Hero For Lust

'Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist,' 'Void Fist,' 'Sonic's Ninjutsus,' 'Dark Hell Assassination Art,' 'Head First Rushing Style,' 'Sourface Style Kenpo,' 'Giga Pro Wrestling,' 'Spice Fist,' 'The Fist of the Pure Blood Master Race.'

'Psycho Analysis Martial Arts,' 'Giant Style Crushing,' 'Sunflower Dojo's Gentle Self Defense,' 'Multi-Hit Style,' 'Bazuzu Nuclear Explosive Fist,' 'Biting Snake Fist,' 'Palm Bell Fist,' 'Thunder Thunder Fist,' 'Hyper Karate,' 'Harsh Path Style,' 'Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist,' 'Flashy Flash's Ninjutsus,' and 'Monster Calamity God Slayer Fist.'

"Hgah…"

These styles birthed the 'Water Polo Carbonated Fist;' the 'Ultimate Martial Art' that left Garou in a crater of igneous crust, staring up at a sickly yellow-orange sky which choked away the light.

"What's wrong, Garou? Weren't you going to kill me with 'true martial arts'? Get up. I even let you copy my 'Hyperspace Gate' technique earlier. Is this it? Is this all 'Absolute Evil' can manage?"

I don't get it. Where the hell did this guy come from? Garou turned his head and saw the caped figure looking down on him. That alien somehow kept up with me. But this man… Compared to the cyclopean alien, compared to everyone I've ever faced… they are so tiny compared to him. Smaller than grains of sand.

He rose from the crater and struggled to his feet. But I'm not done. One more step… just one more, and I can surpass him…

Caspian adopted a familiar stance. "I heard you bodied a certain S-Class ninja… 'Flowing Shadow, Falling Leaves Barrage.'" He melted into the yellow haze; his afterimages weaving like snakes as he closed the distance. While doing so, his arms struck out with a manifold volley of open-handed slaps, each launching its own afterimage, which flew at Garou.

Too fast! He tried to redirect the blows but was overwhelmed.

"KH!"

Garou flew backward; bouncing across the scorched expanse for miles.

There was no respite.

As he bounced high into the toxic smog, Caspian materialized beneath him.

"'Void Ascending…'"

Garou scrambled to open a 'Hyperspace Gate' ahead of him.

Almost there. Almost….

Caspian's hand locked around his ankle and halted him mid-air.

"'…Sky Ripping Fist.'"

Before the attack landed, Garou caught sight of the attack. How can he use 'Sky Ripping Fist' with only a single hand!?

Caspian's body spun rapidly. Then countless strikes hammered Garou's body; launching him up into space.

So strong! He's limitlessly strong! If that's the case then—

"I lied. We're continuing this fight elsewhere."

All his newfound strength meant nothing. Despite everything he'd gained from Boros and this battle, Garou found himself sent through a gate with no way to resist.

When they appeared on the other side, crushing pressure surrounded him before disappearing as his body adapted.

"Where the hell did you take us?"

A black-blue void stretched around them. Below, an earth-sized sphere of icy rock hung suspended while an endless rain of crystals drifted down from above.

"Neptune's mantle, of course. I'd recommend sending as many diamonds as you can to some hidden spot on Earth. We'll have to pick a good day to sell them all. Market crash and all that from such a huge load."

Is he fucking with me?

¤ ¤ ¤

Atop Neptune's core, one man stood over the other.

"Ghah…" Garou coughed. "What's wrong? Do it. Why aren't you finishing me off?"

"Finish you off? No, there's someone else who will finish you off."

With his main objective for coming here achieved, Caspian pierced Garou's shell with a single finger. In the same motion, he grabbed Garou by the scruff of his neck, opened a gate, and transported them to the clouds above Z-City.

Light and smoke poured from the hole in Garou's chest. "Aah! My power... it's escaping..."

"I will soon introduce you to what you desire," Caspian said, knocking him unconscious.

He then descended to Bang's dojo and entered without knocking. Bang and Bomb startled at his abrupt arrival.

Bomb squinted. "Is that...?"

"Garou…" Bang muttered with widened eyes.

"He has the makings of a hero, an 'Ideal' one." Caspian smiled and dropped the unconscious body on the floor. "Quick question. How would you two like to return to your primes and live forever?"

¤ ¤ ¤

Perfect…

In front of Caspian, seven small velvet boxes hovered in the air, each held by a 'Gravity Tether'. They came in seven hues: crimson, emerald, amber, sapphire, mint green, spring green, and blush pink. His journey to Neptune was for what existed within these boxes.

They should be there by now. Surprised how nervous I'm feeling.

Caspian closed his eyes and focused in on a scene…

¤ ¤ ¤

Seagulls cried over the sound of crashing waves. On a pier lined with thousands of candles and rose petals, seven women walked toward the end.

"Is he trying to burn this place down?" Tatsumaki remarked.

"Silly," Mosquito Girl said. "That's why he did it next to all this water."

Wavygyaza added, "The 2nd Rank hero doesn't even know that?"

"I do not believe that to be the reason Mosquito Girl," Yuta said, cutting in before Tatsumaki could retaliate. She walked beside a quiet Suiko, while Fubuki and Psykos continued their own conversation with small smiles.

The 'Seven Heralds' reached the end of the pier in less than a minute.

"Seriously," Tatsumaki mumbled as she glanced back at the ocean of candles, "this will—"

"Don't worry mam," a voice cut in. "I'm a volunteer firefighter."

"Caspian!" Mosquito Girl flung herself into his arms. He held her for several wondrous moments, then stepped back as seven boxes drifted from behind him, each floating before its recipient. They opened in unison, revealing rings with diamonds that caught the candlelight.

"I've missed each of you. Soon, there will be no more obstacles in our way."

The waves continued their back-and-forth dance against the pier as Caspian knelt down onto the wooden planks.

Mosquito Girl's hands flew to her mouth; her translucent wings tore clean from her attire and fluttered wildly. Fubuki's composure broke, her eyes wide and glistening, while Psykos wore a gentle, knowing smile. Yuta and Wavygyaza stared without blinking. Suiko, quiet until now, let out a soft gasp. Even Tatsumaki was speechless; her arms crossed as if to hold herself together, though that action didn't hide the apple-red flush of her visage.

"I'm not good with words… never have been," He began. "Before I met each of you, my life was empty. But you all changed that and have given me a happiness I do not deserve."

"Still, I want to be with you all until the end of… Well, there will be no end of time."

His heart tried its best to punch through his ribs, but he couldn't waver here.

"Will you all marry me?"