A media helicopter flew over Maebashi City late at night. The flames that turned the abandoned factory to ashes had calmed down considerably compared to before, probably due to the efforts of the firefighters.

Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties, and the heroes were celebrating their long overdue victory in preventing a “local human disaster”.

「The devil’s castle has been cleansed by the sacred fire of bond and love. We have won!」

「Uooooooooo!! Korin Seihou Friends Association Banzaiii!!」

「Desmos Agappi Agriopappa-sama Banzaiii!!」

From a corner of the burnt-out area, victory shouts rises with a dramatic, highbrow speech.

Momoshima Ruru, a.k.a. Victor Pink, the central figure of the victory, was being lifted up as if she were Jeanne d’Arc. And everyone who carried her on their shoulders had bloodshot eyes like a psycho killer in a suspense drama.

「This victory is thanks to the fact that the spirit of justice was activated and the ascension on the elemental stage thanks to the pesticide-free organic vegetables!」

「It must have been because the negative spirits were catharsised by the concentrated reduction ultimate natural water that I only ended up with broken bones!」

「Now then, everyone, please line up in line as we hand out pamphlets for the Goshumi-Goten-Hoyo (Buddhist memorial service) to be held at the end of next week.」

The heroes were all smiling with a maniacal 120 percent smile, tears streaming from their eyes as they chewed on the taste of victory. But the cost of their short-lived victory was too great.

「Aah…… No way, are you saying this is really Johnny……?」

Retto arrived at the site early the next morning when the area was still dimly lit. It was right at the time when a piece of scrap metal was being carried out from the burnt ruins.

When he was told that the scrap iron was not discarded scrap but rather his former ally, Aikawa Johnny aka Victor Blue, Retto fell to his knees.

「Johnny! Open your eyes, Johnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!」

The raging flames have scorched the paint, and the shining blue body now revealed the color of sooty iron. Retto clinged to the still hot steel body of his friend, who had been transformed.

「Why aren’t you replying! Kuh, I…… If I had joined, this situation……!」

Commander Asaka, his superior, gently placed her hand on the shoulder of the tearful Retto as they stand over the remain of their former colleague.

「Don’t lose heart, Kurenai-san.」

「Asaka-san…… Blue is, Johnny is……」

「It’s unfortunate but, he is no longer……」

「I…… I’m so frustrated. I couldn’t do anything…… Ugh, Uuugh……」

The heroes who fought alongside Johnny and were defeated were moved to tears. None of them had the slightest idea that Johnny was still alive.

Yes, Johnny was still alive.

『No, don’t kill me without permission, ze! Hey Retto, Commander Asaka! You’ve gotta be kidding me, ze!!』

Johnny’s consciousness was relatively clear, but more than 90% of his body had been replaced with a machine. The motor to move his body was completely burned out, and the speaker to emit his voice had been damaged by the heat. Therefore, no matter how hard Johnny tried, his body would not move, and no matter how much he shouted, his words would not reach the ears of the heroes around him.

「I saw Victor Blue-san get run over by a car. By a man with eyes like muddy puddles, who seems to be stealing land rights from an old man living alone」

「I saw it too. The man who did this to Victor Blue-san had eyes like rotten prunes and looked like he would kidnap poor children and sell them on the slave market!」

「Kurenai-san, there is no doubt. It was the heinous mysterious Death Green who took the life of Johnny Aikawa.」

『Don’t go around killing me without permission! ! Also, it’s amazing how the merciless analogies immediately popped up!!!!』

The heinous mysterious Death Green. At the name, Retto’s shoulders twitch.

「Death…… Green…… You say……?」

For Victor Red Kurenai Retto, this man was now his arch-enemy. The great mysterious being who had threatened innocent young girl, inflicted devastating damage on the city center, and stood in front of Victor Ranger time and again. He is the evil demon who, in a despicable move, defeated the legendary hero Akajustice, whom Retto respects the most.

For Retsuto, he slaughtered his one and only friend. An unforgivable enemy who stole his face, voice, and figure.

The angry fiery man clenched his trembling fists and his heart beats a fiery rhythm. His body temperature, which is high even for an ordinary person, quickly rose, and steam emanated from his entire body, as if embodying his uncontrollable rage.

「Once again, I, I…… Uoooooooooooooooooooh!!!!」

As if the souls of his scattered comrades had settled on his shoulders, his whole body was enveloped in crimson light. With Johnny’s remain in his arms, Retto screams as if his throat was about to burst.

「Victor Red-san! Thi- This is……!!」

「It has finally begun, Kurenai-san……」

「Commander Asaka, you knew!?」

「Yes, it’s just a rumor, but I’ve heard of it. With the deep sadness and anger caused by the death of a friend or family member as the trigger, there are rare people who awakened to further power as a hero.」

While the other heroes looked on worriedly, Asaka calmly put her glasses back on. As she gazed upon him, the lamentation of his soul pierced the sky, and the heartbeat of his justice shook the earth.

「Johnny…, Kioumaru, Momoshima, Mayuzumi… and Rintaro…! I have certainly received your righteous spirit!!!!!」

No one had died, but some soul had been received from somewhere, and the fiery fist of justice was now clenched again, burning hot.

………………

…………

……

At the same time, the infirmary of Ark Dominion’s underground secret base was undergoing intensive medical treatment.

The damage to the Hundred Beasts Legion was so great that temporary beds were overflowing into the corridor in front of the infirmary. The “master of the infirmary” was busy at the same time, shivering in a corner of the room with both shoulders clutched in her arms.

「Haa…… Nh, Haa……」

Her face was red, her heart was beating fast, and her fingertips were burning hot. Each time a breath escaped her wet lips, sharp cutting scissors spilled from the sleeves of her long red coat.

When she received a mental shock, her conditioned reflex is to produce a blade from her body. This is the nature of Kenmochi Minato, aka Swordminas, aka Sword Mountain Mysterious being.

Through rigorous training with the three executives, she had once succeeded in curbing most of the outbursts caused by her abilities. However, ever since she learned that Rintaro had taken her lips last night, she had been spitting out the blade again like an unstoppable hiccup.

「Minato? Are you okay, ssuka? As expected, do you want to sleep, ssuka?」

「……Sorry Samecchi, I’m fine. And I can’t ruin the bed which is already lacking.」

At Minato’s feet, a “mountain of swords” had already formed, as the name implies. Just like the night she woke up as a mysterious being for the first time, she knew that her body wasn’t normal.

「Minato, your complexion looks like a tomato, ssuyo! And your body is shaking, ssu!」

「Don’t worry, Samecchi, this is a trembling from excitement……!」

The Sword Maiden tried her best not to worry Samecchi. However, as soon as she tried to make a smile, a long spear flew out from her side and pierced the pillow of the cat mysterious being who was sleeping on the bed.

The bustling medical room instantly became quiet as if hit by cold water. All eyes were on Minato at once.

「A- Awa…… That’s not it…… I didn’t do it on purpose……」

「As expected, you aren’t feeling well, ssuyo, Minato. Would you like to get some air instead, ssuka？」

「I’m sorry Samecchi, I’ll do that… If possible, in a place where no one is… If there are people around, I might end up hurting them again… so…」

「Roger, ssu! Leave it to Samecchi, ssuyo!」

The only one in the room who seemed unconcerned was Samecchi, who had a spear graze over beside her head. The tall Minato left the infirmary, supported by Samecchi, who was three head shorter than her.

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<113: From The Depths of The Dark and Cold Water
115: Heinous Legion Major Debut>