Z-City felt… empty.
Not abandoned, exactly. Just hollowed out, like something had already taken a bite and was circling back for seconds.
Noah Vale walked down the middle of the street with his hands in his pockets, replaying the earlier fight in his head.
Enhanced physiology, energy-based combat… and something layered on top of that. A hybrid build.
Ivanov hadn't relied on just one system. He'd stacked them. Reinforced his body, then added a ranged energy style on top.
It made sense.
That was the real advantage here. You weren't locked into one path. You could mix and match, build yourself into something well-rounded… or something monstrous.
Still, Noah had noticed the gaps.
At close range, Ivanov had been forced into pure physical combat. No time to charge anything heavy. No space to set up. The bigger attacks needed breathing room, and Noah hadn't given him a second.
If we'd kept going…
Noah exhaled lightly.
I'd have needed a few hours, minimum. Let the fight push my body further, close the gap completely.
That kind of escalation came with a cost.
The city beneath their feet wouldn't survive it.
And worse—
There was always the possibility of attracting someone else.
A bald man.
Noah's lips curved faintly at the thought.
Yeah… that'd turn into a whole different problem.
He pulled up the mission requirements in his mind.
No penalties listed. Just a clear objective.
Pick a side.
"Hero Association it is," he muttered. "At least the company's easier on the eyes."
With that, he vanished.
Not a step. Not a blur.
Just gone—leaving behind a faint distortion in the air where he'd been standing.
Elsewhere in Z-City—
The ground shook.
Each step landed like a hammer, cracking asphalt and sending vibrations rippling through nearby buildings.
A creature stomped down the street.
Ten meters tall, covered in thick blue scales, shaped like something dragged straight out of prehistory and given an upgrade it didn't ask for.
A tyrannosaur, reimagined as a walking disaster.
It roared.
Heat gathered in its throat—
—and then it exhaled.
Flame erupted forward, a torrent of searing fire that tore through a high-rise like paper, burning straight through its core in seconds.
People ran.
Screaming. Tripping. Shoving past each other in blind panic.
"Help! Someone help!"
"Where are the heroes?!"
"My building—do you know how much we donated?! What are they even doing?!"
The chaos spread across multiple blocks.
Then—
crack.
A sharp, wet sound cut through everything.
The noise stopped.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
People turned.
A figure stood where the monster had been.
Long hair, loose and unbothered. Clean clothes, untouched by ash or blood.
And beneath his feet—
What used to be a ten-meter-tall creature was now… not.
Noah withdrew his fist, stepping lightly onto what remained.
For a moment, the scene almost felt surreal. Like something out of a painting.
Then he spoke.
"Hey," he called out, looking around at the stunned crowd. "Don't just stand there. Get a picture."
Silence.
"…What?"
"If you don't document it, how's anyone supposed to know I did this?" Noah shrugged. "Come on, work with me here."
The illusion shattered.
A girl stepped forward from the crowd, hesitating. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she looked at him.
"Um… which hero are you?"
Noah tilted his head.
"Not officially one yet," he said. "Still figuring out the branding."
He glanced down at the mess under his feet, thinking for a second.
"Let's go with… Nemesis."
The name hung in the air.
People repeated it quietly, testing it out.
"Nemesis…"
"Yeah," Noah said with a casual nod. "That works."
He settled down on what remained of the creature, an invisible force keeping him clean despite the surroundings, and waited.
It didn't take long.
Two men in suits arrived at a hurried pace, clearly from the Hero Association.
They took one look at the scene—the destroyed high-rise, the remains of the monster—and immediately categorized the threat level.
At least Tiger-level.
Possibly higher.
One of them, thinner and sharper-looking, turned to Noah.
"Sir… I don't recognize you. What's your hero name?"
"You can call me Nemesis," Noah said easily. "I'm not registered yet."
He rested his chin on his hand, studying them.
"That's actually why you're here. I'd like to skip the line and get signed up properly."
The two men exchanged a glance.
Polite smile.
Professional tone.
"No problem with you joining," the thinner one said carefully. "We're always looking for capable individuals. But… we don't have the authority to grant special admission."
Translation: You're not important enough to make exceptions for.
Noah clicked his tongue softly and looked up at the sky.
Joining the monsters would be faster…
He immediately dismissed the thought.
Too chaotic.
Too unpredictable.
"Shame," he said. "I was hoping someone strong would show up. Either a high-rank hero or something big enough to make this interesting."
He stretched slightly, then looked back at them.
"Alright. Where's your local branch?"
Both men stiffened.
"…Why?"
Noah smiled.
"Well, if you can't make the call, I'll go talk to someone who can."
He stepped forward and casually grabbed the thinner man by the back of his collar, lifting him just enough to get his attention.
"Point me in the right direction," Noah said. "And don't try anything clever. If I figure out you're wasting my time, I might start treating you like part of the problem."
The man went pale.
"P-Please don't misunderstand! The Z-City branch is—there, that way!"
He pointed quickly.
A second later, his feet were back on the ground.
Noah was already gone.
A gust of wind marked his exit, racing off in the direction indicated.
The remaining staff member stood there, frozen for a moment, before fumbling for his earpiece.
"Report," he said, voice tight. "We have an unidentified individual heading toward the Z-City branch. Estimated threat level—above Tiger. Possibly much higher. He's requesting immediate hero certification."
There was a pause on the other end.
"…Understood. Description?"
The man hesitated for half a second.
Then, with complete sincerity—
"Very good-looking."