Chapter 7: Bug x Machine x Dragon (Part II).
Two years before the Vaccine Man's attack - O-City - 5:28 pm (Region A time).
News of a large monster attack in several cities had invaded all public media and advertising screens in downtown R-City were no exception. On-screen news reports the sudden appearance of a large number of insect monsters in several regions, mainly in capital cities.
News of a large monster attack in several cities had invaded all public media and advertising screens in downtown R-City were no exception. On-screen news reports the sudden appearance of a large number of insect monsters in several regions, mainly in capital cities.
A-City and M-City were quickly secured by Tornado of Terror and Superalloy Darkshine.
L-City had stopped transmitting new information due to the destruction of the antennae. The last thing that was known was that Pig God was facing a swarm of 40 giant monster dragonflies, which together formed several levels of demon disaster.
Q-City became a media success. Pure action, zero damage. The network flooded with dozens of Watchdog Man videos gutting a whole group of ant monsters, without letting them cause damage. And hundreds more comparing the situation to throwing a glass full of ants into the terrarium of a hungry bullfrog.
Although such a comparison could also be applied for what was going on in L-City.
But O-City was still a mystery. The last thing that was known about the city before communications stopped was that there were strange earthquakes occurring closer and closer to the city. For sure these had something to do with what happened.
Lucky for this city that #1 Class A hero was going to the rescue.
Secret Mask, Beauto.
Hero Class A rank #1.
Style: Specialist.
Ever since he saw live communications with O-City, he has no hesitation in rushing into the city. He try to use one of the interregional high-speed trains, but the routes to Region O were stopped.
But that wouldn't stop Secret Mask. He went to the interregional highways, waited for any vehicle that went to O-City and when he saw it, jumped on it and used it as a transport to go to the city and save strength.
Arriving in the city, it seemed to have become a cheese of metal, glass and concrete. Lots of holes everywhere, no one in sight and the few alarms that were still sounding repeated the same message.
"Go to the nearest shelter and wait for evacuation. Disaster level: Demon."
-"Time to seek the monster and deliver justice" -Thought Secret Mask.
Suddenly the ground began to tremble.
-"Or wait for him to come to me..." -Thought Secret Mask.
From the road in front of the hero, a large purple monster emerged with the appearance of centipedes, but instead of a normal insect head with eyes and jaws, there was only one lump similar to a very angry humanoid face, and on whose sides there were two insect tweezers.
Elder Centipede.
Disaster level: Demon.
Style: Enhancer.
The monster looked with anger at the hero and set out to ram.
Secret Mask prepared his fist and when the monster was right in front of him, he received it with a heavy blow to the face. The attack pushed the monster back slightly and the monster, now even more upset than he was after defeating the other heroes who went on to challenge him, lashed out again.
Centipede March.
The centipede turned around Secret Mask and began hitting him with a frantic wave of blows with his dozens of legs. The hero resisted covering himself and counterattacked using the palm of his hand to cut off all the monster's legs that tried to hit him.
The monster groaned at the amputation of his limbs on one side of his body, but instead of fleeing, he insisted on attacking. He turned again and moved chaotically, until his head was close to the hero. And then he used his antennae like whips to whip the hero.
Secret Mask received several laspings, but managed to hold both antennae tightly with both arms. Pulling these, approaching him the monster's face, and proceeded to give a burst of high-strength kicks at high speed.
The antennae ended up being ripped from the centipede, who was removed due to the multiple impacts on his face that had cracked his exoskeleton. But Secret Mask wasn't over. The muscles in his legs expanded and he took a big leap. He landed on the back of the centipede, almost half of his entire body, put his hand on the shell and quickly formed a fist with it.
-"Feel justice" -Declared Secret Mask, ready to fulminate the monster.
The blow hit and generated a shock wave. It was strong enough to split the monster in two. The front emitted a great cry and began to twist in agony. But the back, and longer apparently, began to shake and convulse wildly, destroying buildings in the process. Secret Mask rushed to make it minced flesh. This time with powerful kicks that split what was left of the centipede's body.
As for the front of the monster, he was dying and bleeding to death. This human was too much, he had to run away.
Taking advantage of that he was distracted, the centipede, or what was left of him, crawled into one of the holes he made in his wake and fell into it, landing in the sewer, where he continued to crawl to save his life.
But new earthquakes, caused by the still-surface battle between Secret Mask and the rest of the centipede convulsing body, began to happen and caused the network of underground tunnels to collapse.
Everything around the monster collapsed and ended up descending several levels into the depths.
He stopped descending when he collided with a solid rocky bed and several rocks fell on him.
Was he going to die buried here? Defeated by a mammal in a clown costume?
And then he felt something. Overwhelming and unknown power. He was close, he was shaking his whole body. But instead of wanting to run, he just wanted to get closer to the fountain. Perhaps out of curiosity or not to prolong what seemed inevitable. And there he saw it, a kind of black cube emanating an invisible aura of all colors and flavors.
The centipede crawled as much as it could. And once in front of his face, he felt the urge to feel the bucket, but he no longer had functional limbs. Then he'd touch it and taste it with his tongue.
The monster stuck out his tongue and stretched it to touch the bucket. He had a strange taste, he couldn't identify him, but he couldn't stop savoring it either. He passed his tongue all over the bucket and inadvertently ended up gobbling up the artifact in his mouth.
Everything turned white around him and then black. His body began to peel and shine. It started to hurt, as if it were being forteeled. What was causing all this? It must have been that damn bucket, he had to spit it out! But when he tried, it only descended through his expanding throat.
The process continued, in seconds it was larger than the hole where he was, but it continued to grow and, above all, regenerate.
On the surface, Secret Mask had already chopped the monster's body. The situation was now under control. Unless there were more like that centipede monster. In any case, it would be best to go to the nearest shelter to prioritize the safety of civilians.
Secret Mask ran with all his might until he reached the site. He saw some people looking through the armored windows. He gestured with his thumb aloft to imply that everything was resolved and he made gestures of joy and victory behind the glass that made them unable to be heard.
But everything began to tremble, an earthquake like no other began to happen and everyone inside the shelter got scared and walked away from the windows. Secret Mask didn't know exactly what was going on, but he suspected that maybe more monsters like that centipede were on their way. The fight seemed to get a lot tougher.
The streets along the avenue next to the shelter began to break and something came out of them, but that's not where it all ended. Several buildings or more streets in other neighborhoods began to shatter and leave behind a cloud of debris.
Or there were several monsters... or something much bigger than it was a moment ago.
Behind the buildings, Secret Mask saw a figure peeking out, it was an elongated purple body full of legs, similar to the centipede of a moment ago, but much larger for sure.
And there, sounding his monstrous face after turning into a building, the monster appeared.
Giant Bug Monster Elder Centipede.
Disaster Level: Dragon.
Style: Enhancer.
It was the same as the centipede of a moment ago, but much larger and this time there were a couple of yellow eyes on the sides of his old face and under it, there was a large mouth full of sharp teeth.
The people in the shelter were already completely scared, they all walked away from the windows for fear of getting the monster's attention.
The centipede was launched against Secret Mask. The hero had already prepared a kick to receive the monster, but the monster smiled and increased speed.
A crash happened. Secret Mask's leg, armor and almost all of the bones in secret mask's body were broken. Part of his mask cracked.
The hero was thrown into a building he crashed into, but the monster did not stop, began to agitate and screw around chaotically and caused damage to the city.
Giant Centipede Tidal Wave.
Secret Mask also received the attack, his body screaming in pain at being crushed repeatedly against the concrete, by a harder shell than he had ever faced. His mask cracked again.
The centipede's attack destroyed the entire roof of the shelter where the civilians were, letting out their cries of panic and fear. Attracting the monster's attention. It could already give the hero for dead after a few moments ago, time to continue the plan of eradication of humanity.
The centipede went where people and Secret Mask could only see it walk away, powerless in the face of the situation.
No! He couldn't let that happen. This monster was just a demon level, something that a class S hero could handle, and the association had considered his strength to be on par with them. Yes, he rejected the position, but that didn't make his strength any less.
He was Secret Mask, the mysterious masked vigilant with a beautiful heart. Noble and selfless. And he wouldn't fail the few people who saw beauty in his actions.
The hero's muscles tightened in such a way that they allowed him to rise even with his bones dusted.
A person like him was worthless, only his actions could give value to his existence. He had to kill the monster, even if it was the last beautiful action... No... The most beautiful action he's ever done in his life as a gruesome spawn.
Secret Mask leaped at full speed against the monster, ready to try to cut it in half like the other time. Upon impact, his entire arm was compressed, unable to even scratch and withstand his own strength.
The centipede realized that the inconvenience of a moment ago was still alive. He hit him with one of his paws, throwing him against a section of his back that he waved to hit the hero back. The centipede continues to wave his back to hit the hero over and over again like a ping pong ball between two rackets. All while people looked horrified.
Finally, the last blow threw the hero into the mouth of the monster, who held him with his jaws and decided to crash him with great force into the street, causing a great roar.
When the centipede pulled his head off the ground, there was a large hole left in the street, which quickly began to fill with sewage and at the bottom of which was the hero Secret Mask.
Secret Mask could only see the centipede smiling with his elderly face, while he was gradually submerged by the sewage.
What kind of monster was this? Its level was far beyond a demon level. It was like the difference between a Tiger level and a Demon level. Even his good intentions, his spirit and his will were not enough to confront him. This weak gruesome body he was born with was not enough to face such a monster. Why couldn't his body reflect the beauty and strength of his heart?
A big new crack appeared in his mask. The sewage increased and engulfed their limbs...
Even if he manages to get up, he couldn't stand up to the monster. And even if it were, he would still be Secret Mask, the hero whose only attraction was the face behind his mask.
The crack grew. The sewage was already covering his torso...
No matter what he did, how he acted, how good he was, how helpful he was, or how heroic he was. The only discussion about him was his identity. Was that the only important thing in this life?
The crack grew further and split the mask in two, but still resting on his face. The sewage was already touching his face...
Or maybe he wasn't even alive in the first place. Perhaps all this was the dream of a monster who wanted to be a hero and was now about to wake up to face the reality of his nature.
The sewage completely covered the hero...
The centipede saw with satisfaction how the hero drowned in human filth. Time to take people down.
The centipede peeked over the shattered roof of the shelter ready to launch into the butcher's shop. But all of a sudden, a sonic boom was heard.
A black lightning was approaching the centipede at high speed, and from it came multiple black dots that collided against the shell of the centipede, exploding in large spheres similar to black holes that cracked much of the monster's shell and seemed to stop it.
The beam from which they arose crashed into the back of the centipede, he was a hero with a white cape and armor.
Blast.
Hero Class S rank #1
Style: Enhancer.
The monster turned to see where the hero was with difficulty, his body felt held back. The hero smiled at him and began to run down the back of the monster.
Quantic Bubble: Warp Body.
The hero transformed back into a black lightning and began to move at high speed on the back of the monster.
Quantic Bubble: Black Hole Bombs.
Again, as the lightning traveled, dodging the black holes he had already created, several blackheads were again detached from the lightning and fired at the monster's head, generating multiple cracks.
The hero suddenly stopped, returning to normal and placed his fist against the centiped shell.
Quantic Bubble: Warp Punch.
The hero's fist was surrounded by a twisted aura and began to perform a dizzying sequence of blows in the same place. Lightning quickly began to emerge at the place where he was hitting, which traveled to all parts of the centipede's body. They stopped like black spheres of aura the size of a hand and from these came a fist similar to that of the hero who hit the centipede with great intensity.
And so a blow turned into a hundred and a hundred into ten thousand. Thousands of fists beat the centipede everywhere, cracking its shell and making cracks in the cracks that had already formed by the black holes a moment ago.
The centipede was annoyed by this overwhelming attack and quickly charged against the place in his body where the hero was. Freeing himself from the grip of black holes, even though the rain of blows continued, even on his face.
Blast saw the centipede rush coming and jumped to face it head-on.
Cuantic Bubble: Black Hole Bombs.
From Blast's fist came a black dial that the centipede tried to dodge, but as he passed by it, his ramming speed decreased. Like something pulled him pretty hard from behind. Blast had the centipede where he wanted it.
Blast channeled aura into his fist and hit the centipede so hard in the jaw, which ended up sending away the monster's head along with the front of his body.
This time, the centipede's teeth cracked.
-"Wow, this monster is harder than usual. What did they eat to grow like this?" -Thought Blast-. "Well, if the bombs don't work, I think we'll have to take a walk".
-Damn it! -Shouted the centipede as he stretched his body, ascended upwards, and then descended with all his might-. I'll crush you!
Blast pressed a button on his suit and around his head appeared an airtight helmet with a breathing tube, and as he fell and watched the centipede head towards him, he made a gesture with his hands.
Quantic Bubble: Window.
Just as the centipede was a few feet from Blast, a portal appeared behind the hero. Blast fell into this and the centipede followed him, making a face of surprise in the face of not being able to stop with the race he was bringing.
The centipede crossed the portal and suddenly everything was silent and went black. He tried to say something, but he quickly felt suffocated. What was this?
A glare began to burn his eyes, it was as bright as the sun. No, it was definitely the sun. Wait, he saw another glow. This one was bluish. It came from the side, he turned to see it. It was the planet Earth!
Blast saw with satisfaction how the monster continued to emerge from the portal he created to travel to interplanetary space. Suddenly, he stopped and stopped crossing the portal and began to re-enter.
-"Serious mistake my friend" -Blast said, making a gesture with his fingers to close the portal and cut the centipede.
But when the flat portal tried to collapse, he couldn't cut the centipede in half. It wasn't that the centipede shell was stronger, there was a strange force emanating from it and preventing the portal from collapsing and closing. The space-time fissure began to emanate beams of energy, as the centipede continued to retreat to return to the planet.
This could only mean one thing...
-"That's how I wanted to see you Godotto, with his hands in the dough" -Blast said.
The centipede rushed back and went back through the portal and Blast attached himself to the centipede's shell to travel with it.
They both return to earth using the portal. The centipede stopped for a few moments, taking air and recomposing itself in its senses.
-"The only thing my portals can't cut is the critical cubes and those who are in contact with them" -Blast thought-. "So... this thing should be in contact with one, and if it is not by external contact it is by... Shit".
Blast jumped hard against the monster, saw it and rushed again. Now he couldn't fool him again with the same trick.
Quantic Bubble: Warp Body.
Blast transformed into a black lightning and penetrated the centipede's mouth, breaking his teeth in the process and speeding into his guts.
Blast moved rapidly through the monster's digestive tract. And he took the opportunity to attack from the inside.
Quantic Bubble: Black Hole Bombs.
The black holes came out of the black lightning that was Blast and began to damage the interior of the centipede.
Blast was on. He was going very fast, but the acid was already staining his suit and cape. It's good that he didn't have to smell this monster's inner sewer. He had to find the bucket as soon as possible. There!
Blast spotting the bucket, grabbing it and continuing his journey through the monster's interior. Time to go out using the other way.
Blast traveled fleetingly and fleetingly until he found his way out on the other side of the centipede's body. It was a very narrow hole, but it didn't matter. And in a black flash, Blast came out from the centipede's cloaca, breaking part of the monster's exoskeleton in the process.
The centipede felt the wound on the back of his body, while a sudden fall in his power and strength. He was very hurt, tired and exhausted to continue with this. He had to run no matter what.
The centipede began to escape and enter into the depths and away from O-City. To hell with the invasion. He'd have his revenge on this human someday.
The monster disappeared and the earthquakes vanished.
-Well, I think I missed the monster this time -Blast said, defusing the helmet from his suit-. But you come with me whether you want it or not, hehe.
Blast launched the cube vertically and when he fell, he made a gesture with his hand that opened a small flat portal through which the cube disappeared.
It was all over, time for...
Someone came out of a hole in the street, was covered in sewage and made a great effort to move. Blast went to see him.
The man who came out of the drain breathed with difficulty, the water fell from his face now discovered and formed a low puddle of him. Gradually, he began to see his reflection in the puddle. He tried to cover his face, so as not to see his ugliness, but through the little parts that couldn't hide with his hand, he saw a part of his face that did not look as he remembered.
He took his hand off and saw a beautiful sculptural and refined face. What did this mean? How could he transform like this? Unless... No, everything but that...
He saw the reflection of his eyes in the puddle, they were bright and they looked full of savagery. They were anything but not human anymore.
Beauto began to feel upset, felt her muscles throbbing and vibrating against her will. He felt more disgusted about himself now than ever before. He covered his face trying no longer to see his reflection.
He didn't want the dream -that he'd lived through until a moment ago- to end. He didn't want to wake up... Please don't...
-Hey, calm down -Said a comforting voice that attracted Beauto's attention-. It's all right now.
The figure crouched in front of Beauto.
-I already defeated the monster.
-Who are you?
-Blast. And you must be Secret Mask, right? -Blast said-. You look disturbed, rest, you have a lot of hero work to do tomorrow, many count on you.
Blast got up and proceeded to leave.
The last thing was like a bucket of cold water for Beauto's thoughts. It was true, many counted on him. His heart was still the same. Despite everything, it hadn't changed and it wouldn't. He was in control, he was a hero, and tomorrow he would continue to be a hero no matter what!
Beauto's body began to relax and calm down. Again he felt calm and got up. After him, people began to leave the shelter when they heard that everything calmed down, and they only saw one man standing on the street with his back to them. Everyone knew who he was because of his suit, it was Secret Mask. He was alive!
-Secret Mask, is it safe to go out? Are you alright? -A civilian asked.
-Yes -Secret Mask replied, turning around to see the civilians-. It's all over
And that's when everyone could see it, the beautiful face of Secret Mask. The face that hid behind the mask. It looked like it was made by baby angels. Everyone was captivated by such beauty. It was simply indescribable. This beautiful man risked his life for them against such a natural disaster, and was still strong enough to smile at them and reassure them with his beautiful eyes.
Many of the civilians took out their cell phone to record this moment. This day would mark the end of Secret Mask, and the birth of a new hero. A hero whose face had been revealed to the world public. A hero behind his mask, concealed a face with a sweet smile.
Two years before the Vaccine Man's attack - Region P - 5:36 pm (Region A Time).
Something weird was going on. The moths had stopped arriving and transmitting messages between the divisions of the invasion. Where was the legion of sacred insects? The Centipedes should have brought them into their position once they secured the southeast along with the dragonflies. And even if something had happened to the centiped, the legion of sacred insects could have come using the dragonflies. Were they defeated? No way. Humans weren't even strong enough to stand up to an insect on their own, which is why the whole invasion could disperse without worry.
Although it might have been better to stand by his legion and go and support the dragonflies together. No, the king entrusts him with the destruction of the human nest south of the territory, and that would. As Prince, he was in the capacity to exterminate one of those human nests completely.
Manantis.
Disaster level: Demon.
Style: Emitter.
The insect monster reached a hill and saw P-City in the distance. Its appearance was that of a tall, green humanoid being, he had a religious mantis head, insect legs, clawed hands, two additional large limbs similar to the tweezers of a mantis, and armor covering his body.
It was time to...
Tactical Transformation: Silver, Berserker Denier.
(Style: Transmuter.)
Manantis managed to turn in time to a sudden sound of machinery, but was unable to dodge the attack. A couple of sharp blades cut off his left limbs. The monster held back the pain of the sudden act, leapt away and saw the cause of such an affront. He was a kind of dark metallic man with a single bright red eye on his face. His arms were blades, his shoulders had a kind of barbed armor emanating electricity and his head was covered in a kind of masked samurai helmet.
The mechanical hero and the monster stared at each other for a few seconds without any of them making the slightest move. Until the machine took the lead.
Tactical Transformation: Spear, Grenadier Corridor.
(Style: Controller.)
The machine launched at the monster. The hull, the blades on his arms and the other pieces of his body seemed to be ejected from his body, only to float around and re-accommodate. One of the machine's arms was transformed into a kind of machine gun. And both legs filled with armor and the feet were transformed into a pair of wheels.
The machine attacked at high speed and its direction was against the monster
Manantis managed to miraculously dodge the onslaught of the machine, but he knew that whatever this thing was, it was dangerous. He had to escape.
Using the strength of his paws, Manantis leapt and began running away from what was sure to be a human in armor. But his attacker did not wait, and quickly reached him with his high speed. He activated the cannon in one of his hands, but instead of starting to fire bullets, he fired strange small projectiles that followed him and exploded on impact.
This rain of explosions began to overwhelm Manantis, forcing all his senses to work at full power to preserve his life.
The race took them both to the suburbs on the outskirts of P-City. Manantis took advantage of the presence of human constructions to jump on the roofs. If he was moving around them, the cursed machine couldn't keep up with him, and if he tried to follow him down the street and fire missiles, it would only hurt the humans he was sure to obey.
Manantis managed to lose the metal man, but he heard that machine sound moving again, the same sound he heard before losing his left arms and when that machine transformed.
Tactical Transformation: Knight, Centaur Alabardero.
(Style: Materializer.)
Manantis used his big eyes to see what was going on behind him. Now he's been chased by some kind of black centaur. The machine had been transformed again and he was still chasing it. He jumped from ceiling to ceiling. Wall to wall. Top to bottom and from left to right much better than he.
He was catching up with him.
He was right behind him!
The centaur was right next to Manantis. On his side were two large holes that emitted light, emitted a strange glow and suddenly, Manantis' right leg had made it crossed by something sharp, otherwise cut.
Manantis did not understand what was going on, but the machine had materialized a couple of spear-blades from the shiny holes of his body, invisible unless Gyo was used in the eyes.
Manantis was already despairing. Using his intact leg, he jumped away, stopped at a house and prepared his special attack. He softened his arm with a mantis clamp that he had left, ready to cut this cursed machine in half. And everything in his field of view.
Cutting Hyper-Blade Wind.
Manantis softened his arm and generated a gust that began to cut off the roofs and trees from a slash cleanly. The machine hero saw the attack, and his ability reacted for him. As usual.
Tactical Transformation: Bishop, Gladiator Elephant.
(Style: Enhancer.)
The pieces flew out and quickly rearmed, giving the cyber hero the appearance of an armored and muscular being. The shearing burst hit him, with no effect, and bounced. Manantis couldn't believe what he saw. Yes, his attack could have lost half his power by not having his other arm, but no one had ever been able to fully receive him without suffering damage.
Wait, what was that in the sky?
Autumn Phantom Red Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
Disaster level: Tiger.
Style: Enhancer.
It was one of the red dragonflies of the offensive in the southeast. It was his chance to escape this thing and seek support. What a humiliation, the king entrusted this mission to him, and there he is, losing. Well, this was just a battle, the war is still going on.
The machine leapt, he was not only durable but also fast, and was ready to crush Manantis with his fist, but the monster jumped very high and landed on the dragonfly's back.
-Let's get out of here -Manantis shouted.
The dragonfly sped up and flew away from the place.
-Now there are two, huh? -The cyber hero said.
Tactical Transformation: Tower, Phoenix Fighter-Bomber.
(Style: Emitter.)
The hero jumped and the pieces of his body were rearmed and took the form of a kind of compact aircraft with long wings, several thrusters and a nose as pointed as a bird's beak.
The plane took off, ready to shoot down the dragonfly and the other monster. He started shooting.
Manantis saw it and didn't believe it. What kind of thing was this?
The dragonfly spun and moved through the clouds, dodging energy shots. The plane was coming, he needed to lose it. The dragonfly changed course and went straight to P-City.
People on the street saw the dragonfly approach and some panicked. They had already heard the news about the appearance of several insect monsters in other regions and cities, and feared that it would now be their city's turn. But something brilliant seemed to follow the monster, it was kind of a fighter jet. Was he a hero?
The dragonfly began to fly lower and lower and move between the buildings. But the hero didn't fall behind. He was following its step closer and closer. Shooting and looking to bring down the dragonfly.
Manantis was getting fed up with the annoying hero, won't he get tired or running out of power?
Cutting Hyper-Blade Wind.
Manantis softened his arm and generated a burst that destroyed several windows and cleanly cut the concrete and metal of the buildings between which the dragonfly flew.
The hero's only cybernetic eye began to move and see in various directions, forming diagrams, trajectories and plans. The aura reserves and the number of uses of their Tactical Transformations were reduced with each Tactical Transformation he used to adapt to the situation.
He still had 10 of his 16 uses left, but it was no excuse to waste them like this and increase his exhaustion, he had to take down the monster with his next tactical transformation. It was a good challenge to test the level of efficiency with which he used his skills. It's not going to be that -for being an artist- will reach the last use and activate the restriction of his ability that forced him into his pawn mode for cooling.
Time to see how he could adapt without resorting to further tactical transformations.
The wings of the plane separated and transformed into a large canyon that destroyed the debris and cleared the way. The plane ascended to the top, moving away from the city vertically.
The hero's eye moved, looking for the monster.
Located.
The dragonfly kept flying through the buildings. Time to take it down.
Tactical Transformation: Spear, Grenadier Corridor.
(Style: Controller.)
The cyber hero transformed and began firing guided projectiles at the monsters. The shots generated a cloud of smoke and the hero took advantage of it to hide, descend and begin to move at high speed on the roofs of the buildings.
The shots were chasing the dragonfly, it had a hard time dodging them. Some hit its tail, others exploded very close to its wings and others hit nearby buildings, causing it to rain sharp glass.
And suddenly, in front of the pair of monsters, the cyber hero descended. Time stopped for Manantis. In front was the machine launching itself towards him to attack him with the wheels on his feet, full of metal plates unfolding like blades, and behind, the missiles were going to destroy the dragonfly. This damn thing had intercepted them.
So Manantis' instincts came into action.
Cutting Hyper-Blade Wind.
-"Crap" -Thought the hero.
Tactical Transformation: Bishop, Gladiator Elephant.
(Style: Enhancer.)
The hero became a big, armored being. He resisted the attack and kicked Manantis.
The shots destroyed the dragonfly and from the explosion that occurred, the cyber hero came out falling into the street, with the monster against his foot, ready to crash and crush him.
The hero landed and smashed the kick into the street, cracking the pavement and crushing Manantis, ending the fight.
Tactical Transformation: Pawn, Human Machine.
(Style: Materializer.)
The pieces on the cyber hero's body came off his body. They floated around him and rearmed to the shape of a black rectangular box.
Even if he stopped his aura spending, it was tedious to have to use his Tactical Transformations to voluntarily deactivate his ability, without having reached the last use.
But it was a restriction that allowed him to increase his power, as was having no control over the type of transformation he gains by using his ability. Depending on him making the best use of each transformation that had been selected as the most "convenient" to deal with the situation.
The civilians approached to see, they couldn't believe what happened. A monster capable of cutting between the buildings had been defeated by this mysterious hero who was transforming. What was it? A robot? A cyborg? No one was sure, it was only known that he had saved the people of the city from the insect monster.
But as people began to erase the hero's victory, he only thought that he had been unable to accomplish his goal, he had to resort to another transformation to take down the monster. His tactic had failed, it was something he could not accept, it proved that his reasoning and planning were not yet perfect. Well, all that's left is to learn from this battle. Next time, he'll formulate a better attack plan.
And that's when people's yells pulled him out of his self-flagellate thoughts.
-Thank you so much for saving us -Said one person among the civilians.
-What's your name, Mr. Hero? -Asked a child among the civilians.
His name... That was something he hadn't had to answer in a long time ago... Well, if this was his big entrance, he also needed a big name... A name with style but at the same time simple... A name that was a new identity for him... A name, to be the hero he always dreamed of being in a past life that felt like a blurry dream...
That's it!
-I am, Drive Knight -Said the machine to civilians.
Machine God G1, Zero.
Unregistered hero.
Style: Materializer.
Two years before the Vaccine Man's attack - Region N - 5:51 pm (Region M Time).
He didn't need to have King Mushroom's ability to know that something had happened with his entire invasion. As king, he knew when something happened to his subjects, especially if it was something terrible. Twists, incineration, crushing and even being eaten alive were images that had plagued the mind of the Insect King. Not all insects had been exterminated, some had dispersed and begun to hide in forest areas, underground and among the mountains. Simply put, for practical purposes, he had been left alone in this invasion.
Insect King.
Disaster level: Demon.
Style: Specialist.
But never mind, he is one of the great natural kings, his crown bestowed upon him one of Emperor Eukarya's divine abilities, and would give him good use. Since reaching the supercontinent, he saw many massive auras, two of them were surprising, one green where Muzhen-Bee fought and another golden hidden in the mountains. If he came to face them, he would be killed instantly. No, he needed to find an aura with levels similar to his in order to use the assimilation ability and double his power. And he'd already found it.
It was an intense purple aura. It came from the hills, but it belonged to a human. The smell and taste was unmistakable. A moment ago it had been extremely large, but it had suddenly been reduced. The motives didn't matter, they wouldn't change anything. The king had to locate it and consume who emanated it.
If he succeeded, he could double his power, inspire his troops, and show them that the battle was not over yet. If it failed, those other two intimidating auras approaching this region would come and it would surely be the end of the Insect Kingdom.
The king stood on top of the branch of a tree, saw a kind of human construction in the distance among the trees, and after focusing his eyes, he saw that from this came a great aura. There was his goal, the weird human who would help him increase his power.
Inside the modest dojo lost among the hills was an old martial arts master. Her skin was brown but his white hair, his lips were thick and he was wearing the elegant uniform he had chosen for his dojo, a dojo with only, for better or worse, two students.
Suicho.
Master of Void Fist.
Style: Transmuter.
It had been half an hour since her enthusiastic granddaughter, Suiko, had left his dojo after a brief visit. The reason for this was not only to bring him a food carrier full of pagliata, his favorite dish, but also convince him to accept the invitation made to him by the organizing committee of the martial arts tournament "Super Fight" to be a judge in the eighteenth edition, which would be in a few weeks and where his granddaughter would participate for first time.
And, just as he responded to the committee, he had to tell his granddaughter that his answer was "No". She, as a good stubborn girl, challenged him to a duel, betting that if she won, he should attend as a judge or at least attend as a spectator.
The result was obvious. He made her bite the dust with four times her body weight. And he had to give him the same speech he gave to the emissaries of the tournament organizing committee.
"There's nothing interesting to see there". Martial arts could only be enjoyed on real battlefields, not just circuses meant to entertain the masses with a performance. Unlike Bang and Bomb, who were too young at the time, he served in the military. And he knew that one only could test its own limits by fighting to the death against a formidable opponent. Those brief seconds where both fighters went into sync and seemed to dance to the deadly melody of breaking bones were a unique experience that forever etched in the mind.
"If Bang or Bomb aren't going to participate, I won't participate either". He hasn't seen them in years, they attended together to see the first edition of the Super Fight, only as spectators. After all, it was an event organized by the new generation of martial artists and belonged to them. It wasn't that the old ones had no place in there, but the tournaments they preferred were the old-fashioned, matches agreed in "interesting" places where guests could do their best. Certainly a rare custom among martial artists at heart regardless of whether they chose the path of fists or sword. And although he was a decade older than the pair of brothers, he enjoyed the moments they were in. They talked about everything and nothing at once.
"I'm sure that with all the times Suiryu has participated, it's been more than proven the strength of Void Fist". Suiko got mad at the latter. She claimed to be stronger than her brother with the Void Fist, but the reality was that she wasn't. She handled technique, movements and spirit perfectly, but something was missing. Compatibility was lacking. Although she will carry out the same attack as his brother, hers were always weaker. If he had to summarize things, he would say that Suiryu was like him and his father in his youth, fickle and capricious, while Suiko was more like his mother and grandmother, volatile and emotional.
After that, she left, saying she'd come back to try to convince him. Leaving him alone in his dojo with his dinner. Unlike Bang and Bomb, his dojo was not full of students, he remained much of the time empty and more like his house than a dojo. His only students were his two beloved grandchildren.
Sadly her daughter, and the mother of her grandchildren, had no talent for learning her martial art, although she did have it to find a nice man she married. Then they went to live in the city and soon Suiryu was born. Years later Suiko. Then the "incident" occurred and he had to take care of his two orphaned grandchildren, raising them in rural areas.
It was there when he realized some things, first, that talent apparently skipped a generation, and second, that he would only approve of Suiko's eventual boyfriends if they were stronger than him.
But going back to the problem of lack of students, that wasn't something he could easily solve. Unlike Bang and Bomb, he only accepted students capable of reach their expectations in both spirit and results. Many of those who tried to learn martial arts under his tutelage resigned once the Void Fist-related part began, even some called it the most difficult skill series to learn due to the feeling of heaviness it generated on the body, which could become 100 times the body weight itself.
Perhaps Suicho was very hard with them and with himself by creating a style as demanding as he once felt in military training.
Or maybe his special martial art was only made for the people in his family. His grandchildren were able to learn it. They were able to succeed where many more surrendered, and as just children. They showed that the Void Fist could be transmitted. Although that brought another question to his mind, who would teach his art when he left this world? Suiryu had the talent to be a teacher, but not the spirit or experience of one -Damn, it was enough only one visit to the city to transform him into someone libertine- and Suiko, had the enthusiasm but not the talent -let alone knowledge of the off-field world-. maybe...
Suicho felt an unnatural presence approaching. It felt formidable, though not like something he couldn't handle. Too bad he had to suspend his dinner to attend to this matter. He'd try to finish it quickly before the pagliata cools down.
Suicho covered his plate, stretched briefly and came out of his dojo.
When he opened the door, he saw no one, but he knew that strange presence was watching him. It was firing a predatory intention so intense that it could be tasted in the air.
It would be best to take the fight somewhere else.
He jumped into the trees and began to walk away. As he expected, the presence that was watching him began to follow him. Jump from tree to tree for a while until he reach a wide clearing in the middle of the forest. Suicho stopped in the middle, waiting for his pursuer to understand his challenge and reveal himself. The seconds passed and nothing changed, the stalker was still hiding. Yes, he definitely didn't get the hint.
-Whoever's spying on me, get out of there and let yourself be seen, I'm in a hurry so let's finish this fast.
The Insect King was not surprised to be discovered. Well, maybe the best thing was a direct approach. He came out of the bushes and walked to the clearing in the woods.
-Wow, you're really an ugly bug
-Mock as much as you want human -Said the monster to the surprise of the martial artist, who thought that maybe dinner had gone wrong and was delirious-. When I devour you soon, the little you have left of your strength will be part of my power.
-Devour me? -Suicho questioned in disbelief and cleaned his ears carelessly-. Do you think because of my age I'm just someone vulnerable?...
Suicho looked at his finger and blew the dirty one to clean it.
-... If so, then come and try to get this old soldier out of his misery.
The Insect King launched himself into attack and Suicho received it with everything.
A purple aura surrounded the martial artist. His body weight suddenly increased. He took a couple of steps that cracked the ground by his strength, the purple aura piled up around his fist and prepared to strike just in the belly of the insect monster.
Void Quake Tiger Fist.
A crack was heard. Several things in that monster sure broke. But this didn't end here. Suicho's fist in the monster's belly again surrounded with aura, gained momentum and reaffirmed the blow, pushing even more against the monster's belly but changing the direction in which he wanted to send it.
Void Phoenix Ascension Fist.
The attack crashed the monster with its back to the ground, leaving in it a hole from which large cracks arose.
Suicho had tried to crash the monster to the ground, making him feel 50 times his weight to take him down.
Skin Mude.
The monster's body appeared to be cut into a channel, opened and from inside it suddenly emerged another monster like it, which launched itself to attack and bite Suicho's arm.
A tearing sound occurred. Suicho recoiled with all the force his legs gave him. But acute pain gripped his left arm and right leg.
Suicho expected the monster to try to get up, but not to do that. What's more, that thing shouldn't even have been able to get up, it should be weighing at least a ton or two.
Suicho looked at his arm, a large piece of flesh had been torn from him, not to say that almost all the skin on his arm. He looked at his leg, there was a big welt in his calf. Like something stung him.
He briefly turned his eyes to the monster, had a scorpion tail that he had hidden until now. Shit, it injected him with something. And whatever it was, it wasn't supposed to be any good.
He looked back at the creature, it looked ready to keep fighting... This fight would be visceral.
Away from the battle site, a hero approached following the messages of the Hero Association. It indicated that a very dangerous, and above all showy, insect monster had been reported crossing the border and hiding in rural areas of Region N. Its disaster level, Demon.
Lucky that the good Atomic Samurai, a resident of the surrounding region to the east, had said he would take over and was now on his way to attend to the situation. It was his duty as the bronze hero, as the S-class hero ranks #3.
Atomic Samurai, Kamikaze.
Hero Class S rank #3
Style: Enhancer.
Atomic Samurai concentrated aura on his eyes and things changed around him, he could see two great auras that were in an area some distance away. Wasn't just one monster? Well, even if they were two, it wouldn't be a problem. he'd slash them.
Atomic Samurai began jogging to get to the site. He didn't envy anyone, but he wished to have Flashy Flash's speed so he could get there and get this over with quickly.
A big explosion happened. Atopic Samurai looked up in front of him and saw a large cloud of earth rising and falling back to the ground. It hadn't arrived and it looked like the party had started, would the monsters be fighting each other?
Atomic Samurai arrived at the site, only a large crater could be seen in the middle of the forest. At the bottom of this was a kind of squatting creature eating something. There were several pieces of black cloth around him. They looked like remnants of a uniform.
Something inside Atomic Samurai told him that he was late. Time to catch up.
Air Blade.
Atomic Samurai unrawed his sword and generated a cut in the air that traveled to the creature. It should be said that this one made a sudden movement, arched its back and dodged the shearing attack. While in that position, it looks at the hero with intense eyes and a mouth full of what appeared to be blood.
Dark Body Insect King.
Disaster Level: Dragon.
Style: Specialist.
The monster leapt with great force towards Atomic Samurai, ready to hit him. And by the way, use the skill you just absorbed.
Atomic Samurai set out to cut the monster by having it at such a short distance. He wielded his sword, but the monster made a pirouette deftly and although his tail was cut off, the rest of his body was intact and dangerously close.
A purple aura surrounded the monster's fist.
Void Quake Bug Fist.
Those moves... is this thing a martial artist?!
Atomic Samurai reacted quickly and blocked the blow with his sword. But the impact drove him away, though he didn't lose his balance. Then he began to feel his body a little heavier. Maybe it was just a blow against his sword that took him by surprise.
The monster again threw himself at him. This time forming what appeared to be a whirlwind of purple aura.
Void Sky Bug Fist.
His movements were getting faster. But it was nothing he couldn't handle.
The speed of the blows increased, he could block them but it left no opening for a slash. It's like his muscles and whole body feel heavy. Wait, he really felt heavier with every blow. He didn't feel exhausted then it wasn't a weakening ability, so what kind of trick does this thing have?
Atomic Samurai was again pushed back by the monster's attack on his sword. He was still unhinged, but his whole body felt extremely heavy, as if he had quadrupled his own weight or even more.
The monster threw himself at the hero again.
-"What a pity, I wanted to finish it simply, but it will play the fast way" -Atomic Samurai thought-. "Well, farewell monster".
Atom...
Something crossed in front of Atomic Samurai, causing the words in his mouth -to evoke his special attack- to turn a knot, punching the monster in the face and taking him off course. The figure stopped. For her white hair and her outfit she was unmistakable.
Silver Fang, Bang.
Hero Class S rank #4
Style: Transmuter.
-Silver Fang! -Atomic Samurai exclaimed-. What are you doing here?
-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your fight, I just came to visit an old colleague of mine, but since his dojo was empty and I heard there was a battle nearby, I thought he'd be here -Silver Fang said, looking away from the monster, whose hands emanated a slight purple aura-. Although I didn't expect to find this...
-What do you mean? -Atomic Samurai replied.
But there, Silver Fang spoke to the monster.
-If you can understand me, answer. How did you get that skill and those moves?
The monster seemed to be startled by such a statement.
-What are you talking about, human?
-The creator of that fighting style you're using is a friend of mine -Silver Fang explained-. It's not something anyone can learn, nor something he'd teach to someone like you. How'd you get them?
-Just as I'll get yours -Insect King replied, opening his jaws and dropping slime mixed with what appeared to be a blood-like red liquid.
Silver Fang did not react at all, even to the monster's increased bloodlust.
-Atomic Samurai -Silver Fang said-. Excuse me, but let me handle it, I can't let an insect stain Suicho's art.
Atomic Samurai saw a strong bloodlust emanate from the old hero, as well as an intense aura.
-Be careful, its blows make your body feel heavier.
-Don't worry -Silver Fang replied, looking at Atomic Samurai and letting his smiling face show-. I know that fighting style perfectly, because I've faced it more than anyone.
Both launched into combat almost instinctively. And as fast as the exchange of blows between the two began, the monster was overwhelmed by the rain of blue blows.
Void Quake Bug...
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
The blow that was to strike the monster was immediately returned with him.
-You may have Suicho's Void Fist, but you're decades from having his skill -Roared Silver Fang.
The monster tried to react and counterattack, but he couldn't. He no longer had his tail, stinging the old man to leave him out of combat was discarded, it was still several seconds before he could use his skin-moulting ability again and it would surely take less time for the oldman to kill him with that strange technique. Curses!
Instantaneous Effect.
Silver Fang deviating the monster's incoming fist, smashing it to pieces and cutting it from its body. The insect king could not believe what was going on. But the martial artist didn't stop. A rapid succession of wild but elegant blows rained on the monster. At the end of this sequence, came a kick that lifted the monster into the air, only to receive another kick, which this time sent him to the ground.
The Insect King was overwhelmed, if only he had had a little more time he could have adapted to the use of his new abilities. But there was still hope, a couple more seconds and he could move on his skin. Just a second...
-It's over -Silver Fang declared, descending to punch his fist hard in the monster's face.
The blow struck, crushing the monster's head, cracking the ground and then burning it into a crater, from which Silver Fang turned out several flips in the air and landed as if he had done nothing out of the routine.
Atomic Samurai knew this guy must be awesome from the day he saw the video shown about him in the hero association defeating the cow monster, but seeing him in person was unique. He watched with impression every second of his fight, it was a spectacle. The skill with which the technique was executed, the strength with which each movement was given and the passion that accompanied each stroke. All together in a series of movements destined to kill but flowing with the grace of a river that fell into the void as it transformed into a waterfall capable of breaking the hardest rock.
Atomic Samurai came out of his thoughts of admiration to see where Silver Fang was headed. He was descending to the bottom of the largest crater where he found the Insect King when he arrived. When they reached the bottom he saw several pieces of black cloth torn apart, they had star-shaped buttons that shone even at night. It came where Silver Fang stopped, there was a large bloodstain, and on it was a torn arm. Iron could even be tasted in the air.
Silver Fang took a few more steps and picked up a piece of cloth. The Seal of the Void Fist dojo was printed. He clenched it with his fist and under his head in a sign of respect.
Atomic Samurai imitated the gesture and lowered his head in a sign of respect. If Silver Fang showed respect for the victim of this monster before he came, he must have been someone formidable.
After several seconds in silence, Silver Fang turned, his face seemed calm but hard. He took a couple of steps and put his hand on Atomic samurai's shoulder.
-Thank you for letting me handle this, Atomic Samurai.
-Hmph, you can call me Kamikaze -Atomic Samurai said with a smile after a little laugh.
-And you to me Bang -Silver Fang replied, returning the gesture and understanding that he had come into confidence with Kamikaze.
Bang continued his way, moving away from the place. Atomic Samurai just stayed in place, watching him leave. That was someone who mastered the technique, the body and the heart. A true warrior who understood the importance of respect, honor, humility and dignity. Someone to admire. And he'd make sure the association knew that too.
Away from the battleground, crawling inside his dojo was an old master on the edge of the gates of death. He was exhausted, he had lost a lot of blood and the poison only made his body less and less cooperative. He didn't need to know anything else to understand that his time was coming. Even if someone helped him, when he arrived at the nearest hospital it would be too late.
It's funny, so many decades, so many opponents and so many battles, and the only opponent who could counteract his technique perfectly was the least-expecting being, an insect. The only type of creature capable of dealing with their own weight dozens and even hundreds of times without their movements being hindered.
He was ironic, he always imagined that he would find his end in combat, but he never expected it to be against an insect, let alone that what would kill him would be something as simple as blood loss and a thick poison that quickly flooded his heart. Another small and last reminder that even at this moment life could continue to surprise him.
The man continued to crawl down the floor until he reached the wall where there was a banner with the dojo logo, which was being illuminated by the low light coming in through a skylight on the ceiling.
Suicho reached out, pushed him away a little and behind it, pulled out a wooden box. He turned and lay down against the banner and opened the box, as if it were a book, revealing that it was a portrait holder. In this there were two photos, one where he, his daughter, his son-in-law and his two grandchildren were, and another where he was with his two grown grandchildren.
Suicho smiled when he saw this. He closed his eyes, threw his head back, resting it against the banner, took a deep breath and gave his last breath. The light that illuminated the dojo logo on his back darkened as the sun disappeared on the horizon. His hand fell to the ground, but without releasing the portrait holder. And with that, Suicho left this world to meet with all those who left it before him and who were sure to be waiting for him.
Hi, here's the second part. It turned out to be much longer than I expected, maybe too much. I hope you like it.
Author's Note:
(...).