Alright, fresh chapter. In regards to the recent reviews, I have to admit that the One Piece verse tends to pale in comparison given the feats of the prominent members of the One Punch universe. However, there are also plenty of ways to get stronger, and given Kid's relentless vigor and determination, I bet I can think of a few new techniques and power-ups outside of Haki and the like that'll give him the edge in some scenarios.
...And maybe some romance to boot? Hehehe...
"So this is the deserted city Z? If this place was as trashed as Emily said it was, then why are there so many buildings that are still in decent shape?" Kid observed his new surroundings beneath the bandages wrapped around his head.
The Phantom Town, as the local folks liked to call it, was a place regarded as too susceptible to monster attacks and was eventually abandoned with the explanation that it took too many resources to keep its citizens safe and establishments intact.
"At least there's plenty of scraps for you to use." Killer commented and glanced at a couple of broken cars with their fronts caved in and windows smashed.
"Ressources aren't a problem," Kid scoffed, "what we need is a proper base of operations so we can rest without the need of waking up to a crazy monster assault. Plus, being away from all the noisy chatter of pedestrians is a big bonus."
Kid flexed his right arm and grit his teeth when a twitch of pain wracked his fingers. "Besides, aren't you tired too, Killer?"
Massacre soldier hummed and crossed his arms. "I still don't see why we couldn't have stayed within the populated city's borders. We have no idea what could be lurking out here, Kid, and with our injuries still fresh; it wouldn't be wise to do as we usually would if an enemy appears."
Kid laughed. "Don't tell me you're spooked by a few small fry. I bet that weird purple monster thing from this morning was a rare occurrence, and even if something like that did confront us, we should make quick work of it. Come on, we need to head deeper in and see if there are any buildings that are still decent."
Killer smiled, though you couldn't see this because of the mask, shopping for an apartment in an abandoned city. Who would have thought?
"Ack!"
"Kid?" Killer raised a hand toward his captain. "What's wrong?"
Kid shrugged and glanced at his palm which had smacked his forearm. An insignificant drop of blood on his fair skin accompanied by the body of a dead mosquito, a faint buzzing in the distance drew caution from the two pirates who widened their eyes at the mass of swirling blackness that approached them.
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"And that's really what happened!" Tank Top Tiger roared with pumped fists. "That esper bastard decided to pick a fight with us, and as professional heroes, it is our duty to apprehend troublesome jerks!"
Still stranded in front of the demolished restaurant, courtesy of Kid, the brothers grumbled as their army's doctor tended to the scratches on their faces.
"That's right!" Tank Top Black Hole added with a vigorous nod. "My little bro and I were simply looking for sum grub to chow down on, and before we knew it, those upstart C-class heroes decided to get a cheapshot on us!"
"Right..." Tank Top Doctor, the oldest member of the tank topper army sighed and reached for a roll of gauze. Though his hair was white with age, it was full and combed neatly into a small afro with some sort of glossy hair product mixed in. Behind his circular, and thick-rimmed glasses, Tank Top Doctor preferred a simple white tank top that was neatly tucked in his blue jeans.
"You should've let the local authorities deal with that Magnetic Flame and Massacre Soldier, as you've done well to drag the good name of our tank tops through the mud with your self-proclaimed heroic act. Do you have any idea of how much infrastructure was torn apart during your battle by that red-headed fellow?"
"How did you know about that?" Tank Top Tiger gulped.
"It was all over the hero's channel." Tank Top Doctor shrugged and finished wrapping the brothers' wounds. "The least I can say is that Tank Top Master was rather disappointed, so you brothers had better be on your best behavior when you see him."
"Big bro..." Tank Top Tiger and Tank Top Black Hole lamented. They felt their tank tops shrivel at the thought of disappointing their superior, but with the embarrassing display they achieved all over the news, they didn't really have a leg to stand on in the matter.
"Anyway, Tank Top Rockabilly and Tank Top Girl were sent after a few tiger-level monsters that were running amok a few blocks from here; and seeing that you're both far from being down for the count, I suggest you two give them a hand." Tank Top Doctor sighed and clicked his suitcase of medical supplies closed.
"Right!" Tank Top Tiger roared and shot to his feet. He couldn't afford to shed any more shame on the proud tank topper army, and this could be the big break he was looking for to enter the top ten of the C-class heroes!
"Let's go, little bro!" Tank Top Black Hole led the way with a sudden sprint, leaving only a cloud of dust with his retreat.
"What do you mean the fighting is already over?!" The brothers gawked at the reptilian corpse that lay wasted in the middle of the park.
"Sorry guys, but I didn't get much action either. After Tank Top Girl trounced that rude lizard, the other monsters lost face and decided to flee, which led me to give them the o'l one-two with my armored guitar here." Tank Top Rockabilly laughed and used a wipe to clear off the grime on his instrument.
Tank Top Tiger and his older brother kicked the dirt and hung their heads. To be unintentionally baited by Tank Top Doctor was a letdown, given their current drive to restore some of their lost pride, but the worst part was... that Tank Top Girl was glaring at the two with a cell phone in hand.
"So what's this about you guys trashing a humble restaurant during brunch?" Tank Top Girl was lithe and muscular, with short dark blonde hair, matching eyes, torn blue jeans, and a dark pink tank top that left her slender belly exposed.
The Tank Top brothers swallowed a thick lump and mumbled out excuses, but Tank Top Girl wasn't having any of it and Tank Top Rockabily was too busy staying out of the problem to interfere. That, and it appeared a guitar string had snapped from his previous attacks on the monsters' skulls.
"Tank Top Master is busy with some other demon level monster in city X, and I was originally going out to buy some protein powder on sale in the nearby supermarkets. So, if you boys want to make yourselves useful and better your hero image, I'd advise keeping a close eye on the monster reports on channel 3." Tank Top Girl ended with a soft sigh and left the boys to their endeavors.
"Aw man, I gotta go to a music store and get my baby fixed." Tank Top Rockabilly offered an apology to his peers and excused himself, eager to restore his music partner to max capacity.
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"An urgent report to all those in City Z!" Rang the televisions and general speakers hitched to some lampposts. "An unprecedented outbreak of mosquitoes has invaded the outer sections of the city, and are quickly working their way within the populated settlements! From what observers have stated, local wildlife has been reduced to nothing but shriveled corpses devoid of hydration! So, all citizens of City Z are requested to search for shelter and to close any entrance that invites the allowance of mosquitoes!"
Saitama turned off the television and set down the remote. He hadn't planned to make any ventures outside today, and he'd already finished watering his beloved cactus... but there was a certain nuisance that decided to return despite his best hand-clapping efforts.
"Bzzzt~" Went the mosquito as it perched its six legs on top of Saitama's scalp.
The hero for fun tried to swat the insect, however like his many previous attempts, the mosquito survived and was now flying amok in Saitama's apartment and came back on occasion to suck some sustenance from him.
Annoyed to no end, Saitama gave chase when the mosquito flew out the half-opened window but circled back to grab a can of bug spray from his kitchen cabinets.
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"Oi, Killer, keep up would ya!" Kid panted as the dark cloud of blood-sucking parasites loomed over the duo like a guillotine.
"I've never seen insects behave like this before. It seems this place also has devilish beasts of its own!" Killer huffed and jumped over a broken bench.
The pirates had been irritated by the initial onslaught of insects, but after squashing them with a few pieces of scrap metal, Kid figured his problems were solved. Unfortunately, what he'd killed was but a sampler of what was to come, and soon enough the true horde and all its horror revealed itself.
"Kid!" Killer pointed ahead of them, his finger to the sky where the mosquitoes were now circling around a single entity. The entity was too far for Killer or Kid to create a proper mental image, but with how erratic the mosquitoes around them were now acting, it was safe to believe that the thing in the sky was the blood suckers' beacon.
"Tsk, this isn't nearly enough sustenance to satisfy me, you lazy mosquitoes!" Mosquito girl pouted, then blinked when her peripherals saw two men scrambling for safety. The monster had to admit they were rather odd looking, but she wasn't about to deny easy prey.
"Those two aren't much, but I suppose a little snack wouldn't hurt. Well then, get to it my mosquitoes, suck those pesky humans dry!"
"Ah, crap! I think those bugs are darting in on us, Kid!" Killer pulled out his punisher blades and strapped them to his forearm gauntlets. While his weapons weren't in peak condition, the masked pirate would rather die fighting than submit himself to a swarm of measly parasites.
"Looks like we don't have a choice, do we?!" Kid smirked and raised his right hand. Metal scraps from nearby cars and buildings amassed into a giant mechanical arm, Kid aimed it at the entity in the sky and repelled it with as much force his bandaged body could muster.
"Hah, you think that teeny projectile will do you any good?" Mosquito girl laughed and raised an arm to swat the metal cluster away, but lunged downward when a beam of hot flame grazed past her leaving a scorch mark on her pale-skinned tushy.
"I suspect that if I eliminate you, then this mosquito outbreak would cease immediately?" Hummed a teenage boy who'd adopted a metal arsenal to replace his flesh and blood. "These bugs around me are nothing, but with how much heat my scanners are detecting from you... I suppose you are a threat that is to not be taken lightly."
The cyborg was dressed in a simple white shirt with dark blue jeans and tall leather boots. However, his golden robotic eyes were quite appealing beneath his short, blonde spiky hair, as they darted to and fro to keep track of mosquito girls' movements. However, his eyes also happened to spot two rock-band-themed individuals close by.
"Augh?!" Mosquito girl whined as Kid's attack had managed to swat her across the chest, leaving a few screws and nails in her cleavage.
"Damn that weird robot!" Mosquito girl hissed. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have been hit by such a lame attack!"
Meanwhile, in the near distance opposite to the Kid pirates and the young cyborg...
"Get back here you damn bug, we aren't finished yet!" Saitama yelled as he valiantly sprayed his bottle of insect repellent while chasing after the annoying mosquito.
