It was Noon as I was walking down the empty street when I heard a scream running there I saw a monster, but I didn't move.
Chains were binding my legs, preventing me from going there as the monster went on a rampage, killing dozens of people.
I watched in shock as I struggled to intervene, but my legs wouldn't move until I saw the monster who looked me in the eyes and asked, "What's wrong? Won't you run this time too?"
Hearing this, I remembered the time I ran from the gangsters yesterday and I couldn't find any words to speak.
"You heard them then, didn't you? Your life wasn't even at risk. What makes you think a coward like you could be a hero like them?" The monster laughed and pointed at the arriving Mumen Rider along with Saitama.
"A Hero isn't someone who's only brave when it's convenient, isn't that right?" The monster turned to face the 2 heroes and asked
Seeing them nod, I felt like I was dropped into a pit of despair.
The Monster was strong enough to fight both of them, pushing them back with ease as I stood petrified. 'They can't beat him, even if I could move my legs and join them, we would lose anyway, it's all over.'
Snapping me out of my thoughts were two hands on my shoulders. I looked back to see myself.
More accurately Both sides of me: the kid that died in that alley and the shut-in from Earth where this world was an Anime.
The little kid looked disappointed at me as he asked, "Aren't you going to help them? I thought we swore to never be helpless again..."
The me from Earth looked at me like I was a stranger and told me with a bored tone: "You said you're the main character? If so, then this must be a garbage show. If you're the main character, then start acting like it already!"
Looking at each other for a moment, my two halves turned me around and pushed me forward, shouting, "You're both of us, aren't you? So don't disappoint us!"
Seeing the Monster, who wasn't paying attention to me yet, I felt like my legs were made of jelly, but this time there were no longer any chains around them.
I felt like turning around and running even with the words of both parts of myself, it didn't change reality.
The monster was stronger than me.
However, their words echoed in my mind, refusing to leave, making me stuck in place 'I thought we would never be helpless again...',
'If you're the main character, then start acting like it!'
'Don't disappoint us!'
'I know my strength. There's no way I can win...' However, looking at the struggling Mumen Rider and Saitama, that thought felt so obviously exposed as an excuse as I heard Mumen Rider and Saitama speak.
"I'm aware that I have no chance of beating you. No one needs to tell me anything like that!... And yet I must try... it's not about winning or losing, it's about me taking you on right here and now!"
"That's right, if the heroes ran, who else would fight the monsters?"
"...it's not about winning or losing, huh?... That's right. The reason I wanted to be a hero wasn't to win some fights, it was to stop people like the spaghetti cult who killed me once!" I shouted as I approached the monster.
The Monster looked down on me.
They was just as terrifying as before, but despite barely feeling my legs, I moved them anyway, looking the monster in the eyes as I threw a punch.
The Monster parried the blow away with a laugh: "krikrikrikrikri! Look who decided to show up! With your kiddy punches, you think it's going to make a difference?"
The Monster easily sent me flying with a casual blow while mocking me: "If you're this weak you might as well have run away! This isn't a playground kid. Being a hero has its consequences!"
Coughing up some blood, I struggled to get up as Saitama and Mumen Rider held off the monster.
Seeing the wound on my chest. I felt sure that I would die if I didn't go get treated.
I was perplexed: 'If I died here and now without even dealing with that spaghetti cult, how could I face myself? But this... If I run away now, won't that just be spitting in the face of my resolve!?'
'Is my promise to bring them to justice more important than my dream to be a hero?'
I gritted my teeth as I angrily spoke to myself: "Is this my limit!? If I was stronger I wouldn't have to choose between anything like that!"
"Your limit?"
"Huh?" I muttered as I heard Saitama speak.
"Who decides what your limit is?"
I only watched as he turned to face me.
"Instead of overthinking your setbacks, just focus on moving forward."
"There's a monster right in front of you, isn't there? Just focus on that."
Clenching my fists, I nodded and looked back at the monster. "I guess... In the end, it doesn't matter even if I die here, because if I keep acting weak I will always have to choose between my promise and my dream... And if I don't do both, I won't ever be satisfied, so there's only one thing I can do!"
The monster glanced at me and scoffed. "What was that? Kid, do you have a death wish?"
"I will be strong enough to do both! I will get my revenge and be a hero or die trying!" I shouted as I ran to punch the monster.
This time, the monster's eyes widened as they dodged the punch, a shock wave following its path crashing into a nearby building that was already on fire.
Mumen Rider smiled as he joined in tackling the Monster "Take this! Justice Tackle!"
"Gwaa!!" The monster shouted as they were pushed back a few meters.
"Nice!" Saitama said as he jumped towards the monster, unleashing his special move: "Consecutive normal punches!"
The Monster's shell cracked as they continued screaming, and Mumen Rider shouted, "Now's the time to finish him off!"
I got close to the monster and took a martial arts stance from a cultivation manhwa as I shouted the name of my special move, "Shattering Heavens Martial Art: Crushing Angel Blow!"
My fist, enveloped in golden heavenly light, smashed into the monster and made a huge crater in the ground as wind shot up in the sky afterward with debris flying everywhere as the force returned from where it came.
Seeing the Monster with a hole in their chest being blown away, I sighed in relief as I listened to the evacuation alarm blaring off.
"Wait... Something's not right Since when did it ring?" I muttered, then I jolted awake, eyes wide, still hearing the alarm.
"Attention! Attention! All civilians are to evacuate the city. A powerful monster of the threat level Demon has appeared in Z City. I repeat A Powerful..."
"Sigh... Just my luck having a dream like that just as a powerful monster shows up, won't I have to face it now?" I complained to myself as I got up, rubbing my eyes and stretching for a bit.
By then, it didn't take much guessing to find out where the monster was as an explosion rang out a kilometer away.
I looked towards the explosion with determination as I thought to myself while running towards it, 'This time I won't run away again.'
As I got near the explosions, I could finally hear some heroes fighting it.
They were A Class Hero Air and A Class Hero Death Gatling, and they were barely holding their own as they both couldn't fight well up close, even more concerning the monster's defenses seemed completely untouched.
The Monster seemed to be an obese Medieval knight, but from the way his eyes shone malevolent red light and his purple flesh beneath it made his true identity as a monster all too obvious.
"Hey fat corpse, what do you think you're doing walking around in this day and age? Go back to your coffin. You don't seem to like cardio anyway!" I shouted as I ran towards them.
The heroes eyes widened as the monster turned away from them, turning to face me, completely ignoring their special moves as if they merely tickled them.
I couldn't hear what the monster said as the Heroes shouted at me to get away, but I ignored them as I imitated the special move I executed in my dream: "Shattering Heavens Martial Art First Form! Crushing Angel Blow!"
I hit the monster right in the stomach with my full strength as the dull sound of metal being hit resounded, but it clearly dealt no damage to them.
Moreover, my fist hurt a lot!
Looking at it, I couldn't help but think 'is it broken?'
The monster seemed to be filled with glee as they asked, "What's wrong, is that all you've got?"
"Get away, kid!" Air shouted as he ran towards the monster, but before he could intervene, the monster already stabbed me with their sword in the stomach.
I coughed up blood and grabbed the sword with both of my hands, refusing to scream as the Monster became angry and started to complain: "What's wrong? Why aren't you screaming!?"
The Monster Continued: "Fighting these heroes is so boring, all they do is run and even when hit they don't scream! When I saw you, I was so relieved since fighting them was already getting boring, but now will you go and stay silent too? HOW DARE YOU!!!"
The Monster took their sword out of my gut and stabbed me in my thigh, making me grit my teeth as Air finally got close enough and took me away.
"Just what were you thinking about getting close to that monster you want to die, kid!? Now with your leg like that, you can't even run, so just stay still!" Air said as he put me down and turned towards the monster.
As Death Gatling reloaded, the battlefield was silent for a few seconds with the monster glaring at Air, seemingly offended.
"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING TOUCHING MY PREY!!!" the monster shouted as they ran towards Air, who threw his boomerang at their ankle to no avail.
Glaring at the monster, I shouted back, "YOU DARE CALL ME PREY? JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"
As the Monster fought Air, they glared at me and, after a few seconds, Air had already fallen with many slashes covering him.
The Monster was hit by Death Gatling's ultimate move again, but they completely ignored it as it barely dented their armor.
The Monster looked me in the eyes as it introduced itself: "I am Rook! I like chess so much. I became a Rook in real life and to satisfy my king I must kill the Kings of Humanity and all of their pawns and pieces!"
Pointing at Air, he explained, "By pieces I mean all of those who pose a threat..."
Smiling, he continued as he pointed at me, "...and by pawns I mean all of those who dare to fight back."
After a short laughter, he thrust his sword into my shoulder. "LIKE YOU!" Rook screamed in joy.
I barely managed to hold back a scream as I fell down, unable to stand looking at Rook.
It seemed as if they hadn't even noticed Death Gatling running out of bullets again.
'Is this really just a Demon Level threat?' I thought as I remembered the many Dragon level monsters I saw in the Anime.
'Just how much more terrifying are they?' I thought as I tried to get up, but Rook didn't let me taking their sword out of my shoulder. They cut at my right ankle with a laugh.
I fell down again, and then I couldn't help but widen my eyes as I saw Death Gatling taking away Air and running.
For a moment, I felt betrayed.
But seeing my condition, I knew that to them, I was already beyond saving.
I tried to get up again.
Rook just kicked me down this time, angry: "Are you mute now?! Where's that attitude from back then, huh? If you're not even going to talk back, at least scream for me!"
I didn't respond as I glanced at the massive pool of my own blood that had formed by now and thought 'My bruises from last night are already gone. If it's not a healing factor, it's immortality, like Zombie Man. As long as he doesn't dismantle me too much, I should be fine'
I once again tried to get up, glaring at Rook, but he seemed completely disinterested.
Rook yawned and grabbed me, "Kid, you already know you're dead, right? You should be a corpse in 5 minutes at most with those wounds, so why would you try and get up? JUST LAY THERE AND SCREAM FOR ME!" Rook shouted as he moved his hand up and down, slamming me on the concrete.
I felt my ribs breaking beneath the cold, wet pavement before losing consciousness briefly, but it wasn't for long, as soon enough, I could hear Rook's monologue to himself.
"...where did she even go off to? As the Queen, she is supposed to always guard the King, but she just goes where she pleases. I'm much better than that wrench. Why must the King favor her so much?"
"W-hat ar-e you o-n abou-t?" I barely managed to say between gasping for air.
"None of your business. I'm already bored with you," Rook said as he kicked me away, sending me crashing into a building so hard I could hear my spine crack.
I barely managed to stay conscious as I tried to move any part of my body, but it was useless.
I couldn't feel anything below my neck.
I barely heard Rook speak as I was overwhelmed with terror.
"Oh? Another Hero? Just who are you baldy? I am Rook. I love chess so much I became a rook! My King entrusted me and my comrades to spread around the world and cause Chaos to dismantle the defenses of Humanity and capture their leadership to ensure his everlasting reign!"
My eyes widened as I thought 'could it be him?!'
"Oh me? I'm just a hero for fun. The name is Saitama." The bald man introduced himself.
Roil casually walked towards Saitama, completely confident in his victory as he spoke: "You better give me some screams! I'm in a bad mood. If you see those other heroes running away from their duty. Reminded me of that wrench Queen, so I won't be gentle with you!"
Soon, a loud boom was heard and Rook's body was torn to pieces, raining on the floor along with his blood.
I couldn't see any of it since I was buried under some rubble, but I could still somehow hear it.
I opened my mouth to ask for help, but I didn't even have the strength to cough up blood.
Gathering all of my will, I barely managed to speak just as Saitama's footsteps were becoming faint. "W-wait! I—I am here!"
"Huh? Is someone there?" Saitama muttered as he turned around and walked in my direction.
I kept using my strength to speak as Saitama was throwing out the surrounding rubble: "I—I know I m—ay seem... L—ike a Corp-... *cough* -se but! I hav-e a healing fact—or."
while I was talking Saitama finally got a good look at me and muttered, "a corpse!?"
After finishing my words, I passed out.