Jet Stream (3)
"What happened to Prime Knight?"
Jet Stream asked me about Prime Knight. What kind of answer was he expecting? A guy like Jet Stream would've already guessed his fate.
"You already know, don't you? The Succubus is right here, and none of the guys who went after her came back. It's obvious, right?"
"I see..."
At my response, Jet Stream closed his eyes. A single tear trickled down his cheek.
This is a man's hot tears! Oh ho? Crying, huh? Then a man among men like me can't just stand by!
Recall it! The kids reuniting with their families after returning home!
"Kkh! Khh... hngh! Hwaaa! Heong! Hnghngh!"
Tears gushing like a faucet. Thinking of those kids reuniting with their beloved families in despair, the tears poured out on their own. Tears flooding out!
Today, I stood here to break Jet Stream. I didn't want to lose to him in even the smallest thing. Even if it was a man's hot tears...
I wept like a waterfall, while Jet Stream shed just one drop. Heh. My victory.
"Da... kkhng! If you're done crying... let's fight. Kng!"
"....."
I wiped my tears, blew my nose, and spoke to Jet Stream. He opened his eyes, still silently weeping.
"....."
"....."
Jet Stream and I locked eyes intensely. I wanted to exchange a few more words to shake his composure, but his gaze—clear as a mirror—told me conversation was pointless.
Yeah, real men don't talk it out. They settle it with fists. Especially when they've resolved to see it through to the end.
Steel Skin.
Activating the skill, my entire body began hardening into steel. Jet Stream was an S-rank villain, and the chilling aura radiating from him ranked among the top I'd ever faced.
Damn, it's prickling.
No electricity involved, but the hairs on my skin stood on end. I could feel his iron will to kill me, no matter what.
Pssshhhh—!
"Hm?"
Suddenly, steam billowed from Jet Stream's body, like a locomotive venting smoke. And then he vanished.
"....!"
"....."
The vanished Jet Stream was suddenly right in front of me. I hadn't even blinked, yet here he was, swinging a fist.
I hurriedly raised my arm to block. My body enhancer superpower was different from others'—nine traits and one skill, all defense-focused.
But—
"Khak?!"
"....."
Jet Stream's fist pierced my arm like a spear through a shield, straight into my heart. My heart... exploded!
"Huh?"
"....."
I blinked, and reality flipped. Jet Stream's fist was blocked by my arm. It had never pierced, never stabbed my heart.
What the hell...? Jet Stream kept swinging relentlessly. His stance was rock-solid, like a trained boxer.
"Kup!"
"Shuba!"
"Shhht!"
I blocked with everything I had, but his fists occasionally landed. Even with my defense traits stacked, the pain was dizzying. Without them... I might've shed real tears.
"Hup!"
I heard Jet Stream exhale. About five minutes into his barrage, his first real breath. He pulled his arm back, body twisting—the angle screamed heart strike, just like the first.
Pssshhhh—!
Steam burst from his elbow. His arm vanished.
Too late...!
I crossed my arms too slow; his fist had already hammered my heart.
"Kheuk?!"
Ripping agony tore through me as I flew back to the rooftop across the street.
"Kuhhh..."
On the ground, I clutched my throbbing heart. Luckily, Steel Skin was active, and my defense traits held. My heart pounded wildly—thump thump—but it was fine. Still, it hurt like hell.
"Fuck, that really hurts."
Even White Knight's hits hadn't stung this bad. No joke.
But it wasn't for nothing.
Psychic Tree
Lv.1 Fuel Efficiency Increase
Lv.2 Fuelization - Blood
Lv.3 Acceleration (Active)
Lv.4 ???
Lv.5 ???
Lv.6 ???
Lv.7 ???
Lv.8 ???
Lv.9 ???
Lv.10 ???
I'd analyzed Jet Stream's superpower and traits/skills up to level 3. I'd planned to observe, analyze with Superpower Analyzer, then fight—but he wouldn't budge, so I tanked it with my body.
"Fuck, five more uses and I'm set."
Five more superpower activations from him, and I'd know all his traits and skills. One more after that... and it'd be one-sided beatdown time.
"Up you go."
The pain faded. I stood, stretched, and glared at Jet Stream standing tall across from me.
"Should I just rip him in half?"
[Agreed, bro.]
Thanos bro approved. But no. How often do you fight a Lv.10 superpower user? Can't waste this.
Time to use Jet Stream as a textbook—check my powers, maybe develop new tech. He'd make a perfect stepping stone for my growth.
"Round two! Fight!"
"....."
I launched at him.
*****
"Die!"
Thwack—! A solid steel pipe smashed into Red Gorilla's nape. The man swung with full intent to kill.
"... Khahaha! That doesn't even tickle!"
"M-monster!"
"Gorilla? I'm no gorilla!"
"Uwaaaak!"
The man called him a monster, but Red Gorilla's ears filtered it as "gorilla." Like calling a fool a fool or a real gorilla a gorilla—same reaction.
Crack—!
"Khahaha! Where's someone stronger?!"
Red Gorilla twisted the man's neck 360 degrees in one go, cackling as he hunted his next meal.
Jet Stream had fallen into Steel Armor's trap, losing his powerhouse trio and five executives. With Succubus's betrayal, half his execs were gone.
Steel Armor even pulled in Jet Stream's old rival alliance, Don Quixote, to seize total control. But the battle was dead even.
Jet Stream had ruled as a villain for years; his forces were massive—second only to Hero Association in Dark City. Tons of people meant tons of villains.
Even ruined rich last three generations, they say. Jet Stream's empire didn't crumble easily despite the fatal blow. Without Steel Armor assassinating the execs, the Baldies or Don Quixote grunts would've died first.
"Bring the tough ones! Tougher ones!"
"You country bumpkin gorilla, you know where you are?!"
"I'll kill you!"
"... Khuhuhu!"
Two B-rank villains blocked him; Red Gorilla grinned darkly. He bellowed at them.
"Which of you two is stronger? I'll fight the strong one!"
"Dumb gorilla, this is a battlefield!"
"We'll kill you right here!"
"W-wait, fuck no! This ain't fair, you cowards!"
"War has no cowards!"
They charged together; Red Gorilla panicked. He cursed them as cowards, but it bounced off. Then—
"True, war has no cowards."
"What?!"
Behind Red Gorilla lurked Light Head, one of Steel Armor's men. Red Gorilla's bulk hid him perfectly.
"Sunlight!"
Flash—!
"Kaaak!"
"My eyes?!"
Light Head peeked out; sunlight reflected off his glossy bald scalp like a flashbang. The villains clutched their eyes in agony.
"Now!"
"Nice!"
Red Gorilla and Light Head pounced, smashing the blinded foes—fist and headbutt exploding skulls. Perfect teamwork.
"Great attack, Light Head!"
"You too! Red Gorilla, your strike was flawless!"
"... Heh."
"... Heh."
High five! Grooming buddies Red Gorilla and Light Head slapped hands. The hothead and the creep synced surprisingly well in battle.
"Our combo could take an A-rank villain!"
"Obviously! Let's hunt an A-rank now!"
The grooming duo targeted an A-rank—Jet Stream exec, no less.
Crash—!
Hotel glass shattered; two beauties plummeted. One had devil horns, wings, tail; the other clutched a black aura orb pulsing ominous energy.
Succubus and the Witch.
"That's... the Witch!"
Light Head recognized her.
"You know her?"
"Yeah. One of Jet Stream's execs."
"A-rank then? Let's kill her!"
"Hell yeah!"
They snuck up for the ambush.
"Hohoho! Succubus! Think you can beat me like that? Dream on, you slutty whore!"
"Shut up, you bitch! Today I avenge my sisters!"
Boom—!
Boom boom boom boom—!
Uwaaaak—!
Help! Run!
The A-ranks unleashed; ground exploded, nearby folk died instantly.
"....."
"....."
Red Gorilla and Light Head froze mid-sneak, exchanged nods.
"Somewhere else, buddy!"
"Yeah, buddy!"
Fuck, A-ranks are terrifying. Jumping in means no corpse left.
A-ranks are like that...
S-ranks...
They glanced at the hotel roof as they retreated.
Kwoong—!
Kwaaaang—!
Boom boom boom—!
It was exploding like bombs up there.
*****
"Khak!"
"....."
My solar plexus—fucking wrecked! Jet Stream's steam-boosted strike was a beat too fast; I couldn't block, and paid dearly.
His fist nailed my core; shock stole my breath.
Thud—!
Strength drained; I dropped to my knees before him.
"Th-this strong... This is Jet Stream... Hiiiik?!"
"....."
His overwhelming power shocked me. Looking up, I met the eyes of a lion eyeing prey.
I'm dead...! Death's terror gripped me.
"Sp-spare me! Please, Jet Stream! I don't wanna die like this!"
"....."
I clung to his leg, begging. I really didn't want to die. Chaebol heir! S-rank villain! Rich, strong! Less than a year enjoying this world—no way!
"Wh-what should I do? Right! Bark like a dog? Woof! Woof woof! My bad, Jet Stream! Please spare me!"
"....."
Despite my desperate pleas, he glared murderously. I clung harder.
"S-rank! I'm S-rank! Trio died because of me, but I can do better! Spare me! I'll be your dog, serve like one! Woof woof!"
"Pathetic..."
He finally spoke.
"To lose to trash like this...!"
"J-Jet Stream!"
Unable to contain his rage, he reared back his fist. Clear intent to crush my skull.
"I—!"
"Die!"
"Knelt to—!"
As his fist descended, I sprang up.
"Gain thrust!"
"Kuk!"
A light uppercut to his jaw. Thrust doubled the damage! Jet Stream toppled—first hit he took.
I brushed dust from my knees, looking down.
"Whew! Method acting on point."
My multi-personality-honed acting fooled even me. Hell, I thought I was done for~