A Crazy Bastard

***

–KABOOM–

"Haah…hah…T-that got him right?" Aurora questioned as her strike finally connected.

Next to her, Sakura was exhausted, unable to speak as she felt her legs about to give out. Her vision blurred as she gazed at the smoky veil, she really hoped this would end soon.

–THUD–

"Damnit Aura, don't go raising flags." Eden landed beside her. She was also exhausted, and being drenched in sweat didn't help.

–WHOOSH–

As if in waiting, the smoke dispersed.

–Clap–

–Clap–

"Well done." Thor casually walked forward, completely unscathed, he even had a proud smile on his face and it felt like his guard was completely down.

"Your coordination worked well there, maybe in future you can–" He suddenly paused, while holding two fingers above his head as if anticipating something.

–CLANG–

–SHMMM–

He glanced up at his attacker, unfazed by the stunned gazes of the trio, he noticed Kevin, a noticeable tick mark on his head. "Rude, but smart nonetheless." Kevin's mouth twitched, but with a flick of Thor's wrist, Kevin was hurled across the dome like a ragdoll, almost crashing into Aurora.

Kevin twisted mid-air, landing hard and skidding back. "Tch. Forgot he could do that…" Thor had locked his movements the moment they made contact.

Knowing the state of the other three didn't make this any better. 'Just what did we agree to…?'

…

4 Hours Ago -

Receiving a message from Thor to come to the training dome, Kevin expected a normal sparring session or at least maybe Thor teaching him something.

Those thoughts were dashed the moment he entered the dome and saw Sakura, Eden and Aurora there as well, he knew something was happening.

…

'We forgot he got stronger after that surgery.' It wasn't like they could beat him before, but maybe if all of them fought him at once, they could just maybe get a drop of blood out of him.

"Are you done regretting this Kev?" Snapping out of it, he spotted Thor tapping his wrist.

Unable to take it any longer, "This is bullshit! How?!" Sakura shouted, drawing a sympathetic look from the other three.

"Haha, it's simple Sakura…" Thor paused dramatically, "You're too weak." He provoked.

"You dick!" It worked as not only Sakura, but the other three also rushed at him.

Surrounded on all sides, Thor only gave a cocky smile, "Let's continue shall we?"

They then continued to fight for another few hours, despite their exhaustion. Due to their confrontation, it was reported that minor earthquakes occurred nearby. At the end of it all, the four collapsed on the floor, gasping for air, and Thor looked completely fine, not even a single sign of fatigue.

"Damn monster…hah" They didn't know who said that, but they all agreed with the sentiment.

***

As Thor watched the four devour the feast before them he had a frown on his face. 'It didn't work.'

Originally, Thor had the idea that if they were exhausted or desperate enough they might achieve that transformation.

Each time someone became a MANTIS, he could always see this lingering shadow behind them, Mobius hadn't achieved it against Vishnu, nor did Kevin against Śeṣa.

Thor had weirdly no trouble activating the state. In doing so his body grew much larger, streaks of Honkai energy appeared on his skin and even some parts turned pure white, his mutations also came out in full force too.

His Honkai energy skyrocketed along with the production of it, his strength increased as well, thankfully he cut off the outside world when he unleashed that form otherwise he feared that the world might just end from it.

He took a few days to study–

"Hey Thor, what was that today?" Kevin called out to him while chewing on a chicken leg.

The other three also paused to hear his answer. 

"Considering you two and Mobius hadn't used it yet, I wanted to get the three of you to somehow enter the state artificially."

"???" Not understanding what he meant Thor sighed and proceeded to explain his own findings to them.

…

"I understand what you mean Thor but, why was I there?" Eden hadn't had the surgery yet, why would Thor call her as well?

"You've been slacking, just because you have your concerts and other obligations, doesn't mean you can skip on your own training Eden?" Thor scolded her, his gaze boring into her.

'Shit!' She shivered, 'Who told him!?' 

"Did you think I wouldn't find out?" Thor raised a brow at her reaction. 'Did she really think I don't keep tabs on everyone?'

"N-no…" Eden trailed as she quickly searched for her wine and downed it in less than a second, surprisingly she felt better after that.

"Moving on, can you show us yours then?" Kevin took a sip of the broth from his noodles.

Sakura sat there trying to look elegant, but the leftover sauce on her bottom lip ruined the look.

"Sadly not Kevin, if I did, you'd all most likely die, only Aurora has a chance to not be corrupted due to her Herrscher abilities." His words shocked them, Aurora was more shocked that she might actually get corrupted.

She was a Herrscher, beings who could control absurd amounts of Honkai and were basically immune to it…

'(Yep, he's a monster)' Both thought simultaneously.

Seeing where the conversation might go Thor clapped to get their attention,

"Good. Now until I and Mobius find a way to artificially induce it, don't bother trying to achieve it yourself if I'm not nearby, you might turn into a Honkai beast if you push it too far." They gave a nod in understanding before resuming their meal.

Thor calmly stood from his chair and let them be in peace, they had at least grown a little stronger and got better coordination from that session.

***

A week later - Shanghai

"Mei said it was around here right?" Putting her locator away Sakura looks at the sprawling sector before her.

"Sundown Alley? There's no sign that Honkai hit here." Regardless, the scanners picked up something relating to spikes in ambient Honkai energy.

***

Moth's Main Control Room -

[6…]

[5…]

[4…]

[3…]

[2…]

[1…]

[Ignition…]

Everyone looked on as the monitor showed the rocket taking off with the satellite. The room erupted into cheers.

Meanwhile Su rolled his eyes, proceeding to relax in his chair questioning why this is his job, he's a doctor, not a rocket scientist.

Somehow he ended up giving the countdown for the rocket, while Mei had the "Honor" to actually initiate the thrusters.

"Why didn't we have Thor just take it?" Elysia questioned the logic of the idea.

Mei and Su gave her a look to elaborate.

Putting a finger against her cheek she tilted her head and continued, "Well, he's on the rocket to make sure the satellite has no issues when entering space right? So~ why didn't he just take it with him?"

"PR." Mei gestured to the other monitor that showed a broadcast, "After the events of the 5th, the public lost trust in Moth…" Mei grit her teeth, the amount of press blaming Thor, who passed on the role of overseer to her, for the tragedies was jarring to see. She almost sent some Cocoon agents to "Convince" them to remove their statements.

"Ungrateful bastards." Himeko scoffed. 'Are they stupid? What do they expect us to do? If it wasn't for Thor, the world would have already ended.'

*They should all burn.*

'They should all–Huh?' Confused at the thought, Himeko shook her head and continued watching the launch as the rocket broke the speed of sound.

***

Sundown Alley -

–CRASH–

"Arggh!" After being thrown through a wall and crashing down onto the streets Sakura pulls herself from the rubble glaring upward at the masked man.

The man leapt from the ledge screaming "I'LL RIP & TEAR YOU APART!" As if he were a rabid beast.

"Fuck!" She rolled to the side barely avoiding the attack as he crashed down onto her previous position.

–DOOOM–

The ground cracked and splintered, a storm of dust kicked up as people nearby ran for the hills screaming of Honkai attacks, while others stayed behind filming the confrontation.

"Who the hell is this guy!?" She had only come here because the locator picked up absurd levels of Honkai, and what she found was an orphanage full of children with Honkai sickness.

From the cloud of dust the man shot out towards her, his hand tensed and opened as he slashed down on her.

–CLINK–

Blocking with her sword she spins and kicks him in the stomach propelling him back like a ragdoll as he tumbles across the floor.

Pausing Sakura realised he went for her face with that slash, 'Ho, Thor, I think I really am motivated to train.'

"You've got guts!" Seemingly unharmed, the masked man charged her once again.

***