Escape Drama
"Blank. You're under arrest right here."
Seo Ha-yoon advanced toward me, her arms transformed into beams of light. There wasn't a hint of hesitation in her movements.
"You'll have to explain your connection to the Karls Industries cargo too."
"I already told you, that's got nothing to do with me."
To be precise, I'd fallen right into a trap. I was just an upstanding(?) citizen who'd shown up for a part-time gig.
"I'll hear the full story after you're in custody."
Seo Ha-yoon brushed off my words without a second thought.
This is bad.
Superpowered bodies were tougher than average, sure, but my ability wasn't the healing factor type that boosted recovery or regeneration. Wounds took time to heal. I hadn't taken any major damage, but the minor injuries were piling up. Getting caught in that explosion and the nonstop fights meant asphalt shards and metal fragments had pierced through my clothes. Nothing vital or internal, but I was bleeding. Every movement hurt.
Ziiiiiing—
I gauged her intent from the way she focused light into her fingertips.
I can't escape the same way as last time.
She was anticipating my shockwave burst for mobility and aiming her laser at the Y-axis coordinates I'd use to flee. I needed to catch her off guard and bolt during the opening.
Blank's combat instincts kicked in, telling me exactly where to strike for that vulnerability. I slammed a steel pipe into the ground with a surprise shockwave.
Kabooooom—!!!!
The asphalt beneath us shattered spectacularly, throwing Seo Ha-yoon off balance. Chunks the size of a kid's fist flew at her—pop! smack!
She converted parts of her body into light beams, melting the debris to defend herself. I'd known her powers from the original story, so I hadn't expected a solid hit anyway. The goal was to wreck the ground under her feet and create an opening.
In that moment, I forced my stiff legs to move and hauled ass out of there with everything I had. No point talking if it wasn't getting through—time to run.
"Stop right there!!!"
Seo Ha-yoon chased after me, channeling light into her legs. But it seemed I wasn't the only one in rough shape.
Her light output's weaker.
Superpowers had a total limit—you overused them, output dropped, and your body took the strain. She'd already unleashed a big move against Brain Buster. Her reserves were seriously depleted. This was my chance to shake her.
"Stop... right..."
"Like hell I will!"
Seo Ha-yoon and I staggered onward in a full-on chase, like a tense game of tag between nursing home gramps and granny—but way more intense. Even in our battered states, she refused to give up. True protagonist material. Her hero work ethic was no joke.
How long could this go on? As I pondered that, I sensed her presence fading behind me and glanced back.
She was clutching her earpiece in-ear, yelling something. Must've gotten an urgent call. Her expression soured.
The Association must've said something.
With the Karls Industries cargo torched and all that civilian aggro pulled, the Hero Association was probably on high alert. Perfect—I'd duck into the alley ahead and bounce. Keep chatting with the Association, why don't you? I'm a gentlemanly villain who doesn't interrupt calls.
Beeeep-boop!! Beep-boob-beep! Woooooooon!
Police and ambulance sirens wailed in the distance as they mobilized. No choice for the cops with an explosion that big. The key was to use the noise for cover and slip away smartly. Zigzag into the alley?
The moment I rounded the corner, I ran smack into someone unexpected.
"S-Stop right there...!"
A petite, cute female hero blocked my path. She wasn't in her hero suit—just a baseball jacket and jeans, casual as hell.
It was Ida-in. Wait, she was here?
"B-Rank Wanted Villain Blank! Surrender peacefully!"
Ida-in struck a martial arts stance, stepping lightly to cut off my escape.
"Trainee Hero Shield Girl will stop you here!"
She declared it boldly, pointing right at me.
"Shield Girl's a bit lame, don't you think? Pick something cooler. A hero name sticks for life—choose wisely."
I found myself giving her advice without thinking. Considering her barrier power, it wasn't a bad fit, but the ring to it sucked.
"Ah, y-yeah... It does kinda suck, huh? I wasn't sold on it either..."
Ida-in's face fell, and she groaned in thought. Impressive open-mindedness, taking feedback from a villain. Well, her chest did look pretty accommodating.
Seo Ha-yoon caught up behind me, looking like she'd bitten into shit while muttering into her earpiece, then jabbed the button irritably. Shit, this was a total clusterfuck.
"... "
Ida-in stared me down in her stance, then spotted Seo Ha-yoon behind me and looked uncomfortable. Right—that complicated history between them. Never thought I'd see their beef this early, pre-Volume 1.
"Ida-in, this isn't trainee work. Step aside. Get your official local license first, then you can operate."
Seo Ha-yoon shut her down with textbook protocol.
"Trainees have the legal right to engage and arrest villains on sight, don't they? I passed the exam fair and square."
Ida-in fired back undaunted. Girl-on-girl power struggle—terrifying. Stuck in the middle, I couldn't budge.
"I've taken responsibility for the B-Rank Villain Blank. Leave this to me and handle civilian control."
Seo Ha-yoon snapped at her with a icy glare.
"R-Responsible...?"
Ida-in frowned like she hadn't known. Hit her weak spot.
Their bickering was my opening—thanks to Ida-in's intervention. I lunged through the gap on her left.
"Ngh...!! I won't let you!"
Ida-in snapped out of it and activated her power.
Vwoooooom!
A translucent force field shimmered around her. She meant to wall me off with it. This was Ida-in's ability, Protector Wall.
A defensive power that formed barriers around her body. Lame on paper, but as a hard worker, Ida-in honed it into something broken. By the late story, it could tank a nuke—total bullshit overpowered nonsense.
A bit much, yeah. But I'd seen it coming.
I pushed my aching body, grabbed the translucent field like a wall, and vaulted over it.
"Ah...!"
Ida-in whipped around to pursue as I cleared her head. Her chest bounced dynamically with the motion. Even through the baseball jacket, the presence was impressive. Great view on the way out...
If I'd meant harm, Ida-in would've died right there. The moment I cleared her field, she was wide open below. My attack speed outpaced her barrier deployment.
"... "
She sensed it too—eyes wide, body frozen. But I had no intention of attacking.
She was a core character, grinding for world peace alongside Seo Ha-yoon. What good's killing her? I just leaped over and sprinted down the street.
"I said I won't let you!!"
Ida-in wrapped her fist in a barrier and swung at me full force.
Shiiiing!!!
I twisted back mid-escape, blocking with my steel pipe, then spun away. Do the heavy lifting as my shield, Ida-in.
"Tch... Aim..."
With Ida-in between us, Seo Ha-yoon couldn't get a clean shot. I widened the gap in that window.
She tried converting her legs to light for pursuit, but the glow faded from her limbs. Looked like she'd burned out completely.
Ida-in rushed after me but suddenly grabbed her earpiece, pausing for some unknown comms. The Association must've reined her in too.
Thank you, earpiece.
Even I had to call it a successful escape. Fleeing from the story's dual protagonists as a villain? Legendary feat. Maybe Blank really is a badass deep down, like the internet memes say.
Man, what a mess.
What kinda dogshit job did that bastard Yongpal take?
Guess I'll head to wherever that fucker's hiding.
Just you wait. You're dead meat.