#192 Misunderstanding
She was gripping my leg so tightly with her thighs that I couldn't shake her off easily. The fact that she could withstand the strength of a 10-level body enhancer proved she was a monster through and through.
"Even if you like me that much, what's the point if you're squeezing this hard!"
I ended up pulling her into a full embrace and hurling my body forward.
"Guh...!"
Raonjena, pinned beneath me, let out a groan. Hmm... what was that? I said something perfectly fitting for the situation, but why did it sound so lewd? Was it just my imagination?
Squeeze—!
"Oh?"
Even though her back had to be killing her, the gumiho started wrapping her legs around my waist. It was a vise-like grip that could crush my spine if I let my guard down... Surely just my imagination, right?
"Fine, you squeeze away. I'll just pound you harder."
I got up and slammed forward again. Using Gravity Dominator on top of everything else meant Raonjena took an even bigger hit this time.
But instead of dousing the flames, it only poured oil on them—Raonjena's rage toward me burned even hotter.
"I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna fucking kill you!"
"You better brace yourself. Later, I'll make sure to fuck you to death in bed. Even if you beg for mercy, I won't stop."
Yeah, perfect. Let's see who wins this.
The battle of pounding versus squeezing had begun.
*****
"Hmmm..."
Valencia, the Hero Association president, watched Steel Armor and the gumiho clash while letting out a low groan. He was the only one in Dark City who knew the gumiho wasn't human—and that her power defied imagination.
"Still evenly matched... no, Steel Armor has a slight edge?"
Knowing just how strong the gumiho was, Valencia was shocked by the raw power Steel Armor was displaying.
"Just what—and how much—have you been hiding, Steel Armor..."
Right now, the Hero Association's biggest threats were obviously villains—specifically the pinnacle S-rank ones. They had dedicated teams monitoring, investigating, and analyzing them.
And Steel Armor, who caused massive incidents every time he popped up, had no fewer than thirteen people assigned to his case. Unlike other S-rank villains who had gone quiet to catch their breath, Steel Armor was relentlessly active, letting intel pile up fast.
But now, it was clear all that hard-gathered info was wrong.
"What a terrifying guy..."
Even if the gumiho wasn't unleashing her full monstrous power, gaining the upper hand against her was no small feat. Valencia himself, an S-rank, couldn't beat her in human form.
Seeing Steel Armor seize momentum against such a foe was a reminder that there were always skies above skies.
"Anyway, time to step in before it goes too far."
Valencia struggled to his feet. The gumiho was still holding her human shape, but he had to intervene before she rampaged into full monster mode. If Steel Armor ever learned she was a monster—or if whoever was pulling his strings found out—god knows what they'd do.
"Kuh...! My legs... damn it! Move!"
But his legs had gone limp; he couldn't stand.
"Aqua Ball!"
"Gurgle?!"
That's when someone hurled something at Valencia. Whatever stuck to his head cut off his air, and he blacked out.
*****
"Grrr... grrr...!"
Meanwhile, the gumiho teetered on the brink, her last shreds of reason slipping away. Tails even sprouted from her waist where White Knight had stabbed her before.
Just as Valencia feared, the monster's ferocity dormant inside Raonjena was awakening.
"She's about to transform, right?"
Steel Armor panicked as Raonjena beneath him started growing. Normally, you'd wait out a transformation per the rules—but not this time.
If she transformed, he was fucked! He knew it.
He was a peerless superhuman with five 10-level superpowers, no doubt. But picking them situationally meant no synergy when using multiples at once. Only body enhancer and Gravity Dominator were combat-direct, and those two alone couldn't subdue gumiho-transformed Raonjena.
"I wanted to stay like this a bit longer, but no choice."
Muttering regretfully, Steel Armor headbutted her first this time.
Thud—!
Raonjena's forehead split, blood spraying. He'd used Steel Skin to knock her out, turning his head into literal iron.
"Grrr... grraaaah!"
"...Huh?"
But what the hell? Her monsterization boosted her regen insanely. The gash healed fast, and crucially, she didn't pass out.
"Why won't you pass out? Hey, you need to faint."
Steel Armor headbutted harder. Useless again.
"Gonna... kill... you..."
"....."
Cold sweat dripped down Steel Armor's back. He'd been half-assing it, thinking full power would do it. But even serious, she wouldn't go down.
Plan fucked, no solutions in sight.
Work, brain! Your time to shine!
He beseeched his IQ-300 genius brain.
The reply was instant.
Sorry! Used my head too much today! Strike time!
Brain refused.
You fucking brain bastard!!! Striking now means you're dead!
Steel Armor raged internally, but the striking brain offered no ideas.
Th-that's right! Big bros! You guys can help! Bros! If you're watching, give me the answer! Eooo~!
Now he appealed to his spiritual pillars, inseparable life mentors: Batman, Joker, Thanos trio.
...Bros?
No response.
Flutter~
'Huh?'
Just a lone paper left behind.
[We're off on vacation! -Batman, Joker, Thanos]
...You fucking retarded shits!!!!! Where the hell are you going on vacation, you lunatics!!!!!
"Raaagh! I'm so fucking pissed!"
Unable to contain his fury, Steel Armor roared. Facing real death, everyone abandoned him.
Fuck, life is fleeting... what comes must go...
Enlightened to life's transience, Steel Armor achieved nirvana.
No helping it, huh?
He gazed sadly at the transforming Raonjena. Shame, but he wasn't dying for her.
One choice left: kill Raonjena.
"Sorry."
He raised his arm, channeling Gravity Dominator into his fist. This strike would end her.
And then—
"Huh? Master, what're you doing there?"
"Gonna kill her li—huh? Yuna?"
Steel Armor turned toward the voice and saw Aqua Girl tilting her head at him.
The moment he spotted her, a way to subdue Raonjena flashed in his mind.
"Hurry, Yuna! Water! Pour water!"
"Water?"
"Yeah! Drench me and make an underwater prison! Quick!"
"Huh? Why all of a sudden... Wait, who's the lady under you?"
"No time to explain! Do it!"
"O-okay!"
Startled by his shout, Aqua Girl frantically summoned water with her power and poured it out. It didn't pool on the floor but formed a massive spherical underwater prison as she willed.
"....! ...!"
Unable to breathe, Raonjena thrashed. She released her legs from around Steel Armor to escape.
Where you going?
This time, Steel Armor wouldn't let go. He bound her tight with arms and legs, immobilizing her.
"...! .....! ...!"
Not letting you go!
Unlike breathless Raonjena, Steel Armor was comfy in the water prison. A translucent membrane wrapped his body.
Life is about preparation... even shit can be medicine, so carry shit always. Namu Amida Butsu...
His recent enlightenment turned him into Monk Armor.
Anyway, it was the Sanctuary Armor he'd wheedled from Jina. He'd gotten three variants with different powers input—one being underwater breathing.
Raonjena couldn't breathe; he could.
"...! ...! ....."
Unable to escape his embrace, Raonjena finally passed out from lack of air.
She's a monster, so she should hold out a bit.
To be safe against any tricks, he waited a full minute inside before emerging.
"Master! You okay?"
"Yeah... whew, thought I was done for. Oh, right—wasn't the Association President outside? You can call me Master with him around?"
"Huh? No way... that guy outside was the president?!"
"Yeah. What's up? You didn't do something to him, did you?"
"....."
Aqua Girl paled.
It was an enemy hideout, so she'd Aqua Ball'd him on sight. Planned to check his face after, but hearing her beloved master's voice from the hole in the wall, she skipped ID'ing him.
Who'd guess it was Valencia?!
"N-nothing happened."
"...Really?"
"Y-yeah!"
"Hmm... you're stuttering a lot."
"Wh-wh-when did I?!"
"Whatever, if not. He's definitely out cold?"
"Yes."
"Good. Man... used too much power today."
"But who's she... huh? Gumiho?"
"?! What? You know her?"
Aqua Girl recognized the unconscious Raonjena and gasped. Steel Armor gasped at her recognition.
"Duh, of course. It's Gumiho. A-rank hero."
"....."
What the fuck situation is this? Her identity was public?! Then why's a monster heroing?!
Not realizing Steel Armor's "gumiho" and Aqua Girl's "gumiho" meant different things, the misunderstanding deepened between them.