The House of Evolution has developed a comfortable morning routine. The day starts with everyone waking up and getting breakfast. Then, when the food is all gone, the soon-to-be heroes meet with the organization's leader and cover the day's schedule. After that, the group disbands and relaxes until it's time to get into full swing.
Since Zombieman still sought to keep an eye on the House of Evolution, he's been coming here to do so while also acting as a mentor for Mosquito Girl and Kombu Infinity. The undead detective wasn't that much warmer than when he first arrived, but there was an undeniable improvement. Zombieman didn't keep a hand on his holstered handgun all the time. He was also willing to speak to the clones, yet he refused to be in proximity to the original Genus. In Zombieman's eyes, the clones were originally meant to be products for their so-called master like himself, which made it easier for him to feel comfortable around the lot.
From what's been shared, it should come as no surprise that Mosquito Girl and Kombu Infinity hadn't left the building since the incident. Mosquito Girl was irritated, but not for the reason you'd think. The Subterranean King had already forgiven the bloodsucker for her lapse in judgment during that whole ordeal. So, from her perspective, Zombieman and Doctor Genus should end the probationary period. The continuation of Mosquito Girl's punishment was the only thing both men found common ground on. Oh, and regarding Kombu Infinity, they were more than happy to stick around to keep their friend's spirits high rather than go with the others to receive guidance from a different instructor.
"Ugh..." Mosquito Girl groaned while staring at her ceiling. Currently, she was lying on the left side of her bed. Her Seafolk companion was lying beside her on the right side.
"I think we've learned a lot," Kombu Infinity said, wanting to put a positive spin on the time they've spent indoors. "Zombieman's told us so much about proper investigative procedures and interrogation tactics." They mentioned.
"Yeah, and it's been great..." Mosquito Girl sighed, maintaining her slump. "But I would've preferred it if we obtained this knowledge alongside practical exercises. I don't want to fall behind the others or become deadweight." She told them.
"Heh, I feel I should be the one saying that stuff," Kombu Infinity chuckled.
"What?" Mosquito Girl questioned, now looking at them. "Kombu, you're awesome!" She exclaimed.
"Aw, come on, you know I'm the least cool one here," Kombu Infinity argued, matching her gaze with theirs. "My ONLY notable quality is my hair. It's great and has a lot of uses, but that's literally it. Honestly, if Zombieman weren't teaching us, I'd feel like giving up on being a hero." They confessed.
Instantly, Mosquito Girl moved to an upright position. The expression on her face changed from disappointed to intensely serious.
"Kombu, I won't let you insult yourself," Mosquito Girl asserted, glaring down at them. "You are awesome, like I said. Do you want to know another amazing thing about you that none of us have? You're a plant. Water can empower you, and that stuff's everywhere! All you need is a bottle of water, maybe a couple, and suddenly, you're an unending garden of indestructible seaweed!" She pointed out.
"Ah, that's where you're wrong. My tendrils aren't indestructible, just insanely durable." Kombu Infinity corrected her. "Also, who are you to talk about becoming empowered? All it takes is a little blood for you to go into overdrive. By yourself, you won us the battle against the mutated Seafolk." They said.
"Ah-ha! I've got you!" Mosquito Girl proudly cheered. "That was a team effort! Sure, the way you went about it was TERRIBLE, and you are NEVER allowed to do that again, but still, without you, Kombu, we would've needed Metal Knight to save our butts." She stated.
"Right, but as I already mentioned, without you, it would've been a loss. Between the two of us, you're vastly superior." Kombu Infinity insisted.
"Nope! Nice try, but no dice! I couldn't get the job done by myself. I needed your help. Yet, as you've put forward, the same applies when flipped. So, I guess the conclusion we've reached is that we're both incredible, but we're best as a duo! Mosquito Girl and Kombu Infinity!" Mosquito Girl decided with a radiant smile. "Oh, and our stoic leader who needs to go to therapy," She added, not wanting to leave Zombieman out.
Knock Knock
Before this lovely conversation between besties could continue, an unexpected visitor knocked on the bedroom door.
"Let me," Kombu Infinity requested as they extended one of their strands.
"Aw, thank you," Mosquito Girl replied, assuming it was so she wouldn't need to get up, which was correct.
When the seaweed reached the door, it wrapped itself around the knob. One twist later, the entryway was opened, revealing that the visitor was none other than the House of Evolution's leader!
"Doctor?" Mosquito Girl reacted with confusion. "Is something wrong? Do we need to head out?" She asked, believing this to be a serious situation.
"Yes, but don't be alarmed." Dr. Genus answered as he entered the room. Simultaneously, Kombu Infinity withdrew their tendril. "Mosquito Girl, I am about to tell you something that is of the utmost importance. Please, do your best to control your reactions and behave professionally." He instructed.
Whoa. The doctor was in stern mode. Whatever brought him here wasn't going to lead to one of his usual lectures. Additionally, that meant this wasn't related to the probation.
"Yes, sir." Mosquito Girl responded, positioning herself so that she was sitting on the side of the bed, putting her before him.
"Very good," Dr. Genus praised her before continuing. "Kombu, I want you to hear this as well. Given the scenario at play, your knowledge is valued. So, just like Mosquito Girl, I need you to pay attention.
A few moments ago, I received a call from One Punch Man, who should be relaxing on a remote island. While he is at his destination, the relaxation has been delayed by a seemingly tragic event. As One Punch Man was exploring his surroundings, he was ambushed by a creature that he believes is a Seafolk. However, no matter what way I examine the facts, this doesn't make sense. All of the Deep Sea King's loyalists are dead, and their remains are in our custody. One Punch Man is certain that this creature he's slain isn't the Deep Sea King, but I have my doubts. Regardless of the truth, which we will determine, One Punch Man is confident that he's accidentally taken an innocent life, which we all know is impossible. So, he's requested my services to resurrect the deceased entity. The only way for me to do that is to acquire a sample of its DNA, which is what I need Mosquito Girl for. She is the fastest member of our organization. At top speed, she'll reach One Punch Man in no time. If you'd like, you can go along with her, Kombu, but you have to decide right now. Zombieman is likely leaving City Z as we speak, so we don't have long before he gets here. You need to get to One Punch Man, collect a sample, and come back. That is the mission." He told them.
Both Doctor Genus and Kombu Infinity looked at Mosquito Girl. Sure, the possibility that this was the Deep Sea King was significant for the young Seafolk, but they knew just as well as the doctor that this was the opportunity of a lifetime for the bloodsucker. She was, quite possibly, the biggest OPM fan in the world. The idea of getting a special mission that involved helping out her hero was a literal dream come true.
"...I'm okay..." Mosquito Girl breathed out with her eyes closed. She was using all of her willpower to not lose her mind over this. "Really, I'm more concerned about you, Kombu. How are you feeling? Do you need a hug?" She said while restoring her vision and turning toward the Seafolk. Understandably, she was worried that this would trigger the memories of their trauma.
"Nah, I'm fine. And I'm being serious," Kombu Infinity promised, grateful for her concern. "If this turns out to be the Deep Sea King, this is the best thing I could've hoped for. First of all, Saitama punched him. That's INCREDIBLE! Secondly, if we revive him, then he'll be our prisoner. Can you IMAGINE how much that'll DESTROY that prick's ego? The Deep Sea King will go on and on about how I'm a worthless Seafolk and that I'll never be on the same level as him. Meanwhile, I'll be tapping the glass of his cell and taunting him in every way that I can think of. The roles will be reversed, and there's NOTHING that he can do about it." They explained, ending with a very big grin.
"That's true. If this creature is the Deep Sea King, you'll not only be able to humiliate him, but you also have the resources of this organization at your disposal." Dr. Genus agreed. He was fully on board with the idea of letting Kombu Infinity treat the former ruler of the ocean as though he were a toy. It's the least the bastard deserved, after all.
"Hey, I'm all for giving that piece of shit the rough treatment and then some, but confronting him could still be bad for you. When we get back from the island, assuming you want to come with me, I want us to have a long conversation about this while the doctor works." Mosquito Girl told them.
"Yeah, okay, that makes sense," Kombu Infinity replied, which made her smile. Afterward, the duo followed Doctor Genus out of the room so they could go on their mission.
Meanwhile, In The Middle Of The Ocean...
It was genuinely freaky how fast nature worked. Saitama was but a helpless observer of the behaviors of wild animals. An entire flock of birds had settled on top of the corpse and were picking at its flesh. Crabs from the surf had either come onto land to collect their fill or remained in the water to attend to the lower half. While the dead body wouldn't be eaten within a single day, it was still on the fast track to becoming a skeleton.
Saitama could've stayed inside and watched TV, but that would require him to be a sociopath. He felt an immeasurable guilt that was agonizing. Saitama knew the destructive power he wielded must be used responsibly, and yet, he caught himself lacking.
Hold on, though. Saitama's combative instincts told him he was being attacked. Regardless of who or what this lifeform was, it was self-defense! Surely, Saitama had to realize that! He would never kill an innocent person!
Yes, he did. But Saitama couldn't avoid the countless questions that came from a situation like this. What if his instincts were wrong? What if Saitama could make an error so great that it had repercussions that couldn't be fixed? What would the world's strongest hero do in-
"ONE PUNCH MAN!"
An excessively excited woman's voice pierced the air. Looking toward the sky, Saitama saw something fast approaching. It didn't take long for him to discern the details. It was Mosquito Girl with Kombu Infinity strapped to her torso. The clever Seafolk had wrapped their tendrils around her mid and lower back, which meant that the wings weren't obstructed. Those two were basically welded together right now, preventing an accidental release and fall.
"Hey, guys!" Saitama greeted with pair with a full-arm wave. A few seconds later, they'd touch down on the island.
"HOLY SHIT" Kombu Infinity yelled in reaction to the murder scene on the beach. "Er, sorry," They apologized, not meaning to shout.
"Nah, you're fine, Kombu," Saitama assured them. "But before anything else gets said, can you PLEASE tell me if this is a Seafolk or not?" He requested, unable to refrain from expressing his anxiety.
"Dude. If this WAS a Seafolk, some GNARLY stuff happened to it," Kombu Infinity began as they cautiously approached the corpse. "For starters, this is WAY bigger than ANY Seafolk. The largest ones we have are those that resemble whales, but even they don't come close to this! It's like one of those giant monsters from the movies!" They exclaimed.
"We've been watching a lot of different stuff lately," Mosquito Girl chimed in, wanting to explain how they knew about that.
"Do the Seafolk mutate at all?" Saitama asked. He didn't want to jump to the conclusion that this was the same thing that had happened during the Seafolk conflict.
"Eh, kind of?" Kombu Infinity answered with a shrug, now studying the remains. "I'd describe it more like advanced evolution. Another way to phrase it is accelerated adaptation. The Seafolk are masters when it comes to acclimating to any environment and developing biological advantages. But what we're looking at here is almost demonic. Or, maybe alien. The point is that this is SUPER unnatural." They informed him.
A few more minutes were given to Kombu Infinity so that they could finish their examination. However, when they started looking at what was once the torso, they froze.
"Kombu?" Mosquito Girl called, immediately hurrying over. "What is it? Did you find something?" She inquired.
"...It is him..." Kombu Infinity whispered, slowly looking at her and Saitama. "It's...the Deep Sea King..." They revealed.
"What? How can you tell?" Saitama questioned, also coming over.
"Look here," Kombu Infinity instructed, guiding their gazes to the remnants of the pectorals. "There's not much left, but you can see that there were heart-shaped markings here. I never understood why the Deep Sea King had hearts on his chest as though they were nipples, but that was one of his most well-known features." They explained.
"...So...you're confident in your claim that this is the Deep Sea King..." Saitama hesitantly said.
"I mean, we need the doctor to do his science stuff, but yeah. I'd be willing to bet that whatever the Deep Sea King gave to his followers to turn them into monsters, he took the same thing to transform him into this abomination." Kombu Infinity replied.
GASP
Suddenly, Saitama drew in a MASSIVE amount of air, almost as if he'd been without it for a while. The sharp inhale lightly startled the other two, making them jump a little.
"OH, THANK GOD!" Saitama cheered with the BIGGEST sigh of relief in his life. His upper body was thrown back as he put a hand over his chest.
"Wow, you really were worried," Kombu Infinity commented.
"Of course I was!" Saitama responded, looking at the sky. "When you're as powerful as me, you can't help but worry about accidents. For anyone else, if they hit someone, they might break their nose or even their jaw. But if I do it, I could kill them!" He exclaimed.
"But you have control over your strength, right?" Kombu Infinity asked.
"Of course he does!" Mosquito Girl answered. The fangirl was starting to show. "One Punch Man, hit me!" She ordered.
...
...
...
"No," Saitama said after a small span of silence. That outlandish demand took him and Kombu Infinity aback.
"Come on! You're worried about accidentally killing people, which you would NEVER do! If you hit someone and it doesn't kill them, it'll make you feel better!" Mosquito Girl reasoned.
"That's okay. Knowing that this is probably the Deep Sea King is already doing a lot for me," Saitama assured her.
"Hey! We still need to do tests!" Mosquito Girl reminded him. "Just go ahead and punch me! One regular punch! That's it!" She persisted.
Saitama looked at Kombu Infinity since they'd been getting closer with Mosquito Girl. In reaction, the Seafolk sighed and shrugged. Whenever she got like this, the only real solution was just to indulge her.
In the seconds that followed, Saitama and Mosquito Girl positioned themselves opposite each other. Kombu Infinity too off to the side, not wanting to be in the potential splash zone.
"You are SURE about this?" Saitama questioned, giving her one last chance to back out.
"Yes! Prove to yourself that you're not a danger to anyone who isn't an active threat!" Mosquito Girl told him, even going so far as to extend her arms out from her sides.
Saitama exchanged a final nervous glance with Kombu Infinity. Again, the Seafolk just shrugged. Mosquito Girl's determination was almost as scary as his strength.
"Alright, here we go..." Saitama muttered, reeling back his fist.
...
...
...
THUD
Saitama's fist struck Mosquito Girl's chest. Admittedly, it was an odd feeling. He felt the softness of her breasts first, but then the hardness revealed itself. Keep your mind out of the gutter, dear reader; this isn't that kind of story.
"Ha, told you~" Mosquito Girl playfully teased.
"...What am I feeling right now?" Saitama inquired, referring to the aforementioned hardness.
"It's really interesting!" Mosquito Girl started as she raised a finger. "Kabuto and I have a unique blend of flesh and chitin, the latter of which is what makes an endoskeleton. If you were to touch me and nothing else, you'd think I only had skin. Press or squeeze me, and you'll feel the hardened layer of biological armor that is intertwined with it. When I'm relaxed, there's more softness than hardness. When I'm not, such as in battle, then it switches." She explained.
"Wow, you're right, that is interesting!" Saitama exclaimed, much to her satisfaction.
"Of course! You'll find no greater advancements in biology-related science than the House of Evolution!" Mosquito Girl proclaimed, prideful of herself, her creator, and the organization as a whole.
"Uh, excuse me," Kombu Infinity interjected, earning their attention. "We need to hurry up and collect a sample. So, Saitama should probably remove his fist from your boobs," They said.
Oh, right. The mission. Also, Saitama's fist was still comfortably positioned within the ample bosom of Mosquito Girl. When that realization struck, they each pulled away from each other with a light blush.
"Thanks, Kombu," Both of them replied, looking in different directions.
"No problem," Kombu Infinity assured them.
When that scene had reached its end, Mosquito Girl got to work. Using her retractable claws, she easily cut away a sizable portion of the corpse. Brain matter would be preferred, but that had been obliterated with the punch. The chunk was safely stored in a container the doctor provided that was fastened to Mosquito Girl's body with a strap.
"Okay, Kombu, you're next." Mosquito Girl told them, stepping away from the body.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Saitama questioned.
"Obviously, we're not going to leave a rotting pile of meat to ruin your vacation, One Punch Man. So, we're dealing with the leftovers." Mosquito Girl informed him.
"Yeah, watch this," Kombu Infinity beckoned as they stepped into the ocean.
Kombu Infinity walked into the water until they were completely submerged. A few seconds later, an incomprehensible wall of seaweed rose from below. The army of vegetation wrapped itself around the corpse, simultaneously shooing away the scavengers. Over the next few minutes, it was all crushed into a mixture of liquid and dust.
"Whoa! Kombu! That's insane!" Saitama praised them with an excited smile. "Your seaweed is crazy powerful!" He carried on.
"Ugh, not you, too," Kombu Infinity groaned as they raised themselves out of the water. Like before in City Z, they were now a sentient bush of wettened plants. "Mosquito Girl already tried to give me too much credit earlier. Really, it's undeserved." They said.
"That's it. When we get home, you and I are going to train in the combat room." Mosquito Girl decided, folding her arms over her chest. "We are going to spend today building up your self-esteem. We won't stop until you acknowledge your MANY good traits." She asserted.
"I thought we were going to have a talk about the Deep Sea King?" Kombu Infinity recalled, wiping any bloodstains that remained on the beach away with their tendrils.
"We can do both. As we explore all of your exceptional qualities, we'll also discuss what the Deep Sea King's revival will do to you and how you've been handling your mental health so far," Mosquito Girl told them. "Now come on, we've got to hustle." She called.
With the cleaning finished, Kombu Infinity bid farewell to Saitama with a simple wave. Then, once they were firmly secured to Mosquito Girl again, the duo took off for the House of Evolution.
"It was nice to catch up with those two," Saitama said to himself, putting his hands into his pockets. "It seems like they're really close now, which is good to see. I hope that's the case for the others, too." He carried on as he returned to the house.
Now that it didn't seem as though he killed an innocent Seafolk, Saitama was able to return to the vacation mindset. It's a good thing this unexpected disruption happened before the vacation got going. It'd be terrible if any more alarming developments occurred during the next two weeks.