The sky above J City was shrouded in darkness as thick clouds gathered, releasing a steady drizzle that soaked everything below.
The air was filled with the sounds of panic—screams echoed through the streets as a long line of vehicles crawled along the highway.
Desperation gripped the people as many abandoned their cars, fleeing on foot, adding to the chaos that hung heavy in the atmosphere. Explosions echoed from within the city, further fueling the fear that was already gripping their hearts.
Terror spread like wildfire.
They felt the urgency to move quickly as monstrous beings that had emerged from the sea might getting closer and threatening to end their lives in a tide of destruction.
These creatures had unleashed havoc upon the city, as the Hero Association wasted no time in responding.
An urgent command was issued, summoning all heroes ranked A and above to J City to mitigate the damage and rescue the citizens.
Lower-ranked heroes were also permitted to join the effort, but their focus was strictly on evacuating civilians, as the disaster level had been raised to Demon—indicating a threat that endangered the entire city and its people.
In the center region of the city, the buildings stood eerily empty, and the streets were ghostly silent, devoid of any signs of life.
The corner of one street was a scene of devastation, marred by gaping holes, deep cracks, and massive pits.
Debris from shattered buildings lay scattered across the area, the aftermath of a fierce battle that had taken place not long ago.
Dark smoke still billowed from the wreckage, though it was slowly being subdued by the relentless rain.
Amidst the debris, a figure in a tight-fitting uniform lay motionless, seemingly unconscious. His blonde hair was slicked back, and a distinct yellow lightning mark adorned his cheeks.
It was the A-Class Hero, Lightning Max.
"Urghh..."
His eyes fluttered open, blinking against the rain as he struggled to regain consciousness.
Pain shot through his body as he attempted to move, his limbs heavy and uncooperative. As he surveyed the fresh destruction around him, disbelief washed over him, and he mumbled weakly, "I-I'm actually still alive?"
"Max-chan... I'm so glad you woke up..."
A strangely gentle voice cut through the haze of pain, jolting Max fully awake.
He turned his head and saw a bulky figure not far from him. The man's muscles glistening under the relentless rain with bruises covered every inch of his body, and Max's eyes widened in recognition, "...S-Class Hero... Puri-Puri Prisoner..."
Puri-Puri Prisoner lay on his back in the center of a massive crater, likely the result of his battle with the one responsible for their current predicament—the Deep Sea King.
"Are you the one who saved me?" Max asked, his voice strained. He tried to push himself up but was immediately hit with a sharp wave of pain, forcing him back onto his knees. "Damn it..."
"You don't need to move, Max-chan. Reinforcements will be here soon," Puri-Puri Prisoner gently reassured him, his tone dripping with concern, almost like a caring girlfriend.
The tender words sent a shudder down Max's spine, and he had to fight the urge to collapse again. Swallowing his discomfort, Max finally noticed something odd and cautiously asked, "...Why are you naked?"
"T-That's unimportant..."
Puri-Puri Prisoner's face turned a deep shade of red at Max's question, which only made Max feel more uneasy. The blush on Puri-Puri Prisoner's cheeks was unmistakable, and Max shivered, a chill running down his spine.
He quickly shook his head, trying to redirect the conversation, "Anyway, where is that creature?"
"That..."
Puri-Puri Prisoner's face contorted with a mixture of frustration and worry. He shook his head, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "I don't know..."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"He defeated me," Puri-Puri Prisoner explained, his voice faltering, "And by the time I regain my consciousness, he was already gone."
He sighed deeply and gazed up at the dark, rain-slicked sky, his expression clouded with concern.
"I hope the other heroes have arrived..."
"...!"
Max's eyes widened in disbelief.
Even an S-Class hero like Puri-Puri Prisoner had been defeated?
The realization hit him hard, and he clenched his fists, feeling a surge of both fear and relief for his own narrow escape.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Just as Max was starting to feel a sliver of relief, heavy footsteps echoed ominously, growing louder with each passing second. He spun around, his face draining of color as he mumbled in a trembling voice, "Maybe I'm not so lucky after all..."
If Max were in a good condition, as an A-class hero, he might not have been so afraid. But in his current state, he was utterly helpless as he watched a large octopus creature slowly loom over them.
The octopus, its grotesque form casting a dark shadow, gazed at them with a predatory gleam in its eyes.
"Kekeke... humans..." the creature's voice was a chilling croak, echoing with malicious delight.
Max was paralyzed by fear, barely processing Puri-Puri Prisoner's words, "Max-chan, it's been short, but it was beautiful..."
However...
"Huh? This scene looks familiar for some reason..."
Just as the air thickened with despair, a casual, almost nonchalant voice broke through the tension.
Both Max and Puri-Puri Prisoner, along with the large octopus, turned their gaze toward the source of the voice. There, standing on top of the debris was a teenager playing with a metal chopstick in his hand, his gaze fixed on the massive seafolk.
"Hmm? An octopus, huh?"
Tsuna mused aloud, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully as he observed the creature. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he added, "I should be able to make something with you..."
"R-Run away, kid..."
Max's voice trembled, barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.
"Max-chan is right, handsome boy..."
Puri-Puri Prisoner was also dazed and battered, echoed the sentiment, his words a weak plea for the teenager's safety.
The octopus seemed to sense the boy as a threat that needed to be neutralized first.
With a slow, menacing movement, it shifted its massive body toward him, tentacles coiling with as it was about to swung it for attack.
Then...
Tsuna flicked his wrist, tossing his chopstick high into the air.
As the slender utensil spun above him, his fist clenched tightly before he spread his fingers open, his eyes narrowing with focus.
To the utter shock of the two injured heroes, the chopstick, suspended in mid-air, responded to Tsuna's subtle hand gesture.
It began to tremble, emitting a strange, metallic hum as it grew larger, its form expanding with a smooth, controlled precision.
[Metal Bending: Metal Enlargement!]
The octopus, sensing imminent danger, lashed out, its tentacles whipping through the air with terrifying speed toward Tsuna.
But he only chuckled as he waved his hand forward, "Die!"
With a swift and deadly precision, the chopstick hurtled through the air, a blur of metal that cut through the rain-soaked night.
Puchi!
The moment it struck, a sickening squelch echoed through the desolate street as the sharpened tip embedded deep into the octopus's head. The creature's massive tentacles shuddered violently before losing all strength, collapsing limply to the ground with a heavy thud.
"...!"
Max and Puri-Puri Prisoner stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide with disbelief as the monstrous octopus lay defeated at the hands of a boy who looked like he was still in high school.
"Hmm, this guy is a bit too big..."
The boy muttered something they couldn't quite make out, continuing, "But whatever, I only need a few for two... umm, maybe three people..."
"Huh?"
Max collapsed back on the ground, his worldview shattered. He mumbled, "For three people, is he going to cook that monster or something?"
There is no way, right?