HP: ▰▰▰▰▱▱▱▱▱▱ 40/100

Taro rolled on the floor before eventually landing on his feet again to skid to a stop. The rocks were a direct hit, spikes protruding off his shoulder as he slowly stood.

He grasped at one. "Nah." His form glitched when he pulled the spear out, and he dropped it on the ground as his body solidified. He did the same with the second. "How's it treating you, whatever it is?" Her having his Quirk seemed more likely with her second bout of static but he still couldn't believe it. His power didn't seem the type that could be shared with others. Yet here his boss was, speaking normally and glitching out.

It was a fleeting thought but Taro wondered what death would look like for her.

Speaking off- "Oh right. We got a car parked some blocks away. I'm supposed to be extracting you." But they had the rock guy to contend with now. Not good to lead him to the base probably. Taro steadied his hold on his hammer as Retsu threw her explosive at the hero. "But if we're killing this guy, I'm game."

Hedgerock seemed to have other ideas. He raised an arm as he was caught in the explosion. Yet when the smoke dispersed, the hero was still standing, down an arm from having take the brunt of the blast. He grit his teeth. "As if I'll let you escape, villain." As shards migrated to the broken appendage, Hedgerock stomped his foot down, summoning spires from the ground that travelled towards the duo.

Taro acted first. Setting his boots and hammer alight, he took two aerial steps above the stalagmites to swing his weapon at the hero. Aimed at his head of course.

It didn't bring him down permanently the first time but it was always a solid start.

Bakiri Retsu

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱ 65/100

Hmm, yep. Boss sure looked upset. Being on the verge of death usually did that to a person he noticed. It made sense though. Most people had only one life, so naturally they would rather not part with it any time soon. Which made his job of returning her to the base even more important.

Taro's brow rose though when her body flickered not unlike his own, his surprise minute yet there. That certainly hadn't happened before.

And Retsu seemed to not like it either. He distanced his hand away from her, brow furrowing at her sudden eloquence when she only let out air moments before. "Dunno," he said truthfully. "You seem better already though." He glanced around Retsu's form to confirm her lack of injury before looking around. Was Mummy here after all? She was the only one who could heal someone that fast as far as he knew.

When he saw that no devil horns were present, his eyes landed on his hand instead. Huh. The static stopped. "Whatever you did fixed me though. Thanks."

A door slammed into the opposing wall, prompting Taro to turn his head. Ah. Right. "Oop, he's ba-" He couldn't even finish his sentence before he was blasted back with shards, the force pushing him deeper into the alley and away from Retsu. Not the best rescuer this one.

Bakiri Retsu

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱▱ 60/100

Taro regained control. Whether it was because the person got cold feet or they just wanted to sit back and enjoy the ride, he didn't quite know, but he didn't mind either way. It just meant he got to play again.

Authorities would arrive in the alley to the sound of several bursts, and eyes turned to the sky to spot the digital man fly to the roof of the building. Well. Less flying and more walking mid-air to more solid ground. His form would distort with each step he took until he- slammed against the wall just below the edge of the structure. He grasped the edge to pull himself up the rest of the way.

Voices shouted below as Taro waited for his body to stabilize. "You doing ok-kay there?" He tilted his head as he waited for a response.

It never came. Huh. Did the stranger leave entirely? It would be a bummer if they did. He hoped they would at least say goodbye first.

Stomps sounded in the distance. The cops must've found the stairs. Taro sighed. Guess he should get moving.

Powering up his boots again, he leapt from roof to roof and let the night take him.

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 95/100

The noise died down significantly. Strange, when he was pretty sure a fight was going on moments ago. Was the blast so big that it killed everyone? A commendation to his boss' efforts with the hammer, but RIP her if he blew her up when he was supposed to rescue her. Whoops. Human life really was too fragile.

Taro stepped into the room, eyes drawn to the body that lay within. He stared at the noticeable crack on the man's head, tilting his own. Well. It wasn't Retsu. Must be the guy she was up against then.

He turned his head to the subtle shuffling on the ground. Little crystals, drawn to the stranger as if magnetized. Meaning there was a non-zero chance the man was still alive. But where was his boss?

An explosion then. Not knowing whether it was caused by friend for foe - Retsu liked her bombs but explosions were surprisingly commonplace in the underworld (sorry boss) - Taro drew himself to full height and held his hammer in both hands before making his way to the door. He peeked out into the alley towards the cause of the sound, and not too far away was-

Oh. His boss.

Taro made no attempt at quieting his stride as he ran towards her "Boss-" Only slowing once he was close enough and could take in her condition. "Damn. You look like shit." Crouching down, he offered a hand. "I got the guy I think you were fighting, but he's not gonna be down for long. Think you can stand? The van's not too far from here."

Unknown to him was what would happen if she touched his flickering form, its sturdiness only proven with the hammer still held in his other hand.

Bakiri Retsu

HP: ▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱▱ 0/100

As tentacles tangled themselves together - say that five times fast - due to the hero's quick thinking with varying their speeds of approach, Taro at one point held his hammer in one hand to draw his sword with the other, slicing down at the tendrils that were not fully frozen by the woman's Quirk. Still he got clipped from time to time, but at least they weren't as lethal as the initial hit.

He hummed at her warning. "Eh. Don't need to worry about safety usually. I can't feel pain like you guys do." Time and again he was reminded of how fragile human life was, and how many just weren't aware of how likely it was for him to outlive them all. Sustenance unnecessary. Infinite in age. Who knew what the future would hold?

A wet smack on his face pulled Taro to the present. What was he doing again? Oh right, creature killing.

Surprisingly enough, it was as if the number of limbs were letting up, each splash a sign that another had dropped in the water lifeless. Yuki Onna's precision contrasted his brutality, which was all well and good here. He tilted his head when she spoke into her phone but the conversation didn't hold his interest for long. Not much to glean from half of it- especially when it sounded like someone calling for help. Heroes must get those all the time.

At her question, Taro blinked before sheathing his blade with a smile. "Oh yeah. Check this out." Grasping his hammer in both hands, he twisted the handle. An orange glow spread across the head and smoke began to escape the exhaust the weapon was equipped with. All it took was a swing once he got close enough.

A crack on the monster's shell from his strength alone, followed immediately by an explosion.

Shrapnel shot out in all directions from the creature as the blast went clean through its armour. Something Taro couldn't avoid due to being the one to deliver the blow, but it's why the weapon was perfect for him. He didn't get hurt. He was still sta—

A pincer jabbed into his abdomen, as if the mutant mollusk wanted to take at least him down with it. Ah crap. Should've known something else was unnatural about it beyond its size. "D-d-d-damn. So c-clos-s-se." With little preamble his body blinked into nothing. At least it was one less threat the remaining hero had to contend with.

So much for that game though. Maybe another time.

Shirayuki Mai

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▱▱▱ 65/100

As the shark roared before diving into the bay away from the woman's retaliation, Taro blinked in surprise. She accepted his invite? Huh. Maybe heroes knew how to have fun after all. Assuming she was one of course. Easy to tell what with her pulling people out of danger and all.

Speaking of person, she was saving them again from a watery grave, stomping the slippery limb that latched on into letting go. Taro tilted his head at the lying man in thought before shaking his head. "Nah. That guy's too big to be a club I think. Would be weird to hold him like one." It was definitely an option but he wouldn't want her to break her back while playing. Too bad he couldn't tell she didn't mean to play golf in the literal sense.

Taro's eyes rested on the woman as she introduced herself and he gave an easy smile. "It's chill. Name's Player One." He remembered not to tell his real name during a crisis at least. "And I thought you were free to play?"

As one limb slipped back into the water, several large tentacles erupted in its place. Some would slam down in the sand in rage, while others would swipe sideways. One smacked Taro in the face and he fell to the ground hard.

He just laid there as he waited for his body to get a grip and stop doing the staticy thing. "I g-get it though. Hard to do that-t in these c-c-conditions."

Shirayuki Mai

HP: ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ 100/100

Pandemonium at the beachside. Urchins rolled out of the water to chase screaming sun tanners. Eels wrapped around several bystanders and electrocuted them. A large shark was shaking some armoured guy in its maw like a chew toy. In general, Tokyo's renowned heroes had a lot of work cut out for them if they wanted to get rid of the latest set of monsters.

Meanwhile, Taro was having fun.

He readied his hammer. "Fore!"

And a nautilus flew through the air before landing in the water. It slowly crawled towards him so that counted as an attack on his person, therefore he was good to hit it. Though he should probably find a smaller target than the entire bay. Oh well. He'll figure something out eventually.

A second mollusk joined the first in its impromptu flight lesson.

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