"Ha ha ha ha! You are all such fools!" Dos cackled maniacally, her eyes gleaming with malice as she lashed out with her whip. The weapon cracked through the air like a thunderclap, aiming directly for her opponents.
"Gahhh!" Metal Bat grunted, his muscles straining with the force of his swing as he brought his bat down on her. But Dos was too quick. With a swift motion, she darted to the side, easily evading the heavy blow. Her movements were almost graceful, like a predator toying with her prey.
"Come on, just be my slave already, big boy," Dos teased, her voice dripping with mock sweetness as she flicked her whip again, aiming for Metal Bat's side.
Where did Genos go? Metal Bat thought frantically, his eyes darting around. "He was right here a second ago..." But now, Genos was nowhere to be seen. He clenched his teeth in frustration, his focus snapping back to the battle.
"Ready to give up now?" Dos mocked, watching him closely, her smirk widening.
"Never!" Metal Bat roared, his eyes flashing with determination. "Ultimate move: Fighting Spirit— Brutal Tornado!" With a yell, he spun around with all his might, his bat becoming a blur of motion. A whirlwind of energy erupted around him, debris flying into the air as the sheer force of his attack created a violent vortex.
"You'll pay for that!" Dos shouted as she was pulled into the tornado, her body spinning uncontrollably before she crashed into a nearby wall with a sickening thud. The ground shook beneath her, but she quickly scrambled to her feet, her expression darkening with rage.
"You need help, Metal Bat?" a calm voice cut through the chaos. Fubuki, the B-Class Rank 1, appeared beside him, her eyes sharp and focused as she took in the scene. Her psychic energy crackled around her as she prepared to join the fight.
"Huh? Hellish Blizzard? Why are you here? This is S-Class business!" Metal Bat snapped, surprised to see her. His grip tightened on his bat as he steeled himself for the next assault.
"It's all heroes' business! We need to work together!" Fubuki retorted firmly, her stance shifting as she raised her arm. With a quick motion, she hurled large chunks of debris toward Dos.
But Dos was fast, too fast. With feline grace, she danced around each projectile, her body twisting and bending to avoid the incoming rocks. She placed a hand on her chest and smiled sweetly at Fubuki, her eyes glinting with twisted amusement.
"You think you can stop me?" Dos purred; her voice sickeningly sweet as she appraised Fubuki. "**Such an admirable and beautiful spirit, but ultimately... foolish." Her laughter was as chilling as the wind.
"I will stop you," Fubuki declared, her voice unwavering. She turned to her team and issued the command. "Blizzard Group—attack!"
The Blizzard Group, along with Eyelashes and Mountain Ape, charged forward, ready to assist. Fubuki's loyal subordinates moved in sync, closing the distance between themselves and Dos.
"Ha! Your servants are nothing but hinderances to me," Dos laughed darkly, her tone dripping with disdain. She flicked her wrist again, the whip snapping out with blinding speed, striking each of the advancing heroes.
"Aaaaaugh!" Eyelashes cried out as the whip lashed across his chest. His body tensed, and his eyes glazed over as Dos's dark influence seeped into him. Mountain Ape wasn't far behind, his large frame falling under the same spell. The rest of the Blizzard members faltered as the whip continued to crack, their resistance crumbling under the force of the charm.
"Now my love slaves," Dos purred, her voice dripping with dark delight. "Distract her, while I handle this little nuisance."
Fubuki's team, now turned against her, slowly began to move toward her, their faces vacant, eyes locked in an almost hypnotic stare.
"Mountain Ape! Eyelashes! I am your leader!" Fubuki shouted desperately, stepping back as her once-loyal subordinates advanced on her. Her heart twisted with sorrow, but she knew what she had to do. She couldn't hurt them.
She dodged Eyelashes' wild punch, narrowly avoiding the blow. Fubuki could feel the sting of her teammates' betrayal, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.
Suddenly, Dos's whip struck from behind, and Fubuki barely managed to raise her psychic shield in time, blocking the blow. The force of the strike still sent a tremor through her body, and she gritted her teeth in pain.
"Enough of this!" Fubuki shouted, summoning the full strength of her psychic powers. With a flick of her wrist, she immobilized her team, their movements freezing as if time itself had stopped for them. But this distraction was just long enough for Dos to strike.
A whip cracked across Fubuki's shoulder, and she let out a strangled gasp as the sharp pain tore through her. She stumbled backward, her legs trembling beneath her as she tried to stay upright.
"Take this, Hellish Blizzard!" Dos shouted with twisted glee, whipping at her relentlessly. Each strike felt like fire on her skin, and Fubuki screamed in agony as she was whipped across the back. The pain was unbearable, but she refused to give in.
One lash, two, three—the strikes continued, each one tearing through her clothes, exposing her bloodied back. Fubuki could barely keep herself standing as each hit sent waves of pain crashing through her body. Her dress was shredded, and deep, crimson marks bloomed across her exposed skin.
"Not so good now, is it?" Dos giggled darkly, the sadistic gleam in her eyes intensifying as she landed one last brutal blow, knocking Fubuki to the ground.
"Ah, how the mighty Blizzard has fallen. Nothing but a slave to me now." Dos grinned wickedly as she stood over the broken hero. Fubuki panted on the ground, her back a mess of torn flesh and blood, but her eyes burned with a fierce, unyielding fire.
"Wait… You're one of the Psychic Sisters, aren't you?" Dos said suddenly, her face lighting up with realization. "Excellent! I can lure your big sister out and capture her. Lord Orochi will reward me handsomely for bringing her to him!"
Fubuki's heart skipped a beat. Tatsumaki. Her sister. Dos's words were like a knife twisting in her gut.
"You will never control me," Fubuki hissed, her voice barely above a whisper, but filled with strength. Despite the love charm attempting to invade her mind, her psychic resilience remained unwavering. She could still feel the influence of Dos's powers, but Fubuki wasn't broken yet.
"Soon, you will." Dos cooed, her fingers gently tilting Fubuki's chin up. She leaned over her captive, a sickening smile twisting her lips. "Don't worry, though. I'll make sure you get a front-row seat as I execute your sister and tear off her head. Then I'll kill you and rip off your head too. I'll be promoted."
Fubuki's eyes burned with rage as she spat, "You won't hurt her, you monster!"
With a scream of fury, Fubuki spun around and unleashed a massive blast of psychic energy. The raw force threw Dos backward, her body slamming into the wall with a crash that echoed through the ruined surroundings.
But Dos was far from finished.
As she staggered to her feet, Fubuki appeared before her, her eyes glowing white with rage. In an instant, a massive blizzard spiraled into existence, whipping around her. The winds howled with ferocity as ice and snow blasted toward Dos, hurling her across the battlefield. She crashed into another wall, her body crumpling under the sheer power of the attack.
"You… You think you can defeat me?" Dos snarled, her lips curling in fury as she staggered up. She wiped blood from her mouth, her eyes blazing. "I might just kill you instead! I'll make you taste your blood! I'll whip you until you're begging for mercy! I'll mutilate you so badly, your sister won't recognize you!"
She lunged at Fubuki, but in the moment of madness, Fubuki spoke one word, her voice cold and commanding:
"Look up."
Dos hesitated, confusion flashing in her eyes as she glanced upward. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Metal Bat descending from above, his bat raised high, ready to strike.
With a deafening crash, his bat slammed down on her head, creating a massive crater in the ground. The impact was so strong, it sent shockwaves through the area, shaking the earth beneath them.
"Trash," Metal Bat spat, his face grim as he stood over the fallen monster.
The crater rumbled, and with a burst of defiance, Dos shot out of the rubble, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Ha! You thought you heroes could stop me!" she cackled, her voice high-pitched with mania. "Monster Orochi will rise, and the Monster Association will reign supreme!"
With that, Dos turned and sprinted away, her form blurring into the distance.
"Until next time, Blizzard!" she laughed, casting one last mocking wink at Fubuki before disappearing.
Fubuki stood amidst the ruins, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her body ached with every movement, bruises and cuts marking her skin, the remnants of a battle that had tested her will to its breaking point. The edges of her torn dress clung to her bloodied back, and her fists were clenched at her sides as she fought to keep her composure. The intense cold of her psychic energy had ebbed, but her body still trembled, partly from exhaustion, partly from the lingering effects of Dos's cruel manipulation. Her eyes flickered over to Metal Bat, who stood a few paces away, already brushing off his hands as if the battle had been little more than a nuisance. His expression was grim, but there was a certain approval in his gaze.
"Miss Fubuki, what happened?" One of the Blizzard Group members asked hesitantly, his voice filled with concern as he approached her. The others, too, were slowly coming back to their senses. The eerie spell of Dos's love charm was dissipating, and the group members were blinking in confusion, clearly shaken by their lost time. Their eyes fell on Fubuki's bloodied back, the marks of Dos's whips still fresh and raw, and the realization of the battle's true cost began to set in.
Fubuki straightened her posture, forcing a tired smile despite the deep exhaustion weighing on her. "Don't worry about it," she replied softly, her voice strong despite the clear strain in her words. She reached out, pulling her group in with one arm for a quick but heartfelt hug. "I'm just glad you're all back in one piece. That's all that matters."
Her words were a comfort to the group, but they could see the toll the battle had taken on her. Despite her smile, the faint tremor in her voice spoke volumes of the strength it had taken to endure the ordeal.
Metal Bat, having observed the scene, nodded to himself with quiet approval. "Well, that's settled," he said, his voice steady and devoid of the usual boastful tone he often carried. His gaze shifted to Fubuki with a rare glimmer of respect. "Great job, Hellish Blizzard."
Fubuki shook her head, her expression softening but still maintaining an air of professionalism. "It's nothing," she replied, her voice flat as she dismissed the praise. She didn't have the energy for accolades, not after what had just happened. "We should get back and report our success to HA." The weight of the mission was still on her mind, the need to complete it properly far more important than any acknowledgment of her efforts.
Metal Bat gave a slight nod of understanding. The two of them had always shared a mutual respect, even if their methods were different. He could see that Fubuki was putting the mission above all else, but he also recognized the toll it had taken on her. Still, he didn't press further; there would be time for reflection later.
"Yeah, let's go," Metal Bat agreed, his tone more subdued now, as if the battle had somehow changed the dynamic between them. He glanced at her briefly, and for a moment, there was a silent understanding between them. They didn't need to say more. Their shared purpose and the burden of their roles as heroes were enough. Without another word, they turned, walking side by side as the Blizzard Group began to follow, a sense of resolution settling over them as they made their way back.
Fubuki's thoughts were heavy, but she didn't let it show. As they left the battlefield behind, her mind was already focusing on the next task ahead: reporting to the Hero Association, ensuring the victory was accounted for, and pushing forward. The fight was over, but the war—both within and beyond—was far from finished.