Chaos Giant (3)
[Kiek! Kiek! Kiiieeeeek!]
Siren's agonized screams echoed across the beach. Tears mixed with pus oozed from her single eye.
Crunch!Grind!Squelch!
If the heroes were mere worker ants, Steel Armor was a soldier ant—and a vicious one at that. His hands were cruel and merciless. He tore off the charred black skin he'd burned himself. Anyone seeing them now wouldn't know who was human and who was the monster.
[Kiiieeeeek!]
It was a pathetic sight—the predator reduced to prey. Terrified, Siren thrashed to shake off Steel Armor. But he, gripped by rage, wouldn't let go.
Rip!
Steel Armor grabbed her cheek and yanked hard. The blackened flesh tore free, revealing charred teeth beneath. Siren writhed in agony, but she clenched her teeth harder and swung her wings. She endured the pain, waiting for the moment his hands lifted.
"Huh?"
Swept by her wing, Steel Armor tumbled down. Finally free, Siren flapped desperately to escape.
If I run, I can live. And if I survive, I can grow stronger than now. Then I can get revenge on that horrific Chaos Giant.
That's what Siren thought. Monsters evolved far faster than humans. While humans took ages, monsters didn't—with enough energy, she could evolve the abilities she needed in as little as a month.
She'd lost so easily because of the lightning and lack of feathers to shield her face. If she survived, she'd first evolve lightning resistance and facial feathers.
"Where do you think you're going? You haven't died yet."
[Ki... kieke...]
Of course, that was only if she escaped unharmed. Siren wanted to scowl at the voice in her ear. Her burned, mangled face wouldn't let her.
It was unfair. That tiny giant was growing stronger by the second, like a monster evolving in real time. He was incomparable to when they'd first fought.
Why do I have to fight a growing giant?
Infuriating as it was, she had no choice but to fight. It was the only way to survive.
The battle between two humans and a monster—no, just two monsters—was far from over.
*****
Boom!
"Heh heh. Tough bitch."
Thrown into the beach by Siren's hit, Steel Armor grinned wickedly.
"Hm?"
Rising, he started to charge again but clicked his tongue at his dangling arm.
"Why's my body so flimsy? Let's see..."
Steel Armor checked his inner powers. All his superpowers were ones he'd chosen and created himself. No need to double-check.
So why was he doing it now?
"Tch."
Confirming his superpowers, he tsked again.
"What the hell? Random bullshit picks everywhere. Synergy's a mess. Body enhancer with recovery traits, but why healer too? Oh? Clones too? Lived like a horny bastard. Pure in its own way. Whatever, gotta work with what I got."
Muttering nonsense, he spent all remaining heal points to fix his arm. Fully recovered, he activated his superpowers. Superpower Analyzer triggered, firing up precise analysis and pattern analysis traits.
Red lines—visible only to him—appeared. They traced Siren's attack patterns and directions from their accumulated fight data. Red dots glowed on her face, inner wing joints, and torso center—her vital spots.
Something was off, though. Normally, he'd need to observe her using superpowers first. But here, the traits activated without it. And Siren was a monster, not a superpowered human.
Why did Superpower Analyzer work on her?
Only Steel Armor knew.
[Kyaaaaak!]
"Stop running. You've got two choices: die or submit. Running's not an option."
As Siren spread her wings to fly, Steel Armor grinned viciously.
"Thunder Emperor's Call."
And he activated the skill.
Thud!Rumble!Grrroooowl!
Lightning-laced energy surged from his body skyward. Black storm clouds gathered over the coast in seconds. Each flash brought thunderous roars.
[Kyaaaaak!]
Siren felt hope. Up in the sky, that monster couldn't catch her. Sure, he could fly, but not as fast. She'd live.
She thought that—until she learned how fleeting it was.
Kraroooom!
[Kiiiiiik?!]
A massive bolt from the clouds struck her. No lightning resistance, but she was still a monster—not felled by one hit. Her wings kept flapping.
"One miss? Hit twice, thrice. Violence always works."
Boom!Boom!Boom!
[Kiiiiiik!!!]
The clouds' lightning targeted only her. Even struggling flight couldn't withstand nature's fury repeatedly.
Kraroom!
"Ride the lightning."
This bolt hit Steel Armor—intentionally. The skill teleported him along it into the clouds. He reappeared before her.
"Told you. You can't escape me."
[.....]
Deep despair filled Siren's eye as she plummeted toward the sea.
*****
In the clash of killer and escaper, the killer—Steel Armor—prevailed. But he hadn't killed her, clearing Ice Queen's revenge and the quest simultaneously.
[Kiek... kieek...]
Siren finally abandoned escape, begging Steel Armor for mercy and submitting.
"Submit? That's your choice, kiddo?"
[Kieeeek...]
Bowing to a much smaller human, Siren wailed pitifully. Steel Armor grinned at her.
"Sorry."
[Ki, kieek...?]
Siren peeked up, as if understanding.
"You killed my queen. You never had two choices. Just death."
[Kiik... kieek...]
Her death sentence delivered, Siren shed pus-mixed tears.
"Time to die..."
"Steel... Armor?"
"....."
As he raised his arm to end her, a familiar voice reached his ear. He froze, arm up.
"Ha...! Not fully fused yet? How much shit did my upper self eat up there to stall the merge?"
Steel Armor muttered emptily.
"Guess it's fate."
With that, he turned.
"Steel Armor..."
"H-Hiiiik... Huh?"
Behind him: Ice Queen, thought dead, and Gumiho, trembling on the ground before tilting her head at something odd.
"Ice Queen?"
"What... Did you... defeat that monster?"
"....."
Ice Queen glanced between Steel Armor and the bowing, weeping Siren. Unbelievable.
Waking to a crying monster? Anyone would be stunned.
"How did you... Huh?"
"Good thing."
Her eyes widened in confusion. Steel Armor hugged her tight.
Too tight.
"Hey, wait... Can't... breathe...!"
"So glad. I thought you... you died..."
"Ah..."
Gasping, she paused pushing him. His shoulder dampened. Crying? Steel Armor crying?
Her heart warmed. She patted his broad back.
"I'm not dead. Why would I die?"
"Sniff...!"
He clung, sniffling long.
"Anyway, let go? Can't breathe. Stop crying."
"W-who's crying! You faking death, making me worry! Punishment: ass smack for insolence!"
"Sh-shut up!"
Steel Armor yelped shrilly, embarrassed.
"What? Why was I scared?"
Meanwhile, Gumiho tilted her head endlessly. Moments ago, terrified of Steel Armor; now, nothing.
"How'd you beat Siren?"
"Huh? Beat Siren? Who? Me?"
"Yeah? Not you?"
"That?"
Looking where Ice Queen pointed, Steel Armor freaked.
"Wh-what the fuck's that bitch doing?!"
"What?"
His reaction puzzled her. Not him?
"Huh?"
Gazing at Siren, a system message appeared.
[C. Sea Lord. Siren] feels fear toward Player 'Horny Guy' and shows intent to submit.
A new clear condition has been generated for Player 'Horny Guy'.
The fate of [C. Sea Lord. Siren] will be decided by Player 'Horny Guy's' choice.
Clear Conditions: 1. Kill 2. Subjugate
[Kill [C. Sea Lord. Siren]. Killing her, already submitted to you, will be easy and grant great rewards.]
Clear Reward: [Siren's Heart]
[Subjugate [C. Sea Lord. Siren] as a subordinate. As your subordinate, she will never betray you and obey your commands.]
Clear Reward: [Superpower Selection Ticket] x1, [Superpower Level-Up Ticket] x10
"....."
'That bitch submitted? To me?'
'Did I do that, fuck?!'
Steel Armor racked his brain. Ice Queen seemed dead, so...
'...Yeah, I did.'
'Did I do that, fuck?!'
Memories: He'd pummeled her relentlessly, hitting wounds, zapping with lightning.
"Urk... ughhh..."
Confirmed, he shuddered. Arms wide, he roared.
"Fuuuuck yeeaaah!!!!!!!"
"Eek! Why yell?!"
"I beat the shit outta Siren! Fuck! How strong am I gonna get?! No limits! Believed in myself! Call me Unlimited Armor now! Wheeeee!"
"...Always thought you were nuts. The mask?"
Ice Queen muttered, staring oddly.
"...No mask, he's fine."
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing. Kill her quick."
"Huh? Yeah. Wait?"
Heading to kill Siren, Steel Armor paused, arms crossed.
'Subjugating's better than killing, right?'
Siren's heart was meh—pretty song from seawater, useless trash. He had one in inventory for mood.
Subjugation? Superpower tickets to refill his spent ones. And a loyal monster servant.
Never betrays, obeys commands—a monster.
Mangled, but usable.
'Killing her would be dumb.'
Obvious choice. If Ice Queen died, he'd kill her—but she lived.
'System, subjugate Siren to me.'
Player 'Horny Guy' has decided to subjugate [C. Sea Lord. Siren].
[C. Sea Lord. Siren] is subjugated to Player 'Horny Guy'.
A new [Subordinates] tab is created in the status window.
Player-exclusive quest [Grudge: Blood Revenge] cleared.
[Special Reward] granted as compensation.
A white line connected Steel Armor and Siren.
[Sob... sniff... Don't wanna die...]
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Steel Armor understood Siren.