S-Rank Hero Jenaraider
"Shadow Killer doesn't show up when he's supposed to, and instead Steel Armor appears... Is this bad luck, or should I call it a relief? Or... are the two of them in cahoots?"
What the fuck is that bullshit? Why the hell would I be in cahoots with Shadow Killer?
Whoever that asshole is, he sucks at deductions. Can't he see we're obviously on bad terms just by looking?
That fucker's gotta be a C-rank pretending to be crew while accusing the wrong guy of being the imposter. He'll probably slink away in shame. What a trolling shithead.
"Who the hell are you?"
"None of your business."
"This motherfucker?"
What a rude, mannerless prick. When you meet someone for the first time, you introduce yourself—that's basic decency. And he just ignores it?
"Steel Armor, why are you here?"
"None of your business, asshole?"
"....."
I threw his words right back at him. Of course, I jutted out my jaw and lips as far as they'd go, rolling my eyes to piss him off even more.
This dickhead ignores my "none of your business" but expects me to answer his? If you want an answer from me, you should've answered first, you fuck!
"....."
Ziiiiing!
Huh?
"I'll grab you and find out."
Bzzzzt!
"You crazy motherfucker?"
BOOM!
The president's office—me, the man, the passed-out president, and the female secretary—exploded in an instant.
This psycho bastard. No warning, just straight-up blasting away?
"Ugh! Uwaaaah... Please, spare me..."
"Quit crying and run."
"Uwaaaah~!"
With that, I set her down on the ground, and the secretary bolted while bawling her eyes out.
Damn, girl, even if you're scared, that's no excuse. I saved your ass—shouldn't you at least say thanks?
The toothy-masked fucker had straight-up used his skill to blow up the president's office, and I'd grabbed the unconscious president and secretary and leaped to the ground before it finished.
I've jumped from the 78th floor before—this 8-story drop is nothing.
I tossed the passed-out president aside carelessly and looked up.
"You a Superman too?"
I muttered at the toothy-masked bastard floating in midair.
He stood there without a wobble, like he was on solid ground. What, does he have an invisible Simmons bed or something?
"And..."
I looked down again, scanning the surroundings this time.
The night-strolling crowds had vanished. All that was left were a few masked figures radiating ominous vibes.
Heroes, obviously.
My stomach churned, but it was less nauseating than facing the guy up top. That meant their superpowers were level 9 or below.
"They've all come flocking."
What the hell is this mess? I came to pay Shadow Killer back, and now I'm about to throw down with heroes out of nowhere.
How did shit turn out like this... Life's full of twists. I shook my head in disbelief.
Judging by the heroes' expressions, they weren't letting me go easy.
Fine then. Time to fight.
But first.
I checked the status window of the presumed S-rank hero via my Superpower Analyzer.
Black Widow Electric Spider?
What kind of superpower name is that? And isn't a black widow a female spider? Why's this dude using a widow name?
Whatever. The key parts are electric and spider. He's definitely got powers tied to electricity and spiders.
"Hey."
I called out to the bastard glaring down at me coldly.
"You coming down? Who the fuck do you think you are, looking down on me?"
I can look down on others, but no one looks down on me. I'm the only one in this world qualified to overlook everyone.
And you're looking down on me?
"You know why White Knight got his ass handed to him?"
I said it to the man staring down and the heroes around.
"He got cocky looking down on me."
I raised my left hand, aiming at the man.
Squeeze.
I clenched my fist hard.
And—
Attraction.
"Guh?!"
Bzzzzzt!
As I pulled my clenched left arm downward, the smug bastard floating leisurely above started getting dragged down.
The leisure vanished from his face, and spiderweb-like electricity spread under his feet.
Aha! So he makes electric spiderwebs? Pretty straightforward power.
"Attack!"
"If capture's impossible, kill him!"
The man up top wasn't my only opponent. Other heroes who'd responded to the report charged in too.
As I dragged him from sky to ground, they all rushed me at once.
Wind, fire, bullets, metal, invisible forces—all flying my way.
Steel Skin.
Even though none of their powers could hurt me, I activated the body enhancer's signature skill anyway.
If my guess was right, these were heroes prepped by the Hero Association just to capture Shadow Killer in a trap.
So each attack might hide something lethal even for me. Better safe than sorry.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Their various powers slammed into me. The asphalt under my feet cracked.
This shit's legit.
But no damage on me. Well, not zero.
[HP: 398]
Down by 2. Just 2. And my suit and mask were fine too.
No need to protect the mask separately anymore. Nice fucking bonus.
"Hup!"
Now that I knew none of these guys except the one above could hurt me, it was time to yank him down for real.
That cocky prick was still looking down on me.
I can take insults, but looking down on me? Hell no!
Grrr! Rage max! Bad temper max!
"Wh-what the...! Guh! Graaaah!"
"Hm?"
Suddenly, my left hand pulling him felt lighter. The harder he resisted before, the tougher it was to lower my arm—but now the resistance was gone.
Sensing something off, I looked up and jolted.
Shhh shhh shhh!
A massive spider baring fangs that could chew steel was diving at me.
You bastard! You can turn into a spider?!
For the record, I fucking hate spiders. Like, really fucking hate them.
It goes back to when I was six. Visiting my grandparents', I saw a spider in my cousin's room ceiling corner—honestly, as big as my head.
It didn't do shit to me. Just hung there in its web.
But its mere existence plunged me into shock and terror.
Fucking scary! Slept at my cousin's that night? Didn't sleep a wink. Woke up terrified it'd eat me.
Spiders became my trauma. Even small ones make me shake now.
Of course, as an adult, I'm a real man who can smash them barehanded.
Die, you spider shits.
"KyaAAAAAH! SPIIIIDER!"
"Guh?!"
I reflexively slapped the giant spider's cheek with all my strength.
It flew off, cracks forming on its hideous fangs.
"Huh? Whoa? Ugggh?!"
But I wasn't unscathed. Electricity from its body coursed through me.
Lucky I smacked it hard enough—the shock cleared quick, but it was one hell of a jolt.
"Whew! One hell of a tingle!"
"[Jenaraider]-nim!"
"Attack!"
Jenaraider? What kinda hero name is that?
These attackers were heroes, and they were yelling the giant spider guy's name (Spider-Man?), so he was a hero too.
S-rank Hero Jenaraider... Oh, right.
Now I remembered. His name was on the Hero Association site's S-rank list.
But he wore a different mask there, so I didn't recognize him right away. Plus, who memorizes male heroes?
Anyway, Jenaraider crashed into a building, and the other heroes attacked.
Heh heh heh... You lot walked right into it.
"Ever heard of pile dealing?"
Pile dealing: in games, a ranged DPS standing still and unloading overwhelming firepower.
Why bring it up? 'Cause with Gravity Dominator, even a melee guy like me can pile deal now.
Attraction.
Targeted a hero with my left hand and activated.
"Uwaaak?!"
The hero flew at me—
"Hiya~!"
And ate a fist to the face.
The real brawl kicked off.
"Ugh... Where am I..."
The president, knocked out by Steel Armor, came to.
Maybe the shock was too much—he couldn't recall what happened right away.
Weird? He was just banging his secretary in the office like always.
"Hm... H-hiiiik?! Steel Armor!"
Then he remembered Steel Armor invading his company and freaked.
"Huh?"
But for some reason, no Steel Armor in sight.
Next to him was—
"Riela?"
"Our guess was correct. The Hero Association knows this place is connected to Master. Steel Armor is currently clashing with Jenaraider and the heroes."
It was secretary Rielaos Grebiola—her usual sweet smile replaced by a terrifyingly cold, emotionless expression as she talked on the phone.
"Riela, who are you talking to..."
"Shh. No other S-ranks in sight. Yes, yes. Steel Armor is overwhelmingly dominating the heroes right now."
"Huh?"
Rielaos plugged the president's mouth with a finger and kept briefing someone.
What the hell is she looking at?
The president peered in the direction Rielaos was staring, baffled. Just trees and towering buildings that made his chest tight.
"No, this ain't right! Riela! S-Steel Armor showed up! That vicious villain bastard! Call the Hero Association now! Did you? If not, call them quick!"
"....."
"Huh?"
Rielaos shot an annoyed glance at the president, who was shaking her shoulder as he stood.
That look made him tilt his head. It felt so unfamiliar.
Normally, Rielaos was all aegyo and smiles—a total beauty.
But now? Nothing like that. She seemed like a different person.
"Riela, why are you..."
Slash!
"Huh?"
The president, about to speak again, felt his vision spin wildly. What the—?
And now he saw... his own body? Why can't he see his body?
The headless president died with those thoughts.
Squish!
Rielaos stared coldly at the president's bewildered face one last time, then stomped his head. It burst like a watermelon.
With the annoying president dealt with, Rielaos spoke again to the man on the other end of the phone.
"This seems like a good chance to test the test subjects. Yes. And taking out these gathered heroes would deal a huge blow to the Hero Association. Yes?"
Her eyes widened at whatever the man said.
"Master's coming here himself?"