What the Hell is That Bullshit?
"Ha... fuck, how long do I have to keep sitting on my ass here?"
C-rank hero Curve Shot, affiliated with the Hero Association, lit a cigarette and stared at the entrance to an ordinary company building.
Curve Shot was a rookie hero who'd been at it for less than five months, but he'd racked up some solid achievements capturing villains. His superpower, true to his hero name, let him curve thrown objects in any direction he wanted. Plenty of villains had gone down because they couldn't handle his attacks coming from blind spots.
"I joined thinking I'd score some big wins... but what the hell is this? Stuck wearing this shitty skin mask day in and day out, just waiting around... Should've never signed up for this crap."
While he was rotting away here, it burned him up seeing his fellow rookie C-rank heroes climbing the ranks. Especially Aqua Girl—hadn't she gotten promoted to B-rank in just five months?
"It's all that fucking bitch Aqua Girl's fault. Bet she spread her legs for the others to jump ahead of me."
Vulgar words spilled from Curve Shot's mouth. Deep down, he believed he was stronger and better than the other C-ranks. At a time when he should be building his record and fame, he was convinced it was all Aqua Girl's doing that he was stuck here. Pure, delusional victim complex.
"Aw, this sucks."
Curve Shot tossed his spent cigarette butt on the ground and scratched at his face furiously. But it didn't help a bit. He was wearing an Infi Mask made by the Hero Association's disguise expert, Chameleon. You didn't even need the mask to hide your real face—it was that good. Not 100% perfect camouflage, more like 98% with a slight shortfall. From a distance, no one would clock it as a mask, but up close, something felt off.
"Fuck, why would any villain show up at a dump like this?"
As a surveillance grunt, Curve Shot didn't get the full intel. Just orders to watch this one company in District 11 and make sure no villains came or went. If he'd known it was a funding source for Shadow Killer, he'd have been way more diligent. Contributing to catching Shadow Killer? That'd be massive credit.
"Villains my ass—who the fu—wait, what?"
Pulling out another cigarette for his chain-smoking habit, Curve Shot froze. A big guy built like a wrestler or bodyguard, wearing a mask with a skull emblem, was heading into the company he was watching.
It was a villain making waves lately, so Curve Shot recognized him instantly.
"S-s-s, Steel Armor!"
Shocked by Steel Armor's appearance at first, Curve Shot's face soon lit up with excitement.
"If I catch Steel Armor..."
The C-rank hero imagined himself nabbing an S-rank villain like Steel Armor. A C-rank taking down an S-rank? He might skip straight to S-rank hero! And not just that—every citizen would cheer his name.
-Curve Shot! Curve Shot!
-Dark City's strongest hero!
-Kyaaah! I love you, Curve Shot! Take me!
"Heh... heh heh heh..."
Just the fantasy made him happy. Sure, catching an S-rank wouldn't be easy. But Curve Shot had confidence. Hadn't he taken down tons of D- and C-rank villains with his power? Especially blind-spot curves—even an S-rank couldn't block those.
"That fucker's mine."
Protocol said report to the Hero Association the instant a villain entered. But even seeing Steel Armor go in, Curve Shot didn't call it in. That daydream had him gripped by ambition, clouding his judgment.
Click!
Whirr—!
Curve Shot pulled a oddly shaped gadget from his bag and hit the protruding button. Electricity charged inside the ball.
It was a weapon that zapped people unconscious on impact: the Electric Ball, Curve Shot's signature gear. Made by Sanctuary Corp, it was pricey as hell—a C-rank salary couldn't even buy five. He only used it for special occasions. Normally, he stuck to baseballs or daggers for captures.
And this was one such occasion.
"Here I go! Curve Shot!"
Once charged, Curve Shot hurled the Electric Ball at Steel Armor without hesitation, activating his skill. It arced high like a knuckleball, then dropped right on Steel Armor's head.
Thud!
Bzzzzt—crackle!
"Guhhh?!"
"Got him!"
Steel Armor, blind to the overhead strike, got zapped full-force by the electricity. Watching it all, Curve Shot pumped his fist.
No matter how S-rank he was, electricity would paralyze him...
"Fuck, what the hell? Lightning out of a clear sky?"
"...?"
Curve Shot, rushing toward Steel Armor, stopped in confusion. Steel Armor should've been down, but he was looking up at the sky, grumbling. Hell, he was scratching his scalp like it itched from the hit.
"Fuck, annoying. All Shadow Killer's fault, that prick. Grrr! Revenge MAX! No-Kill Rule OFF! You're all fucked!"
"....."
Steel Armor muttered nonsense and headed into the company lobby.
Screeech!
Aaaah!
Bang bang bang!
Soon, crashes echoed from inside as people screamed and fled.
Curve Shot stared blankly, then pulled out his phone.
"Yes, team leader. Steel Armor just entered the company. Yes, it's him. What? Oh, come on~ Of course. Soon as I spotted Steel Armor, I called you right away without doing a thing."
Curve Shot reported to his senior hero as if nothing had happened, smooth as silk.
*****
The office was mostly empty—everyone clocked out. Just a guard or two, maybe some overtime workers. No superpowered folks in the lobby, probably for disguise purposes.
How'd I know? Superpowered people make my gut churn, and right now, my stomach felt light as after a good shit.
"D-don't move! I'll shoot!"
"....."
An older guard shoved a gun in my face to block me. His hands shook with fear, but he didn't back down.
"Put the gun down."
"Th-this is a normal company! No money here!"
"Huh..."
Did he think I was here for cash? Nah—this was payback for Shadow Killer's "gift." But a regular guard wouldn't know that.
"Hey, old man. No family at home? Think of them—even falling leaves can be dangerous. And my No-Kill Rule's off right now. Keep blocking me, and I might have to hurt you."
"I-I can't do that!"
"Oh?"
I mentioned family, but he didn't budge.
"No family?"
"I do."
"Then?"
"St-still! I'm the guard here! I have to protect the employees and company property!"
"Ooooooh...!"
Damn! Even in this dark world, a ray of light shines through—turns out honest, duty-bound folks still exist!
Pssshhh!
No-Kill Rule ON.
Turned it back on. Killing a guy like that would ruin my sleep.
"Sorry, old man, but I gotta trash this place today. Can't explain why... but some asshole connected to this company sent me a gift. So, payback time."
"Huh?"
"Anyway, no grudge against you. So..."
I trailed off and charged the guard.
"U-uaaaah!"
Bang bang bang!
He fired reflexively. Bullets bounced off my suit. Might fight Shadow Killer here, so I'd hit up Peter Elder beforehand for suit repairs and a matching fabric skull mask.
Peter had sighed at first, but saw I was dead serious—not my usual self—and fixed the suit with the mask, no complaints. I bowed in thanks; he got all embarrassed. Told me not to come back, but heh heh heh! Tomorrow, probably.
Anyway, grabbed the guard by the collar and dragged him behind the desk. Out of sight.
"Rest here a bit. Be done quick."
"Huh?"
Bam!
"Hiiiik?!"
Punched the wall next to his head. He screamed.
"I knocked you out."
"Huh?"
"I knocked you out, got it? What'd I do to you?"
"Kn-knocked me out..."
"Good. Stay put."
Let go and turned away. With No-Kill Rule on, no killing—just smash everything.
"Uh..."
Ignored the dazed guard staring after me and headed up.
*****
Floor by floor, I smashed whatever I saw—neatly. Split computers and desks like twigs. Grabbed snacks and coffee in the break room midway. Mmm! Caffeine boost!
I was a human bulldozer. Get in my way, get bulldozed! That's why my minions ended up buzzcut baldies!
Clean sweep—even flies slipped off their heads!
-President's Office-
Reached the top, kicked the door open.
"Kyaaaah!"
"S-save me!"
Inside: a balding, pot-bellied middle-aged guy and a sexy woman. President and secretary, obviously.
No-Kill Rule on, so no harming people... wait.
"I-I got nothing! There's nothing here!"
"....."
The president yammered about no money. Looked familiar. Where had I...?
Oh.
"Ahh? Huh?"
Staring jogged my memory. Few days back, teaching some punk kids smoking in the park bathroom—got arrested. This was one of their dads.
"Huh..."
Small world. Weird coincidence.
And that wasn't all I noticed.
'That prick?'
I spotted the sticky fluid trickling down the secretary's leg. They'd been fucking right before I showed up.
A guy with a wife and kids, skipping work till this hour to bang his secretary?! Damn, jealous!
Wish I could secretary-bang in the president's office! Wait, no.
"Fuckin' scum."
"Wh-what? I-I..."
"Grown kid, wife with eyes wide open, and you fuck the secretary? You call yourself a family man?"
"H-how did you...!"
"No wonder your brat's a little shit!"
Closed in on the panicking president and swung. Full power would kill him—he was a normie. So, 10% strength, started pounding.
"Gweeeek! Kweeek?!"
"You! And! My! Connection! This! Is! My! Discipline!"
Pig-squeals filled the office. Take my love taps—er, love fists—and be a better dad!
"Steel Armor, huh..."
Mid-beatdown, a chilling voice came from behind.
"Hm? Oh ho?"
Grabbed the passed-out president by the collar and turned. A guy in a toothy mask and hoodie stood there.
'S-rank?'
Was it 'cause I was S-rank villain now? Or 'cause this was one of Shadow Killer's secret ops? The lone guy reeked of power. Gut-churning—minimum S-rank hero or villain.
'Which one?'
"Heh..."
The man chuckled dryly at me, muttering.
"Shadow Killer doesn't show when called, but Steel Armor does... Bad luck? Good? Or... are you two in cahoots?"
What the hell is that bullshit?