The intensity of the fight grew with each passing second.
Genos leapt up, narrowly avoiding G4's downward punch. The force of the blow shattered the pavement. In mid-air, he flipped several times, using the last rotation to propel himself headfirst toward the machine god.
He landed atop G4, his hand pressed flat against its surface. "'Incinerate!'" His arms supercharged as he unleashed swathes of fiery destruction through G4's form.
Using the momentum of his blast, Genos curled his body and back flipped multiple times before landing a distance away.
His sensors detected multiple pedestrians fleeing behind him. Why are there still people lingering around?! He hurriedly scanned his front and sides, relieved to find no one else in the immediate area.
"I've melted him from the inside. He shouldn't be able to move a—"
He caught himself. Had he forgotten what he had just been told? I must finish my enemies off more than once!
Genos placed his hands side by side, grounding his stance as heat radiated from his arms. An orange glow pulsed like molten veins beneath the silver metal plating of his arms. "'Incineration Cannon!'" A massive wave of flaming energy exploded forward, surging toward the melting machine god. The attack's width nearly spanned the entire street, as it traveled dozens of meters.
It's still not enough!
Genos didn't relent, his voice escalating. "Incinerate! Incinerate! Incinerate!" Each word was sharp, commanding, as if he could will his attacks to grow stronger through sheer force of will."
Unknown to Genos… the strength of his attack did, in fact, grow!
A warped bellow tore through the fading roar of multiple flaming blasts.
"Insolent! Do n-not interfere with my… research!"
Through the rising smoke from the molten pavement, multiple fuchsia-colored lasers beamed in his direction.
Not good!
Genos launched himself skyward, avoiding the scattered lasers, toward a rooftop water tower and used it as a springboard to dodge another approaching laser.
Gliding through the air as lasers flashed past him, he caught sight of G4's new appearance. A pilot? No, this must be its true form.
The machine god had shrunken into a compact, rounded shape. Warped and melted black armor covered its frame, while fuchsia, red, and pink lights flickered erratically along its joints and visor-like eyes.
My attacks are effective against G4's true form.
But before I can attack him again, I need to deal with these lasers before I'm riddled with holes!
I could melt him away with more 'Incinerates,' but I want there to be some usable parts for my upgrades.
It dawned on him just now that the lasers shot toward him so far had been inaccurate and only fired in his general direction.
His mid-air pondering ended as he landed on an outer stairwell of a massive building.
"No. I can't act as though my victory is guaranteed. I will eliminate this foe, even if he turns into a molten puddle."
¤ ¤ ¤
"Thanks for the juice box. You're really good. I heard you won a few fighting game tournaments in the past."
"I mean… yeah, I did. I'm surprised you know that…"
King didn't know what Caspian wanted, and all he could do was put his attention on the TV and hope this guy would get bored and leave.
Does he have nothing better to do than enter people's home uninvited? He didn't even bother to take off his shoes.
"Why did you run away earlier?"
King lurched forward, the juice box he had been absentmindedly drinking from shooting out of his mouth, juices spilling everywhere.
"Don't worry, though. This is a great experience for Genos, so it's a good thing he stepped in and fought in your place."
A crushing sense of panic enveloped King as his mind plunged into a chaotic void.
"If there's something you wish to tell me, I'm all ears."
What am I supposed to tell him?! If everyone finds out I'm a fraud, I'll become 'The Most Hated Man on Earth.' I won't be able to leave home!
Moments passed with nary a word spoken between them.
King refused to turn around. Wouldn't he give everything away if Caspian saw his expression right now?
A sound which followed King no matter where he went blared out.
"Emergency evacuation warning. A giant bird has appeared above M-City. Threat level Demon. Please do not go outside."
Caspian stood. "These sirens never stop going off, do they?"
"Never…"
"Well, what are you going to do?" asked Caspian.
King turned his head, finally mustering the nerve to look over, only for his heart to lurch into his throat. The entire sky beyond his balcony had vanished, swallowed by an enormous, fast-approaching mass. A monster rocketing straight toward his apartment.
A deafening crash exploded through the air, shaking the entire complex to its foundations. The walls buckled, the ceiling split apart, and a shockwave of dust and debris blasted through the room. Fragments of concrete and shattered furniture flew past him, rattling against the floor like hail.
He staggered back, sweat pouring down his face, his legs trembling beneath him as he pressed his back against the kitchen counter.
The dust settled quickly, revealing Caspian standing casually with one hand pressed against the monster's maw, as if stopping it were as simple as pushing open a door.
"Why is it every time I'm around you, there's some kind of monster attack?" Caspian turned to face him. "I honestly don't know why they're so attracted to you. Is there an actual reason, or is it just some cruel joke? Wait… Wasn't Giant Crow actually attracted here by my radiance?"
No. It's definitely because of me. I've always been super unlucky.
"Your secret is safe with me, King."
The monster let out a deafening roar, causing King to flinch. Yet, Caspian's words kept his eyes open, forcing him to witness what happened next.
Caspian's hand pulled back just far enough to form a fist. With a slow, deliberate motion, he drove it into the monster's beak. The impact unleashed a volatile force, sending the monster flying at a speed King couldn't follow. All he saw was a large splash of blue blood and a rain of feathers as Caspian stepped closer, wearing a kind smile.
"Are you okay?"
That voice…
Those three words burned like a raging inferno, melting away the thick walls of ice that had blocked a long-repressed memory.
King felt a wellspring of emotions bubble up as he remembered the near-death experience he faced during the attack by Octopus Claw Man.
That person. I couldn't remember… He was like an entirely different person back then.
Tears started streaming down his face as years of fear, worry, guilt, and countless other emotions poured out. Culminating in King, letting out loud, long-needed sobs.
"Am I really going to make everyone cry? Cheer up, King! Look on the bright side. You didn't mark your territory this time."