This is the second chapter. As the divers were rescuing Touma, something else was happening in Infinity 5, a city where different paths would cross and where Touma would once again find his life leading him on yet another windy path.

Around the world, there are more than 50 developmental cities and out of those 50 cities, Academy city is the top research facility for the development of esper abilities. However, located at the tip of the country, towards the south-west of Japan, along the coast line, is another bustling city. In this densely populated area, lies the Academy city branch of Infinity 5, one of the top 50 research facilities in the world. "I-5", as affectionately known by the residents there, boosts one of the worlds best Esper training programs that is slightly inferior to Academy city's very own. Established 50 years ago, the program here has grown tremendously, so much to the point that the city is on the verge of producing the first ever level 4 esper to exist outside of Academy city. However, it is here, in this strange and far-off place that a certain spiky haired boy will meet the people who would turn his fate and bring it in a whole new direction.

A strong wind swept though Infinity 5, tearing through the people who were walking on its streets. If one had a view from above, they would describe the people as ants who were scurrying around on the veins of a leaf. It was a cool Monday evening and people were making their way around the streets and roads of Infinity 5. The wind was expected, as Infinity 5 was located near the coast. These kinds of winds were common, due to the rising tides and convection currents that swept into the city like an invisible wave.

Knowing this, the residents of this city made their way to their respective destinations. Students were returning back from a hard day at school while teenagers were hanging out with their friends, entering shopping malls and gaming arcades in order to have a taste of the delights that showed themselves once the city reached nightfall.

The sun had already set and its rays were replaced by the flashing of traffic lights and pedestrians crossings. The towering office buildings stood out like giant light-sticks, lighting up the streets filled with people who were marching in all directions.

This was a typical scene in a city inhabited by students. However, down on the streets below, something was happening, something that threatened to disrupt the peace that was reigning over the city. On a street below a towering district center, a dark-skinned youth ran. Dodging past people as he weaved his way through the mangled crowd. As he made his way forward, people turned and voiced their disapproval. A girl who was carrying an ice cream yelped in surprise as the boy ran past her, tipping the ice-cream onto her shirt. Before she could chide him for his rudeness, the youth had already disappeared, covered by the crowd.

The boy continued to run and as he reached a street corner, he abruptly turned left, as if he was warding off an invisible enemy. True enough, if one were to take a look behind him, they would have seen 6 thugs chasing him. The thugs were big and violent, and they were covered in tattoos that painted their devotion and loyalty to a particular gang in Infinity 5. Gangs like these were common and they were mostly made up of level 0 to 3 espers. Nobody wanted to be on their radar on any particular given day, as they would hunt you down no matter where you were and dish out their displeasure with great satisfaction. The fact that this foreign looking boy was being hunted by them meant that he had done something to displease them and that they wanted to extract their revenge on him.

The youth, who was wearing a blue colored jersey and brown bermudas that reached to his knee , halted his run and turned into an empty alley. However, this was a mistake as he was hemmed in by a wall that blocked his road to escape. Slowly, but surely, the 6 thugs who were chasing him, caught up. They spread themselves out, cutting out any means of escape and advanced on him.

The ring leader, a big, strong guy of about 25 years old looked at the youth and smiled,

"You can't run anymore. It's time you gave up and accepted you fate."

Another thug, wearing a blue leather jacket, stepped forward and sneered,

"You had the guts to save that girl and yet, here you are, covering for your life. Turn around and accept your punishment punk!" he leered

Throwing a can forward, he shouted,

"Coward!"

The youth, whose back was facing them, stopped moving. He slowly turned around and looked at the gang members. The boy had short, curly hair that grew on all sides. His face was oval shaped and he had an angled chin that depicted his age. The boy, who could not have been more than 16 years old, looked like someone from the Middle East or India.

Undeterred, the thugs spoke again, "Look guys, it is the foreigner!"

They sneered and taunted him as the foreign boy clenched his fist in increased anger.

"Can't you understand Japanese? Or do we have to beat it into you?", laughed the thugs as they threw their insults at him.

The brown-skinned boy replied in a tone not often heard in Japan.

As he spoke, a quiet anger could be felt emulating from his voice.

"I do know Japanese and don't need senseless delinquents like you to tell me anything," replied the foreigner,as he looked straight into the eyes of his tormentors.

The thugs stopped laughing and stared, apparently taken aback by this foreign boy's ability to speak Japanese.

However, they quickly regained their composure and retorted back,

"So what if you know Japanese? We are still going to beat the crap out of you! We were having such a nice time with that girl when you butted in and pulled her away with you! How are you going to repay us ?huh!"

Their anger was evident as the 6 of them closed in on their prey.

"We are going to teach you a lesson you will never forget! Nobody messes with the scorpions and gets away with it! Do you get it brown-skinned brat?"

shouted the gang leader, as he got ready to pounce on the boy standing in front of him.

"We will show you the power of a level 3 esper and why level 0's like you should never get in our way!"

Oblivious to the racist remarks being thrown at him, the youth in the jersey and brown bermudas clenches his fist and stood up straight. He spread his legs apart and moved his arms. His right arm swung in front of him while his left hand dropped to his waist. He was ready for a fight and if had to get dirty, he would do it if it ensured his safety.

The 6 hooligans rounded on him as the leader reached out his right hand, releasing a bolt of blue light that shot from the tip of his fingers. The energy beam increased in size as it twisted and contorted towards the boy who was standing guard a few feet away.

As the beam shot towards its target, a member of the gang shouted, "He's dead now!"

The blue energy hit the boy with a tremendous force, releasing a shock wave that ripped through the surrounding walls and smashed through the glass windows. Smoke and debris flew as the ground was pummeled in a mass of power and ripples. The power user smiled as he watched his attack seemingly rip though flesh and bone. However, his joy was short-lived as the beam that was supposed to last disappeared in a combination of a strange sound and movement.

Stunned, the gang leader and his cronies stared as the brown-skinned boy stood unscathed, his right hand, stretched out. It was an impossible scenario. The attack that could have sent a dozen people to the hospital had been negated in an almost easy fashion.

The brown-skinned boy looked up and glared at his attackers. There was no fear in his eyes, only a sense of peace and a desire to end the fight. The gang leader shook in fear. He screamed in frustration and unleashed another beam of light towards the youth. Incredibly, the boy stepped forward and punched the beam with his right hand, scattering it in all directions and reducing it to nothingness.

Around their leader, the other 5 gang members looked on in amazement.

"Boss's attack was negated? But... how?", they whispered as they glanced at the youth standing in front of them.

The Boss shouted at the youth who had negated his attacks, "Damn it! What are you?"

The boy looked up and smiled.

"I wonder…what am I really?", he replied as he started forward,

a big, creepy grin etched across his face.

Trembling in fear, the gang leader let out a cry of desperation and commanded his fledglings to charge and eliminate the person walking towards them.

However, by the end of the day, all 6 members of the gang would end up in the hospital with broken bones and bruised egos, having been beaten by an enemy whom they thought was weak and whose existence was impossible.

This is the end of chapter 2. Please stay tuned for chapter 3.