With Metal Bat by his side, the battle begun to turn.
Not in an instant, no.
But, nonetheless, to Yuha this no longer felt like a doomed battle.
"Hiyaa!"
Ducking under one of the Subterranean's blows, this one so slow to his current boosted state, unlike the lieutenants, Yuha grinned.
'Clank!'
And watched as the creature's upper torso burst like an overripe melon, courtesy of the young man's blow, the man rather bringing to mind a more delinquent Josuke.
"Heh, fell for it. Sucker." Metal Bat said, before turning away, already in the process of swinging his arm, and swatting another monster that thought to take advantage of the apparent, quite false, opening.
It was good to work with a professional, and his rusty, implanted, fighter instincts quite liked it too.
"Grrr."
At the sound, and with a muted sense screaming inside his head. Yuha, barely having risen to his feet, leaned forward and with a burst of Ki from the soles of his feet performed a forward roll, a mighty black fist only managing to scrape against his sole.
Pushing with his arms against the ground, causing spiderwebs to form, he jumped upwards, his feet catching a Subterranean by the neck, a crack echoing as he flung the unfortunate creature away and Yuha landed on the ground again, sinking into Vegeta's combat stance again even as he spinned to face his enemy.
One of the lieutenants was staring straight back at him, the man in the process of removing his smoking fist from the ground, while one of his kin was attempting to beat down Metal Bat, with little luck at that.
"Nervous little bug, aren't you?" The man whose skin steamed taunted and Yuha's eyes narrowed.
For none of the 'rabble' were attempting to attack him, which meant—
He jumped to the side.
"Gkh!"
And a pained grunt left him as the feeling of something sharp bit into his upper back, causing sparks of agony to emanate from the center of his right shoulder-blade.
"Quick on his feet too," the last member of the trio said, thrusting his arm to the side in a flicking motion, causing the blood coating the blade popping out of the limb to fly off and splatter against the ground.
Even as the prospect of an even more deadly fight excited a part of him, while at the same time also causing the sane part of him to whimper in horror… Yet another part couldn't help but make him want to bash his head against the nearest wall.
They really are budget expies aren't they?
"That was a cheap trick," Yuha said instead, while on his back, the wound had already stopped bleeding…even if it actually knitting close would take some time still.
A second blade popper out of the lieutenant's other forearm as the man shrugged.
"Honor can have its place…when we're not fighting for our people."
And despite it all? Yuha could say nothing to that except offer a nod.
"Oh no you don't!"
The familiar voice caused everybody to turn, even as Yuha absentmindedly kicked away a brave normal Subterranean, the creature's ribcage caved in.
'Clank!'
"Gkh! You're strong…"
And Yuha couldn't help but grin, for the last of the trio, had no doubt attempted to disengage from the S-rank, hoping to regroup with his fellows and, after dealing with him, take on Metal Bat as one.
A smart plan.
One that the young delinquent clearly disagreed with.
And speaking off.
"You got this rookie?" the young man asked, busy fending blows from the lieutenant and the rest of the rubble.
"Yeah, thanks!" he offered instead with a grin before kicking off the ground and—
"Gkh!"
Sending the bladed man towards his comrade before coming to a spinning stop on the ground.
"Did…did you just spin kick me?"
"It worked didn't it~"
Only unlike Piccolo, he wasn't about to try it again.
"Try that again, if you dare!"
Case in point.
"Brother! Calm yourself, don't forget our goal!"
"You're right, forgive me, brother."
"There is nothing to forgive," the steaming man offered, squeezing his partner's shoulder in a show of camaraderie.
…And coincidentally making Yuha feel rather awkward.
Are…are we the bad guys here?
"Together brothers! We can win this!" the bladed lieutenant roared, thrusting an arm upwards and with the cheers of the crowd, an endless horde of Subterraneans descended on Yuha and Metal Bat both.
The battlefield turning into a dizzying melee for Yuha as was once again busy dodging, punching, kicking and weaving between blows.
But unlike before, with the S-rank nearby and at times by his literal side, he could strike back.
A punch here, a Ki-blast there, a jump kick when the opportunity arose and so on and so forth.
And even better? The delinquent, even if he spoke no word of it nor showed any sign as to it being the case? He was clearly viewing this as some sort of evaluation and training opportunity for Yuha both, at least that's what his gut and his instincts were telling him.
Otherwise, why make certain that Yuha was facing only as many of the trio as he could just barely handle at any one time?
The wild grin full of childlike glee was by now a permanent fixture on Yuha's face, and in his eardrums an ever-present roar akin to that of a gigantic furry creature sounded as if coming from afar.
But, inevitably, and even though his breath was starting to grow labored, all things come to an end.
And so it was in this case as well.
A punch, a miss, an opening and—
'Squelch.'
"Brother! No!"
The steaming man gargled incoherently, which made sense what with the fist currently jutting out from his back and through his chest.
After all, even if he wasn't truly Cell, that is, he didn't have the chimeric being's full power at his disposal, Yuha, even with his power so reduced and his instincts and Ki-control rusty, was still an amalgam of some of the strongest beings in existence.
The subterranean's head fell weakly forward, gazing incomprehensibly at Yuha's green limb as the light faded from his eyes and Yuha flung the body away.
His potential was neigh limitless, and so, even though the creatures were strong, they weren't beyond the bounds of normality, not truly. And so, one against one or even two against one? It was inevitable that their stamina would begin to flag before, even a diminished, perfect organism.
"You'll pay!" the bladed man screamed and lunged after Yuha.
Only, with his comrade's death, the tide of battle had permanently shifted.
And so, soon enough the end came, and a few seconds after the S-rank Hero's bat singed through the air, Yuha, rushed forward, kicking off the ground, his fist speeding forward, only for an aura of smug satisfaction to emanate from the bladed man.
"Fool! You fell for it!"
'Slink'
But, contrary to what the creature was no doubt expecting, Yuha's smile, even if he gritted his teeth, never faltered.
The creature realizing his folly too late, as with a burst of Ki, from the front of his knees, Yuha spun into a reverse ball, bringing his heel against the last lieutenant's head.
Crushing the man's skull.
"No!"
"We…we've lost!"
And with that, standing over the corpse, taking panting, gasping breaths. Yuha watched with satisfaction as the fight seemed to leave the rest of the gathered subterraneans, the buff creatures immediately disengaging from Metal Bad, giving Yuha and the young man both some much needed breathing space.
Directing some energy to his stump, a new arm sprouted again and—
"Gkh…"
He winced, and the left side of his vision turned white for an instant, causing Yuha to raise the newly regrown limb to his temple, while all over his body, muscles spasmed and danced.
"Yo rookie, you ok there?" Metal Bat's voice sounded from behind him, followed by the man landing a supporting arm on his shoulder.
"Y-Yeah…" he said, gasping for breath as his heartbeat started to come back down to something resembling normal. "I just pushed myself a bit harder than I should, that's all…"
The man, having stepped into his vision fully, examined Yuha with serious eyes, and then nodded.
"Well, whatever you're doing, you can drop it now," the teen said and then gazed to the side, a bloodthirsty grin in place. "The rest of the rubble? Leave them to me."
He nodded, and with a relieved sigh prepared to drop the Kaio-ken down a couple notches. Not entirely, they were still in the middle of a fight after all! But then…
A quake unlike any other shook the ground, and then a humongous figure burst through the ground. The being's mere act of shaking itself free from the ground sending boulders the size of cars flying through the air.
"Oya oya…" a deep baritone voice emanated from the dark figure's mouth. "I see you've been taking good care of my children," the being growled, staring for a few seconds at the remains of the lieutenants before growing still, the magma pulsing through cracks all over his body seeming to dull.
"Rest easy my sons, you will be remembered and avenged both," the being murmured, and then, stretched his four arms to the side, a short, by comparison, gladius like blade of raw magma appearing. "So, come then you 'Heroes'," the creature said, leveling a blade towards them, the magma inside his body glowing like the rivers of hell. "Face me and know death."
"The King, the King is here!"
"We're saved!"
As the crowd cheered, Metal Bat glanced at Yuha from the corner of his eyes.
"Kid…" oi, who you calling kid! He was the older of the two!
The teen's knuckles around his bat turned white.
"This foe is beyond you, stay out of this one."
Didn't have to tell him twice, he was already planning to do so.
For even with his rusty/new, it was so confusing, Ki-sensing skill, Yuha could feel the difference in power between the newcomer and his…'sons.'
…How did that work exactly, he hadn't seen a single female amongst the subterraneans so far.
So, either their women stayed out of the fights or…
His eyes fell on the dead lieutenant, and then the various corpses littering the surrounding space.
All of them overly muscular.
Marika's tits! The King had birthed them all akin to King Cold, hadn't he?
Luckily, or perhaps not, depending on how one viewed it, the underground King did not give Yuha much time to ponder on said fact and thus, turn even greener than he already was.
"You've prepared yourselves? Good, now die!" the being that would reach up to an Oozaru's shin roared, and, in a movement almost too fast to catch, pulled all four arms backwards, and then slashed forwards, the blades arch fast and powerful enough to carve four deep rends into the Association's building behind the being.
And subsequently crack, melt and break the reinforced door and cut slices out of the building's walls.
"Shiii—" Yuha's terrified scream was cut short, as the sensation of something moving too fast to see impacted against his ribs, sending painful jolts and he flew out of the way of the magma slash.
Tumbling and smashing through a couple of the fodder as he came to a painful stop.
"Argh…" groaning, and feeling the ineffectual blows coming from some of the nearby rabble, the creatures revitalized from their King's appearance, Yuha, body wracked with pain, jumped to his feet, blocking and retaliating here and there.
And for a moment, he almost stopped, a punch almost landing in his cheek, before the gale of wind slamming into him, snapped him out of it.
For where'd he'd been but an instant prior, Metal Bat could be found, swinging his namesake with such a speed and ferocity that Yuha could catch only trailing lines off.
Meeting and fending off the blows from the King.
But not all, some of them managing to slip through and cut thin lines on the delinquent's clothes and skin.
Not that the teen was content in leaving it at that, the King failing to block some of his own swings, and whenever the bat landed, a bruise formed.
"Kid! The Association!" Metal Bat roared, and with a blink, fending off a punch from a subterranean, Yuha realized the teen's meaning.
And a wide grin split his face.
For Metal Bat had just given him the opening he needed.
The opening…to get out of this mess!
"Aye aye, sir!" he shouted back, and with a kick against the pavement and a burst of ki, he jumped towards the Hero's Association building, and came to land but a few meters inside said building's currently jutting entrance.
And just as the first of the subterraneans were about to reach it too.
"Fear not brave citizens," he said, throwing a wink at the panicking normies behind him. "For I'm here!" he said and sunk into Goku's combat stance, confidence surging from him, and with it being the real deal as well this time.
Good. He twisted his neck to the side avoiding the first blow from a roaring creature, punching it back and sending it flying backwards and into a few of its fellows. He ignored the pain surging from every inch of his body. Mars Sensei's, you're a lifesaver. He thought, kicking away another would be invader. Now, all I have to do is wait a bit, slowly be 'overwhelmed' and fall deeper into the building…
Sending forth a few ki-blasts, and blowing holes through some more of the creatures, he stole a quick glance at the damaged ceiling, and more specifically the gigantic door frame.
And then, I bring it down with a 'misjudged' blast, barricading myself inside with the normies, and wait till this aaaall blows out.
"Impressive!"
"I could say the same!"
Glancing at the duo still going at it, he nodded.
Yeap, I'm definitely staying far, far away from that.
A few more meters, and he'd soon be out of this scott free!
Now, if only the good Doctor had seen fit to had included Mr. Satan's genetic makeup as well… for the man's ability to spew bullshit would be useful after this—
"Hah! Fool!" The King's voice roared and then, with a delayed swing of his arm, a gong like sound echoed, the pressure of the blow such as to make Yuha and the nearby subterraneans stumble, and Yuha could only watch with horror as Metal Bat flew backwards like a bullet.
Shit-shit-shit— for a moment, fear suffused his heart, for if the King turned towards him, he was toast—
Luckily, with a furious battle cry, the King leaped after his query and Yuha started to sigh in relief even as he danced through the rabble's blows.
But then, eyes still fixed on the massive form, watching as it smashed into an apartment building his gaze fell on one of the nearby bridges-freeways and how said bridge broke and tore, cars and rubble falling by the side.
And out of a mangled limo—
Fuck!
The world slowed as his mind kicked into overdrive and he stole a glance at the ceiling again.
This was his chance, he should do the smart thing and hole up. Not take part in what was no doubt a doomed endeavor. He should—
An aura of deepest scarlet bloomed around him, and his movements matched the speed of his thoughts. He chanced a glance behind him at the terrified faces of the people in the lobby.
He sighed, and as the King slashed and slashed far ahead, he nodded.
Yuha raised an arm and fired of a series of Ki-blasts, and with their boosted power, a lot of them outright causing some of the rabble to pop.
"Please head further back inside, I'm not sure how long this will hold," he said over his shoulder, and granted, at his current speed it was unlikely that any of the people there could understand him, but on the off chance that someone could…
Looking upwards and letting his computer do the heavy brunt of the calculations, he raised an arm and shot a few blasts.
And as ruined pieces of the ceiling started to fall, about to form a barrier, Yuha roared and with red lines coloring the edges of his vision exploded off the ground like a comet.
Fubuki marshalled her will as best she could and tried to force the world to obey, and yet, it wasn't enough.
Still reeling from the creature's attack, one that wasn't even aimed at her, Fubuki's power was a sluggish, slow thing, nothing like usual, and certainly nothing like Tatsumaki's, and as she watched the ground approach, the bitter sting of failure in her heart and Lily's drawn-out panicked scream…
She closed her eyes, shame filling her.
Only the end failed to manifest.
The limo jostled.
"E-eh?" and at Lily's incredulous shout, she opened her eyes, and watched as the man she'd come to recruit, grinning, massive, and covered in wounds and blood, was busy lowering the limo to the ground.
Holding it with the same ease Fubuki could hold a pen.
"Hello there!" the man winked, winked.
Did he miss the massive busy beating the living tar out of an S-rank or was he merely insane?
Fubuki blinked.
And since when was he so massive?
"T-thank you!" Lily squeaked, and Fubuki chancing a glance at her subordinate found the girl blushing.
"Think nothing of it fair maiden, merely a Hero's duty," the man winked again and let go of the car, and Fubuki, about to reprimand him, paused, for Yuha, even though he was still smiling…his eyes held a familiar tightness and his breath seemed to come in short pangs.
And…were his limbs shaking?
"Now, Miss, I'm afraid I must ask you too to vacate the area, as the King of the Subterraneans is a foe you can't face, and the best we can do is retreat—"
Fubuki's eyes narrowed and her hair begun to dance as her temper rose alongside her still smarting power.
Retreat? Her? If she did what chance did she have of catching up to her sister, and besides, if she did, who would protect the defenseless civilians and aid Metal Bat?
Yuha?
She snorted and with a gesture of her arm, the limo's top flew away, sheared off.
"I think not," she said and started to float.
"Miss!"
She didn't look at Lily, eyes fixed upon the panting man.
Fubuki knew not where the unranked Hero's newfound strength stemmed from, but he was still a thousand years too young if he thought to order her around.
And besides, her brain was no longer hurting, and so she'd show the fool who was the boss.
The ground shook once again and above them, the remains of the bridge exploded, revealing the massive form of the King, whom, cocking a head, retracted an arm holding a blazing sword.
"Hmf, more weaklings," he said, tone dismissive and Fubuki froze in terror as the creature's fool power smashed down at her, rooting her in place as it started to swing another arm.
"Look out!"
She could barely blink, before Yuha, with an agonized scream and an explosion of red around his body, slammed into the limo turned impromptu convertible, pushing it away while at the same time, a will not her own slammed into her, pushing her backwards and into the limo.
He is—
And then the blade fulfilled its arc, and Fubuki watched with horror as time resumed its course and Yuha's legs and upper body flew in different directions.
"Hmf. Brave if pointless."
The creature said with a scoff as Fubuki's mouth worked without a sound coming out, watching the remains of the man who'd twice saved them in the span of a few seconds.
"I had my eyes on the kid." A furious voice said.
"Eh?"
'Clank!'
"Argh!"
And then, from the ruins of the nearby building, Metal Bat, blood dripping down his brow, his naked chest marred with cuts and bleeding, jumped and proceeded to smack the King with his bat again and again.
"Persistent bug!"
Ignoring the fight above, Fubuki stared.
"Miss! Miss! C-come on, we got to go!" Lily tried, pulling at her arm, but Fubuki would not budge, continuing to stare.
Again.
She'd been too weak again.
And had to be saved by another, again. Only this time, her savior, unlike her sister back then, died to her weakness.
All of her training, all of her tears and effort so far?
Useless, pointless!
Her cheeks felt wet and—
"Shit! That hurts like you wouldn't believe…" a voice mumbled.
"Miss, we got to. E-eh?"
And dumbfounded, she and Lily both could only watch as Yuha's torn feet, jumped to their…feet again, while nearby, the man's upper torso rose unsteadily, flying through the air by unknown means.
That…before…that was the touch of telekinesis, I'm sure of it! Fubuki's mind couldn't help but observe as the much-deflated man drifted closer, deflated at least compared to what he looked like moments prior, he was still big.
Fubuki and Lily turned a bit green, like the man's overall complexion as his two halved aligned and with a wet squelch came together.
"Ahh…that's better," he said with a tired grin, before pausing and frowning.
He looked downwards. "Dammit! He burned off a few inches!" the man who should be dead complained and sighed. "It'll be a pain regrowing after the battle."
Fubuki couldn't help it, she laughed, making Lily startle and drawing the man's gaze as the battle continued nearby.
"Eh?"
"'After the battle', you say?" she asked with a tiny grin.
And the man shrugged. "Well yeah, can't very well do it in the middle of it."
Her lips twitched and she decided.
If they survived this? Yuha would join her group. No ifs and butts.
He might be a dumbass, but with conviction this strong? He might very well turn up to be the hidden ace she'd spent so long looking for.
But…
Her smile slipped as she stared at the man and frowned, properly noticing his mind for the first time. And the fact that she couldn't read his thoughts.
Or rather, she could it was just that said thoughts were…
He was about to die, he was sure of it.
After all, with no nearby help worth a damn, Metal Bat on the backfoot and with him flickering in and out of consciousness?
10
Oh yeah, that too, his power had dropped quite a bit.
Yeah, there was no way out of this that he could see.
Still, that meant that he had no reason to hold back and, thus no reason why he shouldn't try something like that.
Still, why was Fubuki's eyebrow twitching like that?
He shook his head.
No matter, if they lived through this and he remembered? He'd ask her then.
"Miss Blizzard, I have a plan, are you with me?" he asked and the woman blinked.
"What kind of plan?"
He grinned.
"The best kind."