Clay Play
I took Karinbia, Jungbo, and the five newly recruited B-rank villains with me to my room. But one asshole kept muttering behind me, pissing me off.
"I could take him... No matter how I think about it, he's all hype, right?"
"I told you to shut the fuck up."
"Oh, you heard that? It was just to myself."
It was none other than the villain named Sand Storm. Should I just kill the bastard? No, no. Killing makes me a murderer, so I gotta turn him into a bug instead. But seriously, turn him into a bug for real?
'Sigh... hold back.' They say enduring three times saves a man's life. Plus, today was the official face-to-face with my subordinates. I wanted to wrap this meeting up in a chill atmosphere if possible.
"Lemme off that fucker and take over this whole place?"
"Sigh..."
But fuck, thinking about it, I'm not the patient type. Why did I become a villain? To live free, doing whatever the hell I want without caring about stares, right? And that Sand Storm prick shows zero respect or manners toward me. Even if I didn't bring him in myself, he's under me now—he should treat me like the boss with proper deference.
Look at the guys I brought. They're not shutting up and behaving 'cause they're pussies. They do it 'cause they see me as the boss and follow quietly. So what the hell does this guy have backing him to act so cocky? I'm an S-rank villain, not some neighborhood pushover.
"How many times do I gotta tell you to shut up? Sand..."
"Karinbia."
"...Yes, boss."
I stopped walking and turned to glare at Karinbia. He'd been warning Sand Storm at my signal and now bowed his head.
"You two close?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Then it's fine if I crush him right here, yeah?"
"...Yes, sir."
I stepped right up to Sand Storm, who flashed a sleazy grin.
"Finally giving me some attention. I was worried becoming an S-rank made you scared of me—"
BAM!
"Gah?!"
I kicked him square without warning. He flew back and slammed into the wall.
Crash!
Then something crazy happened. Sand Storm's body turned to sand and scattered everywhere. Guess that's why they call him Sand Storm.
Shhh...
The scattered sand regrouped into Sand Storm.
"Hah! As expected of an S-rank—strong! But what now? Your attacks don't work on me."
"....."
Sand Storm smirked, all cocky. When I kicked him, it didn't feel like hitting flesh—just like kicking a sandcastle. No real impact. Looks like his superpower turns his body to sand the moment it takes damage.
Like he said, against a body enhancer like me, his sand power was a perfect counter.
"Whoa, sooo scary."
"Heh. Flaunting your S-rank pride? I'll give you a chance. Join me now, and I'll make you second-in-command—"
"Eek, sooo scary."
"Huh?"
Second-in-command under him? I'm already top dog—why the fuck would I join you? This guy's insane.
I closed in on the smug Sand Storm and swung my fist. My arm plunged right into his head. A normal person would've died on the spot, but he was fine—his head turned to sand the instant my arm hit.
Poof!
Sand the size of my arm sprayed backward from his head.
"Sooo scary."
"Told you it's useless!"
Poof!
"Sooo scary."
"Hmph! Cocky bastard!"
Poof!
"Sooo scary."
"Hm? Uh, wait—?"
Poof!
"Sooo scary."
"W-Wait a sec!"
As I kept pounding away, Sand Storm's smugness turned to panic. The guy's senses must be dull as hell.
"W-What the fuck! What are you?!"
"Dumbass. A sub-A-rank like you challenging an S-rank? Know your place."
"How the hell are you controlling my sand?!"
Sand Storm gawked at my arm, caked in his sand. He scowled, trying to manipulate it, but it didn't budge.
Simple answer: I used Attraction, a skill from my Gravity Dominator superpower, to pin the sand to my arm.
His sand power's level 6. Mine's level 10. There's an uncrossable wall between us. The sand's part of his body, but my power's stronger—he can't influence it at all.
"Now, how do I turn this into a bug?"
To become a bug, limbs need crushing or ripping off—that's step one. But with a sand body, even if I smash or tear 'em, he'll just regen.
Sand bug! How do I make a sand bug?!
"Right! That method!"
People really gotta watch more movies. Gives killer ideas right when you need 'em. Thanks, Peter Parker! In gratitude, I'll do the Peter Dance on the street later!
Even our third bro Thanos bails through a portal when hit with the Peter Dance. Strongest move in the verse.
"Jungbo. Go grab some water."
"Water, sir? Yes, sir!"
Jungbo bolted to the bathroom, filled a bucket, and hauled it back.
"Tch. More."
"Yes, sir!"
Jungbo dashed off again without a word. Look at him—high loyalty means he follows orders perfect. Later, stick a red hat on him and have him whip the newbies into shape. Doesn't matter their past; no one mouths off to the red hat.
"Hey kids~ Your friendly neighborhood Steel Armor here~ What game today? Ta-da! Clay play!"
"Pfft! Cough!"
I dumped Jungbo's bucket over Sand Storm.
"So~ For clay play, what do we need? Right~ Sand and water! Sprinkle water on sand and... fuck, it doesn't clump!"
Fucking hell. No-Kill Rule OFF.
"Keep beating, and he'll die eventually."
"Cough! Sp-Spare...!"
Superpower Analyzer cannot be used on dead targets.
The message popped up, so I stopped punching. Fuck, thought I'd get a rare sand bug... Collecting bugs is a long, rough road.
"Jungbo? Have the guys clean this up."
"Yes, boss!"
"Alright, let's head up."
"""""....."""""
I walked past the subordinates staring at me in stunned terror.
*****
'How do I bring this up?'
I swallowed, eyeing the nervous subordinates, pondering how to start. Besides Karinbia, no one here knew I planned to fight Jet Stream. Declaring war on an S-rank to these mere B-ranks? They'd bolt at night.
So, create a natural setup for fighting Jet Stream.
I opened my mouth.
"You know why I hired you. My turf exploded, but I'm short on useful hands—especially superpower users."
They stared.
"So you, eating from my pot, will manage my districts as proxies."
Mention of districts shifted their fearful eyes to greed. Money beats fear, as always.
"....."
Only Karinbia kept his unreadable gaze.
"First, Karinbia."
"Yes, boss."
"You handle district 72."
"Yes."
"Adding 71 and 73."
"I'll meet your expectations."
Karinbia bowed.
"Whoa! B— I mean, bro! Congrats!"
His subordinate, Red Gorilla, buzzed with excitement. One district to three—fair reason. Dude really looks like a gorilla. First sight, I thought a gorilla suited up and walked in.
"Next, Light Head."
"Heh heh heh... Yes, boss."
Light Head straightened with a creepy laugh.
Shine!
His bald head flashed. Recite the Heart Sutra and he'd rage?
"District 74 for you."
"Keh heh heh heh... Thank you, boss."
"Blood Shot."
"Yes, boss."
"District 75."
"I'll manage it with utmost dedication."
The serious Blood Shot bowed. Pair him with Karinbia—good match?
"Taser Gun gets 79, Titan Pipe 80."
"Thank you, boss."
"We'll do our best."
Districts assigned! Income's gonna skyrocket.
I'll handle 76, 77, 78 personally—via Mark Two, Mark Three, Mark Five bodies. Mark Four's alibi-only, no districts. New villains later? Hand off all but 78.
And me? Party time. Sneak into Jet Stream's turf now and then.
"Tribute's 30% of income. Need hands? Tell Jungbo."
""""Yes, sir. """
Stopped there. Held back on Jet Stream—when the time comes, they'll fight whether they want to or not.
*****
Handed districts to subs and clones, then headed straight to district 83.
81 and 82 run by unaffiliated A-ranks. 83 starts Jet Stream's turf.
'Whoa.'
S-rank boss? Streets crawling with rifle-toting thugs. Locals unfazed—just sidestep when approached.
I hopped rooftops, dodging thugs and CCTV, to my target.
"Still not fixed?"
Muttered at the ruined building. Whole thing collapsed—takes time to rebuild. One of Jet Stream's businesses—I wrecked it.
Today? Wreck another. Sending villains to check me? From that moment, Jet Stream and I are mortal enemies. Can't breathe same sky!
No killing.
"Got it, bro. That's why bug-ify instead."
Batman bro warned me not to off Jet Stream by mistake.
"You fucking idiots! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Hm?"
Heading to another building, a venom-laced woman's voice below caught me. Looked down.
"Whoa, fuck."
The instant I saw her hurling thick curses at rough-looking thugs, my heart—no, my dick—shuddered in excitement.