Hello everyone, I'm sorry for the really late uploads, but I've been swamped with work as of late and it's been tough to find some time to properly write. Anyhow, hope you all enjoy the chapter!
Cheers, Searoar.
"Oi, Kid, are you sure about this?" Killer said as he trudged through the forest with his captain in front of him.
"What are you talking about?" Kid frowned. "Don't tell me you've gotten cold feet after that first encounter with the gorilla and giant lion."
Killer shook his head. "I'm confident in our abilities, it's just that what I saw that bald-headed guy do was something I'd never dreamed of. He dodged the lion's slashes with ease and took the hulking beast out with one punch. That's not something any ordinary person could do."
"Heh, you are getting cold feet," Kid laughed and raised a fist. "All because a few monsters decided to get in our way, that doesn't mean we can't beat them down with brute force. The only way to get stronger is by going forward, Killer, and that's exactly where we're headed."
Killer sighed, then chuckled. Leave it to his captain to take the direct approach to fix his problems. Then again, it was Kid's devotion to completing his objectives that allured the massacre soldier to follow him in the first place.
The two pirates rounded a large section of trees, where Saitama and Genos led the troupe. The bald hero and cyborg were kind enough to accommodate a slower pace for their injured company, but Saitama's patience was wearing thin as the forest appeared to be much bigger than anticipated.
"Are you sure that this is the place, Genos?" Saitama asked as he peered through a narrow clearing of trees, only to find more shrubbery and a long river.
"Oi, don't tell me you guys are lost," Kid scoffed.
"You didn't have to follow us," Saitama shrugged, "by all means go your own path to find the house of evolution."
"That won't be necessary," Genos butted in, "for I have already calculated the location of the house of evolution given the information that the armored gorilla has given me. According to his directions, we are no more than a mile from our desired location."
"Alright, just make it quick," Kid said. "I want to give this stupid professor a piece of my mind and then get back to city Z to set up my new base. I could also go for a meal. How about you, Killer?"
"Some pasta would be nice," Killer nodded.
"Stop, you guys are making me hungry," Saitama took a deep breath, "I really need to start counting my pennies... otherwise I won't be able to afford my favorite beef slices that go on sale tomorrow..."
"There was a rice roll stand near a park in city Z that happens to be in close proximity to your home, sensei. Perhaps we could bargain with the stand owner to lower the price for you?" Genos said eagerly and displayed a hot, glowing metal hand.
"Stop calling me sensei," Saitama huffed, "I never took you in as a student."
Kid and Killer looked on as the bald hero tried to deny all of the cyborg's advances to be brought under the former's tutelage, as the appearance of a wild bear broke their focus. Conveniently, there was a sign that did warn the group of the local wildlife, but this warning was ignored as the appearance of a high-protein meal was now present for Kid and Killer to hunt.
Though he did not have any nearby metal to manipulate, Kid did well to cover his shortcomings with a square punch to the disturbed bear's jaw, followed by a cross-slash of his vice-captain. The bear roared in pain but was soon silenced by another fist to the skull and a spinning slash to the torso.
Saitama and Genos stopped their bickering at the sound of Kid and Killer yelling, and when they turned around, the heroes were shocked to see their cohorts dining on the butchered remains of a bear.
"You think I can make a new fur coat out of this dead bear's hide?" Kid asked his second in command who nodded as he rotated the chopped meat over a fire.
"I wish Wire was around, he was the guy we depended on when it came to our clothes. Maybe Emily or her parents know someone who works with furs?" Killer hummed as he poked the most-cooked meat morsel with a pointy stick.
"...What the hell are you guys doing?" Saitama asked with a blank expression and took a seat next to killer who offered him a bear kebab. Saitama gladly took it and sunk his teeth into the tough meat.
"You want one?" Killer raised a meat stick in Genos' direction and the latter replied in the affirmative and set himself beside his self-proclaimed master.
Half an hour passed while the group dined on roasted bear meat, and with a heavy burp, Kid stood himself up and demanded that Genos guide the group toward the house of evolution. Genos was more than happy to comply, as Saitama was also eager to get things underway. Thus, with their bellies filled and hearts set on heroic retribution and savage revenge, Saitama, Kid, Killer, and Genos, made their way briskly to the house of evolution.
/-/
"This is all going as planned," Genus grinned as he watched his future victims trek through the thick forest. "It was correct to send in that failed bear experiment to test their current potential, and by my judgment, that lot shouldn't be able to hold a candle to Carnage Kabuto..."
"A-Are you sure it's wise to release such an unstable beast?" Asked a Genus clone whose peers agreed with him wholeheartedly. "Carnage Kabuto may be the strongest advancement in terms of physical strength, but his mental capacity is sorely lacking!"
"It's fine," Genus said as a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead. "Once we harness the powers of our incoming test subjects, we will have developed a being whose potential not only exceeds Carnage Kabuto in all aspects but that of the entire human race as well. Now, I'm off to go inform Carnage Kabuto of his impending mission, if I am to die by his hands; I trust that you all will follow what I've written down, yes?"
"Yes, Dr. Genus!" Yelled the clones who wished their creator farewell. "We will do our best to transfer your knowledge into your next clone when you meet your undeniable death!"
Genus showed a blank face at his workforce. "You lot don't have to be so upfront about it..."
A quick trip down the main hall and down an elevator that led to a basement that was five times larger than the main floor of the house of evolution, Genus felt his heart rate spike at the blood-curdling scream of the last clone to meet his fate at the hands of the professor's greatest abomination. When the gunfire ceased and the elevator doors opened with a monotonous ding, Genus walked into the room with clammy palms as he stared at the hulking insectoid that remained chained in the middle of the room.
"You've killed a lot of my clones again, are you satisfied with your blind destruction, Carnage Kabuto?" Genus asked in a voice that was already known.
"Eh?" Carnage Kabuto turned and the massive chains around his neck and limbs clanked loudly. "Baka! Do you think these rats of yours are enough to satisfy my hunger for destruction? I don't understand why you keep me locked up down here! If I'm supposed to exterminate the human race and pave the way for my superior generation, you should let me do as I please and take orders from me from now on!"
Carnage Kabuto snapped his chains and raised his hands to the bloody remains of Genus' clones that littered the room and stomped his foot triumphantly.
Genus grit his teeth lowered his head, and spoke in a hushed voice. "No, you're the fool. I may have designed you to be the greatest combatant, but it was my shortsightedness that led to prioritizing brute strength as the forerunner of your creation and by extension my greatest mistake. You lack refinement, Carnage Kabuto, and the twisted vision of a future of your design would no doubt disgust me."
"Maybe I should kill you right now, and rampage how I like, eh?" Carnage Kabuto sneered and lowered himself to meet his creator's gaze. The monster's sharp horn reflected the dim light, and his beetle wings flapped impatiently for blood.
"Kill me if you want," Genus sighed and nervously pulled out a remote from his pant pocket. "But before you do, there's someone I need you to capture, as I'm certain that you're the only one who can do so."
"Hmm?" Carnage Kabuto veered his attention to the image of a group of humans provided by a projector that was hitched to the ceiling. "What's this? They just look like fodder to me. What's so special about them?"
"That remains to be seen," Genus replied. "The cyborg and the man with the mask are of no use to me, but the man with the red hair is a specimen of interest though his survival is not mandatory. As for the bald man, he is the one who you must subdue and bring to me dead or alive."
Carnage Kabuto scoffed. "To think my righteous extinction of the human race would begin with a bunch of average-looking imbeciles... You insult me, you damn doctor!" Carnage Kabuto laughed maniacally as he grabbed his creator by the torso, then bolted into action. The monster ignored the elevator, went straight through its metal doors, and proceeded to climb up the shaft.
"Just you wait you, inferior humans! Your deaths will be swift and painful!"
/-/
"So, which floor should we start with?" Killer crossed his arms and stared at the eight-floored building that was built beside a steep mountain that provided cover from the average eye. "We'll do what we always do and aim for the top," said Kid as he cracked his neck, "anybody got a complaint with that approach?"
"Why don't we start at the base?" Saitama suggested. "The villains here must have prepared some cool traps for us to test out, and it's been a while since I've been genuinely surprised."
"BOOM!"
Neither Saitama nor Kid or Killer's words made it into Genos' ears, as the cyborg dismantled the house of evolution's headquarters with a single, massive blast of incinerating flame that reduced the entire building to nothing but a few piles of rubble and ash.
"Oi..." Saitama blinked with a neutral expression. "That was kinda rude know..."
"You've gone and obliterated all the metal I wanted to use ya damn robot freak!" Kid roared as he was somewhat amazed at the level of destruction Genos had managed to produce.
"Well, at least that cuts down the time we'd undoubtedly spend wandering around the place." Killer hummed as he gave a slight chuckle at Saitama's and Kid's disappointed faces.
"Hmm... there's a latch here." Saitama kneeled down and pushed aside a clump of rubble. Beneath the mess, was a thick sheet of metal that was several inches thick, and it was pried from its place as if it were a plastic lid at the hands of Saitama.
Again, Kid and Killer were shocked by the bald man's raw strength and made a note to never challenge him to a thumb-wrestling match. With a curt nod to one another, the two pirates followed Saitama and Genos past the hatch and down into the depths of the former building's underground facilities.
"Why is it that every villain's hideout has to be dark and dreary?" Kid grumbled as he strolled beside Saitama and inspected the walls, floor, and ceiling. There were plenty of pipes around, and with a clench of his hand, Kid's devil fruit powers manifested and broke apart the pipes and turned them into a cluttered trail of metal.
Luckily, there was no water or gas in the pipes, as the hallways appeared to be primarily abandoned, bar the sudden thundering footsteps that shook the underground's foundations. Genos' robotic optics snapped to the darkness ahead and registered the approach of a giant monster and a wounded human. However, before they could assess the monster's disaster level, Genos was slammed head-first against the wall, and Kid, along with Killer; were blown aside by the sheer force of the wind.
Saitama, all the while, checked his cohorts to confirm that they were okay. Yet when he glanced at Genos, he grew worried as his self-proclaimed student's head was now sunk halfway into a small crater on the wall. "What the hell was that?" Kid groaned as he struggled to stand. His head was spinning and his gathered metal scraps were scattered far behind him. "You alright, Killer?"
"I've had worse headaches," the vice-captain replied, "but what are we going to do about that giant bug?"
"Eh?" Kid turned and stepped back at the sight of a hulking insectoid who wore a face of pure madness and malice. The beast licked its lips with a wicked smile and dangled a wounded man in its right hand as if he were a doll.
"I am the house of evolution's greatest creation! Carnage Kabuto! And I've got a battle test room ready for you and your remains after we've duked it out!" The monster roared.
Saitama blinked at the modern art that was now Genos. Kid and Killer were decent enough to try and pry the cyborg off the wall, but Genos was surprisingly stiff for a person who just got their entire frame cracked and slightly distorted. Killer suggested Kid use his devil fruit powers, but unless the massacre soldier wanted Genos clumped up and ready for the recycle bin, the best move was to slowly pry him off the wall despite the task being tedious.
"Well, what's your answer, baldy?" Carnage Kabuto sneered.
"You turned Genos into a piece of modern art!" Saitama declared in heroic bravery. "The fight is on!"
"What do you think of this place?" Carnage Kabuto sneered as he waved to the vast space around him. The walls were made of reinforced steel that was several times thick, so much so that it would take Carnage Kabuto three minutes of constant pounding to get through it all.
"It's alright," Saitama shrugged and raised his fists. "Alright, are we going to get this fight underway or what?"
However, Saitama's battle would be put on hold by the sudden surge of searing flame that shot from the room's entrance. Though his body was cracked from heel to scalp, Genos forced his wrecked frame into action and dashed like a mad dog toward the foe responsible for his injuries.
Carnage Kabuto watched the charging cyborg with semi-interest, not missing a beat as he was given a few powerful punches to the torso and head in quick, consecutive strikes. Although, despite Genos' fists landing on their desired targets, his lack of power proved to be his greatest shortcoming as he was swatted away like a pesky fly.
"Genos?" Saitama said worriedly and caught his self-proclaimed student. "You don't need to push yourself, you're already falling apart..."
"N-Not yet!" Genos grunted and raised a glowing palm that shot out another line of scorching fire.
"Pah!" Carnage Kabuto took a deep breath and retaliated against the incoming flame and dispersed it with sheer lung power alone.
"I-Impossible!" Genos received a whiplash from his attack and adorned a fluffy burnt afro in the aftermath.
"Well, that's a hairdo alright..." Saitama hummed to himself. "Alright, now my hopes are up. Don't disappoint me you giant bug..."
"I... I have to witness this..." Genus limped to the entrance of the battle room and sagged against the wall. He'd arrived in the nick of time to watch the main event unfold, but shuddered as two more people joined him. One with a mask and the other with a pair of goggles and fiery red hair.
"So you're the hotshot who sent that slobbering lion and armored gorilla after us?" Kid chuckled darkly as he rested a hand on Genus' shoulder.
"It doesn't make sense to send violent messengers unless you're planning to pick a fight," Killer nodded as he cracked his knuckles. His punishers had taken quite a beating already, and their inner mechanisms were coughing up smoke whenever their engines were activated; though a solid jaw-breaking punch often did the trick when it came to giving someone a piece of your mind anyhow.
"Kapow!~"
"Right..." Kid grinned as he leaned against the wall. "You think we're gonna need to step in and take care of that giant beetle-looking abomination?"
"I don't think that'll be necessary," Killer shrugged and wiped the blood off his fist with his shirt. "I'm telling you, Kid, there's something extraordinary about that bald guy."
Meanwhile, Genus was barely clinging to life with three-quarters of his face submerged in the floor and a couple of fingers twitching to show that he was still in the land of the living. On the other hand, Saitama and Carnage Kabuto had taken their stances, and with the latter's desire for bloodlust; the monster took the initiative and charged... only to retreat in a heap of sweat the next second.
"You!" Carnage Kabuto wailed much to the confusion of all those who shared the room. "How the hell did you get so strong, you damn baldy?!"
"Eh?" Kid curled a brow and leaned forward. He couldn't keep up with Carnage Kabuto's movements, and neither could Killer, but something nicked at Kid's subconscious that he couldn't quite get a grasp of. He didn't sense a lick of overwhelming intent from Saitama... and yet the bald man seemed like the biggest threat in the room.
All would make sense in the inevitable battle, but not until Saitama declared the secret to his untamable strength... which was described as nothing more than simple home workout routines; granted they were set in the absolute extreme that would break down any other human.
"One hundred push-ups."
Eyebrows were raised.
"One hundred sit-ups."
Heads were tilted.
"One hundred squats."
Chins were cupped.
"And run ten kilometers every day!"
Mouths hung agape for but a moment before clamping shut.
"You gotta be kidding me..." Kid deadpanned.