Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Meeting Aqua Girl Again
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With a shout, Slicer suddenly crossed his arms in an X shape. He pressed his hand blade right up against my neck and yelled.
"Buzz Cut!"
Superpower Amplification
Power surge detected. Creepy aura intensified.
'His superpower just got amplified.'
The moment Slicer uttered that weird "Buzz Cut" phrase, the power of his ability inside him spiked instantly. The creepy feeling grew stronger too.
Steel Skin
Skin hardened to steel before blade contact.
Instinctively, I activated my one and only active skill, Steel Skin. Before his hand blade could touch my neck, my skin transformed into steel.
Clang!
I felt something strike my neck. Looking down, I saw Slicer's eyes trembling in disbelief.
"W-what the hell... Buzz Cut can kill even S-rank villains...!"
What kinda bullshit is this crazy villain spouting?
I wanted to say it, but I held back. I'm a stoic cool villain, after all.
Grab!
"L-let go of me! Arghhh!"
I seized the arm Slicer had against my neck. He was nearly a full head shorter than me, so when I spread my arms wide, he was forced to do the same.
Slicer thrashed his legs wildly to escape me. They smacked into my body, but it didn't hurt at all. If anything, it'd hurt him more. My skin was steel right now.
Huff!
Crack!
"A-arghhh! Let go! Let go, you bastard!"
I put strength into my arms. A gruesome sound came from Slicer's shoulders. I spread them even wider, doing my part to help him fit into a product box for this world.
Become a big man, Slicer, you fucking prick!
Daring to touch my body?! The only ones allowed to touch my body are me... and women.
No other man can lay a hand on me.
Snap, crackle, rip!
Splatter!
"Gaaahhh!"
Slicer's arms, which had been stretching bit by bit, finally couldn't withstand my strength and tore off. He dropped to the floor, free from me.
Abandoning his own arms just to escape! Like a lizard ditching its tail to survive a predator. From today, Slicer was a lizard Slicer.
"Die! Dieeee!"
Like a real lizard, Slicer crawled on the floor, screeching. With only his legs left, he started swinging them wildly.
Thud! Zap! Slash!
"Kyaah!"
"Boss! It's us! Us!"
Every swing of his legs gouged long scars into the club walls and floors, like a giant whipping a lash. Not only that, but some of his minions got bisected, injured, or killed in the chaos.
Th-this is...!
"Lizard Fang!"
So damn cool! I wanna learn that! I'd even take Lizard Slicer as my master if he taught me. Master Slicer!
"Enough games."
"Arghhh!"
Before he could demolish the whole club, I crushed his legs to stop his rampage. With arms and now legs gone, Slicer let out a scream mixed with wails.
"Clean this up."
"Yes, sir! What are you waiting for? Deal with them!"
"Got it!"
"D-don't come closer!"
"Arghhh!"
Slicer's remaining goons resisted, but with their boss down, they had no hope. One by one, they fell dead soon after.
That was when it happened.
"I-I surrender! I surrender!"
"Hm?"
The bathroom door opened, and a man stepped out with his hands raised. My minions, cleaning up the club, all aimed their guns at him in unison.
"Eek!"
"Stand down."
No need to touch someone who surrendered. At my order, they lowered their weapons.
But haven't these guys ever been in the army? Guns should always point skyward, yet my minions didn't even know that basic rule.
Anyway, I approached the surrendering man.
"Who are you?"
"I-I-I-I’m..."
"I-I-I’m? That's a weird name. Surname I-I-I, given name I'm?"
"N-no, that's not it... I-I'm Frey Santiago."
"I-I'm Frey Santiago? Is your name 'I' or 'I-I'm Frey'? You mocking me right now?"
"Eek! No! Frey! Frey Santiago!"
"..."
What’s his deal? Doesn't get humor? I was joking to make him laugh, but this guy had no clue.
Ah... Batman bro's eternal rival, Joker bro, would've clapped and laughed at my humor! Joker hyung! I miss you! Tears flowing!
"You surrender?"
"Yes. Truth is, I'm not one of Slicer's men."
"Not Slicer's man? Then what?"
"I'm a subordinate of [Kane], who rules Sector 72!"
Kane? Who's that?
"Why's Kane's man here?"
"W-well..."
Santiago stammered, constantly glancing at me. He also peeked at the still writhing Slicer.
"You wanna end up like that? I can make it happen."
"N-no! Absolutely not! Spare me!"
I grabbed his arm, and Santiago freaked out, shaking his head. I thought he was jealous, staring at Slicer again.
"Truth is, Slicer proposed an alliance to Lord Kane and Lady Karinbia. So, I came here as Kane's proxy."
Santiago's words reminded me of the guy I'd knocked out outside.
"Did Karinbia send a proxy like you too?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes."
"..."
The picture formed in my head.
Tense from my daily sector grabs, Slicer had proposed an alliance to two nearby villains. Probably said, "You're next after us, so block him from your turf."
And on the very day they met to discuss details, I barged in.
Life's all about timing, huh.
"What's Kane's answer?"
"..."
Santiago shut his mouth. No need to hear it; obvious. He accepted.
With me rampaging like a mad dog, Kane must've felt threatened. And blocking me in Slicer's sector? No downside for him.
Even if the sector got wrecked in battle, only Slicer's would suffer. Capturing me and taking Slicer's ruins? Jackpot for Kane.
"I'll let you live and send you back."
"Th-thank you!"
"But relay my message to Kane."
"Yes! Just say the word!"
Santiago's face lit up at the thought of surviving. Wonder if it'll stay that way after hearing me.
"In two days, I'll come to Kane myself."
"...?"
"When I arrive, Kane must surrender to me."
"...!"
Santiago's eyes widened.
"Kane will kneel and greet me. Kiss my shoe and swear obedience. Hand over his sector, businesses, assets—everything. If he refuses..."
"..."
Santiago gulped.
"Kane, his stupid followers, his whole family—they'll all be dog food. So think hard about the smart choice. I've given two days of mercy."
"B-but!"
Santiago tried to speak, but I raised my hand to silence him.
"Deliver my words to Kane, word for word. Fail, and I'll rip you apart before him. Got it?"
"... Y-yes, sir."
"Then get out."
"Yes, sir!"
Santiago bolted from the club. Now he'll be pissed, gritting his teeth, ready to fight me. Hope this Kane guy makes it fun.
"I'm heading out first. Clean up yourselves."
"L-let go of this!"
"Yes, boss! Great work!"
With my minions seeing me off, I dragged Slicer out. I smacked his noisy cheek to knock him out. Talky loser prick.
"B-boss..."
"..."
Back at the Skull Head hideout, I was speechless at the devastation. Just three days after decorating it nicely, it was trashed again.
I'd left 10 minions; only one was unscathed. Eight dead, one missing.
"Who did this."
It didn't take long for bewilderment to turn to rage. Fury boiled from my toes to my head.
Which bastard dared touch my building?!
"Which fucker dared!"
Crash!
"Argh!"
My shout shattered the last intact window, and the sniveling minion approaching me tumbled back.
"It-it was a woman!"
"A woman?"
Rage subsided at "woman." A woman? Hot?
"S-some woman showed up and hit us with her superpower out of nowhere!"
A superpowered woman too! No wonder my guys lost. So, hot?
"She blew up the building with our guns and grenades! Burned all the drugs too!"
Drugs gone! That means business setback. Whoever she was, big damage. So, is she hot?
"Then she asked where Scorpion King was now!"
"... Scorpion King? The guy I killed?"
"Yes! Exactly!"
The minion wailed, tears streaming, so wronged.
"That bitch was a demon! Even when we said we didn't know, she kept water-torturing us! Drowned us one by one, but didn't stop!"
"..."
"A-and... right! She took Melville! Said if you want him back, come to Tollores Park yourself..."
"Tollores Park?"
I rummaged through Bal Jeong-nam's memories. Tollores Park wasn't far from my Sector 78 hideout.
"Yes! Sob! Boss! Avenge us, please!"
"... Stay here. Contact Joongbo—tell him to wrap up the club and return."
"Yes, boss! Please! Save Melville!"
"..."
Avenge what? You think I'm playing villain just to settle your petty grudges?
They were just criminal scum clinging to me 'cause I'm strong.
Only one thing mattered: was that woman hot? I dumped the passed-out Slicer on the next building and headed to Tollores Park.
"Ughhh..."
"Shut up. Make another sound, and I'll kill you right now."
"..."
Melville shut his mouth at Yuna's threat. She glared down at him coldly, then closed her eyes.
Her mind replayed her recent talk with the Skull Head guys.
'Sc-Scorpion King's dead!'
'What? Scorpion King dead? Why?!'
'We're not Scorpions anymore! We're Skull Head! Our boss is Steel Armor!'
'Steel Armor?'
'Yes! He killed Scorpion King and took three sectors!'
'Scorpion King is dead?'
Learning Scorpion King was dead made Yuna's heart sink.
For four days, she'd holed up at home, terrified villains might burst in, not even stepping out.
Plus, her body, tasting that fiery pillar, craved it endlessly. Her virgin hands from days ago couldn't calm the heat.
So Yuna went out.
At first, to avenge herself on Scorpion King, who did this to her. Killing him would end the fear and heat, she thought.
But Scorpion King was killed by some unheard-of villain, Steel Armor.
Holed up without her phone, Yuna had no idea what Steel Armor looked like.
Anyway, her revenge target dead should mean joy. But her heart sank.
What about me? My body? What do I do with this body that's known color!
Ironic.
She burned with rage at the death of the man who took her virginity and raped her brutally.
What now? Become a whore, sell herself to any man? Would that quench the heat?
She lost reason, killing Skull Head members one by one. Then Steel Armor, who killed Scorpion King, popped into her head.
'I'll kill him.'
Unconsciously, Yuna harbored killing intent toward Steel Armor. No reason. Reason numb, only thought: kill him.
Step, step, step.
'He's here.'
Yuna opened her eyes at the distant footsteps. Could be just a passerby.
But Yuna was a hero, a superhuman.
Her superhuman instincts screamed.
The one she's waiting for has arrived.
"Steel Armor."
"..."
Moments later, Hero Aqua Girl faced Villain Steel Armor.