We Don't Need Magic, We Have Fists (and a Cyborg)

by BardOfTheFlame

Mid-fight, Garou, Genos, Bang, and Bomb are transported by a portal to a magical world with formidable enemies. Their struggle is now for survival, understanding why they're there, and how to get back. The chaos escalates when Saitama arrives... with hair! Who is this Saitama? Discover these warriors punching their way to the truth.

We Don't Need Magic, We Have Fists (and a Cyborg)

By: BardOfTheFlame

Chapter 1: Wrong Server

"Teleportation error: You have arrived at the wrong server. Please wait while the punches resolve the problem."

---

Garou's body screamed with exhaustion, every muscle protesting with stabbing pain after the brutal battle against eight heroes of various classes. He had emerged victorious, yes, but the price had been high. However, the luxury of rest was an unattainable fantasy in that chaotic scene. He had barely had a moment to catch his breath when a new and formidable threat materialized before him: Genos, the relentless Demon Cyborg, an S-Class hero. His metallic presence and glowing eyes promised a battle on a completely different scale.

Despite the fatigue that hampered his movements, Garou, driven by sheer determination and survival instinct, unleashed his full arsenal of martial techniques against the cyborg. His fists and kicks, which had bested experienced heroes, searched for cracks, weak points, anything that could give him an edge. Nevertheless, his attacks seemed to dissipate harmlessly against the armor plating and superhuman resistance of his formidable opponent. Genos, in turn, responded with blasts of incinerating energy and attacks of pinpoint accuracy, forcing Garou into a constant and exhausting defense.

In the midst of this titanic clash, a group of opportunistic Monster Association minions clumsily tried to intervene in the battle, hoping to help the "Hero Hunter." Their brief appearance was suicide. Genos, scarcely diverting his attention from his true target, annihilated them with terrifying efficiency, reducing them to ash in the blink of an eye, before resuming his relentless assault against Garou.

Just at the critical moment when Genos prepared a potentially decisive attack against a cornered and visibly overwhelmed Garou, a figure intervened with lightning speed, kicking Garou. The newcomer was none other than Garou's former master, the legendary Bang, also known as Silver Fang, another bastion of the S-Class. And he didn't arrive alone; at his side, with an equally imposing and serene presence, stood his brother Bomb, another supreme master of martial arts.

The strategy was clear and immediate: Bang, with a gaze filled with disappointment and determination, would focus on neutralizing his wayward former disciple. Meanwhile, Bomb would handle the wave of lesser monsters still emerging from the shadows, drawn by the commotion.

Bang unleashed his mastery upon Garou. There was no respite, not a second to breathe. Every one of Bang's movements was precise, fluid, devastating, a martial dance perfected over decades. It was the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist at its peak. The master's superiority over the student was painfully evident; Garou, despite his incredible talent and adaptability, was forced into a desperate defense, unable to find an opening in his former mentor's flawless technique.

But the situation, already desperate for Garou, drastically worsened. Once Bomb had efficiently dispatched the secondary threats with his own fearsome martial style, he joined his brother. Now, the Hero Hunter faced not only his master but the coordinated whirlwind of two of the world's greatest martial artists, attacking in perfect synchrony.

Garou felt trapped, surrounded, with no visible escape route. His racing mind assessed the terrible reality: even if, against all odds, he managed to appeal to some remnant of affection or persuade his former mentor to let him go—an almost nil possibility—the relentless Demon Cyborg watched with cold determination, ready to intervene and ensure his capture or elimination. He would show no mercy whatsoever. The only way out, the only desperate option left to him in that hell of fists and steel, was to find a way to overcome, somehow inconceivably, the three formidable opponents surrounding him.

Garou found himself trapped, immobilized not only by accumulated fatigue but by the deadly pincer formed by Bang and Bomb. The pressure was suffocating; every cell in his body protested the punishment received. The incessant barrage of precise and devastating blows from the two legendary masters was pushing him to the absolute limit of his endurance. He felt his bones creak, his muscles tear internally. 'So... this is the end?' he thought with a mix of rage and icy despair. 'Defeated... humiliated by my own master... and his brother. Just when I thought...' The idea of death didn't frighten him as much as that of defeat, of failing in his self-proclaimed mission.

He couldn't take it anymore. The physical pain was so intense it began to fragment his perception of reality. The impacts were no longer just blows; they were detonations shaking his consciousness. In that haze of agony, visions began to surface—disconnected and painful fragments of his past. He remembered the humiliation on the playground, the inherent injustice of the heroes and villains game where he always had to lose, where the "hero" always won regardless of logic or strength. He saw the mocking faces, felt again that childhood helplessness he had sworn to eradicate. 'Always the same... the "heroes" decide who's right, who deserves to win...' The bile of injustice rose in his throat.

Throughout this trance induced by extreme pain and exhaustion, far from breaking, Garou's conviction solidified like tempered steel. That past he didn't remember fondly was precisely the fuel feeding his fire. 'I won't be crushed. If this is what the heroes defend, this farce... then the world needs a true monster. An absolute evil that will make them all tremble, that will balance the scales.' The idea resonated in his mind, stronger than the pain. 'I won't allow myself to be defeated. By anyone! Least of all by them!'

When he came to his senses, reality hit him with the imminence of annihilation. He saw how Bang's and Bomb's hands converged towards him in a combined, definitive attack, a final blow designed to incapacitate him or worse. It was the end. But in that instant, fueled by the reaffirmation of his purpose and an animalistic survival instinct, Garou found a reserve of strength he didn't know he possessed. 'NOT YET!'

With a choked cry, his body twisted in an almost impossible way, dodging the deadly double impact by millimeters. He didn't stop there. Channeling all that energy, he struck the ground beneath his feet with cataclysmic force. The earth cracked with a dull roar, raising dust and debris, creating a shockwave that forced the masters and Genos, who was watching intently, to fall back. The expression of genuine surprise on Bang's and Bomb's impassive faces was palpable. Even the cyborg seemed surprised at such an unexpected display. Everyone present was stunned by the sudden explosion of power from a man who seemed to be on the verge of collapse seconds earlier.

But the surprises weren't over. Before they could fully react, Garou, moving with incredible speed that belied his battered state, lunged towards a nearby tree. With a guttural effort and a display of almost monstrous brute force, he ripped it out by the roots, earth clinging to the exposed roots. Without hesitation, he spun around and hurled it towards his opponents.

Bang and Bomb, reacting with the speed and experience that defined them, leaped back and sideways, dodging the improvised projectile with astounding agility. For a fleeting instant, while the two masters were airborne and Garou gasped, desperately trying to fill his lungs with air, the ground directly beneath him changed. A dark circle suddenly opened beneath his feet. There was no warning, no preceding sound. Simply a void that swallowed him, pulling him down into darkness before he could even process what was happening.

Garou's sudden disappearance into that unnatural vortex left Genos and the two martial arts masters in a state of momentary disbelief. The echo of the crashing tree still faintly resonated when the ground beneath their own feet ceased to exist. The dark circle, far from closing after swallowing Garou, expanded with silent and alarming speed. In a fraction of a second, it reached the position where they stood, and the solid ground supporting them was replaced by an unfathomable abyss. The sensation of freefall was instantaneous and disorienting.

Genos's reaction was almost instantaneous, a reflex enhanced by his cybernetic enhancements. "Analysis, now!" – he mentally demanded of his systems, while instinctively firing the thrusters in his arms, in a desperate attempt to break the fall and get out. An intense yellow glow erupted from his thrusters, accompanied by the hum of contained energy. However, to his profound dismay – and that of the masters watching him – that display of power was completely useless. His vertiginous fall was utterly unaffected; it was as if the force of his cannons was simply negated, swallowed by the void, or insignificant against the strange and twisted laws governing that place.

Bang, maintaining incredible composure even while falling into the unknown, observed the cyborg's failed attempt. He looked up instinctively, as did Bomb and Genos. They could see, shrinking rapidly, the circle of light that represented the exit, the opening to the park they had just left. Like the diaphragm of a cosmic camera, that circle closed inexorably, sealing them in darkness. The last sight of the familiar world disappeared, plunging them into almost total blackness, broken only by the constant glow of Genos's still-active thrusters, which now served as the sole source of light amidst the void.

"Young Genos!" Bang's voice cut through the silence of the fall, firm despite the situation. "What is happening?"

"I don't know, Bang," the cyborg replied, his metallic voice tinged with unusual uncertainty. "My sensors detect no external force preventing propulsion, but the thrust is null. It's as if conventional physical laws don't apply in this space. I have no data on this type of phenomenon."

While the heroes tried to understand their predicament, Garou, despite being on the verge of unconsciousness, sensed the proximity of his enemies in the shared fall. A final spasm of defiance coursed through him. Mustering his last strength, he tried to close the distance with Genos, clumsily lunging towards the light of his thrusters with the intention of attacking. But the effort was too much for his battered body. The attempted attack dissolved into an uncontrollable tremor, and his eyes closed heavily as the darkness of the fall merged with that of his own unconsciousness. His body went limp, falling like a dead weight.

Bomb, observing Garou's inert figure floating nearby in the gloom illuminated by Genos, turned to his brother. "What do we do with him, Bang? In this situation..."

Bang looked at his former student, now completely vulnerable. The severity on his face softened slightly with a mix of duty and a complex shadow of concern. The situation was unknown and potentially dangerous; leaving Garou to his fate was not an option, but neither was ignoring the threat he represented, even unconscious. He made a pragmatic decision. "We'll secure him," he said simply. Carefully, maneuvering in the strange weightlessness of the fall, he approached Garou's inert figure and secured him firmly, preventing him from floating away into the darkness.

Genos observed the action without objection. Although his original mission was to eliminate Garou, the absolute priority now was to understand where they were and how to get out. Keeping the group together, even with an unconscious enemy, was the most logical option in such a hostile and unknown environment.

It was at that moment, as they continued their seemingly endless descent through the blackness, barely illuminated by Genos's glow, that he—and almost instantly, the masters with their sharp eyesight—distinguished something. Far below, in the vast distance of the darkness, flickered a tiny, faint source of light. It was barely perceptible, a distant point in the abyss, but it was the first sign of something other than absolute darkness since they had started falling. An uncertain destination, perhaps an exit, or perhaps the beginning of something even stranger awaited them.

The distant mote of light began to grow as they fell, or perhaps they were falling towards it at an ever-increasing speed. Soon, they realized it wasn't just a point of light, but that it was expanding exponentially, taking a familiar yet opposite shape: a perfect circle, vibrant with pure white light, a brilliant negative of the dark portal that had engulfed them. Their descent seemed to accelerate towards this new threshold, an exit as unexpected as their entrance.

"Bang! Bomb!" Genos's voice cut through the relative stillness of the fall, tense with urgency. "Hold onto me! We don't know what we'll find!"

Without needing further explanation, the veteran martial masters reacted with instinctive speed. Bang, securing a firm grip on Garou's unconscious body with one arm, used the other to hold onto Genos. Bomb did likewise, anchoring himself to the cyborg as they prepared for the unknown. Together, like a strange, makeshift unit, they passed through the brilliant portal.

Passing through the light was an abrupt transition, a surge of warm energy followed by momentary disorientation and the sudden roar of rushing air. The first thing Genos registered was the lash of cold wind and the unmistakable feeling of Earth's atmosphere. They were in freefall again, but this time through cold, damp clouds that parted as they passed, leaving white wisps floating around them. Looking in all directions, he saw only a vast night sky, sprinkled with stars that seemed strangely arranged and a full moon hanging imposingly above them.

Instinctively, he looked up, searching for the luminous portal they had just emerged from. There was nothing. Only the uninterrupted expanse of the night sky. The portal had closed, or perhaps simply ceased to exist, sealing their only known route back.

It was then that his sensors and the masters' keen eyesight fixed on what lay below: beyond the last layers of clouds, an expanse of flickering lights broke the darkness of the landscape below... a city? But as they descended and their vision cleared, the nature of the place became evident and profoundly disconcerting. The first thing that caught the eye, almost as striking as the lights themselves against the blackness, was a colossal fiery barrier. It wasn't a common fire; the flames danced with unnatural intensity, forming an almost perfect circle that surrounded a considerable section of the city, a wall of fire that roared silently from their aerial perspective, isolating whatever lay within.

Almost simultaneously, they understood the nature of the lights defining the rest of the city. They weren't the uniform, bright electric lights of a modern metropolis. They were warmer, flickering points of light: torches on ramparts, lanterns in narrow streets, the glow of fires in courtyards or squares. The structures taking shape below them were of dark stone and sturdy wood, with sloping roofs, some crenellated towers, and what appeared to be a defensive wall surrounding the outer perimeter. It had an unmistakable medieval look, almost as if taken from the pages of a forgotten history book, yet coexisting with that impossible ring of fire.

As gravity mercilessly pulled them towards that out-of-time cityscape partially encircled by flames, Genos struggled to make sense of what he was seeing. A sense of profound strangeness grew within him. 'Where the hell are we?!' the question echoed in his mind as his eyes swept over the impossible architecture, the city's layout, and the unnatural fiery barrier, desperately searching for some familiar clue, even in the constellations visible between the clouds. The information his mind demanded arrived like an almost instantaneous torrent, not as cold data, but as the confirmation that something was terribly wrong.

"BANG! BOMB!" Genos yelled over the roar of the wind, the seriousness in his voice deepened by the urgency. "I'VE COMPARED EVERYTHING I SEE AGAINST ALL MY AVAILABLE DATA! THERE'S NO TRACE OF THIS PLACE! NOT THE CITY, NOT ITS ARCHITECTURE, NOT THAT FIRE BARRIER! NOTHING LIKE IT EXISTS IN OUR RECORDS ON EARTH! THE TERRAIN IS UNKNOWN! IT DOESN'T MATCH ANY MAP! AND THE STRANGEST THING!" he paused, straining to make himself heard, "IS THAT EVEN THE STARS AREN'T WHERE THEY SHOULD BE!"

Bang and Bomb exchanged a look heavy with gravity, the shock evident even amidst the rushing wind. Their vast knowledge of the world, acquired through decades of experience and life, offered them no answers either.

"I DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS PLACE EITHER, GENOS!" Bang admitted, raising his voice over the roar, his eyes fixed on the strange city and its ring of fire, rapidly approaching below them. "I'VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A PLACE LIKE THIS!"

Bomb nodded silently, his weathered face reflecting the same confusion and caution, a mute but eloquent response amidst the sonic chaos. They were literally falling into the unknown, into a place that, according to all logic and available technology, simply shouldn't exist.

Genos's optical sensors immediately focused, activating his telescopic and thermal vision. What he saw within the infernal ring unsettled him. "I DETECT MULTIPLE LIFE FORMS WITHIN THE FIRE PERIMETER!" he reported, his voice resonating with renewed urgency over the wind. "I CAN MAKE OUT HUMANOID UNITS IN ARMOR OF UNKNOWN DESIGN, THEY LOOK MEDIEVAL! THEY'RE FACING... HOSTILE ENTITIES! GROTESQUE, MONSTROUS-LOOKING CREATURES! THERE'S A PITCHED BATTLE RAGING IN THERE!" His augmented vision showed him chaotic scenes: the glint of steel clashing against chitinous claws, bursts of energy, and figures falling on both sides.

Bang frowned, processing the new and alarming information while calculating the remaining distance to the ground. The wind whipped fiercely.

"GENOS!" Bang shouted, his voice grave. "WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE! FIND A DISCREET LANDING SPOT! AWAY FROM THAT FIRE AND THE BATTLE, ON THE OUTSKIRTS!"

"UNDERSTOOD!" Genos replied, his eyes already scanning the options. "TARGETING THE OUTER AREA! I HAVE IT!"

Genos attempted to initiate the maneuver with his thrusters to gently redirect their descent and that of his companions towards the chosen spot. However, as he calculated the power needed to counteract the fall's inertia and divert their trajectory with the added weight of all three, his systems warned him of the danger. To change direction now that they were so close to the ground, he would need a powerful and sustained thrust. The intense glow of his thrusters would be unmistakable in the darkness. It would be like broadcasting their position.

Landing outside, as ordered, now meant almost certain exposure. The only viable alternative was the one that seemed most dangerous at first glance.

"BANG, I CAN'T!" Genos shouted, urgency tinging his voice with tension. "WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE PLAN! I CAN'T DIVERT US OUT THERE WITHOUT A HUGE THRUST! THE FLARE WILL BE TOO VISIBLE! THEY'LL DEFINITELY SEE US, WE'RE TOO CLOSE!" He paused almost imperceptibly as he confirmed his new strategy. "THE ONLY WAY TO LAND UNSEEN IS INSIDE THE CIRCLE! USE THE CHAOS THERE! I'LL LOOK FOR A BLIND SPOT! IT'S OUR BEST CHANCE FOR COVER NOW!"

Bang grasped the logic forced by circumstances instantly. Initial surprise gave way to tense acceptance. The risk was immense, but the alternative was deliberate exposure.

"UNDERSTOOD, GENOS!" Bang replied firmly. "THE SITUATION DEMANDS IT! PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION! FIND THAT BLIND SPOT INSIDE!"

Genos nodded, a minimal but clear gesture. He subtly adjusted the direction of his thrusters, using only minimal, precise impulses to guide their controlled descent, now aimed towards a specific section within the ring of fire. He chose an area that, from the air, appeared to be a maze of narrow alleys and slightly dilapidated buildings, currently showing no obvious signs of direct combat or concentrated presence.

The landing was surprisingly smooth, considering the weight and circumstances, cushioned by Genos's skill in controlling the final descent at the last moment. They landed directly on the sloping surface of a wide, relatively intact roof, the slight crunch of loose tiles and gravel underfoot breaking the tense relative silence of their elevated position amidst the chaos. Immediately, Genos and Bomb adopted instinctive defensive stances. Bang, just as quickly and with the unconscious Garou carefully secured over his shoulder, scanned the surroundings, his heightened senses exploring the expanse of surrounding rooftops and the deep shadows of the alleys.

"Alright, we're hidden for now," Bang whispered, his deep voice barely audible, slightly adjusting Garou's weight. "But this spot might not be ideal. We need to get a better sense of the immediate terrain and ensure there are no nearby threats we missed from the air. Let's move stealthily, rooftop to rooftop. A couple of blocks, let's see what we find. Bomb, you take the lead; Genos, cover the rear. I'll handle Garou."

Bomb nodded, disappearing almost instantly into the shadows of the next rooftop. Genos followed at a prudent distance, his sensors sweeping in all directions. Bang, moving with surprising agility despite his burden, followed them, using his immense strength and balance to carry Garou without making excessive noise. They slipped like specters over the sloping surfaces of tile and stone, leaping silently from ledge to ledge. As they moved cautiously through the silent section of the city within the ring of fire, their expert eyes constantly scanned the streets and buildings below.

It was during this tense and stealthy traverse, after covering a short but significant distance, that the pattern became evident. They paused briefly on a new rooftop that offered a clear view of several facades.

It was Bomb who verbalized the shared observation, his voice low and tense. "Bang... Genos... do you see this?" He gestured discreetly towards the doors of the visible houses below and those they had passed. "Almost all the ones we've seen... are the same. Forced." The wood around the locks was splintered; some doors hung open or had been torn from their hinges. "They're empty, but not abandoned willingly. Someone... or something... forced their way in." His gaze followed dark trails on the cobblestones of a nearby alley. "And there's blood. Splatters, small trickles... as if people were dragged away."

He paused, his face hardened by the grim conclusion. "Those monsters we saw from the air," he murmured. "It seems they swept through this area first, before or during the start of that main battle. They took the occupants." His eyes narrowed, assessing the situation. "But this is quite far in... how did they get this far without being detected earlier? Unless the invasion started right here." The implicit question hung in the air. "And what are they doing with them?"

Genos remained silent beside them, his sensors confirming and expanding on Bomb's observations. Every forced door, every trace of violence was registered and analyzed. The image of defenseless civilians being torn from their homes by monstrous creatures struck a deep chord with his own personal tragedy. A current of tension ran through his circuits, a mixture of contained fury and the frustrating helplessness of not yet having clear answers or a direct target to act against.

Bang, noticing the stiffness in the cyborg's posture, placed a firm hand on Genos's metallic shoulder. "Calm down, Genos," he said quietly but firmly. "I understand your urgency. But confusion is the worst counselor. First, we understand; then, we act." His gaze swept over the desolate urban landscape around them. "We've confirmed this area was attacked and the civilians likely abducted. That's vital information. Now we need to find a point from which we can observe that main battle without exposing ourselves."

Genos took a deep breath, the mechanical gesture helping him channel his agitation. "You're right," he nodded, his voice regaining a more controlled tone. "Intelligence is the priority. We need to understand the enemy and the overall situation." He straightened up, his eyes glowing with renewed determination in the gloom.

They were about to continue their stealthy movement when Bomb, whose senses remained on high alert to the immediate surroundings, imperceptibly raised a hand, stopping them. His head tilted slightly, listening. A subtle but unmistakable cadence... careful footsteps on the rubble in an alley near their current position.

"Hold!" he whispered with extreme urgency, the sound barely a breath. "Down below. Three individuals approaching through the north alley."

The reaction was instantaneous. Genos, Bang—quickly securing Garou in the deepest cover—and Bomb slid into the densest shadows, melting into the dark recesses. They held their breath, becoming part of the desolate urban landscape, waiting in tense silence as the footsteps grew clearer.

A few seconds later, the three figures emerged into the partial light filtering from the distant wall of fire. The hidden group watched intently, analyzing the newcomers.

The first they distinguished was a blond-haired man, appearing to be in his forties or perhaps fifties. His face was weathered by experience and fatigue, and he wore a cloak that, while functional, clearly showed signs of wear and travel, frayed at the edges.

Just behind him walked a much younger boy, probably between fifteen and seventeen years old, also blond. His most striking feature was the gleaming armor he wore. His expression was serious, perhaps a bit idealistic, and he carried a sheathed sword at his belt. He looked like a squire or a young knight.

Bringing up the rear of the small formation was an agilely built man, estimated to be in his twenties or thirties. His most distinctive feature was his hair, an unusual, deep shade of dark blue. His movements were precise and economical, and his gaze was sharp and alert, constantly scanning the surroundings. A katana rested sheathed at his hip, his hand never far from the hilt.

They walked cautiously but with clear purpose, their eyes scrutinizing the desolate streets. Suddenly, the blue-haired man stopped. His head snapped up, his gaze fixed not on the nearby rooftops, but on the line of more distant buildings. He narrowed his eyes, as if he had detected something specific in that direction. He murmured something brief to his companions, perhaps an order or an instruction. The older man and the young knight nodded and continued down the street with redoubled caution.

Then, with astonishing agility, the blue-haired swordsman bent his knees and launched himself upward with no apparent effort. Using a series of quick, precise movements, leveraging ledges and cornices, he swiftly ascended to one of the more distant rooftops. He landed there with the lightness of a cat, his silhouette outlined against the orange glow of the fire.

The distance made it difficult to discern fine details with the naked eye, though the keen perception of the martial masters and, especially, Genos's telescopic vision, allowed them to keep him in focus. They expected to see him alone, scouting from that higher strategic vantage point. However, the blue-haired man was not alone on that distant rooftop. Beside him, standing with surprising calm amidst the chaotic surroundings, was a woman. She had long blond hair and wore a beautiful, elaborate white dress that contrasted sharply with the surrounding destruction and the nature of the situation.

Genos activated his long-range audio sensors, focusing them on the figures on the distant rooftop. He ran a detailed scan on the woman in the white dress. The results were deeply unsettling: a complete absence of heartbeat, almost negligible thermal signature, and no respiratory patterns. Furthermore, an ornate mask, perhaps made of porcelain or a pale metal, completely covered her face, hiding all her features behind a smooth, expressionless surface. Only thin slits or a design vaguely suggested the location of eyes, revealing nothing. It was impossible to discern any expression from her, making her presence even more unnatural and menacing.

Then, the conversation reached his receivers, clear and sharp:

"So," said the blue-haired swordsman, his voice tense but composed as he observed the fully masked figure. "Is there anyone else you're looking for here? Any other target besides me?"

From behind the impassive mask, the woman let out a musical laugh, the sound filtering through with a slightly metallic and strangely dissonant quality. She turned towards him with a fluid, almost unreal grace. "You?" she repeated, her voice—the only visible avenue of expression—laden with absolute contempt, as if the very idea of considering a human a worthy target was offensive. "Why would I waste my precious time searching for an inferior life form like you, insect?" She paused, and though her face remained hidden, her tone took on what could only be a cruel, audible smile. "Although... your insignificant existence seems to crave my attention. Perhaps I should grant you the honor of being crushed beneath my heel." Her tone became falsely sweet. "Kneel. Lick the filth from my boots, human. If your pathetic humiliation manages to entertain me," she added, and an oppressive sense of danger seemed to emanate from her, palpable even at a distance, "I might grant you a less... protracted death."

She stopped for an instant. There was a stillness, a focused concentration in her presence that alerted the senses. Her masked head tilted very slightly, as if listening to something beyond sound, perceiving vibrations or essences in the tainted air. Her hidden senses seemed to lazily sweep across the expanse of rooftops and dark alleys... pausing for an imperceptible moment in the general direction of the rooftop where the heroes were hiding.

"...And I suppose," she continued, picking up the thread without losing her tone of absolute disdain, but now with a hint of sadistic amusement filtering into her voice, "that generous offer of humiliation could extend to those other vermin who think themselves so clever, crawling around like the pests they are, don't you think?" Her voice was light, yet sharp as glass. She hadn't looked directly, there had been no betraying sound, yet the certainty in her voice was absolute. She knew they were there, detected by senses that needed no eyes to see.

The swordsman stiffened instantly. His gaze automatically shifted towards the direction he had come from, searching for his companions among the shadows. He saw no one.

The masked woman let out another laugh, louder and more mocking this time, the sound bouncing strangely off the mask. "Oh, please!" she said, waving a gloved finger with absolute contempt. "How touchingly stupid!" Then her arm rose, and her finger pointed with infallible accuracy, piercing the distance and darkness, directly towards the hidden rooftop. "I mean those parasites!"

Her unseen attention, projected from behind the mask, seemed to focus intensely on their hiding spot. "I can feel them." She paused, and her voice took on a genuinely voracious tone, making the mask seem even more sinister. "And they have an injured one... mmm," she inhaled audibly, an unsettling sound, "it smells of spilled blood and weak flesh. How opportune! It seems our unwanted guests have brought a little appetizer with them." She tilted her head, the unmoving mask accentuating the predatory gesture. "I think I'll allow myself a small distraction before continuing to lower myself to play with you, human." Her voice dropped to a threatening whisper, laden with malevolent intent. "Don't worry, scum, it won't take me long to dismember our audience."

The swordsman snapped his head around in the direction indicated by the masked figure. His sharp eyes scanned the rooftops, but the distance and shadows worked against him. He couldn't make out anything but rubble and darkness. "There? I don't see anyone," he muttered in confusion, although the certainty in the woman's voice was unsettling.

The message had been received loud and clear. The threat was clear and meant for all of them. "Bang," Genos said, his voice low but firm, the gravity of the situation reflected in his voice. "She's detected us and made her intentions clear." Determination hardened his features. "We have to confront her."

Bang nodded grimly, his gaze fixed on the distant figure on the rooftop. "I agree. This entity is clearly hostile. Remaining hidden is no longer an option." He exchanged a look with Bomb, who nodded with the same silent resolve. Protecting Garou was a factor, but the group's survival against such an explicit threat was the immediate priority. "Let's see what she intends."

The decision was tacit, a silent agreement forged in the urgency of the moment. Emerging from the deepest shadows into the uncertain light of the surroundings, the three sprang into motion. They crossed the rooftops with silent agility, covering the distance quickly until they positioned themselves on an adjacent rooftop, a short distance from the woman and the swordsman.

They stopped there, adopting ready stances. Bang stood firm, Garou's inert body still carefully secured over his shoulder, his expression calm but his eyes scrutinizing every detail. Bomb planted himself slightly beside him, a mountain of tense, dangerous calm. Genos stood with his arms prepared, a mix of caution and resolution evident in his posture.

On the rooftop, the impassive mask slowly turned towards the newcomers. There was no visible start, but rather a stillness, a silent reassessment. She observed the trio: two old men looking strangely formidable for their age, a young man with gleaming metal parts, and the unconscious, badly wounded boy carried by one of them.

"Hey, you guys!" the swordsman shouted, his voice laced with panic as he saw them reveal themselves. "Run! Get out of here! This place is too dangerous, you don't understand what you're dealing with!"

He was abruptly cut off by the cold, haughty voice emanating from the woman. "Silence, worm." The figure's attention focused entirely on the group of strangers. The mask seemed to tilt slightly, as if studying them with predatory curiosity. "Well, well... what an unexpected appearance. Before I have the pleasure of crushing you all like the insects you are, would you like to say a few last words? Although I doubt anything coming from mere humans would be remotely interesting."

Bang stepped forward, adopting an air of polite, respectful confusion—the kind of warmth he used to reassure frightened civilians. "Excuse me, miss…" he began, his voice calm and deep. "We seem to have gotten a little lost. My brother and I," he gestured towards Bomb, "and our young companion here," he nodded towards Genos, "are somewhat disoriented. This place is... rather chaotic." He paused, looking around with feigned perplexity. "Perhaps you could be so kind as to tell us where we are? We're just looking for a safe place so our other young… companion," he glanced at the unconscious Garou, "can recover a bit. He's had a rather nasty mishap."

"Don't play along!" the blue-haired man shouted again, desperate. "She's a monster! A real monster! I'm Brain Unglaus, listen to me, you have to flee right now! We don't stand a chance against her!"

"I said shut up, insect!" The voice of the masked figure cracked like a whip, cutting Brain off. The mask turned momentarily towards him with an intensity that promised pain, before focusing back on Bang with an almost... amused? tinge in her tone. "You should learn from this old geezer, human. At least he has the decency to show some... manners." A heavy pause. "But no matter. Since you're all going to die here and now, turned into my dinner, according to my whim, I suppose there's no harm in formal introductions." The figure drew herself up, striking a pose of absolute arrogance. "I am Shalltear Bloodfallen. It will be the last name you hear."

Brain Unglaus watched in horror as the three strangers, instead of heeding his desperate warning, calmly advanced towards the masked monstrosity. He had been ready to step in, to buy them a few precious seconds, even if it was suicide. Seeing them walk towards certain death made his stomach churn. "What are you doing?!" he shouted, desperation tinging his voice. "You idiots! You have no idea what you're up against!"

Bang, without taking his eyes off Shalltear but sensing the swordsman's anguish, spoke to him with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the situation. "We appreciate your concern, young man," his voice was firm, grounded in decades of experience, and carried a quiet authority that made Brain hesitate for a moment.

"But keep your guard up. We know what we're doing." The implicit message was clear: take care of yourself, we'll take care of this.

Shalltear let out a singsong and cruel laugh, the sound bouncing strangely behind the impassive mask. "Ignore such a... passionate warning?" Her masked head tilted with false curiosity. "I don't know whether it's admirable bravery or terminal stupidity that you're showing." Her tone turned sharp as a razor. "But frankly, you're already boring me. As a show of my... appreciation for good manners," her mask turned towards Bang, the intention behind it fixed on him, "I'll start with you, old man. You'll be an exquisite appetizer before the main course."

Faced with the direct threat, Bang reacted instantly. With a fluid and swift movement, he propped Garou's inert body against the solid base of a nearby chimney, ensuring it was stable and out of the immediate line of fire, before adopting a low defensive stance himself.

But before he, Bomb, or Genos could initiate any counterattack or maneuver, Shalltear murmured two words that resonated with unnatural power in the tense air: "Time Accelerator."

For Genos and Bomb, it was as if the universe blinked. The air felt dense, heavy, and sound seemed to dampen for an infinitesimal fraction of a second. In that impossible stillness, Shalltear simply vanished from the rooftop and appeared directly in front of Bang.

An instant later, before Bomb's senses or Genos's advanced sensors could even fully process the change in position, a dull, brutal impact resounded through the area. A devastating blow, invisible to their eyes due to the supernatural speed with which it was executed just as the spell's effect ended, struck Bang squarely in the chest.

The legendary master was thrown backward like a leaf swept away by a hurricane, crashing violently against a ruined stone wall several meters away. The impact raised a dense cloud of dust and rubble, momentarily concealing his figure.

The shock struck Genos and Bomb hard. Their senses, honed to the extreme, hadn't registered her movement, only the attack. It was a demonstration of speed that surpassed anything they had faced together up to that moment.

After the impact, Shalltear retreated a couple of steps with the agility of a predator, stopping at a medium distance. Her mask remained fixed on the cloud of dust rising where Bang had crashed. A slight sound, almost a satisfied click of the tongue, filtered from behind the mask.

"Hmm," she commented with a tone of false consideration, almost honeyed. "Old meat tends to be a bit tough. It needed to be tenderized first..." She paused dramatically, her voice taking on a shade of cruel amusement. "...although perhaps I overdid it a little bit. Oops."

A chill ran down Genos's spine, his sensors struggling to process the discrepancy. Bomb, beside him, tensed every muscle, his expert eyes, which had seen countless battles, fixed on the dust cloud with absolute disbelief. What... what the hell was that? echoed in both their minds. Was it pure speed that had surpassed their perceptions, or some unknown ability?

On the rooftop, a cold sweat beaded on Brain's forehead. It's over, he thought with bitter certainty. If that monster can do that, what hope do we have left? Despair threatened to drown him.

But then, to everyone's astonishment, especially Shalltear's and Brain's, Bang's figure emerged from the dust cloud. He brushed the debris from his shoulder with almost exasperating calm, adopting a firm stance. A slight smile touched his weathered face.

"Well now," he commented, his voice echoing clear and calm in the tense silence, "that certainly was a blow with substance. It almost fixed that old back pain that was bothering me. I thank you for it, miss."

The air around Shalltear seemed to freeze and vibrate simultaneously. The impassive mask couldn't hide the wave of homicidal fury emanating from her, a palpable pressure that made Brain instinctively recoil.

"How...?! HOW DARE YOU, DAMNED INSECT?!" Her voice, previously singsong and mocking, turned into a heart-rending shriek, distorted by pure rage. "Mocking me! MY power! I'LL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB, STUPID OLD MAN!"

Forgetting any hint of games or calculated arrogance, Shalltear lunged forward, a bolt of white and red fury. Her fist, enveloped in dark, crackling energy, shot straight towards Bang's face, seeking to obliterate.

But Bang was ready. His eyes, sharp and serene, followed the attack's trajectory. At the last instant, his body flowed like water. "Ryūsui Gansai Ken (Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist)," he murmured.

His open hand deflected Shalltear's fist with astonishing precision, redirecting the brute force with deceptive softness. But the defense was only the prelude. Without giving her an instant to recover, Bang became a whirlwind of fluid movement and relentless attacks. His hands and feet moved in a perfect martial dance, each blow landing with devastating yet controlled force, seeking weak points, unbalancing her, striking joints and energy centers. It was the methodical and devastating application of a supreme technique. Shalltear, caught in the unstoppable current, could barely defend herself from the rain of impacts assailing her from all angles.

Finally, finding the perfect opening amidst his own offensive, Bang concentrated his power into a final blow. His fist struck Shalltear's torso with the force of a battering ram. The sound was dry, forceful. The vampire shot backward, breaking the sound barrier with a brief sonic boom, and crashed against the facade of a nearby stone building. The structure couldn't withstand the kinetic force. Entire walls collapsed inward with a deafening roar, raising a new, massive cloud of dust and debris where the house once stood.

A stunned silence took hold of the area. Genos and Bomb watched the destruction with wide eyes, processing the incredible display of martial skill. Even Bang maintained his stance, evaluating the situation with expert calm. On the rooftop, Brain Unglaus trembled, not from fear, but from an almost reverential disbelief. That old man... is so strong… Sebas-dono.

The memory of Sebas Tian struck his mind forcefully. Both old men, masters of combat that defied logic. Could there be some connection? A spark of hope, perhaps irrational but desperate, ignited in his chest. He had to ask. Ignoring for a moment the latent danger, he cautiously addressed the other old man, Bomb, whose imposing presence was no less significant.

"Excuse me... sir," Brain began, his voice still thick with tension, but now tinged with urgent curiosity. "Your brother's strength... intensely reminds me of someone I knew. Another older man, of similarly incredible power... His name was Sebas Tian. By any remote chance... do you know him? Perhaps you're family...?"

Bomb turned his head slightly, his piercing eyes studying Brain for a second before slight confusion creased his brow. "Sebas Tian..." he repeated the name, probing his memories. He shook his head calmly. "I'm afraid not, young man. That name doesn't ring a bell. Not to me, nor, I believe, to my brother either."

Brain's heart sank. An unlikely connection, born from the need to find some meaning amidst the chaos. He fell silent, the brief flame of hope extinguished, his gaze returning to the dust cloud hiding his enemy.

It was Genos who broke the tense interlude. He turned to Brain, his voice direct and serious, not like a machine, but like someone urgently seeking vital information. "Excuse me," he said, his gaze fixed on the swordsman. "My databases and sensors do not identify this location. We need orientation. Could you tell us where we are? The name of this city, or the region?"

Brain blinked, abruptly pulled from his grim thoughts by the direct question. "Where...?" He stammered, the simplicity of the question clashing with the gravity of the situation. "Don't you know? You're in the Royal Capital! The capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom!" He said it with a mix of disbelief and confusion. How was it possible that these individuals were so completely out of place?

Genos processed the response: "Re-Estize Kingdom. Royal Capital." He nodded briefly, storing the data. An unknown name. No global coordinates, no comparable technological context. What would Saitama-sensei do now? "Understood," he told Brain, although the information was frustratingly incomplete for his purposes. "Thank you."

But any further analysis was interrupted. A violent crash of rocks and broken wood erupted from the mountain of rubble. Something stirred within, emanating a palpable fury that chilled the blood. The dust swirled wildly before being scattered by a figure that burst out with explosive force.

Shalltear Bloodfallen landed with predatory agility several meters away. Her attire was torn and dirty, but any visible wounds had already completely vanished. The mask still concealed her face, although somewhat cracked, but the murderous intensity she now radiated was denser, darker, almost suffocating. In her right hand, materialized as if it had always been there, she held her Spuit Lance, the divine weapon shining ominously with a crimson light. Her eyes locked onto Bang, burning with pure, concentrated hatred.

"Damn you...!" she hissed, her voice stripped of any previous trace of mockery, now a low, lethal growl, vibrating with the promise of extreme violence. All pretense of play had disappeared. She lunged forward, the tip of her lance becoming a blur aimed directly at Bang's heart. "DIE!" she screamed, imbuing her thrust with magic to enhance its already terrifying piercing power.

The speed was blinding, but Bang's instincts reacted. He swerved to the side at the last nanosecond, the air vibrating where his chest had been. The tip of the lance whistled past, so close that it grazed him, leaving a thin superficial cut from which a trickle of blood welled up. The elderly master didn't even blink.

Taking advantage of Shalltear's full extension in her failed thrust, Bang saw his opening. He pivoted on his heels and delivered a direct blow to the vampire's stomach. The impact resonated with a heavy, wet thud.

Shalltear coughed violently. A spurt of dark blood escaped through the cracks in her mask, spraying the ground in front of her. Her unseen eyes behind the mask widened with surprise and pain. However, unlike the previous time, her feet remained firmly planted on the ground, absorbing the force of the blow with inhuman resistance. Her head rose slowly, and although the mask concealed her features, Bang could feel the seething fury behind it, a malevolent pressure that seemed to twist the air.

"You... insect!" she growled, her voice distorted by rage and residual pain. Ignoring the blood dripping from her mouth, she raised the Spuit Lance again. This time, she didn't aim at Bang, but at the ground directly beneath him.

Before Bang could react to the change in tactics, the rooftop beneath his feet shattered, creating a crater and completely unstable ground. The attack wasn't meant to hit him directly, but to destroy his balance and footing.

The rooftop buckled and cracked beneath his feet. Bang, instantly recognizing the danger of losing his balance against such a fast and strong opponent, had no choice but to use the force of the collapse to propel himself backward and upward, landing nimbly on the edge of the nearest rooftop.

Shalltear looked up, her lance dripping dark energy. A cruel laugh escaped from behind the mask. "Running away, little rat? There's no escape! [Greater Ability Boost]! [Mass Fly]!"

Enveloped in a reddish aura that intensified her already formidable power, and now able to fly freely without restriction, Shalltear shot towards the rooftop like a missile.

Bang tensed his muscles, preparing to dodge again with his Ryusui Gansai Ken. But this time, Shalltear didn't lead with the lance. Anticipating the old man's fluid evasion, she feigned a thrust and, the instant Bang began to flow to deflect it, she retracted the lance and delivered a direct, brutal punch to Bang's stomach. The speed enhanced by her spells was simply too much.

The fist impacted with the force of a meteor. Bang felt the air explode painfully from his lungs. He spat a mouthful of blood, and the blow lifted him off the rooftop, launching him into the night sky like a rag doll.

"HAHAHA! Now that's more like it, old man!" roared Shalltear, her triumphant voice echoing in the night. She rose rapidly, following Bang in his upward trajectory. She readied the Spuit Lance, its tip glowing with murderous intent, prepared to impale the martial arts master in mid-air. "This will be your end! DIE!" She flew at full speed towards the defenseless Bang.

As Shalltear closed in, just meters away from skewering him, Bang, despite the pain and being suspended in the air, managed to twist his body, adopting a defensive stance and preparing a powerful downward kick as a last desperate resort.

Shalltear saw the maneuver and smiled cruelly beneath her mask. Useless! She accelerated even further, determined to break through any defense the old man could muster.

But just as impact seemed inevitable, a blinding light erupted in front of Shalltear. Genos, from the ground, had fired energy from his cannons to generate a flash of pure energy, as bright as a miniature sun, aimed directly at Shalltear's face.

"GAAAAH! MY EYES!" screamed Shalltear, instinctively bringing a hand to her mask, completely blinded and disoriented by the sudden burst of light. Her murderous charge halted abruptly.

That instant was all they needed.

Genos used his thrusters to leap vertically with incredible speed, reaching Bang's side in a fraction of a second. "Bang, NOW!"

Both, the master and the Demon Cyborg, acting in perfect synchrony, launched a devastating double kick. Genos's reinforced boot and Bang's hardened foot struck the blinded and vulnerable Shalltear's torso simultaneously with tremendous combined force.

CRACK!

The sound of the impact was brutal. Shalltear was flung downwards like a shooting star, screaming in fury and pain, directly towards where Bomb awaited her with terrifying calm.

Seeing her fall, Bomb adopted a low, firm stance, his hands open and fingers tensed like steel claws. The air around him seemed to vibrate. "Senpū Tetsuzan Ken (Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist)!" he murmured, unleashing his ultimate technique not as a single blow, but as a savage, concentrated barrage of wind cuts as sharp as blades.

As Shalltear, still disoriented, entered Bomb's range, the barrage struck her. There was no resistance. A sickening, wet tearing sound occurred as the incredibly pressurized and sharp air currents cleanly severed both of Shalltear's arms at the shoulders.

"AAAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!" Shalltear's scream was inhuman, a howl of pure agony and shock as her own arms flew off in opposite directions.

But Bomb wasn't finished. Before she could continue falling, he spun and struck the mutilated vampire with an open palm, launching her upwards again with tremendous force, back towards the sky where Bang and Genos were already descending.

"LET'S FINISH THIS!" Genos shouted.

"Hmph," Bang nodded.

Converging on the ascending, armless figure of Shalltear, they both delivered a final, crushing blow. Bang, with a punch imbued with the full power of his martial art; Genos, with his cybernetic fist crackling with concentrated energy.

The combined blow struck Shalltear's center mass with the force of a bomb. The resulting shockwave was visible, distorting the air. The vampire was slammed into the ground with unprecedented violence. The stone courtyard didn't just crack; it disintegrated under the impact, creating a crater several meters deep. The blast wave flattened nearby ruins, knocking down walls and raising a cloud of dust and debris that obscured the moon.

On the rooftop, Brain Unglaus stood dumbfounded, trembling uncontrollably—not from fear, but from absolute shock bordering on hysteria. He had seen power before. He had witnessed Shalltear's power. But this... this was different. Watching three individuals—two old men and a strange-looking young man—dismantle and crush a walking calamity like Shalltear Bloodfallen, a being he knew could annihilate nations... it was simply impossible.

"No... it can't be..." he whispered, his voice barely a thread. "Humans...? How can mere humans... do all this to... to that monster?" The despair he had felt earlier was replaced by a confusion and awe so profound it shook the foundations of his reality. "Who... who the hell are they?"

The dust began to settle slowly, revealing the extent of the devastation. Where a courtyard and several ruined houses had stood, now yawned a deep, smoking crater, at the bottom of which lay the shattered and apparently inert figure of Shalltear Bloodfallen. The smell of ozone, pulverized stone, and the metallic scent of blood hung heavily in the air.

Bang, Genos, and Bomb cautiously stepped back from the crater's edge, keeping their guard up just in case. Bang took a moment to catch his breath, one hand pressing his side where the last blow had connected hard. Although his fortitude was immense, the impact had been real and painful. He turned to his companions, genuine gratitude softening his weathered features.

"Thank you," he said, his deep, clear voice echoing in the silence following the battle. "Genos, brother... Without your precise help, this fight would have dragged on far too long." He paused, his gaze momentarily lost in the destruction. "And truth be told, the final outcome would have been uncertain. That... being... used very strange abilities." He gave Bomb and Genos a meaningful look. "That first attack she launched at me... was disconcerting. As if she had manipulated time around herself. Neither my eyes nor your reflexes, Genos, could follow the movement; we only saw the blow land." He shook his head, a shadow of unease in his eyes.

Bomb nodded solemnly, his arms crossed over his chest. "Exactly, brother," he corroborated, his voice grave. "That monster displayed alarming resistance and capabilities from the start. When we saw that initial speed, capable of surprising even you... we understood we couldn't give her any leeway." His gaze hardened. "Letting her recover or display more of those unknown tricks was tempting fate. Ending it quickly was the only prudent option."

Genos added, his eyes attentively scanning the crater, searching for any sign of movement. "I agree. Her abilities were unpredictable and didn't match anything I've encountered before. Neutralizing her quickly was the safest course to avoid unpleasant surprises."

With the main threat apparently contained, a tacit agreement spurred them to leap nimbly from the shattered ground back to the rooftop. There, Brain Unglaus remained paralyzed, watching them with a mixture of dread and amazement that made him tremble. Seeing them land calmly before him after such a display of power made him take a step back, gripping his sword hilt so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He looked at the three of them: the two elderly masters whose venerable appearance contradicted their terrifying strength, and the serious-faced young man with gleaming arms. The question burning inside him finally found voice, escaping his lips in a whisper thick with disbelief.

"You..." he stammered, his voice still trembling. His hand pointed hesitantly towards the crater and then back at them. "Answer me... Are... are you truly... human?" The question was a desperate plea to find some logical anchor in the vortex of impossible power he had just witnessed.

Genos heard the question. He knew Bang and Bomb were human, although their abilities defied all known limits. He himself... was different. A cyborg. But revealing that truth in this strange place, to someone whose reaction was unpredictable, didn't seem wise. They didn't know where they were, who this man was, or what other threats might exist. Prudence dictated caution. Best not to reveal too much information for now. We know nothing about this place or these people.

His eyes, which moments before had scanned the battlefield, fixed on Brain with serene intensity. There was an almost imperceptible pause, an instant in which he seemed to weigh the question and its implications. Then, his voice, while retaining its clear and slightly metallic timbre, sounded firm yet restrained.

"...Yes," Genos replied, keeping the answer simple and direct. "We are."

The terse statement, however, resonated with a strange lack of conviction for Brain, doing little to dispel the storm of doubt and astonishment enveloping him as he continued to watch the newcomers.

Brain took another step back, his hand still gripping his katana. The answer was too simple, too quick, contrasting brutally with the scale of power he had just witnessed. His eyes jumped from the impassive cyborg to the two elders with their unfathomable gazes. 'Humans...' The concept struggled to fit in his mind. "Humans...?" he repeated quietly, doubt tinging every syllable. "But... how? What you just did..." He shook his head, trying to clear the fog of disbelief.

He took a deep breath, desperation momentarily overcoming his shock. "Listen..." he began, his voice gaining some firmness, although caution was palpable. "I know this is... sudden. And frankly, I don't know who you are, or where you come from, or even if that answer is entirely true." He looked directly at Bang. "But this city… is being massacred. As you can see," he gestured towards the smoking ruins and the distant glow of the fiery barrier surrounding them, "we are trapped inside this district besieged by monsters and that infernal fire barrier. There are soldiers fighting in the nearby streets, innocent people hiding or being hunted..."

He paused, gauging their reaction. They seemed to listen intently, but there was no immediate acceptance. "If you really aren't another threat..." His voice broke slightly. "We need your help. Desperately. The Warrior Captain, Gazef Stronoff, and his men are holding back the hordes, but I don't know how much longer they can last."

Bang, Bomb, and Genos exchanged significant glances. The silence stretched, heavy with the desperate plea and the weight of the unknown. Genos remained analytical, Bang seemed to consider the situation calmly, while Bomb simply observed the swordsman with silent intensity.

Then Bang addressed the swordsman seriously. "And this fire barrier? Do you know what or who is behind this attack? What is the objective?"

"We don't know for certain," Brain admitted, frustrated. "It all started a few hours ago. They appeared from nowhere, demons and other horrendous creatures. The barrier rose, trapping the people in the district. We believe... we believe the leader is a terribly powerful demon who calls himself Jaldabaoth. He has been seen directing the attack, massacring anyone who gets in the way within this perimeter. His goal seems to be chaos and the total destruction of this part of the city."

Bomb intervened, his deep voice resonating in the tense air. "And you say this Jaldabaoth and his followers have power comparable to... that thing we defeated?"

"I haven't seen anything with the kind of power she demonstrated," Brain replied honestly, his face darkening further as he remembered Shalltear's speed and abilities. "But if she's here, it means Jaldabaoth is equally or even stronger." Brain saw the continued deliberation on their faces and added, his voice taking on a more pressing tone: "Look, I understand your caution. You've just arrived in this hell, you just fought... her. But if you help us repel this attack, stop Jaldabaoth, and save the trapped people... The Kingdom will know how to reward you. We'll give you shelter, information... whatever you need once we get out of this." His gaze fell on Garou, still unconscious and propped up nearby. "Even your companion... the injured one... I can guide you to a safer place within this area where perhaps he can receive attention..."

Bang raised a hand to stop him gently. "We appreciate the offer for him," he said, glancing briefly at Garou, "but he's my... former student." He corrected, a complex shade in his voice. "He'll be fine for now. His resilience is considerable." He paused, his gaze meeting Brain's with new resolve. He weighed the risks: the unfamiliarity of the place, a demon named Jaldabaoth, the nature of the threat within the barrier, the possibility of becoming entangled in an outside conflict. But he also saw the genuine desperation in the swordsman's eyes and thought of the innocents.

"However," Bang continued, his tone firm, the decision clear, "we cannot stand idly by while innocents suffer around us. Although this place and its conflicts are entirely unknown to us, in the end, we are still heroes. And our duty is to help."

He turned to Genos, who nodded with resolution. Then he looked at Bomb, who let out an almost inaudible snort but nodded anyway, a stoic expression on his weathered face. Then, Bang turned back to Brain. "We will help you," he affirmed. "Guide us to where the main battle against that... Jaldabaoth and his forces is taking place." He paused, adding firmly: "But we need you to inform us of everything you know as we advance through these streets. Information is crucial."

A trembling sigh escaped Brain, a mix of overwhelming relief and the persistent unease of allying with beings of such incomprehensible power. Had he found salvation or simply invited a typhoon into the storm? For now, it was the only hope. He nodded quickly, his body still tense but with renewed purpose.

"Yes... yes, of course. Thank you," he said, his voice still somewhat hoarse with emotion. "I will tell you everything I know. The most intense fighting is more towards the center of this district, where Jaldabaoth is concentrating his attack. We must hurry."

But just as Brain was preparing to guide them, a voice laden with icy, supernatural fury echoed from the depths of the crater they had created.

"YOU... DAMNED HUMANS...! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!"

With a burst of debris, Shalltear Bloodfallen rose from the crater, landing with a predatory grace that contrasted with the pure rage distorting her features. The mask was gone, revealing the face of a young woman of chilling beauty, now contorted by hatred. Her arms, severed moments before, were perfectly regenerated. And most notably: she now wore impressive full armor of dark crimson that radiated palpable power, and she wielded her Spuit Lance with murderous determination.

"Watch out!" Genos whispered urgently, his eyes fixed on the transformed vampire. "She has completely regenerated. And that crimson armor... it radiates immense power. She's much more dangerous now. Maximum alert!"

Shalltear ignored the cyborg. Her red eyes, blazing with fury, locked onto Bang. She raised a free hand, and a brilliant, sacred light concentrated in her palm. "[Purifying Lance]!" she screamed, and a projectile of pure energy shot towards the elderly master at terrifying speed.

Bang reacted purely on instinct, his body flowing like water to dodge the lance of light. The energy grazed past him, scorching the air beside him. But it was a feint. The instant Bang completed his evasion, Shalltear appeared directly behind him, the tip of her Spuit Lance aimed at his back.

The attack was too fast, the position too compromised. Bang tried to turn, but the lance reached him, piercing his shoulder with a sickening sound of ripping flesh and bone. A grunt of pain escaped his lips as the force of the impact made him stumble.

"BANG!" roared Genos. Without hesitation, he lunged into combat, unleashing continuous volleys from his cannons. The flames enveloped Shalltear, forcing her to take a step back and raise an arm to protect her face, although the armor seemed to absorb much of the damage.

That brief distraction was enough. Bang gritted his teeth against the pain, grabbed the shaft of the lance embedded in his shoulder with his free hand, and with a brutal pull, ripped it out. Ignoring the bleeding wound, he spun around and delivered an elbow strike with his healthy arm directly to Shalltear's temple.

The blow stunned her momentarily, making her hiss with pain and rage. She tried to regain her composure and attack Bang again, but in that instant, Bomb intervened. Having nimbly repositioned himself onto a piece of raised wall during the brief exchange, he leaped from above, concentrating his weight and power into a downward open-palm strike. The impact struck Shalltear on the upper back, slamming her violently to the ground.

Lying on the ground, but far from defeated, Shalltear let out a cry of animalistic fury. She gripped her Spuit Lance with both hands and began to spin it around her with insane speed and aggression, creating a defensive and offensive whirlwind. The sharp air currents generated by the lance whistled dangerously, slicing through rubble and carving grooves into the stone. Everything around her became a kill zone.

Brain Unglaus watched the escalating violence in horror. Shalltear's display of power was terrifying. His survival instinct screamed. He grabbed the unconscious Garou under the arms and began dragging him as fast as he could, away from the epicenter of the chaos towards the deepest shadows.

Shalltear, even amidst her fury, noticed the movement in her periphery. Her red eyes shifted towards Brain and Garou. A cruel and calculating smile spread across her face. Those two... the swordsman is weak, and the other is unconscious and injured... Easy prey. I could recover some health with the lance... and eliminate potential annoyances. Predatory logic momentarily overcame her rage towards the main trio. Interrupting her lance whirlwind, she pushed off the ground and launched herself like a crimson missile towards Brain and Garou.

She was about to reach them, the tip of her lance gleaming with lethal intent, when a metallic figure landed heavily between her and her prey. Genos planted himself firmly on the rooftop, his thrusters stabilizing him, his palms together, and his core glowing intensely.

"INCINERATE!" he roared. A roar shook the air as he unleashed the maximum power of his cannons. The concentrated torrent of fire didn't just hit Shalltear's charge head-on; it swept through the section of the district where they stood and vaporized parts of the adjacent buildings into a shower of incandescent debris. The deafening sound of the explosion echoed throughout the city, an unmistakable beacon of violence that had surely alerted every soldier, creature, and conscious inhabitant for kilometers around.

"GRAAAAH!" screamed Shalltear, being enveloped by the flames and thrown back several meters by the sheer kinetic force of the attack, her armor sizzling and smoking from the intense heat. She landed heavily, injured and visibly furious. She looked at the trio now regrouping: Bang clutching his bleeding shoulder but still ready to fight, Bomb adopting a defensive stance, and Genos standing defiantly before her, the heat still radiating from his cannons.

A terrible realization washed over her. They were too strong together. Their coordination, their raw power... surpassed her expectations. She could defeat any one of them one-on-one, she was sure... perhaps even all three if she unleashed more of her abilities, if she used her more potent spells, or invoked her divine power without restraint. She thought about using Time Accelerator, yes, or perhaps [Einherjar]... She could crush them.

But... at what cost? Revealing her full arsenal to these strangers was an unnecessary strategic risk. And failing... Failing Ainz-sama again! The mere idea chilled her blood (more than it already is, being a vampire). After her unforgivable previous mistake, after her betrayal... she couldn't afford the slightest slip-up. A defeat now, or even a costly victory that revealed too much information about Nazarick or her own capabilities, was simply unacceptable. She wouldn't fail her Lord, her Beloved, again!

Risking more here, without fully understanding what I'm facing, would be stupid. The most appropriate thing, the only appropriate thing, was to withdraw for now and immediately report to Ainz-sama. He, with his infinite wisdom, would decide how to proceed against these... humans.

With a growl of suppressed frustration and a look that promised future and terrible vengeance, Shalltear made a decision.

"[Greater Teleportation]!"

With the final word, her figure distorted and simply disappeared from the ruined courtyard, leaving behind only the echo of her fury and the palpable tension in the air.

A heavy silence fell upon the group. Brain Unglaus let out the air he didn't know he was holding, while Bang pressed his shoulder wound, assessing the damage.

"She's gone," Bomb stated, his eyes still scrutinizing the place where the vampire had disappeared.

"Where?" Brain asked, looking at the trio with a mixture of relief and fear.

"I don't know for certain," Genos replied, his optical sensors scanning the area. His gaze shifted towards the most intense glow of the fire and the distant roar of combat. "I can detect multiple extremely high energy signatures in that direction. One of them could be her, although it's weaker now. The others... are immense. The main battle, where you mentioned Jaldabaoth, must be there."

Bang nodded, despite the stabbing pain in his shoulder. "Then, that's our direction. That creature is too dangerous to leave loose, and if there are others of similar power, the situation is even more serious." He looked at Brain. "Young Brain, take my former student to a safe place within this area, as you offered. One more thing, and it's crucial."

He paused, his gaze hardening slightly as he thought of Garou. "Once he's safe, make sure he is well restrained. He is... immensely dangerous if he regains consciousness. If you have strong chains, use them. Anything that prevents him from moving freely if he wakes up. It's for everyone's safety." He finished the request gravely. "We will go confront the main threat."

Brain swallowed, absorbing the seriousness of the added request, but nodded quickly. "Understood. I'll take care of it. Be careful." Without further ado, he carefully secured Garou over his shoulder again and disappeared among the ruins, seeking shelter.

Bang, Bomb, and Genos exchanged a determined look and, following Genos's energy readings and the growing roar, headed off at full speed towards the heart of the besieged district.

---

In a relatively intact building, hidden near the central square, Shalltear Bloodfallen appeared with a flash of light. Before her stood two imposing figures: Demiurge and Ainz Ooal Gown, disguised as the adventurer Momon.

"Shalltear?" Ainz's internal voice conveyed surprise. "What happened? Why are you injured?"

Shalltear bowed deeply. "My apologies, Ainz-sama. I encountered... unexpected opponents. Three humans of absurd strength..." She briefly recounted the encounter.

Demiurge adjusted his glasses. "Humans with enough power to injure you? Shalltear, you are a disgrace. To think mere humans could cause you trouble...! Do you feel no shame presenting yourself like this before Ainz-sama?"

Before he could continue, Ainz interrupted him with a firm tone, though tinged with suppressed annoyance, "Enough, Demiurge. That is sufficient. Shalltear, please, explain in detail what happened."

Moved by a mixture of shame and fury upon remembering, Shalltear recounted her initial encounter with a swordsman. She explained that, shortly after, she detected four more individuals. One of them, a young, white-haired man, was gravely injured and unconscious; it was precisely the scent of blood emanating from his wounds that allowed her to locate them. She went on to describe two elderly martial artists whom she believed were brothers but employed distinct fighting styles. The final individual was a blond man who struck her as strange: his arms appeared metallic and possessed integrated energy cannons. She added, thoughtfully, that his scent was also unlike that of other humans. Moreover, she concluded that they seemed disoriented or lost.

In a tone that evidenced his displeasure at Shalltear's retreat, Demiurge commented that he found nothing particularly remarkable in the description. However, Shalltear countered that, despite their appearance, they had demonstrated strength and speed she had never before witnessed in humans. Thinking aloud, she pointed out that they hadn't used magic, nor had she detected any magical ability in them. Upon realizing this, Shalltear's anger turned inward: if they truly lacked magic, she could have easily eliminated them with a spell.

This reaction was interrupted by Ainz. "You did well to retreat, Shalltear," he said, his serious tone failing to conceal a deep concern. "The mere fact they could cause you so much trouble without using magic is, in itself, a very dangerous warning sign. Is it possible they were concealing their magical abilities, holding them in reserve? If that were the case, revealing your entire arsenal would have been a potentially catastrophic mistake. Your safety is paramount."

Upon hearing the approval of her beloved Ainz, and sensing his concern for her, the anger those filthy humans had kindled within Shalltear subsided momentarily.

However, her thoughts were interrupted by Demiurge, who had just received a report from one of his spy units in the district: three human figures were heading directly toward their current position. Connecting this information with Shalltear's account, it was clear who they were. "Wait... only three?" Demiurge thought. "And the fourth? Ah, right, the injured one. He's likely with the swordsman Shalltear mentioned."

Ainz processed this rapidly. Internally, concern over the unknown nature of these individuals grew, mixed with a pang of irritation at the damage inflicted upon Shalltear, an invaluable creation of his former guildmates. "Demiurge," he ordered with calm authority, "deploy units immediately to capture the injured individual before that swordsman can get him to safety. It is an absolute priority."

Upon hearing the command, a satisfied smile spread across Demiurge's face, convinced once more of Ainz-sama's unfathomable foresight and rapid planning. He relayed the order without delay.

Ainz weighed the new information. "Could they be new Players...? That would significantly complicate matters." He turned to Shalltear. "Retreat immediately to Nazarick and recover fully. We will investigate these strangers later." Then, addressing Demiurge: "Prepare yourself. It is time to continue our performance as Momon."

"Understood, Ainz-sama." Shalltear nodded and began to concentrate to activate her teleportation spell.

---

Bang, Bomb, and Genos burst into the central plaza. The scene was controlled chaos. In the center, the imposing dark warrior Momon exchanged "devastating" blows with the demon Jaldabaoth, a convincing performance of might. Near them, Momon's companion, the beautiful Nabe, pretended to struggle greatly against three of the demon maids: Lupusregina Beta, Entoma Vasilissa Zeta, and Solution Epsilon, maintaining a facade of a balanced fight.

However, a little further away, the battle was real and desperate. The small masked figure, Evileye, was being relentlessly harassed by two other maids: the forceful Yuri Alpha and the silent but lethal CZ2128 Delta (Shizu). Evileye launched defensive and offensive spells, but the coordination and pressure from the two Pleiades were pushing her to the limit.

Genos assessed the situation in a fraction of a second. The central fight seemed intense but strangely contained; Nabe appeared to be holding her own against three. But Evileye... she was in real danger.

"The masked girl needs help!" Genos shouted. With a burst from his thrusters, he crossed the plaza, and just as Yuri Alpha's gloved fist, enveloped in that ominous crackling energy, lunged towards the masked Evileye's face with lethal intent, Genos intervened. He raised his left forearm, the polished metal shining defiantly.

CLAAANG!

The sound was brutal, a deafening metallic detonation that resonated like the toll of a giant bell struck against a solid steel beam. Yellow and blue sparks jumped violently at the point of contact, and a palpable shockwave rippled through the air, kicking up a cloud of dust and small debris from the cracked pavement. Genos's metallic forearm vibrated intensely under the force of the impact, absorbing an amount of kinetic energy that would have easily pulverized bone and muscle. His feet sank a couple of centimeters into the flagstones as he anchored himself firmly, resisting the enormous thrust.

Evileye stumbled back, gasping loudly, the air whistling in her lungs. Her eyes, visible through the openings in her mask, were wide with pure shock. That blow... would have knocked her unconscious, or worse, left her completely at the mercy of the other two. The sudden appearance of this man... or was it a machine?... left her breathless. Another one?! Where did...? I didn't sense a trace of magic on him! And he stopped the Reinforced Fist like it was nothing!? She felt the residual heat emanating from his thrusters and the brief whirlwind of air from his arrival. A chaotic mix of confusion—"Who is he?", "Is he an ally?", "Why is he helping me?"—immense relief that almost made her legs buckle, and a sharp, strange curiosity ran through her as she watched the cyborg's back. His figure was strange, a fusion of mechanics and an almost heroic silhouette that radiated unwavering determination. "But what is happening today?" she wondered internally, the image of the adventurer Momon saving her hours earlier briefly overlapping with that of the newcomer. "Is today the official 'Incredibly strong Prince Charmings appear out of nowhere to save me' day?" She managed to articulate, her voice still trembling from adrenaline and fright: "Y-you... who...?"

Yuri Alpha took an instinctive step back, subtly shaking her right hand, which tingled from the impact against the unexpectedly resistant material. Her usually serene expression had completely fractured, replaced by a frown hidden beneath the mask she wore. Surprise and growing irritation were evident in her gaze. "Metal?" she murmured to herself, her thoughts fleeting. "Metal... with this capability? Could he be one of those individuals... Ainz-sama warned us about potentially dangerous enemies just moments ago." She cleared her throat, regaining her professional composure, albeit with a colder, sharper tone. "And who are you supposed to be? Some kind of advanced golem?" Her icy gaze swept over Genos from head to toe, assessing the threat he posed. "Interfering in matters that don't concern you? You've made a very reckless decision."

Meanwhile, CZ Delta, unperturbed as always, had adjusted her aim with a silent, fluid movement. Her single visible eye fixed on Genos, the new, sturdy obstacle. Her complex weapon emitted a soft, almost inaudible hum as it recalculated the firing solution. In her internal processing, the directive was clear: "New target. Priority: high. Analyzing structural weaknesses. Possible advanced armor."

Genos didn't take his eyes off Yuri, keeping his arm raised in defense, ready for the next attack. The metal of his forearm still smoked slightly from the friction and dissipated energy. "My identity isn't important right now," he replied, his voice firm and determined, without a hint of fear. He directed an icy gaze at Yuri and, without looking away from the fight between the demon and the black-armored adventurer, muttered, "I assume you must be one of the maids of that Jaldabaoth who is causing all this destruction." Then, he turned his head just enough to glance sideways at Evileye, his artificial eyes glowing with a serious, protective light. "Stay behind me. I'll handle this."

Seeing Genos's determined profile, hearing his firm voice, and feeling the security he projected as he stepped in to protect her, Evileye felt a wave of... something. A warm and confused sensation, an echo of the same feeling she had experienced for Momon.

It was in that instant, as his gaze met Evileye's through her mask, that Genos's sensors registered something disconcerting. For a very brief moment, his systems focused on her and marked an anomaly: absence of the standard biological signals associated with human or animal life. It was a strange reading, disturbingly similar to the anomalous data from his encounter with Shalltear.

Before he could process that strange information further, the masked girl's sharp voice snapped him out of his thoughts:
"WATCH OUT!"

Genos reacted instinctively. Turning his attention forward in a fraction of a second, he saw how Yuri Alpha, taking advantage of that minimal distraction, had already launched another reinforced punch straight at his face. With a burst of speed, Genos leaned his torso back and tilted his head, Yuri's fist whistling past centimeters from his face with a menacing whistle. The displaced air from the blow whipped across his metallic cheek. The fight resumed, now more dangerous than before.

Bang's and Bomb's eyes had already processed the new dynamic of the battlefield. They saw Genos drawing the attention of two of the dangerous maids. Nabe was still engrossed in her own fight, but now the distribution of forces had changed. It was time to act.

Bang evaluated the remaining opponents. His eyes landed on the agile figure moving with almost predatory grace: Lupusregina Beta. She had been pressuring Nabe alongside the others, but Genos's sudden intervention and the redistribution of her companions had momentarily left her without a clear target, a dangerous loose variable.

"That redhead is mine, brother!" shouted Bang. He didn't wait for confirmation. His objective was clear: intercept that maid before she could flank Genos or pressure the black-haired woman whom she had been fighting.

Lupusregina, who was evaluating whether to attack the robotic man who had appeared from behind or look for the weakened Evileye, turned her head upon feeling the sudden rush of air and the presence approaching. She saw the old man heading directly towards her, and a wider smile, full of sharp teeth, spread across her mask-covered face. "Oh? So these are the guys Ainz warned us about? Grandpa wants to play? How fun!" Her clerical staff spun in her hand, ready for the encounter.

Almost simultaneously, Bomb, the older brother, fixed his piercing gaze on the remaining pair still harassing Nabe: the unsettling Solution Epsilon, whose form seemed strangely fluid and adaptable under her suit, and the small but clearly dangerous Entoma Vasilissa Zeta, with her insect mask and distorted voice. They were a strange and threatening duo; the amorphous presence of one and the chitinous, buzzing nature of the other suggested unconventional and dangerous abilities. Leaving them to operate together was too great a risk.

"Understood, brother," Bomb replied in a deep voice, his knuckles already clenched. "I'll handle these two..." His stance changed, shifting from calm observation to explosive readiness. His intention wasn't elegant, it was direct: break their coordination and neutralize them as quickly as possible, before they could cause more damage or take advantage of any carelessness from the beautiful adventurer.

Solution and Entoma, who were coordinating their next attack on Nabe, were forced to react. Solution tilted her head, her body rippling slightly. "Oh? More trash?" Entoma emitted a sound like a sharp screech, her multiple insect eyes beneath the mask focusing on the new, sturdy enemy bearing down on them. The battle in the plaza fragmented further, turning into a series of intense and dangerous duels.

Jaldabaoth, seeing the new and powerful intruders already engaging his forces, decided to use the opportunity to magnify the "fight" and, while at it, test the newcomers. "[Hellfire]!" he roared, and a tide of dark, unnatural flames surged from his hands, sweeping across the plaza. It was ostensibly aimed at Momon, but its spread threatened to engulf all nearby combatants.

"Watch out!" Genos's voice cut through the chaos, his tone urgent as he analyzed the flames' energy. "That thermal energy is extreme! It could compromise my armor plating in seconds! It's not conventional fire!" he warned, as he simultaneously propelled himself backward and sideways, momentarily using his body to shield the masked girl before she too could react with a hasty protection spell.

Bang and Bomb, trusting the cyborg's warning and their own keen senses which perceived the unnatural danger, moved with astonishing fluidity, dodging the wave of burning darkness by millimeters. This, however, forced them to break off their offensive against Lupusregina and Solution/Entoma.

First that vampire with her impossible speed and regeneration, now this fire that defies known thermodynamics... Genos thought, as he dodged a shot from CZ Delta and responded with an incinerating blast. These abilities... they don't follow the physical laws I know. It's not plasma, it's not standard radiation... Is this what primitive civilizations called... 'magic'? A form of energy manipulation our science doesn't yet understand? The idea was illogical, but the data before him was undeniable. Whatever it is, it puts us at a clear tactical disadvantage until we understand its principles.

As the multiple, chaotic fights resumed with renewed fury beneath the glow of the residual flames, a new and terrifying sound tore through the air. It wasn't thunder, nor the clang of metal, but something deeper, as if the very fabric of space was being ripped apart.

Above the center of the plaza, reality seemed to fold in on itself. The air swirled, distorting like a feverish mirage before splitting open into an impossible fracture. A black hole, a vortex of pulsating darkness bordered by unstable, flickering light, appeared suspended in the night sky.

The combat stopped abruptly. All eyes, from Momon's and Jaldabaoth's to those of the Pleiades and the heroes, rose towards the unnatural phenomenon. A tense silence fell over the plaza, broken only by the crackling of nearby fires and the unsettling hum emanating from the portal.

Bang and Genos exchanged a look loaded with tension and a spark of desperate hope. "Is that...?" Genos thought, his sensors unsuccessfully trying to analyze the anomaly. "The exit? A way back home?"

But before they could process the possibility, something was ejected from the dark vortex. It wasn't a gradual appearance, but a violent shot. A blue and white streak crossed the sky at incredible speed, too fast to follow clearly, and crashed into the plaza floor with a deafening impact.

BOOM!

A shockwave shook the area, raising a dense cloud of dust and debris that obscured the center of the plaza, where a smoking crater now gaped.

Silence returned, heavier than before. Everyone stared fixedly at the crater, waiting to see what would emerge. Slowly, a figure began to rise from amidst the dust. At first, just a silhouette against the fire-lit dust. Then, the details became visible: a blue and white tracksuit, though somewhat torn. A young and strangely impassive face. And atop that face... a mop of black, somewhat messy hair.

At first, Genos and Bang looked confusedly at the guy, but upon paying closer attention to his features—and especially setting aside the hair—Bang's and Genos's eyes widened immensely.

"SEN... SENSEI?!" Genos stammered, disbelief making his voice falter for an instant. "What... what are you doing here? And... and you have hair... HOW?!"

Saitama brushed the dust off his shoulders, looking around with an expression that could only be described as absolute and total confusion. He saw the ruins, the fire, the strange figures—a giant demon, a dark knight, lethal-looking maids, several masked girls...—and then fixed his gaze on Genos. Huh? Did that guy with robot arms call me Sensei? And why is he talking about my hair? Where the hell am I? I was just fighting that Boxer monster...

While Saitama's mind tried to connect the non-existent dots, Entoma, who had been momentarily ignored by Bomb—who was struggling to contain Solution due to her immunity to the old man's attacks—saw the newcomer standing motionless and apparently disoriented. Easy prey. Without hesitation, she lunged at him. "Die, intruder!" Her centipede whip shot towards Saitama.

Saitama, snapped out of his confusion by the imminent attack, saw it coming. With one movement, he tilted his head, dodging the whip completely. Then, without a second thought, he threw a punch with a somewhat serious face.

THUMP!

The sound was dry. The punch connected with Entoma. The insectoid Pleiad shot backward as if hit by a freight train, flying dozens of meters before crashing violently against a building facade and remaining completely motionless, embedded in the rubble.

Solution Epsilon, who was twisting to avoid a blow from Bomb, felt the connection with Entoma abruptly sever. A chill ran through her gelatinous form. "[Urgent Message to All Units: Entoma... neutralized! Taken down in a single blow by the newcomer!"

The news struck the remaining Pleiades and Demiurge like lightning. Yuri, Lupusregina, and Delta stopped their attacks for an instant, staring in disbelief at the spot where Entoma had disappeared. Ainz (Momon), in the midst of his "epic" battle, froze internally. One... one blow? To Entoma? Impossible! Who the hell is this guy?

Demiurge processed the new information with terrifying speed. Three intruders were already a complication. This fourth individual, capable of neutralizing a Pleiad with a single blow, was too dangerous and unpredictable a variable. The risk of continuing the operation and exposing more secrets or suffering further losses was too high. It was time to execute the strategic retreat.

"Hmph. It seems the night has held too many unpleasant surprises for us," Jaldabaoth announced, his voice tinged with calculated frustration. He addressed Momon, but his gaze also cautiously assessed Saitama, Bang, Bomb, and Genos. "Dark Warrior Momon, and you, strange meddlers... you have proven to be a greater nuisance than anticipated. For now, I shall withdraw. Regrettably," he added with a touch of theatricality, "I was unable to recover the item I sought in this city."

"You won't escape so easily, demon!" shouted Evileye, preparing to cast another spell.

But Momon stopped her with a firm gesture. "Let them go, Evileye," he said, his deep voice resonating calmly. "Their leader recognizes tactical defeat for now. There's no need to risk more lives pursuing them as they retreat." — Internally: Perfect! Let them leave before these guys do something even more unpredictable —

Jaldabaoth gave a silent signal. Almost instantly, Solution Epsilon, disengaging from Bomb, moved with fluid, unnatural speed towards where Entoma had impacted. In the blink of an eye, she retrieved the unconscious body of her Pleiad sister.

Simultaneously, Jaldabaoth extended a hand, and a dark portal, crackling with negative energy, opened in the air beside him.

With a final look towards Momon and a quick, deeply cautious assessment of the group of heroes, especially Saitama, Jaldabaoth signaled the retreat. The remaining Pleiades — Yuri, Lupusregina, CZ Delta, and Solution carrying Entoma — quickly entered the portal without hesitation. Jaldabaoth followed them, and the portal snapped shut behind him with a dull thud, leaving only a faint trail of dark energy that quickly dissipated.

An expectant silence filled the plaza now that the immediate threat had completely vanished. Momon straightened up, looking at the spot where the portal had closed. He turned towards Nabe, who had remained at his side, and towards the masked sorceress.

"They're gone," Momon finally declared, his voice echoing in the stillness. He raised his sword in a triumphant gesture. "Although the demon Jaldabaoth has escaped for now, we have stopped his assault, protected the city, and made his forces retreat after suffering casualties. Today, victory is ours!"

Nabe nodded solemnly at his side. Evileye watched Momon with total admiration, although part of her attention, filled with awe and deep confusion, drifted towards the newcomer from the portal and towards the silent cyborg who had helped her, awakening within her a feeling disturbingly similar to the one she felt for Momon.

Bang, Bomb, and Genos ignored the celebration and immediately converged on Saitama.

"'Sensei,'" Genos repeated, his voice still tinged with disbelief as his eyes scanned his master from head to toe, lingering on the hair. "'Is it really you? How did you get here? And... what happened to your hair?!'"

Saitama looked at the three of them – the cyborg who kept calling him 'Sensei,' and the two old men. Then his gaze swept over the devastated surroundings, the dark knight celebrating with his companion, the masked girl... Nothing made sense. His expression was a canvas of pure and utter bewilderment.

"... 'Who are you guys?'" he finally asked, his flat, confused voice echoing in the plaza's stillness.