#87 New Technology
"You held out well!"
"Huh?"
Jenaraider's voice came from behind me. The one who saved me from that crisis wasn't my bro Thanos. It was Jenaraider, who'd been gathering electricity like an electric rat while I bought time.
"Damn it! I believed in you!"
Who the hell said to run from a hero with that kind of loyalty?! Anyone who badmouths Jenaraider from now on won't get forgiveness from me.
Thud!
Jenaraider, transformed into a giant spider, landed behind me. He looked disgustingly repulsive before, but now he seemed kinda cute. Spiders are the kings among bugs, after all.
What? Spiders aren't bugs, they're animals? Like I give a shit?
I climbed onto Jenaraider's back and yelled.
"Let's go, Gamabunta!"
"What's Gamabunta?"
"It exists! Let's go!"
"Fuck, this feels shitty."
Maybe feeling pissy, Jenaraider cursed. Ah, should I have said Gumabunta instead of Gamabunta? Damn, lacked finesse.
Anyway, with me aboard, Gumabunta—no, Jenaraider—charged at Shadow Killer amid crackling lightning.
Thud thud thud!
He barreled forward like a tank.
[Kikikikikikik! This is fun, Steel Armor. A villain teaming up with a hero?]
"It's fine! Teaming up with a hero is nothing if it means I can crush you!"
Right, bros?
[Of course. I team up with Joker sometimes too.]
[Way to go, serious~!]
[Infinite stones! Gather the six infinite stones, little bro!]
My three bros approved of my actions. So what I was doing was totally legit.
But why does Joker bro only say that one line?
Snap!
Slurp!
Being a monster, Shadow Killer's regeneration was insane. Like grilled calamari, he sliced off his lightning-charred tentacles himself and grew new ones on the spot.
Fuck, is he a hydra?
But tentacles weren't a good attack option anymore.
"Leave the tentacles to me!"
With Gravity Dominator, tentacles were no big deal. I could whirl them around like grabbing hair.
You're done, Shadow Kil... Huh?
Slither slither.
"....."
"....."
Jenaraider and I blankly looked around.
The severed tentacles suddenly sprouted limbs and faces—poof!—and stood up.
No fucking way, this is cheating! What superpower has that many abilities?! Does that bastard have something like [Superman's Reincarnation] too?! So damn jealous!
"Kikikikikikik!"
"Kikikikikikik!"
"Kikikikikikik!"
The humanoid tentacle monsters let out eerie laughs as they charged at me and Jenaraider.
"Area discharge!"
"You crazy... urgh?!"
Desperate, this fucker Jenaraider blasted lightning everywhere.
While I'm on his back! Have you ever seen such a dogshit spider bastard!
"This is driving me insane!"
The situation was frustrating as hell. Jenaraider and I had superpowers to neutralize the tentacles and tentacle monsters. But neutralization was just that—it didn't kill them. The tentacle monsters recovered from stun quickly. And with Shadow Killer targeting us from behind, we couldn't seize a reversal.
They say you can't beat sheer numbers, and that's exactly us right now.
'A way...'
To reverse this frustrating situation? Kill Shadow Killer. The tentacle monsters were part of him, so they'd die too.
But his vomit-inducing swarm left no openings.
'Can I do it?'
Normally, I'd be brimming with confidence. But after failing once, it plummeted.
'Fifty-fifty odds.'
Can't just sit and take it. I bet on 50% success with my luck.
"Gamabunta!"
"Hah!"
"Ah, not Gamabunta. Jenaraider!"
"Fuck, I suspected, but that's how you called me? What the hell is Gamabunta?"
"Your new hero name!"
"What?"
"Anyway, not important! Block the tentacles and monsters from reaching me for a bit!"
"You got a plan?!"
"Yeah! Half-seasoned, half-fried, plenty!"
"What bullshit are you spouting since earlier?! Speak properly!"
"Means 50% success chance! You get it perfectly when I say it like shit! Just keep them off me now!"
"Damn it! Web!"
Lightning spiderwebs shot from Jenaraider's rear, sticking everywhere like real webs. The tentacle monsters got caught, wriggling like bugs.
'One shot.'
Meanwhile, I focused on Shadow Killer. Thrust both hands forward, gripped the air hard.
[What... what are you doing, Steel Armor!]
"Electric discharge!"
Sensing something ominous, Shadow Killer tried attacking, but Jenaraider spewed lightning from his mouth, blocking the tentacles.
Nice assist!
'Attraction.'
Leaving everything to Jenaraider, I zeroed in on Shadow Killer. Used Attraction, slowly pulled back my extended arms. Shadow Killer started inching toward me.
First time using both skills simultaneously. Earlier, mixing them cut tentacles sometimes, failed others. Same method, different results? Was my execution too crude? Wrong approach?
Thought and thought. Conclusion: I wasn't using both at once. Just switching fast enough to feel simultaneous.
What if truly simultaneous? A bit more, a bit more, a bit more...
Now.
"Repulsion!"
Left hand kept pulling with Attraction, right thrust forward with Repulsion.
Attraction and Repulsion. Pull and push on one target simultaneously.
Result?
Riiiiiip!
[Kraaaaaaaaaaagh!]
Like a giant yanking with overwhelming force, Shadow Killer split in half.
*****
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Shadow Killer halved, the uncaptured tentacle monsters collapsed en masse.
"Hah... hah... Did we get him?"
Jenaraider panted roughly from overusing his power, muttering. He readied lightning, retracted web.
The webbed tentacle monsters fell like the others.
"No way... Never imagined you'd actually kill Shadow Killer. Not bad, Steel Armor."
Jenaraider praised me happily. But you're a hero—cool to praise a villain?
Not the point now.
"Urgh..."
"Hm? Steel Armor?"
"Uwaaaaaaaaagh!"
"....."
Jenaraider's face paled at the hot, sticky liquid raining on his head.
Sorry for pulling aggro to show you this... No, wrong.
"S-sorry... uwaaaaaaaaagh!"
"You fucking bastard!"
Jenaraider cursed me for real. Sorry! But fuck, couldn't help it! Stomach churning too much!
"You dogshit villain! Shouldn't have carried you!"
Drip!
My undigested dinner slid onto Jenaraider's face.
"Aaaargh! Get off! Get off now, you fuck! I'll kill you!"
"Waaagh... whew! Thought I was dying."
Emptied my gut, churning finally stopped. World was spinning for real—no cap.
'This shit's intense.'
First try, not easy. Plus tearing that huge mass took lots of power. Backlash hit hard post-split.
Of course, adapting to the technique would end the puking.
'Fuu... insane.'
Seeing bisected Shadow Killer, fear hit. Aaah... I'm such a talent monster. Scary how talented I am! Why'd heaven drop superpowered folks and even me!
"Aaaah! Urk! Gross!"
Anyway, eyed still freaking-out Jenaraider.
"Thanks for the help, Jenaraider."
"....."
My sincere thanks halted his tantrum; he stared.
Slither.
His body shrank to original form. Naturally naked.
Pfft.
Glanced at his shriveled legs, stifled laugh inside. No matter S-rank hero, can't beat me, this era's true manly romanticist. Aaah... can't show for 3 minutes. Shame.
Click!
Anyway, naked Jenaraider pressed a button on his wristwatch. Tough thing didn't break... Huh?
"Ung?"
Shhhk!
Shhhk!
Shhhk!
Something burst from the watch, flowed like waves up his arm, covering his body. Soon, back to original outfit.
Iron Man's nanosuit? Want one.
"Where do I buy that?"
"What?"
"Wanna get one too."
"....."
Pointed at watch, but Jenaraider didn't answer. Just stared piercingly.
Tch. Want it bad. Snatch it?
"Go."
"What?"
"Next time we meet, I'll arrest you."
Said that, turned away.
What's with him? Tsundere? Good teamwork, then tsun at end? Heh, hng! I didn't fight Shadow Killer just for you!
"Kuhng~! Productive day."
Anyway, big gains today. Killed Shadow Killer who targeted me and Jina for assassination. Mastered new Gravity Dominator attack.
No cash in wallet, but not bad.
Turned from receding Jenaraider.
"Huh?"
Stab!
"....."
Behind me stood reverted Shadow Killer, stabbing a dagger-shaped black thing into my heart.
"Cough!"
Something burst from my mouth. Trembling head up, eyed Shadow Killer. Faceless, couldn't read expression.
"Th-this..."
Yelled at him.
"This is bulletproof, you dog!"
Then headbutted him good.
Headbutted Shadow Killer flew back.
"Cough! Cough! Kuhuk! Ptui! Fuck, bad timing for hiccups."
PS: What burst from my mouth during Shadow Killer's sneak attack? Cough.
"What happened?!"
Jenaraider's urgent voice from behind. Waved to say fine.
"Shadow Killer didn't die. Tough bastard."
"What?!"
"Don't worry. Handle quick."
Casually approached flung-back Shadow Killer.
"Cocky fuck. Coulda lived faking death, but sneak attack? You wanna die?"
"Th-that... suit..."
"Why? Jealous? Expensive stuff. Envy it?"
Shadow Killer, embedded in building, eyed weakly.
"Huh?"
And that instant—
Shhhk!
Shhhk!
Shhhk!
—Over 10 people appeared beside Shadow Killer.
What? Rise of the something? Where'd these fuckers come from?
"And that woman..."
Recognized the woman supporting Shadow Killer. The secretary fucking the potbellied president in his office. Where's that pres bastard? Dead maybe.
"Steel... Armor..."
"Why call? Planning escape? Think I'll let you?"
"Those are..."
Arms crossed casually, Jenaraider approached.
His face hardened seeing Shadow Killer's guards.
"Why? Know 'em?"
"Yes. Notorious villains."
"Obvious even to me."
"[Demon Baron], [Dark Lady], [Viper], [Vifner], [Gargoyle]... All heavy hitters dragging their asses here."
"Listing like that, I don't know who's who, spider buddy?"
"Never imagined they'd save Shadow Killer... He has massive underworld connections."
Ignoring me, Jenaraider continued. Fucker?