Chapter 13: Fight Like The Devil
From one moment to the next, an impressive explosion of water was unleashed right where Muscular was, hitting him with the force of a tsunami as the explosion of water rose into the skies.
This caused the ground to shake for a few brief seconds before the refreshing air current produced by the shockwave hit my body. That was amazing!
My popcorn now lay scattered on the ground while Kota was probably in shock trying to understand what had happened. In the distance, the devastating force of the water had swept away everything in its path, trees, huge rocks, and caused a large part of the lake to disappear.
In the midst of all this disaster, Kota's parents were breathing heavily as Muscular's arms and legs were held back by what seemed to be powerful chains of water. "We won't let you hurt our son!" They declared in unison with completely determined looks as they clasped their hands tightly together.
"Water Prison!"
Then a huge sphere of water began to form around Muscular, slowly trapping him inside the sphere as the pressure exerted by the water increased more and more. "HAHAHA! This has become interesting!" He exclaimed defiantly.
"Your parents are really cool, Kota~kun." I hummed with a satisfied smile. "They have put aside the convictions and restrictions of a hero in order to protect what is most precious to them. Don't you find that admirable?"
As expected, my words caused Kota to react. However, before he could even answer my question, I continued with my little speech. "There is no such thing as good or evil." I uttered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world before a predatory grin spread across my face.
"There is only power and those too weak to seek it!" I proclaimed proudly, watching in morbid fascination as the sphere of water now completely covered Muscular.
"Water Coffin!"
The duo of heroes exclaimed in unison, causing Muscular to begin to drown inside that deadly sphere of water. There were no reinforcements on the way, there was no room for words to be exchanged, there was no other way to stop Muscular, a single mistake, a single carelessness, and everything would end in carnage. I knew it and they knew it too.
"Now that both sides have finally reached the climax, who will prevail? Your parents' will to protect you at all costs, or Muscular's absolute thirst for revenge and destruction?" I asked with shining stars in my eyes, unable to contain my growing excitement.
Just thinking about the outcome makes my heart pound.
"PROTECT OR DESTROY!"
☆☆☆ CLICK HERE TO PLAY IMAGE ☆☆☆
"I don't know who you are or why you're here, but my parents…" I heard Kota stutter behind me, lightly drawing my attention to him. "My parents…" He clenched his fists before taking a deep breath. "My parents will definitely defeat Muscular!"
Because of that cheesy and not-so-surprising response, I had no choice but to take a few steps toward him and extend my right hand toward his face, causing him to close his eyes fearfully before my index finger hit his forehead. "Baaaka." I scolded him.
"Ouch..." He muttered, taking a few steps back as he massaged his forehead. Come on! It was just a small push.
With no more time to waste, I huffed and began the second stage of my plan. But not before pulling out a delicious emergency lollipop from my pocket and beginning to devour it mercilessly. Sweets always help me focus.
"Listen to me carefully, Kota, the fate of your parents was decided a long time ago by a much greater power. "The Power of the Plot." I chose my words carefully, instantly drawing his attention.
"It turns out that about a year ago, the hero duo known as Water Hose was supposed to be brutally killed by Muscular in that isolated village. That was what the sacred timeline decided." I calmly explained, sugar-coating the harsh truth with some elaborate lies.
"So, I decided to step in and save them from that fateful timeline by making use of my amazing technology. That's right! I am the mastermind behind Cognito Inc.'s great technological innovations." I placed my hands on my waist proudly before starting to rummage through my pockets.
"And let's say that I have in my possession a small device capable of predicting the future." I revealed dramatically, taking out of my pocket a small phone which I didn't hesitate to show to Kota, making him shudder just before Muscular's head emerged from the water prison.
"AS IF THIS IS GOING TO STOP ME!"
"Unfortunately, Kota~kun, fate seems determined to correct its course."
☆☆☆ CLICK HERE TO PLAY IMAGE ☆☆☆
A device capable of predicting the future? That's completely absurd, even in a world filled with superpowers the invention of something like that couldn't be possible. But of course, that's not something a little kid like Kota would know. Hehe.
From one moment to the next, Muscular created more and more muscle fibers throughout his body to the point of completely freeing himself from the water prison that surrounded him, rushing mercilessly towards both heroes, taking them by surprise.
"You're lying, what you say can't be true." Kota muttered shakily, unable to accept my words as in the distance his parents flew through the air before crashing hard into the ground. "It's impossible!"
"Deep down you know it's true, look inside yourself." I clenched my fist dramatically, striking a cool pose and causing him to start hyperventilating, possibly thinking of his recurring nightmares and fear of losing his parents. I know his insecurities and his greatest fear, so I won't hesitate to use them to my advantage.
"Join me and together we will destroy this nefarious timeline, join me and we will create a magnificent future under our whims. A future where your parents remain alive." I finished with a small predatory smile.
"This is what some people would call: The law of equivalent exchange."
In the distance, both heroes now lay on the muddy ground breathing heavily and unable to get up due to their severe injuries, only willpower keeping them barely conscious.
"Please…" Kota whispered shakily, watching helplessly as Muscular came ever closer with a bloodthirsty grin toward his helpless parents. "I'll do anything, but please…" He uttered quickly, clenching his fists tightly before focusing all his attention on me. With no other options left, all of Kota's hopes now rested on me.
"Save them! Save my parents!"
Every action I've taken, no matter how small, has a profound impact on the future and the development of the main plot. I decided long ago not to worry about it and face the consequences of my actions when the time comes… Facing the unknown using my wits will be truly challenging and exciting!
After all, the timeline and plot have long since gone to hell.
"Okey Dokey."
Because I am the only one who decides the fate of all my cool toys!
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"Keep this with you." I tossed the prop phone that supposedly predicts the future to Kota before I dropped the remains of my lollipop on the ground and calmly assessed the situation.
If my estimations are correct, Muscular doesn't plan on killing them right away. He's like an insatiable predator toying with his prey, wanting to see the utmost despair on his victims' faces before finishing them off. "Where are you hiding, brat?! Mommy and Daddy want to see you one last time!"
Good job wearing him down even a little, Water Hose. Keeping those muscle fibers active must take a lot of energy. Now with all the pieces positioned perfectly, this lovely game can finally begin. "Hail Hydra." I smiled defiantly.
***Weapons ready!***
And so, the Big Bad Wolf came out to play.
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POV Goto Imasuji (Muscular)
The humiliation I suffered that day, the disgusting scar on my face, the absence of one of my damn eyes. It was all their fault! And now, after a brief warm-up, the bastards responsible are lying helplessly on the ground, unable to put up any more resistance as death stalks them.
But that's not enough. It's not enough! I can't wait to see their dying faces filled with despair once I mercilessly murder their son in front of them!
"If you don't come out of hiding, I'll start ripping off your dear parents' limbs, one by one. DID YOU HEAR ME?!"
I just have to get the brat out of hiding and then…
Beep… Beep… Beep
Heh? What's that?
☆☆☆ CLICK HERE TO PLAY IMAGE ☆☆☆
Suddenly, what seemed to be a small spherical object came out of nowhere straight towards my face. Therefore, I instinctively stepped aside before a loud explosion occurred behind me, making me smile cruelly.
Where did that come from? I thought there were no other heroes around. How interesting!
"Who dares to interrupt my fun?" I proclaimed defiantly, looking around for the bastard responsible, only to notice that a murderous intent very different from my own had begun to spread throughout the surroundings, making me immediately turn in the direction of the source.
"It was me."
In the distance, I finally managed to make out the person responsible while his voice still echoed in my head, disconcerting me for a brief moment. That voice along with that appearance… A damn child!
"Surprised?" The brat asked cheekily, catching another of those strange explosive spheres in his right hand as if it were a baseball. "If you want to catch Kota and complete your longed-for vendetta, you must first defeat me. Do you understand?" He explained cheerfully before the strange murderous intent emanating from him intensified.
I never expected a damn kid to openly challenge me. But there's something about that damn confident attitude that I still can't quite put my finger on.
"What are you waiting for? Come." The brat yawned shamelessly, motioning with his finger for me to come get him as a shitty grin spread across his face. "Or are you scared of me?"
If the damn brat was planning on pissing me off, he succeeded in spades. "I'm going to turn you into a blood stain on the ground!" I exclaimed, completely overcome with rage, flexing my legs and planting my feet firmly on the ground before lunging at full speed towards him. "I'LL SMASH YOU!"
There was no need to stop and think about it, I just went with the flow and left behind the badly injured duo of heroes that I had defeated. They can wait a little longer before dying! Right now something more interesting is happening!
The brat had pressed the center of the small sphere that he was holding, causing a red light to turn on and it began to emit a characteristic beeping sound. "Catch this!" He exclaimed, throwing the sphere forcefully towards me, imitating the pitch of a professional baseball player.
Beep… Beep…
I already know that trick!
So I don't plan on stopping! I quickly crossed my arms in front of me as the thick muscle fibers strengthened even more, turning me into a great unstoppable force. Then the sphere crashed into my arms, causing the resulting explosion to engulf me for a brief second and nearly knock me off balance.
"HAHAHA!" I laughed out loud, passing through the heat and dust of the explosion with ease as new muscle fibers began to cover the small burns on my arms. The brat must be pissing his pants right now!
"A SMALL EXPLOSION WON'T BE ENOUGH TO…" It was then that I noticed that there was no hint of fear or panic on his face, in fact, there was a small crooked smile forming on his face.
For a few moments, everything around me seemed to slow down. I realized too late that my right leg had sunk into the ground, causing my foot to make contact with a metal surface buried underground.
A trap?
At what moment...?!
"KATSU!"
☆☆☆ CLICK HERE TO PLAY GIF ☆☆☆
I remember the anticipation I felt as the ground became increasingly illuminated…
I remember pushing my quirk to its limits before a scorching heat enveloped me and destroyed everything around me…
The next thing I remember was my body flying through the air as a result of that devastating explosion until I crashed hard to the ground.
That damn brat…
Once on the ground, I couldn't help but spit out some blood and grit my teeth tightly, ignoring the pain as I briefly deactivated my quirk, allowing much of the painful burns running through my muscle fibers to fade away and leave my skin exposed.
That damn brat is amazing.
No one had ever forced me to push my quirk to this point, if I hadn't immediately covered my entire body with a thick layer of my muscle fibers I would definitely have died.
I can't wait to kill him with my own hands!
"Either you have a lot of guts to approach me or you are just too stupid." I growled with a bloodthirsty grin, clenching my fists tightly and starting to stand up again as the sound of small footsteps approaching reached my ears.
"For a moment there I thought my calculations had failed and you had died, that would have been counterproductive and a waste of time." The brat muttered, ignoring my comment and stopping just a few feet away from me. "Tell me, can you continue?"
I don't care who that brat is, I don't care where the hell he came from or what his stupid quirk is. There's no place for the weak in this world, survival of the fittest is everything. It's been a while since I felt this alive…
My answer was more than obvious. "Do you think I would ever give up?"
And his answer was more than enough. "No, that would be disappointing. Besides, I've been wanting to try out a few toys in a real environment for a while now."
~
The murderous intent between us had reached its peak.
~
"So…" We both whispered in unison with a deadly serious tone moments before a completely unhinged smile took over our faces.
"LET ME HAVE SOME FUN!"
☆☆☆ CLICK HERE TO PLAY IMAGE ☆☆☆
Without a second thought, I lunged at him as my thick muscle fibers began to cover my right arm again, quickly closing the gap between us and directing my fist straight toward his face. The brat made a grave mistake by underestimating me.
From one moment to the next, the brat's smile disappeared, realizing the brutal difference in power between us just before my lethal fist crashed into his face, shattering his head and splattering blood everywhere... The game was over. 👊
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Or at least that would have happened if my fist hadn't crashed into what seemed to be a hexagonal barrier that now covered the brat. "Hey, could you try a little harder? I need to gather as much data as possible from this battle." He declared animatedly from the other side of the damn barrier.
"Stop underestimating me!" I exclaimed completely irritated, pushing my quirk beyond its limit and covering a large part of my body with a powerful layer of muscle fibers. Immediately after, I began to hit the damn barrier that separated us with all my strength, over and over again.
Die…
Die…
Die…
👊 "DIE ONCE AND FOR ALL!" 👊
Each of my devastating attacks caused a strong shockwave after hitting that barrier, causing strong gusts of wind to knock down some nearby trees that were still standing.
Minutes passed, or maybe it was just a few seconds... I had lost track of time as my erratic thoughts tormented me.
Why?!
Why the hell can't I get through his barrier?!
"HAHAHA! The data I've collected is fabulous! Thank you for this wonderful demonstration of power!" He exclaimed with great enthusiasm, spreading his arms out to the sides theatrically as a strange mechanical noise began to come from inside his backpack.
Instinctively I took a couple of steps back, completely ceasing my attacks as I tried to catch my breath. What is going on? What is this oppressive feeling?
"Now it's my turn!" He exclaimed ominously, snapping his fingers and making the barrier protecting him disappear. Immediately after, a giant drill slammed into me and attempted to pierce the thick layer of muscle fibers protecting my chest.
A variety of strange weapons had emerged from none other than the brat's backpack. Therefore, I was left with no choice but to plant my feet firmly on the ground and be dragged backward, holding and immobilizing the gigantic drill while a huge robotic boxing glove began to hit my face again and again.
And as if that wasn't enough, a damn flamethrower soon began burning the muscle fibers covering my legs. It's as if several heroes were attacking me mercilessly from all directions. My muscle fibers won't be able to resist much longer!
Damn! If only I wasn't so exhausted, if only I could catch up to him, if only I could break through his defense… If only I could smash him!
It was then that I noticed something very disturbing. Just a few feet away from me and right behind these twisted weapons, there was the brat holding a gamepad tightly, looking at me with stars in his eyes and a partially flushed face. The damn bastard is enjoying this.
"DRILL! FLAMETHROWER!" He exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement as he rapidly pressed a sequence of buttons on his gamepad as if this was all a video game. I could only grit my teeth in frustration as I tried hard to counter his brutal attacks moments before he quickly raised his right fist into the air. "UPPERCUT!" 🥊
At the same time, the damn robotic boxing glove hit me right under my chin with tremendous force, sending me flying a few meters.
It was at that precise moment, while I was in the air and just as my consciousness began to waver that I finally understood the reality of my situation. I had become the prey, cornered by none other than a little psychopath and his damn technology.
Then I crashed abruptly into the ground, creating a small crater as my muscle fibers disappeared along with what was left of my energy. But my story wouldn't end there... He was too stubborn to let me die.
"Still not enough!" The brat exclaimed, descending from the air and landing nimbly on my stomach with impressive speed moments before stabbing a strange syringe directly into my neck. "Round 2!" He proclaimed with a malicious smile, propelling himself backward and disappearing from my sight.
The effect of that strange syringe didn't take long to take effect. A pain like no other had begun to spread through every fiber of my body. "BASTARD!" I exclaimed, unable to contain my anger, feeling my heart rate rise to extreme levels while my vision became increasingly blurry. What the hell is running through my veins?!
I'm angry, I'm completely angry. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO ANGRY!
I feel like my consciousness is being dragged into the depths of a tortuous abyss. I am Goto Imasuj, an extremely dangerous villain… My name is Muscular and smashing my opponents with my bare hands is wonderful… I am… UNSTOPPABLE.
It was my last coherent thought before the monstrous beast that slept inside me awakened. It turned out that at the end of that abyss of pain and suffering, there was power… A heady power.
☆☆☆ CLICK HERE TO PLAY GIF ☆☆☆
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"MUSCULAR! SMASH!!!"
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To Be Continued...