Chapter 9: A new fighter has arrived
The beam crashed into the palm of Boros' hand with full force.
He grunted, straining as he blocked the blast. Feeling his hand begin to singe, he let out a roar and pushed back against the overwhelming energy.
Tatsumaki watched from the side, amazed that the alien could withstand such immense power head-on without being instantly disintegrated.
Her amazement was short-lived as Platinum S burst out of the building he had been launched into and lunged at her.
With no time to spare, the esper dodged to the side and countered by picking up several buildings with her telekinesis. She hurled them at Platinum S, who smirked and punched them into pieces before resuming his attack.
Psycho-Orochi ceased firing her beam. As the dust settled, Boros stood revealed, his right arm completely missing.
"Pretty impressive," said Boros. "But now it's my turn."
He regenerated his arm, landed on a building, and leapt off it, aiming to close the distance with his new enemy.
Meanwhile, Tatsumaki flexed her psychic power, repelling Platinum S and launching him toward Psycho-Orochi. Psycho grew several dragon heads from the base of her legs, which began firing lasers rapidly at Boros, destroying vast parts of the city below.
The alien sped up until he became nothing but a flash of light, dodging every beam with precision. Platinum S, however, was caught off guard and nearly got hit by one of them.
"What the hell! Aren't we on the same side?!" he shouted at Psycho, who didn't hear him over the chaos of her own beams.
"Fine," Psycho sneered. "If you want to be another bug squashed on my way to becoming the Monster King, be my guest."
Tatsumaki noticed that Psycho-Orochi's attacks had enough range to reach other cities. Realizing the immediate threat, she resolved to deal with her now.
............
Far Below the Surface
Deeper than the mural of God, something began to awaken.
A creature far larger than anything the Hero Association had ever encountered stirred. Receiving an order from an otherworldly presence, it started its ascent to the surface to fulfill its purpose.
............….
Back on the Battlefield
Seeing that all three of her enemies were now targeting her specifically, Psycho-Orochi decided to unleash widespread destruction to hit them all at once.
She charged up her biggest laser yet, aiming to obliterate everything in her path.
Tatsumaki sensed the energy building up and quickly moved out of the way as the beam fired. Boros and Platinum S, while unable to react as quickly, used their speed to dodge just in time.
The laser sliced through the Earth's crust, shaving a continental disc off the planet's surface. The sheer power of the attack shocked both Platinum S and Tatsumaki, who began questioning where all this energy could have come from.
Even Psycho-Orochi was stunned, marveling at her own strength.
The continental mass crashed back onto the planet, triggering massive tsunamis and shaking the entire northern hemisphere.
"Yes, this is more like it," Boros exclaimed, elated. "You're clearly far stronger than Orochi ever was."
He leapt into the air, aiming a punch at Psycho-Orochi.
Before he could follow through, the ground quaked violently as a massive creature erupted from the depths.
A monstrous centipede rocketed toward Boros from beneath the Earth and smashed into him, sending the alien hurtling back to the ground next to Platinum S.
"E... Elder Centipede?!" Psycho stammered.
"No. I am Sage Centipede," the creature replied. "I have been sent here by our Father, the Earth, to help you destroy the abominable fist that has turned against God."
"God?! You know about Him?" Psycho asked, shocked.
"I know more than you, but that's irrelevant right now," Sage Centipede replied. "Together, we shall destroy the alien that's troubling you."
Platinum S chuckled. "Man, you sure have a talent for making enemies, don't you?"
"The more, the better," Boros laughed as he got to his feet, brushing off the debris. He looked up at the two colossal creatures before him, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"I don't know where you creatures keep coming from, but I'm not complaining."
"This planet is so much fun already."
"And you do not belong here," declared Sage Centipede. "This planet will erase you from existence."
Without further delay, Sage Centipede charged at Boros, barreling toward him and Platinum S, who was still standing nearby.
"Hey Boros, how about we team up for now?" proposed Platinum S. "Take out all these clowns interfering with our battle, and then we'll have a glorious fight. What do you say?"
Boros turned to him, a bemused look on his face. "You really think I'd take an offer like that?"
Without hesitation, Boros punched Platinum S in the face, sending him flying.
Moments later, the alien turned to face the charging centipede, extending both arms in front of himself. Planting his feet firmly, he opened his palms, ready to meet the beast head-on.
"You're not even going to dodge?" Sage Centipede roared, rushing forward and swinging its massive mandibles at Boros.
The alien smirked, catching the enormous blades with his hands. The force of the charge pushed him back several hundred meters, but Boros held his ground, stopping the centipede's momentum.
The insect grunted, trying to clamp its mandibles shut and slice Boros in two. No matter how much pressure it applied, the alien didn't budge.
"What's wrong?" Boros taunted. "Is this really all you've got?"
"You... insignificant insect."
Just as Boros prepared to counterattack, a giant beam of energy crashed down on him from above, knocking him away.
Psycho-Orochi had lent her strength to her ally but was quickly forced to shift her focus. Tatsumaki, using her psychic powers, lifted several massive boulders into the air and hurled them at the monster.
Platinum S took advantage of the distraction, leaping at Tatsumaki from below and wrapping his tentacle-like appendage around her leg. He spun rapidly and threw the esper toward the ground before lunging at her with a powerful kick.
Using her psychic abilities, Tatsumaki stopped herself mid-fall, hovering just above the ground. Spotting Platinum S rocketing toward her, she narrowly dodged at the last second, leaving his kick to slam into the Earth.
The force of the impact created a massive crater, cracking the ground in a radius of several hundred meters. Whatever buildings remained nearby crumbled into rubble.