6 Crime

"Three people were found laying in the ground yesterday. The police are still trying to find…" said the reporter on the television.

Kazuya looked at the news and let out a thoughtful hum, "Those guys must have run something bad this time." 

"This time?" Daniel asked while cleaning.

After leaving the three guys yesterday, he quickly went back to the police station to wash himself.

He probably has gone too far but since they were robbing him, he didn't bother being guilty.

"Those guys are pretty infamous here. Apparently, they were robbers and even sometimes reported on sexual harassment." Kazuya replied with a sigh.

"If that's the case, then why are they free going around?" Daniel is surprised to hear that.

"Because they're minors." Kazuya looked at him, "It also doesn't help that most of their crimes are just threatening and no actual harm was done."

"Not this time though. Whoever they messed around yesterday, it's sure wasn't holding back. Their leader even has a crack on his skull!" Kazuya exclaimed with a laugh.

"... Is it really good to laugh at them like that?" Daniel wasn't being a hypocrite, he's just curious.

"In normal circumstances? Yes, but those guys are different. They just never learn until they hit a wall." 

"Then again, this is not the first time." Kazuya said with a sigh.

"Not the first time?" Daniel asked in surprise.

"It's not long before you come to the city, kid. There have been reported cases of murder throughout the city. We investigated it but nothing was found."

"What about the cameras?" His interest was captured.

"We checked that but apparently, there is still nothing. We thought that it's just a typical mass murder until something happened." Kazuya said with a serious voice.

Daniel didn't speak but leaned more closer.

"One night, a group of teenagers were killed. It's not just that but these teenagers are also famous for sexual harassment cases in the past." 

"Honestly, whoever did it. I'm not sure whether to blame them or not." Kazuya said with an exhausted voice.

"The only problem is that the killings didn't stop but even increased. Recently, the targets lean towards teenagers unlike back then where it's directed towards adults." He finished.

"That's… complicated." Ignoring the teenager part, the one who did it sounds like some sort of vigilante.

"It is, but a crime is a crime." Kazuya replied.

"Alas, I'm sure that the killer isn't the one who crippled these three. If it was the killer, then they would've been dead." Kazuya said while looking at the TV. He didn't know whether they were fortunate or not.

"What about the person who did that to them? Would he receive punishment?" Daniel asked with a gulp.

"Of course. At the end of the day, what that person did is a crime. Those three people are still in the hospital and only one of them is conscious." Kazuya continued, "My co-workers asked him but he was too shocked about the incident. His friends are still unconscious so they didn't get the chance to ask them." 

"That's enough for that kid. Whatever happens has nothing to do with us." Kazuya paused, "I guess aside from there's a new dangerous person wandering around? Gotta be careful about that kid." He stood up and patted him on the back.

"I sure will, hahaha…" Daniel forced a laugh.

"Well kid, it's that time of the day again. Make sure to take care of the station for me." Kazuya looked at his watch and waved goodbye to him.

*Ding*

Seeing Kazuya leave, Daniel looked at his palm. The place where he's stabbed yesterday.

"Unbelievable.." He still can't believe that he has no wound. Not even a scar!

After washing himself, he immediately checked his stab wound. 

He could've avoided it but he chose not to in case those three reported him. 

If it comes to that, he could just say it's self defense and show the injury he got as proof.

But it wasn't there!

Same with his leg. Although he didn't show it, he definitely felt the pain of the bat hitting his shin.

It's just that, the pain quickly disappeared and he's in a fight so he didn't bother checking.

It was only after he got the time that he realized that there are really no injuries!

The bruise that should've been on his leg is not there and aside from blood, there are no signs of a stab wound on his palm.

This could only mean one thing, his wounds healed themselves.

What's this supposed to mean then? He's not complaining but what is he exactly?

He can clearly feel that he's human but at the same time, not.

No, it was only after yesterday that he started feeling this.

"Just what the hell happened to me?" Daniel muttered. His strength and mental capabilities have increased and now, he can even regenerate.

He doesn't know the limit and he's not really interested in trying.

"I hope this regeneration of mine will save me from the incoming eruption." He added with a sigh. He still has no idea when the eruption will happen.

"But my body huh? I wonder what my body can really do?" He muttered excitedly.

"How about…" Looking around and saw that there was no one watching. He laid down his equipment and performed a kick.

*Woosh*

Seeing his attack, Daniel's eyes widened. His strength… just increased again? 

"Yeah, I should try this in a more open space." With that in mind, he quickly picked up his equipment and continued his work.

—

Walking into the streets of Nagazora, he looks at his watch to check the time.

"Almost 8 huh?" Glancing at the moon, Daniel closed his eyes to enjoy the moment.

He didn't get the chance to enjoy a simple moment like this in the past week due to pressure. Now that his main problem is solved, he's making the most of his time.

Since he's done with work today, he went out for a walk to clear his mind.

"What's the plan now?" Daniel asked himself. With his cheats, he has confidence to survive until the eruption happens.

The question is, would he really want to? He's capable now, or at least not as helpless back then.

If he decides to prevent the eruption from happening, he needs to target the source which is Raiden Mei.

Could he do it? Ignoring the amount of obstacles to get to her, could he really eliminate her?

At the end of the day, she's a Herrscher. Not awakened yet but still a Herrscher.

He didn't even know if he could get close to her without getting corroded.

"Ugh… can I just throw Kiana to solve the problem?" Daniel held his forehead.

It'll save him a lot of trouble if he could.

"Need some money too…" He sighed as he continued walking.

Going into a dark alleyway, he found an open space and looked around before entering a stance.

'My body is weird, but if I can heal from stab wounds, what about the strain on my muscles?' He thought with narrowed eyes. There are movements that normal people can't perform such as splits or twisting your joints.

Although he can perform high kicks, it's not on the same level as those masters.

"Let's see." Taking a deep breath, he stretched his legs first before performing a split.

To his surprise, he did it easily.

'Huh?' After his legs touched the ground completely, he felt something getting torn apart which made him grunt in pain.

'Scam, this is fucking scam!' He roared in his mind. As he was about to try and stand up, the pain quickly vanished.

"Huh?" Patting his thigh, Daniel carefully closed his legs until they were touching each other.

"No pain now huh?" As if forgetting the pain he felt earlier, he did a split again.

And again.

"I really did it!" Standing up, he stretched his legs and jumped. 

"Now what else?" Thinking about it, he tried a lot of exercise.

He started from doing simple exercises like push ups to more complex ones.

This went on for half an hour until he stopped.

"My body is really flexible." Clenching and unclenching his fist. Daniel muttered in confirmation.

"And light too."

"I should really start training. Even if I can't prevent it. I should at least be able to survive the incoming eruption." 

The Third Eruptions is not to be underestimated, aside from the radiation Honkai Energy emits. The detonation of a Herrscher's awakening can cause massive destruction throughout the city.

It's basically equivalent to a nuke.

And no way could he stop a nuke.

Doing a few more exercises, Daniel took a deep breath and started jogging back to the police station.

Starting tomorrow, his training begins.