Temporary Alliance (1)
Six guys armed to the teeth surrounded me.
"Ah, you must be the ones sharing guard duty with me. Great job, everyone."
I greeted them politely, just in case that slim 1% chance of things going smoothly actually panned out.
"Fuck off."
The response was about what I'd expected. None of them looked like they were about to lower their weapons.
Yeah, figured as much. No sign of this turning friendly.
"Our client's a real pain in the ass, you see."
The guy in front glared at me with bloodshot eyes.
"He wants to see the effects of our product firsthand. No choice but to oblige."
Not only were their eyes bloodshot, but veins were bulging all over their bodies.
Something was rolling around on the ground. Syringes. Empty ones, scattered haphazardly after their contents had been injected.
I recognized them immediately.
'Combat Enhancer.'
Made by Kals Industries. It showed up in volume 4 of the story, so I remembered it well. The syringe design was too distinctive to forget.
Just one jab massively boosted the user's physical abilities and superpowers. Of course, there was a price—enormous strain on the body. Once injected, you'd suffer cardiovascular issues for life.
In volume 4, the villain Backforce pumped himself full of the stuff while fighting Seo Ha-yoon, only for all his blood vessels to rupture and kill him pathetically.
'This stuff at this point in the timeline...'
Combat Enhancer from Kals Industries rolling around meant the container back there probably held that, right?
"Bounty of 58 million. B-Rank villain. Perfect opponent to demonstrate the enhancer's usefulness to the client. Heh heh."
The six closed in around me.
"Planned this from the start, huh."
I wasn't hired as a guard. I was the sandbag to show off the combat enhancer to the client.
"We catch you, up our payout too. Win-win, right?"
As the guy with the sledgehammer stepped forward, the six villains rushed me all at once.
Shiiiing!
Fast. The enhancer was working perfectly—they closed the distance at a terrifying speed.
Whoosh!
One thrust out his arm, and a blazing fireball hurtled straight at me. I rolled instinctively, dodging the flames.
The enhancer's effects were on full display. The pillar of fire scorched the ground where I'd stood, melting the asphalt.
Powerful, but poor aim. Small mercy.
"Hot!!" "Aim straight, idiot!! Where the hell are you shooting?!"
The pillar stalled their charge just long enough. My chance.
I couldn't let them swarm me. I yanked the baseball bat from my back and slammed it into the ground with everything I had.
Claaaang—
Gripping it two-handed, the bat struck true. My power amplified the impact radially across the asphalt.
I was used to using it this way.
Krunchhh—!!!
The shockwave erupted outward, shattering and flinging chunks of pavement everywhere.
"Gahk!" "Urk!"
The six stumbled back, reeling from the blast.
"You little... "
A chunk of asphalt had lodged in one guy's eye, blood streaming down, but he fixed his good eye on me with pure hate.
Normal person would've been rolling in agony, but Sledgehammer Guy calmly leaped the debris and charged. The enhancer's painkillers were doing their job.
I timed his approach, then drove into his exposed side, swinging the bat with all my strength.
The shockwave from the bat tore his flank open.
Flesh and organ fragments sprayed like shotgun pellets across my body from the gaping wound.
'Not steel-skin level, so this is what happens.'
Steel skin would've held together, but a normal human body couldn't withstand a direct amplified shockwave.
Problem was, that power didn't discriminate. The bat crumpled, unable to handle the discharge.
'Now I get why Blank hoards weapons at home.'
Fighting like this wrecked gear fast.
I'd come prepared, grabbing my military knife and tomahawk. I drew the tomahawk from my belt.
Ignoring his exploded buddy, another reached for me.
Crackle.
Lightning danced in his hand. Close-range electrocution to fry me.
Before his glowing hand reached, I swung the tomahawk at his neck with full force.
Blank's weapon knowledge made my body move fluidly. Grab a weapon, and instinct took over. Never used a tomahawk before, but it felt natural now.
Blades transmitted shockwaves too. Their cutting edge was kinetic energy, and I could amplify any of that.
The instant the tomahawk bit into his neck, his head vanished like it was devoured. The blade's slash propagated, exploding his skull clean.
Two down. Four left.
One fire user, two with blades, one with guns.
Somehow, we'd make it work.
———
For the next ten minutes, it was pure instinct. Punch, slash, kick—rinse and repeat.
"Hah... haaa... hah..."
Victory was mine. A mix of triumph and exhaustion escaped in a deep sigh as I relaxed my tensed body.
I'd dealt with the four enhancer freaks. Tossing aside the dulled tomahawk and snapped knife, I scanned for a new weapon.
"Ah, nice."
Factory perks—plenty of improvised arms. I snatched a nearby steel pipe and swung it experimentally. Good grip. Pipes varied; as a pipe connoisseur, this was solid four-star Michelin material.
Didn't feel right without something in hand. Probably Blank's ingrained habit.
'Time to bail.'
I had a hunch about that container. Kals Industries' prototype from volume 5: Brain Buster. The final boss there, a monstrous murder machine.
These villains had boldly jacked it en route and planned to flip it to an overseas buyer—for big bucks, naturally. Grabbed enhancers as a bonus.
'Idiots.'
Messing with Kals Industries? Even top villains knew better. These chumps went for it anyway.
'Yeah, time to go.'
Kals would dispatch heroes with one call. They'd swarm any minute. Better bounce now.
Shiiiing—
As I turned for the exit, a golden beam pierced the night sky, scorching the ground at my feet.
Reflex saved me—standing still would've cost my ankle.
"...'Flash'."
Today was cursed. Atop the dark warehouse, a stunning woman in gleaming white light stood imperiously, gazing down at me.
Seo Ha-yoon. She'd shown up.
"Blank. I knew you were tied to this."
She descended slowly, hostility radiating as she landed.
"I'm not involved with this cargo."
True story. Just a day guard gig. Kals who?
"We can discuss details at the station."
Of course she ignored me.
Shiiiing—
A beam from her hand grazed my side.
"Warning shot. Next one hits. Surrender."
No interest in my side. Fair enough—even I'd assume I was guilty from the optics.
"I'm telling you, it's not—"
How to prove innocence? Or escape? Brain spinning, I backed away—then a roar erupted behind me.
The container's side crumpled like paper, ripping open with a screech.
"Oh."
Battle damage must've woken it inside.
Krraaack!!!
The container tore like cloth, revealing a massive machine.
Volume 5's final boss, Brain Buster, rearing its head right here, right now.
"What the... "
Seo Ha-yoon paled at the sight.
The steel giant's core floated a human brain and spinal cord, swaying like seaweed.
No normal machine. Her eyes locked on the brain.
"Hostile lifeform detected. Hostile lifeform detected."
Its eyes glowed red, weapons whirring to life like barnacles.
'We're screwed.'
Seo Ha-yoon and Ida-in barely took it down together in volume 5. Now it targeted us both.
No choice. One play here.
"Flash. How about we team up and drop this thing first? Fight later."
Temporary alliance proposed.
"What the... "
As she glared questioningly, Brain Buster fired its beam cannon.
BOOOOM—!!!
The shot missed us narrowly, vaporizing the warehouse behind.
"If that thing rampages, it'll hit facilities and civilians. Disaster."
Red eyes meant combat mode.
In that state, it erased all life in range. Prototype for a reason—too unstable for release. Powered by a super's brain and nerves for its own powers, but uncontrollable violence as tradeoff.
Vrooom—!
Bad timing: a civilian car sped toward the warehouse road.
Creak.
Brain Buster turned, charging another beam at the vehicle.
"No...!!"
Civilians in peril—Seo Ha-yoon moved on reflex.
Then froze.
'Hero Association's leash.'
I knew from canon. Her mission: recover the Brain Buster. Hesitating to damage it.
Why? Same dilemma in volume 5's city rampage. She waffled, civilians died, then defied orders. Guilt haunted her forever, darkening the story post-volume 5.
'Ugh, hate that crap.'
As a reader, seeing her suffer sucked. Hoped she'd dodge the trope. Fanboy wish.
Hero stalls? Villain steps up. Association? Not my problem.
I sprinted at its charging left cannon, infusing my legs with a shockwave for a massive leap.
CLAAAAANG—!!!!!
Steel pipe smashed the laser barrel, shattering it.
The overloaded cannon detonated spectacularly.
VROOOOOMMMM!!!!
The civilian car sped safely past.
"Ah...!"
Seo Ha-yoon stared, wide-eyed.
"So, truce? Or nah? Decide quick."
"..."
She stared silently. Those pure golden eyes brimmed with justice—stunning. Hero vibes through and through. Warm yet resolute gaze, nothing like mine.
"Emergency situation. No choice. We take it down first."
After seconds of scrutiny, she took position beside me.
Yes. That's how it's done. I grinned despite myself, gripping the pipe two-handed. Let's drop this beast together.