Saved Shit? Nah—Wasted Shit
Dark City’s guardians—the heroes—and the living catastrophe Siren clash in a surprisingly even battle.
“Grraaah!”
Flame Witch summons a massive fire spirit, Ifrit, to block the dozens of waterspouts Siren whips up. Ifrit dances through them, incinerating the surging waves. The steam from the burning waterspouts engulfs the beach, blinding everyone.
That’s when another S-rank hero, Wind Line, steps up alongside Flame Witch.
“Blow, winds!”
With his wind-manipulation superpower, Wind Line blasts the steam upward, clearing the view.
[KYAAAAAACK—!]
The tide slowly turns in Siren’s favor. Unlike Ifrit, which has nothing left to burn, this is the beach—endless seawater everywhere.
“Nngh...!”
The waterspouts keep coming, and Ifrit shrinks smaller by the second. Flame Witch grits her teeth, holding on desperately, but she won’t last much longer.
———
Then, a beautiful song begins to flow.
Siren starts her hypnotic lullaby.
“Urk!”
“Siren’s song!”
The heroes exposed to the melody fight to stay conscious. As elite superpowered beings, none pass out, but wielding their powers gets harder.
Whoosh—!
Even amid the chaos, the waterspouts don’t stop. One has to wonder if this massive predator has any limits.
But the heroes didn’t rush here unprepared to face Siren.
Beyond Flame Witch and Wind Line, plenty of other powerhouses hold the line—and crucially, they have a commander with prior experience battling Siren.
“Hive Master!”
“Yes.”
The S-rank mental hero, Hive Master, steps forward. As he activates his power, his irises turn pitch black, whites vanishing.
I Will Hang Myself Upon the Cross
It’s a skill that redirects all mental attacks aimed at those nearby straight back to the caster—himself.
“Ah...”
“Flame Witch! Focus!”
“Shut up! I know!”
With Hive Master shouldering Siren’s song alone, the other heroes snap back to reality. They resume their powers, blocking the waterspouts.
So what about Hive Master, now bearing the full brunt of the melody?
“Mm...”
Surprisingly, he’s fine. He has Mental Resistance and Mental Damage Reduction traits. His head spins, but not enough to black out.
Having safely neutralized another of Siren’s signature moves after the waterspouts, Valencia, Hero Association president, plays his counter card.
“White Knight!”
“Heh heh heh heh.”
At the commander’s call, White Knight chuckles lowly and slips into the steam rising skyward, approaching Siren unseen.
Siren doesn’t notice him amid the haze.
Ziiiiiing—!
Once behind her, White Knight’s eyes glow white, firing lasers that sear Siren’s right wing joint.
[KYAAAAAACK?!]
Ouch, hot!
Startled by the burning pain at her wing base, Siren whips around. Spotting White Knight, she hurls some waterspouts his way.
“Heh heh heh heh.”
Aggro locked on him, but White Knight stays cool. Flight isn’t Siren’s exclusive trick—it’s his specialty.
Chuckling leisurely, he dodges the spouts and relentlessly targets her wings.
Twenty years ago, when Siren first appeared, heroes took heavy losses because she could fly. Ground-bound foes struggling against an aerial enemy meant inevitable casualties.
Valencia, knowing this all too well, targeted the wings first.
But White Knight alone couldn’t cripple them, so Valencia plays another card.
“Ether! Piero!”
“Yes, President!”
“Hahaha! Then Piero takes the stage!”
He dispatches two more S-rank heroes: Ether and Piero.
Piero, poison manipulator, can’t fly like White Knight. But with Ether?
“Go!”
Ether activates his power, opening a massive circle before Piero—filled with soft-looking feathers.
Ether, space manipulator, links two points hundreds of meters apart, letting Piero stick right to Siren.
“Here I gooo!”
Piero leaps in without hesitation, clinging to Siren’s feathers.
“Fireworks over the night sea! So touching, isn’t it?!”
Whatever’s touching about it, Piero pulls dynamite from his belt pouch and plants it on Siren’s body. Each stick has a U-shaped iron pin for secure attachment.
Pok—!
He shoves through thick feathers, stabbing bare flesh. A straight iron bar shoots out, locking it unless the meat tears free.
He scampers around her left wing base, rigging more.
“Ethiiiir! Fireworks show starts nooow!”
Another circle opens; Piero dives in, reappearing on the beach.
“Everyone? Fireworks begin!”
Click—
KABOOOOM—!
Piero hits the button. Dynamite at the wing joints detonates in unison.
“Heh heh heh heh. The top hero doesn’t yield.”
Zzziiing—!
Simultaneously, White Knight succeeds in wrecking Siren’s right wing joint. No full tear-off, but severed tendons ground her.
[KYAAAAAACK?!]
Wingless, Siren plummets. Her second crash.
“Let’s go.”
“Thought I’d die waiting.”
“...”
“Phew... Melee with a monster? By tomorrow, all Dark City’ll know me. I’m a star now!”
“Shut it, idiot. Read the room.”
Wings gone, it’s time for the melee specialists in reserve. Led by Valencia and Tough Guy, A-rank heroes charge the grounded predator.
Prey turns predator.
*****
“Hmm... Not bad, Hero Association. They fight like pros.”
Watching the heroes vs. Siren spectacle, I can’t help but admire how damn well they’re holding up—better than expected.
Dragging Siren to the ground? Shocking.
Who knew they had this in ’em!
“Hero Association vs. Siren—for real? World’s top dogs clashing. Legendary stuff. That same nerdy association? Chest swells with pride!”
Sorry! Pulled aggro just to say this!
Heroes swarm the beach-crash-landed Siren. Leading: Valencia, whom I saved, and Tough Guy, whom I beat the crap out of.
“...But aren’t they getting cocky?”
They’ve fought flawlessly, like born for this. Grounding an aerial beast? Impressive.
But does that mean Siren’s weakened? Nah.
No flight, sure—but her overwhelming physique remains. Plus unshown tricks, maybe.
Rushing melee now... I’d snipe from range, force more cards. (Not that I can talk—melee’d her myself. But my base is body enhancement!)
Whatever, heroes dying ain’t my problem.
“Fuck. Wasted my superpower generation ticket and level-up ticket.”
Thought they were cannon fodder—would’ve saved ’em if I knew!
Saved shit turned to used shit! Used it and it’s shit!
Gut churns like a stock tanking right after I buy in.
Wanna rush home, hug Yuna, Jina, Elis—rematch that foursome... Huh?
“...Why the hell’s she here?!”
Spotting Ice Queen among the attackers, I freak.
Is she nuts?! Recklessly charging in?!
All S-ranks except my soulmate Bunny Armor—no, Memory Hunter—mobilized. And she, mere A-rank, joins?! She’ll get hurt!
“No choice.”
Was gonna munch popcorn and watch, but nope.
Keep spectating—if Ice Queen’s in danger, dash in quick.
“But popcorn first.”
Pull some from inventory, crunch away while heroes brawl Siren.
Mmm~ sweet caramel bliss. So sw—
“Like popcorn? Want some?”
“...”
Sensing presence behind, I casually offer over my shoulder.
Stealthy approacher ignores it.
“Suit yourself.”
“...Steel Armor.”
She questions my presence here. The voice—Gumiho!
My conquest target!
Felt the presence but didn’t ID her. Stayed cool to keep S-rank villain dignity.
Screaming “Eek! Who’s behind me?!” kills prestige, right?
(Popcorn munching might dent it too—but caramel popcorn! C’mon!)
“Why are you here?”
“Huh? Feels like déjà vu.”
Where... Oh yeah! Hero Bank—me propping collapsing building, Ice Queen said that exact line.
Wait—this foreshadowing? Gumiho sucking my dick like Ice Queen later?!
“This isn’t your turf, is it?”
“So? Matters now?”
“It does. I smell you on Siren.”
“Smell? My scent on her? Yeah... makes sense.”
Clung to her—scent lingers. But dog nose much? Beyond that!
“On vacation.”
“...Vacation?”
“Yup. Bad luck—Siren shows while I’m off. Nearly died. Oh, perfect timing. Why’re you heroes so damn slow?!”
“Pardon?”
“Monster appears—you hustle! Not dawdle like ‘take your time~’! My grandma’s faster!”
“Pardon?”
“Plus! Guy hanging off Siren—you attack?! Nearly drowned with her!”
“Pardon?”
“And! Saved your president—crickets?! I get your position. But basic courtesy: sneak up, thank me discreetly with gifts, right? Silence! Thought this was Silent Hill, not Dark City! Aigoo... Eastern etiquette in the dirt!”
“Pardon?”
I unload all pent-up gripes on Gumiho.