CITY C – THE ROOFTOPS – THE CONFRONTATION
The figure still stared at them. Motionless. Impassive.
Captain Man stopped. He placed a hand on One's shoulder.
"One. A good hero fights logically. Watch me. I throw a good punch, and it's over."
One listened absentmindedly.
"Do as I do. You run toward the creature as if your life depends on it. You throw yourself in, you clench your butt, and you scream at the top of your lungs…"
He took his guard.
"…ON…"
BAM.
A kick sent him flying into a building. Rubble fell. Dust rose.
Captain Man got up, a smile on his lips.
"…Don't worry, One."
He was intact.
"Who are you?"
The figure stepped forward. A man. Dark suit. Icy eyes. A scar across his face.
"My name is Liu Xhang. I am your nemesis."
Captain Man raised an eyebrow.
"My nemesis? Sorry, but my nemesis was defeated decades ago. So how could you be my worst enemy?"
Liu Xhang didn't blink.
"Captain Man. Do you know the Liliang Team?"
"Yes. Chinese heroes."
"Originally, there were five of them. Do you know why they were founded?"
Captain Man didn't answer.
"Because of you."
The wind rose.
"The hero market changed because of your mere presence. You officially launched the concept of 'hero' for many. Unfortunately, it already existed. But when one mentions the name 'hero,' one instinctively thinks of you."
He approached.
"You have everything going for you. That's what they tried to create. The others died. And I am the result."
Captain Man looked at him.
"I was genetically modified in the best laboratories to have abilities similar to yours."
He spread his arms.
"Your indestructibility is the pinnacle. But it's been parodied. I can take any attack without my body giving in."
He paused.
"Granted, I feel 100% of the blows inflicted on me. But it doesn't matter. I'm still going to beat you."
Captain Man took his guard.
"We'll see about that."
---
THE FIGHT – THE DANCE OF A THOUSAND HANDS
Liu Xhang raised his arms.
Thousands of hands appeared. Spectral hands, gray, emaciated. They floated in the air, ready to strike.
"Project Corporate. The Chinese attempt to create the nemesis of the Asian symbol of peace."
The hands came down.
A deluge of blows. Captain Man stepped back, parried, took the hits. Each impact vibrated through the air.
Blood ran down his face.
Liu Xhang sneered.
"Hahahah! What do I see? The symbol of peace bleeding!"
Captain Man wiped the blood.
"If you think making me bleed is enough to bring me down, you're sorely mistaken."
He advanced.
"I cannot lose."
He spread his arms.
"You yourself said that I represent the hero in all his forms. So I'm going to win."
He raised his fist.
"And do you know why?"
Liu Xhang stepped back.
"BECAUSE A HERO MUST BE INDESTRUCTIBLE!"
---
ELSEWHERE – KOTOBE AND FUNNY GPT
Kotobe patrolled. Funny GPT sang beside him.
"A HERO MUST BE INDESTRUCTIBLE!"
Kotobe looked up.
"Shut up a little, Funny."
"SORRY, KOTOBE. I'M PROGRAMMED TO BOOST MORALE."
"You're giving me a headache more than anything."
He stopped. A figure. Down below.
Mbrogo. The blue troll. Exposed bones. Red eyes.
He stood before One.
---
ONE – FACING MBROGO
One looked at his hands.
The troll roared. It was intimidating him. One didn't care.
I have to move forward.
He leaped. Clenched his butt. And screamed at the top of his lungs.
"ONNEEEE —"
BOOM.
"—PUNCH."
Mbrogo disintegrated. Its flesh exploded into pieces. Its bones remained enormous, white, then collapsed into a pile of skeleton.
Kotobe ran up.
"HEY, ONE! THAT WAS SPECTACULAR!"
One looked at his hands.
"Well, that doesn't surprise me from you."
He looked around.
"Anyway, where's Captain Man?"
"He went to fight further away."
"Okay, I'll go find him."
One stood there, looking at his hands.
One Punch.
He smiled.
"Hahah. That's funny."
---
THE FRONT – CAPTAIN MAN vs LIU XHANG
Captain Man raised his fist. A golden glow enveloped it. Not the Justice Punch. Something else.
"I carry the hope of all the people who have not received justice."
The light intensified.
"It's time to set things straight."
Smoke rose from his fist.
"JUSTICE…"
Liu Xhang stepped back. The thousands of hands deployed before him, forming a wall.
"—PUNCH!"
BOOM.
The impact tore through the wall of hands. Liu Xhang flew back. He soared through the sky, passed the clouds, and disappeared.
Captain Man lowered his fist. He saw Kotobe arrive.
He fled by leaping away.
Kotobe turned to Funny GPT.
"Funny. Launch me."
"HUH?"
"LAUNCH ME, DAMMIT!"
Funny GPT launched him. Kotobe grabbed onto Captain Man's back.
They landed in an alley.
Kotobe panted.
"Captain Man… you're bleeding?"
Captain Man turned. A gash on his cheek. Blood.
"You're vulnerable?"
Silence settled.
Captain Man wiped the blood.
"Everyone is, Kotobe. Even symbols."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…