Japan.
A thunderous explosion shattered the peace of the bustling street.
Inside the bank, thick smoke billowed outward, and within two seconds, the frantic blaring of sirens joined the chaos. A mutated human, standing nearly five meters tall and encased in mountains of muscle, smashed through the bank's exterior wall and lunged into the open.
He tore down the street, screaming with a speed that eclipsed the pursuing police cruisers. Even the cars parked along the curb couldn't hinder him; his massive frame plowed through them like a child kicking over building blocks. Slung over his shoulder was a canvas bag, leaking a trail of banknotes that fluttered into the wind like confetti.
The residents on both sides of the street shrieked in terror, but a few bolder onlookers began to whisper as they watched the carnage.
"Hey! Another crime?"
"I heard they hit a bank for eight million!"
"Is that... a strength-enhancement Quirk? It looks incredibly powerful."
"With power like that, why turn to crime..."
"Where are the heroes? Haven't they arrived yet?"
Ever since the birth of a glowing baby in Qingqing City, China, many years ago, more and more people had begun to awaken various superpowers. Society was gradually transitioning from the [Ordinary] to the [Extraordinary].
As time passed, these superpowers became known globally as "Quirks." Consequently, the number of crimes committed by those exploiting powerful Quirks rose sharply. To combat this new wave of villainy, a new profession emerged: the Hero.
"What is that!?"
A girl around fifteen years old stood frozen by the side of the road. She had a high ponytail, striking features, and an athletic, elegant build that commanded attention. Shock washed over her face as she saw the bank robber barreling toward her at high-velocity from across the intersection.
Instinctively, she raised her right hand, a faint, iridescent light shimmering in her palm. It was clear she possessed a Quirk of her own. However, before she could activate it, the robber roared past her like a runaway freight train.
The girl whipped her head around, her lips pressed thin in a look of sheer frustration. "Damn it! My Quirk still takes too much time to manifest."
The robber sped away, the distance between him and the police cars growing by the second. Just as the girl with the ponytail resigned herself to the idea that only a Pro Hero could stop him, her eyes widened.
A tall young man, appearing to be about her age, was standing directly in the middle of the road. His hands were shoved casually in his pockets as he stared expressionlessly at the wall of muscle charging toward him.
He looked to be fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a light blue striped jacket, beige casual trousers, and black leather shoes. Beneath his jet-black hair, his sharp, handsome features were defined by what many would call "sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes." Even through his jacket, the lean, powerful lines of his physique were visible, reminiscent of the legendary martial artist Bruce Lee.
"Danger! Get out of the way!" the girl screamed.
Onlookers on the sidewalk gasped, already imagining the young man being launched into the air like a ragdoll. Many instinctively covered their eyes, unable to watch the impending collision.
"Move it, brat!" the robber roared, not slowing down for a second.
"Hmph."
A faint, mocking scoff escaped the young man's lips as he stared down the five-meter-tall juggernaut.
The next instant, he raised his right hand, pointing his index finger directly at the criminal.
In a flash, a figure materialized out of thin air beside him. The entity was clad in gleaming golden armor that revealed only the lower half of its face. It possessed bronze-colored skin and massive, corded muscles that looked ready to burst with divine strength.
Wu Xuan's lips curled into a smirk. He flicked his finger forward.
Without a moment's hesitation, the golden-armored giant wound up and delivered a devastating punch.
BOOM!
The contact between the fist and the robber's face sounded like a cannon firing.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as the five-meter-tall beast—a man who looked like an unstoppable force of nature—was flipped twice through the air before slamming heavily into the asphalt right at Wu Xuan's feet.
The entire street fell into a deathly hush.
The impact was so severe that the robber's Quirk forced a shutdown, his body shrinking back toward its original size. A deep, unmistakable fist-shaped indentation was bruised into his left cheek.
"Kid... you... what kind of Quirk is that...?" The robber, now back to a height of about 1.8 meters, rolled his eyes back in his head, struggling to force out the words before losing consciousness.
Wu Xuan chuckled and gave a slight, mockingly polite bow. "This is... The World."
The golden-armored figure reached down, snatched the leather bag off the robber's shoulder, and handed it to Wu Xuan.
Opening the bag, Wu Xuan whistled at the stacks of colorful bills. "Incredible. This has to be at least a hundred million yen, right?"
At that moment, the screeching tires of the pursuing police cars signaled their arrival. Inside the lead vehicle, the driver stared at the young man standing over the defeated villain and gasped.
"Officer Tamane! It's him again!"
The officer frowned, opening the laptop mounted on the dashboard. He pulled up a file containing the young man's photo and profile.
Name: Wu Xuan
Age: 15
Height: 185 cm
Place of Birth: Qingqing City, China
Quirk: Stand - The World
Background: Transferred to Orudera Junior High in Japan one year ago following the passing of his only relative, his maternal grandfather (formerly China's No. 25 Hero). Currently under suspension for the unauthorized use of his Quirk against a classmate.