Do You Want To Be A Hero? (18) | The Masked Rider's Bound

Standing tall in front of the wide-eyed crowd, the green-masked hero held his ground. His glowing red eye-visor focused solely on the sludge-armored villain before him.

Both the green-masked hero and the sludge-armored villain locked "eyes" with each other, each trying to gauge the other's intentions.

The sludge-armored villain sensed something odd about this newcomer. Its wariness grew toward this unknown challenger. The once grinning, grotesque visage turned into a frown—its slimy form rippling with uncertainty as its attention shifted entirely to the green hero.

It was visibly shaken by this newfound threat, though it didn't even realize why. There was something about this green-masked hero that screamed "dangerous," even though, in its newly powered form, it still didn't feel confident enough to face him, unlike the Pro Heroes it had fought before.

And finally, after all the rampage it had caused... it spoke.

"You... who are you?!" it asked the most important question to the green-masked hero, sparking murmurs among the crowd.

"Who is that?!"

"I've never seen him before!"

"Is he a new hero...?"

"A new Pro Hero's debut, perhaps?!"

Onlookers clamored, their voices rising in confusion... and even excitement. The thought of a promising new Pro Hero became something of a thrilling prospect, especially when some of them had witnessed, just this morning, another Pro Hero's debut in the form of a giant woman.

However, amid the chaos, a large, muscular Pro Hero stepped forward—Death Arms. His brow furrowed as he sized up the green-masked figure.

"Hey! You there!" Death Arms called out, his deep voice cutting through the noise. "Who are you? What's your hero identity?"

The green-masked hero... did not answer Death Arms' question, seemingly ignoring him as he focused solely on the sludge-armored villain at the center of the ruined district.

His silent demeanor, however, did not ease the tension in the air. In fact, it seemed to aggravate the muscular Pro Hero and even the other heroes present.

"Oi! Don't ignore me, rookie! What do you think you're doing anyway?!" Death Arms shouted, his voice filled with irritation. "Be careful, damnit! That villain is holding a hostage inside! You could make things worse!"

Death Arms tried to approach the unknown green-masked hero, attempting to hold him back from doing something reckless.

"Oi! Didn't you hear what I said? Get back, you—!"

Suddenly, the green-masked hero raised his right hand into the air, alarming not just Death Arms, but also everyone watching...!

Before Death Arms could question the newcomer's intentions, the armored hero's arm became engulfed in a digitized aura...

And then, materializing in his hand—a white scarf!

Everyone stared in confusion and bewilderment at the appearance of this white fabric, seemingly out of nowhere. It appeared to be simple clothing, not a weapon or an ability that might help with dealing with the villain's rampage...

But then the green-masked hero—he nonchalantly wrapped the white fabric around his armored neck, securing it carefully. As he finished fastening it, the white scarf began to flutter gently in the air, caught by an unknown breeze...

A tense silence ensued; the white scarf of the hero fluttered aimlessly in the wind... without a care.

But that silence was soon shattered—the hero dashed toward the villain!

The sudden advance of the green-masked hero sent shockwaves through the crowd, all of them stunned by what appeared to be a reckless, even suicidal, move.

The sludge-armored villain reacted with a violent convulsion... its grotesque form writhing.

Without warning, the villain's body erupted with a torrent of sludge, sending deadly tendrils shooting out from its massive, oozing form—each one aimed with deadly precision at the advancing hero!

But the hero... was ready.

With fluid and precise movements, he dodged every one of the villain's vicious attacks. His body shifted from side to side, narrowly evading each deadly tendril as it lashed out at him. He ducked low when a sludge whip tried to swipe him from above, then leaped high into the air, spinning just out of reach of yet another sludge strike.

Even while airborne, with the sludge still trying to ensnare him from below, the green-masked hero twisted his body mid-flight, slipping through the deadly tendrils with an almost impossible grace, narrowly avoiding being torn apart.

Every witness was shocked by the impressive agility of the newcomer hero. Never had they thought anyone could actually dodge the relentless onslaught of the sludge-armored villain. He made it seem not just like the easiest feat... but like a performance—a deadly, yet graceful dance.

Each of the sludge villain's attacks was evaded with minimal effort, making the crowd question if the villain was even trying. Each time the hero dodged, he came closer... and closer to the villain.

And he made it fearful of his impending approach.

"S-stay back, you damn hero!" The sludge's ugly visage contorted in panic as it bellowed, its voice laced with fear. "I'll crush you, damnit...! Don't come any closer!!!"

But the hero ignored its threats. He didn't even bother to respond, his focus solely on closing the distance to the sludge-armored villain, who now trembled as dread overwhelmed it—the same dread it had felt earlier today when the No. 1 Hero had faced it.

And now, this green-masked hero evoked the same sense of helplessness.

When he landed lightly on the ground—like a feather floating down—the hero wasted no time. He dashed toward the villain once more!

The grotesque features of the sludge-armored villain twisted even further, panic gripping its oozing form. Desperate, the villain raised its sludge-armored arms toward the advancing hero...!

The air around its hands began to shimmer, intense heat radiating off them. They glowed with a fiery intensity...!

It was clear—the villain was preparing to blast the green-masked hero away with its newly acquired quirk!

"DIE!!!" it shrieked in panic-filled rage, both arms erupting with explosive force, hurtling deadly blasts toward the incoming hero—!

However, the green-masked hero had anticipated such simple attacks. In that split second, as the sludge villain's blasts rocketed toward him, the hero's hand moved with precision, pushing the right side of his white apparatus—the green protruding button of it!

[GRASSHOPPER. IMAGI ACCESS.]

The white apparatus announced in a robotic voice for the world to hear, ready to aid its master. Without hesitation, the hero pressed the same green button once more, triggering another mechanical sound!

[ACCESS GRANTED. GRASSHOPPER ABILITY.]

"Grasshopper's Bound," the hero whispered softly, and then... his armored legs began to glow with a radiant, green ethereal energy.

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Author Note (and probably shameless shilling as well):

Hey, long time no see, huh?

I finally visited this fanfiction of mine after a long hiatus (again).

And you know why I did?

I'll be brutally honest with you: I got back to writing this fanfiction again after someone actually subscribed to my Patreon's membership. Someone actually wanted to see my shitty fanfiction in early access... so that kind of motivated me to actually resume.

Honestly, I was about to quit writing entirely because of monetary reasons and all... but having that one guy actually subscribe to my stuff was the motivation that I needed right now...

I really am a shameless grifter... LMAO

Well, that's all there to it.

Stay tuned for more.

And definitely check out my Patreon for early access to this fanfiction of mine.