The first few nights as Dark Phantom were a blur of adrenaline and violence. I stalked the alleys and shadows, dispensing a brutal brand of justice that the pro heroes often ignored. I was efficient, ruthless. My enhanced strength and speed, a legacy from my past life, made short work of most thugs. But it wasn't just about brute force. I had to be smart, strategic. I learned to use the environment to my advantage, to anticipate my opponents' moves.
One evening, returning home after a particularly brutal night, I found Akira hunched over her homework. "Onii-chan, I love UA," she said, her eyes shining. "Class 1-B is amazing."
"That's good, Akira," I said, ruffling her pink hair.
"Monoma-kun says I'm pretty," she mumbled, blushing.
I sighed internally. Monoma's… unique personality wasn't exactly reassuring. "Just be careful, okay? Some people aren't always what they seem. "
"I will," she said. "But… there's someone else interesting in my class. Shinso Hitoshi. He's really nice. He sits in the back."
A genuine smile spread across my face. "I'm glad you're making friends, Akira." Shinso, huh? That kid had potential.
Later that night, as I prepared for my shift, a sense of unease settled over me. Tonight felt different. Darker. More dangerous.
My instincts proved correct. Tonight, I encountered not petty criminals, but a coordinated group of ten villains, each with a unique and deadly quirk.
The first, a hulking brute with a strength augmentation quirk, came at me head-on. I sidestepped his clumsy attack and delivered a swift kick to his knee, dropping him to the ground with a bone-snapping crack. The second, a woman with razor-sharp claws, lunged for my throat. I caught her wrist, twisted it with a sickening pop, and disarmed her. A third, a telekinetic, sent a barrage of debris hurtling towards me. I used my speed to dodge the projectiles, closing the distance and delivering a knockout blow to his temple.
The fight escalated. A fire-breather, a poison manipulator, an illusionist, a sound amplifier, each one a new challenge. I fought with a controlled fury, my every move calculated, precise. I used my super strength to shatter bones, my speed to evade attacks, my heightened senses to anticipate their moves.
The poison manipulator managed to get a hit on me, but it only slowed me down slightly. I grabbed the container of poison from his hand and made him drink it, killing him swiftly. The illusionist tried to hide but I quickly located him and ended him. The pain was nothing and adrenaline was coursing through my veins. It felt amazing!
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last villain fell. I stood panting in the blood-soaked alleyway, the silence broken only by my ragged breaths. It was done.
As the last villain fell, my phone rang. It was Shira.
I answered, my voice hoarse. "Shira."
"Anos, are you alright? I saw the reports. Ten villains, all eliminated. That's… impressive."
"I'm fine," I said, downplaying the exhaustion. "Just another night."
"How are you adjusting to the work?" she asked, her voice softening.
"I'm getting better," I admitted. "Faster. More efficient. I'm saving lives, Shira. I'm actually making a difference."
"It's a risky job, Anos. One mistake, and it's over."
"I know," I said, my gaze drifting up to the sliver of moon visible between the towering buildings. "But it's worth it. It's worth it to know that I'm finally using my power for something good."
I hung up, fatigue washing over me. Tonight, I had saved thirty lives. Thirty people who would wake up tomorrow, oblivious to the battle fought in the shadows. And that was enough. For now, it was enough. Everything was amazing.