Gap Demon

Part 14: The Conductor: Part 1

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( Part 14: 1st Pov - Yukari -  09:22 am )

 

Sooo~… 

 

“ It turns out that the little android has quite an outstanding range of view! ”

 

Swinging my feet above a billboard full of advertising about joining the Hero Association, if I measure it roughly I’m about two kilometers from their location, I can't help but feel intrigued.

 

This ant is quite unique when compared to the others I've seen so far. However, its humongous titan size isn't all that there is to it.

 

I was able to run a quick test by firing a stop sign from one of my gaps towards it. It did do a degree of damage if the loud screeching it let out was anything to go by at first, but it rapidly healed soon after.

 

Following that, the bug just kept on screeching annoyingly, which you would think such action would’ve subsequently led me to just separate its body until all that was left were Rubik-cube size chunks.

 

It did attract a very particular cop duo towards it, and they were quite serious about their duty. Even more so after having heard that high-pitched girl-like screaming…

 

And the best part about that… I happen to be aware of who's the one who's behind it, quite the vocal range I’ve got to say. And even knowing how absurdly cowardly he is. One can't say the same man doesn't have the biggest luck imaginable.

 

Now back to this Kaiju Ant…. Seeing how it's basically stepping around all the street block’s houses and acting as if they're nothing, I can assume it could be put in what is known as High-Demon Rank?

 

Their power system tends to make it pretty complicated to formulate assumptions…

 

In a rather odd way, a High Demon-Rank could be absurdly Powerful but have a more compacted area of destruction that would ultimately cause their disaster level to be reduced.

 

Then in a tier greater than them, there would be a Kaiju like this one, able to destroy their surroundings way quicker, but if faced with a Demon Tier whose strength is more concentrated they could meet a quick end.

 

With all that being said. Even inside the same Tier or Rank, and even lower ones, the variation in strength is obvious. These ranks of theirs are very just danger levels the city or world itself possibly under.

 

This Ant can very well stomp a house, but someone smaller of the same rank or under could very well go through its ugly head with a punch. 

 

Unfortunately for them, the smaller one can't achieve the same destruction as quickly and effectively in a large area, lowering it's rank in Heroes Association's eyes…

 

Truly, humans have a whimsical way to classify things…. 

 

Even if I was once one, my current view on things and the alterations that my perception of my surroundings and brain had received are very likely to have already changed drastically the way I view my once fellow race.

 

Awwww… Why am I even bothering to break my head over such a subject as this…

 

After all, at the end of the day, this monster is basically nothing more than an ant, just a bug to be squished like any others. Regardless of what its size may be.

 

“ THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO MUCH, OFFICER!!!!“ - The tall man wearing the magical girl mask cries while hugging Zhu Yuan’s legs. The PubSec officer tried her best to push him away, repeatedly asking for him to keep calm.

 

As so, he kept thanking her as tears fell from under his mask, the loud noises from the Kaiju Ant only made the situation even worse as he yelped and started asking them to take him out of there. 

 

 “ Pfft- “

 

Not being able to control my laughter that slipped for a second, all I'm left to do is watch the luckiest man alive cry his heart out loud. - “ His wailing is quite the sight to see, but I suppose this ant one is the most suitable one for me to experiment with some trick I've come to learn.”

 

Hiding my smile behind the waving fan, I can tell. This just might be an opportunity to have an extra bit of fun.

 

Some ideas I would like to test suddenly start to boil up in my head, but there is a specific one that I believe will be quite the fascinating, harmless prank to pull off.

 

For the tests of the previously mentioned tricks I wish to perform, this oversized bug will be quite the perfect target that allows me to perfect their usage.

 

They were another part about my new self I had completely overlooked, very silly on my part I would honestly say.

 

Now for this prank….

 

I'm already expecting the ones to fall for it will be quite limited, but it's a mischief aimed at a very few specific ones~

 

“ I'm feeling a tiny bit Heroic now, uhuhu~ Looks like they've rubbed on me a tad sooner than expected~ ”

 

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( 3rd Pov - With Zhu Yuan and Qingyi )

 

“ Ahhhg…. We finally got him to calm down and get in the back of the truck… But still… How are we even going to deal with that? ” - Walking around the truck and coming to a stop beside her green-haired partner, Zhu Yuan crosses her arms, watching the giant Ant slowly step closer and closer.

 

“ Going by its current walking speed, we have about two minutes before we get flatted under its massive frame. For occasions such as this, I would normally recommend evacuating, Zhu Yuan…. But, this time in particular, I don't think it'll be necessary. 

 

* Whispers * - They no doubt recognize that this is a bigger fish than what our current equipment can deal with. “

 

Looking at the android girl weirdly, Zhu Yuan cocks her head ever so slightly in wonder about who Qingyi was talking about.

 

“ Can I get a fill of what you mean? Who are you expecting to help us, seeing that most heroes were assigned to the opposite sections of this one-” - * CLANGGGG!!! *

 

Interrupted by a loud metallic noise, Zhu Yuan's attention quickly snaps back to the ant who just had its large head hit with something quite powerful leading it to take one step back now bearing a big hole in its chest area that rapidly healed.

 

Due to the loud shrieking, Zhu Yuan was forced to cover her ears, while Qingyi just reduced the volume of her audio receptor while standing there, not shaken one bit.

 

The monster, having gone back to full health, swung its giant arm at someone who was standing still in the air in front of it, apparently flying… 

 

They also did have something orange on their head, hiding any facial features.

 

Zhu Yuan couldn't really make out how they looked, but Qingyi’s mouth did twitch ever so slightly, seeing at such a distance was an easy feat for her. - ‘ Would you look at that… She even has a sense of humor. ‘

 

 In a quick majestic movement, the person swung what seemed to be a stop sign while her frilly white dress flew following her movements.

 

Connecting her sign with the ant’s fist, another loud metallic noise echoes out loud, forcing the monster to take yet another step back. It's hand bearing a hole in the middle of it that was hurriedly regenerating back.

 

The one who had just done the deed started to plop down to the ground at high speeds, scaring Zhu Yuan, who would have dashed out to help them if not for her partner stopping the cop.

 

Looking at Qingyi as if asking why she had stopped her, the android shook her head. - “ Based on the distance, you would have to run five times the speed of sound to even save them... They looked like a… Brave hero. “

 

Trying to act in a way she didn't know the culprit was, the green-haired cop shrugged to herself, not knowing how Zhu Yuan hadn't realized yet. That dress was quite unique and a clear giveaway after all.

 

With indignation visible in her eyes, Zhu Yuan bit her lips, feeling how useless they currently were at the moment.

 

“ V-Very well! We do have a civilian to evacuate. But you did bring up that evacuation might not be necessary, may I know why, Qingyi?”

 

Before the android could speak further, the sound of high heels clicking on the ground behind them took their attention.

 

Glancing back at the new addition holding two stop signs leisurely as her dress shuffled ever so slightly, the one that was fighting against the monster was now there, not having received even a scratch from the ant.

 

Her blonde hair could still be clearly seen coming out under her new ‘helmet.’.

 

Sighing in relief and quite bewildered that the one in front of them could move such a large distance so fast, Zhu Yuan steps forward, followed by a knowing Qingyi.

 

The Android just smiles the whole time, choosing not to speak as her partner sometimes was a tad bit too rough on the edges about seeing the obvious… Every cop has to have their quirks.

 

“ Officers Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, from the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, reporting! May I know the nickname you go by, Madam?”

 

She was seemingly taking the situation quite seriously, different from the supposed hero, who under her helmet had the biggest shit-eating grin one could ever imagine.

 

●●● ‘Hero’s Pic in here ●●●

 

“ Hmmm…. “ - Tapping one of the stop signs by her shoulder, the ‘hero’ seems to be in thought for a moment, even causing Zhu Yuan to tilt her head ever so slightly in confusion if she had said something wrong.

 

 Qingyi suddenly appeared to have realized something as she stepped in while pointing a finger at the ‘hero’. - “ Zhu Yuan, how could you not know of her? I think she's just stunned at your lack of knowledge, right?”

 

With all of that said, Zhu Yuan's face lights up in a small shade of blush, running her hand through her face, she starts to think…. She did memorize most of the S-Rank and A-Rank names…

 

But never found one that had such… ‘Unique’ characteristics as this one in front of them.

 

Leaving her to think, Qingyi leaned a bit closer to the supposed hero. - “ So, have you thought of an appropriate name yet?… Also, thanks to you, we have been able to evacuate a lot of civilians as well as lowering the casualties heavily, you have my gratitude, Miss Gap.” 

 

Lifting the cone, so her face peaked out a bit. Yukari glanced at Zhu Yuan, who was looking up, still trying to figure out her supposed hero name.

 

Before going back to looking at Qingyi sporting a smile. - “ You don't have to concern yourself about such trivial things. It killed a small amount of this boredom of mine and helped your side. And yeah, I have an idea for an interesting nickname~ ”

 

Shooting the blonde a thumbs up, the androids steps back while her face looks to be quite monotone, despite the almost unnoticeable curve in her mouth showing she was indeed smiling.

 

As for our ‘hero’, she playfully flopped down the cone to hide her head once more, the Youkai turned towards the Giant Ant who had just stumbled on a house around one hundred meters from there.

 

The sudden movement and loud sound of destruction brought Zhu Yuan back to reality, even more confused than when she had started.

 

Seeing Yukari walking towards the Ant, she couldn't help being curious, the person in front of them should be an A-Rank. There was no reason for them not to.

 

Or even an S-Rank seeing that Metal Bat was one as well. Someone who had such high potential and was willing to sacrifice themselves to help others( at least in her eyes ), staying in the lower ranks…. 

 

There was no way she would just sit and watch such an injustice!

 

“ Excuse me, Miss Hero!… May I know your name?! I swear to never forget it this time! “ - Zhu Yuan held in hand her notebook and pen. She would write it down to be sure.

 

Stopping the blonde in her tracks, Yukari's face lit up with joy under the cone. She knew this would happen.

 

Be it out of curiosity or something else, such sudden actions for some reason were quite entertaining…

 

So, while her feet started hovering away from the ground, she spun around for a moment.

 

This was one of the powers she had overlooked that the original also had.

 

Flight.

 

 Yukari knew there was more, and she was ready to uncover what else there was to this new life she had gained.  

 

As for how she learned about it?…. Well, that is another topic for later…

 

And while floating, she answered Zhu Yuan's question. 

 

“ Okay then~…. Call me…. The Conductor.”