In front of Hatsume Mei, Lock reached into the air and summoned the Yandi Armor from his dimensional storage.
The crimson armor appeared with a soft pulse of flame energy, though this time he didn't summon the accompanying Flame Sword, so the surrounding temperature stayed normal.
Mei's golden eyes lit up immediately.
"Whoa… what is this baby?!"
She crouched down, goggles snapping into place, and started circling the armor like a predator who'd just spotted prey.
Lock could practically see the sparks of curiosity crackling around her.
In this state, she was totally absorbed—completely lost in her own world.
Honestly, Lock thought, even if someone tried to rob her right now, she wouldn't notice.
He sighed helplessly. "Hatsume Mei, I'm going to train for a while. Call me when you're done observing."
No answer.
Mei was already muttering to herself, tapping the armor's surface, scanning it from every angle, her focus absolute.
Lock just shook his head and decided to leave her be.
---
He jogged toward the open area of Dogu Seaside Park, beginning his morning exercises.
Ten days of special training had brought his physical abilities close to pro-level—but "close" wasn't enough.
In real combat, the side with the stronger physique always held the advantage.
And Dragon Slayer magic was all about closing distance and fighting head-on.
Even his battle against Iron Shark had been a lesson in that truth.
That monster's raw power was terrifying—enough to shake the ground with every strike.
Lock had only managed to win because of speed.
He'd danced around the shark's attacks until the beast exhausted itself, then burned him down with the Yandi Armor's flames.
But something about that fight had felt off.
Iron Shark's strength… it didn't match his known Quirk.
It was like his Quirk suddenly evolved mid-battle.
Lock frowned, recalling the strange item the Flamingo villain had once mentioned.
The Quirk Enhancement Serum.
There was no official news about it online, but Lock had been keeping an eye on every report that followed the Iron Shark incident.
The police files said his Quirk originally only hardened his teeth.
Yet during the attack… his entire body had become steel.
An impossible mutation.
Which meant the serum was real—and it had been used.
Lock clenched his fists. "This won't be the last time I see something like that…"
A quiet determination flickered in his eyes. He could feel it in his gut—His path would cross with that power again, soon.
After nearly two hours of grueling training, Lock returned to the park bench where he'd left Mei.
She was crouched beside the armor, goggles still on, cheeks smudged with soot but eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
"Oh! You're back," she said, pushing her hair back. "Sorry, I got way too into it."
Lock chuckled. "I noticed."
Mei sighed and crossed her arms, frustration creeping into her voice.
"No matter how much I analyzed it, I couldn't identify the materials or structure at all. It's… way beyond anything on this planet. But—" she grinned suddenly "—I got tons of new ideas from it!"
Lock wasn't surprised by her findings.
After all, Yandi's Armor wasn't from this world to begin with.
If she had managed to reverse-engineer it, that would've been more unbelievable.
He smiled faintly and improvised an explanation.
"It's something my parents left me. Probably designed by a top-tier craftsman back then."
Mei blinked. "Huh. I see… Well!" She clenched her fists, energy returning instantly. "Someday, I'll become that top-tier craftsman!"
Lock laughed. "I'll look forward to that day."
He really did admire her.
For all her eccentricity, Hatsume Mei was driven, brilliant, and polite—at least afterward.
Most people obsessed with their craft forgot basic manners, but she always remembered to apologize once she came back to her senses.
A rare quality.
"Xiao Zhe!" she suddenly said, bouncing up. "As thanks for letting me study that armor, I'll show you my babies!"
She unzipped her giant backpack with theatrical flair, pulling out one gadget after another.
"If you see something you like, you can take it! Or if there's something specific you want, I can make it for you!"
Lock blinked, slightly amused by her confidence—but he wasn't about to waste the opportunity.
He began inspecting the gadgets, eyes gleaming thoughtfully.
In truth, he did have something in mind.
With his high-speed magic, his ordinary clothes and shoes wore out almost instantly. He needed something built for durability—and maybe even enhancements for his armor.
As he examined one device, Mei proudly explained, "That one's called the Hydraulic Telescopic Stick! When you're up against a rushing villain, just press here—"
"Can I try it?"
"Of course!"
Lock strapped the twin rod-like attachments to his thighs.
The moment he pressed the activation button—
BOOM!
Two steel pipes shot out, launching him sideways like a spring.
Another pair extended a split-second later, steadying his landing with perfect balance.
He blinked, impressed. "This… actually works really well."
Mei grinned, placing her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest. "Heh. Told you! I'm a genius!"
Lock chuckled. "No argument there."
Then he got serious.
"I do need something from you, Mei. Custom gear."
Her golden eyes gleamed. "Ooh, tell me!"
"Shoes that can handle my speed," he said. "Something light but durable. And maybe some small support gear compatible with my armor."
He paused, then added, "I'll cover all material and design costs."
Mei's grin widened. "Deal! Leave it to me!"
She was practically vibrating with excitement now—her passion fully ignited.
To give her reference data, Lock activated both Godspeed and Galloping Wind, pushing himself to his maximum velocity.
He vanished in a blur, leaving only afterimages swirling through the park.
It was too fast for any normal equipment to track.
But Mei wasn't normal.
Her Quirk—Zoom—allowed her eyes to magnify and lock onto high-speed targets from up to five kilometers away.
Through her crosshair-pattern pupils, she captured every detail of his movement with pinpoint precision.
When he stopped, slightly winded, she was already jotting measurements into her tablet, muttering formulas under her breath.
Finally, they exchanged email addresses.
"I'll send you the specs tonight!" she said, waving as she packed up her gadgets.
Lock smiled and waved back. "Thanks, Mei. I'm counting on you."
And with that, the two went their separate ways—
each already imagining the next time their paths would cross.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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