#86 The Third Big Brother
"....."
"....."
An awkward silence flowed between me and Jenaraider.
"So, how've you been? I've been great."
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"What the fuck?"
That little shit?
I nearly kicked him in a surge of anger but held back. To land a solid hit on that grotesquely mutated Shadow Killer, I needed the help of an S-rank hero like Jenaraider.
"You know who that fucker is?"
"A monster?"
"Monster?"
I tilted my head. That thing's a monster?
"Nah."
"Then?"
"Shadow Killer."
"...What?"
Jenaraider's eyes widened.
"That's Shadow Killer?"
"Yeah. It transformed like that right in front of me."
"Don't bullshit me!"
That prick dismissed my words as lies in an instant, nearly making me throw a knee strike. Whew... Steel Armor's temperament has mellowed a lot.
"Shadow Killer has never transformed like that even once up till now!"
"So what?"
"Huh?"
"I don't have time to convince you that fucker's Shadow Killer right now. If I wanted, I could bail solo no problem. But you? Can you escape that bastard?"
"....."
Jenaraider shut his mouth. Could he really escape the monster-mutated Shadow Killer? Obviously not. I could distract the guy's attention with Gravity Dominator and bolt, but I hadn't fled yet because I wanted to smack Shadow Killer down first. Running away like this wasn't my style.
Since Shadow Killer had hired assassins to target me and Ji-na, I had to hit him back somehow to sleep soundly at night.
"...Why are you trying to help me? I'm your enemy."
"Ha!"
I snorted at Jenaraider's words. That's what he was fretting over?
"Why would I help you?"
"What?"
"I just wanna smack that piece-of-shit Shadow Killer one good time. That fucker mocked me. I don't let anyone who laughs at me walk away."
"Just for that?"
"Just? Listen up! My pride's worth way more than 100 million bucks. You'd need at least a trillion to qualify to mock me. But that bastard laughed his ass off at me without paying up. You can't call that 'just'."
"...You're insane."
"This fucker?"
If he weren't Shadow Killer, he'd be bug food by now! But right now, smacking Shadow Killer was priority, so I'd let it slide generously... Bullshit! I'll remember this forever! Someday I'll promote you to S-rank bug! I'll write it in my diary, you lightning spider prick!
"Anyway. You in or out?"
"No choice, huh."
Jenaraider shook his head and looked at me.
"So, what's the plan?"
I explained my strategy to Jenaraider.
*****
Shadow Killer slowly approached me, floating lightly like some ad balloon.
You can't escape, Steel Armor.
"Who said anything about escaping? It's a three-steps-back for two-steps-forward advance!"
[...Then it's just one step back?]
"I backed off to build momentum!"
I hurled a half-wrecked car at Shadow Killer.
Poke-poke-poke-!
Then tentacles shot from all directions, stabbing the flying car. Whatever power those tentacles had, the car vanished without a trace.
Come quietly, Steel Armor.
"Shut the fuck up, you disgusting balloon bitch!"
I grabbed whatever was nearby and chucked it at Shadow Killer. There were plenty of wrecked vehicles from me and Jenaraider's fight. Citizens would cry over their vanished cars come morning, but that's the Hero Association's problem. Not mine. Who told 'em to park illegally anyway?
"You're fucked!"
Once there was nothing left to throw, I charged straight at Shadow Killer. The tentacles that had been poking cars flew at me.
Pattern analysis... Tch!
Too bad, no pattern analysis triggered. Not enough data yet. But no biggie. The tentacles weren't that fast—I could dodge visually. Plus, I had other superpowers.
Attraction!
While running, I pulled my left hand back to bunch the tentacles together.
Repulsion!
I fired the Repulsion skill, thrusting my left hand sideways. Poke-!
The clustered tentacles slammed into a nearby building, punching a massive hole through the center. With the annoying tentacles dealt with, I leaped straight at the bastard—
[Whoosh!]
"Gahk?!"
Dozens of mouths split open in a mocking grin, spewing foul, stinking wind. It was just breath, really. But the moment it hit, my cannonball charge got shoved backward.
This possible? I'm a level-10 body enhancer!
My propulsion lost to mere bad breath? Shock on shock. Scary! I wanna run! Hell, maybe dying's better! But I wanna live? Then kneel! Beg for mercy! Might spare me? Better than death!
"....."
Mind contaminated.
Trait 'Mental Resistance' activated.
The paralyzing terror and fear vanished like it'd been washed away. Mental Resistance is OP!
"You fucking shit?!"
With the haze gone, unbearable rage surged. Daring to make me a coward? No way I'd let this slide. Originally, I planned to stall till heroes arrived using Jenaraider for the heavy hit, but now? One smack wouldn't cut it.
"You burped on me? You're dead."
Mental Resistance too... You're no ordinary superhuman after all.
"Took you this long, you fucking shit?!"
I charged again. Tentacles swarmed to surround me. I bunched them with Attraction, then repelled like before. Poke-!
The massive drill of tentacles silently bored a huge hole in the building. Even my huge dick couldn't plug that. Damn! Humiliation for big-dick!
Anyway, I didn't leap at him this time. Predictable backlash. So, how to handle him?
Attraction.
I targeted him with both hands and yanked back. Float~ The balloon drifted closer bit by bit.
If I can't close in, make him come to me.
Good material you'll make.
See that prick? Even as he was pulled toward me, Shadow Killer smirked slyly. No thought he'd lose.
Yeah, keep that confidence. Let's see how long. I kept using Attraction to drag Shadow Killer to the ground. Tentacles incoming? Repel 'em far with Attraction and Repulsion, yank the main body.
"Nope, doesn't work~"
Attack windows appeared, but I held. Shadow Killer baiting on purpose. How'd I know? Gut! Batman bro, who beat countless villains bare-fisted. Joker bro, who toyed with Batman endlessly. Both whispering to me.
[It's a trap.]
[Why so serious!!!]
Actually, my instincts. Anyway, till Jenaraider preps his big shot, I'd stall with Gravity Dominator. Smashing Shadow Killer comes after.
*****
Maybe 'cause he'd gained so many level-10 superpowers so fast? Bal Jeong-nam had never known how to use them efficiently. With his unbreakable body shrugging off any attack, he'd just brute-forced them raw. That's what happened.
To grow stronger, Bal Jeong-nam needed time to research and train his powers. And now, he was growing at rocket speed.
Facing his first real powerhouse foe, Shadow Killer.
*****
Snap-!
"Huh?"
Mechanically using Attraction and Repulsion on incoming tentacles, they suddenly severed.
Wriggle-wriggle mega-wriggle-!
"Eugh, gross!"
Like an earthworm crushed by a foot, the severed tentacles thrashed wildly on the ground. Add fire and it'd wriggle more?
But why'd it break?
No matter how I slammed 'em into buildings, Shadow Killer's tentacles stayed fine. Why now? Durability like game items?
I checked the cut end. Rough, like a giant ripped it.
No way?
A thought flashed. I'd used Attraction and Repulsion simultaneously in that instant. Switched skills in a blink.
...Wanna try?
A fuzzy image flickered. Using both at once might clarify it.
Attraction.
Target tentacles, pull.
And Repulsion!
Release Attraction, instant Repulsion. Snap-!
Wriggle-wriggle mega-wriggle-!
"Fuck yeah! It works?!"
Same rough cut. The fuzzy image sharpened crystal-clear.
"You're fucked. Got myself a ranged attack."
With a new ranged tech, no waiting for Jenaraider. I'd smash the dickhead myself.
"Scary! My talent!"
Fusing push-pull into tentacle-ripping mid-fight! My genius terrified me. Yeah! I'm a total talent freak!
"Come at me, bug bitch!"
Shadow bug! You're mine! Finally nabbing that S-rank bug achievement I'd delayed.
Attraction! And Repulsion!
Used both on his tentacles...
"Huh?"
Did it right, but the targeted tentacle was fine. This ain't it?
"....."
[.....]
"Dehet?"
Give up, Steel Armor.
"Kiyoooo?!"
Tentacles surged like a tsunami. Too many for Gravity Dominator to repel! Just as I'd found a way to attack from afar by stalling, Shadow Killer found his: sheer numbers! Overwhelm so I couldn't dodge or repel.
Kyaaaaah! Fuck, Jenaraider, you piece of shit, what the hell?! Did he bail while I stalled?!
Tsk tsk tsk. Trusting a hero? Foolish, little bro.
No, Batman bro! That's not for you to say! Anyway, to survive this crisis?! Batman bro! Joker bro! If you're watching, give me the answer!
[Sorry.]
[Why so serious...]
They ditched me?! Th-then, new bro! Need a new big brother! Seeking bro to save me! Anyone to heal these wounds? Leaving 'em festers!
[Ahh... My little bro calls for me so desperately.]
And then, as my two bros turned away, a voice called.
This voice...?
Thud-thud- From afar came a purple-skinned man walking like a toddler.
I'm 191cm, but he towered over me.
Follow my lead, little bro.
Y-you're...!
The man who gladly called me bro extended his hand. I mimicked him.
Snap-!
Fingers flicked. Then, miracle.
Rumble-rumble-roooar-!
A massive lightning bolt from the sky obliterated the tentacles ravaging me in one go.
Overwhelming power gap! My guiding bro spoke.
Ah... Should've only halved it.
The legendary finger-snap murderer who erased half the universe, Thanos, was my third big bro.
Heroes are Marvel after all.