Hey, this chapter is very dialogue heavy, so sorry if you're not into that. In this chapter, we get an introduction to Sweet Mask! The chapter's a little short, but the next one will definitely be longer, so look out. Now, reviews!
Just a SCP fan: The basic gist of what I'm going for is trading Saitama's hero struggles for more interactions between him and the S-Class. No one will think he's a fraud since he's class S, and he's going to know the S-class better than he does in canon.
Guest 1: You have a point. She was more overwhelmed by how long and detailed it was, rather than the actual story.
Guest 2: If they had their power speed and durability equaled, then yeah, Garou would take it easy. The thing is, they Don't.
PraiseOkita: I answered this for another review, so in short, Saitama doesn't struggle with popularity, and gets to know the S-Class better.
pog: Thanks man, glad to know you're enjoying!
Sweet Mask was strolling through Z-city, dressed in casual attire. The number 1 A-class hero was not in a very good mood.
When he had heard that Dr. Genus, the leader of the House of Evolution had 'Renounced his misguided ways', and pitched a collaboration with the Hero Association, Sweet Mask tried vehemently to get the Association to reject the offer. In the end however, the other higher-ups outvoted him. Sweet Mask was rather furious with this.
"Those damn fools! How do they believe that man? Just because the new recruits vouched for him? he has a legacy of evil lasting almost a century! Not to mention his group of monsters! Artificially created or not, they are monsters all the same. They will show their true colors eventually, and when they do, I'll be there to stop them."
The most famous man on earth was curious as to why the new S-class heroes had supported Genus. He had heard that all three of them claimed to have had a part in taking his operation down, and he was more than a little skeptical.
Sweet Mask was actually on his way to their addresses at the moment to get his own impression on the trio. He was surprised to learn that all three of them not only lived in the same apartment complex, but that said complex was located in the abandoned district of City Z. He pulled photos of all three out to examine them.
"Saitama and Genos... one a very promising rookie who we've had an eye on for a while. The other an unassuming looking man on the outside, but he's shown to posses incredible strength, breaking all the HA physical records by a large margin."
Sweet Mask flipped to the third picture he was holding, his expression unreadable.
"The third one... is an enigma. She looks very much like a monster, but exhibits mannerisms that would suggest otherwise. She was reported to have saved a civilian from another monster, something no monster would ever do. Monsters may fight over a target, but she defeated the monster and left the civilian unharmed. There is also her name, 'Calamitas'. It certainty sounds like the name of a monster. When questioned about it, she said that it was not her true name, but she could not remember what her name was."
Sweet Mask wished to meet with Calamitas the most. She was, in his mind, something that should not exist. A monster with no natural bloodlust. One that could control themselves.
The pop star arrived at the gate to the abandoned district. He ripped the padlock off effortlessly, and went inside.
"So, uh, this is just a practice bought right?"
"Yes, but I wish to see what you are truly capable of. I wish for you to go all out. I in turn will do the same. Fight until I can no longer, Saitama."
Genos and Saitama were standing in the scorched remains of what was once a canyon, Calamitas observing from a nearby cliff.
"Hah, you have no idea what you're in for Genos."
Genos heated up his incineration cannons, before shooting off towards Saitama at blinding speeds. The cyborg aimed a kick at the bald hero's head, but he ducked under it at the last second. Genos quickly halted his acceleration, turning around for another kick, but again, Saitama ducked. Genos next bolted straight up into the sky, coming down towards Saitama's head with a devastating axe kick. Yet again, the hero for fun moved out of the way at the last possible moment. This trend continued for a while longer, with Genos even using some of his signature moves such as incinerate and machine gun blows. Yet Saitama remained untouched.
Calamitas watched as the battle unfolded before her.
"I gotta hand it to Genos. He's very persistent. But persistence won't get you very far against someone like Saitama."
"Ah, I thought I heard noise coming from over here."
Calamitas turned around to find a handsome looking man with blue shoulder length hair walking towards her.
"And you are?"
"Hm? I'm surprised you don't know of me. Well, no matter. I am the A-class rank 1 hero Sweet Mask. I see that your compatriots are rather... occupied at the moment, so I'll speak with you first. I'm here to congratulate you three on making it to Class S."
"Oh, well, thank you. Is that so worthy of praise?"
"Well we haven't had any new S-class in quite some time, so not one but three new recruits qualify is quite a momentous occasion. That's not all I cam to converse with you about, however."
"oh, well alright. I don't have anything to do at the moment."
"Wonderful. You see, A man by the name of Genus recently merged his operation with the Hero Association. I had gotten wind that you and the other two recruits had put in a good word for him, despite experiencing his evil firsthand. Pardon me for asking, but I would like to understand why you believed him to have changed so quickly."
Calamitas gave a laugh.
"I'm honestly surprised that no one had confronted me about that sooner. Once I defeated his most powerful creation, I looked at his face and saw someone who's whole worldview had just been shattered. His entire life's work had been undone in less than a day. Just as I was worried that he would faint from shock, he softened his expression and smiled. It was what he said however that convinced me that he was done with his projects. he said 'It appears I'm the one who must change.'"
"...Thank you for that explanation, I am still not fully convinced of his redemption, but I understand your decision. But what of those monsters? His 'Creations'? Why weren't they killed?"
"I saw no reason to."
Sweet Mask frowned. "I'm afraid I do not follow. Monsters are evil, and must be exterminated. I'll ask you again, Why didn't you kill them?"
"They were much more reasonable after we fought and defeated them. They were incredibly reluctant to reveal where Genus was, so they had a lot of loyalty towards him. Not only that, but they were absolutely terrified when they heard that Genus was going to release his trump card, Carnage Kabuto."
"Carnage Kabuto? If memory serves me right, that was the only one of Genus' monsters you killed."
"Yes, and there's good reason for that. Carnage Kabuto shared none of the traits the other monsters did, apart from perhaps arrogance. He showed no loyalty towards Genus, even stating that he would kill him once he killed me. he was always bloodlusted, and was mentally unstable. It was because of those reasons that he was the only one I killed that day. The other 'monsters' really weren't even as such, at least by my definition."
"And what is your definition of a monster?"
"Someone or something who holds no regard life whatsoever and kills either because they can or for their own personal gain. As you can see, I don't look exactly human. As such, I've been called a monster by many when I'm out in public. I suppose my definition of a monster and society's are different."
Sweet Mask remained silent for some time, processing what Calamitas had said. Eventually he spoke up.
"Well, this has certainly been an informative conversation. It looks like those two are wrapping up, so I'll talk to them as soon as they-"
Sweet mask's words caught in his throat as he watched Saitama seemingly phase in front of Genos. The cyborg's eyes widened, as he threw a desperate kick towards the bald man, but Saitama was already behind him. He threw his fist forward, until he stopped millimeters from Genos' face. A storm of dust was kicked up, obscuring Sweet Mask and Calamitas' views. When the dust cleared, Sweet Mask gaped in disbelief while Calamitas just blinked in surprise.
"W-was that just the wind pressure?!"
"Um, I guess."
Behind a shocked and dazed Genos, there was a gaping chasm in what used to be a cliffside.
Saitama grabbed Genos and jumped up to the cliff Calamitas and Sweet Mask were standing on.
"Hey Calamitas, who's this guy?"
"Oh this is Sweet Mask. He came to welcome us to the Hero Association."
"Oh, hey dude."
Shaking himself out of his stupor, The idol took Saitama's outstretched hand.
"Hello, Saitama. That was an incredible performance! With power like that, you should rise quickly in Class S."
"Oh, uh, thanks."
"And greetings to you too Genos. Impressive performance on your end as well. The Hero Association is lucky to have such promising new heroes."
Still looking a little lost, the Cyborg shook Sweet Mask's hand, but said nothing.
"Well, I suppose I'll be off. I'm a very busy man. Oh, I almost forgot to mention! The three of you are expected at the Hero Association HQ in A-City tomorrow. You'll be meeting the rest of the S-Class. Normally they wouldn't do something like this given the majority of the S-Class heroes are hard to track down, but they felt it was necessary given there were three new S-class at once."
"Ok, We'll be there as soon as we can."
Sweet Mask walked away deep in thought.
"It's regrettable that I couldn't talk more with Saitama and Genos, but at least I got a taste of their battle capabilities. Genos is certainly a versatile and powerful ally. He'll do alright in S-class power wise. Saitama on the other hand is a force to be reckoned with. That punch of his was Incredible! As Ludacris as it sounds, he may be able to take King on! And then there's Calamitas. While I have not seen her in combat yet, she gave me some things to think about. While I am not sold on the idea that some monsters deserve mercy, as much as I hate to admit it she made some good points. If what she says is true however, perhaps I've been worrying over nothing..."
The pop star walked back into the inhabited part of the city where his private jet was waiting. He had some thinking to do.
If you read my other OPM Crossover, "A Different Kind Of Monster", then you know that Sweet Mask is one of my favorite characters. My problem is that I find him really hard to write. I tried to make him calm and understanding in this chapter, because that's how he first portrays himself to Genos in canon. Obviously that wasn't how he'd act if he didn't care about a good first impression. Let me know how I did.
As for what Calamitas told him, will it affect him by the time he makes an appearance in the Alien Invasion arc? Not even I know yet.