"The sunlight bathes the concrete jungle in a layer of warm yellow. A haunting gale blows between the buildings and through the alleyways. Empty streets create an unsettling feeling. There are meant to be cars. There are meant to be people. But through this graveyard once known as a metropolis, only three lone souls seeking justice in a lawless world are-"
"What. Are. You. Doing?"
Upon that question being voiced, a set of three persons stopped walking. One was an S-Class hero. The other two were his trainees. This was simultaneously their first training session AND first mission together as a trio. As anticipated by the leader of the group, nonsense was already afoot.
"I think she's narrating." Kombu Infinity guessed. They, alongside Zombieman, were trailing Mosquito Girl. Zombieman wasn't actively guiding them since they hadn't reached their destination yet.
"Yeah, no, I got that," Zombieman assured them. "What I meant was, WHY is she doing that?" He clarified.
"Then why didn't you say why instead of what?" Kombu Infinity questioned.
"Guys! Guys! Chill." Mosquito Girl intervened before this proceeded. Her intervention wasn't necessary. It's not as if Zombieman and Kombu Infinity were about to get into a shouting match. "A proper investigation requires a moody narration. This is detecting one-O-one." She explained.
In reaction, Zombieman pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes tightly. God, he needed a smoke.
"So, uh, where do we start first, boss?" Kombu Infinity asked as Zombieman retrieved a carton of cigarettes from his coat's inner pocket. "You mentioned we had some leads." They recalled.
"That we do." Zombieman began while removing one cigarette from the small box. "The most logical assumption regarding Sonic is the necessity of a hideout. He'll want a place close to his target's residency. So, we're going to investigate some abandoned buildings in the area that would offer a comfortable temporary living situation and have enough space for equipment." He told them, igniting his smoke afterward.
"...Hold on..." Mosquito Girl said with a squint. The gears of her mind slowly turned. "Are we...looking for this person here? In City Z?" She inquired.
"Specifically, Ghost Town," Zombieman responded before inhaling a puff of his cigarette.
"...Who...is the target?..." Mosquito Girl pressed the matter. Something about this didn't sit right with her.
"A hero," Zombieman informed her and Kombu Infinity, followed by an exhale of smoke. "But, before you get any ideas, it's not the hero you'd immediately consider." He quickly said to prevent Mosquito Girl from jumping to conclusions.
"Oh? Then who is it?" Kombu Infinity asked.
"Miss Blizzard," Zombieman answered, taking another puff. "She and her group, although B-Class, are exceptionally coordinated. Sonic, who has an ego, felt extreme frustration at being bested by people who weren't even the best the Association had to offer. However, he's singling out the group's leader because she is the highest-ranked, and it was her leadership talents that led to his defeat." He explained.
"Huh. Interesting." Mosquito Girl commented. "One more question: how did he escape capture if her leadership skills are so good?" She inquired.
"Although frustrated by the defeat, Sonic still recognized he needed to make a tactical retreat. That's when he chose to get serious and use his techniques to get away. His overconfidence, while not severely injuring him, still left him at a disadvantage against a full team of heroes in near-perfect condition. Again, because of Miss Blizzard's leadership." Zombieman replied, followed by an exhale.
"Alright. So, will he be recovered by now?" Mosquito Girl asked.
"It's likely. An important thing to keep in mind is that his name, "Speed-O-Sound", is not just for show. The man's as fast as a normal person could ever want to be. So, Mosquito Girl, I'm assigning the most important job to you." Zombieman answered.
"Really?" Mosquito Girl questioned with an excited and thankful expression. Admittedly, it did warm Zombieman's heart to see such a strong reaction to that. But only a little.
"Mhm. You'll be taking to the skies and monitoring the area. Kombu and I will go through the buildings and flush him out if he's here. If that happens, you'll pursue the target and try to subdue him. We'll rush to the location and try to surround Sonic." Zombieman explained. "Do you think you can handle that?" He inquired.
"Yes, sir!" Mosquito Girl exclaimed with gusto. "One last question before I take off. Am I allowed to drain the target's blood? I promise not to drain TOO much. But if I can, apart from empowering me, it'll significantly weaken him. Making him easier to capture." She asked.
"Sure. This guy is dangerous. Take any advantage you can." Zombieman approved.
"Great. Thanks!" Mosquito Girl said before spreading her wings.
Zombieman and Kombu Infinity watched their insect companion ascend to the sky. Mosquito Girl did her best to hide her giddiness, but it still showed with a little twirl she did in the air.
"Kombu." Zombieman started, getting their attention back on him. "Quick question: can you sense things through your hair?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Kombu Infinity replied, needing clarity.
"Can you see through them? Can you sense a presence? Detect temperature or body heat? Perceive movement? Any form of perception." Zombieman listed.
"Oh! Uh, yeah? It's kind of weird." Kombu Infinity began, trying to find the right words. "I don't SEE things. My hair doesn't grow eyeballs, after all. Yet, like any plant, I'm sensitive to my environment. In that way, I suppose you could say I have heightened senses. I can't sniff things out or anything SUPER cool like that. However, I could feel other entities within a given space. As you mentioned, their body heat, among other things, would contribute to that." They explained. "But, for future reference, this aspect of myself would be better utilized for detecting chemicals. For example, I could easily find something like gunpowder residue by running my hair over the scene of a crime." They added.
"Damn. You're like a walking forensics test." Zombieman complimented them, earning a humble chuckle.
"Nah. That stuff is still better left to Doctor Genus or one of the robot guys you work with." Kombu Infinity said with a flattered smile. "Uh, anyway, why'd you need to know that?" They inquired.
"Simple. If it's not asking too much, I'd like you to spread your hair as far as possible. You and I are the only two people in this part of the city, excluding Mosquito Girl, who is in the sky. If there's ANYONE else here, regardless if they're Sonic, they're suspicious." Zombieman told them.
"Oh! That's brilliant!" Kombu Infinity exclaimed as their eyes sparkled with amazement. "You're a genius, Zombieman!" They praised him.
"Heh, nah." Zombieman humbly rejected that notion. Even so, it did make him smile.
Following that, Kombu Infinity started sending forth their hair. They sent each strand in different directions and to various locations.
"Oh, wait!" Kombu Infinity spoke as they realized something. "If I had some water, I could grow more hair! Plus, I could make each strand longer!" They informed their leader.
"Understood," Zombieman responded while putting out his cigarette. "I saw a few vending machines around the corner behind us. Will bottled water do the job?" He asked.
"Mhm! Any water at all!" Kombu Infinity confirmed with a nod.
Elsewhere In Ghost Town...
"Help me! My baby is about to fall through that open window!" A text-to-speech-sounding voice cried out. It attempted to sound like a woman. Instead, it was hilariously not.
The "baby" the voice referred to was as basic of a depiction as possible. Sure, it resembled the general shape of a human infant. But it had no facial features or skin covering it. It was simply a baby-shaped blue mass slowly approaching an open window.
Luckily for the non-corporeal infant, a large armored hand swooped in to "catch" it. However, when this was done, the holographic baby disappeared. This managed to surprise its rescuer.
"Sorry about that." Isamu apologized. His voice was cleanly transmitted through Armored Gorilla's helmet. "I'm gonna be honest here. I didn't expect you to clear these as fast as you are." He admitted.
It'd only been forty-five minutes since the training began. But, as Child Emperor conveyed, he never expected Armored Gorilla to be so swift. Not only was the cyborg simian speedy, but his ability to assess any problem and reach the most optimal solution was incredible, even for those requiring a gentler approach.
Unfortunately, this led to Child Emperor's prepared simulations to deplete RAPIDLY. Of course, with his genius, he could create new ones from his laboratory since they were merely programmed projections. But that didn't prevent Armored Gorilla from matching his pace, thus bringing them to the present predicament.
"I should apologize as well." Armored Gorilla started. He was positioned on the rooftop above the open window of the last simulation. "After you sent me out, I scanned most of Ghost Town for notable power spikes. Your projectors are easily detectable, so I instantly had a map of their locations. Sorry. I didn't mean to cheat." He explained.
"No! If anything, that nets you a perfect score!" Isamu replied, catching him by surprise.
"It...does?" Armored Gorilla questioned.
"The point of this exercise was to gauge your effectiveness in the field. I never established a rule preventing using tools or items to assist you in that goal. I only gave you the parameters on how you'd be judged." Isamu clarified.
"Oh." Armored Gorilla said, relieved that he didn't screw up.
"Sadly, it'd take me a LOT of time to create simulations that'd be difficult for you. Honestly, I don't know if holograms alone could put up a challenge. We may need to consider training machines. Combat robots are what I'm thinking." Isamu told him.
"That'd be the best." Armored Gorilla agreed with that idea. "I'd suggest building them as dangerously as possible. Remember, Doctor Genus created me to be a weapon. Do not feel the need to hold back." He said.
"Duly noted," Isamu responded. "Also, you being able to detect these machines is great feedback. Now, I won't try to use these in the field until I'm certain they're not a liability." He added.
"I'm glad I could indirectly help." Armored Gorilla stated. "So, uh, what now?" He asked.
"Well, I think I could get something ready for the afternoon. Nothing AMAZING, but serviceable. Would you mind taking a long lunch break?" Isamu offered, ending with an inquiry.
"Sure. I could walk around the city and familiarize myself with the layout. Just in case something happens someday." Armored Gorilla decided.
"Sounds good. Talk to you in a bit." Isamu replied before ending the transmission.
With that pleasant exchange out of the way, Armored Gorilla returned to street level. From there, he'd take a peaceful stroll through City Z's Ghost Town.
"I wonder how everyone else is doing?" Armored Gorilla pondered as he briefly looked at the clear blue sky.
Meanwhile, In A Woodland Area Outside The City...
Death. Most people fear it. An inevitability that looms over all that lives. An unknown that can only be learned upon a person's demise.
However, many also view death as peaceful. A release from mortal exhaustion, pain, and illness. The reason why we endure the harshness of existing is for the promise of release. Worry not how hard the journey is, for the destination will be blissful.
Of course, the perception of such individuals is commonly concerning. Typically, such thoughts of death are seen as signs of unstable mental health. Perhaps even to go so far as suicidal. It is hard for the majority of people to understand how anyone could want or wish for death.
Yet, all it takes is one experience. One horrible, dreadful, awful time. Something that leaves you in a state that might as well be death itself. Fortunately, very few people find themselves in such a tragic set of circumstances. Even fewer willingly put themselves into that kind of situation.
But here, in this unsuspecting forest, we find two individuals unsure if they were still among the living. Frog Man, who had a shuriken embedded in his backside, was being dragged. Ground Dragon, who had a kunai embedded in his backside, was being dragged. Flashy Flash, who held Frog Man in his left hand and Ground Dragon in his right, was pulling them.
For Ground Dragon, his subdual was very simple. A kunai covered in a paralytic poison. For Frog Man, the shuriken was a custom-built design courtesy of Child Emperor. One of the lessons Flashy Flash learned from his leader that he held in great reverence was the importance of variety in a hero's approach. As such, the ninja went to the prodigy with the request of ensuring his arsenal was ready for ANY problem and ANY opponent.
So, to subdue the amphibious member of the House of Evolution, he used a shuriken that could discharge electricity. This would circumvent Frog Man's toxin immunity and, with a strong enough voltage, would outpace his healing factor. The same logic was used on Ground Dragon, a potent enough poison of Flashy Flash's design meant specifically for monsters who could rapidly heal themselves.
However, Flashy Flash was not reckless. He ensured that neither of his new pupils would be severely harmed or be at risk of death when subjected to these weapons. The voltage and dosage of each were so precise it was frankly terrifying. Let it never be said that the S-Class ninja wasn't a perfectionist regarding his work and skills.
Ironically, Frog Man and Ground Dragon were deeply wounded, but not in a "serious" way. They yearned for the sweet release of death to be rid of their humiliation. They were eager to show their mentor their prowess in their respective areas. They thought they would earn SOME respect and praise from him before the day was done.
Ground Dragon burrowed in a very secluded spot in the shade of a sizeable boulder. Frog Man found a pond with a decent depth and plentiful foliage. They camouflaged themselves to perfection. They left no tracks or traces. The duo were certain that they'd succeed in their first test.
"This is shameful." Flashy Flash sighed with his eyes closed. His disappointment was more impactful than the kunai and shuriken combined. "We're going to stay out late today. You won't return to the House of Evolution until the moon nears the middle of the sky. I gave One Punch Man my promise that you'd reach S-Class. I'll need to intensify my plans if that goal is to be met." He told them.
Even if they could speak, the pair of non-humans would've remained silent. Honestly, they dreaded what the others would think. Oh, god. What would Doctor Genus think?!
As Flashy Flash headed deeper into the woods with his numbed students, their minds became frantic with paranoid insecurities and worries. Maybe, if Lady Luck weren't too inconsiderate, SOME of the others were ALSO having a rough first day.
Nearby, On The Mountain Range Of City Z...
Bang believed in keeping things simple. You didn't need elaborate machines or complicated methods to refine the body and soul. All a person required was proper yet demanding exercise and well-made food. Nothing encouraged self-improvement more than satisfying effort rewarded with pleasurable comforts.
Since Beast King and Kamakyuri were enhanced, meaning they were innately more resilient than an average human, Bang could push them harder than a normal new student. They had to run up and down the stairs, top to bottom, a thousand times. Next, they had to run several laps around Bang's property. Be aware his property extended from the dojo to the part of the mountain range it resided on. This was not a small area to cover.
Finally, the duo had to clean the property as well. The ENTIRE property. For the spots that were more mountain than dojo, they were tasked with clearing any rubble or dust. Bang specifically stated that he wanted the rocky terrain to shine.
When Beast King and Kamkyuri were finished, they felt a decent muscle soreness. They also had a healthy glow from a light layer of sweat. Bang, with no special effort, had managed to get these two to push themselves. As they entered the dojo, their imaginations ran wild with what the ACTUAL training would be like when they were allowed to start it. But they knew that wouldn't be for a few days, maybe even a full week.
"Ah. There you two are." Bang greeted the pair of non-humans as they approached him in the main hall. "I hope my grounds are clean enough to eat off of." He said.
"Heh. You'll be able to see the stars tonight in their reflection." Beast King proudly informed him.
"I look forward to it," Bang stated. "Just know, if I don't, you'll be cleaning them longer tomorrow." He warned.
Before more words were exchanged, Charanko, who'd thankfully gotten used to the situation rather quickly, entered the main hall from the other side of the room. In the young man's hands were two platefuls of delicious food and two sets of silverware. Their presentation and aromas made Beast King and Kamakyuri's stomachs quake with desire.
"Here you go, sir," Charanko said to his sensei while handing him one of the meals and accompanying cutlery.
"Thank you, Charanko," Bang responded with an appreciative smile.
"Are our meals in the kitchen?" Kamakyuri asked, almost salivating.
"Hm? Oh, no. We only had enough food for the two of us." Bang answered as he pierced a piece of meat with his fork.
"...But...food..." Beast King quietly said, almost whimpering. At heart, he was still a lion. And this ferocious feline wanted some meat.
"Sorry. We don't have anything else." Bang apologized before putting the food into his mouth. "However, you can have this." He offered.
Beast King and Kamakyuri watched Bang produce a small paper from his pocket. When Beast King took it, they saw that it was a list. A VERY specific list.
"...You're evil..." Kamakyuri muttered as he and Beast King looked at their teacher with squinted eyes.
"If you want to eat, you better get to the nearest supermarket," Bang replied, unable to hide his amused smirk at their reaction. "Oh, and remember, you need to go down the steps. No jumping or flying." He added.
This old man, who looked so kind and considerate, was a master in the ways of cruel and unusual methods. But, Kamakyuri and Beast King felt no ill will toward him. They only felt betrayed that he'd use their hunger against them like this. Even so, the two begrudgingly exited the dojo.
"Man, I really thought they'd check the kitchen first to see if you were telling the truth," Charanko confessed with a mouthful.
"Hmph. They might be mature in mind, but they're young in knowledge." Bang stated, still amused by that interaction.
Not Too Far Away, On The Outskirts Of Ghost Town...
"Since this is your first day with us, we wanted to give you an easy time. We'll only be patrolling the edge of the abandoned district, otherwise known as Ghost Town. We want to teach you what to look out for and how best to approach various scenarios." Fubuki told Slugerous as the Blizzard Group moved through the streets.
The Esper of the House of Evolution still tried to process how smoothly things had gone. His mentor and new teammates accepted him without any hesitation. Admittedly, he did briefly check their thoughts to pacify his anxiety. Thankfully, half the thoughts were either curiosities about him or unrelated.
Fubuki, being an Esper herself, noticed her subordinates having their minds peaked. But she didn't think anything of it. She understood how nervous this must be for Slugerous. It made sense that he'd want to ensure their earlier display of acceptance wasn't a performance.
"We'll slowly advance to slightly more populated areas within City Z as your training period continues. Saitama and the Association will tell the residents soon about the House of Evolution so you and the others can start practicing your crowd work and interaction skills with humans." Fubuki informed him.
"Wow, really? That's super nice of One Punch Man." Slugerous replied.
"Think nothing of it. I'm certain that's what he'd tell you." Fubuki started with a smile. "Saitama views you no differently than humans. By extension, you are the same as a human hero. As such, you will be treated and given the same respect as any-"
Suddenly, Fubuki halted. The Blizzard Group, including Slugerous, stopped behind her.
"Miss? Is something wrong?" Mountain Ape inquired. He, Eyelashes, and Lily were the closest to their leader since they were her immediate bodyguards and assistants.
"...Someone's nearby," Fubuki whispered. Her volume alone conveyed that they needed to be careful.
Instantly, like a well-trained military squad, the Blizzard group readied themselves. Slugerous, although not removing any of his cerata, still prepared to do so at a moment's notice.
"...They're a few streets over," Fubuki whispered as she and her group slowly advanced.
Due to the lack of populace in this area, it made it SIGNIFICANTLY easier for Fubuki to spot any abnormal presence with her ESP. To her knowledge, no one was meant to be in THIS specific section of Ghost Town. While not strictly giving everyone individual areas to operate in, Saitama stressed to those mentoring the House of Evolution to be mindful of where each would be. The ONLY other people that COULD be nearby were Armored Gorilla with Child Emperor or Zombieman with Mosquito Girl and Kombu Infinity.
However, Fubuki was certain that this person wasn't any of them. Espers could detect many things about a person. It wasn't solely about reading minds and speaking telepathically. Furthermore, they could sense the physical location of anything that entered their radius of effect. For Tatsumaki, she actively had to ignore others. Otherwise, she'd be mentally overwhelmed by how much she could detect.
Fubuki, while not having as great of a zone, was still quite large. Plus, since they were in an abandoned district, there wouldn't be a need to block such detection for her sake. So, with all of this said, when she sensed someone nearby she didn't recognize, it ABSOLUTELY raised red flags. Yet, there was one detail that made it all the more suspicious.
Whoever or whatever Fubuki sensed was actively trying to avoid detection. But it wasn't just visual or audio they were hoping to suppress. This entity was aware that they could be found through other means. One such example? ESP.
While not blocking Fubuki's powers, they were obstructing them somehow. Fubuki could easily break through this and learn more about their identity, but it'd result in them realizing something was happening. The only approach she and her group could take was to follow this unknown thing stealthily. Depending on what awaited them, Slugerous's first day could be the most exciting of the House of Evolution's members. But that would also make it the most dangerous.