#208 Electric Attribute
"Daddy! Wake up! Waaah~!"
"... Damn it!"
I glanced back and saw the child sobbing her heart out, with a man collapsed beside her. His face was a bloody mess from whatever had happened. Whether I could call this fortunate or not, the kid's dad was still alive, at least. His chest was rising and falling faintly. But it was clear he needed immediate medical attention.
Part of me wanted to treat him myself, but I had to keep Siren pinned down, so that wasn't an option.
'Fuck it, but I have to shift the battlefield to the ocean first.'
Right now, Siren and I were right above the beach. If either of us unleashed even a fraction of our power, the kid and her dad would be goners in an instant.
The ocean was prime territory for Siren, who could manipulate water, but to save those two, I had to take the hit.
'A villain risking his life to save two strangers he doesn't even know? I'm fucking insane.'
No choice. If I didn't take Siren down here, I'd be homeless forever—no house, no hideout. Hell, I'd never get laid again!
'I could live without a house, but no sex? Fuck that.'
This was all for my future sex life. Absolutely not for saving that kid and her dad.
"Follow me if you dare!"
I activated Repulsion and shot away from Siren at top speed.
[KYAAAAAHH!]
Sure enough, just like the system message said, Siren ignored the easy prey right in front of her and chased after me. This crazy bitch was gonna hunt me till I dropped dead.
From now on, I'd curse "bird bastard" instead of "dog bastard." Siren, you insane bird bitch!
[KYAAAAK! KKYYAAAK!]
SHWOOOOOSH!
Thrilled to be in her element, maybe? Siren let out a roar and started manipulating the seawater. Worm-like streams of water writhed toward me, aiming to swallow me whole.
"Half Cutting!"
I unleashed Half Cutting—the combo of Attraction and Repulsion—slicing the water stream in half. The front part plummeted powerlessly into the sea, but the rear kept chasing me.
Dodging, weaving with Half Cutting, Attraction, and Repulsion, I evaded Siren's attacks and managed the distance.
'Not enough.'
My attacks couldn't touch Siren. But one hit from her, and I'd be done for. Totally unfair, one-sided bullshit.
But overcoming crap like this is what makes a real hero, right?
'Oh... wait, I'm not a hero.'
Batman kept brainwashing me—"You're a hero, you're a hero"—and I almost bought it for a second. Fuck, mistaking myself for a hero? Shame on this villain bloodline!
Anyway, hero or villain didn't matter right now. What did was flipping this bullshit situation and twisting that bird bitch's neck.
And for that, step one—
'Create a variable.'
I needed something to make my attacks land on Siren and nullify hers.
Not level 10, which sucked, but I had precious tickets for a new superpower and jacking it straight to level 9.
'Key is making my attacks land.'
Grazed by her? Instant death. For safety, I needed a way to block her hits. But blocking alone wouldn't kill her. To win, my attacks had to connect.
'Fuck... You're all I got right now. I trust you, Brain with your IQ 3 to 500!'
'Just trust me!'
While dodging Siren's assaults in a trance, I racked my brain for the perfect superpower here.
No scanning the list yet. I'd think of attack powers first, then search to generate.
'Siren's huge, tough-skinned, flies, controls water. Sings to mesmerize... wait.'
One idea flashed as I pondered how to beat her.
'Flies? Flight type. Controls water? Water type. That's... electric type counter! Quad damage.'
'... Nah. Different world rules...'
I shook my head, dismissing the ridiculous thought in this crisis. But it lingered.
'Attributes reflect reality somewhat, right?'
Put out fire with? Water or earth. Burn wood with? Fire. Game attributes mirror real physics to a degree.
And the absolute truth I'd almost forgotten: this world is based on a game!... Probably?
'Never played it, so can't be sure.'
If I'd cleared or played that base game, I'd know. But thrown into the real deal without practice? No confidence.
'Why's electric nagging me?'
CHUUUUUU!
A cute yet vicious electric mouse cry echoed in my head.
'Electric powers, and I'll win?'
No guarantee picking electric would let me kill Siren. But my gut screamed it would let me smash her.
"Can't judge coolly?"
My conclusion after agonizing:
"Gotta trust my animal instincts."
Done. Electric attribute superpower.
*****
Today was Ice Queen's day off. And for some reason, Steel Armor—the guy who'd hounded her relentlessly—hadn't called.
He always knew her every move, like he had eyes on her. But nothing today.
"Gotta meet Jeong-nam... Oh, right."
She'd been thrilled to see Jeong-nam, but he had family stuff and couldn't make it. So she decided to relax fully.
Watched movies she'd missed, read books—rare peaceful time in her year.
"Nngh~! Books done... Now what?"
Nothing left. At Hero Association HQ, boredom was impossible. Bust villains terrorizing citizens, mentor juniors with advice or lectures, train in custom facilities honing powers.
A-rank heroes got private gyms to develop abilities. Ice Queen never skipped, inventing new techniques daily.
Hero life left no room for boredom.
"News?"
Bedtime, but sleep evaded her. Bored, Han Ji-min peeled an apple, plopped on the sofa, and flicked on the TV.
Crunch!
"Hehe. Tasty."
Smiling at the sweetness, she channel-surfed to news.
And—
"....."
Han Ji-min stared blankly at the TV, the urgent reporter's voice ringing.
Monster? A monster appeared? Did I hear right?
Her phone buzzed. Valencia, the Association President.
"Ice Queen. Sorry to call so late. Right now..."
"I'm watching the news too. A monster appeared...? Is it true?"
"Yes. Monster in District 105—Siren, back again. I know it's your day off, but head there."
"W-wait, President! Siren died before! Did it resurrect?!"
"Not sure. Resurrection or new one? Need more intel."
"Got it. Heading to District 105 now."
She hung up, drove to District 105, parked far from the Siren zone, transformed into Ice Queen, and raced to the scene.
"That's... Siren..."
Even from afar, the colossal silhouette made her gulp. How huge was it to be visible from here? Facing rough villains had toughened her, but primal fear hit before that overwhelming size.
"... Huh?"
Staring at Siren amid the dark sky, she spotted something off. Siren kept whipping her head around, flapping wings occasionally.
Odd. Looking closer, someone was zipping around Siren.
"No way... a person?"
Nah. Even White Knight couldn't solo a monster. Must be a support team below.
"Hoo... Calm down. Do my job."
Deep breath, suppressing rising fear.
"Hoo... haa... hoo... haa... Good. Let's go."
Composed, she charged to save civilians, aid whoever fought Siren—and upon reaching the shore—
"... Steel Armor?"
Realized the one battling Siren was none other than Steel Armor.
*****
Everyone gets it. Waking to a mosquito buzzing for blood? Infuriating.
It could suck quietly and leave, but no—these psycho bugs buzz your ear till you're awake.
That's me right now.
"Ngh!"
Well, not a mosquito—a person. My focus was peak, beyond even sex.
HP at zero. One graze from Siren, and I'd be critical.
Couldn't look away for a second, or I'd die.
[KYAAAAAHH!]
Me zipping freely with Gravity Dominator pissed Siren off to the max. She roared nonstop, hurling seawater or swinging wings.
'Driving me nuts!'
I was losing it. Needed time to pick electric power, but no breather.
Five minutes. Just five, pick power, assign traits, back to fighting.
But no five minutes granted.
'Where the fuck are the heroes?!'
Planned to tag out when they arrived, but no heroes in sight.
[KYAAAAAHH!]
Suddenly, Siren spread her massive wings wide.
"Urk!"
World went dark. Not metaphor—actual eclipse. Wings devoured moonlight like blotting the sky.
Instinct screamed: Flee or die.
But where? Back? Side? Up? Down? Anywhere meant death.
Except one spot.
"... Fuck it!"
Using Attraction, I rocketed toward Siren like waterskiing.
Safest bet: right at her.