Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: King of the World
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'No way! If you've got Superman powers, why name yourself something stupid like White Knight and confuse everyone?!'
I'd assumed that since his hero name was White Knight, he had some kind of knightly ability. But nope. The guy was just a knockoff Superman.
And on top of that, he had two other superpowers—Body Enhancer and Sky Flyer—both maxed out at level 10. As traits, no less! Where's the justice in that kind of broken power?!
'Why couldn't I pick something like that?!'
When I first chose my character's superpower, there was definitely no option for [Superman's Return]. How the hell does this random guy get a superpower I, a Player, can't even have?!
This was ridiculously unfair and biased. Operator, stop hating on Players!
'At least the good news is he can only use the basic abilities.'
Having two extra superpowers was definitely busted. But when you looked closer, it wasn't completely unbeatable.
Because he couldn't assign a single trait point to Body Enhancer or Sky Flyer.
In other words, all he could use from those two superpowers were the basics: enhanced body and flight. White Knight didn't have traits like my HP Generation or Stamina Specialization.
Sure, level 10 superpowers alone made him OP, but not unbeatable.
'Back to the point— all I need to do is drag him down to the ground.'
My specialty is close-quarters brawling powered by Body Enhancer. With my tough body, I can hit enemies as hard as I want.
'Drag him down, drag him down, drag him down... Ah, got it!'
A brilliant idea popped into my head.
'You're dead meat, you little shit.'
*****
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
Once the debris flying at him like cannonballs finally stopped, White Knight let out a low chuckle. He must've realized his attacks weren't landing and given up.
He hadn't expected the laser to pass right through Steel Armor's body either, but that didn't mean he couldn't kill the guy.
He had plenty of ways to finish him off.
'Little shit, huh?'
No one got to call him that. Not even the infamous S-rank villain Shadow Killer.
Sure, Shadow Killer had killed a few heroes, but they were all low-tier losers barely worthy of the name. Even among S-ranks, there was a huge gap.
Whenever they'd crossed paths, the guy had just tucked tail and run.
And now he calls me little shit?!
White Knight had never heard such an insult in his life. That's why he absolutely couldn't forgive Steel Armor.
'Heh heh heh heh heh. I'll make him beg for mercy.'
He killed other pests on the spot. On good days, he'd show mercy by chopping off a leg or arm to cripple them.
Today had started off great, so when that villain crossed the line he'd drawn, he'd only taken the leg.
But Steel Armor? No mercy. His fate was sealed the moment he mouthed off, and it would be agonizing.
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
White Knight chuckled as he headed toward the building where Steel Armor had crashed. The guy was still inside. With hearing sharp enough to pick up sounds miles away, White Knight had locked onto his breathing.
Ziiiiiing!
Lasers began gathering in White Knight's eyes. Sure, there were still civilians inside who hadn't evacuated, but he didn't care.
Sacrifices were inevitable when upholding justice, right?
And the Hero Association would compensate their families handsomely. They'd end up with a fortune—not a bad deal for them.
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
Just as he was about to fire the laser at the building—
"Huh?"
—the tables turned.
White Knight's body, floating in the sky, suddenly got yanked toward the gaping hole in the building like it was tied to a rope.
Panicking, he activated his superpower to resist, slowing the pull, but his body was still descending toward the ground.
'What the—?!'
Was another villain hiding in the building? A trap?
Thud!
He resisted as long as he could, but his feet finally hit the ground. And standing before him was a man in a skull-patterned mask.
The villain who'd dared call Dark City's strongest hero, White Knight, a little shit: Steel Armor.
With his left fist pulled back behind him, Steel Armor said in a voice dripping with glee,
"Why so serious?!"
"You bastard!"
Bam!
"Guhk?!"
Steel Armor's right fist slammed into White Knight's face.
*****
'Damn, that card was expensive.'
I'd just used one, leaving me with only one Superpower Creation Ticket. It hurt, but no regrets.
Because I got to smash my fist right into that fly buzzing around in the sky!
'Feels so damn good!'
It was like a weight lifting off my chest.
Lv.1 Gravity Control (+) Lv.2 Gravity Control (-) Lv.3 Reference Point Shift Lv.4 Attraction (Active) Lv.5 Repulsion (Active) Lv.6 Range Expansion Lv.7 Attraction Boost Lv.8 Repulsion Boost Lv.9 Focus Lv.10 World of Zero Gravity (Active)
Lv.4 Attraction (Active): Strongly pulls the targeted object. Cooldown: 10 sec
Lv.5 Repulsion (Active): Strongly pushes the targeted object. Cooldown: 10 sec
Lv.10 World of Zero Gravity (Active): Creates a zero-gravity zone around you. Duration varies by range. Cooldown: 10 days
I'd used a creation ticket, but it was worth every bit!
"Guhk?!"
White Knight, who'd taken a punch to the face, flew backward.
If he had defensive traits like me, he wouldn't have gone flying so easily. Too bad—he only had the base Body Enhancer superpower, no traits.
'Repulsion.'
I thrust my left arm forward, then pulled it back.
I'd only created Gravity Dominator recently, so I still had to gesture like this to use it. But once I got used to it, I'd control gravity with a thought—no hand-waving needed.
"Kuh!"
As Attraction yanked the flying White Knight back toward me at high speed, I followed up...
"Why so serious?!"
"Kraaak!"
Another fist to the face. His already ugly mug got even uglier. If there was a handsome guy contest in Dark City, I'd win hands down. I'm that good-looking (totally subjective / objectively, White Knight's hotter).
"Hah... hah..."
White Knight sprawled on the ground, breathing raggedly. He looked shocked that I'd actually landed hits.
I stepped up and loomed over him.
"Ahh... yeah."
"..."
"You're down there. I'm up here. Proper eye level."
"...!"
White Knight's eyes bulged.
"You villain scum dare—!"
"I told you. You're dead meat, you little shit."
"Raaargh!"
White Knight lunged with a wild swing. Close combat? Hell yeah, bring it.
Bam!
"Kuh!"
"Kraaaak!"
Our fists collided with each other's faces simultaneously. But White Knight screamed louder.
I'd stacked defensive traits; he was just raw level 10 Body Enhancer flesh.
Traits made all the difference—even at the same level, Body Enhancer bodies varied wildly in power and toughness.
In a brawl, he couldn't win.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Punches echoed like explosions. We ignored defense, swinging wildly to inflict max damage.
Bam!
"Ack!"
His uppercut clipped my jaw. I bit my tongue. You little shit!
Bam!
"Krahk!"
I smashed his crown in retaliation. Shorter than me, his head was wide open. Take that, hobbit!
Bam!
"Kuh!"
Bam!
"Aaaak!"
Bam!
"Owwie!"
BOOM!
"Krahhhh!"
Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam!
For about two minutes, it was nonstop, breathless fisticuffs.
The first minute, we traded blows evenly. After that, his swings slowed. The last ten seconds? I pummeled him one-sidedly.
"Steel Armor! I'll crush you!"
BOOM!
"Guhk?!"
I slammed both fists down on his shoulders like a desk pound. He screamed and dropped to his knees.
"Heh heh heh heh heh. On your knees, you lit-tle shit."
"...Me? On my knees? I... lost? Me?"
"Yeah, you lost. I told you—you're little shit."
"..."
"I... I'm..."
"Hmph."
I sneered down at the shocked bastard, then threw my arms wide and bellowed at the stunned onlookers.
"I'm the king of the world!!!"
I'm the king, you losers!
*****
Swish.
White Knight rose from his knees. In that brief moment, he'd composed himself into a terrifyingly serious expression.
But I just scoffed. What're you gonna do, get all stern?
I never flinch from someone I beat.
"Why stand? Stay knelt. I'll kill you painlessly."
Of course, painless was a lie. I'd turn White Knight into a maggot and claim the [S-Rank Maggot for the Bug Farm] achievement. Time for an S-rank bug, right?
"I am the strongest hero, White Knight."
"So? You're not anymore, little shit. I am."
"The strongest hero never loses."
"No, you lost. You knelt."
I couldn't believe this denial. Wait, was it that nosebleed thing? I could beat him till he bled then.
"The strongest hero never loses."
"Whoa! 'Fi-re' White Knight!"
"The strongest hero... never loses!"
"Huh?"
Ziiing! BOOM!
"Guhk?!"
No warning—sudden impact hurled me backward. What hit me? Fist? Kick? Laser?
Bam! Boom! BOOOOM!
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Damn it! Evacuate civilians farther back!"
The city was crumbling. Faster and worse than when I smashed buildings.
People screamed and fled; heroes protected and evacuated them.
Boom! BOOM!
"Raaaaagh!"
The destruction's epicenter: White Knight.
Invisible waves rippled from him, crushing and shattering everything in their path.
His level 10 skill: [Wave Emission].
"White Knight! Calm down! The city's getting wrecked!"
"The strongest hero never loses! White Knight never loses!"
A hero yelled at him, but no use. Defeat had snapped him; he just ranted and rampaged.
You crazy bastard!
"Hmm. What now?"
I considered charging back in, but his momentum was insane. Those waves pouring from him packed a punch.
"Tch."
Glancing at my hit stomach, I nearly teared up. My suit jacket was gone at the gut, revealing my steel-gray abs.
Free repairs...? Nah, probably not...
But the suit wasn't the issue.
"Wound..."
There was a gash on my stomach. Even with steel skin. Red blood seeped out.
Seeing it killed my fight.
Why stack defense? To slaughter normies unscathed and unstoppable.
But now I was hurt. It stung like hell.
Battle lust? Gone.
"Time to bail!"
What I needed now: speed!
I spun to run.
But I couldn't.
"Kyaaaak!"
"Aqua Girl! Watch out!"
White Knight's waves tore through near Aqua Girl.
Run already!
She could've escaped easily but didn't. I got why quick.
"Waaaah~!"
"Save us! Please, at least my baby!"
"Water Shield! Water Shield! Water Shield!"
Behind her, a woman clutched a newborn. Aqua Girl desperately raised water walls against the waves.
But it was dicey. The waves shredded each barrier. The moment she backed up to flee, they'd hit her, the woman, and the baby.
She'd submitted to my dick and become a slave, but she hadn't abandoned justice.
Like it or not, she was a hero.
A hero protecting civilians.
"Haa... I really wanna run."
And I was that hero's master.
Not the type to ditch my slave and bolt.
"Fuck it. Worst case, burn my last ticket too."
Bam!
I stomped the asphalt to shards and launched toward White Knight.