Tokyo Ghoul belongs to Sui Ishida.
One Punch Man belongs to ONE.
I own none of them.
| Black Goat: at The Laboratory |
"Yo, Kabuto-san." Nashiro walked into the detainment chamber calmly as she put a thin smile.
"Oh! Shiro-chan! AHAHAHAHA… Long time no see, eh?" Carnage Kabuto returned the greeting amicably.
Despite facing an abomination in the form of a giant, brown, rhinoceros beetle man, the heir of Yasuhisa family didn't falter. She even bantered with Number One like an old friend, albeit with some distance. Thanks to a series of battle tests she participated in the past, this artificial monster didn't scare her anymore. They even made friends, which baffled Genus and the rest of the House of Evolution, or so those scientists believed.
"How are you today? I'm afraid that you're lonely here." Nashiro chuckled lightly as she stood at a considerable distance from Kabuto.
The beetle monster pursed his lips as he dragged his chained legs. "That stupid junk sure has imprisoned me here. You know, I'm aching for a fight."
Genus had deemed Carnage Kabuto as the hardest to handle among the tests subjects. His mental was unstable, but he was the strongest fighter House of Evolution had ever created, hence he was stored as a last resort weapon to counter a dangerous enemy.
However, Nashiro's arrival two years prior had changed that. It was still unknown how did it work, but she managed to "tame" the beast in an unexpectedly casual way. Genus hypothesized that Number One had a strong interest in her which suppressed his violently murderous tendency.
"But, hey! Are you coming here to propose a marriage? Hehehehe…" A perverted grin appeared on Kabuto's face.
The girl sighed. "You know, Kabuto-san. We're not compatible at all. Is that what you think all this time?"
"Hey, is that wrong? That garbage said I'm the top of humanity, you know. That means I deserve human rights. One of them is to procreate, to preserve my superior gene." The beetle monster explained haughtily as he made some silly poses, prompting Nashiro to snort.
"Yeah. But before you can do that, there are some interesting people who want to meet you." Nashiro said as a holographic display appeared at her right side, showing the three visitors. "That bald one and the woman are your targets. Don't rough them too much, okay."
"OH! OHOHOHOHO…! Interesting! This will be fun!" Kabuto guffawed in ecstasy as his adrenaline rushed through his veins. "That egg head and the bitch, huh? They don't look strong, but let's see later. So, anything else, Shiro-chan?"
"I believe that's all. I hope you'll enjoy the meeting. I've some business to attend to, so see you, Kabuto-san." The girl hobbled out, leaving the monster but without any hint of disrespect.
Before the young woman stepped out from that chamber, the monster raised his hand. "Hey, wait!"
"Hmm?" Nashiro turned around. "What is it, Kabuto-san."
"Well, how should I speak about this…?" The monster scratched his head as his face made a slight grimace. "Actually I'm not sure, but…"
Seeing the confusion on his face, Nashiro smiled. "Oh, come on, just tell me. It's not like I will bite you, right?"
Kabuto rolled his eyes. "That's what I'm gonna say."
"What do you mean?" Nashiro asked in confusion.
"Uhm… If… Just, if…" The monster scratched the back of his neck. "If I die, will you eat me?"
"What!? Are you joking!?" Nashiro snapped as she frowned in total disapproval. "There's no way I'll eat you. I've got a procedure from the doc to fix my eating problem. Now, I can eat like human does. I'll never eat you, okay."
"No. I mean… I just wanna say, if I'm dead, it's okay if you eat me." The monster stated and smiled.
Nashiro's jaw gaped. She couldn't believe that the monster said that kind of thing. As she let his words sunk in, the fuzzy memory when her sister consumed her resurfaced, sending a shiver down her spine. She gulped in fear and she didn't notice that her right eye turned into kakugan.
"Why… Why, Kabuto-san?" Nashiro asked as her hands trembled, her voice was very low. "Is this… a request?"
"Shiro-chan. You're my only friend, so I guess if you eat me, I can become a part of you and make you stronger." Kabuto made a small grin at his silly reason. "But if you don't like it, well… Just leave my scrap."
Nashiro for a moment scowled as she closed her eyes. It turned into a grim smile, then a maniacal laughter burst. Her laughter even took Carnage Kabuto aback.
Parents, friends and even her twin sister had left her, or it was her who got separated forcefully. Everything was so flimsy and could break apart at any moment. She had lost her faith in those kind of bonds the moment she came back to life in this world. The Black Cube of Truth had taught her that life was just a limbo of suffering and distrust.
Nashiro Yasuhisa, a lost soul from another world, understood that very well. The world was a cruel place and it might bite everyone in the most despicable fashion possible. Lies, betrayals, pains and anguishes are the only things it could offer for those who dwelt upon it. Every idealistic thing like kindness, trust, brotherhood and friendship are just nonsense.
Of course in this regard, she didn't believe in justice anymore!
Now, the only thing she believed as a means of survival was an overwhelming strength and sneaky tricks. If you can't outmatch your enemies, at least you can still outsmart them, right?
In front of her at the moment, there was a soul who still believed her as his friend despite calling himself the top of humanity! How abrasively naive! How painfully dumb! Is this the product of this so called House of Evolution?
'Pathetic!' Nashiro hissed in her thought as her chuckle exuded the gut-wrenching darkness in her heart. 'Alas… What will you do, Kuro? Now, if I can hear you, I bet you'll say yes for an ice-cream treat! Right? Right!?'
"… AHAHA… AHAHAHAHAHA…!" Nashiro flashed an unsightly feral grin as her purplish kakugan gleamed in the darkness. "You know, Kabuto-san! That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard from someone. Now, I know very well why some primitive people ate their deceased family members. To honor the late! So rest assured, Kabuto-san! If that's what you want, I'll surely fulfill my promise as your friend!"
Being called a stupid, Carnage Kabuto usually would lash out in anger. However, the woman before him was the only person he considered as a friend in this confinement. He would feel bad if he killed her.
Nonetheless, what actually chained him from snapping was the sensation he felt from her laughter. What laced it wasn't the primal rush to dominate others like what he felt in this prison. It was far different. Something terrible.
It was a demented form of malevolence. Cold, insidious, and corrupting. A corrosive power not meant for a lesser monster.
House of Evolution deemed Carnage Kabuto as crazy simply because he was obnoxiously stubborn. However, the organization had likely failed to notice the madness Nashiro had developed within her head. She concealed it so well that they thought she was only suffering a mild PTSD during her early days in this house.
The monster shivered for a moment as he saw the flash of homicidal glint on Nashiro's kakugan. Now, he was aware that his friend probably was more insane than him. He only hoped that she was okay.
"Oh… Oh, thank you." Kabuto nervously thanked as he saw the flesh-eater left him with the echo of her crazy laughter. "G-good luck, Shiro-chan…"
The group of three ventured through a very long corridor. The way was large enough for a trailer to pass. They were still wondering about what kind of thing which waited at the end of this dim-lighted road.
As Saitama was thinking about the treasure while Genos analyzed the place, Eto had a feeling that she had somehow misjudged about this House of Evolution. It was true that the founder might be an eccentric, but he shouldn't be a fool if he dared to let their enemies wander into his lair. This massive corridor which probably could sustain a nuclear blast had proven that House of Evolution could be a big fish. They must have some sort of surprising countermeasure up their sleeve.
Eto wondered whether Saitama had dealt with these kind of people in his past. She looked at him and she saw he was very calm, almost like he made a stroll around his own apartment. So open, so uncaring of his surrounding, relax and almost gave in to whatever he would meet. He lost his serious expression as they ventured deeper into this place. His sedated nature bothered Eto.
Genos abruptly stopped as he squinted his eyes at the distance. Eto also tensed when she felt tremors, or rather… giant footsteps followed by breaking glasses. She squinted her eyes as she braced herself to see whatever came in her way. It was not Tokyo anymore and this world hadn't ceased to shock her.
"Sensei! I detect a living being! It is approaching us!" Genos alerted as he readied himself for a battle.
"GEHEHEHE…. HAHAHAHAHA…!" A crazed cackle echoed along that corridor. "THE BALD AND THE BITCH! THE BALD AND THE BITCH! THE BALD AND THE BITCH!"
Before Genos could react, the monster slammed its hand towards him, embedding his side to the concrete wall. The disciple was lodged there, prompting the masters to gaze at the perpetrator who had just waltzed passed them.
"What the hell…!" Eto muttered as she looked at the brown abomination before her.
"Damn it! You've turned Genos into a bad piece of modern art!" Saitama blurted out at the state of his disciple.
"GEHEHEHE… I'm Carnage Kabuto." The monster introduced himself, flashing a toothy grin. "We've a large room for fighting over there."
Saitama's face turned serious once again. "Let's fight!"
The monster grinned from ear to ear, garnering Eto's gulp. Probably it was the first time she tensed in fear after she managed to become the strongest kakuja ever roamed Tokyo at her time. This thing was bigger than the lion man from that morning and it bore a clear sign of madness, quite reminiscent to Seidou Takizawa, her former lackey.
'Gosh… This won't end well, I guess.' Eto mused as she glanced at Saitama as a cold sweat bead slid down her cheek.
When the couple arrived at the test room, a man in a black suit had been waiting. The half-ghoul assumed that the guy was the owner of this freaking enormous facility. The room was so large that probably a quarter of Cochlea's lower section could fit in it!
"Welcome to the House of Evolution. I am Genus, founder of this research base." The man introduced himself. "I am honor–"
"Sheesh! Move aside, idiot! We're not here to hear your stupid blabbering!" Kabuto snarled as he walked haughtily before his creator and turned his attention back to the guests. "So, what do you think? This place is the largest chamber in this facility. This is where we test our combat capability."
"Heh! This makes me more psyched up at your challenge!" Saitama exclaimed as he faced Kabuto.
"So you're the man behind all of this mess, huh? I see…" Eto spoke loudly and smirked at the researcher. "I should admit that your work is quite remarkable, but your taste of art is terrible."
The honorable researcher frowned at Eto's insult. After his exhaustingly hard and tediously painstaking work, someone came and spat at him, saying that his achievement is only but a failure of aesthetic? Genus almost lost his temper, but when he looked at his ultimate weapon, he snorted. He was actually waiting for this chance to come, and it was now. To test his Number One and shut the mouth of those primitive apes who looked down upon the fruit of his splendid evolution theory!
"Quite bold of you for an unknown species who can still display an awe for my superior creation." Genus returned the quip as he stood behind Kabuto. "And now, I want to know whether you are still bound by human limit or have surpassed it to become a higher existence!"
"Superior creation? Are you daydreaming? And higher existence? Are you talking about divinities?" Eto's smile turned dark. "If what you seek is a being for you to worship, then I'll willingly become one!"
Eto's ukaku kagune slithered out from her upper back to the entirety of her body, wrapping her person in the manner of a full armor. She grew taller as her kakuhou sac pumped RC-cells to build white plates. Both Genus and Saitama widened their eyes while Carnage Kabuto grinned in interest. She revealed her first stage of Owl, sans her mask.
"Wow! Eto-san, you can even create your own battle armor!? That's pretty cool!" Saitama gave a thumbs-up. "Though, why I feel like I've ever seen that armor before?"
"Hehehe… This is just nothing. My cell can create almost everything." Eto waved her armored hand. "And maybe you've seen this in some manga."
'And well… How forgetful… But I'm safe, I guess?' Eto sighed inwardly as she brushed her short-hair aside.
"T-that's…!" Genus rasped as he gazed at the rapid transformation Eto had unleashed. "Similar to…"
"Hohohoho… You remind me to my friend. I hope she's okay up there." Kabuto said as he shook his head slightly. "And do you think you're safe under that crappy armor? I'll make sure to squash you into some sauce, bitch!"
Eto smirked as she glanced at Saitama. "Turn me into some sauce? Let's see–"
A stream of flame suddenly burst and burned Kabuto. When Eto and Saitama turned around, they saw Genos was leaning against the massive door frame of that chamber. His face had cracks, yet he didn't seem to sustain heavy damage. The mad scientist who stood at the sideline tilted his head at the newcomer who managed to scorch the white floor in front of Kabuto.
"Hoh? You're still alive?" Kabuto grinned after the fire dissipated.
"Who are you?" Genus asked as he regarded the cybernetic being with slight interest. "Oh! You must their companion. I see…"
The monster was resistant to the flamethrower attack. It even didn't move from his place and even stuck his tongue to insult the cyborg. Without minding people's reactions, Genos shot forward and delivered fire blasts from his arms while circling the monster.
This attack which burned the brown beetle from all sides wasn't enough however. It forced the young cyborg to rush at him and engage at a close range.
Genos used the boosters in his upper arms to launch him upwards and used the momentum of his fall to deliver…
[ マシンガンブロー ]
"Machine Gun Blows!" A barrage of punch hailed upon the monster.
Although most of his body was made of metal, Genos had been displaying an astonishing nimbleness and inhumanly swift reaction. This feat which never escaped Eto's sight surprised her. And now, he was unleashing punches her eyes hardly could track the movement upon the monster. Just what kind of person who built him and what kind of technology which could achieve that? Eto couldn't stop wonder.
Shockingly, those devastating strikes didn't even leave a scratch on the enemy's body. It was the first time Eto saw this kind of tough abomination and it sparked a doubt on her mind whether she could fight it or not. Maybe that mad scientist had really created a god incarnate.
Turned out, the world she hailed from was just a child's play compared to this one.
Eto switched her gaze to Saitama and he donned that determined face once again. That sense of odd security washed over her once again, knowing that Saitama would likely beat this monster, however strong it was.
However, was that what she wanted?
To be protected like she was a princess in a Kabuki play. Was that mean she had given up to fight? She was a fighter who had championed a long bloody struggle, but would she just surrender her belt over that foolish feeling?
It was true that she amassed people in her previous life to fight for her cause, but did that mean she was a weakling? Did she left some big preys to her underlings' care because she was weak?
NO. It's not because she was a wimp. She was strong in her own right. She left those troubles to her lackeys simply because she didn't see any benefit from fighting those enemies.
She snapped back to reality when she saw Genos was flung back by the armored beast. Saitama caught him and a black smoke escaped his mouth. Despite getting more damage than before, his rush of young cyber-adrenaline, as Eto put it, forced his mechanical body to move and left his master's helping arms. It was like he refused to be defeated.
'What a spirit. Do I have a courage to do so?' Eto mused bitterly as she saw how Genos struggled.
"H-he got me good. Let me take him." Genos spoke weakly as blue sparks flew from his busted left eye.
"Hey, your face is cracked and you're smashed up. Don't push yourself." Saitama warned his disciple.
Genos limped down then his body jerked as he extended his left arm. A bigger burst of flame erupted from his blaster, aimed at Carnage Kabuto. The monster in response inhaled some air into his lungs and blew it out.
"What! With a breath!?" Genos said as the flame from his blaster began to get pushed back by the wind from Kabuto's breath.
Before the fire licked her, Eto quickly used her kagune to cover her face from the heat. The flame finally flew back as Genos lost the power to maintain the thrust. The stream of yellow burned the three together. Fortunately, it wasn't as hot as she thought.
'Phew… If it's Tatara, I don't think I would still be intact.' Eto's kakuja crimson eye momentarily dimmed.
Eto turned to see Saitama and Genos. The baldy only cringed while his disciple looked exhausted. Miraculously, their bodies and outfits didn't sustain any damage save Genos' hair which turned into a puffy blond broccoli.
"Eh? Genos? Are you alright?" Saitama hung his jaw.
"Genos-kun… Your hair?" Eto's mask muffled her voice.
"E-Eto-sensei…? Is that you?" Genos remaining eye blinked.
"Well, yeah. This is just my helmet." Eto shrugged. "So, don't worry. Right, Saitama-kun?"
"Uh. Yeah."
"Hahahaha…! Now, you've seen how powerful my creation is! Carnage Kabuto is the peak of human evolution!" Genus exclaimed proudly as he watched the party of three who stuck together. "And behold how he will crus– AAAAAAAAGGGHHHHH!"
Eto was fed up with Genus' ranting. She decided to shut him up with some RC shards. One of them pierced his left thigh, leaving a bleeding stab-wound. He fell to the floor from the stinging pain.
"Oi, Eto-san! What gives? He did nothing, right?" Saitama spoke in disapproval as he saw Genus was rolling and writhing on the floor.
"E-Eto-sensei…" Genos muttered in exasperation.
"He's the culprit who made some monsters and used them to break your apartment, Saitama-kun. Remember?" Eto retorted with her muffled voice. "It's even. No. Even the cost for treating that wound is cheaper compared to the cost for repairing the roof."
Saitama cupped his chin as he thought about her argument. "Hmm… I guess you're right. It's fair I think."
"WUHAHAHAHA…. I like your style, woman! He's really a pain in my ass." Kabuto made finger guns as he snickered at his creator's anguish. "Roughing him up is cool. But if I were you, I'll use those spikes on your back to skewer him. HEHEHEHEHEH! But anyway, thanks."
Although she still harbored a faint doubt about her victory, the new disciple in some ways had inspired her. As shameful as it was, Genos had rekindled the spirit for a fight within the former leader of Aogiri Tree. A small smile cracked beneath the Owl's mask as Eto extended her spears.
"Save your thanks after we fight!" Eto exclaimed as she started to run forward, meeting the monster head-on. "Wait for me, Saitama-kun!"
"Oh! Good luck for Round 2, Eto-san!" Saitama motivated as he pumped his fist. "Try not to lose!"
"WOOHOO…! Interesting! Up for a fight!? Then I'll give you a good one!" Kabuto roared in glee as he ran and lost from sight.
"What!" Eto staggered in her run when she saw Kabuto was nowhere to be seen.
"S-so fast!" Genos tried to track Kabuto's move to no avail.
Kabuto suddenly appeared in front of Owl. "HUEEEE! IIIIDIOT!"
Eto earned an uppercut from the monster, throwing her into the air. Her RC-cell armor could absorb the impact, but the force wounded her body beneath. Although the concussion rattled her organs, her regeneration speed fortunately could mend the wound as soon as she landed on the floor.
Owl leaped into the air and flapped her kagune spikes as a propelling force. For a couple of seconds, she managed to track the monster's standing place. She frantically hurled RC-shards as she rolled in the air, but Kabuto once again disappeared from her vision and slammed his gigantic palm from above her, swatting her back to the white surface.
Eto rose, but before she could brace herself, the third strike landed, swatting her again. She failed to notice the trajectory of the blow. It was either he attacked from her blind spot or he was too fast. Given her smaller frame compared to her enemy, it was likely the latter.
"HIYAHAHAHAHA….! A small opponent that cannot break easily! I like THIS!" Kabuto threw another punch at Owl in mid air. "WOOOOO!"
"ETO-SENSEI!" Genos shouted as his new master got a beating.
"Keep fighting, Eto-san!" Saitama cheered his lady-friend. "You can do it!"
The following five minutes, the beetle punched, slapped and smacked around Owl, without letting her to offer resistance. Eto never thought that she would have an absurdly hard time, overwhelmingly outmatched by the sheer power of her enemy. She always lost her chance to react despite in trait, she had the kagune which was superior in speed. This fight – if it could be called a fight– was nothing sort of what she faced in Tokyo.
If that ever stoic Kishou Arima saw this pathetic show, maybe he would laugh out his guts.
Blood escaped from under Eto's mask as she crashed onto the wall. She had made a miscalculation. Calling her enemy a superior creation probably wasn't wrong. Ashura, as the name suggested, was no joke since his brutality would have squashed her into bloody paste was she not a battle-hardened kakuja. Now, the Owl had been aware of how enormous the gap between her world and this one.
Fortunately, her trump card was still waiting in store.
'I see… So the key is to dominate, huh? Guess I should use the old way.' Eto mused as she crawled to stand. 'Lucky me, I still have plenty reserve to spend.'
"HUEHEHEHEHE…! Think you can still keep up, heh? I see you can stand." Kabuto mocked as he pointed finger gun at Eto. "Not bad. Your armor is very tough, but why you cannot even fight? This is pretty boring, you know."
Genus who managed to retrieve a painkiller from under his jacket jabbed the syringe and felt a relief. As he sat, his smile became wider when he sighted his creation stood victoriously before the bizarre primitive lifeforms. He was proud that his half-successful artificial human had beaten the expired species.
His smile suddenly faded however, for the unknown being underwent another transformation.
Eto's armor cracked and bloated in seconds. She decided to unleash Owl's second stage in order to keep up with Carnage Kabuto. The transformation shocked everyone, save Saitama and Kabuto.
"Wh-what is that!" Genus pointed at the second state Owl which towered over his creation.
"E-E-Eto-sensei…!" Genos quivered as his reading detected the tremendous raise of the unknown gaseous metal in the air.
"Oh… She has an advanced form." Saitama hammered his palm. "But why I fee like I've also seen that form before? Ah. Never mind. She's very cool with that armor though."
"EEEEEEEKKKKHHHHH!AAAAHH~ Now… Let me show you myparty clothes! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…!" Eto announced in her shrill voice as her giant kakuja's eye rolled around, tongue sticking out. "LET'S HAVE FUN!"
"W-What… What is that!?" Genus muttered in shock. "T-that's… IMPOSSIBLE!"
Genos' eye narrowed. His sensors kept scanning the abomination Eto had transformed into and in some seconds, he could make out the general anatomy of its body. He had located Eto who conveniently settled inside Owl's head. Meanwhile, its thorax and abdomen were hollow, no presence of digestive organs. Genos assumed that such a built was meant to tank heavy impact without sacrificing agility. Probably it also allowed an ability of flight.
'Incredible! So, Eto-sensei uses the cranium as a cockpit while the rest of the body is the weapon? It must be like controlling a mobile fortress!' Genos mused in awe at the Eto's kagune manipulation. 'Not to mention that her form packs a huge psychological blow for the enemy.With this transformation, I believe she will manage to outperform the monster.'
"HOHO! You can transform, huh? Was my beating that painful, heh?" Carnage Kabuto grinned as he pointed at Owl. "You're still slow, you know. Think you can beat me with those clumsy legs?"
"HEEEEEHHH!"
The brown beetle sent a punch to the kakuja with five-folds power than his previous ones. The blow flung her to the air, but it didn't leave any scratch. The thicker armor managed to nullify the impact. Still in mid air, she retaliated by raining Kabuto with RC-shards which bounced off of his armor.
"HEEH? What the hell's this? I don't feel anything." Number One didn't budge as Eto kept spewing the red crystal projectile. "Oi! Are you throwing some candies? OI! STOP IT!"
Kabuto clapped his hands and the wind brushed the shard rain away. They fell to the floor with clatters and dispersed into thin air as Owl landed onto the surface. She shrieked and regarded her opponent with more hostility.
"Is that all?" Carnage Kabuto asked as his face grew tired from the fight. "I'll die of boredom if you keep it like that. Okay, okay. I know you're weak, so why don't you attack me?"
At the sideline, the gentlemen had many reactions plastered on their faces. Saitama's expression was still dull as ever, yet he looked a little bit excited at the fight. The battle between genetically-engineered monster and the natural born half-ghoul served as his entertainment.
Genos on the other hand never strayed his attention from the battle. He kept analyzing the bout while putting everything he learned into his mind. He found that Eto was in a disadvantage, but he doubted that Kabuto would win either. The fight appeared to drag into a stalemate if neither fighter could land a decisive blow.
"Does the fight turn into a stalemate?" Genus who had the same thought as Genos asked under his breath as he observed the battle. "Kabuto kept pounding that monster, but it doesn't show any sign of damage. His arrogance at this point will get the better of him and it's understandable, I think. I wonder who would win."
"KUKUKUKUKU... Soundsfair!" Owl moved in quadrupedal style towards the beetle after a moment of pause. "Then it's my turn! Don't move okay!"
"HEH! As if you can scratch my armor! But, fine. Go ahead!" Kabuto taunted as he crossed his arms to welcome Owl's attack.
Owl flailed her shoulder spears at Kabuto who didn't resist. First slash, second slash, third slash... all of them could only leave small cuts on the hard shells. Kabuto in response only grinned, then burst into laughter.
"Useless… Utterly useless! Do you think you can crack my armor with those branches?" Kabuto mocked as he pointed at the spikes. "NEVER!"
Kabuto drove his fist, only to be caught and clamped by Eto's claws. She extended her free arm and gripped his shoulder, putting the beetle off guard. The spikes on her back stood up and a circle of purple light shone around it.
"How about thissss!?"
"UWAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
The condensed RC-cell beam burst and blasted Carnage Kabuto at a point-blank range. The surprise attack threw the armored beetle away. He stumbled on his back with cracked carapace around his chest. Turned out, a powerful attack which could even decimate ranks of building only left a little damage.
Slowly, the beetle monster stood. A deep, murderous scowl appeared on his face. From behind her mask, Eto could see his ominous gaze and the puff of hot steam of his breath. It seemed that she was screwed up.
"HOOOOO…. That's not fun. Now you've pissed me off!" Kabuto growled. "Playtime is over. Let me show you that you're not the only one who can transform!"
"W-WAIT! Carnage Kabuto! I beg you, don't use that!" Genus shouted. "Never use Carnage Mode!"
"Carnage Mode!?" Genos muttered in alert. "Could it be… An auxiliary form!?"
"Oh! That must be some sort of power up!" Saitama spoke aloud in glee. "Be careful, Eto-san! The guy's gonna transform!"
"SHUT UP! BASTARDS! UNFORGIVABLE… UNFORGIVABLE! GRRRRRRR!"
As the name suggests, Carnage Mode is a total transformation which boosted all physical aspects of the bug humanoid. The process started with the growing of muscle mass and bones, followed by the release of hard shells which covered some parts around the body. His build grew like a weightlifting athlete's with stature towered over Owl. The skin tone also changed from brown to purple with green linings that accentuated the arteries and joints. Kabuto's eyes turned completely red while sharp fangs replaced his teeth. His horn morphed into that like a giant tusk. All of this transformation process only took around 30 seconds.
To dramatize the rapid metamorphosis, the battle-testing chamber even had an alert mechanism that switched the lighting into black background with laser-red lines, crossing each other and gave the impression of an endless space. The infrared effect furthermore changed Carnage Kabuto's body hue into dark blue and fluorescent green for his veins.
Eto's thought that Genus was a narcissist was right.
Now before her, a different kind of abomination which defied her common sense was standing. His looming figure looked repulsively powerful, intimidating and seemed to possess no qualm for trampling lesser beings. He was born to destroy.
阿修羅モード !
"CARNAGE MODE!"
"HNOW I'LL REALLY CRUSHH YOUUU!" The true Carnage Kabuto gnashed his fangs, threatening the Owl.
"KUKUKUKU... Crush me…?" Owl's eye rolled.
Nevertheless, Eto was already drunk from RC-cell. Her madness had claimed her mind, her vision was red. Only a bloody battle to the death that could quench her rushing impulse.
"HYESS…! AFTER THAT, I'LL GO INTO A TOWN AND RAMPAGE UNTIL NEXT SATURDAY! IF YOU'RE STRONG, THEN STOP ME!" Carnage Kabuto roared. "PREPARE TO DIE!"
Carnage Kabuto launched a punch which landed square on Owl's stomach. The blow was so violent that a shock-wave occurred, caving in her abdomen and crushing her thorax completely. As her kakuja body flew after being pummeled with the devastating force, the concussion reverberated and shocked Eto. Inside Owl's head, she vomited blood profusely due to the damage.
'D-damn it…! I'm running on fume already!' Eto cursed as she spat the remaining crimson liquid in her mouth. 'If I get hit once again, I'm done for! I'm at my limit. Never thought there's this crazy freak!'
What Eto thought as plenty turned out to be something meager after she tasted the might of Carnage Kabuto. Her RC-cell was drained to near dry when she received the first punch of Carnage Mode. When she was about to patch the wound in Owl's stomach, another unrestrained blow landed, throwing her until she crashed onto the ceiling.
Eto could feel her sense for the law of gravity ceased to function when she reached the roof. Her head felt so heavy. Controlling this massive kagune and retained its form took a huge toll on her nerve.
Another punch landed. Then another, and another, and another…
"DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE….!"
At that point, she couldn't perceive how long the beating had been going on and where she was. She was still conscious, yet her mind was adrift.
"HNYAAAAAAHHH!"
One last strike and she bumped onto the floor, creating a big crater. Her body hadn't got the chance to mend the huge hole on Owl's body, but somehow, she could still survive.
With busted stomach and one remaining arm, Owl stood up, only to receive a double kick from Kabuto. The attack launched her to the farthest corner of the chamber. Her kagune's integrity was falling apart. What was left in her back was only enough to repair her injury.
"ETO-SENSEI!" Genos shouted.
"Eto-san! Stop it! You're totally in bad shape!" Saitama yelled as he sprinted towards Owl. "Stop it!"
The severely broken part of what should be Owl soon evaporated into red mist. However, Kabuto ran after her and mercilessly tore her apart into two, side by side. Before the head fell off, the horned beetle kicked it to the side of the arena. It crashed very hard, leaving unconscious Eto amid the debris when the head disintegrated.
"ETO-SAN!" "ETO-SENSEI!"
Both the master and disciple came over the lady in haste to aid her. Surprisingly, she didn't sustain any noticeable injury. She fainted for some seconds and when her eyes fluttered to open, she saw the men were about to reach her. She raised her hand, but the moment Saitama was going to give his hand, a blue blur appeared behind him.
Time seemed to slow down. Her vision turned very crisp, yet her hearing was blocked. While she was still lying on the cushion of ruined wall, she could see the worry on Genos' face and the deep concern on Saitama's. Nevertheless, behind them, the monster was grinning as he reared his hulking arm.
"Y O U – A R E – N E X T!"
And thus she heard the ominous rumbling approached her while rubles rolled before her eyes. All hell broke loose as the fist of Ashura ground the concrete chunks into pebbles, bringing a wave of destruction.
'It's over...' Eto closed her eyes.
She could hear the rumble, but it stopped abruptly. She heard something crashed, but she could feel nothing.
"Eh?" Eto opened her eyes to see that someone was holding her in his arm.
She turned to her left hand and saw Genos was in the other arm. She widened her eyes when she saw that shining banana-yellow fabric was so close to her face.
"GRRRRR! YOU DARE TO SNATCH MY PREY!" Carnage Kabuto yanked his fist from the corner of the wall, white smoke rose from it.
"Hitting a lady isn't nice, you know. What do you think you are?" Saitama then turned to Eto. "Are you okay, Eto-san?"
Shamefully the former Aogiri leader should admit that she recklessly had challenged an opponent far above her league. Nonetheless, the lingering rush from the battle still stayed, granting her a sense of satisfaction.
Although the relief from Saitama's aid was far more soothing, prompting her cheeks to redden.
"Hehehe… Well, sorry Saitama-kun. I guess my ability isn't meant to fight this kind of thing." Eto chuckled weakly in Saitama's arms. "I was too cocky back then. If I know it's that strong, maybe I'll leave it to you."
The hero gently dropped Eto and Genos as he faced the champion from House of Evolution. His expression hardened with resolution as his gaze turned sharper.
Saitama sighed. "Take it easy, Eto-san. And Genos, stay here with Eto-san. I'll go for round three."
"… Sensei…" Genos knelt as he saw his master stood firmly without any hint of fear to meet the abomination.
With angry rumbling steps, Carnage Kabuto headed towards Saitama. He was utterly mad since the baldy had interrupted his fun in beating Eto.
"SO YOU'RE READY TO DIE? I'LL CRUSH YOU WITH YOUR FRIENDS IN ONE GO!" Kabuto began his sprint as he folded his arm. "HUAAAAAAARGH!"
Carnage Kabuto made a full run and bolted towards the three. He disappeared from sight in a blinding speed, bringing him face to face with the hero in almost an instant. In that split moment, his muscle fibers within his right arm were constricting to muster a blow. His fist would about to connect with Saitama in less than a blink.
"Nope!" Saitama hopped and casually sent an uppercut to Kabuto's chest.
The force behind that hit however could shatter the integrity of every protein compound which built Carnage Kabuto. When the red-gloved fist met the blue skin, the shock from the seemingly simple move delivered an unspeakable force that broke every flesh and bone in its course. The shock pierced and vibrated through the impacted area and pushed the demolished organ out, forcing a rupture in the monster's back.
Coupled with the working momentum from Kabuto's charge, the result was a spectacular shower of green gore and bits of flesh. They fell with splatter around the three.
The chamber which detected the monster's utter decimation immediately ceased the battle mechanism, switching the lamps back to its white neon. Just like what happened to the second strongest, Carnage Kabuto met its demise by Saitama's punch!
The rest of the people in the room dropped their jaws. Both Genos and Eto were trying to process the event before them, but failed to find any explanation behind Saitama's absurd power.
On the other side, Genus earned the most paralyzing shock in his entire life as a scientist. His creation he had perfected as the spearhead to vanquish the expired human race went into oblivion in a blink. The most painful of all, the one who killed Carnage Kabuto was a simple ancient mankind he wanted to eradicate, no less!
"This is… Illogical! Absurd! How can you defeat my perfect creation!?" Genus yelled as he wobbled to walk over the party. "This is utter nonsense!"
Saitama's face turned very serious as he regarded the doctor. "Perfect creation? You sure have some loose screws in your head, dude. People who are messing with genetic stuff will never get stronger!"
Genus gulped. He could see how Saitama spoke his thought without any trace of false. Plain and straight to the point. Simple, but not a deadpan. It hammered a view that shattered his evolution theory completely.
However, the point is, how could this human who was bereft of any visible sign of physical enhancement could beat his creation?
"So, how can you get this strong!?" Genus demanded with as he shouted. "There is no way you can earn that power without any body modification!"
"This is where you get things wrong!" Saitama retorted as he clenched his fist. "We, humans are strong because we can change ourselves on our own!"
Genus gasped and staggered back. Meanwhile, Genos and Eto kept staring at the hero with indescribable awe.
Saitama at this moment looked like a venerable sage from a saga. Neither Eto nor Genos could even describe how majestic his image had changed. But above all, his argument befitted the situation perfectly well.
"I've only told this to Eto-san, but regardless, I'll tell you my secret." Saitama spoke as a wise smile graced his face. "So, Genos, listen carefully!"
Wordlessly, Genos rose. He regarded his master anxiously since he would tell his biggest secret to his enemy. In the end however, he dismissed his thought to stop Saitama. He knew that the hero was a venerable man who knew far better about his own choice.
Eto for her part also observed Saitama in silence although she wanted to laugh. The idea of such an intense training to reach this godly strength still couldn't settle on her mind. Nevertheless, she waited in glee for the unfolding event.
"It needs three years to– Eh?"
Saitama stopped when the locked metal door slowly creaked open to grant an access for a new individual. When the door opened to reveal the person, everybody widened their eyes in surprise. Genus and Eto were shocked to know who this guest was.
"Nashiro…" Genus muttered in fear as he stared at the lady who paced towards them.
"I-i-impossible! Floppy!" Eto stammered.
"Well, well, well… Our biggest performer was killed in action." Nashiro stated nonchalantly as she walked over the people. "And look at our honorable guests, here. Ah~ That bandage… Long time no see."
Although Nashiro didn't display any hostility, the situation tensed in an instant. Eto's identity was discovered and she knew very well that the Yasuhisa spawn might kill her at any moment, out of revenge.
"W-wait! Nashiro, you know her?" Genus asked in confusion at the message the artificial ghoul had insinuated.
"Let's say that we – I mean I…" Nashiro shook her head at the thought of her twin sibling. "… was acquainted with her in the past."
Eto could feel Nashiro's hidden killing intent was boring deep into her. She noticed that the white-haired girl had changed into a completely different person, able to conceal her murderous nature very well. Before she could return the curtsy, Eto kept observing her gait which didn't bear any belligerence in the slightest.
"That's true. How long has it been? Two years, I think." Eto replied as she smiled, earning a neutral smile from the other. "So, how are you, Nashiro-ojou-sama?"
Saitama leaned closer to Eto. "Your friend, Eto-san?"
"More or less…" Eto whispered to Saitama's ear.
"As you can see. I'm fine although I'm not with Kurona anymore." Nashiro for a moment closed her eyes. "But I guess that's not a problem."
The masters and disciple suddenly felt a gust of wind blew past them. Genos blinked and saw Saitama was holding the snout of a purple dragon while Eto had been standing behind the hero. Genos widened his remaining eye when he noticed the same reading as Eto's which came from the serpentine appendage, sprouting from Nashiro's lower back.
'It's not her old rinkaku. No. It looks far more solid than a kagune. Her kagune has evolved!' Eto mused in alert as she stared at the dragon. 'Does she also eat monsters!?'
For a moment, Eto also noticed that Nashiro's kakugan was not deep red, but had a purple hue. She wondered if it was caused by consuming monsters.
"Oi! Is that your way to greet an old friend? You're quite rude!" Saitama yelled as he squeezed the dragon kagune, prompting it to evaporate into a purple gas.
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Old habit is sure hard to get rid off." Nashiro waved her hand and turned to Genus. "So, Doctor, are you still going to take these people after you lost your trump card?"
Genus grimaced. "… I'm not sure."
"Not sure? Well, logically that's your answer after your main research facility got blown with a single strike, leaving nothing but ash." Nashiro shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe you should consider yourself lucky because they don't outright kill you."
Without minding the people's reaction, Nashiro waltzed over her fallen comrade. "Oh, poor Kabuto-san. You're dead because you're so reckless. If only you have the brain of Armored Gorilla, things won't turn like this. But, don't worry. I keep my promise."
The artificial ghoul picked up a chunk of Carnage Kabuto's remain. She took a mouthful bite and munched it aloud with juicy crunch, ignoring the men's cringing face. She glanced at baffled Eto and her lips contorted into a smirk.
"What? I'm just doing my part to fulfill Carnage Kabuto's last wish, you know." Nashiro spoke innocently as she held the meat like a loaf of bread, green goo dripped from her mouth. "What kind of friend would I become if I cannot grant his wish? Oh… Or do you want to try? It's crunchy."
"You eat raw meat!? Yikes! You can contract a disease. Didn't your teacher teach you about it?" Saitama tried to reason as he stared at the ignorant white-haired lady. "Oi, doctor! You're a doctor, right? Why don't you stop her?"
"That's not it. She is a special case." Genus pushed his glasses up as his grimace went deeper. "Nashiro, haven't you stopped to consume subject's body after the procedure?"
"Special case!? Explain this special case!" Genos threatened as he pointed his blaster arm at the doctor.
'So, it's true that she eats monster to gain that strength… And what kind of procedure she acquired from this freak's house?' Eto wondered as she frowned at Nashiro.
Nashiro swallowed her last bite. "Let me explain."
"… Nashiro?" Genus was stunned.
"Simply put, I'm a different kind of human, just like the woman over there." Nashiro pointed at Eto with the meat in her hand. "We can eat raw meat of humans actually. So, anything with human aspect in it is eatable for us. And to answer your question, Doctor, it's your clone's fault. I can eat normal food, but it doesn't subdue my craving for your subjects meat."
Genos and Saitama widened their eyes while Genus facepalmed. The ingenious way to oversimplify ghoul's sustenance wrapped up everything for the master and disciple, but it only sent headache for the good doctor. The last part only made his headache even worse.
Meanwhile, cold sweat ran down Eto's back. It would be totally ugly if Saitama would regard her as a man-eating monster after this revelation. She had prepared an excuse should he turn his accusing eyes at her. Still, it was going to be a test for her luck.
"Eto-san, is that right?" Saitama asked. "She looks suspicious."
'You lose, Nashiro. First impression is everything after all.' Eto thought as she smirked in victory.
"Uh… No, that's not true. And she's delusional after she lost her twin sister in an accident, two years ago." The half-ghoul spoke quietly near the baldy's ear.
"Hmm… I see." Saitama hummed and nodded. "Hey doc, she's not sane in her head, but why don't you send her to a mental institution?"
Nashiro stopped her munching as she glanced at the baldy in bewilderment. The people other than him could feel the intensifying pressure Nashiro suddenly exuded. Genus gulped as he saw her facade grew more menacing as she glared at him.
"I… I've tried to treat her illness, here–!"
A pair of dragon kagunes shot out, only to be shrugged off effortlessly by Saitama's slaps. Nashiro tossed the meat in her hand. Her bangs covered her eyes, shadowing the murderous gaze she was casting upon the unwanted pests before her.
"You know… I've accepted the fact that I'm not sane anymore. I'm not the one I used to be, a happy girl who had nothing except my sister. And just that, was enough to make me happy. But… That Kanou…!" Nashiro's voice turned into a hiss, her jaws clenched in boiling wrath. "He ripped everything from us! And then that wench! And then you, Genus! You dare to call this experimentation as a treatment, HUH!?"
Eight dragons shot out from her back. Massive in size, each could easily swallow an adult in one go. The kagunes were slithering in the air, waiting of their master's command. The sight was enough to unleash a paralyzing fear upon Genus as if he was facing a judgment from his own creation. He fell on his knees, unable to stand his reason for detaining her.
Eto's jaw as well as Genos' unhinged at the impending sight. Both had their own thought, but they also shared a sense of fear into some extent.
The only one who didn't waver from the monstrosity was only Saitama. His expression even went dull when he saw Nashiro's monster kagunes moved around as they hissed. Their glowing red eyes didn't faze him at all.
Saitama sighed as he glanced at Genus. "I see… So you also have an issue with depression, huh? Guess you two should head to a psychiatric then."
Without a warning, Nashiro slammed two of her minions at Saitama. Her attack however went futile since he caught both dragons casually. Saitama punched them and they vanished into purple gas.
Nashiro followed the attack by whipping her kagunes again, faster and harder than before. Nevertheless, those attacks also went for naught.
"Khh… Damn you! Actually what are you!?" Nashiro growled after she spent all her servants.
"Me? I'm just a hero for fun." Saitama answered bluntly. "Just stop it, miss. You're only scaring people here."
"SHUT UP!" Nashiro barked as her kagune formed a purple slimy blob, swallowing her.
The people gasped when the blob kagune grew in size. In some seconds, it began to shape a form of a humanoid. The kagune kept morphing until it turned into a giant, jet-black armored knight with a purple single eye behind its helmet, standing at six meters. It didn't bear any weapon, yet its gigantic limbs were enough to crush its enemy from a bash alone.
"Whoah! A paladin!" Saitama exclaimed in glee.
Genos and Eto quickly backed away as Saitama's second fight with a giant ensued. Meanwhile, Genus cowered back as he stared at the unexpected transformation of his remaining subject.
The paladin kakuja sent a punch. Saitama only sidestepped it effortlessly, prompting the controller to throw another blow. Nashiro sent a barrage of punches until some deep craters appeared on the floor.
"Crazy…!" Genos muttered at the damage the kakuja had wrought upon the battleground.
In term of speed, she wasn't even comparable to Beast King, but her massive size could be a problem for most of its enemies. However, Saitama wasn't a regular enemy to begin with.
"Oi. Stop it. You're only wasting that doc's money on this white tiles." Saitama said as he stood near a smoldering crater.
The paladin kakuja reared its fist and sent another blow. The moment it almost hit Saitama, he suddenly vanished, only to appear in front of its very eye. The image in less than a blink switched into the hero who was going to retaliate. From her kakuja's eye, Nashiro could see a giant red gloved fist, coming at an impending speed. She realized that it was…
死
DEATH
Saitama's fist stopped before it hit the kakuja's face. The power of the shock wave however blew the head completely, prompting the body to disintegrate. Nashiro fell on her feet while Saitama descended casually, his cape fluttered in the air. She cast a terrified stare at Saitama when she landed on the ground.
"Oh, it's going to get dark." Saitama cast a blank stare at the sight beyond the hole in the wall.
However, not only did the shock wave evaporated the kakuja, but it also blew a giant hole in the wall, revealing the scene of sunset. It was the most horrendous part which shook everyone to their core.
"… I-i-impossible!" Eto dropped her jaw.
"… Sensei…" Genos widened his eye.
"Could it be…" Genus muttered as he fell to his knees.
When Nashiro followed the spectator's utterly perplexed gaze, she saw the proof of the disparity between her level and Saitama's. No words could escape her mouth. She trembled in utter dread and when it reached its peak, her eyes rolled back. She fainted on the floor.
"Eh? She passes out." Saitama scratched his head.
Eto actually was still overcome by the utterly unsettling event, but she quickly put a hold of herself. She glanced at Genos and he seemed to be in a daze, still out from reality. She turned to Genus and he slowly craned his head to see her.
"A-actually what has just happened?" Genus asked as a snot dripped from his nose. "I… I'm at lost."
"If you ask me so, I don't fare better than you do." Eto shrugged her shoulders and silently pocketed a chunk of Kabuto's meat. "But what I believe, this is a fair price for messing with him."
Genus darted his gaze to Saitama who came over his disciple. The man had debunked all his evolution theory with action and proved that human was a superior race from the beginning. Still, he wanted to confirm it in order to seal his hypothesis shut.
"Now, I know you're strong." Genus started as he faced Saitama. "But what kind of effort which allow you to gain this power?"
"I'll make it short cause I've a business after this." Saitama's face turned stern as he gazed at Genus. "It's training."
"" Training!? "" The doctor and the cyborg spoke at the same time.
"Right. Training. I trained for three years until I lost my hair." Saitama answered with pride. "I surpass my limit and get stronger by training."
"B-but what kind of training!?" Genus demanded.
"Physical training." Saitama's face went back dull when he looked at the orange sky outside the busted wall. "Sorry. It's getting late. Gotta go. What time is it, Genos?"
"–Huh!" Genos snapped out from his daze after letting his master's words sink in. "It's 5 pm, Sensei!"
"Whoah! It must have closed! I miss the bargain sale!" Saitama yelled in regret at the grim realization.
"No, Sensei! The supermarket is still open until 10 pm. We still have four hours if we are quick." Genos informed.
"Seriously!" Saitama rose after he heard the good news. "Let's go, Eto-san! And doc, don't forget to treat that girl!"
"Right!" Eto turned to Genus as the baldy and the cyborg ran out. "Did you hear that, Doctor?"
"… Oh… I guess I'm done with evolution." Genus spoke, followed by a dejected smile on his tired face.
"Let's go, Eto-san! What are you waiting for!?" Saitama called out when he noticed Eto was still with Genus.
"I bid you farewell, Doctor. Have a nice day." Eto said her goodbye as she dashed, leaving Genus in that grand chamber with unconscious Nashiro.
When the trio had left, Genus proceeded to take Nashiro into his arms. For a moment, he gazed at the darkening sky with sorrow. All his desire turned out to be fleeting dream, blown together with dust in the wind.
"I lost, Nashiro. It's okay if you eat me, but just to let you know, I want to make amend for what I've done." Genus spoke as tears began to pour from his eyes.
The good doctor quietly sobbed as he pondered about what he had done.
The party of three at last arrived at the super sale after around four hours of run. Genos and Eto's messy look garnered people's stink eye, but anyway, they went on and followed Saitama's lead into the treasury of cheap items. They dashed to the grocery section since there were extra cheap sales on cabbage and turnip, two among many Saitama's favorite vegetables.
When Eto and Genos were rummaging some turnips, the cyborg for some reason put a pondering look. Momentarily, he glanced at Saitama. Eto immediately knew that he was thinking about the unsettling mystery of Saitama's power.
Eto tilted her head and smiled. "Genos-kun, is there something you want to ask?"
Genos for a moment hesitated. He knew that what he wanted to ask was silly, but he really needed it since it was his master's secret.
"About Saitama-sensei's training, actually do you happen to know about it?" Genos inquired as he threw a glance at Saitama who was selecting some cabbages.
"Promise me not to laugh or get mad." Eto snickered.
"I… I will not." Genos replied.
Eto whispered Saitama's secret regimen to Genos' and he widened his eye in utter shock. His expression was like someone who got betrayed, a painful and utterly broken expression manifested on his face. For a moment, he shot a glare at Saitama and turned to his supposed lover.
"I… I cannot accept this, Eto-sensei! That is just a basic training! There is no way it can give a human such kind of unparalleled physical prowess!" Genos blurted out in anger. "I don't come here to take some jokes!"
"Calm down, Genos-kun." Eto patted the cyborg's shoulder in a placating manner. "Take a breath."
Genos complied and once again looked at Eto. "I mean… There must be an explanation behind Saitama-sensei's power!"
"True. Just like you, that is what I want to know." Eto spoke as she looked at Saitama. "He never skips that workout until now, but I believe there is something behind that. Although I've lived with him for quite a while, I still cannot understand about how does it work. So, Genos-kun, would you like to help me to uncover that secret? "
"Then, you are also looking for Saitama-sensei's secret?" Genos got a nod from Eto. "But… Is that really okay?"
"Well, as far as you don't bother his quiet and ascetic life, I'm sure we can reveal the truth behind this mystery." Eto replied as she picked a turnip. "I believe that he takes you as a disciple not because some foolish reasons. He is the kind of unmotivated master, but once he takes everything seriously, you will see how his wisdom outshines the sun. So, that's your role as a disciple to take everything he taught while he is serious and discover that secret."
Was it a lie? Eto herself just spewed some motivational words to encourage the young cyborg. However, her bluff probably held some undeniable truth about the hero. She only polished those words to convince Genos from running away.
"In that case, would you like to allow me stay with Saitama-sensei and you, Eto-sensei?" Genos proposed as he bowed.
Eto rubbed her chin as she hummed in thought. The ownership of the apartment belonged solely to Saitama. Although she covered most of his needs in this recent week, it didn't change the right to let someone stay at that cramped place.
"If what you plan is sharing a living space with us, I think it would be wise if you ask Saitama-kun tomorrow." Eto suggested as she put an apologetic smile. "Because you know, today is quite a hectic day, so he needs to relax after this."
'Yeah… A bath, dinner and manga… What a heaven for a jobless like him.' Eto inwardly scoffed as she rolled her eyes.
"Besides, you also need some maintenance, right?" Eto asked in slight concern as she stifled a giggle from the sight of Genos' hair, matching with a bunch of broccoli behind him.
"I see… Indeed." Genos nodded. "I will need some repair and scanning for this damage. I think tomorrow I will come to see you."
"Just don't be rushed. It's not like we will leave from that ghost town at any moment." Eto chuckled.
"Oi, Eto-san, Genos… Can you help me pick some banana? It's 50% discount!" The baldy called after he picked his favorite cabbages. "Meet me at the chips and snacks section!"
"Okaaaaay!" "Right away, Saitama-sensei!"
Since Genos must head back to Doctor Kuseno's residence, Saitama and Eto went home together. With a plastic bag in each hand, they traversed through the hustle and bustle of Z-City, back to the forsaken district. They took some shortcuts by jumping from broken building roofs which finally brought them to the block where Saitama's apartment stood.
Upon reaching the place, the remnant of the fight that morning was still there. Eto for a moment paused as she glanced at the carcass of what used to be Beast King, illuminated by some streetlamps. Lesser men couldn't bear this gruesome sight, especially when it was dark. However, this scenery was nostalgic for Eto, reminding her at her brutal fight with CCG in the past.
Beside that, there were still some nutritious food she felt sorry if she let them rot. She hadn't taken a bite from Beast King and his lackeys. Maybe she would save them tomorrow.
"What's wrong, Eto-san?" Saitama asked as he stopped.
"Hmm, hmm…" Eto shook her head. "It's just… Well. The fight this morning is quite messy."
"Uhh… Yeah." Saitama replied as he shrugged. "I wonder when that guy will fix the damage."
"Hehehe… Let's just be patient." Eto walked. "By the way, what's for dinner?"
"Hot pot." Saitama smiled. "Do you like it, Eto-san?"
"Hmm… As far as it fills me, I'm okay with that." The former Aogiri leader replied with a smile.
'… But first, I should taste you, Ashura Kabuto.' Eto's smile for a moment turned dark as she glanced at the pocket of her hooded robe. 'I wonder what kind of surprise you will grant me later.'
Author's Note
This part is one among many points why I like to see Eto in ONE&Murata-verse. Her power is cool as a monster, but she's still a dwarf compared to monsters Saitama had and would punch within the story arcs.
And right. Almost everything in One-Punch Man is crazy to begin with, but in term of psychological shock, Tokyo Ghoul can provide a gruesomely better insight. So, I come up with an idea to make Nashiro a little bit… insane. :-3
I found it as something interesting in Doctor Kanou's artificial ghouls when they're coping with some near death experience, or in this case, a death and re-live. Maybe, it's something close to Natsuki Subaru? Well, you decide. But we know the fact that Ken Kaneki, Seidou Takizawa and Koutarou Amon display some scary forms of madness. Whether it's caused by intense exposure to pain from nasty experimentation and messy fight or simply because RC-cell cripples their mind like weed does, the result is the same. They'll become broken and stronger, almost similar to Gyoro Gyoro's theory about monsterfication. :-)
Back to Eto, I'm sure she cannot handle Kabuto at the time being. The monster is too strong. Though I'm not a stat freak, but based on her feats and rating, she's 8-C (building level) while Kabuto is 7-B (city block level). Besides, although she had consumed countless ghouls, her base kagune is ukaku which gives her advantage in speed over stamina and durability. So, I hope the fight doesn't defy too much from that boundary.
Alright. I guess that's all, Dear Readers. Leave your thought on the review section or if you have something to say, you can PM me. I'm open to discussion. :-)
Thank you for all your support. I do hope you like this, so, see you in the next story. ;-)