Chapter 94: Ragnarok
The psychic beam swept past, colliding with the wind blades and triggering a chain of explosions that produced no fire—only shockwaves!
Yet the wind blades seemed endless.
They slashed through the shockwaves and kept falling.
''Damn it!'' Psykos yelled in frustration.
Countless glowing tendrils sprouted from her body, plunging straight into the ground and burrowing deeper.
Before she could tap the ley-line energy, she had to block the next wave of attacks.
Psychic Power poured out wildly.
A barrier shield formed around her.
Wind blades dense enough to slice an entire street of houses rained down.
While Psykos held up the barrier.
Chunks of earth, rock, and debris from distant buildings were ripped up, compressed, and layered over the shield.
The rock shell grew thicker and thicker.
Not a single intact building remained in the deserted town; the soil was gouged into huge pits.
It formed a gigantic stone sphere.
She's covering her own eyes? Must be new to real combat.
In the great storm, Aokiji paused.
flame clouds drifted downward.
Heat built in his mouth… then the vibrations from the attack suddenly stopped.
Psykos allowed herself a short breath.
Looks like that guy's stamina is draining too.
A war of attrition suits me.
As long as I last until I can absorb the ley-line energy!
With that much power, I won't beat Aokiji easily, but in a battle of endurance I'll be invincible!
Wait… why do the tendrils feel odd? And the temperature—Psykos frowned.
Outside the barrier, the rock layers began to glow red.
In moments they turned searing hot.
The rock liquefied under the heat.
A scorching breath struck the barrier.
Roooar—
Aokiji's mouth gaped wide, exhaling a continuous blast of heat.
Soon the breath pierced the huge stone sphere from top to bottom.
At its head, Psykos was blasted right out of the sphere.
She poured out all her Psychic Power to hold back the heat.
Only then did she realize what the tendrils had been telling her.
The massive stone sphere she had compressed.
Had, without her noticing, been lifted high by rings of flame clouds.
The tendrils she thought were deep underground were actually dangling in mid-air.
Under the blazing breath, Psykos plummeted toward the ground.
Boooom—
The earth shook from the blast.
Aokiji shifted back to his Dragon-Man form.
He formed a new Hassaikai(Kanabo) and dove from the sky.
Hassaikai(Kanabo) spun in a wide arc.
Black-red lightning crackled.
''Conqueror of Three Worlds: Ragnarok—!!''
His huge frame dropped faster than air itself.
He smashed the ground with a wild swing.
Several street-sized slabs of earth.
Were flung upward.
Only then did a colossal bolt of lightning crash down.
The fierce shockwave obliterated the abandoned town.
The forsaken town.
Was wiped off the map.
Amid the desolate scene.
Aokiji stepped on Psykos's chest.
He had aimed for the lower half—the Orochi body.
That section had been completely erased.
Psykos's eyes still held defiance.
Her luminous form had dimmed.
Energy leaked from her regenerating core.
Orochi's tissues tried to regrow, but the stumps were charred by heat and stalled.
''Recover slowly.'' Aokiji pressed down on the struggling Psykos.
''No rush. The induction ceremony can take its time.''
——
———
''Emergency!''
A reporter spoke shakily to the camera.
''The new Monster threat is classified Demon Level!''
''Hero Mysterious Mask is still locked in battle!''
''Residents, evacuate to shelters at once!''
Masked Hero bent over, gasping for breath.
Several whip-like strikes blurred toward him.
''Paper art!''
He dodged each blow by a hair.
A one-eyed, fanged, towering tentacle Monster lashed its arms.
Where its tentacles struck, cracks spider-webbed through nearby buildings.
Masked Hero had tried to attack.
But the Demon Level Monster's body was tougher than expected.
His current Finger Pistol and Tempest Kick did little damage.
And the Monster healed almost before his eyes.
The small cuts he had opened were already gone.
All he could do was burn stamina to stall it.
Buying time for civilians to escape… 'Ahhh, go Masked Hero!'
''Beat that Monster! Demon Level? It's not even bigger than the last one.''
''Yeah, Masked Hero can take him down!''
Fans waved banners and chanted slogans behind him.
Some held fans printed with his symbol, others held banners, still others led coordinated cheers.
No… Masked Hero's heart clenched.
These were his fans.
Past experiences made him treasure every supporter; he cherished them fervently.
Which only deepened their devotion.
Enough to make them act this recklessly!
A Demon Level Monster was still on the field!
As he feared.
The tentacle Monster turned toward the noisy fans.
Its lone eye fixed on them.
Masked Hero's alarm screamed.
Crack-crack-crack—
The Monster used its tentacles to launch itself at the crowd.
The fans holding banners and shouting slogans.
Didn't even register the danger.
The Monster was already on them.
Its thickest tentacle whipped down.
''Iron Body—!!''
Masked Hero shot forward with ''Shave,'' reaching the fans first.
He saw the tentacle blur.
—Sorry, Aokiji, you warned me not to use Iron Body.
But to protect those who trust me, I must.
Boom—
Masked Hero stood firm.
The ground beneath him cracked under the impact.
Crack—
The helmet split under the Demon Level blow.
A sharp snapping sound.
But it held.
Blood dripped from Masked Hero's mouth; his vision swam.
Yet his eyes shone with relief.
Last time his helmet broke, he rebuilt it stronger.
And added a shatter-proof layer.
So even when cracked.
The shards stayed in place.
Though repeated hits would still destroy it.
He had protected his fans—and himself.
That was enough.