This abandoned street in City Z now belonged to the swarm.
Tens of thousands of mosquitoes churned into a black cloud, the "bzzz" merging into a single roar.
"You can talk, so I thought you might be as smart as a human. Turns out you're still just a bug," Genos said.
Light brightened in his palm.
"You gathered them conveniently for me to burn. When I found you, I confirmed a 500-meter perimeter with no lifeforms. So—take this, Incineration Cannon!"
He unleashed all his gathered energy. A serpent of flame roared down the mosquito-choked street. Fire and heat ravaged for seconds before fading, leaving a scorched road.
"That should do it."
He scanned the empty street. No life-signs detected. He concluded Mosquito Girl had been burned to ash.
"As expected… the cyborg path is right. Flesh can't compare to machinery. I will find the machine that destroyed my hometown," Genos vowed.
"Because I no longer need them."
A crisp female voice sounded from above, out of nowhere.
Genos snapped his head around. His pupils contracted.
Mosquito Girl's once normal form had utterly transformed.
She hovered midair. The black skin had sloughed away, replaced by a demonic blood-crimson; her figure was slimmer, longer.
After absorbing the blood the swarm had collected, she'd become stronger.
"After all… I'm this strong now…"
She licked her crimson claws, then casually flicked at a five-story concrete building nearby.
A blood-red afterimage flashed. The reinforced building cleaved in half, dust geysering.
"Incineration Cannon!"
Genos moved first. She slipped past it with ease, then blurred to his face and split him in two with a single strike.
"What?! So fast! Evolved this quickly?" His face darkened. He tried to counter—but she flung him skyward.
"Cat got your tongue? You won't beat me like that…"
She jeered, hands never pausing, pouring on the damage.
Each rake carved deep gashes into his body, dismantling him piece by piece.
"Self-destruct it is then… Forgive me, Doctor…" Blue light gathered in the reactor in Genos's chest.
But Mosquito Girl halted her flurry, staring warily at two figures approaching in the distance.
Such pressure… Genos felt it too and paused his self-destruct.
[From Mosquito Girl: high alert. Energy Points +300!]
[From Genos: confusion. Energy Points +100!]
Two figures walked out of the haze at the end of the street.
One's bald head gleamed, a supermarket bag in hand.
The other was tall and cold-faced in a hoodie; just walking, he radiated suffocating pressure.
Saitama and KING.
The moment he arrived, Lin Mo saw Genos in the sky about to self-destruct. He immediately triggered [Intimidation], hoping to buy time.
"Whoa, big mosquito," Saitama said—and flash-stepped.
Mosquito Girl, keyed up against the imposing tall man, never spared the plain-looking bald guy a thought.
By the time she noticed, a very ordinary palm had already met her face.
In Genos's disbelief, the terrifying monster who'd cornered him became a streak—smashed into a distant high-rise, leaving a blood-red smear.
"Mosquitoes. Annoying." Saitama smiled, clearly in better spirits.
Genos gaped. The enemy who'd pushed him to the brink—slapped to death by this man?!
And the tall one hadn't even moved, though his suffocating aura said he was no lamb either.
As Lin Mo approached, he heard Genos, very seriously, ask Saitama: "Please—take me as your disciple!"
Saitama's head throbbed. He wanted no part of it.
When KING came over, Saitama grabbed him and fled, terrified of being stuck with Genos.
Out of courtesy, Lin Mo bade Genos goodbye. He knew Genos would tail Saitama for five straight days, then show up at the door.
Mr. Saitama… you're not escaping, Lin Mo thought, a bit blackly.
—
Steam billowed over the hotpot. Snowy marbling on the top-grade wagyū undulated in a creamy, rich broth with veggies and mushrooms—mouth-watering.
Lin Mo had already mixed his dipping sauce at the low table—heaping garlic, bird's-eye chili, and oyster sauce stirred with sesame oil. His favorite.
But Mr. Saitama couldn't handle spice at all… Strong as he was…
He grumbled inwardly. He loved going scarlet from heat and spice over hotpot. Pity Saitama didn't even have a divided yin-yang pot; next time he'd bring one.
Saitama had other concerns—eyes flicking between the clock and the pot. "Is it done yet, KING?"
"Just a bit longer—beef's better if it cooks a touch more." Lin Mo couldn't help laughing at his impatience.
A minute later, the beef had turned perfect. "That's about right. Dig in."
Chopsticks whooshed, shuttling beef into a bowl at speed.
"No need to rush. I bought a lot," Lin Mo said, pointing at the fridge.
"Of course I'm rushing. It's been ages since I had beef," Saitama mumbled around a mouthful.
Also—someone else was paying for top-grade wagyū. Who knew when the next time would be?
Lin Mo watched the beef vanish at visible speed and sighed inwardly.
Thinking back, Saitama had been broke before meeting Genos, living on supermarket specials.
A chance to eat beef like this didn't come often.
No—don't dwell on it! Dwell, and there'll be nothing left!
Lin Mo's eyes sharpened. He set aside his thoughts and tightened his grip on his chopsticks.
KING-ryū Ultimate Secret—Serious Dish-Grabbing!
-------
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