New York's city blocks had already turned into a blazing inferno.
Police with light firearms and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were locked in a brutal stalemate against an ocean of Deep Sea creatures.
Even with Hulk on the battlefield, the defensive line kept collapsing. Civilians were dragged into the chaos and killed without mercy.
A pale blue glow lit up an alley.
Space twisted.
Three Hero League members arrived as reinforcements:
Thor, currently without his divine power.
Raven Blackwell, ocular prodigy and precision combatant.
Mumen Rider, street hero strengthened through Divine Fist training.
For safety, anyone below B-Class operated in teams.
A ceramic bowl shattered behind them.
They turned to see a little girl in a gray dress staring in terror at the three who had appeared out of nowhere.
Thor quickly put a finger to his lips and forced a reassuring smile, motioning for her to stay close.
A scream erupted from the street.
A monstrous figure shaped like an orca seized a fleeing civilian and roared:
"From today onward, the Deep Sea Race rules the land!"
"Resist and die!"
"Submit and you may live as livestock!"
Tiger-Class threat — Deep Sea Orca.
For Thor and Mumen Rider, this was a terrifying opponent.
Only Raven Blackwell had the strength to fight it directly.
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"Thor, Mumen Rider — evacuate the civilians. I'll handle—"
"Monster! Face the mighty Thor in honorable combat!"
Thor charged before Raven could finish.
After several days of Divine Fist training, he had barely touched the threshold. He had failed the three-day entry condition.
As promised, Seraphina Dawnshield had shaved off his thousand-year hair.
Thor had been powerless to resist.
Now, fueled by humiliation and anger, he redirected everything toward the monster.
The Deep Sea Orca swatted him like a fly.
Thor flew dozens of meters and crashed into bushes.
"Annoying human."
Raven pinched the bridge of his nose.
"That idiot…"
Mumen Rider, fully aware of his limits, rushed to retrieve the dazed Thor, slung him over his shoulder, and began rallying civilians.
"It's Mumen Rider!"
"Hero League is here!"
"We're saved!"
This neighborhood knew him well. He had protected these streets many times.
About a hundred survivors gathered with whatever weapons they had, escorting children as they retreated under Mumen Rider's lead.
Meanwhile, Raven stepped forward, blocking the Deep Sea Orca.
His red eyes spun, three tomoe revolving as he analyzed every twitch of the monster's body.
The Orca sneered.
"The great Deep Sea King granted you mercy, yet you attempt to flee? Then die!"
Raven didn't waste words.
His hands flashed through seals.
Energy rushed to his throat.
"Fire Style: Grand Fireball Technique!"
A massive sphere of flame exploded forward.
Though only a C-rank technique, against water-aligned Deep Sea creatures, the effect was devastating.
The surrounding air instantly turned scorching hot.
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