Since I received the Forever Core from Q'urtona and the Zenith, it had never given me a clear cut challenge like this.
A worthy vessel. That was what she had called me back then. It seemed I would have to prove that worth here and now.
"I hate villains like you..." I blurted out. "Causing harm and terror for no specific reason. You do it for fun, makes me sick"
Ant Goliath glared at me with his multifaceted eyes and he immediately dropped low, ready to pounce.
"I have every reason to end you here, but the system has given me a new motivation."
"Not only do I want to end the chaos you brought upon to City D, I also want to level up with the help of the Forever Core... Desperately"
I finished as I felt the power of the Forever Armor course through me with an increasing intensity, like a water surpassing it's boiling point.
"System? Forever Core... What is this brat talking about?" Ant Goliath scoffed.
We both went silent for a couple seconds, analyzing eachother, waiting for the other to make the first move.
The earth beneath our feet cracked as we both charged at eachother at the same time.
A flurry of brisk attacks flew from every limb as we both strived to gain the upper hand.
Ant Goliath's confidence was palpable just by looking at him, the way he used all six of his limbs to both attack me and block my attacks.
But luckily for me the Forever Armor's system displayed information about his patterns and weaknesses allowing me to predict his movements.
He swung a claw above my head to catch me off guard but I locked it in place with my left hand so he couldn't retract it.
I glared straight into his eyes as he struggled to set his limb free.
"Incinerate!"
I commanded. A concentrated beam of golden energy originating from the Forever Core pulsated through my arm and out the gauntlet, completely destroying his claw dead center.
Ant Goliath screeched loudly as he staggered backwards in pain, his exoskeleton wasn't so impenetrable after all.
I could see his body heaving up and down as his breathing became heavy, he shot a dangerous look at me, eyes narrowed with intense rage.
"You little!..." He yelled and stopped mid sentence, his eyes widening with realization.
I braced myself for whatever he had in mind. Whatever it was, it was nowhere going to be good for me and the people in harms way.
He dropped his body to a limp while maintaining intense eye contact with me. As if he figured out a strategy to take me out with one blow.
I prepared for any sudden movements, but it seemed like he wasn't going to move a muscle.
"Hero huh?... You really think you're a hero?" He said with a slick, errie tone to his voice.
"I am a Hero! I am the hero that's going to take you down!" I shot back, he'd mocking me because I believed that I was a hero.
I had been a hero, I will always be a hero.
Looking back, although a hero's class was determined by their overall strength.
Whether it's E-class or S-Class, we all wanted one thing; to eradicate the vile individuals that deemed it fit to prey on the innocent and weak.
Despite the fact that most heros nowadays chased clout and status rather than actually going out there and making a difference, I still believed in this principal and it had driven me forward, as Skateboard Man or A 'worthy vessel' for the Forever Core.
"Let's see what's more important to you as a hero, taking me down or saving the lives of those innocent people" Ant Goliath spread his massive mandible mouth into a wide grin.
I shot up and glanced around.
To my surprise their were several civilians huddled up in a corner under a bus stop shelter.
Suddenly, Ant Goliath grabbed four cars and swung all of them in quick progression towards the civilians. His frame blurred past me as my attention diverted.
I poised myself to go after the flying cars when suddenly;
[New Task: Eliminate Ant Goliath]
Tch! The systems task.
I leaped into the air, my boots propelling me with effortless golden energy, allowing me to zip through the air with amazing speed.
BAM!
I eliminated the first car by slamming into it changing it's trajectory.
Next, short golden energy pulses shot out from my gauntlet aiming at the remaining three, destroying them in quick succession.
I spun around immediately after realizing the civilians were safe.
Ant Goliath was gone.
I dragged my eyes over the scenery to locate him and the HUD of the Forever Armor did it's magic again by zooming my vision so I could get a clear view of the street below.
And there he was, zipping through the driveway like a road runner.
Not only is he menacing villain, he's also a disgusting coward as well.
Very bold of him to call people weak when he's the one running for his life.
Like a little ant.
"You fool! You're not even that fast!" I yelled and slammed my arms together and they immediately sealed together to form a canon like projector.
The Forever Core pumped a large amount of energy throughout my body, most of it transferring to my weapon.
"Incinerate!"
It sounded like a sharp whistle, the beam was vast and direct. Blasting through the air with intense speed and blasting the Ant Goliath into roasted carapace.
For a C-Class Villan, he was really strong. Aside his cockiness and recklessness, he was sure to give me a tough time.
But had I done it? Had I neutralized my first real villain?
I arrived at where Ant Goliath's body lay motionless on the cracked pavement, thick, sticky fluid oozed multiple parts of his body.
[New Task: Successful]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
The system's interface flickered before me.
I stared at the dieing corpse for a moment, feeling some kind of satisfaction.
It was my first victory over an actual villain. My first time killing a monster.
But I wasn't full, I wanted more.
I itched for more, almost wishing Ant Goliath would resurrect and push me to my absolute limits, testing me so I can grow stronger.
My thoughts were interrupted as short electric spasms excited the air around me.
Rain? No, it was something else. Clearly a use of meta-energy.
I couldn't risk being seen by anyone. Not a hero especially. And not while I'm still trying to level up.
I quickly disappeared into the city, hiding in the shadows of the tall buildings.
The air buzzed with energy.
He appeared out of thin air, hovering in the air like a kite, perched atop a glowing, semi-tranparent surfboard of pure electricity. The edges sparking and cracking as he descended.
From his wrist, thin whips of cracking voltage lashed out, whipping at the empty air as if it was ready to strike at any moment.
Thunderlash had arrived.
"Fear not!" He declared, his voice carrying an air of practiced heroism. "I am here! you're safe now!".