6 Chapter 6 - Heat Mode

Seeing the two men arrive in my room, I decided to help Lala since I wanted to fight them, sensing their overwhelming prowess. I wonder if the [ Spiral Energy ]would be enough to combat them. Though, can massively increase my overall combat power doesn't mean it is permanent.

'I need to help Lala.'

[ Quest Created! ]

[ Task: Help Lala escape their clutches. ]

[ Reward: Lv.1 Foresight(C) ]

Oh, this technique would be useful in a fight since from what I remember it came from a character from Kengan Ashura named Kaneda Suekichi who wasn't physically strong but makes up for this ability.

It is an ability to use his superhuman analytical prowess to study his opponent's movements in real-time. Suekichi can gradually begin to predict his opponent's moves with sublime accuracy to the point where he is then able to exploit them using this knowledge.

However, the drawback to his Foresight is that it takes time for him to begin to understand and predict his opponent; he must withstand blows or barely dodge blows to begin to understand and predict.

'Still with my [ Tachypsychia ] then I can easily learn and adapt using it to my advantage.'

The two men tried to take Lala home as I read my new quest. Lala attempted to free herself and even bite one of them, but it wasn't enough. I threw the book at the hand holding Lala, grabbed her hand, and ran away through the window.

"Haruto!?"

We ran on and jumped from one roof to another to finally end up in the park. As we were running there, a truck flew above us and landed in a way that blocked our escape route. Damn, they're superhuman! I wonder how they fare against them.

"Do not interfere, Earthling." The two were ready to fight me while my heart was pounding not of fear but of excitement. They were superior in strength but lifting strength doesn't always equate to power. Am I biting more than I could chew? Yeah but who the hell cares!? I can't give up and this is no different than the fight I had earlier.

"I don't know who his father is or why he's doing this but deciding on his daughter's future is not for him to decide nor anyone else but her!" I screamed truly angry knowing that her father, Gid wanted his daughter to marry so he could give up his throne and chase girl's skirt. If I help, would I end up in Rito's position?

The responsibility seems too much but then again most affairs are handled by his wife. Still, I don't want the responsibility to be on other people. But I know I'll regret helping her knowing my life could have been mundane if I wanted. However, it outweighs my guilt for not helping her.

'I need to defeat them!'

[ Quest Created ]

[ Task: Defeated two Devilukean ]

[ Reward: 1,000 QP, Lv.1 Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist (D) ]

And D? Doesn't that mean it starts with someone who has some knowledge of it? I can see it surpassing S rank since the technique is superhuman level. I took a defeated breath and took a stance against the two, surprising all of them including Lala. I didn't know her yet I was going this far for her. She felt a strange fuzzy feeling welling up in her heart that I wasn't aware of.

"You expect to fight us, Earthling? Didn't you see how we lift something no one like yours can?" They have a point since humans can't.

"Haruto! Let me handle this." Lala is going to use her device but I can't let this opportunity go. The excitement. The anticipation. I want to experience what I felt earlier fighting those karate club members and overcoming them. I didn't even listen and rushed towards them while I used my [ Tachypsychia ] to slow my perception by a crawl.

Unfortunately, they were faster and stronger, resulting in me receiving their punch and sending me several feet away.

"Haruto! Stop hurting him!" I could hear her voice while I was on the ground in agonizing pain. Their punch held more weight than I expected. Can I even put a scratch on them? Logically this is an impossible match to begin with, akin to an ant to an elephant.

"He asked for it, Lala-sama." They said as their eyes clearly surprised when I was already standing up wiping the blood from my face and instead of fear, a smile formed on my face.

"Haaa…don't worry about me. I'll make the impossible possible and the freedom of choice." I said that was clearly better in my head.

"You don't get it do you, Earthling!" One of them vanished and appeared close to me. I was astonished by their inhuman speed and immediately used my ability [ Foresight ] where I was barely able to predict his movement based on other abilities of [ Tachypsychia ].

I received the full punch as I didn't care if I lost and focused on moving forward and winning as the [ Spiral Power ] well up within me. The green energy energized me as I started to use [ Surpass Limit ] where my strength skyrocketed pushing everything past my current limit.

I dodged grazed by his fist and this surprised him as I clenched my fist tightly as veins popped and churned all my strength. This has already been my 3rd time pushing myself. I used the opening to counterattack and strike their face with my full force. I was only an E Rank yet I'm able to fight this far thanks to [ Spiral Powers ].

'What is this strength coming from!? Earthlings shouldn't have this kind of power!?' The man was clearly in disbelief as his face was planted on the ground and even pushed into the pavement. My action shocked the other guy and Lala who didn't expect me to be able to fight them. I didn't let him take an opportunity and unleashed a series of punches with each one having almost all of strength and more.

However, even though I was able to land a hit it was still no match, and received a punch on the gut causing me to cough out the air in my diaphragm and then receive a punch at my face. Both of us collected ourselves as his face was clearly impressed by my action.

"You are certainly a strong earthling but it is not enough to defeat both of us." He said and a glance over to his ally appeared inches away from me as I was barely able to evade their attack and move away hoping to find a place to land a hit. I strike one of them and receive a counter at both of us stagger from our attack.

"I'm done! This is only the warm-up!" I said pushing myself more and more where we all exchanged blows where I was slowly getting in sync with their moment and copied their style of fighting that was direct and similar to Kickboxing.

'Is he really an Earthling? He's acting more like a Devilukean.' I don't know what you're thinking but I'm sure you're impressed by my fight. They couldn't sense my [ Spiral Power ] but clearly felt that I was growing more and more as the fight continued.

This is getting even more fun! Is this fight it truly feels to fight!? I want more! They were shaken when I managed to make one for them stagger and I made sure to give it my all. The rush of excitement was getting to me as I was getting lost in the feeling. Something burning in my chest and I wasn't sure what it was but I needed it!

The feeling rushing into my heart and mind experiences a euphoria. I hate the thought of losing! This wasn't the case before but having become a Battle Junkie changes everything! It was as if my sense of a man destined to be a fighter was awakening. It is vastly different from the [ Spiral Powers ] that empowered me to overcome the adversary or at least keep up.

They were strong. Extremely strong. No human can hope to match them but I didn't care and was angry at myself for some reason. And this anger forms into self-hate. The thought of weakness revolts me! I loathe stepping back down without giving it my all.

[ You have gained "Lv.1 Heat Mode(E)." ]

Ah, the euphoric feeling of that thing huh? Well hahaha how convenient! From what I know, according to Samuel Seo, a character from Lookism, "It happens occasionally. When your body becomes hot in the middle of a fight. To be brief, it's self-hatred.

You can't stand feeling disgusted with yourself. Why is this all I can do... Why can't I do more when I try so hard... It's from your deep inside, what comes up becomes... The "self-hatred", "Sense of Inferiority", "Self-reproach". These feelings of inferior emotions... are turned into hysteria." That is what Heat Mode is! I liked this feeling! I'm too weak against them but I don't care!

"Hahahaha come on!! This can't be all you got!"

My smile frightened them as my whole demeanor shifted and everything was a lot more clear than before as I grabbed one of them by the air and slapped my knee then slammed his head into the ground with every I got.

"Show me what you got!"

Then stepped back as the other guy tried to punch me but their moment became slower and easier to read. My [ Foresight ] and [ Tachypsychia ] work wonders. Lala saw how I was acting and didn't seem scared and was worried for my well-being. The one I attacked joined in as I tried to parry their attack and evade several of their attacks. I intercepted them and then used that moment to either kick or strike them.

We both stepped back as it was clear our fight was taking a toll on our whole body. The two had no killing intention and were actually trying to knock me down since if they wanted then it was possible to use their tail to shoot a beam but decided not to.

"Haaa…you…I admit that if you were devilukean then I would have been defeated some time ago."

"Same…haaa…here.. you're a tenacious fighter, earthling. We admit defeat."

"Hehehe….I wasn't planning on winning and simply wanted a fight. This is the best I could do at my current level." I fall into my knees since even with [ Spiral Powers ] limitless potential, I have my limits but that's fine. This is only the beginning and I have more opportunities to grow and evolve. Then notification came in and to my surprise actually accomplished the task.

'Guess I simply need them to admit defeat rather than actually defeating them.'

"As a sign of respect, we will leave you with our princess for the time being." They said as I was lucky enough for them to actually let us go and the two glanced at Lala then left since they have some pride and even though they might be punished believe that I was worth the risk.

Guess my action wasn't for nothing huh? I soon fell to the floor and heard Lala scream as she launched herself into me, crashing into me in the process. She then proceeded to shake me as hard as she could.

"Haruto, are you alright!? Are you alright? What happened? Why were you in pain?"

"St-op sha-king me." She really is strong and makes me feel sick from shaking me. Lala let go of me, giving a sigh of relief.

"Everything is okay. I knew the two were strong which is why I forced myself to match their strength but guess it wasn't enough. Still, If I rest for a bit, I'll recover."

"Really?"

"Really, really…."

I patted her head and it felt kind of nice how silky soft it was.

"I'm a little ashamed to ask, but can you help me return home? I don't think I can go back on my own."

I couldn't even stand up by myself as everything was sore. It's really confusing how [ Spiral Powers works ] but at least my stats increased once again. Every time I use it I seem to gain power to overcome my opponent like plot armor but disappears once I'm out in a fight and retains a fraction of what I use.

"Sure!"

We went back to my room without saying anything, but it didn't feel awkward. It just felt... right.

In the room, I finally sat on the bed. I recovered enough to at least walk, but I still need a whole night of sleep to be at 100%... or that's what I feel. I'm not an expert, and I've never been in a similar situation, but my recovery rate has slightly increased, so I'm hoping for it.

"Hey, Haruto."

"Yes?"

"Thank you. I'm happy that you saved me, but you should also think about yourself more."

I waved my hand.

"Don't worry about it. I was the one that wanted to help, so you don't need to feel guilty, understand?"

I once again patted her. At this, she showed me a dazzling smile. I was momentarily stunned by it. She really was the daughter of the most beautiful woman in the universe.

"Yes!" Whoever she ends up with is going to be a lucky man. Lala was looking at me in deep thought which made me wonder what was bothering her.

"Hey, Haruto?"

"What is it?"

"Let's get married."

"...What?"

I blink a few times wondering if I heard it correctly. me? Marry her? What the hell!? Am I the lucky man? Guess I am.

[ Special Quest! ]

[ Task: Get engaged with Lala Satalin Deviluke ]

[ Reward: Lv.1 Zone(C) ]