Metal Bat trudged home, bat over his shoulder.
"..."
In the Association's monitoring room, Bond and other executives were speechless.
Two demon-class monsters stood docilely beside Helen, looking like reformed saints.
"I... I'm not seeing things, right?" one executive stammered.
"Impossible! Monsters can't just reform. They're born enemies of humanity—ah!"
"This is insane! And this woman—there's no record of her. It's like she appeared from thin air!"
The murmurs spread, shaken.
They hadn't even seen how Helen fought. But compared to all the other heroes, she was terrifying—monsters surrendering one after another!
And a crazy thought surfaced in their minds... was it possible that even through the screen, this breathtaking woman could read their thoughts?
"We're here! We'll fight with you!"
Two burly men ran up—C-Class hero Mohawk and B-Class hero Pineapple Man.
Obscure, small-time heroes, nobodies really. But upon hearing S-Class hero Metal Bat was here exterminating monsters, they rushed to join, brimming with admiration.
"It's over already. You're late," Metal Bat muttered.
"Huh? But the monsters..."
Both heroes froze when they spotted the demon-class Centipede Senior and Plant Father standing obediently behind Helen.
"Lady, move aside! Those are demon-class! We'll handle them!"
They puffed their chests, burning with hot-blooded zeal, and charged—
RUMBLE!
The ground convulsed violently. Skyscrapers crumbled as if something massive tunneled beneath.
The two small heroes were swallowed by collapsing debris before they could even scream.
Metal Bat's brow twitched, his gaze snapping forward.
From the earth burst an abomination—its colossal body stretching nearly a thousand meters, like a steel dragon tearing through the cityscape. Buildings disintegrated around its massive, armored form.
The endless forest of legs scraped the sky.
"Elder Centipede... dragon-class!" Metal Bat growled, eyes sharp.
Dragon-class. Divided into lower, mid, and upper ranks.
And Elder Centipede had appeared before—levelling entire cities. Labeled top kill priority in Association records, yet still alive after years.
Its power could only be classed as—Dragon Upper-Class!
"We need reinforcements! Metal Bat can't handle this alone!"
From the rubble, Mohawk and Pineapple Man crawled out trembling.
"It's after the tycoon and his son! I'll hold it off. You get them out! Spit!"
Battle fury burned anew in Metal Bat's veins.
Dragon-class, huh? Perfect for testing his strength!
The two minor heroes squealed, grabbing Narinki and his boy, fleeing as fast as they could.
But Metal Bat noticed Elder Centipede wasn't focused on him.
Instead, its cold, predatory gaze fixed on Centipede Senior and Plant Father.
"What are you doing? You couldn't even handle a trivial task?"
Its voice was a rasp from hell.
"E-Elder Centipede... we..."
"We won't let you pass!"
Centipede Senior and Plant Father charged, spurred by Helen's glowing eyes.
They attacked with reckless fury—scything legs and clouds of hallucinogenic gas.
"You fools dare strike me?!" Elder Centipede snarled, its body surging, crushing entire blocks.
CLANG!
Centipede Senior's blows sparked harmlessly off its armor. In a heartbeat, Elder Centipede's claws clamped down, ripping them open.
SPLAT!
Green gore splashed as both demon-class monsters were torn apart like paper.
"T-too terrifying! This is dragon-class?! Demon-class doesn't even compare!" Mohawk and Pineapple Man screamed, running pale as ghosts.
Metal Bat gritted his teeth, gripping his bat.
"Don't care what you are. One good smash will do!"
He leapt, the ground shattering beneath him, and hammered his bat down onto Elder Centipede's head.
CLANG!
Like striking steel. The recoil rattled his bones, nearly shaking him apart.
"Damn... too hard! But if the shell's tough... I'll smash the face instead!"
He spat, readying another swing.
"Dragon-class, huh?"
A soft voice drifted from the distance.
Both Metal Bat and Elder Centipede froze, turning.
Helen floated down gracefully, stopping before the monster.
"You wonder why your subordinates disobeyed? No need. I controlled their minds."
"Then die!!" Elder Centipede thundered, its massive body tearing through the city toward her.
"Move! Woman! You can't withstand that attack!" Metal Bat shouted.
He'd felt the thing's power firsthand—his arms still numb from the recoil. No way could this delicate woman endure it.
"Heh... this level of force?" Helen whispered calmly, extending a pale hand toward the charging behemoth.
"Foolish woman!!" Metal Bat cursed, leaping to intervene.
But midair, his jaw fell open, eyes bulging in disbelief.
As if he'd seen a ghost.
(End of Chapter)
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