CHAPTER 9 — DEBUFF Doesn’t Work on Monsters

  The classroom was silent.

  Kaito leaned against one of the desks, arms folded, staring at Tokita like he was analyzing a weapon.

  Tokita noticed.

  “…Thought the trial was over,” Tokita said lazily. “Or are you trying to pick another fight?”

  Kaito scoffed.

  “I’m not picking a fight.”

  Aoi Mizuhara’s sharp eyes flicked toward Kaito. That was a warning look. Calm down.

  Nezuko shifted slightly.

  Natsuki folded his arms. Watching.

  Kaito smirked.

  “We never actually tested you properly.”

  Tokita tilted his head.

  “Oh?”

  Aoi stepped forward. “We just want to understand your ability better. That’s all.”

  Tokita smiled slightly.

  Inside his mind?

  Good.

  I’ve been curious about yours too.

  He looked at Kaito.

  “Fine. Let’s take it outside.”

  The Schoolyard

  Wind swept across the abandoned field.

  The others stood back.

  Tokita rolled his shoulders casually.

  Before he could finish—

  —Kaito vanished.

  A fist tore through the air.

  Tokita turned his head just enough.

  “Trying to play dirty?”

  Kaito reappeared mid-strike.

  He wasn’t smiling anymore.

  Tokita dodged sideways.

  Then—

  CRACK.

  Tokita’s foot whipped upward in a brutal, precise arc.

  Not random.

  Not wild.

  A trained strike.

  His heel smashed across Kaito’s face.

  Blood sprayed.

  The impact launched Kaito through the air—

  He tore through the wall of an abandoned building.

  Through another.

  Concrete exploded.

  He crashed near the broken remains of a park.

  Silence.

  Aoi’s eyes widened.

  Natsuki’s brows furrowed.

  Nezuko gasped.

  “…He knows how to fight.”

  Not just punch.

  Not just brute force.

  He moves like someone trained to kill.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Tokita landed softly in front of the crater.

  He smiled faintly.

  “Did you think I just throw punches randomly?”

  Kaito stood.

  Blood dripping from his nose.

  He wiped it.

  He was smiling now.

  “…Good.”

  A faint yellow aura ignited around his body.

  The air distorted.

  He pointed at Tokita.

  A golden field wrapped around Tokita like a cage.

  Aoi’s expression shifted.

  “Kaito—”

  Natsuki smirked slightly.

  “It’s over.”

  Nezuko swallowed.

  “What ability…?”

  Aoi answered quietly.

  “He’s never lost because of that ability.”

  Kaito moved.

  He vanished.

  Reappeared behind Tokita.

  Punch.

  Tokita twisted mid-air and dodged.

  Kaito appeared again.

  Kick.

  Tokita blocked.

  Kaito vanished again.

  Gravity bent.

  The ground cracked beneath Tokita’s feet.

  Tokita countered with a spinning kick.

  Kaito blocked—

  Tokita shifted mid-motion—

  Brazilian hook kick.

  BOOM.

  Kaito was driven into the ground.

  The earth caved in.

  He disappeared beneath rubble.

  Silence.

  Dust rose into the air.

  Kaito emerged slowly.

  Eyes narrowed.

  Confusion flickered.

  Impossible.

  I activated it.

  He looked at Tokita.

  Tokita was standing casually.

  No aura.

  No glow.

  No activation signs.

  Just breathing normally.

  Kaito’s mind raced.

  Did he overpower it?

  No…

  Wait.

  A cold realization hit him.

  My neutralization ability…

  It only works on activated powers.

  His eyes widened slightly.

  Don’t tell me…

  He’s not even using his ability.

  This…

  This is just physical strength?

  Kaito stared at Tokita differently now.

  Not as an opponent.

  As something unknown.

  Something dangerous.

  Tokita tilted his head.

  “Is something wrong?”

  Kaito didn’t answer.

  Inside his mind:

  This monster…

  isn’t even trying.