"Buzz!"
A sharp alarm tore through the night, echoing across the Hero Association headquarters.
"Emergency alert! Tanktop Master is under attack!" An operator hurriedly pulled up the coordinates sent by Tanktop Doctor.
Okamoto wiped the sweat from his brow but kept his voice steady. "Immediately notify the S Class heroes near Z City."
"Prioritize contacting Sol Mirek!"
Without hesitation, he dialed Tatsumaki.
High above Z City's No Man's Land, Tatsumaki floated with arms crossed, her emerald curls drifting in the air as she searched for the mysterious monster. She was determined to show that rookie the difference between them.
Her phone rang.
She clicked her tongue and answered. "What now?"
"Miss Tatsumaki, Tanktop Master was attacked by an unknown monster at the gym. Sol Mirek's prediction appears to be correct," Okamoto reported urgently.
"Hmph. That rookie just got lucky." She sounded unconvinced, but her eyes sharpened. No monster had the right to stir up trouble in her territory.
"Send me the location. I'll handle it."
Meanwhile, chaos filled the Association's control room.
"We still can't reach Sol Mirek!" an operator shouted.
"Keep trying. Notify any nearby A Class heroes for backup," Okamoto ordered, a darker thought forming in his mind.
What if Sol had already been targeted?
Inside the gym, Tanktop Master breathed heavily, sweat sliding down his muscular frame as he faced the black and red armored figure before him.
"Boss, he's too strong," Tanktop Tiger said, voice trembling.
Tanktop Black Hole edged toward the exit. "Maybe we should… regroup first?"
"Silence!" Tanktop Master roared. "A hero does not run. If we retreat, what happens to the citizens? Who protects them?"
He reached for the hem of his tank top. Though reluctant, he knew he might have to unleash everything.
Before he could move, Sol stepped forward and threw a straight punch.
The air itself compressed, shrieking as it split apart.
Tanktop Master abandoned his stance and crossed his arms to block. His pupils tightened as the punch filled his vision. The force alone shattered the wall behind him.
A thunderous explosion followed.
Tanktop Master shot backward like a cannonball, crashing through three walls before slamming onto the pavement outside the gym.
"Boss!"
Members of the Tank Topper Army rushed past Sol and lifted their leader from the rubble.
Sol walked out slowly, hands in his pockets, expression relaxed.
"Still want to continue?" he asked casually.
Tanktop Master forced himself upright. "As long as I'm breathing, I won't let you hurt my brothers."
Sol studied him, then nodded. "Good resolve."
He glanced at the destruction around them. "Relax. I came for a spar, not a massacre."
Everyone froze.
"What did you say?" Tanktop Master asked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
"I wanted to see how strong S Class heroes really are," Sol replied. "Now I know."
He turned to leave, then paused.
"Tell the others I'll be visiting them too."
With that, he disappeared into the night.
Tanktop Master pressed a hand to his chest, watching the armored figure vanish. Despite himself, a strange respect formed in his heart.
If only he were not a monster. He would have made an excellent member of the Tank Topper Army.
"Master, are you alright?" Tanktop Doctor hurried over.
"I'm fine," Tanktop Master said, though his brows remained furrowed. "Notify the Association. Warn the other S Class heroes."
"Already done," Tanktop Doctor replied, giving a firm nod.
Tanktop Tiger and Tanktop Black Hole peeked out from behind the others.
"He really just left?" Tiger whispered.
After reassuring his men, Tanktop Master led them back inside to begin cleaning the damage.
Suddenly, the ceiling tore open.
Tatsumaki descended through the opening, floating effortlessly, eyes scanning the scene.
"Where is that monster?" she demanded.
"He's gone, Miss Tatsumaki," Tanktop Master answered. "He seemed intent on challenging S Class heroes specifically."
"A monster challenging heroes?" She scoffed. "Ridiculous."
Her gaze shifted to the massive hole in the wall. "He did this?"
"From the aftershock of one punch," Tanktop Master confirmed.
Tatsumaki clicked her tongue. "Monsters only know destruction."
Tanktop Master glanced at the completely torn ceiling above them but chose not to comment.
Tanktop Tiger leaned toward Tanktop Black Hole. "About the ceiling…"
"Quiet," Black Hole hissed, sweat forming on his forehead.
Back at headquarters, the tension had not eased.
"We still can't contact Sol Mirek!" an operator called out.
Okamoto's expression darkened. "Keep trying. I'll relay everything to Tatsumaki and Tanktop Master."
A troubling possibility lingered in his thoughts.
If Sol Mirek had been attacked, the situation might be far worse than they imagined.
===
Powerstones?? (´ε｀ )
____
Patreon = _Zeph