Caspian awoke the following day feeling refreshed and jubint.

  He had never expected his lesson on manners, regarding Kamakyuri, t the ‘Tornado of Terror’ straight to him.

  Would his choices lead to more wonderful surprises? He loo explore and uncover new decisions to make.

  But sadly, that would have to wait. Today was far too important.

  Caspian turned oV while brushing his teeth at the kit sink.

  “The terrorist group responsible for the riots call themselves the ‘Paradisers.’ They have destroyed a high-rise building in F-City.”

  Caspian frowned, setting down his toothbrush. “These bald bums are going to besmirch my style. Best I hahis now. But… Where is F-City? I really o get a phoh GPS…”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  “It’s over. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go easy on them.

  Yes, Hammerhead’s body is here too. I’ll head baow—”

  Sensing a ge, Soniced over. The body disappeared?

  “It doesn’t matter how you survived, you’ll never escape me with your pitiful speed.”

  “Heh.” His hand quickly hid away his toothy smile. I don’t think I break this bad habit of mine.

  Sonic surged forward like the wind before disappearing into the public park’s forest.

  Bounding from tree branch to tree branch at a speed faster than the human eye could track, it didn’t take long for Sonic to catch up.

  Landing in front of stunned Hammerhead, he asked, “Did you actually think you’d be able to escape? A shame. And here I thought you might have had some bae…”

  Sonic’s words were effective in insing Hammerhead.

  “Fine! I’ve been looking for someoo test the full power of this suit on!”

  The fme symbols on Hammerhead’s battle suit glowed, the battle suit’s size expanding with each passing moment.

  Sonic dashed forward. “This is no longer eaining.”

  To Sonic, Hammerhead’s movements seemed agonizingly slow. Uhing his ninjato, Sonileashed the same attack that had decapitated the other ‘Paradisers.’

  KRNCH

  Out of nowhere, a man in a yellow jumpsuit appeared before Hammerhead, catg Sonic’s bde barehanded.

  Sonic’s eyes widened. Another ‘Paradiser?’ No, that’s not the important part...

  G

  WHAM

  Simultaneously, the yellow-suited ‘Paradiser’ crushed the bde in his hand and drove an elbow into Hammerhead’s powered-up suit, shattering it apart.

  “You know,” the man said casually, “that i smile of yours could really give people the wrong impression.”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  At the present moment, Genos y in Doctor Kuseno’s boratory, receiving repairs.

  “As with Mosquito Girl, I once again uimated my oppo’s power. I let my guard down and Kabuto took advantage of that.

  “If Master Caspian hadn’t been there, I would have surely beeroyed.”

  Doctor Kuseno typed away in front of a puter s. “I see. Well, I’m gd you’re okay—”

  “Doaster Caspian saved my life twice. You, Doctor Kuseored my life to me.

  Later this same life was saved by Master Caspian, who now has saved it again.”

  “Yes, I get the picture, Genos.

  What you’re trying to tell me is how amazing this Caspian fellow is, right?”

  Genos frowned. “Yes, but there is something else I’m ed about.”

  “And that is?” asked Doctor Kuseno, g his hands behind his back.

  “Master Caspian appears to have developed some sort of mosquito obsession. I feel he may even be in love with Mosquito Girl—the one who defeated me, and did I mention the mosquito in a jar he talks to?”

  Doctor Kuseno’s brow furrowed. “Perhaps it’s a side effect of his immerength.”

  “That makes sense Doctor.”

  “How do you pn to deal with it?”

  Genos’ face lit up. “I owe everything to Master Caspian. I’ll stand by him and support him in all things. No matter what.”

  “If that is the case…Genos, they’re not ready just yet, but I am developing a new series of augmentations. When I repce your existing parts with these new ones, you may be able to surpass this Caspian.”

  Genos lifted his head in surprise.

  “I imagine his strength must be extraordinary for you to go on about him so.”

  “Yes.”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  “Wait! Hammerhead, I fot to tell you…”

  Caspian sighed as he watched Hammerhead disappear into the foliage. He had fotten to mention that ‘The anization’ was waiting for him. Well, with his thick skull, it should be fine.

  HWIP

  A kunai ripped through the air toward him.

  Caspian, still looking away, snatched the kunai out of the air.

  “What’s the big idea? Do you know how difficult it was for me to find F-City? Even worse, when I arrived, I couldn’t even ask for dires to the public park. Everyone just screamed ‘terrorist’ and ran. Do you know how that feels?”

  Sonic, standing at the edge of the forest clearing, sheathed his broken ninjato. “None of that matters. You read my attacks. Twice. That’s the real problem.

  Born in a ninja—”

  “I already know about the Ninja Vilge and you, ‘Jack-o’-Lantern Panic.’“

  Sonic’s expression turned grim. “It’s 'Speed-o’-Sound Sonic.' For you to know of the Ninja Vilge and of me… You know too much. I won’t let you get away.”

  Caspian wore an amused smile as Sonic’s figure bolted past him, stopping a short distance away.

  “You’d find an excuse to test out your moves on me regardless, right?”

  BOOM!

  Soniched upward, followed by the shattering of the sound barrier.

  So, this is what it looks like… I gotta say he looks cool bounding all over the pce.

  Immersed in the moment, Caspian fot to look back when Sonic yelled, “Wind Bde Kick!” Panig, Caspian juked sideways—only for something squishy to collide with his bald head.

  Hwup

  Gng over, he spotted Sonieeled on the dirt with his head lowered.

  Caspian’s mouth fell open. “No way! Did it really still happen? That wasn’t on purpose. I meant to move away from your kick.”

  Sometime Later…

  “I will postpone work for a while. Now that I’ve found such a formidable oppo, I’m dedig myself to training until we settle this.”

  Caspian rubbed the back of his neck, watg the man writhe about in obvious pain. He hadn’t meant to do him dirty like that and couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

  “Let me know your name.”

  “It’s Caspian.”

  Sonic poioward him, his entire body trembling. “Caspiaime we meet, it will be your demise!”

  “Sure thing.”

  “I, 'Speed-o’-Sound Sonic,' the ultimate ninja, will bring you down without fail!”

  Caspian’s feeling of guilt waned as he said, “Train hard! e find me anytime.”

  He watched Sonic speed away and couldn’t help but notice his stifled moments.

  Shaking his he turo face the dire of Z-City Ghost Town.

  “Genos is stopping by my pce tonight. That means tomorrow is the day…” Caspian held his head up high. “…that I bee an S-Css Hero.”