Raid 212
"...What the hell? Why isn't anyone moving? You're embarrassing me."
Shockingly, not a single hero was budging. Even White Knight and Wind Line, who had been soaring through the sky blasting away at Siren, just floated there staring blankly at me.
[.....]
Even Siren herself wasn't moving! What the fuck?!
'Did I say something that lame?!'
Love! Faith! Hope! The power of bonds to take down Siren—did that sound that corny?
"Grrrr! Steel Armor!"
"Huh? Oh! White Knight! Long time no see! How you been?"
"I'm gonna kill you!"
"This crazy fucker?"
Flames literally erupted from the eyes of White Knight as he glared at me—no exaggeration. He looked ready to laser me down.
Siren was right fucking there, and this idiot wanted to attack me?
This bastard's lost his goddamn mind!
"I'm gonna kill you, Steel Armor!"
"H-Hey! Watch out!"
White Knight charged at me full throttle, dead set on attacking. My eyes went wide, and I yelled for him to be careful.
CRUNCH—!
"Gaaahhh!"
"...Jesus, what a fucking moron."
I couldn't help but sigh in sheer pity. Even if the quest had pulled his aggro back to me, flying right in front of Siren like that? No way she was gonna sit still.
Plus, White Knight was the asshole who'd been buzzing around her endlessly, even crippling one of her wings. From her perspective, this was like free fucking lunch dropping in her lap.
And Siren wasn't the type to let an opportunity like that slip.
She opened her massive jaws and chomp—went right for White Knight.
"Grrraaahhh!"
I'd called it cute, but the visuals were pure nightmare fuel. A gorgeous woman chomping down on a human... straight-up horrifying.
Thank god White Knight's superpower included 10-level Body Enhancer, so he didn't get bisected or anything.
No, something even worse happened.
GULP—!
"....."
"....."
Siren chewed White Knight up good, but when he wouldn't shatter, she just straight-up swallowed him whole.
We all watched it happen live, and the heroes—and me—were floored.
"Kyaaah! White Knight! Nooo!"
"Huh?"
That's when Flame Witch, who'd been holding back the geysers, screamed.
Oh yeah, she was banging White Knight, right?
Anyway, seeing her man get nommed, Flame Witch dropped her skill and bolted our way.
"Fuckin' hell."
With her fire spirit gone, Siren's geysers hit us full force—no surprise there.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Aaaahhh!"
"...We're fucked."
The heroes, shocked by White Knight getting gulped'd, got swept up in the geysers and scattered everywhere.
They'd been holding their own against Siren—until I showed up.
"No way it went down like this?"
Me, the snowball that caused this avalanche? On a whole other level!
What the hell—did these hero dipshits all get stunned or something? Why were they spacing out as a group?!
The only ones who dodged the geysers were... Ice Queen, Jenaraider, and Wind Line?
Incredibly, every other hero got blasted far away by the water jets.
"Dark City's future looks bleak."
These clowns as heroes? More shocking than White Knight getting eaten.
*****
[KYAAAAAHHH—!]
The fight kicked off again.
Having blasted the heroes away, Siren smirked like she'd already won.
"You crazy bitch, splitting already?"
Truth was, the heroes excluding me weren't the real MVPs.
I was—the true ace who'd claim Siren's life.
And with the ace still kicking, she was cocky enough to claim victory?
Siren's arrogance had crossed the line.
"Jenaraider! Remember that thing we did before? Get back and prep a big one!"
"What?"
"No backtalk! Wanna die to Siren like this? I've got a plan—just do what I say!"
"Damn it!"
He scowled at taking orders from me, but Jenaraider didn't refuse. Like when we'd teamed up against Shadow Killer before, he retreated along the beach to charge his big move.
"Wind Line! Keep buzzing her like before—grind her nerves!"
"Why the hell should I listen to you?!"
"Shut up and do it, you punk! I'm a villain stepping up to stop Siren—you gonna run, hero boy? Scared? Then fuck off!"
"Who're you calling a punk?!"
"And quit hitting the feathers—go for the head! Why feathers?!"
"Fine!"
Wind Line griped but followed orders. With most heroes out, even he knew he needed me.
"Ice Queen! Keep icing the ground around Siren!"
"Got it!"
At least Ice Queen moved without bitching. Good thing I'd suggested teaming up earlier.
With Valencia, the Hero Association president who was directing everyone, down... I was the only one left to lead.
On the surface, our forces looked gutted: top hero White Knight eaten, Valencia KO'd, most heroes scattered by geysers.
Anyone would say heroes were on the ropes.
But I saw it different.
Our power had skyrocketed.
The reason?
"'Cause I showed up!"
Before I jumped in, heroes had the edge but couldn't finish Siren—'cause I wasn't there.
Now I was back in the fray. Power-up, obviously.
And our current lineup was solid: me, the ultimate tank-DPS-healer villain; Wind Line harassing from the sky; support Ice Queen; and long-range DPS Jenaraider.
Raid roles covered. All that was left: kill Siren, clear the quest.
"Right in the fucking dome, you bitch."
I launched at Siren.
WHOOOOSH—!
The geyser that scattered the heroes came at me, but no need to dodge.
'World of Zero Gravity.'
Activating the skill that nullified gravity around me, the raging geyser lost steam and scattered harmlessly. Seawater bobbed lazily around me.
'Steel Skin, Charge.'
I triggered Steel Skin and Charge, then leaped upward. Lightning surged into my fist.
My thunder points: 1,000. But with Thunder Power Enhancement (1:3), each point packed triple punch—effective 3,000.
And Charge: condensed thunder for massive damage boost. Longer charge, bigger boom.
ZZZCRACKLE—!
The seawater around me froze, carving a path to Siren. Ice Queen's doing.
I slid across the ice, closing fast.
BOOM—!
Siren stomped, shattering the ice as she lunged.
Perfect timing—I flipped up. Fresh ice from Ice Queen caught my feet.
Siren twisted. Wings crippled, but still weapons. Better block frontal with back and feathers.
Those feather-covered wings and back looked tanky even to me.
"Hup!"
I slid off sideways—new ice waiting.
"Ready, Steel Armor!"
Jenaraider's voice boomed from behind, big attack charged.
"Fire!"
"But—!"
"Just fucking fire, dipshit!"
"You little shit?! Fine! Die for all I care!"
RUMBLECRASH—!
Thunder roared from the ground, streaking at Siren.
I rode it like a rail.
"What the—?!"
"That lunatic!"
"Steel Armor!"
Jenaraider, Wind Line, and Ice Queen freaked as I dove into the bolt.
Heh heh heh... Watch and learn, rookies.
'Ride the Lightning.'
Second skill from picking Thunder Emperor. Domination trait kicked in.
Jenaraider's bolt tried frying me, but Domination neutered it—claimed a chunk for myself.
With Lightning Resistance too, damage was minimal.
Normally, my Lv.9 self couldn't hijack a Lv.10's lightning.
But that's just Thunder Emperor alone. Total package: Body Enhancer (Lv.10), Superpower Analyzer (Lv.10), Clone Master (Lv.10), Gravity Dominator (Lv.10), Healer (Lv.10)—50 levels of power beyond thunder.
Overwhelming gap meant full steal? No. Partial? Yes.
I'd eyed Jenaraider and cooked this up.
Future-sight said Ride the Lightning was meh—just teleport, needs electricity.
But I planned for now, to smash this beast.
ZZZAPCRACK—!
"What the—?!"
Jenaraider clocked the change in his lightning.
I heard his shock behind me.
The traitorous bolt followed me to Siren's head.
[KYAAK?!]
"Peekaboo!"
Her eyes bulged at me popping up with the lightning.
Heh heh... Nothing beats that shocked enemy face.
Villainous grin crept on.
[KYAAAAHHH—!]
"Time to die. Got a foursome waiting."
Thunder-charged fist flew at her roaring maw.
"Lightning Punch!"
[.......!]
Unguarded head met fully charged bolt.
*****
"Urgh... Craving chicken now."
The crispy chicken scent from the fried Siren hit just right.
Landed a solid hit, but plunged into the sea—dry clothes soaked again.
"Dead...?"
"No way..."
"....."
My turnaround squad gawked, unable to believe their eyes.
They'd poured everything into Siren with zero effect—now she was down from my one shot.
I stood tall, chin up, arms crossed.
"Obviously. 'Cause I stepped up."
"""....."""
The three heroes couldn't hide their bafflement.
"Anyway, why're you all huddled here? Wind Line, who told you to land?"
"What do you— More importantly! Why're you talking down to me?!"
"How old are you?"
"26!"
"I'm 30. Don't get cocky."
"....."
26 acting tough to a 30-year-old!
"Thir...ty?"
Ice Queen muttered, sensing something off. Too quiet to catch.
All my focus was on the perfectly crisped Siren.
"Anyway, get back up."
"Siren's dead. Why..."
"Who said she's dead?"
"Huh? Gah?!"
Wind Line peeked behind me and freaked.
Charred-black Siren was rising.
"Told you—up."
"O-Okay. Winds, rise!"
I pointed skyward again; he whipped up wind and bailed upward.
I knew she wasn't dead—no quest clear message.
Quest to kill Siren, no completion? She's alive.
"You... Sigh, premature ejaculator. Tired after one shot?"
"Bullshit! I can still fight!"
"Whatever. Stay back, don't die."
"You bastard..."
"Jenaraider-nim. Maybe follow Steel Armor for now? If you go down too, we're done."
"...Fine."
Ice Queen chimed in; he finally fell back.
Not that Jenaraider was weak—he'd fought pre-me and just went all-out.
"Now what... Why, why are you doing that?"
"Wifey support's my girl's job, right?"
"W-Wifey?! Cut the crap!"
"So shy."
"You fucker!"
"I'm your fucker? Guess I'll sample that married pussy later."
"You psycho!"
"Kekekeke!"
I burst laughing at her flushed shriek.
Turned to face rising Siren.
'Tough bitch.'
I'd gone full kill-mode. 800 thunder points, boosted by Charge and Thunder Power Enhancement (1:3).
Still kicking? Insane vitality.
'But still.'
She's dying here. Why so confident?
'Got insurance.'
I glanced behind Ice Queen.
My backup was there.