

"I'm always one step behind."

He clenched his fists weakly, whispering to himself:

"Sorry, Xavier... I guess I wasn't the rival brother you deserved."