Nah, I Would Win

Sweet Mask stepped to the edge of the ruptured street, where a tremendous force had blasted through the concrete, exposing the sewer tunnel below. The destruction continued straight down into the darkness. Only a sliver of distant light at the very bottom marked an end.

"Caspian descended from here." Sweet Mask turned to face King and Charanko. "I've received multiple calls this morning about a coordinated monster assault happening simultaneously across multiple cities. With Caspian's budding sense of grand justice, he appears to have discovered their base of operations."

"Isn't is a bit of a leap to reach that conclusion? I mean, even if it is their base of operations. Aren't they right under his home? Couldn't he have found them through a disturbance of some sort?" Charanko asked.

Sweet Mask faced King. "Why were you hanging out with a character like him? Do you wish to drag the S-Class Heroes' reputation through the mud?"

King stayed silent, as he had from the start, the steady rumbling of his 'King Engine' the only thing allowing others to perceive his presence.

"Hey! What's your issu—"

Sweet Mask's reflexes fired. His black-gloved hand shot back and caught a spiked whip out of the air. "A warm welcome," he mused, then pulled, hauling its wielder up to the surface.

"Kyah!" A curvesome woman flew overhead, landing on one of the white road stripes dividing the wide street, framed by rows of similar six-story buildings.

Ahead of him, Charanko's tongue practically hung from his mouth as he said, "What a villainous hottie! Since hand-to-hand combat is my forte, physical contact will be unavoidable. Though first you should introduce yourself."

"Well, well, since the mighty King and my personal favorite… Sweet Mask is present, I may as well. Feel lucky that you could meet I, the 'Monster Princess' Do-S."

I need to separate from King and this messy-haired fool If I want to fight her properly.

Sweet Mask intended to leave Do-S to King. Until he glimpsed her hungry gaze slithering over him. This creature needed to be finished by his hand.

"Huhu, say Sweet Mask, since you still haven't let go of my whip, how about you fight me one on one in private?"

"Lucky bastard." Charanko muttered.

Veins bulged along Sweet Mask's neck. Were King not present, this annoyance would already be a red smear on the pavement.

She smells of terror each time her eyes dart to King. It's unsurprising that her pathetic mind can't handle the King Engine's rumble. Still, her request enables me to carry out my original design.

"Fine. There's an alley over there we can use." Sweet Mask strode past King and Charanko.

Charanko's voice drifted. "I never expected an idol's taste to be so… heavy."

"Mmmm, I can't wait." Do-S crooned.

Sweet Mask kept hold of the spiked whip, pulling Do-S up the street and ruminated over his plans.

He had made a reservation at a luxury restaurant for lunch today. Finally, that proper one-on-one discussion he and Caspian needed to have could take place. Unlike the circus from last time.

Part of the discussion would be on Caspian's principal values and nature remained which murky at best.

No matter what they were, Sweet Mask was confident that under his guidance, the Caped Baldy could reach his full potential as a hero.

Unfortunately, like with every prior plan he made involving Caspian, this one derailed as well. But in order to realize his dream of the 'Ideal Hero', he would endure every obstacle and push through the unforeseen.

Sweet Mask glanced back at Do-S, and an idea took shape. Perhaps this obstacle was, in truth... an opportunity.

¤ ¤ ¤

"Hey, are you okay?"

Suiryu blinked at Lin Lin, still dazed. Those two figures that had flashed across the sky had vanished out of sight. Even the sounds of their distant battle had faded, leaving only silence.

"Y-Yeah I'm all good."

Suiryu shrugged off the creeping insecurity and flashed a grin. "Nah, I would win."

"Wha—"

"Stay away! Your kind sickens me!"

A man's shout echoed from further down the road.

Suiryu and Lin Lin didn't waste a second and sprinted toward the sound.

"That's the S-Rank Hero Genos!" Lin Lin called out as they ran.

Suiryu scoffed internally when he heard the word 'hero.' A bunch of cocky and fame-craving individuals who would never be capable of making a true difference.

They skidded to a halt before the scene — Genos propped up on his arms, scooting backward from a figure clad head-to-toe in purple ninja garb.

The ninja's head snapped toward the newcomers as they arrived.

Genos' face brightened when he recognized Suiryu. "You're Master's brother-in-law! Thank goodness you're here. Now you can shoo away this villain."

Lin Lin stepped forward, her tone sharper than Suiryu expected to come from her. "Attacking someone disabled? Despicable. I may not be an official hero, but I won't tolerate this." Her leg rose into a practiced martial stance.

The ninja withdrew their outstretched hand from Genos and gripped the hilt of the ninjato strapped to their back. "You are mistaken. I'm an A-Class Hero," they stated in a gender-neutral voice.

Suiryu barely registered the exchange, his thoughts glued onto the 'master' character mentioned by Genos. Suiko... you couldn't have gotten engaged since we last spoke? If it's true, I hope you haven't forgotten Grandfather's words — the man would have to be stronger than both me and him.

Lin Lin's sudden movement snapped his attention back as she leaned her body back, preparing to strike. "Never heard of you. Once I detain you, the Hero Association can verify your story."

The ninja's ninja shadowy eyes narrowed. "C-City is under attack. There isn't time to waste on your puerile accusations."

"That's rich coming from your kind." Genos derided.

Suiryu didn't understand Genos' grudge against this person, but the cyborg's words had clearly struck a nerve as the ninja shot him a venomous glare.

From behind, the sound of footfall snatched everyone's attention.

Suiryu tried to remember the names of approaching figures — each of them contestants from this year's Super Fight tournament.

A shame he wouldn't get to match names to faces before everything went sideways.