Stood in awe, Akihiko couldn’t set his eyes off the self-driving motorcycle. It was a technological marvel, the likes of which he had never seen before: unlike a standard motorcycle, it had three wheels, granting it enhanced stability. The lean and sleek form of the machine was accentuated by its two front wheels.93Please respect copyright.PENANAvapaUru5YE
Besides, the young man was as puzzled by the cryptic words it uttered to him seconds ago.93Please respect copyright.PENANABBcW7Zeurf
“’Shadows’? Is that how you call these ‘yokai’?”, he inquired, thirsty for answers. “And what is all this ‘Dark Hour’ business?”
A tense silence hung in the air while he awaited for a response.
“This is neither the time nor the place for explanations,” the motorcycle answered with the same uncanny coldness and elegance as before. “You are still in danger. Stay sharp.”
It was right: the “Dark Hour” was far from over, and the Shadows, as this enigmatic guardian had called them, were far from defeated.
Akihiko nodded, obeying the instruction. He and the motorcycle remained vigilant to their surroundings, ready for the next threat to rear its sinister head.
And sure enough, it didn't take long for the malevolent entities to regroup. A new wave of Shadows closed in on them, their eerie, smoky forms and masks swirling with malice.
“They are closing in. Brace yourself.” The motorcycle ordered to his protégé. Its turret whirred to life, and precise projectiles of light streaked through the streets, dispersing some of the approaching Shadows with ease.
However, a few managed to evade the attacks, slinking towards the aspiring boxer.
Without a moment's hesitation, the motorcycle revved its engine and sprang into action. The sleek machine maneuvered with unparalleled agility, weaving between the ethereal Shadows. Its metallic body seemed to dance, evading the lunges and strikes of the otherworldly beings with a fluid grace that belied its mechanical nature as it dispatched them with new shots.
Outstanding… Akihiko could barely contain his fascination at the display of both ingenuity and power.
The motorcycle wasn't just a means of defense; it was a formidable force in its own right, a living weapon that had seemingly mastered the art of combat within the confines of this nightmarish realm. Its sleek frame gleamed with each evasive maneuver as it continued to outsmart and take down the encroaching threats with perfect accuracy.93Please respect copyright.PENANAtA29qHEiqM
One... two... three, the mind controlling the motorcycle murmured with chilling precision as it neutralized the remaining foes. Its movements weren't just cold, automated responses; they were the embodiment of controlled fury. All Shadows executed.93Please respect copyright.PENANAQQrs79668r
As the last of the creatures dissipated into wisps of darkness, the motorcycle came to a graceful halt, its engine purring softly.93Please respect copyright.PENANArfLwsLLMt1
Akihiko's heart rate began to return to something resembling normal.
“That… that was amazing!”, he exclaimed, overjoyed by that victory. He moved toward his mechanical savior to thank it.
But then, a guttural growl cut through the peace they believed restored.
“Stand back!”, the motorcycle alerted the boxer, with an human sense of urgency that somehow contradicted the artificial nature it seemed to imply until that instant. Akihiko was too caught in the tension of the moment to note it.
A new presence emerged; a new Shadow. This Shadow was different, larger and more menacing than the others. Its body was akin to a bear or a gorilla.93Please respect copyright.PENANAl3zoWdmzeH
Bright projectiles were shot by the motorcycle.
This cannot be! But to its dismay, the burly Shadow seemed impervious to their impact.93Please respect copyright.PENANALZIk9Emtfz
The beast continued its relentless advance, red eyes glowing with rage. It struck back, its massive, clawed limbs tearing through the night.
NO!
Unable to react in time, the motorcycle couldn't evade this onslaught. It was sent against a wall, its sleek frame then fell overturned to the unforgiving ground, a few feet away of the person it was meant to protect.
Akihiko's heart sank in despair as he looked at the immobilized motorcycle. The damage on its surface was significant. When he returned his sight to the front, he found the big Shadow getting closer to both of them.93Please respect copyright.PENANA6KEBXAt516
“What are you doing?!” the motorcycle scolded him with palpable frustration. While incapacitated in its current state, it was still functional. “It’s attempting to corner you! Run while you still can!”
Unfortunately, it was already too late. The monster managed to close in to a distance short enough to prevent any escape. Panic threatened to overtake the boxer as the menacing Shadow prepared to attack.
This is it… He was about to resign to his fate, ready to accept his misfortune. I will die here…
But then, like a lightning bolt from the past, the memories of the orphanage flooded his mind. He reminisced Shinjiro, his best friend who faced the Shadows fearlessly and protected him when he was younger. He remembered the unwavering courage in Shinjiro's eyes, the way how he had defied the Shadows, and even forced them to retreat many times without throwing a single punch.
No! I won't be helpless! Akihiko's inner voice shouted, a surge of godsend determination coursing through him. If I fall, I’ll do it fighting, not like a coward!
Is… Is he…?
The eyes beyond the motorcycle watched in amazement how the young man clenched his fists and adopted a boxing guard to confront the looming creature with brave resolve.
Akihiko’s body pulsed with an unfamiliar energy, an inner, dormant strength awakened by his memories and the adrenaline flowing through his veins.. A mysterious force swelled within him, a partial and unstable manifestation of something he couldn't still quite comprehend.
“AAAAAAH!” With a berserker cry, Akihiko unleashed this unseen power.
A bluish aura surrounded him as he attacked the Shadow. His jabs, straights, uppercuts and hooks were replicated by spectral “arms” from that mysterious essence that struck at the monster with tremendous force. The Shadow recoiled in agony as it was pummeled by that barrage of punches.
When the boxer stopped, the grotesque form of the beast writhed and dissipated into nothingness.
What… What the hell happened?! Akihiko stood there, panting and bewildered, his mind awash with questions and astonishment. He turned to look at the still overturned motorcycle.
"You've just tapped into a wellspring of power.”
The boxer got a startle when he heard the machine coming back to life. “You’re still ‘alive’!”
“Breathe. Steady your heart. It's not only physical strength that matters; a calm mind is as essential."
Akihiko took a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart. He could feel his newfound energy coursing through him, a sense of empowerment that was as thrilling as it was perplexing.
When it saw that he was in a decent enough shape, the motorcycle addressed him in its signature polite yet coldly elegant voice, "You did well. But now, I need your assistance. Would you be so kind as to lift me back upright?"
Akihiko blinked, then nodded with a hint of amusement. He carefully righted the self-driving motorcycle, marveling at how a machine could be so refined and yet so enigmatic.
"Thank you for your cooperation,” the motorcycle said. “I don’t sense more Shadows in the area. I suggest you to make haste and return to your home. The Dark Hour will end soon."
It keeps talking about that “Dark Hour”… What is this thing and what does it know? Akihiko wondered. However, he was so tired he preferred to keep his questions to himself. All he wanted now was to get back to his inn room and sleep. “Actually, I don’t live in this city. I’m staying at an inn nearby”.
“An inn? Can you provide its name?”
“Yes. It’s Suzuki Ryokan”
The motorcycle remained silent for some seconds.
“Very well, it is very close indeed. Allow me to take you there,” it said finally. “Please hop on.”
With a sense of newfound purpose, Akihiko climbed onto the motorcycle. The engine hummed softly as the self-driving vehicle glided through the deserted streets of Iwatodai. Akihiko, still grappling with the surge of adrenaline, clung onto the motorcycle's frame as it deftly maneuvered through the ominous night.93Please respect copyright.PENANAGNwjCu7aaD
Buildings loomed like silent sentinels, their windows dark and uninviting. Akihiko could feel the fatigue settling in, his muscles aching from the intensity of the recent events. But there was also a sense of wonder, of the unknown possibilities that lay before him. With the motorcycle's icy but reassuring guidance, the boxer felt a strange sense of security amidst the chaos of what was previously a terrifying nightmare.
"That is the place. You can stop here." Akihiko said as the motorcycle's headlights illuminated the familiar facade of the inn where he was staying. “Thanks a lot, for everything.”
He dismounted the vehicle and set his eyes on the inn’s gates.
When he started to walk…
“Wait!” The motorcycle called him, making him stop.
“Hm?”
Confused, Akihiko turned around. The voice that had been completely inexpressive and robotic to him until then suddenly showed something akin to emotion.
“Before you go, could you please tell me your name?” the machine asked, its voice returning to its usual and polite coldness.
Akihiko, slightly taken aback by the unexpected question, responded, “Sanada, Sanada Akihiko.”
There was a brief pause, and then the motorcycle's voice took on an intriguing edge. "Sanada Akihiko, would you be interested in working with us?"
“Sure, why not?” the young boxer said, slightly distracted by his own urge to go back to his room. However, he soon came back to his senses and turned back to the motorcycle. “Wait… What?!”
The motorcycle remained silent for a moment, as if considering its next move. Sensing Akihiko's weariness and confusion, it finally spoke in its characteristic seriousness. "I beg your pardon, you need to rest. We might meet again soon, Sanada-san. Good night, and take care."
With those enigmatic parting words, the motorcycle's engine purred to life once more. Akihiko watched as it sped off into the night, disappearing into the fog of the Dark Hour. 93Please respect copyright.PENANAjmW1k8Kc9l
Did I hear correctly? Did it just offer me a "job"?
As he stood there, the weight of the encounter settling in, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a journey that would redefine his understanding of the world around him.
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