Peace and quiet, the two main ingredients used in every instance of peace, tranquility, and of course serenity. But sometimes the second ingredient of silence by itself can be the very opposite of the result when one combines it with the other. If you aren't sure as to what I mean in short quiet on it's own while bringing a nice lull in a mostly noisy and busy world can also bring forth a sense of unrest and even in the more extreme cases paranoia. Which is the exact case for our favorite hero in the world Saitama who at this moment is looking around his apartment like a meerkat searching for predators.
"It's quiet..." He said as he continued to look about "...It's never this quiet...where are they?..." He asked as he got up from his seat to look out his window.
Slowly peeking around the corner of his patio's windowed doors Saitama first looked behind his apartment before moving to the door and doing the same via the peephole to the front and on both sides there wasn't a single person to be found.
"...Something's going on..." He reasoned as he put a hand to his chin "The fans and reporters never miss a chance to camp outside..." He continued "It's almost as if...they've disappeared..." He added.
Beginning to think as to where everyone could possibly be in truth Saitama wasn't too far off in thinking they all had disappeared for excluding the likes of him, Tatsumaki, Kaemon, and the shop owners of City Z the whole place was near abandoned at the moment. The reason behind such a strange occurrence mind you not being anything on a colossal scale or even an above average one, it was because walking through the streets at this exact moment was a man with a smile that could put anyone else's to shame.
"I'm getting close!" Sonic thought to himself as he walked down the street "This idiot doesn't even TRY to hide where he lives! it wasn't even child's play trying to find him!" He mentally boasted "Now that I know where he lives I can attack him whenever and however I want! and THEN we'll see whose the strongest!" He mentally cheered as his already excessively wide big tooth grin somehow managed to get even bigger.
Continuing towards Saitama's apartment just as Sonic was about to lose himself in his own thoughts (and arrogance) his heightened ninja senses caught the faint but clear sound of blades being slowly and carefully dragged against each other as if they were sharpening each other. Stopping in his tracks to continue listening to the sound Sonic was able to determine they were coming from the intersection ahead of him which meant one of two things. Either A. this was something harmless and it wouldn't be of an concern to him or B. it was some kind of hero waiting to ambush him. Deciding that instead of simply calling them out should this actually be the latter Sonic within an instant vanished from sight and by using his speed went to the rooftop of the building at the corner to get an bird's eye view of the street below.
However as he stood on the ledge of the building and surveyed the ground below Sonic saw no one and the sound responsible for having put him on alert was gone.
"Hmm..." He hummed as he continued to examine the area "I know it wasn't the wind...I've sharpened my own blade too many times to not know what it sounds like...so where are they?..." He wondered as he crossed his arms.
I feel as though it needs not to be said that Sonic is clearly different from most people whether it be his remarkable speed, his insane ninja skills, or even just his god awful spine tingling grin he would easily stand out in a crowd. The reason why this is relevant is because one of the many key things about him was due to his training his senses were heightened, which was already apparent of course given how was able to hear such a faint low noise from such a great distance. Which is exactly why he is but one of only a select few who could dodge an attacker who just almost magically seemed to appear behind him swinging the aforementioned blades as their means of offense.
"GOTCHA!" His attack shouted as it seemed as though their attack had been successful.
Sadly for his mysterious assailant after a few seconds passed by he noticed that Sonic was no longer standing where he was once and the thing he had attacked was actually his after image. However before they could wonder where the other had gone off too a sudden gust of wind blew against their back which was more than enough to tell them that their ambush had been reversed. With speed that while Sonic would never even say was commendable to others was in fact astounding the individual spun around and using their blades block the attack from the other, which if he had been late in doing so by a second or even misplaced the position his blades were held in he would have been skewered. But this mysterious stranger wasn't the only one who was shocked for now as Sonic was face to face with his attacker he saw exactly what they were and while he by no means was terrified or even taken aback to say he could've expected this would be incorrect.
For the being that stood before him the same who much like Saitama somehow managed to block his attack was a near seven foot tall humanoid praying mantis and the blades it was using to attack were actually it's arms. But as one who knows of Sonic could easily guess after just a few seconds of being caught in this shocking revelation Sonic leaped back from his attacker to the other side of the rooftop causing the other to lower his arms.
"You're fast." Sonic complimented as a smirk came to his face "Not as fast as ME of course but still fast enough to not die immediately to one of my attacks." He added as he pointed his sword towards the other "So who are you? or should I say WHAT are you?" He asked.
"I am the B class hero known as Kamakyuri!" He answered as he suddenly entered a stance "And there have been reports of someone matching YOUR description walking around in this area terrorizing people with a sinister grin!" He exclaimed as he pointed one of his claws towards the other "So I'm here to take you down!" He revealed.
Silence filled the air as Sonic let the other's answer sink in with him and after a few moments of thinking on it he couldn't keep himself from chuckling"
"YOU'RE a hero?" He asked as he lowered his sword "Wow, I knew heroes were a bunch of losers, but to think that they'd allow something like YOU to become a hero just goes to show they'll let ANYONE become a hero." He said before erupting into laughter.
"Laugh now evildoer!" Kamakyuri replied "Because I will be swift in making quick work of you!" He assured.
Now laughing at the "threat" this creature just gave him Sonic continued to do for almost a minute more before he stopped and looked towards the other.
"YOU think you can handle me?" He asked as his former smirk became a grin "Fine, I guess I can spare two minutes to kill you before I get back to my original target." He decided before disappearing.
Not needing to wonder as to how he disappeared Kamakyuri surprisingly enough managed to do the same and for a few moments after it seemed as if both had just left instead of continuing to fight. But then at such a speed that if any spectator were to blink they most certainly would've missed it multiple slash marks and indents to the rooftop suddenly appeared with no such much as a single sound being given off. This would continue to go on for the next few seconds as neither seemed to land a direct hit or at the very least one that lasted for very long but thankfully this would go on no longer as both clashed against the other in the center of the rooftop, the force and speed at which they had done so causing a blast of wind to be sent from around them.
"Alright." Sonic said as their blades were pressed against each other "I'll admit, you're not as helpless and pathetic as I thought." He complimented only to have his smirk return "But that only means this fight's going to go on for a few extra seconds, a minute if you focus on dodging." He stated.
"You're really cocky you know that?" Kamakyuri asked "Might want to watch that arrogance, cause it'll be what get's you killed!" He exclaimed just as they disappeared once again.
Over the next minute the two would continue to dish out attacks at speeds that none could see leaving the only evidence a fight was even happening to the damage they were dealing to the roof. Sadly though this current stage of the fight as said only went on for a minute for after that minute had passed both fighters reappeared on the roof except one wasn't as he once was.
"Looks like you lost something." Sonic taunted as he pointed his sword to the dismembered right arm of the other which lay in the middle of the rooftop "If you want I could even that out for you so you don't look stupid." He offered with a sinister smile.
"Damn it I screwed up!" Kamakyuri mentally berated as he gritted his teeth from the pain "It was a rookie mistake too! I got too aggressive with my strikes and left myself open for attack!" He continued as he looked to his wound "Before I was able to hold my ground, but now I'm completely defenseless on one side! and I'm nowhere near as good with one blade as he clearly is..." He noted before he looked back to the other "I've got no other choice, I have to go all out...otherwise...I'm going to lose." He decided as he stood upright.
Unsure as to what he was doing Sonic while not worried or preparing himself to strike did make sure to keep a close eye on any slight movements he might make so he could counter.
"I'll admit you're strong, the strongest opponent I've fought so far as a hero." Kamakyuri praised "Most people can't even use guns right, so to see someone possess such skill with a sword is a treat." He continued.
"Hm? what's this?" Sonic asked as his rested his sword on his shoulders "Are you trying to keep me from killing you by complimenting me?" He asked "Because if so I can promise you it won't make a difference." He assured.
"I'm not trying to stop this fight." Kamakyuri replied "All I'm saying is that it's nice to have an actual challenge for once...one that makes me use my last resort." He said.
Unsure as to what he meant by "last resort" Sonic would receive clarification as the moment the other had finished speaking his by far most odd detail which was his brain that instead of having a skull cover it instead had a glass dome began to glow. Watching as the light continued to grow more and more Sonic decided that this was nothing more than some kind of distraction to by him some time so without hesitation he dashed towards the other readying to strike. But just as he was upon the other and he swung his blade to deal the final blow just as it had made contact something that no one not even Sonic could've guessed happened. His sword the likes of which had only ever been shattered by Saitama broke apart the moment it touched the other's body.
Near completely stunned by what he had just witnessed before Sonic could react to it properly Kamakyuri suddenly disappeared from view. Landing where the other once stood Sonic was about to search the area for his foe until just as before he dodge the other's attack for he had gotten behind him.
"Do you honestly think you're going to hit me with one ar-" He began to taunt until his eyes once more widened in shock.
Standing behind him with BOTH arms was in fact Kamakyuri but beyond the fact his arm had somehow grown back his overall appearance had changed, from his once green color he now adorned a light blue and in place of the dome which covered his brain was in fact a skull though in truth it looked more like an armored helmet than a head. But the most surprising thing to happen in this instance by far wasn't his sudden change in appearance, his arm suddenly returning to him, but as Sonic dodged the attack and Kamakyuri swiftly followed up with another while the blow did not make actual contact it did just barely miss causing it to make a small tear in his clothes.
"He's faster!" Sonic thought as he dodged "Not only that, but there's something different about the attack, it's almost as if...he now intends to kill me." He noted as he leapt back to the other side of the roof.
Keeping his gaze firmly locked onto the other Sonic watched as Kamakyuri after having missed his attack stand upright and look to him, which revealed another change it being his eyes which were no longer bright yellow but a much darker and intense crimson which admittedly matched the look he was giving him.
"You've gotten stronger." Sonic said as he sheathed his broken sword "Why not just start the fight like this instead?" He asked.
"I am part of a series of beings designed on a genetic level to be superior to humans." Kamakyuri began revealing yet another change this time in his voice from the former higher toned hissing like nature of his original it was now deep and sounded more like a person speaking. "Each of us were meant to serve a specific purpose and while I am not the strongest of them I am the perfect balance of precision and speed." He continued "As for why however I did not start in this form is because it is meant as a safety mechanism for should I ever encounter someone stronger than I am." He admitted.
"So what? now you think you're on the same level as me?" Sonic asked as he pointed to the tear in his clothes "Just because you managed to get my shirt? seriously?" He continued to ask as he lowered his hand to his side "The ONLY reason you even got that close to hitting me was because I wasn't expecting my sword to break when it hit you but now I'm going to finish this fight so I can fight someone whose actually WORTH my time." He stated.
"If you think you can then so be it." Kamakyuri replied "But the likelihood of you leaving this roof alive is slime to nonexistent." He said as he entered another stance.
Doing the same as he did Sonic too entered a stance and for the next few seconds neither of them moved as they were hoping the other would do so first. But then as they had done in every clash between them they both suddenly disappeared before proceeding to trade blows. However unlike before where the only signs a fight was going on were slashes and dents to the roof the power behind each of their blows as well as the speed was so great that each impact was basically a minimized sonic boom causing all nearby windows to break along with some of the building. Blow for blow they continued to clash and while Sonic did not possess his sword he still was an expert in hand to hand combat so while he never directly hit the sharped blades of his foe he did attack his arms and the sides of the blades as to maybe try and break them.
But the more and more they traded blows and the more he made contact with the other Sonic realized that his body was no longer just bug carapace but it truly felt like real armor and so even though he'd never admit it in truth there wasn't any way who could break it with regular attacks. Of course though this just meant that he would need to kick things up a notch and so after a few more blows to ensure there weren't any weak spots he could exploit Sonic began to simply avoid the other by dashing around the rooftop in order to gain more speed.
"Do you seek to run now?" Kamakyuri asked as he chased after him "Because if you wish to flee I will pursue and will not cease till you are dead!" He exclaimed.
"Such big talk for a walking bug." Sonic replied as he continued to dodge and dash "It's time I show you what I do to worthless little insects like you!" He exclaimed as he leapt into the air.
Watching as the other flew into the air above after he reached the apex of his jump Sonic put all of his weight forward causing him to spin rapidly towards his opponent.
"WIND BLADE KICK!" He shouted as he extended his leg outward readying to end the fight with this blow.
It was in the moment as Sonic rapidly approached the other that for the second time in his whole life someone instead of simply looking on in fear or trying to avoid the attack that Kamakyuri leapt towards him seeking to clash in the air.
"MANTIS STYLE! CROSS BLADE SLASH!" Kamakyuri shouted as he held his blades together in an x formation in front of him.
.
.
.
Stillness, that was the only word they could think of to describe what the world felt like after they had clashed for even though both combatants were going at neck breaking speeds in that singular instance it felt like time had slowed to as close of a stop as it could without committing. Soon enough though they both landed back on the rooftop and as they each waited for the impact of the other's blow to hit them they found there was no pain nor any actual damage dealt to their person. And while upon this discovery being made they for that second were confused they thought back to the exact moment they collided and realized that their attacks had canceled each other out, both the speed and the power of each were near identical so neither had even the smallest advantage. Upon having this realization come to them Kamakyuri began to look towards Sonic but found that he wasn't there and as far as he could tell he wasn't trying to attack either.
"It seems he's left." Kamakyuri said to himself as he looked to the ground in front of him "I must speak with doctor Genus about this." He decided before he too disappeared from the rooftop.
Meanwhile as Kamakyuri began to make his way back to The House of Evolution, Sonic was leaping across the rooftops making his way out of the city as well.
"Another person who can withstand my attacks?!" He questioned for his ego had just been dealt a serious blow "THIS CANNOT STAND! I AM THE STRONGEST PERSON IN THE WORLD! AND I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M BESTED BY TWO PEOPLE!" He mentally shouted.
And so as both Kamakyuri and Sonic swiftly left City Z behind they each had a new drive fuel their being with the same goal of becoming stronger in mind. But what about Saitama?, what has HE been doing as this whole fight has gone on without him knowing?
"Alright seems like we're done." Tatsumaki said as she looked over the apartment "What do you think?" She asked as she turned to Kaemon.
Looking over the space themselves Kaemon was more than just satisfied at how it all turned out in fact they were flat out overjoyed.
"It's awesome!" They exclaimed before looking to Tatsumaki "Thanks for buying me all of this stuff!" They said.
"Eh it was nothing." She replied with a shrug "I've got more money than I know what to do with really." She admitted.
"Let's go get Saitama and show him how it looks!" Kaemon suggested as they headed for the door.
Unable to keep herself from smiling a small bit at how excited and happy Kaemon was with their new home she followed the other to Saitama's apartment where upon going inside they were met with a rather...unusual sight.
"...Saitama." Tatsumaki spoke as she stared at the other "Why do you have your ear pressed to the floor?" She asked.
"I'm trying to see if there are people in the apartment below mine..." He answered "No one's outside cheering so they HAVE to be trying to sneak in here!" He reasoned.
Exchanging a quick glance to Kaemon Tatsumaki couldn't keep a sigh from escaping as she shook her head.
"You REALLY need to get you head examined..." She said as he continued to listen to the floor.