It was a dead end.

It didn’t matter how many people he pestered with his broken Japanese. By the time they could understand what he was saying, they had no idea who he was looking for. The picture wasn’t helping him either. Despite Bernard confirming her location, he wouldn’t have sent Antoine here if she weren’t here, no one recognized her.

That’s when he saw someone moving to the back. The hair was different; shorter. And she was scantily clad, but it was without a doubt her. By this point, he had two options: one push forward and get to her or see what the hell was happening by the entrance.

Antoine glanced over.

Yeah, whatever the hell was happening over there was above his pay grade. Some woman was making a fool of security. He almost felt for the guys. After all, he was a security guard, too. And despite being pretty strong in his own right he could recognize power. With the way she threw herself around… it’d be best to avoid getting into a fight with her.

“Hey!” Antoine called out. The girl gave him a confused look. She didn’t recognize him. She didn’t have a reason to, either. They were strangers.

“Do I know you?” The question popped out of her mouth with no regard for the girl next to her. They were tugging on her, trying to get her backstage.

“We’ve got to go, Yuki.” They were nervous. “The fight’s about to start.”

“You’re a fighter?” Antoine asked.

“LOL! I’m a ring girl.” She winked. “But if you’re a fighter I can put in a good word.”

“I’m security.”

“Uhm, you’re so not?” Yuki looked at her coworker. “Katerina, is this a newbie?”

“I don’t know him at all…” Katerina was nervous as all hell.

“I’m security for Bernard. He sent me.”

“Oh, I love Bernie!” Yuki blushed. “What does he need?”

“He needs you out of here. Now.”

“Nope! Gotta job. Talk to you after maybe?”

“Yuki, maybe you should listen to him…” Katerina stopped tugging. “It seems serious.”

“We gotta go, Kat!” This time Yuki did the pulling. And they went backstage. “Just enjoy the show… what was your name?”

“Antoine.” When he moved to get backstage more security showed up. “Right, I…” He sighed. “Where can I watch the fight?”

Security pointed to the spectator area.

---

Not only had Antoine taken the minimal damage he had also used minimal energy — the luxury of fighting at a distance. With the decoy nearly out of commission and the heavy hitter reeling from the fight, his responsibility was to help escort them to safety. Dion acted as a guide, and Antoine would act as Jaida’s crutch unless she wished to be carried in entirety.

Dion led the way. He knew a place for them to rest. And while he trusted his comrades, he was still paranoid of what was to come. Even the well-intentioned made mistakes. And with how compromised the group was, and the threat of heroes tailing them, Antoine was silent.

Then they sat down.

“Even without drug abuse,” Antoine began. “If he had lost control… as that.” Everyone knew what the hell they fought. “I don’t know if we would have been strong enough to take him down without killing him. Sometimes it’s what has to be done.”

A pause.

“Even if it’s something we don’t want,” Antoine continued. “Even if it’s the wrong thing to do.”

---

“Mom or Dad?” Antoine didn’t hesitate. He wouldn’t push if she put up walls, either. Maybe she hadn’t moved past it yet. Maybe you never do. “Is that why you moved here?”

He looked over at the box of stuff. He’s not really sure he understands her price point. But if Bernard recommended her, finances weren’t a problem. Instead, she wanted a burger or some other memento or trinket to play with. Megumi seems the type to like puzzles. But that could just remind her of work. It was future Antoine’s problem. Right now, he knew what to get her. When that well runs dry, then… he’ll have to start thinking.

There were a few offers on the table. He could ask about her cousin. The goose, too. But were either of these people someone to trust? Someone to work with? As long as he was undercover it was best to keep an arm’s distance. “Bernard’s on a budget. Won’t be working with anyone else for now.”

---

Fight club.

You know the rule. Don’t talk about it.

Despite that, the illegal underground circuit found itself an audience. The club moved from location to location like a carnival. Setting up shop in some abandoned facility, they were only found through word of mouth. See the problem? Everyone knows the rule. But no one follows it.

On nights like these, they have a particular location. The Ring. It’s a cage match. Two go in, and one comes out. It’s not to the death. But if someone dies, no one’s complaining. There are rumors that if you manage to take someone’s head off, then you get a bonus. Hasn’t come to fruition yet, but everyone’s waiting for the day it happens.

There’s a door. Antoine knocks.

A stranger opens the eye slot and demands a password. It’s rotating, so you only get one shot. What they don’t tell you: if you get it wrong, they let you in any way. Before you know it, you’re bound, gagged, and in the middle of the ring.

“Himalayan salt.”

They open the door.

“Keep to your left.” He’s big. Bald. Ugly smile he can’t help but share. “And don’t even look right.”

Antoine nods.

Today, he’s Antoine. Not Ghouligan. No pool stick. No fighting. He’s here to protect someone, not kill. It was one of Bernard’s jobs. And if word got back that Ghouligan worked for Bernard, then it’d be easy to put two and two together.

He pulled a photo out of his pocket. His target.

“Where are you?”

---

- First come first serve.
- Open to one more person
- Looking to have 5-6 posts per person.
- Tryna finish it within 2 weeks.

---

What an odd day.

For whatever reason, Antoine had woken up with telepathic powers. These very powers allowed him to speak to and understand other people in Japan — almost like a universal, language translator. As far as he knew, these powers were completely unrelated to his quirk. But that didn’t stop him from looking deeper into the prospect.

Searching for more information online, he came across various articles on spontaneous power development. They all seemed to fall within a limited scope of abilities, too. Some people gained multiple powers, too. And if people were gaining powers, they were likely abusing them.

Antoine put on his garb. He wore his demon mask and pulled on his four-link chain until he revealed the fifth link, transforming into a being a pure force. The black wisps dripped off his body with each step he took into the night. His shift at Bernie’s had ended an hour ago. And with a few leads, he looked to clean up whatever messes he could find.

---

Antoine works best from a distance.

While he’s no pushover in close quarters, few can best him in ranged combat. Given his exceptional perception, he takes the liberty of slowing down. The noises are around the corner. Horrid, gluttonous sounds of something inhuman. If he wants to leverage his surprise, then he needs a better angle of attack.

He scales the wall. Unlike others, he doesn’t need footholds. Antoine’s quirk allows him to create enough friction on the walls to walk up them as if he were defying gravity. But that’s not exactly the case. The forces of gravity still apply to the rest of his body. But with his natural affinity for balance and his supernatural strength, he can run up the wall in ways one might not expect.

When he reaches the top of the roof, there’s someone there. They don’t look like a hero. They’re in a disguise. And if they’re running toward this sound, then they’re likely here to help. He’s ready to put them down if they’re in control of the best but from this distance it was unlikely.

Antoine put his finger up towards his mouth. Shh. Then, he motions them over, so they can both look down at the beast below.

A pink, gelatinous cube is terrorizing the area. Within its confines is a car. Within that car, people. And if you were to look at the trail of mucus behind it, you’d see its acidic effects destroying everything it comes into contact with.

They only had seconds to act.

---

The hell is that one talking about?

Antoine wasn’t one for ego. His looks might have intimidated most, but there were other monsters in the world. Larger, more terrifying ones. And some have confronted and bested these monsters. To presume himself powerful was a mistake. To presume others thought of him that way was a mistake, too. To become attached to the idea of strength was futile. If the man’s looks weren’t enough, then it was how he carried himself that was truly alarming. They knew they’d survive. Yet they did not carry themselves like a warrior or a noble or some kind of deluded god.

The rest, however, responded as most do — with violence. They did not understand the position they were in. And it was in Antoine’s best interest to show them the gravity of the situation. If any of them could redeem themselves, he’d gladly accept them.

Bullets rained on him. Until they didn’t. They all slowed down, coming to a halt, until they eventually fell onto the ground, immobile. He couldn’t keep this up for the entirety of the fight, but he made his bluff… a monster immune to bullets.

“This is your final warning.”

---