Author's note: This chapter is a bit short, but I hope you'll like it! The story will be over soon. And I had a LOT of fun writing the next two chapters, you'll see… :p

pUlpo801: Gracias! I understand a little bit of spanish but I will answer in english if that's okay? I'm really not good enough to write anything in spanish. Thank you for your kind words, and yes, it's just a 10 chapters story! Sorry! I don't know if I'll write a sequel (I have many other fics to write and not as much free time I wish I had), but I'm thinking about it. I don't want to make promises I can't keep, though.

loser by choice: I can't reply through the site, so I'll do it there! :D Thank you so much for your review, it made my day! I'm glad you think my translation is good!

oOo

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Genos opened his hand and exploded the rock just on time. It came close. Just one thousandth of a second earlier, it would have crushed him into the ground. Thrown back by the air blast of the explosion, Genos whirled in the wind and landed hard on the cracked concrete.

What was left of the volcanic rock rained around him. Ashes darkened his blond hair. The cyborg clenched his jaw and got up immediately in a defensive position. The Association severely underestimated the level of threat when this new monster appeared in N city. A and B class heroes in charge of this district had been struck down like fly specks, and Genos had to answer the Association's urgent call for back up and leave his sensei behind as they were going round the sales.

He looked up at the large-scale monster, narrowing his golden eyes as he tried to analyze it and find a weak spot. The volcano was about a hundred meters tall, even though it was situated right in the city center. On the hillside, houses and buildings slowly disappeared, drowned into the molten lava flow. According to what he had been told on the phone before he came, the volcano grew one hour ago in this peaceful seaside city that until now never had any monsters invasions. The volcano gulped down the city hall and kept on growing while the C class heroes evacuated the citizens from the area.

Through the black smoke and eruptions, Genos could see a hydra entirely made of lava bathing in the crater on top. It's nine long necks waved, and the monstrous heads hissed like cats.

The ground trembled, and Genos jumped to dodge another volcanic rocks bombing. His sleeveless shirt flapped in the infernal air blast. He noted an average temperature of 140°F for all the area around the hydra. And according to his analytical sight, the creature's body itself raised up approximately to 5400°F. The cyborg activated his reactors to hold himself at a high altitude. From up here, he had a clear view of the furious hydra. He was about to attack when a voice called out from the ground:

"Hey, Genos! Cover us!"

He looked down and saw Metal Bat and Silver Fang climbing up very quickly the burning volcano – finally, some other S class heroes joined him. Immediately, Genos opened his hand and threw fire shots to destroy the rocks before they hit the heroes. The old martial arts expert jumped in the air, just in front of one of the heads – even with his artificially enhanced sight, Genos barely could see Bang moving like water and punching the monster right in the eye. That head exploded in a thousand lava splatters just when Metal Bat hit hard another head that exploded too.

Genos fell back next to them. Bang was staring at the hydra with a worried and serious face. As for Metal Bat…

"Ow ow ow! Too fucking hot!"

… he was frantically switching his bat from one hand to another and pulling a face – the metal was white-hot, and Genos was surprised it didn't melt when it touched the monster.

"Seven heads left to destroy." Genos said, closing his fist determinedly. "Let's finish it off."

"Yeah, and quickly! I feel like I'm in a sauna, I'm dripping with sweat!"

"I'm afraid it will be a bit more complicated than we thought, young men…" Bang mumbled, narrowing his eyes. "Look."

The monster's blazing body was shining like a sun, bathing in fire. And it's two ripped off heads were growing back on top of the necks, looking even more fierce and aggressive.

"Shit!" Metal Bat snarled, grasping tightly his bat despite the heat.

The nine heads hissed furiously and then belched out a blazing inferno right at them. They dodged, and a new eruption poured a flood of lava down the volcano, drowning the empty streets. The three heroes landed on the roof of a nearby building.

"If we don't stop it right now, the whole city will be drowned in lava." Genos said as the volcano grew bigger and bigger. "And it's becoming stronger each time it gains ground."

"Yeah." Metal Bat breathed, wiping his sweaty brow. "But what are we gonna do if the heads keep growing back?"

"We have to join our forces." Silver Fang said, rolling up his sleeves. "The three of us have to attack it at the same time."

They shared a look to agree, and jumped at the same time to attack together in a massive explosion. But as the smoke cleared away, they saw the nine severed heads growing back immediately. Genos clenched his jaw, frustrated – His blast were made of fire and very high temperatures, but it had no effect on that monster that easily bathed in 5400°F molten lava. He did destroy a huge chunk of the volcano, but lava flows hardened and fixed it right away.

Genos took his phone, wondering if he should ask the Association for back up, or if it would be better to just call Saitama so it would be over quickly and the city wouldn't be entirely destroyed. But then a high-pitched voice yelled:

"Don't tell me it's that thing over there that's making the HQ's big shots all panicked?"

The cyborg looked up to see Tatsumaki floating in the air, her green curls rippling around her small head. She sighed with disdain, rolling her eyes.

"They wanted to raise the threat level from Demon to Dragon. Obviously, they were overreacting. And to think that I made the effort to come here for that. Pff."

"Instead of sulking, what about you helped us?" Bang sternly suggested, standing on top of an electric pole.

Bathed in her aura, Tatsumaki folded her arms and pouted.

"Alright, alright, I get it! It's not my fault if you're all so lame you can't do anything on your own!"

At this moment, the hydra aggressively hissed. An eruption of lava made Metal Bat pull a face – he was already beat red and panting because of the heat. Without flinching, Tatsumaki frowned to focus. And then, the lava monster levitated slowly out from the volcano, tossing and hissing. Just a flick of fingers, and Tatsumaki made a rather artistic bow with the nine long necks. And when she snapped her fingers, yawning ostensibly. The flaming hydra screamed as it was thrown right into the ocean with a gigantic splash. From the rough of the building, Genos saw the monster struggling until it's body petrified as the lava cooled down.

"Done!" Tastumaki sounded uppity, dusting her dress. "You know, sometimes I think the Association would be worthless without me!"

"Genos."

The cyborg looked at Bang who joined him on the top of the roof.

"I noticed you seemed distracted during the fight. You mind isn't here."

Genos couldn't deny it. Because it was true. He had been very reluctant to leave Saitama alone and come and do his duty. He asked his teacher if he wanted to come, but Saitama declined because he'd rather go round the sales and was too lazy to run to N city. Given that he had lost the taste of fighting, it wasn't very surprising – and that only made Genos worry even more.

"I'm worried about Saitama-sensei." he confessed, lowering his head.

"Oooh, so that was it…" Bang mumbled, stroking his chin knowingly. "Did you try what I told you to do?"

"Hey! Grandpa and robot! Did you hear what I said?!"

Genos sighed, looking at the volcano that progressively shrank into the ground now that the monster was dead.

"It didn't work. Nothing does. I guess I'm not good enough a disciple…"

Metal Bat waved at them to let them know he was leaving, apologizing to his sister on the phone because he couldn't be on time to help her with her homework as he promised he would.

"Mhhh, I see. This is a problem." Bang nodded gravely.

"Could you stop ignoring me for once?!" Tatsumaki yelled, frantically waving her arms.

Genos was just about to complain to the old man about his failures, when the tiny hero landed just between them. She glared at them, looking murderous.

"Enough! I demand you include me in your conversations from now on! Next time anyone ignores me, I throw them into orbit! And you know I'm capable of it!"

Genos frowned, annoyed by the interruption, but he remembered his last altercation with Tatsumaki and that held him back. All the more since he wouldn't survive long in orbit, he needed oxygen for his brain.

"Easy now, Tornado of Terror." Silver Fang frowned. "Remember you represent the Heroes Association, so behave with dignity."

Tatsumaki shrugged, obviously still upset.

"So?" she lifted her chin to stare at the suspiciously. "What were you talking about that was sooooo important?"

"Genos is concerned about his teacher who's showing signs of depression."

"His teacher? What teacher?"

"Saitama-kun."

Tatsumaki blinked in disbelief, then burst out laughing.

"That B class caped bald moron who sneaked into our reunion last time? Is this some kind of a joke?"

She was mocking his teacher. Genos saw red.

"Genos, wait! Don't forget she's much stronger than what she looks like!"

"What do you mean, what she looks like? What do I look like, huh?!" the tiny heroine took offense.

"She disrespected Saitama-sensei." Genos hissed harshly, but managed to calm down.

Good thing Saitama wasn't here to hear those hurtful words. His core vibrating furiously, the cyborg tried to reason himself. He folded his arms and glared at the midget.

"Ah, wait!" Tatsumaki opened her eyes wide. "Don't tell me it's for him you turned down the apartment in the HQ? Is that why you asked at the last reunion if it's allowed to share it with a B class?"

Warily, Genos pinched his lips and nodded.

"You're so weird." she pouted disapprovingly. "I took the apartment, it's great. You're missing out."

"I don't care. I won't leave Saitama-sensei all alone when he's feeling down."

"And what's his opinion about it?"

Genos blinked and shared a confused look with Bang.

"What?"

Tatsumaki rolled her eyes with contempt, looking irritated.

"Your baldy, duh! Did you two talk about it, at least?"

Genos paused, his face freezing in a bewildered expression.

"No… I… never considered it."

"That's the first thing to do for helping someone, are you stupid or what?"

Genos was so shocked by this revelation that he didn't hear the insult. He didn't even feel Bang's hand patting his shoulder.

Annoyed, Tatsumaki sighed and raised her hands cynically.

"You know what? I've no idea why I bother talking with you. Your conversations are so boring. I'm out of here."

And in a split second, the little heroine took off and flew away in the horizon.