Shout out to MiniTennyson for creating the cover art for this story. An amazing cover artist and writer as well, to which I encourage you to read his ongoing story: "Edens Ten'". A Ben 10 and Edens Zero crossover story.
One and only Disclaimer: I do not own Ben 10 or Fire Force in any way. They were both created by Man of Action and Atsushi Okubo respectively, and are owned by Cartoon Network and Shonen Magazine respectively.
Enjoy!
Location: Tokyo Empire, Chuo-Ku
Tokyo.
A large industrial nation with countless tall buildings reaching the heights of skyscrapers, and their architecture the perfect blend of modern and traditional.
The city truly was a sight to behold, and the clear blue skies coupled the golden rays of sunshine enhanced it's overall beauty.
Deep inside Chou-Ko District is a large building that towers over all the buildings in site.
The Holy Sol Temple- Holy See.
"Here is today's Meteorological Agency announcement." Said an automated female voice through an intercom.
"A record setting short period heavy rain warning has been issued for the 4th District of the Tokyo's Empire's northern area at 13:00"
"Any persons heading into this area, please exercise care and caution. Also please be sure to keep your distance without good reason"
In a different section of the District, standing side by side together while holding up several pairs of multi colored balloons were three mascots..
They were all wearing grey firefighter uniform, but their appearances differed from one another.
The one at the left had an appearance of a brown dog with it's tongue out.
The one at the middle had the appearance of a pale, old man with a dog face and closed eyes.
The one at the right was a white cat.
They are called the 119/ Wan Wan Nyan. A three man mascot team for the Fire Defense Agency.
The three mascots looked at the sky collectively without saying a word or uttering a sound. Their eyes fixated on what looked like a plane due to it's trail, flying upwards as it pierced through the clouds.
"--Subject marked; sending now."
"--Switching all monitors to trace mode."
"--Tracking ID identified.
"--Cancelling standby mode."
Were the words uttered by a group of individuals in a room that looked similar to the inside of a submarine. It's color scheme, though mostly dark,due to the lights of several monitors placed across the walls,the ceiling could be seen to have dark green color scheme.
Behind the individuals whom were fixated on the several monitors on their desks as well,was a figure who's features were indiscernible due to them standing in a section of the room that emitted a dark red light.
"Identify confirmed. Synchronization of GIS and tracking ID complete." As one of the women amongst the several groups of men and women said this,all the monitors lit up with several different holographic monitors with a blue color scheme.
They were five in total, with four of them being in list view while placed at the left and right sides respectively,and greyish blue in color, and the fifth one being in focus, with it being bright blue in color.
It's contents; a focused section of a map that had four locations identified on it's display. But due to it not being the primary focus of the individuals,the names of the locations were indiscernible.
What was clear to see however was a checkpoint in the form of a red dot placed in the middle of the four locations. Thus proving to be their current objective.
"Error of indication 0.083; within acceptable range." As one of the men spoke,focus was shifted to the figure in the section of the room that was red.
There were several men all dressed in long sleeved, orange overalls with trousers of the same name and black boots.
Their uniform had several patches with the number "5" adorned on different sections of it.
However,the most notable thing about them wasn't their unusual style of dressing, but rather, the shape they had all collectively taking.
They had all positioned themselves in a manner similar to an armchair. With some even taking it a step further by laying themselves flat on the floor in a manner similar to a doormat.
The person they did this for?
A curvy brown light-skinned young woman with shoulder-length light-pink hair that has bangs swept on either side, blue eyes that have a shade of pink and pink flower-shaped pupils.
Her form of dressing;a v-shaped, sleeveless white pencil dress, which partially reveals her chest, a belt with a gold buckle, with a whip and a holster attached to it, dark high heels, a golden necklace, light-colored undergarments and a personalized protective outer fur-trim jacket with a hood, parts of it are coated with blue lines. Her dress also has a split on the left leg from the belt down, allowing a large portion of her left leg.
Her name; Hibana. Or as she likes to be addressed, Princess Hibana.
"Fire Defense Agency alarm control system activation signal confirmed."
Hibana sat on her human arm chairs with a bored look on her face as her left hand was cupped underneath her cheek while this information has passed to her.
"--Continuing to monitor."
"--Subject has entered Akihabara District."
"--Forwarding alert to Akihabara District."
"--Subject has entered Akihabara District."
"Don't forward it. I prefer the confusion." Said Hibana.
"Commencing alarm system hacking."
"Kanda Fire Fighters requesting instructions."
"Stay out of it." Said Hibana.
"Isn't Kanda under the 8th's jurisdiction?" Asked the man at her left who served as the left part of the arm chair.
"Cru-nch...!" Shouted the man in pain as Hibana firmly pinched the back of his palm with her right hand.
"--Gravel doesn't get to weigh in." Began Hibana in a condescending tone.
"They're the ones who asked. What's wrong with me answering them?" Before a response was heard,an alarm went off with it's sound similar to a ringing hotline.
"Incoming message from Hajima Industries." Said a woman with blonde hair,dark shades,a black navy hat with a grey cross front and center. She also wore the same hood as Hibana. Only her's was more in line with a full piece body suit.
"Crunch!" Shouted one of the man now turned doormats in pain as Hibana stood on her feet.
"I'll listen to it later. That's my research unit. I don't take orders from the main office." Said Hibana boldly.
"Crunch!" Would be the words heard below Hibana with each step she took. None to which she paid any mind.
"The 5th is heading out. Even if we have to step on the 8th's jurisdiction, we're going to secure that Infernal!" Said Hibana in a commanding tone.
"Object approaching subject at high speed!" Said one of the men as the red dot became more white on the monitors, and a white dot appeared above it.
"Crunch!" Said another human footmat as Hibana had taken her final step firmly.
"Judging by the Adolla pattern, I believe it's a third generation Fire Soldier from the 8th." Said one of the women.
"Gravel from the 8th?" Asked Hibana.
The supposed plane who's speed left behind it a trail as it pierced through the clouds wasn't a plane, but rather a boy.
A teenager of average height, with a slim muscular build with short and spiky black hair, crimson eyes narrowed into a glare, and sharp teeth that were exposed due to him gritting them with conviction. His eyes are also noteworthy as his pupils are white instead of black.
He wore the same colors as Hibana's men. The only difference was that his uniforms patch design had the number "8' on it.
The most notable thing about him at the moment was the concentrated blasts if fire emanating from the soles of his bare feet. Propelling him the speed and altitude needed to make him fly.
This was Shinra Kusakabe. Now currently the object of interest of both the mascots and Hibana and her colleagues.
As the mascots watched Shinra ascend higher to the sky, the one in the middle has slightly loosened his grip on one of the balloons; specifically a pink colored one. And with that, the balloon also began to ascend.
And unbeknownst to the mascots, standing behind them was a figure whom although their features were mostly indiscernible, was mostly likely a male,as his brown cargo pants with pockets at the knees and green white shoes was visible.
Chapter 1:Hero From Another World
Location: Taito ku,Okachimachi.
Time: 08:28:00
On a small but flat Tv screen was a female news reporter dressed in a blue business suit sitting down with her hands on a table.
Behind her was a yellow background with the right section of it being purple. It's contents was a map with several parts of it being cited.
"That's all the news we have. Today's Amaterasu operational rate is normal." The builder in which the Tv was inside was an unconventional white and yellow office room with mild gear equipment like weights in sight.
"All right, everyone, have a pleasant day. Látom." Said the woman,thus signalling the end of her broadcast. A fact that was further cemented by the Tv immediately turning off,thus significantly darkening the room.
The person responsible was sitting behind a desk with a remote in hand and several forms of paperwork on it. He was a man dressed in the same uniform as Shinra, but his overall appearance couldn't be any more distinct.
He is a well-built young man with short, somewhat unruly dark hair, with the sides of his head being shaven. He also has small dark brown eyes.
This was Akitaru Obi.
"Sure enough, there's no news on yesterday's incident,or the man known as Joker." Said Obi.
"Could the Special Fire Force indeed be hiding something?" Asked Shinra. He wouldn't get an answer, but rather Obi looking at him sternly,thus leading to an air of silence amongst themselves.
"If i stick with him, I'm sure i can get closer to the truth about the mystery of human combustion, and the day i lost Mom and Sho." Said Shinra. Before Obi could reply,a faint knocking could be heard on the door in front of him.
Upon looking at it,a man with the same clothing as himself and Shinra walked through the door.
He was a young man with a short crop of brown hair, with bangs that hang just above his brown eyes, and donned glasses.
This was Takehisa Hinawa.
"Pardon me for interrupting your discussion." Said Hinawa formally.
"The analysis on the ashes Joker used to blow up the training facility came back." Hinawa began explaining as he stood in front of Obi and beside Shinra.
"Apparently,their main component is Infernal ashes." Hinawa's words garnered a light gasp from Shinra and a clenched fist from Obi.
"Those ashes...were Infernal ashes?" Asked a shocked Shinra.
"They're using the remains of the dead? Is nothing sacred?" Asked Obi with growing rage. No response was heard,as both men were mostly trying to fully process the words that were just said.
... Undying Lights!...
The scenery is the inside of a dilapidated church with an overall red color scheme. Standing at the altar to pray is a nun like figure with discernable features.
It was a young girl of average height with short blonde hair and blue eyes and a curvy figure that she tends to cover under her clothes. She wore a habit, which consists of a tunic, covered by a scapular, a veil, light sandals, long light gloves, stockings, and a brooch with a cross-like symbol engraved on it. Parts of her outfit were coated with blue lines.
This was Iris. And in her hand was a mostly burnt photograph with child nuns on it. Though the origins of the photo were unknown, the expression on Iris' face showed that it's contents resided deeply within her heart.
"The flames of the original sin..." Said Iris with a somber tone as she looked longingly at the photo. After a few fleeting seconds had passed,she put it inside her tunic, and with that,her expression changed into a smile as she clasped her hands to pray.
'Turns out I wasn't able to tell them about Sho.' Thought Shinra to himself back at the office building.
This time,he was sitting in front of an large,grey desk with several cardboard boxes filled with paperwork. Sitting in front of him was a boy his age with the same uniform.
He was of average height and lean but muscular build with shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes with white pupils, similar to Shinra.
This was Arthur Boyle.
Sitting beside Arthur to his left was a girl dressed in similar clothing.
She is a young woman of slightly above average height with fair a complexion and curvy body that is athletically built. She has large violet eyes and long, dark hair reaching down past her shoulders with strands that frame her face, tucked behind her ear on the left side, and cropped bangs that falls over her forehead.
This was Maki.
"Hey,stop looking like you're dead when we're in the office! It's killing my mood to work!" Said an annoyed Shinra to Arthur,as the latter had a fixed gaze on him.
A black hotline placed on the middle of the desk began to ring, causing Arthur to answer it.
"This is Arthur Boyle,lord of Camelot. What is the nature of your message?" Asked Arthur confidently, causing Maki to gasp in confusion.
A hard karate chop to the head from Maki, similar to cutting an onion in half down the middle, made Arthur fall face first to the floor.
"I'm sorry about that. Special Fire Force Company 8." Said Maki politely as she stood while on the phone.
"Ah,yes,yes..." Said Maki, now fully engaged in the conversation as she began to twirl a piece of her hair lightly.
A growl of annoyance and a growl of uncertainty escaped the lips of Arthur and Shinra respectively.
"Yes. A dog? Right. Very well." Said Maki in an assuring tone.
"Hey" Began Shinra to Arthur.
"--What is the address?"
"What?" Asked Arthur.
"Why did you become a Fire Soldier?" Asked Shinra.
"--Okay...Okay... Very well."
"Because I'm a Knight." Said Arthur in a matter of fact tone.
"We'll be there right away." Said Maki right before ending the call.
"Hey, you two." Said Maki, referring to Shinra and Arthur.
"A dog got caught up in a tree and can't get back down again. Would you mind going and rescuing him?" Asked Maki.
"Rescue a dog? Isn't that a job for regular firefighters?" Asked Arthur unimpressed.
We get calls mistaking Fire Soldiers for regular firefighters all the time." Explained Maki.
"And you two aren't getting anywhere with your work anyway,are you?" Both Shinra and Arthur held looks of defeat on their faces upon looking at the mountain of paperwork in front of them.
"I'll take care of the rest of that." Offered Maki with a smile and her hands on her waist.
Words which resonated well with Arthur as he beamed a bright smile and began to rise to his feet.
"All right. I'll go." Said Shinra with a smile as he was already standing.
With my ability,it will be easy to get him out of a tree." Stated Shinra with enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm that would end up fading, and instead turn into a frown. As he now alongside Arthur stood in a park in front of a tree with a rather peculiar sign placed on it.
"Mr Fireman, right here! Up! Up!" It read.
Standing behind Shinra and Arthur were two of the three mascots. With the dog mascot missing.
All four individuals would look up the tree.
"Huh? That's not a dog..." Said a mildly confused Shinra.
Lying helplessly atop the tree was none other than the dog mascot.
"so much as it's Mamoru, isn't it?" Said Shinra to no one in particular.
"Goodness..." Said Mamoru in a soft tone..
With flames erupting from his feet, but lowering in intensity as he got closer to the ground, Shinra held Mamoru gently from behind, until both of them landed safely on the ground.
"Th-thank you very much." Said Mamoru with gratitude as he stood in front of Shinra.
"What were you doing up a tree?" Asked Shinra.
"While passing out ballons during a function at the shopping district, some neighborhood college students hoorayed me." Explained Mamoru.
"Why would they do that?" Asked Shinra in confusion.
Arthur,who was sitting on the steps in the middle of the other two mascots who were standing, watched Shinra's and Mamoru's conversation unfold.
"Do you remember the serial killings carried out by that firefighter?" Asked Mamoru.
"Huh?" Said Shinra with even more confusion.
"The man who was a firefighter, but killed four people on a spree... Miyamoto." Explained Mamoru.
"Ever since that case, people's discontent for the Fire Defense Agency and firefighters has grown, and sometimes,we get picked on like this." Explained Mamoru further.
"So, what happened to this firefighter?" Asked Shinra.
"His verdict is scheduled to be announced today." Replied Mamoru.
"Word is that he'll probably be found not guilty for psychiatric reasons.
The scenery changes to a full courtroom. Standing at the podium with handcuffs is a bald middle-aged man with a stubble and an uninterested expression along with blue prison uniform.
This was Setsuo Miyamoto.
"Thus,we find the defendant,Setsuo Miyamoto, not guilty." Declared the Judge.
"Impossible!"
"The death penalty's too good for him!" Were just some of the words hurled at Miyamoto by the frustrated jury.
Frustrations that he paid no mind as a sinister grin began to form on his face.
Both the prosecutor and Miyamoto's lawyer shook hands at a job well done.
'Easy peasy. The law is just a big pushover.' Thought a pleased Miyamoto amongst the lamentations of the jury.
'The county would be up a creek if a firefighter was found guilty. No sweat!' Miyamoto's eyes titled sideways,thus making his countenance even more unsettling.
Unbeknownst to him,or the onlookers, mild black smoke began to emanate from the back of his left hand.
And upon noticing it,Miyamoto's hands were suddenly set ablaze. Holding up his hands in shock only caused the flames to spread immediately, thus engulfing Miyamoto's entire body in it.
"Wah! It burns! Somebody! Somebody! Put me out!" Shouted Miyamoto in agony.
"Ha,ha,ha! That's what you get!" Said one of the members of the jury, taking delight in Miyamoto's suffering. A delight that the other jury members would follow suit in shortly.
"Get an extinguisher! Or even a blanket!" Ordered the Judge.
What initially started out as screams of agony, would eventually evolve into a sadistic laugh from Miyamoto. As the flames had slightly parted from his face, allowing the onlookers to see the right side of his face becoming dark blue, and the corresponding eye becoming bright blue.
The flames would reach their full intensity as they briefly erupted,thus causing everyone to cover their eyes to avoid being blinded.
Standing at the podium, with the flames now extinguished was Miyamoto with a completely inhuman appearance.
His skin had turned dark blue and the area above his cheek disappeared, leaving a vertical lining similar to a thick antenna above his mouth. Though he had no scalp, the area behind the 'antenna' has flames around it instead.
His physique was very muscular and he now wore white trousers with black shoes. The majority of his facial features were composed of his mouth, though he had no lips and his large teeth were visible. Finally,the handcuffs he was wearing had turned into flames alongside him.
Miyamoto had now completed his transformation into an Infernal.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you all!" Declared Miyamoto with his legs spread apart. He then began to tug at his handcuffs with a maniacal laugh.
"Human Combustion!"
"Hurry and get out of here!"
"An Infernal just spoke!"
Were amongst the distressed cries of the jury as everyone began to run for their lives.
Miyamoto watched on as the courtroom was all but completely vacated. Turning back with a sadistic grin, Miyamoto saw the judge still on his seat with an apprehensive look on his face.
In an instant, Miyamoto jumped atop his table, causing the judge to stand and break into a nervous sweat.
"Hey, your honor. How dare you decide what's going to happen to me?" Asked Miyamoto cockily as he squatted to ensure that he was at eye level with the judge.
"But I said you were innocent and set you free, didn't i?" Said the trembling judge.
As he attempted to duck and run, the judge was immediately restrained from behind his neck by Miyamoto's flaming cuffs.
"Shut up! I'm the one doing the judging now!" Declared Miyamoto.
At the church were Iris initially resided,an alarm went off. As a result,Maki came out running through the stands evidently distressed.
Inside a locker-room that was a part of the office building, Obi and Hinawa sat beside each on a bench to wear a different set of attire.
Their new clothing consisted of large jackets with bright neon-blue stripes across the wrist and stomach-area, as well as the shoulder and torso-area. There was also a collar directing outwards. Their jackets had buttons in shape of a cross. The uniform also consisted of metal-plated gloves and a neck protector.
It also had striped trousers, black-coloured shirts, buckled at the waist with a belt, and black boots. On the left upper-arm of their jackets, a number patch with the insignia of their brigade was present.
Standing in front of the two men was Iris,who seemed to be putting something under her habit.
Both Obi and Hinawa would turn their heads to their left. Upon doing so,they would see an exasperated Maki standing in front of an opened door.
"Captain Obi! About the Infernal in Taito-ku, Ueno District..." Began Maki as she squatted with her hands on her knees.
"He has a sense of self?" Asked Hibana with a smile as she sat on her human chair within the confines of her headquarters.
Upon looking at her desk of numerous paper work,her eyes widened.
"Fascinating. I want him, whatever it takes." Said Hibana.
"Crunch." Said a man who served as the left arm of the chair as Hibana elbowed him in the face.
"To the control room." Said Hibana with excitement,as she even struck a pose while standing.
Hinawa held a pistol in his and had just loaded it. Ensuring that it was ready for use as he held it up to his face.
"Where are Shinra and Arthur?" Asked Hinawa. Maki stood in front of him and Obi who were still sitting down.
A blush would form on her face due to embarrassment. And as such,she would look away to avoid eye contact with either of them.
Location: Close to Taito ku, Ueno District.
"An Infernal has appeared. Emergency vehicles are now passing through." Began an automated female voice through the intercoms in the city.
"All other traffic, please pull to the side and clear a path." Shinra, Arthur and the mascots were inside the city standing by the sidewalks. With all five of them holding several balloons and thus, leading to children to stand in front of them with awe.
"An emergency dispatch?" Asked Arthur in confusion. Shinra would briefly look away from Arthur's direction, and upon doing so would let out a gasp of shock.
This was due to a black van driving by.
"The Matchbox!" Exclaimed Shinra.
Inside the Matchbox, Hinawa held up a device and pressed a button on it.
"Shinra! Arthur! I know you're in the area!" Said Hinawa, who's voice was heard through the speakers outside the Matchbox.
"Wander out without permission, will you?!When we get back, you're getting disciplined until you can't move anymore!" Both Shinra and Arthur were left stunned both due to shock and fear as a result of Hinawa's declaration.
"I'm sorry, both of you! I'm sorry!" Shouted Maki as she placed both hands at the sides of her cheeks.
"Maki, what's the matter?" Asked Iris as both her and Obi,who were also inside the Matchbox, looked at Maki as she got on all fours on the ground.
"I couldn't tell him I sent you. I'll do anything. Ramen is on me. Forgive me--." Pleaded Maki.
"Mamoru, I'm sorry. But you have to take over!" Said Shinra as he gave Mamoru his ballons to hold.
"Látom." Mamoru responded.
With flames erupting from underneath his feet, Shinra would begin to levitate off the ground.
"See you,Arthur! I'm going on ahead!" Said Shinra as he prepared to take off.
However, Arthur,who had since discared of his own ballons as well, would take a great leap off the ground, and upon doing so, would grab onto Shinra from the waist, holding onto him firmly.
"Ah! What are you doing?!" Asked Shinra with a mixture of shock and annoyance. But in spite of that,he still managed to keep flying, albeit, the speed at which he was doing so was significantly slow.
"Take me with you." Ordered Arthur.
Arthur would proceed to climb up Shinra's back until he was able to place himself on top of him in a manner similar to riding a horse. Going as far as to hold the back of Shinra's collar as a handle.
"Hiyo Silver!" Said Arthur in a dramatic tone.
"Why you...I'm honestly, seriously... honestly..." Said Shinra with rage that he was struggling to control.
"... seriously..."The three mascots would look on as Shinra and Arthur had already taken to the skies. With Shinra even managing to fly past a cloud.
Just like before, the male figure stood behind them without their knowledge. Aside from his pants and shoes, his right hand was also visible. Though it was pale in complexion, that wasn't the most telling thing about it. But rather, what was on it.
Attached to his right hand, more specifically, his right wrist,was a digital wristwatch. Its faceplate was square and it had a white, green, and black color scheme. The faceplate was also black with two green stripes forming an outline for an hourglass symbol.
Though the individual's facial features were indiscernible, his eyes weren't,as they were revealed to be green in color, and his eyebrows were brown and narrowed.
"Looks like it's hero time." Said the male in a tone that revealed he was smirking.
The Matchbox was driving through the road, which was gradually becoming deserted due to the ongoing crisis.
Due to his focus being on the road,Hinawa almost didn't notice Shinra and Arthur flying at the side of the Matchbox.
"Shinra! Arthur! What are you doing?! This is a public road." Said Hinawa.
"N-never mind about that,an Infernal has appeared, right?" Asked Shinra.
"A murder defendant at Ueno District Court has become an Infernal." Explained Hinawa.
"He's apparently attacking people right now. You two hurry on ahead to the scene!" Ordered Hinawa.
"Yes, sir!" Said Shinra before going ahead of Hinawa.
"Saving lives is your top priority!" Added Hinawa.
"Roger!" Replied Shinra who had now flown up to the skies.
Location: Ueno District Courthouse
Standing outside of the courthouse was Miyamoto with the two fingers from his right hand inside the month of the judge whom he had taken hostage. The judge himself panicking as he sat on the ground with his back turned to Miyamoto.
"I am your lawyer! I'm on your side, right?!" Asked the judge through a muffled voice.
"That's right. As a firefighter,I used to save people like this." Said Miyamoto in agreement.
"I just saved your life. One might say that it now belongs to me, right?" The judge would immediately whimper in fear due to Miyamoto's words.
"That means I can do whatever I want with you, right?" Asked Miyamoto with a sadistic tone. Even licking his lips in the process.
Suddenly,Shinra would fly towards him at near blinding speeds.
"Stop that!" Shouted Shinra as he kicked Miyamoto at his side, sending him flying. Upon doing this, Arthur would jump Shinra, and seemed like he was about to perform a front flip.
"God have mercy!" Said Arthur dramatically before holding his legs with his hands so that he could roll forward on the floor alongside Miyamoto. The two would eventually come to a stop, and would attempt to get back to their feet.
"What the hell-" Miyamoto would be cut off by Arthur backhanding him with his left hand, sending him flying in a ragdoll like fashion briefly until he landed on the ground on his back.
"What the hell-" Miyamoto had gotten back to his feet, only to be kicked in the face by both Arthur and Shinra. Arthur kicking with one leg, and Shinra with both legs which were also on fire.
The impact of the blow not only sent him flying, but also seemed like it was going to make him skid across the ground in ragdoll like fashion. However, Miyamoto would perform a backhand spring to come to an immediate halt instead.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Asked Miyamoto warily as he now stood on both feet.
"Because of you, Mamoru got hoorayed up into a tree!" Shouted Arthur with annoyance.
"Yeah!" Said Shinra in agreement, only to immediately realize what Arthur was actually saying.
"Huh? That's your beef?" Asked Shinra as he looked at Arthur with disbelief.
"Ah,so you're Special Fire Soldiers." Said Miyamoto as he bent down slightly,as if preparing to pounce on Shinra and Arthur.
"You're a murderous gang of bogus helper-men, aren't you?" Asked Miyamoto in a condescending tone.
"How nice, I'm a bit jealous." As Miyamoto said this,he would lick his lips,or more accurately, his teeth, once more.
"We're here,too!" Said Maki,who had arrived on the scene alongside Obi,Hinawa and Iris.
She also donned a uniform similar to the one Hinawa and Obi wore. The main difference with her own being the makeshift witch hat on her head.
She would hold up her right hand slightly above her head to the side. And upon so,a ball of fire would form on it. The fireball also had a distinct set of eyeballs, indicating that it was somewhat sentient.
"Sputter Comet!" Said Maki as she held her fireball behind her, which would immediately cause it to grow in size significantly.
She would then throw it towards Miyamoto,who would casually punch through it with his left hand, causing it to disperse immediately.
"Sputter Comet!" Shouted a distressed Maki.
"He really is speaking,huh? Is his sense of self intact?" Asked Obi. Though he and Hinawa now wore a hat similar to normal firefighters,Obi had on a piece of equipment completely different from Hinawa's.
It was a helmet, which also had a metal face-shield attached to it
"When one's attachment to life and will is strong enough, their character in life still remains..." Answered Hinawa.
"... But I've never seen it go this far." Miyamoto looked at his assailants with a stance that highlighted defiance. Willing to fight them if need be.
Or did he...?
"So there's no way to escape eh? All right! I surrender!" Said Miyamoto as he held up his hands.
'What?' Thought Shinra in shock.
"If you're not a murderous gang,then you'll let me off, right?"
"I was found not guilty at my trial. You can't very well kill me. Right?" Asked Miyamoto. A gunshot would be heard, causing Miyamoto to cross his hands over his face as the bullet would bounce off his arms instead.
The person responsible was none other than Hinawa,as he pointed his pistol towards Miyamoto with a stern look on his face.
"Unfortunately, I'm not so good natured as to pardon scum like you." Said Hinawa as he began to walk towards Miyamoto.
"Heh heh heh heh heh heh." Miyamoto would begin to laugh maniacally as he slowly uncrossed his arms.
"You really are a gang of murders!" He would then send a burst of flames towards Hinawa. But to his surprise,it wouldn't go as far as he intended for them to go,as it seemed like they were rapidly dispersing.
"Huh?" Said Hinawa in confusion as upon looking at the flames,he noticed that they weren't actually dispersing, but were actually being sucked away at. Almost like they were being absorbed.
'What the- My flames!' Thought Miyamoto in disbelief as his flames had completely dispersed. Upon looking up,a flaming piece of concrete flew towards him.
"Gggahhhhghhh!" Shouted Miyamoto in pain as the flaming concrete hit him dead on due to him not dodging, sending him back by several feet.
Both Miyamoto and the 8th division would be even more surprised as two torrents of fire would hit the ground in between both parties. In a manner similar to lowering one's descent.
Which would turn out to be the case,as not long after, the flames would the disperse, and the one responsible would land gently on the ground.
Standing in front of Miyamoto and the 8th division was a plasma-based life-form whose body was composed of a super hot inner plasma body covered by dark reddish brown volcanic rocks.His feet had a slight oval-like design with only two toes and one back toe. His collarbone resembled a volcano which generated a fiery "hair" that covers his head, leaving his mask-like face visible with no nose or ears.
On his chest was a black and green hourglass symbol. With the inner part of the hourglass being green, and the outer part being black.
"Hey? Why don't you pick on someone with real firepower?" Asked the Infernal like creature with a smirk.
"Another Infernal?" Asked Obi in disbelief as both he and his teammates were left dumbfounded by the arrival of this new Infernal.
"Is he really?" Asked an equally shocked Hinawa, causing Obi to look at him with confusion.
"I've never seen anyone like him." Both Maki and Iris seemed like they wanted to say something, but words failed them. As they were just as perplexed by the appearance of this mysterious Infernal.
"Who the hell are you?!" Asked Miyamoto warily.
"How are you doing t-" Miyamoto would cut himself off upon coming to a realization.
"No way, you're just like me, aren't you?" Asked Miyamoto with disbelief, causing the other Infernal to look at him with confusion.
"Sorry,flame-brain, but you and I are nothing alike." Replied the mysterious Infernal.
"But you're on fire just like me. You're an Infernal." Reasoned Miyamoto.
'Is that what they call him?' Thought the mysterious Infernal with surprise.
"So why the hell are you attacking me?" Asked Miyamoto with annoyance.
"First off,I have no idea what an Infernal. But whatever it is, I'm not it. I'm an alien." Replied the mysterious Infernal.
"Alien? What the hell is he saying?" Asked Obi as he turned to face Hinawa.
"He must be even more crazy than he is." Deadpanned Hinawa.
"Second, and more importantly, I'm a superhero. Taking down bad guys like you is just what I do." Said the mysterious Infernal with pride. A sentiment that struck a chord with the 8th division. But none as significant as the feelings it invoked from Shinra.
'A hero?' Thought Shinra in disbelief.
'Like me?' The mysterious Infernal was seen smirking despite the looks of disbelief on the faces of his observers.
"Crazy Bastard!" Said Miyamoto, slightly regaining his composure
"Alright then,if you're with them,then all of you..." Miyamoto would cup both hands together, and upon doing so,a massive fireball would begin to form in between them.
"Can go to hell!" Miyamoto would then throw the fireball to the other Infernal who was still smirking.
He would respond by holding up his left hand. And upon doing so, would absorb the entirety of the fireball.
"Impossible!" Exclaimed Miyamoto in disbelief. The 8th division was equally shocked.
"My turn." Said the mysterious Infernal as he dropped his left hand to his side. He would then clench both hands into fists, and upon doing so, his body would emanate massive amounts of heat, causing the 8th division to slightly step back.
He would then hold up both hands to his chest level before stretching them forward, and upon doing so, would send a stream of fire towards Miyamoto that would hit him dead on in the chest and send him flying towards a water fountain behind him.
Miyamoto would groan in pain upon crashing into it, and would fall face first into the water. Upon looking up,he would see the mysterious Infernal walking towards him.
'Shit! I have to get out of here.' Thought a fearful Miyamoto as he would immediately turn his back on the other Infernal before jumping into the city.
"He's getting away!" Shouted Obi.
"No, he's not." Declared the mysterious Infernal. A ring of fire would form around the ground below him, and almost immediately,a chunk of it would levitate off it, causing him to levitate as well.
The exposed earth was now in flames, and also served aa somewhat of a hoverboard for the Infernal,to which he would use to fly into the city in pursuit of Miyamoto. An action which had left the 8th division far too amazed to immediately respond.
Inside of the city was Miyamoto who was running frantically across the roads, leading all nearby bystanders to immediately run towards safety in fear upon seeing him.
Unbeknownst to Miyamoto, the mysterious Infernal was hot on his tail. And the further Miyamoto got into the city, the closer the mysterious Infernal was to him. Eventually the mysterious Infernal would end up flying directly above Miyamoto, causing a smirk to form on his face.
He would then proceed to shoot a fireball in front of Miyamoto, causing him to stop running due to the newly emerged flames.
Upon doing so, Miyamoto would turn back and look to the sky, and would let out a gasp of horror upon seeing the mysterious Infernal.
"Going somewhere?" Taunted the mysterious Infernal before shooting a fireball towards Miyamoto. An attack Miyamoto would dodge by jumping backwards.
Before the mysterious Infernal could shoot another fireball, Miyamoto would move past the flames in front of him, and run deeper into the city, causing the mysterious Infernal to cease his assault, and continue tailing him once more.
However, due to being much closer to Miyamoto, the mysterious Infernal would constantly shoot fireballs directly at Miyamoto. Fireballs that Miyamoto would barely dodge by alternating between his left and right. Despite this, the mysterious Infernal would maintain his focus on directly aiming at Miyamoto,so as to avoid any collateral damage or damage that could be avoided.
In an attempt to turn the tables on his attacker, Miyamoto would run up a building as the mysterious Infernal would send a stream of fire towards him in order to dodge it. Once Miyamoto had climbed the building until he was at the exact height that the mysterious Infernal was as he levitated you off the ground, Miyamoto jumped off the building as he lunged towards him.
Though Miyamoto would be successful in grabbing the mysterious Infernal, that success would end up being short-lived. This would be as a result of the mysterious Infernal shooting Miyamoto straight in the chest with a stream of fire as they both began to fall. This blast would send Miyamoto into a building, but not crashing through it.
The mysterious Infernal would then shoot torrents of flames from his hands in order to stop his descent, before adding enough power in them to cause him to ascend slightly higher to the sky. He would then stop shooting the flames from his hand, only to shoot a quick but explosive burst of flames at the air in front of him, causing him to turn back and shoot a torrent of flames from behind his back,thus making him fly like a rocket towards Miyamoto.
Miyamoto was unable to stop the mysterious Infernal from crashing into him and smashing both of them through the building. Once they both got out through the top of the building,the mysterious Infernal would send a fire blast to Miyamoto's chest with his left hand, causing him to fly much further away from him. The mysterious Infernal would then increase the speed at which he flew until he was directly in front of Miyamoto. And once he was that close,he would then land a superman punch on him with his right hand, sending Miyamoto even away from him.
Once again the mysterious Infernal would close the gap between them, and would land another superman with his left hand.
Once it seemed like he was about to do it again, the mysterious Infernal would instead fly far above Miyamoto before looking down on him and sending a massive stream of fire towards him, which would hit dead on,and sending him plummeting towards the ground, and causing a huge crater in the process.
The mysterious Infernal would eventually land on the ground as well. Only much more gracefully due to using his flames to slow his descent.
Miyamoto would groggily get back to his feet, but upon seeing the mysterious Infernal standing in front of him, his senses sharpened once more.
"Stay back,or I'll..." A fire blast would not only hit Miyamoto in the chest but cause him to crash into a car and slump on it.
"You should quit while you're behind." Taunted the mysterious Infernal as steam emanated from both of his hands.
"Otherwise, I'm just going to keep kicking your butt. Either way's good for me." Miyamoto would groggily get up to his feet once more. And upon doing so, would begin to attempt to lift the car he had crashed into.
"Butt kicking it is then." Said the mysterious Infernal with a smirk as Miyamoto had already lifted the car above his head.
The mysterious Infernal would hold up his right hand, and upon doing so, would send a fireball towards the car above Miyamoto, causing it to explode.
"Gaaaah!" Shouted Miyamoto in pain as the explosion sent him flying into a street light, thus causing it to be cut in half.
Despite being bruised and greatly fatigued, Miyamoto would once again attempt retaliation against the mysterious Infernal. This time by carrying the longer section of the street light and swinging it towards him.
At first it seemed like he had succeeded, but in reality,he couldn't be any more wrong than he already was. As thought the swing had caused the mysterious Infernal to crash into a building,it was only slightly as he could be seen holding onto the street light firmly.
"Too slow." Said the mysterious Infernal before instantly melting the street light. Seeing as Miyamoto was far too awestruck to respond, the mysterious Infernal would begin running towards him to attack. However, he would suddenly stop in his tracks, causing Miyamoto to look at him with confusion. Noticing that the mysterious Infernal was looking up, Miyamoto would do so as well.
"Huh?" Said Miyamoto in confusion right before being driven face first to the ground by Shinra landing on the back of his head. Shinra would then perform a cartwheel flip over him and land directly behind him while facing the mysterious Infernal.
"Nice for you to join the party." Said the mysterious Infernal with a smirk.
"Uhh... thank you?" Said Shinra with confusion,thus amusing the mysterious Infernal. It wouldn't last long however, due to Miyamoto getting back to his feet.
"Think fast." Said the mysterious Infernal right before rushing towards a now standing Miyamoto. The mysterious Infernal would land a right jab to Miyamoto's gut, causing him to wheeze in pain. He would then follow up with a left cross, before finishing with a right uppercut, sending Miyamoto flying towards Shinra.
Shinra would lie on his back and kick Miyamoto into the air with both legs. He would then immediately perform a backhand spring, before shooting a stream of flames from underneath his feet, causing him to fly up to the level of Miyamoto.
Once at that height, Shinra would land a right legged axe kick to Miyamoto's face, sending him back to the ground with force,thus causing a mini crater.
"Nice one, dude." Praised the mysterious Infernal as he watched Shinra land gracefully in front of him.
"Ah, don't mention it." Said Shinra with a hint of embarrassment, causing the mysterious Infernal to smile.
"Hold that thought." Said the mysterious Infernal as he would notice Miyamoto once again attempt to get up.
"Get behind me." Said the Mysterious Infernal as Miyamoto had managed to get up once again, although this time struggling greatly,as he was barely able to stand on both feet.
"Ok?" Said Shinra with uncertainty as he looked between the Mysterious Infernal and Miyamoto before running behind the mysterious Infernal and standing there.
With a smirk,the mysterious Infernal would emanate a great amount of heat from his body before shooting a stream of fire to the ground in front of him.
The intensity of the flames was so severe that it caused the ground to melt and turn into a sticky and gooey black substance that was greatly heated up.
As a result, Miyamoto would immediately lose his footing and fall to the ground on all fours.
"What the hell is this?!" Asked a distressed Miyamoto as he was unable to get back to his feet as the substance held him firmly in place.
"Tar. And you're going to be stuck in it for a while." Said the mysterious Infernal as he crossed his arms confidently with a smirk on his face.
"That is until the property authorities can take your sorry butt to jail." The mysterious Infernal would then turn to face Shinra.
"You guys do have somewhere you can jail him right?" Shinra would go through a mixture of emotions upon being asked that question. Embarrassment and guilt.
"Uhh... not really." Said a downcast Shinra.
"Huh? Then what are you going to do with him?" Asked the mysterious Infernal, now greatly confused.
Confusion that Miyamoto saw as an opportunity, as he understood what Shinra was implying.
"Save me! Save me! They're going to kill me!" Pleaded Miyamoto.
"Kill? Is he serious?" Asked the mysterious Infernal with widened eyes.
"He is." Answered Shinra with a solemn tone.
"Why? There's got to be another way?" Asked the mysterious Infernal.
"I'm afraid not." Said Shinra with sympathy,thus all but dashing the hope of the mysterious Infernal.
Seeing as the guards of both his assailants were down, Miyamoto would once again attempt to free himself from his tar made binds. Even slightly using his powers in the process by putting some parts of his body on fire.
To his horror, the more he struggled, the more he would continue to sink in. Eventually,his entire lower half would be submerged into the tar.
"You're only going to sink into the tar more and more if you keep struggling." Said the mysterious Infernal who's eyes was still on Shinra, catching both Shinra and Miyamoto off guard.
"So that's how you guys handle these 'Infernals'?" The mysterious Infernal asked Shinra, while making air quotes once he mentioned the word 'Infernals'.
"By taking them down, not out?" Shinra was at a loss for words. And it was as a result of the individual standing in front of him.
An Infernal unlike any he'd ever seen of or heard before.
One who even went as far as to help him to stop another Infernal.
And perhaps the most bizzare thing about him,is his apparent lack of knowledge of Infernals. His own kind. Or how they're dealt with.
These factors coupled with many other things that the mysterious Infernal had done had left Shinra bewildered to say the least.
So much so that even forming a coherent word to reply to him seemed unfeasible at the moment.
In spite of that, Shinra's mouth would begin to quiver,as if struggling to utter even just a word.
Before that would come to fruition however, both he and the mysterious Infernal would suddenly go wide eyed and almost immediately, jump backwards in the process.
Landing gracefully in the middle of both of them was Hibana.
"Huh?" Asked the mysterious Infernal with a tone of confusion.
"Special Fire Force Company 5 Captain, Princess Hibana." Said Hibana with pride as she held up a black hand fan with her left hand. The most interesting thing about it was that the top of it was on fire,yet the entire hand fan wasn't set ablaze as a result.
"The 5th will dispose of these Infernals." As she said this,in the blink of an eye, three fire soldiers from her division immediately held down the still restrained Miyamoto.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?! Get off me!" Demanded Miyamoto but to no avail.
"Hey! What's with the bright idea?!" Asked the mysterious Infernal as several fire soldiers formed a circle around him. The only reason why they hadn't attacked him was because Shinra immediately ran inside the circle to his side.
"Hold it! The 8th is putting him to rest!" Shouted Shinra as he pointed to Miyamoto.
"And this one actually aided in subduing the other one." Said Shinra as he pointed at the mysterious Infernal.
"I've got a name you know." Said the mysterious Infernal with an unamused tone. This caused Shinra to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I am a captain. Are you defying me?" Asked Hibana in a threatening tone. Before Shinra could respond, the mysterious Infernal stepped in front of him.
"I don't know about him personally, but I'd defy anyone who uses the word defy." Said the mysterious Infernal smugly.
Hibana would stare at the mysterious Infernal with an intense gaze,as if to intimidate him. That however, wasn't what she was actually doing.
As both her soldiers and Shinra had began sweating profusely,as if under intense heat. Shinra's was the most telling,as he looked like he was about to faint at any moment.
"That supposed to make me feel scared? You turning up the heat?" Asked the mysterious Infernal,as indeed,to her surprise,he wasn't the least bit affected by it.
"If anything,it just feels a breath of fresh air to me." As he said this, both Shinra and her soldiers let out a sigh of relief, indicating that Hibana had stopped her assault.
"Hold him down!" Ordered Hibana. As she said this, three different women with same blonde hair,shades and dressing appeared behind her.
"5th's Angels Three,on the scene!" They said in unison. Both them and the soldiers now took a fighting stance, causing Shinra to be slightly nervous.
"So that's how you want to play it? Fine." Said the mysterious Infernal confidently. He would begin to form flames in both hands as preparation for the upcoming battle.
"If it's a fight you want..." That battle however, would never come,as The Matchbox would park opposite Hibana, drawing everyone's attention towards it, and causing them to drop their fighting stances.
The sun had now begun to set, and the remainder of the 8th division had come outside of the Matchbox to also address Hibana. Hibana's division had also parked their vehicle opposite the 8th division, almost like a play on the seemingly growing conflict between the two divisions
"It's unusual for an Infernal to be as self aware as these two. It would also be a waste to dispose of them like this." Said Hibana.
"The 5th will secure them." Miyamoto had already been released from his tar bindings,but only for him to be put in new ones. A large white cloak used to restrain his upper body so that his movement would be limited. This allowed the fire soldiers from the 5th division to lead him into the inside of their van.
As for the mysterious Infernal,two 5th division fire soldiers stood by his sides respectively,as if to apprehend him.
"First off lady, I'm not an Infernal. Whatever that's supposed to mean." Said the mysterious Infernal to Hibana with mild annoyance.
"And secondly, unless I'm going with you willingly, I'm not following you guys back to your headquarters."The mysterious Infernal would look at both soldiers as he said this, causing them to be slightly nervous.
"How pompous." Said Hibana with amusement.
"Very well, I'll humor you. What do you wish to be called if not what you actually are?" Asked Hibana smugly
"You can start by calling me Heatblast." Said the mysterious Infernal, revealed to be Heatblast,as he crossed his arms.
"Heatblast?" Asked a confused Maki.
"That's a rather unconventional name." Added Iris.
"It sounds like it leans into the realm of theatrics." Noted Hinawa.
"That's because it's a superhero name that only applies when I'm like this, because this isn't what I actually look like." Explained Heatblast. Unfortunately,it did nothing more than to further confuse his onlookers.
"And if you still think I'm an Infernal..." Said Heatblast as he directly cut himself off to slam the hourglass symbol on his chest with his left palm. This caused a bright flash of green to engulf him, causing everyone to cover their eyes in the process.
The green flash however, would disappear as soon as it emerged. And standing in the place of the Heatblast was an individual that caught everyone completely by surprise.
A slim, teenage boy with a semi-athletic build, unkept brown hair, green eyes and pale skin.
He wore a white hooded jacket with green stripes on both arms and a green number 10 on the right side. His pants and shoes were the same as the figure who hid behind the three mascots from earlier, and so was the watch on his left hand.
"This is who I actually am." Said the boy proudly amongst the dropped jaws by his observers.
"The name's Ben. Ben Tennyson." Said the boy with a smile, revealing himself to be Ben.
Several different questions were forming all at once in the minds of everyone who had just seen him as Heatblast, and now as Ben. But due to how awestruck they were, only one of them could manage to ask a question.
"How were you able to assume that form?" Asked Hinawa.
"It's a long story. The short answer though,is that it's part of my powers." Said Ben casually.
'Part of his abilities?' Thought a perplexed Hinawa.
'Could he be a third generation pyrokinetic? Even so, I've never heard of one with such mastery and control over fire.' Unbeknownst to Hinawa, Hibana's thoughts were also similar.
"Interesting.It seems you were telling the truth after all." Said Hibana with a smirk as she walked forward slightly.
"However, just to be certain, you should come with us so that we conduct research on you." Her words caused Ben to look at her with uncertainty.
"I'm not sure I'm ok with that la..."
"Princess Hibana." Said Hibana, cutting Ben off.
"Hibana. I'm not sure I'm ok with that." Said Ben, causing Hibana to frown lightly due to him not calling her by her full name.
"It doesn't matter if this makes you uneasy or not,you're coming with us." Stated Hibana.
"And if I refuse?" Asked Ben, though he suspected what that would entail.
"Then we'll just have to take you in by force." Said Hibana with an unsettling smile,as her soldiers and the 5th's Angels took battle stances in case of a potential fight.
Ben didn't back down either as his gaze towards them was intense. But before either side could give,an unmasked Obi would step forward.
"Pardon me for the late intrusion, but this case is the 8th's jurisdiction." Said Obi formally, causing both parties to look at him.
"Don't you think you're being a bit presumptuous?" Asked Obi, his words directed towards Hibana.
"The moment he Infernalized,he became officially deceased, and putting him to rest will return him to ashes." Explained Hibana.
"That being the case,I see no problem in taking his body in as-is." Said Hibana in reference to the now captured Miyamoto.
"And with his unusual set of abilities and unclear motivations,Ben Tennyson must be taken in for questioning to ascertain whether or not he's a threat." Said Hibana in obvious reference to the seemingly uncompliant Ben.
"Furthermore, the 8th is a new facility; I understand you don't even have a science team." Said Hibana as an obvious dig to the 8th division.
"These two are precious specimen." The two fire soldiers from before would look at Ben at bit more intensely due to him no longer being Heatblast. Despite this,Ben wouldn't be the least bit intimidated.
"Wouldn't taking them back to the 5th represent an important step towards not just solving the mystery of human combustion, but better understanding the upper limits of pyrokinetics?" Said Hibana slyly,as though her tone sounded sincere on the surface,one could also tell it was anything but that.
"You intend to share the results of your investigations with us,yes?" Asked Obi.
"Absolutely I will." Said Hibana with childlike glee while smiling, causing Ben to frown,as he doubted that Hibana was being sincere.
It seemed that Obi also doubted her as well,as he let out a sigh through closed eyes before looking at her again.
"Very well.The 5th can take over from here." Said Obi,thus solidifying the agreement between both divisions.
"Whoo,how lame." Said an individual through his teeth white chewing on bubble gum.
The individual was dressed in the fire force combat uniform, but without the hat, and was from the 5th division.
He had short and shaggy blonde hair, with bangs that fall in front of his face and dopey eyes.
This was Toru Kishiri, and his words had struck a chord with Shinra and Arthur. Arthur in particular was now wearing the combat uniform as well.
"Huh?" Asked Arthur dryly, though both him and Shinra were absolutely fuming. Evident by the frowns on their faces.
As Arthur said this,Toru had already made his chewing gum into a bubble, which was now floating above Toru's head.
"The captain of the 8th is a no-talent nobody, right?" Said Toru with a sly smile, paying no mind to both of them.
"Seriously lame." Toru's bubble gum would be popped by a flame, and Toru himself would immediately be held by the collar by Shinra, with Arthur standing right Toru.
"What did you say?!" Asked Arthur.
"You wanna go?!" Asked Shinra.
"Now Captain Nobody's flunkies are butting in. Second-class nobodies." Said Toru smugly as he held Shinra's hands. Despite this, Shinra's grip on his collar would remain firm.
"Why, you! I'll teach you!/You're screwing with the wrong man!" Said Arthur and Shinra in unison.
"Shinra! Arthur!" Said Maki as she stepped in to attempt to break up the ensuing fight.
In the midst of the commotion,Maki would send a swift left punch to Toru's gut, causing him to groan in pain, before falling on his knees while cleaning his stomach. He would then begin to drool,thus indicating that he was unconscious.
Shinra and Arthur,far too absorbed in their growing fury towards Toru, wouldn't even notice when Maki attacked him. And as they looked at him with confusion, wouldn't even notice when Maki left.
Maki began walking away from the trio with an unsuspecting smile on her face. A charade she would immediately drop upon noticing Hinawa's cold glare towards her.
To her surprise however, Hinawa would give her a thumbs up,to which she would respond in kind.
"Guess he's just all talk. Can't say I'm really surprised." Said Ben as he watched the scene unfold closely. A small smile formed on his face as a result.
"Obi, if a Fire solider starts sticking his nose in too deep,it won't be the fire, but himself that gets extinguished." Said Hibana in a tone that suggested a threat while her soldiers and the 5th's Angels stood behind her. Ben himself looked at her skeptically while standing beside her.
"You don't say. So I'm blowing smoke in other's faces,am I?" Asked Obi, acknowledging the threat before looking at Hibana with unshaken resolve.
"Then again, the flames of the 8th won't be put out so easily." As Obi said this,the members of the 8th division also stood right behind him. All of them looking at Hibana and her division with defiance.
Hibana would smile smugly as she looked at them. More specifically Iris,who wasn't fazed in the slightest.
Her smile would then fade, thus her expression becoming a more neutral one. And after looking at the entirety of the 8th division for a few more seconds, she would turn her back on them and begin to walk away.
"Special Fire Force Company 5, we're heading home!" Ordered Hibana,to which her division followed suit.
Ben,who had decided to follow the 5th division despite conflicted emotions, would look at the 8th with a neutral expression as well,to which they would respond in kind.
To their surprise however, his expression would change into a smirk, almost like an acknowledgement of what they just displayed.
And to his delight,Obi,Shinra,Maki,Iris and Arthur would look at him with either a smirk or a smile. Hinawa's gaze lingering in the realms of curiosity.
With a nod,Ben would turn back and walk towards the departing 5th division, with the 8th watching on.
One thing was for certain.
Neither parties could have anticipated that today's events would play out the way they did.
And neither would be able to predict what is to come for them.
That marks the end of Chapter 1.
Some of you may already know that i teased this story and it's release a few days back. Initially I was even planning on releasing it during the last few days of June.
Unfortunately,i wasn't able to meet that deadline due to my sickness briefly getting worse. But now that I've started getting better,i was able to release it today instead.
To which i hope you're ok with the early July release.
More importantly, how did you feel about the first ever chapter of this story? Did you like it? Are there any questions you have? Let me know, and I'll respond to them in the next chapter.
Hopefully you did enjoy it though. And hopefully, it's as much as I did writing it,if not more.
This chapter was mostly based on the 4th episode of Fire Force S1 for those who may be wondering.
The next chapter will focus on the events of episode 5 and Ben coming to understand the nature of the Fire Force, their goals, and the origins of Infernals.
I can't give a definitive release date yet unfortunately, but hopefully, it'll be sooner rather than later.
Until then, please, take care of yourselves, and have yourselves a good one.