Genre Change
The Gwen family bastards definitely wield some strange power that's not a superpower. But was it anything I couldn't handle? Hell no. Who am I? The undisputed (unofficial) strongest in Dark City, that's who! As the top dog of Dark City, there's no way I'd lose!
I haven't leveled up my Thunder Emperor yet, but my total levels add up to a whopping 69. Plus, I've beaten monsters like Siren and Gumiho. Compared to them, the Gwen family was straight-up cannon fodder. And I never lose to cannon fodder.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
"Kyaaah!"
"Ughhh!"
The ones zapped by my lightning screamed in agony. Just as their powers could hurt me, my superpowers could damage them too.
"Oh ho? Dodged it?"
Even so, Saint Dunn, Risanna, Eledor, and a few others surprisingly leaped back, evading the lightning.
Sizzle!
"Huh?"
Looking closer, a round barrier had unfolded in front of them, blocking the bolt. That wasn't a superpower either.
"Green Fruit Archer Squad! Take him down!"
"Yes, sir!"
Voices called from above. I looked up to see ten men and women nocking arrows on bows.
"What a variety show. Swords first, now bows? We in the Middle Ages or what?"
They aimed at me and loosed. Their arrows carried the same eerie power as the wizard squad's—quick losers.
Thud-thud-thud!
The fast-flying arrows slammed into the spot where I'd stood. They didn't curve or track me, so dodging was a breeze.
"Grahhh!"
"Huh? Oh, really? Hanging in there?"
The electrocuted ones started coming to, one by one.
"Neck Slice!"
"Kyak!"
Letting them recover would be a pain, so I used Attraction to yank them over and knock 'em out one at a time.
Thud!
"Tch. Annoying pricks."
Arrows kept raining from above. They'd probably keep shooting till dawn if I let them.
Couldn't have that.
'Attraction.'
"Huh? Uwaaaah?!"
"Neck Slice!"
I pulled the upstairs bastards down with Attraction and chopped their necks with my hand, knocking them out cold.
Can't sleep? Come to me! One Neck Slice and everyone sleeps equally! Your neck might hurt like hell when you wake up, but that's fine! It's not my neck that's sore, right?
"Heh heh heh... Now it's your turn... Huh?"
Having floored them all, I turned to the main dishes—the family heads.
But they were gone.
"...No way they bailed?"
These crazy fucks! Ditching family and running?!
"You're dead meat, you shits."
I can't forgive anyone who abandons family. Time to chase 'em down and show 'em a son-in-law's wrath.
Where'd they rabbit off to, these assholes?
"That way?"
Scanning around, I spotted a wide-open door. Stairs led down—probably to the basement.
"...Huh?"
Click!
As I headed down the stairs, someone appeared behind me and swung a dagger. Sensing the killing intent, I whipped my arm up to block.
The blade lodged shallowly in my arm instead of sinking deep.
"Eledor?"
"Vengeance for Siphon!"
The ambusher was none other than Elis's brother, Eledor. This guy didn't run?
"What the hell is this Siphon anyway, you punk? Tell me first, then get your revenge or whatever."
"Shut your mouth, you fiend! I'll kill you and avenge Siphon, who was erased!"
"This guy's nuts."
Who's Siphon?! I gotta know who it is to decide if your revenge is legit!
"Grrrrraaah! Pissed off! No, beyond pissed—fucking enraged!!!!!"
What's Siphon, you degenerate fuck?! What is it?! Tell me! Is it that hard?!
"Rage MAAAAAAAAAAAX!!!!!!"
Honestly, I'd tried not to slaughter the Gwen family. They were part of Elis's childhood, and she might value her family. If Elis cried, my tear ducts would go haywire. Better me shedding blood tears than seeing hers.
So even if I got violent, I stuck to the No-Kill Rule.
But these bastards were pushing me to turn it off.
Fuck, they won't answer when I ask.
'Hoo! Calm down, gotta hold it. Elis might like these family fucks. So I endure.'
Really, really barely deactivated Rage Mode. Didn't want to see Elis sad.
"You should be grateful Elis was born your sister."
"Die!"
"..."
Screw it, just close my eyes and kill him?
Poke!
"Huh?"
Then someone stabbed my nape with a dagger from behind. Turning, I saw a woman in skin-tight black, face masked in black too—no idea what she looked like.
"Come to think of it."
The hallway wasn't just Eledor ahead and this woman behind. More lurked on the basement stairs.
"Heh heh heh. You guys the Green Fruit Assassination Squad?"
"Kill him!"
As Eledor backed off, the stairs' lights snuffed out. The narrow passage plunged into darkness, and the hidden attackers struck.
Door slammed shut—no visibility!
Whoosh!
"Too slow."
But I dodged the assassins' attacks with ease. How? "Aren't these idiots?"
The wizards' eerie power clung to their daggers, glowing like lightsabers in the dark.
Darkness favors assassins, but their weapons light up? Trying to kill me or help me?
Weapons visible? Only an idiot gets hit.
Poke!
"Huh?"
One assassin's non-glowing dagger grazed my side. Didn't see it coming since it didn't shine.
Riiip!
It even tore my suit and nicked my skin.
"Oh ho?"
Thought they were total morons, but nope—my mistake. They showed glowing daggers to distract, but the real threats were the dark ones.
These guys had brains. Underestimated 'em.
'Got a trick or two, huh?'
Knight squad, wizard squad, archer squad, now assassins. All with aces up their sleeves.
"Sorry."
Apologized for the disrespect.
"As thanks, lemme show you something fun. Your pals loved it."
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
I unleashed lightning from my whole body.
"Guhhhh!"
"Kyaaah!"
The bolts banished the dark, engulfing the hidden assassins. Lightning sought life, webbing out to devour the nearest ones.
"Yo! DJ Bong, this party's lit!"
Flashing lightning turned the stairs into a club. Excitement bubbled up.
Yeah! In-crowd club central!
I'd hit clubs on Earth too. Thumping beats assaulting eardrums, drunks swaying to music, guys and girls grinding in hot anticipation!
"Boring."
Others screamed in joy, but I was bored. Music too loud, air stale. Packed—no room to show my moves. Toilets filthy. Clubs weren't for me.
My first (and last) at 20.
But now?
"I'm a DJ type!"
As a patron, no fun. But as the ruling DJ? Thrilling!
"Yo! Follow my lead! Yeah yeah!"
"Aaaah!"
"Yo! Kyak kyak!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Heh heh. That's it."
Look at 'em—DJ Armor shows up, and they're dying of joy!
"Grahhh..."
"Fuck. Really gonna croak."
The zapped assassins were frying to death, so I cut the lightning. Stairs went dark again.
Huh? Lightning flashes? Rhymed.
"DJ Armor's club's closed."
"..."
"..."
The trembling fans collapsed from overwhelming emotion. Fainted from hype.
No deaths, right? Too dark to check.
"They're skilled, so probably fine. Father-in-law! Mother-in-law! Hold on! Son-in-law's coming!"
Assassins down, I descended after the fleeing in-laws.
*****
"What the hell is this?"
Basement hit me with a sudden vibe shift. I grimaced.
"Genre change to hentai?"
Stairs were normal (ish) modern, but down here? Grotesque as fuck.
Flesh-like masses—human meat?—covered walls, floor, ceiling. Squirming like alive. Didn't wanna step in.
Whoa, even veins pulsing? Like a game hentai.
Viiiing!
"Fuck."
Flies buzzing too. Dark City's top brain and clean freak? Wrong place.
Wanna bolt upstairs.
"Weird tastes."
Who designs a basement like this? I respect tastes usually, but not this. Oh, lolicon neither.
Didn't wanna enter, but had to.
"..."
Mother-in-law waited inside. Can't keep her hanging—son-in-law duty.
Squelch!
"Fuck."
Stepping in, squishy feel—like trampling people. Nauseating.
Swallowed horror, pushed to Risanna.
"Why alone, Mother-in-law? Father-in-law sacrificing you? Where's the rest?"
"...Heh."
"Laughing? Situation sinking in?"
Risanna smirked slyly.
"The one not getting it is you."
"What?"
"That was your last chance."
"Last chance? For what?"
"To run."
"Me? Run? Ha ha ha. Still see me as fodder Armor, huh."
Steel Armor doesn't flee from foes. Tactical retreat? Maybe. Tail-between-legs run? Never.
"No running now."
"Huh?"
She pointed behind. The entrance? Sealed by writhing flesh.
Squirm-squirm!
"Fuck."
Watching it writhe turned my stomach. Ack! My eyes! Need unseeing eyes!
To cleanse my tainted retinas, I looked at Risanna. Bitchy personality, but Elis's mom—stunning beauty.
"Hooeeeng."
Just gazing purified my eyes, and my dick went erect!
Moms are great—Risanna outshone Elis by a step.
"Come here."
"What?"
"Kneel, apologize now, and I'll treat you like a gentleman. Keep being cocky, and no gentleman here. Hey! Ignore my pure heart, and I turn thug!"
"Heh. Curious how long that attitude lasts. Follow."
"Why should I... Hm! Right, following."
She turned her back without guard—tempted to smack her nape. But that swaying ass melted the urge.
"Yeah, can't just smack heads."
Followed the hypnotic sway—Risanna—deeper in.
What'd she prep to act so cocky? Exciting.