Chapter Text
"You know, for a Sentinel," The Synergist stares warily at the blank-faced man who stares back at her (with his black hair and all of his average glory). "You... really don't look like one."
"Huh. You don't say." Saitama flatly deadpans. "I'm glad you noticed." For once.
This earns the woman's frown before turning back the bookshelf. "Hmph, I'm just stating as someone who has observed several of your... attacks." The black-haired Synergist's fingers grace through the books carefully. "Wrong section. We better get to the next area."
"And get out of here faster?" He winces, receiving the thwack in his head in turn. "That hurts, you know!"
"Shut up." Fubuki shakes her head before resuming her search for that one stupid little book. (Again, he can hear Fubuki drill in his head about how important this particular book is to their party. Especially if they want to get out of whatever this idiotic quest they are forced- wait, they were threatened and blackmailed thanks to some idiot leader of some oddball Order their Ravager pissed off.) "You do realize it's a very specific artifact we're searching for, Saitama! So this might take some time!"
"...please don't remind me." Thanks a bunch, Zombieman! Saitama wants to curse out at their deadpan Ravager (who he mentally swears has something up on his ass 24/7), but no, he can't- apparently that man is the only Ravager who can successfully pull off a spell without having it affect everything else in the background. (Like Saitama does, even with a single damn shot- he should stop worrying about it, otherwise his hair will fall apart...)
"It's just a damn book!" Saitama hisses back, trying to rub his head to ease the slight pain from Fubuki's straight hit. "And why did you ask me to come along!? Genos would've been better to guard you, out of us!"
Fubuki narrows her eyes. "You mean that brash-headed Commando who has done the grand job of nearly incinerating that shopkeeper in the last city? And the church? Oh, and did I mention that Genos is also the one who keeps glaring at me when you and I talk while we all travel to the next city? And who also wants to burn me when I suggested when the two of us went to take that mission- while he, King, Mumen, and Zombieman take care of that other mission with a Titan?"
Saitama resists to slap his face with his own hand. "Fubuki. You know King hates to fight."
(As he recalled from the 'Sentinel', King is and was a die-hard coward. He can summon tremendous magic- but as a fighter? Nope, he can barely lift up a damn sword to save his life.)
"And yet his appearance manages to frighten away most of the monsters we encounter. I wonder why." Fubuki snipes back. They enter into the next room of the library, which has obviously been sealed away (Of course, every damn room needs to have that fucking magic seal. Saitama mentally rolls his eyes when he sees Fubuki's hand glow a light blue to open the seal to the door). The door opens, lasers turning off before the two warriors enter in before they see the large room.
It was majestic- pearl white walls glisten as the pillars of ivory and jade adorn the dark gold bookshelves. The books are carefully lined, each with its own category presente, lined for the patrons to find the books as they see fit. Each section of the room has floating lifts- each with its own computer to allow the patrons for easier access- for lifting the patrons to the books to the highest shelves.
...it was the very last place Saitama would've loved to enter (if not for their mission) and see a huge ugly dragon-bird hybrid take notice of two strangers and screeching at their ears.
Saitama's eye twitches as Fubuki resists to utter a sigh, both preparing for a possible (short as hell) fight.
"You know what? Let's talk about this after we beat the living crap out of this thing." Saitama puts on his metallic knuckles, which begins to hum with his magic. "Ladies first?"
"Let's try not to burn the books, Saitama." Fubuki irritably comments, her magic running through her hands. "Otherwise I don't think we'll hear the end of it from the Royal Patrons."
Oh, that'll end just as well! Saitama rolls his eyes, the two anticipating for said dragon-bird creature to begin attacking them.
"That... stupid Titan." Zombieman glares at the building that has the golden letters that read: ROYAL ARCHIVES emblazoned on the main sign. "Fubuki and that damn egg better hurry up with that book-"
"You dare call my savior an egg?" The Commando's eye twitches, his golden eyes glaring at the pale man who lights up a cigarette. "And what did you do for the most of the battle? We all put our effort to beating that Titan- to retrieve that stone that was in it-"
"Though it was mostly the three of us-" Their Medic Mumen indicates to King, who has his hand shoved into his jacket pockets. "...I think he just held his ground and used magic."
King quickly nods. "I... try not to battle as much."
"I see." Genos' eyes narrow. "Yet you still carry that sword on you-"
"That Titan got near five feet within King, saw him, and that large thing backpedalled to a wall." Zombieman flatly states. "Then that temple crumbled apart since we were standing at the dead center. Anything else you'd like to note about our mission?"
"That at least Saitama and Fubuki got the easier one?" Mumen (un)helpfully equips as he stands up. "How... hard is it to get a book? We got the Titan's Stone- and it's difficult to defeat one!"
The blonde commando lets out a sigh. "If Saitama-sensei was with us, he could've defeated it rather easily."
"You mean with..." Mumen trails off when they see most of the people running away from the Royal Archives, screaming about fire and how there was an explosion within one of its towers.
Then a loud BOOM echoes throughout the busy city before another wave of panicked people run through the four warriors.
"...oh hell." Zombieman resists to let out a long groan. "You've got to be kidding."
"Sensei!" Genos is prepared to lunge into the building and rescue the Sentinel when two familiar figures emerge, running through the now abandoned Archives before smoke escapes the opening windows. His eyes immediately brighten, seeing that familiar black hair with the signature yellow, red, and white themed clothing before running towards the Sentinel. "Sensei, you're all right!"
"Yeah! Barely!" Saitama manages to cry out before glaring at the woman, who takes a couple of deep breaths. "I THOUGHT YOU SAID IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA TO BURN THE BOOKS!"
"That- creature- did!" The black-haired woman's head shoots up, her emerald eyes glaring with irritation. "It wasn't OUR fault that- whatever that thing was- that started to use those books as weapons-"
"Oh GOD don't begin on that..." Saitama groans before spying how confused his comrades are. "...Dragon-Bird Abomination decides to burn the books in the Archives while Fubuki and I tried to kill it."
"I see." Genos frowns, brushing off the soot from Saitama's shoulders and hair. "...you got some ashes on your face, Sensei."
"Thanks."
"How? By using books as... forget it, I don't want to know how that monster can..." Zombieman shakes his head. "I don't think logic will explain that."
"Please... don't." Saitama seethes, teeth gritted, eyes narrowed in annoyance, aimed at Fubuki, who just telepathically brushes off her dust. "We... are never going back there- EVER!"
"Did you guys get the book, at least?" King asks, earning their baffled stares. He tenses, a nervous shaky laugh escaping the Sentinel. "J-Just asking-"
Fubuki produces the book from the bundle of cloth that she was cradling. "You mean- this one? Yes, Saitama and I managed to get it with... some problems."
"...some?" The four men warily ask- before shutting up when the two sets of eyes glare at them, silencing them.
"And oh, by the way," Saitama witheringly grumbles, snatching the book from Fubuki's hands before stuffing it in his bag. "This book better be worth the trouble! What did that guy promise us, anyway?"
The Order's leader teething grin beamed in delight over the book that was handed over to him. (As for that Titan Stone? That was given to Bang via Terminal Communicator*, who needed that Stone for powering up something within his temple) "Well, well... you managed to get your hands on it after all! Did it take you long?"
"You mean by the fact we're still having that blackmail threat of yours looming over us? What do you think?" Saitama dryly responds, the other five party members (im)patiently waiting for the leader to stop humming with absolute glee. "And what now? The book's yours."
"Ohh... I thank you all for retrieving this... book for me." The hooded man's voice was filled with absolute relief before setting the money in front of them. "Aside the monetary reward- all of you will now be blessed by our heavenly God, for whom we at the Order of-"
"For fuck's sake, cut it DOWN to twenty words or less!" The black-haired man's eye was twitching. "I do not have the time for this!"
"You mean we don't." Genos stands forward, his dark gloves crackling with the magic. "Unless you don't want this place to burn-"
"Now do you see why I refuse to have him as a bodyguard?" Fubuki witheringly glares at Saitama. King just hides his laughter as Zombieman rolls his eyes, wanting this to be over already. Then she turns swiftly to the stifled Leader of the Order. "Saitama's right, we all do not have time to spare for whatever you plan to do."
The Leader's chest rises, sounding rather miffed. "As chosen warriors, I thought you all would be rather more sympathetic to your kind-" He stills when he hears a gun being cocked and aimed for him.
"Look, we're in a bit of a bind." Zombieman drawls. "What's the other reward aside the money?"
"So I see what your interests lie in more, instead of basking in the virtues of our lovely God. ...impatient people, you all have no time for these nuggets of wisdom." The Leader grumbles before producing a covered weapon. He sets it down on the table- with a light thunk before unwinding the thick rope that binds the weapon. "For many centuries, our God has blessed this weapon- for which we have guarded it for many centuries, for the arrival of the chosen ones to approach us for this appropriate time-"
"Dude, you just asked for a book." King mutters, earning the Leader's eye twitch.
"-for now, we, the Order of-"
"You know," Fubuki whispers to Mumen, "For a leader... he loves to hear himself talk." Mumen hums in reluctant agreement.
"-behold-" The Leader shows the weapon in front of the group. "Silon's great treasure- the Shard of Hope!" He unwraps the cloth, revealing-
-what should've been a shining blade with an intricate golden handle. But instead, laying on the folds of the dark purple cloth lay a very rusted and blade that has scratches. Chips fray at the supposed sharp edges of the sword- and a wooden handle is present, crudely carved with the name 'HOLY SWORD' on the handle. The only thing holding the blade against the wooden handle is a tightened knot of fabric.
There was silence.
Then- with utter bewilderment, Saitama squawks (with the looks that mirror on everyone else's faces), "So we did all of that- FOR THIS USELESS PIECE OF CRAP!?"
(That was the very same thought in their minds.)
The Leader looks back up, really offended. "You call this legendary weapon- A PIECE OF CRAP!?"
"...the fuck is this...?" Zombieman's cigarette was about to drop out of his mouth. "Is this a joke?"
"No, it is not!" The leader picks up the sword. "See? It still stands-"
The blade immediately pops out from its only support, the fabric falling off into a useless flop on the table.
Again, a moment of silence.
Then-
"...uh huh. And this is helpful to us... how?" Fubuki slowly asks, using her abilities to place the fallen blade back on the table (Wait, was that a crack on the blade?)
"It-" The Leader sputters in horror. "How dare you-"
"The blade just fell off." King deadpans. "And we can sell that thing for about... what? 30 Credits?"
Saitama shrugs.
"This... is a very high insult." Genos sounds really miffed. "To us- and to the amount of effort we had to place in for the sake of retrieving what you wanted. Along with the amount of trouble-"
"Genos!" Saitama hisses, preventing Genos from burning the place down by grabbing his hand against the metallic ones. Then he turns to Mumen, who has been eyeing the sword for a while. "...so, it's useless?"
"...apparnetly." Mumen mutters, still wary over that... piece of rusting metal. "Just- who made this... sword?"
"Why you all- It's been forged by-" The Leader sputters, really offended that they didn't regard its 'remarkable' value. "-it's the legendary sword of-"
"LEGENDARY!?" Six loud irritated voice were heard at the same time (Yes, King is also irritated for having all of that for that rusty and crappy sword).
The leader stills, before clearing his throat, wanting to continue (not caring he's treading on very thin ice right now), "...yes, and now if you'd all allow me to continue-"
"I'm afraid-" Genos' arms begins to glow, irritation evident in his voice as he feels his arms shift into his weapons of choice- laser canons. "My sensei has no time for such drivel."
"Whoa whoa whoa, wait wait-" The Leader panics.
"GENOS!" Saitama is mortified, "What are you doing!?"
"What do you think?" Genos seethes, losing all patience as his runes continue to glow brighter. "We're leaving!"
"Uhhhhh-" King was about to point out that he hears people running towards their room. "Genos, guys? That might not be such a good-"
BOOM!
The damage tally for their visit to Silon City were: one barely burnt tower with some books burnt, one incinerated temple, some injured members of an insane cult, and a group of irked Administrators.
(At least it wasn't bad as before.)
Thankfully for the city, that so-called Order was arrested by the Royal Guards on charge of fraud and deceit- as that book showed (And kept as evidence... by the Royal Archives, whose administration leader reminds Saitama and Fubuki to leave their weapons with the front desk before treading into the library again). And all people who were brainwashed by that... Order... were returned to normal, gaining the respects of the people in the city as the six warriors were given gifts of gratitude (as food, money, clothing... the basics that any travelling party would be really grateful for receiving).
Unfortunately for the said party-
"We're... stuck with this crappy looking sword." King is holding said sword before placing it back on its sheath and allowing it store into whatever infinity space is holding all of their past-used weapons. "I wonder if we have the time to clean it?"
There was a slight look of disbelief from the rest of the party.
"I highly doubt that." Zombieman snorts, leaning against the wall as Mumen looks through the mission board at the Terminal Communicator. "...what are you doing?"
"I'm trying to see if that's all the missions in this city before we move on." The auburn haired medic turns the board off. "We shouldn't stay for this long if we need to head to Aleph City."
"And hopefully not go for... another one of these again." Fubuki lets out a terse sigh before chewing on her lips. "Do we have to head towards there... now? Silon City had some good insight about whoever did this to us from the Archives."
"Eh, not now." Saitama grunts, tugging his glove back on after looking at his right hand. "We need to get... this thing over with. I'd rather like to kick What's-his-face's ass and move on with our lives."
Genos frowns, knowing that it means Saitama would want to single-handedly take on an unbeatable deity before moving on. For the rest of them- they want to get this curse out of them. Beating this God should provide so much relief, to take out the stress from their supposed fate.
(As for Saitama? He's also cursed, but he takes this so lightly, as if his life was something not to care for. ...as long as he has a challenge, he just gives a shit about his fate. The problem with that is-
-does his Sensei not notice how much they all care for him? Especially him, since Saitama saved his life from imminent death...)
"How about-" Genos carefully muses before looking at the map in the Terminal Communicator. "While we were asking for the Titan's location, we've overheard a rumor about someone who could help us with our... predicament in Daleth City. The story goes that he's also cursed, but he knows which God is responsble for placing this situation on us."
"Really?" This gets most of their attention.
Genos nods, "There is a rumor that also states he's looking for others like him, seeing if he can alter his fate just like us." Then he glances over to to Saitama, whose attention is elsewhere, but he can tell the Sentinel is listening. "... I think he could be a challenge."
"Oh geez..." Zombieman groans, throwing his hands in defeat. "So- what? We're going to get to Daleth City, just so we can kick someone else's ass now? All right, and while we're at it, why not piss off more officials who know who we all are?"
"I think that's the point." King mutters as Fubuki heavily sighs, shaking her head. Only Mumen weakly chuckles, knowing what Genos' real intentions are. (They all aren't this dense.)
"...so...?" Saitama frowns, glancing towards his party. "What's the new plan?"
"Sensei, should we go for heading towards Daleth City?" Genos asks, indicating towards the city. "It might give us more insight to-"
"I got it, into this situation..." Saitama mutters before glancing towards his party (wait, since when did he begin regarding them as 'his' party? Weren't they all just people who are all pissed off at some unknown deity who... ah, screw it, they're all after that dumbass, anyway). He could just suggest to head straight towards Alpeh City, get rid of the God who got them all into this mess, then go their own ways.
...but then again, he couldn't just disappoint that brat, now could he?
Fuck it, might as well see where all of this goes... who knows? Genos could be right, I might have a challenge ...somewhere.
Saitama groans and slaps his hand against his face. "...fiiiiiiine..." He doesn't see the looks of relief, dreading, and relcutance on most of their faces. "BUT! Only if we get something out of this-"
"Not another wrecked city-" Fubuki mutters, earning Saitama's glare.
"Oh, I'm sure there will be a challenge there, Sensei." Genos chuckles, his eyes filled with secret relief (to be near the one man who is powerful, his savior). "You just don't know it yet."
"Yeah, yeah yeah..." He feels a small smile grace him, hearing the chatter increase.
(Going for Aleph City indeed, there's a part of him that swears they are stalling for time. But as long as he has the company...)