Chapter 98: Dr. Blessed vs. Knuckleduster — An Equivalent Exchange!
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Tokyo,
Kazuho Haneyama took a relative, deserted street back home in the evening once again.
Ever since her first meeting with Dr. Blessed and then her talk with Master, she had been having an awful feeling.
It felt like the Naruhata Incident all over again… but on a much grander scale.
As if the feeling wasn't nauseating enough, to top it off, she felt helpless.
A Quirkless girl… what could she even do?
Kazuho bit her lips, looking up. The sky was the same to her. Over a week had passed, but that person never showed himself again.
She had been returning late from college, too.
But why hadn't he contacted her again?!
Where was he?!
"Where are you…" Kazuho mumbled, holding her purse tight.
"We meet again, Ms. Kazuho."
The voice was like knives' edges scraping over each other, scaring the living breath out of Kazuho. Her head snapped up, and, standing under the alley's low light, flanked by tall walls on either side, was he.
He still looked the same.
A long, white coat. Black hair. Plain, but solid, black mask, with two holes for eyes, glowing red. Yes. It was him, alright.
Dr. Blessed!
"Have you thought it out?" He asked with his hands inside the coat's pockets. "Are you willing to become Mr. Fool's follower and obtain power to dictate your fate in the coming war?"
"I…" Kazuho stuttered.
"I don't know about her," a thick, old voice entered their ears from behind Dr. Blessed. "But I would like to have a first-hand taste of this power… if you don't mind, kid."
"I see…" Dr. Blessed said, his tone holding an obvious tone of amusement. "You have brought a friend…"
At the end of the alley, from the darkness, Iwao Oguro walked out as Knuckleduster.
"Manipulating little girls left and right," he said, eying Dr. Blessed, "and cajoling them to join a cult. Is that the teachings of this… Fool? Don't try to hide behind that mask more than you need to.
"This ends here. You know why? Because — I am here!"
Silence.
First, they heard a chuckle.
The laugh followed shortly after.
"Hahaha!" Dr. Blessed was laughing, holding his stomach. "Hahahaha…"
Is he really a lunatic? Knuckleduster thought, frowning. But those documents…
"Don't mind me…" Dr. Blessed said, calming down. "I tend to get emotional now and then… Haha…"
"…?"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a chill ran down Knuckleduster's spine.
It was like a beast was eying him down. A massive, hungry, and merciless beast.
By the time the feeling abated, Knuckleduster found himself holding his fists up, ready to pummel the religious fanatic to oblivion.
"Ah, I see," Dr. Blessed said, his tone much calmer than before. "So, you are indeed Quirkless, Mr. Iwao. By the way, amazing senses, you have got there. Even after losing your Quirk, your Spirituality is higher than an average Quirk user… Incredible."
Knuckleduster's eyes widened.
In the documents that Kazuho brought to him, there was a folder separately on him, mentioning his past Quirk and his current status.
But, from Dr. Blessed's tone, it felt like this man had confirmed it just now.
Iwao remembered the strange sensation and couldn't help but think if this man also possessed a Quirk similar to that Erasure Eyes kid.
No. This was getting out of hand.
If he waited any longer, then it would give this lunatic an upper hand without making any move, Iwao knew.
So, guided by his instincts, he broke into a run, his fists out.
With the braces supporting his right and left leg, and the pain tablets he had consumed before revealing himself, he could go all out for a few minutes.
That should be enough to take care of this guy, he believed.
"This is a funny turn of events…" Dr. Blessed said.
Knuckleduster punched, air sizzling around his Brass Knuckles.
To Iwao's surprise, the man dodged — his hands still in the coat's pockets!
Punches after punches, kicks after kicks, grunts after grunts — Knuckleduster threw everything at Dr. Blessed, but he just couldn't touch the guy.
On the other side, seeing them from afar, Kazuho gasped.
She knew how strong Master was. This was the same Knuckleduster who could go toe to toe against a Physique-augmenting Quirk user and come out as a victor.
Yet, here he was, finding even landing a blow difficult.
Meanwhile, even though he was feeling a bit odd, throwing empty punches, Knuckleduster had enough experience to figure out a few details.
It's not like this guy is fast… Iwao thought, narrowing his eyes. It feels like — he knows where I will be attacking.
As if that wasn't enough, Iwao felt like this man possessed some inhumane agility.
So that's how it is, Knuckleduster thought, grinning within. Some kind of Danger Intuition and High Dexterity? Well… let's kick it up a notch, then…
In quick succession, he fired dozens of feint punches, trying to get a good read on Dr. Blessed's dodging habits.
Then, right as Dr. Blessed took a right step, as Iwao predicted, he threw a massive fist, putting his back into it.
BOOM!
Dr. Blessed's entire figure skidded dozens of feet before he came to a rest.
Right before the punch could land, he had crossed his hands against his chest.
But if Knuckleduster hadn't forgotten the true measure of his strength, then those arms were as good as gone.
"Oh…" Dr. Blessed said, showing no sign of pain, letting his arms dangle by his sides. "You broke my arms…"
Knuckleduster scoffed and took a step forward. "So much for…"
Then, with a thud, he fell, his knees striking the earth.
"Master!" Kazuho gasped.
Iwao looked down and saw half a dozen tarot cards stuck deep into his braces, blood trickling down his legs.
Squeak!
Two enormous rats went past Iwao, squeaking loudly.
As they climbed Dr. Blessed's shoulders, he snapped his fingers.
The entire alley lit up with a blue glow coming out of the rats' eyes. Then, with a muffled squelch, the rats exploded.
To Iwao's great shock, Dr. Blessed shook his arms, clenching and unclenching his fingers.
He looked over his shoulder at Kazuho. "This sky…" Then he looked back at Iwao. "These legs…
"I can heal them. I am not your enemy, Ms. Kazuho, Mr. Iwao. But, yes. I am not doing it out of mercy, either.
"What I follow is the Principle of Equivalent Exchange. I will give you a fighting chance, which, believe me, you will need.
"In return, all I ask is your faith.
"Praise be to Mr. Fool."
Then, under Iwao and Kazuho's shaking gazes, Dr. Blessed melted into blackness.
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AN: Original Image of Dr. Blessed, using the rats to heal himself, is available
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