Madness (1)
With my genius brain, I blasted through the labyrinth in one go, searching for Rachel alongside Cheetgirl. Traps like this were nothing but paper to me—just something to smash right through.
But there wasn't a sign of Rachel, not even a single rat scurrying around.
"Why's it so damn quiet in here? No people anywhere. Is Rachel really supposed to be here?"
It was so empty, I was starting to wonder if the kidnappers were holed up somewhere else entirely. Still, Cheetgirl's nose radar was pointing this way, so we kept searching.
"What is this place, a giant's house or something? It's ridiculously huge."
And it really was—vast and towering. This had to be some kind of underground city designed for emergency civilian evacuations. Just judging by the space, it could easily hold thousands.
"Or maybe this is actually an alien ship that crash-landed on Earth—no, on this world. Turns out Dark City was built on top of it, and this is the entrance inside."
"That could totally happen."
Superpowers pop up, monsters show up. No reason aliens couldn't too.
"Anyway, Cheetgirl, sniff around faster. Think about how scared Rachel must be right now."
"Kyarrung!"
I could see it clear as day. In the pitch-black corner of a room where no light could reach, Rachel huddled with her friend, trembling, hands clasped tight. In the total darkness, the only comfort was her friend's warm body heat.
Rachel, shaking violently, screamed out.
"Save me, Daddy Boobs!"
"Fuck!"
She begged to be saved! Rachel begged me to save her! How terrified must that little kid be to scream for me like that?!
"You heard that too, right, Cheetgirl?! Rachel's desperate cry for help?!"
"Kyarrung?"
Goddamn useless nerdgirl! She couldn't even hear Rachel's SOS that rang clear in my ears.
"Find Rachel quick, Cheetgirl!"
"Kyarrung."
Sniff sniff sniff—!
Cheetgirl started tracking by scent along the floor. Ugh... this is frustrating. At this rate, it'll take forever to find her...
"...Nice."
Was I lucky? I sensed footsteps approaching from afar. The guy probably thought I wouldn't notice, but I sure as hell did.
"Yeah, exactly. If you don't know, just ask someone who does."
Steel Skin.
Right now, with Rachel needing rescue, I had zero patience for these clowns' bullshit.
Swift and decisive.
I'd crush him in one shot.
"Tch!"
I poured power into my thighs, thicker than words. Boom—!
Like bulldozing through that labyrinth earlier, I charged straight at the lurking peeping tom spying on me.
Focusing on one spot, just like before. Kaboom—!
"Gaaah?!"
I slammed into his position body-first. The pillar crumbled instantly, and the guy behind it rolled on the floor screaming.
I'd slowed just before impact on purpose, but the bastard had decent reflexes too. If they sucked, he'd have eaten the full-speed hit even with my brakes.
"Hello, my friend?"
He'd be guiding me from here on out, so he was my buddy starting today. New friends are always welcome!
"Y-You crazy fuck, do you even know where you are?! I'll kill y—huh? Uhh?! W-Wait! Y-You... you're...?!"
The guy, who looked ready to unleash his superpower any second, stared at me in shock.
Makes sense. If he didn't recognize me, he wouldn't be a friend.
"S-S-S-Steel Armor?! What the hell are you doing here...!"
"Nice to meet ya, buddy!"
"Uh, uhh? Gaaack!!!"
With all the joy of reunion, I spread my arms wide and bear-hugged him hard.
Aah... my friend! How long has it been since we last met like this?! From today, this guy and I are ballsy bros separated since twenty years ago.
His balls? Two. Me and him? Two. We're inseparable like that—true ball brothers.
May our balls never part! I can't even imagine such horror! No cat-balls-ripping bullshit!
"My twenty-year ball bro, long time no see. I've got one favor to ask."
"Guhh... p-please... spare me..."
"What're you saying, buddy?! Of course I'll spare you! Just do this one thing for me."
"W-what is it..."
I laid out my request to my eager-to-help friend, wiping the smile off my face.
"Some motherfucker here kidnapped my daughter. You know who it is, right? You have to. So tell me who the bastard is and where he's hiding."
"What the hell are you—gaaah!"
Aah...! He's changed! My twenty-year ball bro has changed! Too long as ball buddies, he's lost his sperm production! Now he's refusing my request!
"Listen up, you rotten ball buddy. Life's all about equal exchange. You want something, you gotta give something. Wanna live? Guide me to the fucker who took my girl. That's our deal. Got it?"
"I don't know how I could tell y—gaaah!!!"
"Dude... you still don't get me. Say you can first. I'll describe what the guy looks like, his traits. You use that info to lead me to him. Easy. Meanwhile, you're stalling, and my girl's crying her eyes out in fear. Or are you trying to piss me off on purpose? Wanna see what I'll do...?"
"....."
I eased my grip a bit and spoke to my ball bro. Maybe he felt the rage building inside me real-time—he stopped screaming. His eyes were drowned in terror.
"Th-the guy... uh, wh-what does he look like?"
"Dunno."
"...Pardon?"
"I don't know! You wanna keep pissing me off?!"
"N-no, sir!"
"But he uses weird tentacles. Like octopus suckers."
"T-tentacles? Tentacles... then..."
"Know who it is?"
"N-no idea! Really! None of my guys use tentacles! I swear! Believe me!"
"Fucking hell."
Just make him guide me. Snap his neck if he pulls any funny business.
*****
"Guh! Steel Armor! This'll be your grave! Arrogant prick! You have no idea where you are!"
"...Knew you'd say that, but you're acting so predictably it's like flat Zero Pepsi. Total letdown."
I uncrossed my arms, eyeing the rotten ball buddy puffing up in front of his crew.
Once I made him guide me, he started dutifully leading the way. Then I sensed presences stealthily tailing us.
Pretending to guide while luring me into a trap. The villains encircling us numbered about fifty—all B-rank or higher.
Holy shit, so many usable villains. This really Shadow Killer's secret hideout?
"Cheetgirl. Hide over there. Keep checking for Rachel's scent."
"Kya, kyarrung!"
Pointing behind me, she bolted back to hide. Our Cheetgirl's such a nerd she retires from one side kick.
"But you think that puny number can take me? I'm Steel Armor. S-rank."
"Heh heh... We're agents specialized in assassinating S-rank superhumans like you. No matter how S-rank you are, you're dying here today."
"Look at this rotten-balled fuck acting all high and mighty with his buddies. Begging for his life earlier like a bitch."
"Sh-shut up! What're you waiting for?! Kill him!"
"....."
"...Why isn't anyone coming?"
"Wh-what?! Why's everyone standing around?! I said kill him quick!"
Rotten balls yelled, but no one moved. They wouldn't even look at him.
What the hell are they doing?
"Fancy meeting you here again, Steel Armor."
"Huh? Oh ho?"
Like Moses parting the Red Sea, the villains split in two. From the gap emerged a beauty in sharp high heels. Big tits, big ass—classic Western stunner.
Hmm... but she looks familiar?
"Who the hell are you?"
"Forgot me already? We didn't exchange names back then. I'm Dark Lady."
"Dark Lady?"
Ah! I remembered. One of the villains who showed up when I bisected that lame dick Shadow Killer before.
"You're... one of Shadow Killer's underlings, right?"
"Correct. You remember."
"What? So this really is Shadow Killer's hideout?"
"...You didn't know?"
"Obviously not. How the hell would I know who owns some underground city?"
"Then how'd you get here?"
"Some fucker who called himself Shadow Killer kidnapped my daughter."
"Daughter? You have a daughter? Unexpected."
"Cut the crap. Hand over my girl. And her friend Rachel too. Do that, and I'll leave nice and quiet."
"Your words sound like nonsense to me."
Dark Lady crossed her arms. Her Elis-level tits jiggled, drawing my eyes automatically. I knew it wasn't the time, but instincts gonna instinct.
"Nonsense?"
"Yes. None of us kidnapped your daughter."
"...I said my daughter was kidnapped."
Rotten balls, Dark Lady—they kept talking, stalling. Rachel was worrying me sick.
Batman bro, Joker bro, Thanos bro. Something inside me's growing. Is it my dick?
[No.]
Joker bro answered. Why no reply from the other two?
"We know nothing about it. And now that you know this place exists... we can't just let you go."
"...Didn't I say? Give back my daughter, and I'll leave peacefully. Gotta see blood?"
"Because we didn't kidnap her."
"Cheetgirl!"
"Kya, kyarrung?!"
I called to Cheetgirl hiding behind. She peeked out cautiously.
"Rachel's definitely here, right?"
"Kyung! Kyarr kyung kyung!"
Cheetgirl nodded vigorously yes. I turned back to Dark Lady.
"See? She says my girl's here."
"...Huest?"
"What?"
"Why's a Huest here... Did the doctor...?"
"Stop mumbling and explain properly. What's a Huest? Who's the doctor?"
"....."
Dark Lady clammed up. Aah... fucking irritating. So damn irritating! Why keep stalling?!
Joker bro. Something inside's about to burst. Is it my cum?
[No.]
No! No!!!!!! Noooooooo!!!!!!!! Everything's no, everything's wrong! And they won't tell me shit!!!!!!!!! Why?! Why won't you give me the answer?! I need to save Rachel! I'm gonna save her, so why keep tripping me up?! Why! Why!!! Why!!!!!
[Want me to tell you what it is?]
Tell me, Joker bro! I'm going insane from frustration! I'm losing my mind!
[That thing growing inside you is...]
[Madness.]
Madness?
[Yeah. And it's also the key to solving this problem.]
The key? Madness is the key?
[Exactly. They're talking to stall you for one reason.]
[You're not scary to them.]
I'm not scary?
[Since you're not scary, they act all relaxed in front of you. Wasting your time with pointless chatter.]
Then what do I do?
[Unleash it. The madness inside you. The madness swollen to the bursting point.]
[Then everyone will fear you. If they're afraid, they'll obey you perfectly. You'll find Rachel in no time.]
Aah, aaah, aaaah...!
My eyes flew wide open. Joker bro, as expected—crystal clear answer.
Yeah. Just unleash the madness! Make them all fear me!
[Yes! Smile like that! No need to be serious! No need for gravity! You're Steel Armor! My brother Steel Armor! Your daughter's kidnapped, but you can save her, right?]
"Of course!!!"
I answered Joker bro's question. I'm Steel Armor—no way Rachel gets hurt or I fail to save her. Because I'm Steel Armor.
So right now, I just smile. While bursting the madness swelling inside me.
"Why so serious?"
[Why so serious?]
*****
'That fucker Dr. Krumolla...'
Steel Armor hadn't gleaned useful info from her conversation, but Dark Lady was different.
Huest. Humans dosed with Steam, gaining beastly strength without superpowers—inhuman power.
This base housed Shadow Killer, body fully healed but mysteriously comatose. No dirty Huests allowed here.
Seeing a Huest with Steel Armor made her realize Dr. Krumolla was behind this. She'd bet he planted that Huest (Cheetgirl) on purpose.
'Did Krumolla sneak in here? When? No reports... Kill Steel Armor first, then hunt Krumolla.'
Steel Armor was S-rank like Shadow Killer. But not unkillable.
Because she and the villains here were an assassination squad specialized in S-rank villains.
Dark City supposedly had 16 S-rank villains including Steel Armor. Truth? 14. Two vanished without trace by her and the squad's hands.
'Perfect chance.'
Last time, S-rank hero Jenaraider was with him. Heroes mobilized soon after, full war. Couldn't kill him.
But now? He was alone. No hero backup.
'Die here.'
"Of course!!!"
"Hm?"
As Dark Lady moved to order her men, Steel Armor—who'd been head down mumbling—suddenly bellowed.
He lifted his head, locking eyes with her. The skull on his mask looked like it was grinning.
"Why so serious?"
"....!"