Caspian’s taunting had led to a k of the Z-City Ghost Towing razed. Thankfully, he mao push her even further, angerio the point where he thought she might faint. This allowed him to lure her out of the city and into the desote ge where he and Genos had once sparred.

  He hoped by pushing her mind to its limits through trying to kill him, she could increase her psychic powers. Sadly, he couldn’t tell if she grew stronger himself and would have to wait until he could watch her battle someone else iure before he could determihe oute. Though he gathered they would likely o battle many more times before any genuine ges irength blossomed.

  Caspian currently floated on his back above the clouds, ed in her emerald-green aura, the vast expanse of sky stretg endlessly around him. To his side, Tatsumaki fred her psychic output to its absolute limit, her energy bzing like a star.

  “cede!” Tatsumaki closed both of her hands. “Haha! How does it feel? The weight of a ti pressing on you from all sides?”

  If Caspian told her the truth, that he felt as though she had tucked him snugly into bed, he worried she might drag them up into space.

  “Who would’ve guessed that ‘The Ghost Town Monster’ was just a cute little psychic?”

  Tatsumaki ched her hands to the point her arms shook. “You think I’ll get worked up whenever you want? I won’t.”

  “What are those white things uhat dress? You really o wear sexier underwear when you're around me.”

  Caspian’s body flew toward Tatsumaki as he allowed himself to be dragged closer to her. When he spotted her grittieeth, he fshed her a grin.

  “My, my. Didn’t you just say that you wouldn’t get worked up?”

  “I’m not!”

  Caspian decided it was time to this up. He repositioned himself midair, turning until his stomach faced the ground far below. Then he began swimming through the air toward her with deliberate motion.

  “No way! How you possibly be moving uhis pressure?!”

  As Caspian drew ever closer to Tatsumaki, he said, “I came here to steal, and I io keep my word.”

  Tatsumaki showed a rare look of uainty, her eyes darting about.

  He questioned why she didn’t just attempt to send him rocketing downward.

  An answer outside of his predis weled him.

  Tatsumaki used her greatest speed to arrive before Caspian’s face, where she pressed her soft, small lips into his.

  How he wished for this moment to never end.

  Sadly, it sted for less than a breath, after which she retreated backward.

  “Haha! Look at that stupid expression on your face. I win! As if I’d let you steal my lips first!”

  Caspian could admit his defeat here. But after watg Tatsumaki strike a victorious pose with one hand pressed against her chest and the other held out, he uood she had acted without thinking things through and now the shock of her as rippled out from within her.

  He held his tongue and observed the myriad emotions that passed across her face.

  Tatsumaki lowered her arms, the once smug expression she had turned indifferent. “…Right. I have to be a good example. How could I allow myself to be so weak? I shouldn’t expeything from anyone, even you.”

  The past never gives up its hold…

  He wished to reach out to her, but his meteoric dest had begun.

  As he plummeted, he watched her turn into a green streak as she sped away.

  It was time for him to make a choice: should he catch up to her, or let her go for now?

  The closing of Caspian’s eyes, as he knocked into the depths of the earth, spoke to the tter.

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Genos waited restlessly in the apartment as rays of sunlight spilled into the room from the open baly.

  He had detected Caspian’s presence days ago, along with the emergence of an incredibly powerful monster. Genos rushed to the location as fast as he could, but by the time he arrived, both his master and the unknown threat were long gone. In their wake y utter devastatio with no other optiouro the apartment to wait. Against an oppo of this level, he knew he would only be a hindra the moment.

  Later that same day, Caspian had finally texted him. The message tained several details, but what troubled Genos most was Caspian’s statement — he wouldn’t be returning until...

  Genos made his way to the baly and peered into the blue. “Today is the day.”

  Up there, far above him. Lay a strange spot in the sky.

  Genos pulled out his phone. “Hmm? A call from the Hero Association. This must be about—”

  “Hello?”

  A man's voice echoed. “Genos. Report to the Z-City Hero Association Building immediately.”

  “Uood.”

  The li dead befenos could ask any follow-up questions.

  Knowing the urgency, he grabbed a dark briefcase from the er of the room before leaping off the baly.

  “Master... Even after reading your message, as a hero, I must give it my all—no matter what.”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Bang had been standing ihe Z-City Hero Association Building, waiting to see if any heroes would show up.

  How many actually would? This industry had only grown more selfish as time passed.

  Swoosh

  Bang looked up as the automatic doors slid open, revealing a young man stepping ih a briefcase in hand.

  “Ah, you would be Genos?” Bang raised his hand, holding up two fingers iing. “My name is Bang. o meet you.”

  “I’m here to test myself against the meteenos said as he turo face him.

  Bang’s eyes widened for a split sed before narrowing. “You’ve already been informed?”

  “My Master has already informed of the critical details.”

  “Your Master…?”

  Bang scrutinized Genos. Who could his master be? Had he met him before?

  A pierg, loud siren reverberated throughout Z-City.

  “Attention! This is an annou from the Hero Association.”

  Bang turned and closed his eyes. “People are sure to panic.”

  “What are you going to do, old man?”

  “I have a name you know? Call me Mr. Bang.”

  Bang walked away, but when no further response came, he turned back.

  “He left… I’m ied to learn of young Genos’ Master. Perhaps he will make an appearaoday.”