Disclaimer: I do not own One Punch Man or any of the characters associated with the title. All rights belong to their respective owners.
In the bunker nearest City-Z, Mina, the little girl drenched in the Tornado of Terror merch from head to toe, was an emotional wreck watching the screen above. Seeing Tornado like this was something none of them ever thought possible. She had seen hundreds of videos of Tornado absolutely destroying any and every monster she fought. In her little mind, there was nothing in the entire universe that could beat Tornado...
Absolutely nothing...
Yet, here she is struggling to even move against some weird squid-looking thing. What the heck was she planning to do? Where are the other heroes? Why is no one helping her? So many questions that couldn't be answered in a way that would appease someone who absolutely praised the hero in danger. The silence of the bunker was deathly. It felt like everyone was crying... even her mom...
Everyone was crying, but no one is helping...
Everyone was hiding out in here like this place was going to protect them forever. She may be young, but she knew enough to use common sense. If all the S-Class heroes were beaten by that Sea-King freak who got into a bunker, and Tatsumaki, the strongest hero ever, was getting beaten by this flying octopus, then of course it would be able to get them eventually. Hiding doesn't help anything...
She looked away from the screen in search of a hero that she could beg to go and help, but the moment her gaze left, gasps of shock brought her attention right back...
There was something that busted through the top of the ship they were standing on. It tumbled a bit before landing a few feet in front of their camera. It wasn't hard to tell what it was. The metallic silver body and the mess of blonde hair. It was Demon Cyborg all torn apart. There was an uproar of unbelieving shouts as if this were a movie that someone had written out and they didn't believe the outcome. Those shouts dwindled down into little more than shocked murmuring when a hand crept through the hole Demon Cyborg was just spat from.
A gold hand that brought with it the body of the true leader of the ship. He was unmistakably imposing. Far scarier than the octopus that coward before it. Mina saw all she needed to see. Someone had to do something...
"l-.. Lord Boros..." Geryuganshoop sputtered with that same quaking sense of fear he felt earlier when speaking to this new creature.
The being in question turned his lone eye in the direction of the one who called his name. A certain steadiness to his movements informed everyone watching that this here is truly the final boss. "... Geryuganshoop..." his voice spilled out in a deep booming echo that shook the viewers to the core. "Why have you not returned to your control room?"
"i-.. I'm sorry, Lord Boros. t-This Esper is quite a nuisance, heh... sh-.. She has been quite formidable, even lasting this long against my ultimate technique," he replied with his whimsically uncertain tone.
"... My number two in command... and he couldn't dispose of a mere nuisance," Boros stated. "I would demote you if Melzargard and Groribas were still alive."
"uh...! p-Please! Forgive me, Lord Boros! I will finish her off quickly!" Geryuganshoop exclaimed with a bit of forced bravado in his tone.
Boros's cold stare is all he was met with. "... It is too late for that. Finishing her quickly would have been something to proclaim an hour ago when you were sent... Now, it would simply be finishing her," he pointlessly corrected.
"o-Oh, of course!" Geryuganshoop replied. "... b-But, I was speaking in terms of right now, sir! In a way, this is like another fight. Heh-heh. As it was interrupted a moment ago..."
"... You fool... This is the same fight. You have not released your technique that is from the previous fight. Therefore, this fight is the same fight..."
Their back and forth continued in this manner, infuriating Tatsumaki beyond belief. They were taking her lightly. They were essentially ignoring her in favor of settling a petty argument that a child would have over a video game.
She was angry...
Far angrier than she's ever been before... but, what could she do? He was still holding this technique of his. This ultimate technique that she just couldn't seem to break.
How was she going to get out of this...?
Despite her desperate situation, there was a... certain level of excitement to it all... It was funny how only at this moment, being so close to death, she relished in the fact that this was a good fight...
Fighting that Sea-King freak was nothing like this. He just happened to have an ability suitable for countering an Esper. He was able to wear her down enough to place her in a vulnerable position to where she was little more than a civilian. This was obviously a similar situation, but... back then... perhaps she was still banking on the 'fact' that Blast would be showing up any second...
In other words, when it got a little too tough...
She gave up...
She gave up, just like she was about to give up earlier...
Just like she gave up back then... the first time Blast saved her...
Now, that option doesn't exist. There is no giving up just to get saved later on. If she gives up here, then that is equivalent to the world giving up. It's equivalent to not only her own death but millions more. If she can't kill these bastards, then who will they go for next? Who's gonna stand up and fight this unwinnable battle? Bang? The other S-Class heroes...?
As that thought crossed her mind, there was a sudden pang in her chest. A feeling of dread... sorrow... unbelievable fear...
Perhaps it was always there from the start, but now she could feel it... and it didn't belong to her...
'... f-.. Fubuki... I have t-...' She groaned as she tried to climb to her feet, despite the pressure. 'I-... I have to stand... I have to show them I'm not going to die here... I have to show her...'
Fubuki was probably huddled down in a bunker somewhere with her little group of followers watching whatever broadcast they had. She must be contemplating coming out here. God forbid her being on the way. An older sister's duty is to protect her younger sibling no matter what... What good would she be showing weakness in a time like this?
"It is the same fight," Boros said with finality in his tone, finished with their little back and forth. "Regardless of how you see it, it is what it is. And an ultimate technique should be something that kills instantly... Not in 30 minutes..."
"I'm..." Their eyes turned to Tatsumaki as she tried to make it to her feet. They watched her struggle and buckle when Geryuganshoop added more pressure, but she was steadily rising. Eventually, she made it to both feet, her body still hunched over in pain. Her breathing was labored from the sheer effort, but she did not back down. "I'm... n-not.. weak...! I w-..." With as much force as possible, she stood to her full height, straightening out in a heroic effort. "I will KILL YOU!"
Then, before they knew what hit them, Geryuganshoop's body dropped a bit before a golden glow of light appeared around him far brighter than it had before. Boros, however, didn't even buckle. He looked down at his feet to see they were sunken into the ship's metal.
"w-.. What!?" Geryuganshoop exclaimed, now stuttering, not in fear, but effort as he found it hard to keep afloat. "y-You...!? Tch-!... h-How could she have copied my ultimate technique...!? How is she still standing!?"
"Hmph," Boros scoffed, stepping away from their little battle with little interest. "Well~well... let's see you handle it, quickly..."
To the surprise of Tatsumaki, and everyone viewing the battle through the slowly cracking camera of Metal Knight's fallen android, Boros simply took a seat on a slightly raised section of the ship's surface. Apparently planning to watch the battle.
"l-Lord Boros! Uh.. heh... m-Maybe I could use a hand here! n-Not that I would ever lose, but.. f-for the purpose of preserving the ship of course!" Geryuganshoop pleaded, scrambling for assistance against an enemy he originally had written off. Feeling her immense power now was a far cry from what it was earlier.
"You claim to be the Ultimate Telekinetic Prowess in the universe and yet you are shying away from such a formidable opponent...? If I step into this battle, I may as well take your head as well..."
His master's cold words heard and understood, Geryuganshoop huffed and resigned to dealing with it himself. Tatsumaki remained at the ready, facing him once again with rage being the only thing to fuel her depleted energy.
Mina didn't know what her plan was, now that she walked the streets of City-Z... All she knew was that somebody had to help. How she planned to do it wasn't exactly clear. She wasn't even sure she was going the right way...
When she left her mom's side, she wasn't even noticed. Everyone was so transfixed on the screen they didn't care to take note of a little girl walking towards the exit unattended. The only person who did was a B-Class hero who was supposed to be watching the door. That was only because she had gotten his attention by tugging on his pants. She asked him why he wasn't trying to help, and he simply said that the threat was beyond him and pushed her aside. Asking another hero seemed pointless to her. They'd probably say the same thing. So, she made up her mind and decided to go and help herself.
There were stories in comment sections from some working heroes who said their abilities manifested from moments of extreme danger. A lot of them didn't even have heroes in their families. So, maybe that meant she had a power she doesn't know about, yet...
She slipped out the exit without anyone noticing and began walking down the road in the direction that that rock came from.
She's been walking for ten minutes now, and still, City A seemed lightyears away. There were a lot of thoughts running through her mind. For all she knew, Tornado could be dead already. '... w-What if I don't make it in time...? Will everyone else be too scared to do anything...?' She didn't want to run. That'd waste all her energy before she could fight. She couldn't drive a car, because her feet didn't reach the peddles yet... and she didn't have one... If only she had her bike with her, she'd make it no problem, but... all she had to rely on here were her own two feet... and that had to be enough...
(... boom... boom... Boom...)
Mina gasped when she heard a strange rythmic booming coming from seemingly all around. Paired with the sight of the eeriely empty streets, it set her on edge, immediately. She could feel each impact rattle her already shaking legs. She could feel it in her chest. 'w-.. w-what is th-that...?'
(Boom...! Boom...! Boom...!)
"Huuuuuuurrrrgggghhhh!" a deep hollow voice groaned in the lowest pitch she had ever heard. It sounded like the horn of a sinking steamboat.
Her heart was pounding, and again she couldn't seem to move her legs. It felt like she was stuck in cement.
(... CRASH!)
"Huh-!" she gasped when a car flew across the intersection in front of her from the adjacent street.
"Huuuuuuurrrrrgggghhhhh!"
That inhumanly deep groan finally forced the tears from her petrified gaze. 'i-... i-I wanna go home...! Mommy...! d-... Daddy...!'
(Boom...! Boom...! BOOM...!)
The thunderous rhythm finally came to a stop when the creature made it to the intersection. It was looking straight ahead, huffing and puffing as if it couldn't breathe enough air. The monster was at least six stories high. It looked like a humanoid pig, fixed with tusks that stuck out from its bottom lip. It had a single red eye that seemed to scramble around at a rapid pace before it rigidly came to a stop straight ahead... Then, it snapped right to Mina's terrified gaze...
In the unnatural silence of the barren street, the sound of her crying seemed amplified. She couldn't help it... The monsters always looked way smaller on the screen...
"... Hurrrgggghhhh...!" The big beast suddenly turned right for her and started marching forward.
Mina flinched away as soon as it took its first step, and that small motion was more than enough to get her blood pumping full-throttle. She turned around and started running for her life, still screaming her head off as the tears poured down her face.
Perhaps this was the dangerous situation they spoke about online. Maybe this was where a secret power would manifest without her doing anything? She clutched her Tatsumaki plushy tightly to her chest and thought about what it must have been like for Tornado when she first got her power...
Maybe it was just like this...
She turned her head slightly to see where that monster was, and to her shock, it was closer than she thought. Close enough to reach her, if it tried... on top of that, it was picking up speed. Even with a body so massive, the creature started running.
(BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!)
Mina shrieked in terror and changed course last minute when she was just about to pass a narrow alley between two buildings. To her horror, it was a dead end. It went pretty deep, but there was a wall at the very back, blocking it off. Still, she couldn't stop her legs. She could hear the monster struggle to stop behind her, but she couldn't turn around to check. Instead, she ran for the dumpster on the side of the building and quickly hid on the opposite side, as if it weren't the only place to hide. Now, her legs were shaking in fear or exhaustion, and her lungs were on fire. She had made a horrible mistake in leaving that bunker...
The monster clawed at the buildings, apparently being far too massive to fit. It wasn't deterred. It scraped and punched at the brick constructs as if it were planning to dig her out.
There was no salvation...
No ray of shining hope...
No more watching the Tornado of Terror fight monsters...
No more school, no more friends, no mom, no dad, no family...
She'd just be dead...
Her heart sank as all these realizations flooded her young mind in waves of regret, '... i-I sh-shouldn't have come out here...! i-... i-If only I was stronger...!'
"Raaaaarrrrggghhhh!" the beast roared its frustration as it ramped up its efforts.
'...or braver...!'
Her cries chuckled out of her screaming voice as if she were laughing. The rumble and boom of the monster's efforts were too much for her. How could she be brave, right now...? How could anyone be brave when they're about to die...?
"...m-m... MOMMYYYYY!"
(woooOOOSHHhhhhh...! BOOM...!)
A big blast erupted from behind her and she tried all she could to scramble further into the crevice of the dumpster and the wall. Her heaving cries continued, only now they were much more noticeable in the new wave of silence... The sounds of devastation stopped so abruptly... Now, all she could hear, other than her own noises, was the trickling of bricks and rubble... and an oddly wet slopping sound, as if someone were dropping wet clothes from a building... She realized that wasn't the case soon enough when something slopped down past the edge of the garbage can. Disturbingly enough, it was that monster's giant eyeball, rolling toward the back of the alley. She was so transfixed by the spectacle, that she didn't hear the much more human-sounding footsteps until they were already next to her cover.
"Huh-!" she gasped when someone suddenly peeked around the edge.
"... Oh... it's you again..."
Mina didn't know his name, but she definitely knew that bald head... she was just too stunned to speak.
"... What are you doing out here...?"
Her eyes were scanning every inch of his get-up in sheer wonder. The red boots and gloves, the bright yellow suit, and... that beautiful white cape. '... he really is a hero...'
"... uh... hello...?" Saitama muttered. "You okay...?"
"i-... It's you!" she yelled with a trembling tone.
"Hm...?" He raised a curious brow when the little girl suddenly started crying even harder than before. He had hit the ground running as soon as he left his apartment. It wasn't more than a few seconds before he felt the unmistakable rumble of a monster nearby, and the cry of a child... It seemed he made it just in the nick of time. "... uh..." He was about to ask her again before he realized he had forgotten her name... or did she ever tell it to him? "k-.. Kid...? What are doing out here by yourself? Weren't you going to the bunker...?"
Mina furiously wiped at her tears as she got to her feet. "i-I was...! b-But... Tornado's in trouble! a-And no one is trying to help...! I just... I don't want her to die...!"
Saitama stared at her with a blank expression for a long moment. If he remembered correctly, she and her mother were headed for the bunker by the gate of City-Z. He'd have to backtrack a bit, but he couldn't just leave her here. What if there were other monsters lurking about? "... Oh... okay... That's nice and all, but you should probably get back to a bunker before you run into another monster..."
"i-... I can't...!" she admitted, shutting her eyes tightly in an effort to hold her composure.
"Huh...? Why not...?"
She was trembling, and he could see her shoulders bouncing as if she were about to start a fresh wave of tears. She used the back of her hands and rubbed at her eyes. "I... I don't know where it is...!"
Again, Saitama just stared at her for a moment...
Mina had to squint her eyes at the force of the wind blowing at her face as she tried to see where they were going. She was on his back, holding on for dear life as he ran at inhuman speeds. The wind was so loud that she couldn't even imagine trying to speak right now. Instead, she struggled to maintain her view of the side of his face.
'... wow...' she thought in awe. '... he's really fast...'
They came to a stop soon enough and, to her shock, they were already at the bunker she had previously fled. That didn't take more than 30 seconds, even though she had been walking for at least 10 minutes...
Saitama set her down at the entrance, making sure she had her balance. "There ya go..." He stared down at her slackjawed look for a moment before it started to feel awkward. "... Well, you should stay inside. It's not really safe out here," he informed her as he turned and started walking away. "Later..."
"ah-! Wait!" Mina yelled, catching his attention before he blasted off.
Saitama turned back and looked at the little girl who had her glowing eyes, again, admiring every inch of his costume. "... yeah...?"
"... wh-... Who are you...?"
He was cautious here... the last time he had a conversation like this, he accidentally acquired a disciple he is not at all capable of teaching. "... Um... Saitama..."
"... Saitama..." she whispered to herself, making sure she remembered it. "... Saitama...?" Her sparkling gaze looked up at him on the brink of tears, again. He was shocked when she suddenly fell to her knees with her forehead pressing against the pavement as she bowed to him, all while still holding her Tornado plushy as tightly as possible. "p-.. Please...!" she yelled.
'Oh great... Here we go, again...'
"PLEASE...!" she yelled louder.
Saitama was already thinking of what to say to let her down gently. He didn't want to outright just break her heart, but he couldn't take on any more disciples... Especially not a ki-..
"-SAVE TORNADO!" Her voice cut through his thoughts like hot butter, freezing him for a moment. "sh-.. She's my favorite hero ever...! Please! I don't want her to die... please..."
There was a certain level of desperation to that final 'please' that probably would have touched his heart if it were back before his training. He's pretty much heard this shtick a couple of times now by people who simply forget who he is once it's all said and done...
Regardless, he was headed there, anyways...
Saitama turned around, drawing her attention as she sat back on her heels and watched him leave. Using his elbow to push his cape back, he said one word that would resonate through this child's mind like nothing before. "... Okay..."
'So, there are two of them, now?' Metal Bat casually called out over their radio frequency, wanting to know the plan. 'What're we gonna do? Wait for Tornado to kick the bucket...?'
'Hey, you heard what that thing said,' Atomic Samurai chimed in. 'Apparently, this creature she's been fighting ain't the boss. Whatever that other guy can do, I don't know if we're ready to handle it.'
'Whoa, is that fear I hear?' Metal Bat mocked. 'I don't care what that thing can do. It's got no fighting spirit that can match mine.'
'You're quick to assume, Bat, but I would not be so hasty with my words,' Bang advised. 'I say we continue to wait... Tornado is now our top hero, and as long as she is fighting, we can only support her best by staying clear of her wrath.'
'Tch, come on, old man. You really expect us to sit around and do nothing?' Metal Bat retorted. 'I don't think we've got that luxury anymore.'
'The kid may be right, Bang,' Tank Top Master chimed in. 'It's not very heroic to leave this much responsibility on one person.'
'I agree,' Flashy Flash said. 'But, there may be cause for concern. From the footage we have seen, this creature easily defeated Demon Cyborg which is no small feat. There didn't seem to be a scratch on him. If the octopus is a creature that is pushing Tornado to her limits and it is subservient to this newcomer, it would be unwise to face it without the entirety of the S-Class in attendance.'
'Well, then we get them here,' Atomic Samurai lazily proclaimed, as if the answer were simple. 'Everyone... Pig, Watchdog... everyone. We better make our stand soon... or Tornado will have had a short run as the number 1 hero...'
A huge chunk of the ship beneath them came flying at Tatsumaki at incredibly blinding speeds. With a wave of her hand, it was cast aside. A few swipes of her arms and there were even more pieces shooting toward Geryuganshoop who was forced to defensively maneuver.
Occasionally, there was a window of opportunity for attack, but it never remained open long enough for him to deliver anything of value. His plan was to tire her out. It was clear before he even displayed his ultimate technique that this girl was nearing her limit. Where this newfound power was coming from, he had no idea. It was like she held another tank of Psychic energy stored away inside her that was unleashed in full simply by her unrelenting rage.
What's worse, HE was nearing his limit. He could feel himself slowing down the longer they went. Taking a risk with another attack, he leaned back, narrowly avoiding a sharp spear-like object that nearly split his head from the bottom. She's been getting closer and closer to hitting him with that finishing blow. 'Hurgh...! One mistake...! One bite on a feint and I'm dead! I know it...! No...! No-no-no! I've got to do something soon, or she'll kill me!'
He looked around for something that could give him the advantage, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. He would've seen it by now. 'Heh.. heh, what am I worried about!?' He thought as he continued to swivel and swerve away from her inhuman power. 'Lord Boros would never let her kill me!'
Boros' lone eye masterfully followed the battle with casual interest. '... Hmm... Geryuganshoop too will meet his end today...' He was watching Tatsumaki specifically, not caring in the slightest for the safety of his second in command. He had been wondering if this was it. Could this Esper on this ridiculously fragile planet be the creature he's been searching for...?
Absolutely not...
It was just wishful thinking...
He could obliterate Geryuganshoop on any day without trouble, but this girl seemed to have her hands full. Still... that rage of hers... That fury in her technique, driving every move... It sure did remind him of himself. '... Perhaps I shall spare her when I end this pitiful planet and appoint her second in command. I will need a new crew after all. It's only coincidence her power coincides with Geryuganshoop's...'
He continued to watch, ducking and casually leaping away when their attacks strayed too close to his person. His eye lazily tracked smaller Esper, but he no longer felt that thrill from her... but, oddly enough, he did feel something. An incredible power, so dense that he could feel it like a brick on his shoulder, but... it wasn't coming from this child. '... She is not the strongest warrior on this planet... Surely, I will come across this individual soon enough... I just hope it'll provide at least a bit of a challenge...'
"rrRRAGH!" Tatsumaki roared as she continued pushing far beyond her limit.
She couldn't think...
She could hardly see with the blood in her eyes...
She probably should have dropped from sheer exhaustion back when he had her pinned...
The only thing keeping her up and conscious now was her anger, and nothing more. She didn't stop, she didn't pause or hesitate. Every attack came as a string of relentless combos, all trying hard to catch the creature off guard. If she stopped, surely her body would remember its pitiful state, and she'd drop... so, she couldn't stop... not here.
'Attack... Attack...! Attack! I'll kill them...! I'll kill them ALL!' The second half of their battle was turning out to be far more intense than in their first encounter. The attacks were of a bigger, more dangerous nature. Instead of small pieces of the ship being tossed around, there were huge chunks. Instead of one big meteor coming down trying to crush the octopus, she sent a shower. It was a battle of the universe's most dangerous minds, and for those watching it was a sight to behold.
Everyone in the bunker only caught small glimpses of green and yellow flashes when they streaked across the screen. Similar to the first view they caught of the fight, but a lot less revealing in terms of who was winning. All they knew was that Tatsumaki was still fighting. For the most part, that's all they needed to know. She seemed done for a while ago, so the simple fact that she was up again was a relief in itself. It brought hope back to the hopeless who began to see flashbacks of the Sea-King's attack.
That terror...
That dread...
Now, their number 1 was back in action. What could be more relieving than that?
(On the screen)
Geryuganshoop's yellow trail scrambled back into the view of the camera before a wall of destruction popped up behind him. He smacked into the floating construct which halted his momentum completely. "Uh-! no-No-NO-NO-NOOO!"
"Raaarrgh!" Tatsumaki roared as she slammed into him at full speed. Before he could scramble away, she grabbed two of his tentacles and began spinning around violently. She threw him down to the top of the ship and immediately gave chase, preparing her next attack.
"l-l... LORD BOROS!" the creature pleaded desperately at the sight of the furious girl. Its big white eyes seemed to expand in terror when she drew her hand back and sent a spear-like shard from the ship flying right at him. "HELP MEEE-!"
(SHLICK!)
The shard split his head open with a sickening impact, cutting its plea short...
For a long moment, no one in the bunker said a thing. Surely with the power that monster was showing, it likely had some ridiculous regeneration power... right...? The boss always had a second phase...
"YEEEEAHHHH!" One man started the cheer before he was joined by everyone around him. As if the bunkers were connected, the people's shouts rumbled the ground in nearly every city, like one of the attacks from the battle.
Saitama was still running at top speed, his face as plain as ever, when he felt that rumble. "Hm...?" He was somewhere in City-C, but he could see the ship in full view. It was so massive he could see it from City-E. 'Another rumble...? Oh man, it could be big trouble... I better get there fast. I sure hope the bad guy isn't down yet...' As he ran through the barren street, he took a few prep hops before he blasted off with a big jump.
Without a second of hesitation after beating Geryuganshoop, Tatsumaki made a b-line straight for her next opponent. Along the way, she scraped off another piece of metal scrap, and launched it at the one-eyed alien who still looked as disinterested as ever.
Boros didn't even attempt to move. When the projectile came close enough, he swatted it away with the back of his hand like it was nothing.
Tatsumaki didn't have time to be surprised. She packed her fist with enough power to take his head off and swung for the fences as soon as she was in range.
(BANG...!)
Her punch connected... but it might as well have been a slap to the cheek with a foam finger. Boros didn't buckle, flinch, or move at all. It was like a flailing armed punch from a toddler. She couldn't help but pause momentarily in disbelief. She put her all into that hit. He should be skipping across this big hunk of a metal ship... She couldn't let that stop her though. She had to keep attacking.
Just as she was preparing to launch another strike, Boros casually planted his fist into her stomach.
"GUH-HUUUHHH!"
If anyone had been looking, it probably looked like less than a playful jab, but it drove through her small body like nothing she had ever felt before. It knocked the air from her chest completely. It felt like it traveled through her in waves, starting from the point of contact and echoing out through her fingers and toes before ricocheting and converging back to the point of impact.
For Boros... it was hardly a punch, but it served its purpose of stopping her momentum. He figured she was simply working off of adrenaline and nothing more. So, all he had to do was stop her for a second...
Sure enough, he watched her glow start to dim down before it became nothing more than a slight green outline you'd have to squint to see completely. When it was gone, she hit her feet and stumbled back a bit on wobbly legs. Still, he just watched her with an impartial gaze...
Tatsumaki's vision was so badly diluted with the red of her own blood that she honestly couldn't really see much of anything anymore. She could see the outline of her opponent and his massively imposing stature, but that was about it. Stumbling back a bit more to gain some space, she held her mouth and coughed up a glob of blood that leaked through her slender fingers.
'th-... this is it...' she thought as she slowly crumbled down to her knees. It wasn't that gravity technique, anymore... Now, it was just the normal everyday gravity, but it sure did feel the same. '... I-... I can't go on anymore...! I... can't... w-win...' She could feel her consciousness slipping away by the second. '... i-If only I was at 100% when I fought that octopus... then I'd have beaten him no problem... Then... then I'd beat this freak with no problem too... Maybe that's why blast always showed up only when the boss fights came... because he had to recover from his last fight...'
She couldn't raise her chin, but she could hear the one-eyed freak walking toward her. He was saying something... but she only knew that because of the murmuring she could hear in her ringing ears. He was getting closer and closer, preparing to end her life no doubt... He'd likely kill everyone... he'd end this planet without a second thought and move on to the next... all because she couldn't stop him... how pathetic...
She watched as he picked up the same jagged piece of metal scrap she threw at him earlier. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't move a muscle. Her body felt as if it were locked in place, not out of fear, but sheer exhaustion.
That's what it was...
Unbelievable exhaustion...
Not that it mattered much. Even if she could move, her power was drained far beyond the point of absolutely nothing. She usually knew when she was reaching her limit by the headache that came with the strain on her mind. Before, that pain was nothing more than a very bad migraine. Now, however, it was a few leaps above that. It was head-splitting pain that throbbed every few seconds, begging her to fall unconscious.
Her self-evaluation felt pointless... The only good it did was distract her from the death that was now poised and moments away from driving that jagged piece of scrap through her skull.
Stil... despite her defeat here, she proved her point. '... I'm... I'm not weak...' She defeated his second in command while she was injured in a recent battle. Had she been at full capacity, that fight would've been a cakewalk. 'I-... I did good... I did good...' As much as she told herself that, that bitterness still remained as she thought of all the people that were sure to perish at the hands of this invader. '... Just... not good enough...'
Through her blurry vision, she could see the monster drive his arm down, and she closed her eyes for the final time...
(... BOOM!)
Boros paused before he impaled the girl when his ship was rocked as if shot by a very large cannon. "... Hm...?" He looked around for a culprit before his eyes landed on... a man. A bald man wearing a ridiculously bright yellow jumpsuit with possibly the plainest face he had seen in all his years of exploration. "... Ah... Another lamb to the slaughter," he muttered. "I will be with you shortly." He turned back to his target and prepared to finish her. She fought well so she deserved a quick death...
Pulling the jagged metal piece back again, he drove it down, planning on jabbing it through her skull. Then, he was thrown off balance by the force of the wind just as he struck... The girl was gone...
The viewers were surprised when something re-entered the screen. It was Tornado, but... she was passed out...
Someone laid her down right in front of the camera blocking most of it. They could see her bloodied face in full view. The only thing of this other unknown hero they could see was a red glove, his yellow donning chest and his white cape. The camera view stopped right before his face could be seen. The man gently laid Tatsumaki's head down on the floor before standing up and turning around. Murmurs quickly filled the bunkers with 'hero experts' making assumptions as to who it could possibly be. There were many theories. Most of them were ridiculous, claiming a new robot from Metal Knight, a new costume for Flashy Flash, and a slew of other possibilities. There was only one person who was successful in naming this hero. Not that anyone knew it...
Mina's face was squished against her mother's cheek as it's been for at least 30 minutes now. When she returned to the bunker, her mother was frantic in her search for her. She received yet another reprimanding and then was coddled uncontrollably ever since. Her right eye was closed shut against her mother's face, but her left eye was open and looking at the screen as best she could. She saw the yellow, the white, and the red and knew without a doubt. "... Saitama!" No one heard her...
The theories came to a slow halt when the final boss and this newcomer began to talk. Everyone listened in. It was kind of hard with the crackling of the film. It seemed Metal Knight's bot was quickly running out of juice.
"u-.. Genos. Are you alive?"
"... m-... master..." Genos muttered, hardly audible.
With a sigh of relief, the man stood up and faced the creature. "Hey, are you the boss man of these invaders?" he asked curiously.
For a moment, he didn't reply. Boros was examining his next opponent. He could see it... or rather, he couldn't. '...I can sense no limit to this man's power... The finest warrior this planet has to offer...' He continued to stare at him for a moment more before a grin stretched across his face. "Wonderful...!"
"Hm...?"
"Before we fight. Let us exchange names," the alien said, beginning with his own introduction. "I lead the pirate band known as Dark Matter. And I am the Dominator of the Universe. My name... is Bo-.. s" The camera started fizzing out.
Everyone watching was on the edge of their seat. They were finally gonna get an answer. What's his name? What's his name!?
"Uh... I'm a hero for fun. And my-... na-.. is-.." (Static)
"... AAAAWWW!" a unanimous groan echoed throughout almost every bunker. What are the odds they'd have technical issues at such a vital moment!?
["Please remain patient while Metal Knight reroutes power. The stream will be back up shortly. We apologize for the inconvenience,"] The woman on the intercom said, making them groan.
It didn't take long before it came back up.
"Look dude, I don't know what the denominator of the universe wants with earth... but, you sure did make a big mess out of City-A..."
Boros continued to stare at the strange-looking man for a moment. He watched his white cape fluttering in the wind...
He could feel it...
That brick on his shoulder...
"... What I want with earth..." He began walking slowly toward the yellow-clad hero as he explained his reasoning. "There exists a prophecy..."
"A prophecy..?" Saitama muttered. "What do you mean...?"
"... I was once a traveler, exploring the universe, ravaging everything in sight, but... I was too strong. Eventually, I found there were none left who could face me. I came to know the torment of utter, all-encompassing boredom... Then, one day, a great seer told me that somewhere on a faraway planet, a being exists who is my match... One who could rekindle my passion for battle... That was nearly twenty years ago... Have you any concept of the distance I've traveled to get here?"
Saitama continued to watch him approach with an uninterested look on his face.
"My men thought the prophecy was a ruse. A fairytale made up to focus my attention and lure me away." His voice spiked up to one that oozed excitement. "But now, I'm certain it was true! Come, and give stimulation to my existence! That is why I am here!"
(Bang!)
Saitama punched him in his chest with a casual straight that sent him skipping across the roof of his ship. "... Are you an idiot? You can't just go around attacking other planets simply to liven up your boring little life. Even telemarketers wouldn't think of something that dumb... Hm...?"
Everyone watched the screen with bated breaths, wondering what happened. They heard a loud smack, but they couldn't see anything! It was all very frustrating! All they had to go off of was the voices of these two unknowns. There was a crackle and pop before one of them spoke again. It was the alien, but he sounded a lot further away.
(On the screen)
"This set of armor, which was used to seal in my immeasurable, irresistible power, has now been broken..."
"...Okay... Uh hey, can we make this quick? I've got clothes in the washer. I have to get them in the dryer soon..."
"rrrrrrRRRRRAGH!" Boros yelled, confusing the watchers until that massive blast of energy shook the ground beneath them. "It is time!"
The S-Class heroes were now grouped up, all waiting for the rest of their high-classed colleagues to arrive. They were told Tatsumaki was down for the count, but this string of inhuman blasts and rumbles said otherwise. "What the hell's goin' on up there?" Atomic Samurai muttered, frustrated by their lack of information.
"I guess the brat's still kickin', huh?" Metal Bat replied.
"This does not feel like Tornado," Flashy Flash pointed out, staring up at the trembling ship.
Bang stared up as well with his hands behind his back and a very suspicious look on his aged face. The blasts were coming faster and faster and they continued increasing in volume. This definitely was not Tornado...
"Oh, I hope sweet Tatsumaki will be okay," Puri-Puri Prisoner said, striking a ridiculously cutesy pose that was rather unsightly for a big burly man with absolutely no clothes on.
"Yeah, me too," Metal Bat muttered as he side-eyed the big brute with a disgusted look on his face. "But, for the love of god would you put some clothes on!?"
Puri-Puri Prisoner simply smiled at him. "Oh, sweet Bat. I just want to be prepared to use my angel style when the time comes."
"Let's hope it doesn't."
"I'm getting a call from Sitch," Atomic Samurai announced, drawing everyone's attention. "What's the situation?"
'We are unsure. There seems to be an unknown battling their leader. We don't know who it is, but he is fairing well against this creature. Though... his motivations don't seem too reliable...'
"What do ya mean?" Atomic Samurai asked.
'w-... Well, he claims to be a-.. a hero for fun... Says he has to make it quick because... he has clothes in the washer... I'm not sure if it's good to rely on this... I'd say you better get up there as soon as possible.'
"Hm-hm-hm..." To everyone's confusion, Bang chuckled a bit and turned away from the ship. They watched him walk away for a moment before Atomic Samurai called out to him.
"Bang... What's wrong? You bailin'?"
Bang continued on, not slowing his pace. "Going up there now is pointless... We are no longer needed here," he said, further confusing them.
"... the hell are you talking about?" Metal Bat said. "We've gotta get up there and help...!"
"This battle is now far beyond our reach... The man up there fighting... he seeks no recognition for his deeds... no fame... He only seeks the thrill of a battle worth fighting... A challenge... Perhaps he has met his match here today, but... I don't think that's possible..."
(BOOM)
Saitama found himself entrenched in a rocky surface. At first, he wasn't sure if it were the top of the ship or on the ground, but upon closer inspection, it was neither...
He was on the moon...
Pulling himself from the hole, he suddenly realized he couldn't breathe. He pinched his nose shut and looked across at the earth, trying to judge how hard he'd need to jump to make it back. Testing the gravity a bit with a moon rock laying nearby, he nodded and tossed it aside. With a great big leap, he was gone, cracking the surface from the force of his jump.