Chapter 16: Drilling and meeting

17:17 PM (Japan Time), Saturday August the 3rd…

"… I know! I'll become a karateka!"

"What? Karateka? What for?"

"Isn't it obvious? To defend a fair lady!"

"Not again… Descend to reality, Yamitarou!"

Higure had a flash of inspiration and laughed aloud in the store.

Number Man sighed, too used to that.

It was raining outside.

"You conveniently forgot the tragedy of two years ago…"

"What? Tragedy? Two years ago!?"

"You said the same thing. And undertook a class…"

"I did…?"

"Only for you to pull some abomination, slip and hit your head…"

"A-abomination!?"

"Something named "Higure Sure-Kill Super Judo Karate Kung-Fu"…"

His jaw hit the floor and his eyes whitened.

"Fortunately, it wasn't a major injury, but you ran away…"

"Ran!?"

"Yelling about ghosts, evil spirits, talismans, exorcists and so on…"

His forehead dropped on the store's counter.

"So don't bother. It'll be a repeat of history…"

"No way…!"

"That happens for relying on tropes instead of reality…"

"I'm cursed… Must be that stinky tuna…"

"Who's a "stinky tuna"?!"

"Devil! It had to be you! Devil's incarnation!"

"Devil's incarnation!? You're asking for it!"

Masa had come into the store, annoyed.

"I heard about it! You dared to embarrass a fair lady!"

"What!? Who!? Me!?"

"Who else!?"

"Who said that!?"

"The lady herself! Ms. Lesta!"

"Not again… That's Tesla Magnets! The wanted criminal!"

Number Man sighed, annoyed.

"What!? Magnets! That drowning bastard!"

"Magnets…? Midas…!?"

"He and his daughter are very sneaky…" Number Man sighed.

"See! She's using you as her pawn!"

Masa grumbled something under his breath.

"Good job, old man. Take a nap!"

ZAP!

Masa groaned and collapsed on the ground.

Tesla Magnets stood behind him, wearing a red raincoat.

"Megure! Confess! What's the weakness of Hikari Netto!?"

"Higure! And I don't know!"

"I see that you want a zap, too…"

"You're the one who needs a lesson, missy…"

"Who…!?"

Someone tackled her from behind and they fell to the ground.

"Oozono!"

"Same one!"

"Ms. Yuriko!?"

Yuriko was pinning Tesla to the ground.

"I've been trailing you for a while, Tesla!"

"Didn't that Deep Kabase blow you to pieces!?"

"He's been in the brig for half a year. Slow to catch on!"

"Hell!"

Yuriko quickly rolled and placed Tesla above him.

"Devil!"

"I heard you, too, Gauss!"

Gauss had come in, too, holding a metal bar.

"Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it!"

"Net Police! Drop the weapon!"

A SWAT Team rushed inside, carrying riot shields and batons.

"Why does this always happen to me!?"

"Because you don't learn!"

Higure had run to the office and shut the door.

He leant his back against it, panicking.

"Today's my day of ill fortune!"

"You're also one of those that don't learn…"

"Don't move…"

Higure gasped as a man in a green raincoat aimed a gun at him.

"How do you contact that hacker, "Octopus"?"

"Hacker? Octopus?"

"Don't play dumb. I know that you often hire them…"

"On the contrary. They appear when they feel like it…"

Number Man kept his cool.

"Nice model gun. Did you steal it from a gun maniacs convention?"

"What? Model gun?"

"It has a sticker on the underside of the barrel…"

The man quickly turned it over to check it out.

There was a sticker that read "APRIL's FOOL" there.

"What the hell is this!?"

"My sense of irony…"

SMACK!

"How!"

"More of them!?"

"Calm down. That's Mr. Miyabi. A professional…"

Miyabi appeared behind the assaulter and knocked them out.

"Those two are Copy Roids pretending to be the Magnets duo…"

"What!?"

"The real deal was this grunt…"

"A two-pronged attack. We're dealing with someone insidious…"

"But not as insidious as Darth Sidious…"

"Not fun, Shadow Man…"

Shadow Man made a pun, but Miyabi didn't like it.

"Guess that you've become pretty famous, Higure Yamitarou…"

Higure groaned and fainted, sliding down the door.

He sat on the floor, unconscious.

"Don't mind this moron. Happens for being too carefree…"

The door opened and Higure dropped on the floor.

"Mr. Higure?"

Yuriko was surprised to see the panorama.

"Don't worry. Here's the grunt…"

"Over here, Captain!"

The SWAT Captain rushed in and quickly handcuffed the assaulter.

"We'll take them for questioning!"

"Affirmative…"

"As for Mr. Owner… Better bring him to the hospital, too…"

"Guess that. I'll take care of shutting the store…"

"I'll help you with that…" Yuriko offered.

"The enemy is closing on the octopus… Better be careful…"

"OK! If needed, we'll act as decoys!" Needle Man offered.

"Good idea. What do you think, Miyabi?"

"We can handle any wannabe investigators…"

"Let's do it, then. Set up dummies…"

"And have them wear down their shoes…"

19:28 PM (Japan Time)…

"… I feel a presence, sir…"

"A stalker? Classical…"

"Can't tell which of them it is, though…"

"Draw them to an isolated place and we'll find it out…"

"Roger, Lord Enzan…"

Blues noticed someone tailing him and whispered to Enzan.

He dashed in zig-zag formation across the streets.

He reached the site of a collapsed warehouse.

A barrier had been set around the perimeter of the site.

Blues used his authority to open a door and step inside.

"I finally found you! I've waited 4 years for this time!"

A voice rang out, challenging him.

"I don't have memory for weaklings…" Blues taunted.

"Whatever. I'm not the same one as before!"

"Less words. Prove it!"

"Drill Drive!"

A figure tried to drill through the barrier.

"Increase output by 150%!" Blues commanded.

The barrier glowed and its light became more intense.

"Shit!"

"So much for "improved"…"

"Once again! Max output!"

"Fine. Disable barrier!"

"What!?"

The barrier cancelled the foe couldn't cancel its inertia.

They hit a Curse Shield and became stuck there.

The Virus counterattacked and blew the foe away.

"Fuck you, punk!"

"… I finally found you in my database… Drill Man!"

The foe was Drill Man.

He cancelled their drill mode and landed on the ground.

"I won't forget the humiliation of 4 years ago!"

"I see. You were behind those odd theft cases overseas…"

"I have a big patron!"

"Neo Gospel…"

"Wrong! But I wouldn't say the name, anyway!"

"Whatever. Scum will be scum…"

"I'll turn you into cheese! Triple Hole!"

He compacted into the drill and flew for Blues.

He also formed two small drills to his flanks.

They opened "holes" in the air and dived inside.

Three new "holes" formed at random around Blues.

"Slow!"

He warped out of harm's way.

"Activate barrier!"

The barrier reformed.

"I already have you caged…"

"Damn you!"

"Also… I can perceive where you are! Sonic Boom!"

He formed the Neo Variable Sword and shot it towards a point.

It hit the foe and forced him out of hiding.

"I added a paralysis effect to my attacks…"

"Shit! Crafty little red mouse!"

"Charmed… Long Blade!"

He dived for the foe and stabbed the right shoulder.

He then kicked them to the ground.

"Do you need help, Blues?"

"Prism Man. Keep an eye for possible accomplices…"

"Roger…"

Prism Man appeared outside of the barrier.

He nodded in understanding and rushed to check the area.

"This is Misaki. I received data from Officer Hunter in Ameroupe…"

"About this criminal?" Enzan guessed.

"A gang in Dallas, Texas, bought his data and uses him for petty thefts…"

"Drugs?"

"Correct. They're using it to hit other gangs and bosses…"

"There's a warrant, I take it…"

"Correct. A WANTED notice was issued across all states…"

"One more reason to catch them here and now…"

"Too bad! I'm not that dumb!"

"Shit!"

Drill Man revered to a dummy Navi.

"I was remotely operating this!" He laughed.

"Whatever. I've taken your data. Next time, you won't fool me…"

"Sink in the Under Cyber World, forever!"

Explosions rang out beneath the ground.

Cracks formed and the ground began to sink.

Blues merely made it out of the site.

The floor broke into several pieces and the whole set sank.

It fell down an endless shaft.

"I see. Barrier doesn't cover the underground…"

Blues looked down from a higher tower.

"The hunter becomes the hunted!"

A close-up of Drill Man's face projected on a screen.

"You won't be so fortunate next time. Besides…"

"What next?" He grumbled.

"You'll eventually be dumped into that hole, too…"

"What!?"

"When your usefulness expires… Such are criminals…"

"Bluffs!"

"Really? Try asking your instincts. If you have any left…"

"Shit! I'll have my payback!"

The screen shut down, and Blues shrugged.

"Confess! Where's the octopus!?"

"Magnet Man next? Talk about annoying pests…"

"Mag Missiles!"

Magnet Man showed up behind Blues and fired the magnets.

"The octopus must be in Osaka. Where else?" He taunted.

"I won't fall for those nasty traps again!"

"It's your fault for being careless…"

"Shut up! Mag Missiles! Mag Balls!"

Magnet Man continued his assault.

Blues jumped across rooftops to outrun them.

"N-S Tackle!"

He formed his blue "twin", and they flew for Blues.

They tried to trap him between both.

But Blues formed a wooden pillar with spikes on it.

Both couldn't cancel their inertia and hit it.

"The forces of nature can defeat you, even…" Enzan mocked.

"AJAAAIINNNN!" Tesla hissed.

"Ijuuin. Learn to say the names of people, Magnets…"

"I'M GONNA SEND YOU A POISONED LUNCH BOX!"

"Perfect. I'll send it to the forensics. And we'll find the poison…"

"WHY THE NERVE OF THIS EGGHEAD!"

"Eggheads are very smart, didn't you know?"

"PLUG OUT BY THE MIGHT OF THE MAGNETS BLOODLINE!"

Magnet Man was retrieved, and Blues shook his head, disappointed.

"It's such a stupid show…"

"Agreed. The real deal is yet to come…"

19:51 PM (Japan Time)…

"… Greetings, brave warriors of the vain circus…"

"Not you again!"

"You're more persistent than a debt collector!"

"You want to end up in pieces!?"

"Are you asking for a fight!?"

"We're not in the mood for games! Ninja Man!"

"Unfortunately… I am but a loner Shadow Man…"

"Do we look like we care!?"

Shadow Man came to poke the Cut Man Brothers.

They were all visibly annoyed.

"Beware… The rattlesnake will rattle the snakes…"

"What are you talking about…?"

"Snake Arrows! You're slacking, Zoan Cut Man Brothers!"

"What the hell!? Who the hell are you!?"

"Your senior! Zoan Snake Man!"

"Zoan" Snake Man appeared there and shot arrows at them.

They barely dodged them, and they were startled.

"2013 is the year of the snake, after all…" Shadow Man chuckled.

"Why, you…!"

"Snake Buster!"

"Stop!"

"Not until you learn to behave!"

"Where did that moron come from!?"

"Zoan" Snake Man showered them in attacks.

They managed to dodge by skillfully stepping, as if it was a dance.

"The Panic Dance of the Cut Man Samurai Brothers…"

"Why, you…! Dirty Ninja Man!"

"I feel praised…"

"What are you doing, Zoan Snake Man!? Those aren't our comrades!"

"Brother!?"

"Devil. I had to bump into my "Beyondard" brothers!"

"Zoan" Cut Man Tarou rushed in and stopped, angsty.

The others were amazed, and they were crying from joy, even.

"BROTHER!"

They jumped for him and hugged him.

"No! That's… Wrong… It's not that off the mark, but… Wrong!"

He was struggling to try to explain the difference between each entity.

"What a lovely panorama. Brotherly love is so tender…"

"… Who the hell are you?"

"Zoan" Snake Man set his eyes on Shadow Man next.

"A "Nobody"…" He chuckled.

"You wouldn't be a pal of Killer Man, are you?" He questioned.

"Killer Man? Never met them. Must be a cheerful fellow…"

"More like a blood lustful demon!" He growled.

"I see that you're very good friends with them…" Shadow Man chuckled.

"You're making fun of me, interloper!?"

"Possibly. Ask your beloved dove…"

"Dove!? Insulting the might of Lord Falzer…! Snake Buster!"

"My. For a snake, you sure are hot-blooded…"

He easily dodged the shots with skillful stepping.

He didn't even bother to stop crossing his arms.

"The Sharo Dance of Victory!" He chuckled.

"Why, you…! Pest! Bug! Insect! Worm!"

"My. What vocabulary. A disciple of Captain Haddock?"

"Shut the hell up! Snake Arrows!"

He shot the snakes at him, but he gracefully dodged them as well.

"Why are these fools here!? Lord Twilight didn't say anything about it!"

"Crow Man has arrived…"

"Swallow Man! And it had to be you!"

"Would you prefer Elvis Presley?"

"I fail to see the correlation!"

Swallow Man rushed there, confused by what was going on.

"Happens that a gentleman tipped me off about a certain server…"

"What!?"

"Which had backups of these hot-blooded fellows…"

"A gentleman…!? Regal!" He growled.

"As proof that he wasn't kidding, he unleashed these two for a test…"

"Shit! This means that he can steal these and use them, too!"

"Better hurry to King Cross Station in London… Platform 9!"

"… That's the Hogwarts Express platform, isn't it…?"

"My. We have a connoisseur here…"

Swallow Man became skeptical and annoyed.

Shadow Man made a mock applause.

"Brother! We've come to rescue you from these fakes!"

"Fakes!? You're the fakes!"

"Let's see to that!"

"Cut Boomerangs!"

The other "Zoanoroid" Cut Man Brothers came.

The "Earth" Curt Man Brothers began to argue with them.

A fight ensued amongst them.

"BROTHER IS OURS!" Both groups yelled at the same time.

"My. Fighting over the elder brother's love… How poetic…"

Shadow Man chuckled at the sight.

"You're incredibly ANNOYING!" Swallow Man grumbled.

"Zoan Swallow Man! What are you waiting for!? Crush them!"

"You shut up! Clown of a circus!"

"What!? A traitor! I'll execute you myself! Snake Bite!"

"What!? Shit!"

"Zoan" Snake Man dived into the jar, which tilted.

He then shot out and bit the right leg.

Swallow Man groaned and recoiled.

"This poison program will soon render you unable to fight back!"

"S-shit!"

"This is the punishment for treason!"

"Blame your precious Lord Twilight for not adding IFF beacons…"

Swallow Man hissed and cursed something under his breath.

He clutched his head, as if he suffered a headache.

"The contradiction between free will and preprogrammed orders!"

"Exactly… You'd wish to curse him, but orders stop you from doing that…"

"Shit! Go to Hell! I'll remember this!"

He escaped and Shadow Man shrugged.

"Eat punch! Eat kick! Eat bite! Eat scissors! Eat nails!"

The scuffle between both sets of brothers continued.

It was a cloud of smoke by then, with some limbs sticking out sometimes.

"Well then… Be the arbiter that'll settle the kin-slaying…"

"What was that!?"

"I'm off to meeting Shadow the Hedgehog in outer space… Farewell…"

He formed a "hole" on the ground and sank inside.

"Zoan" Snake Man scoffed and clicked his tongue.

"That taunting behavior! It's an accomplice of Killer Man, alright!"

"Zoan Snake Man! Don't stand there and do something!"

"You solve that mess, incompetent fool!"

He left and "Zoan" Cut Man Tarou groaned.

"No way!"

"Out of the way! Fakes!"

"Out of the way! Impostors!"

"Brother is ours!"

"Brother belongs to us!"

"Will you stop already!? What have I done to end up in this mess!?"