The development and testing of the nuclear bomb proceeded without issue. This world had many desertified wastelands that were perfect for nuclear tests.
There were no concerns about radiation poisoning the population. From the start, the bomb wasn’t based on nuclear fission but on nuclear fusion.
The fact that the first application of cold fusion wasn’t in a power plant but in a bomb would likely make Earth’s scientists faint. But there was never any intention of making cold fusion publicly available.
"In a world where superpowers exist..."
In a place where a homeless beggar might actually be a teleportation user who could cross space at will, revealing certain technologies was an unnecessary risk.
Perhaps in the future, I could build a power plant run entirely by AI under my absolute control. But even then, nuclear fusion was an outdated technology for energy production—I probably wouldn’t ever need it.
And so—
"—The nuclear bomb is complete."
I gazed at the steel object before me, a mere few dozen kilograms in weight. No one in this world could comprehend that this small chunk of metal contained the power to annihilate mass hundreds of thousands of times its own.
Looking at the news and internet discussions, the world still believed Evilus Corporation had built some city-sized machine to cause earthquakes. No one even considered the possibility that humanity could control the power of the sun.
No one except for one person.
"Come. You’ll come, won’t you? There’s no way you can resist."
The only being in this world who understood the true danger of nuclear fusion.
A living nuclear bomb.
Mr. Clear.
He alone would grasp the true risk of this weapon. And if he understood that risk, then by the principles of the Guardians, he must come to me.
Even knowing it was a trap, even realizing that stepping into it could mean his death—he would have no choice.
"That will be your end."
Waiting for the moth to fly into the flame,
I prepared for death.
Damn it.
Mr. Satan scowled at the Evilus Corporation headquarters in front of him. He added Mr. Clear to his growing list of grudges.
He didn’t want to be here. Protecting humanity from destruction? Mr. Satan had never been convinced of that necessity. Even if they did nothing, humanity wouldn’t go extinct.
That’s why, unlike the other Guardians, he left humanity alone. And yet, despite his indifference, civilization had continued to thrive.
"If I bring this up, they’ll just say they suffered more or whatever."
Even though he had little interest in interfering with humanity, he still couldn’t refuse Mr. Clear’s request for help. It wasn’t just because Mr. Clear was the leader of the Guardians—though there was an emergency override authority, it was only meant for extreme situations.
Instead of using that authority, Mr. Clear had triggered something even more insidious.
Duty.
Even if he had no desire to interfere, even if he wanted nothing to do with it, his genes compelled him to act. The duty of a Guardian to protect humanity.
"Damn it... I should’ve run the moment I saw him. Or at least plugged my ears."
After hearing about the power of the nuclear bomb Eight had created, Mr. Satan had no choice but to acknowledge it. That weapon could destroy humanity.
And the moment he accepted that thought, it was over. His very biology forced him into action, regardless of his feelings about Mr. Clear or his methods.
And yet, Mr. Clear himself hadn’t come.
That was what really pissed him off. The bastard had sent him here first as a test subject for whatever trap Evilus Corporation had laid.
"Ah, this is why I hate organizations. Hell, I hate everything about this. I wanna die. No, actually, I don’t wanna die, but..."
Muttering to himself, Mr. Satan loitered near the Evilus headquarters, buying himself time. That hesitation paid off—before long, he noticed people around him quietly vanishing.
Then, two figures emerged. A red-haired boy and a white-haired girl.
"Yo, Satan. Been a while."
"...A while."
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"What the hell? I don’t know any kids like you... Wait—no way. Are you Powerful and Rays?"
As he looked at them more closely, Mr. Satan felt a chill run down his spine.
His former comrades. The ones who had gone to fight Evilus and died.
Now they weren’t just dead—they had been turned into children.
Tears welled in his eyes as he groaned.
"Those damn Evilus bastards... If they were gonna kill you, they should’ve just killed you outright. This is monstrous..."
"Huh? What the hell are you talking about? We’re doing fine."
"...What?"
Ares shrugged, completely unfazed.
"The food’s good, we don’t have to deal with that goddamn duty anymore. I only have to protect one person instead of all of humanity. I’m thriving over here."
"You’ve been brainwashed..."
"You’re an idiot. I said we’re fine."
Seeing his former comrade completely reduced to a mindless puppet, Mr. Satan couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Meanwhile, Ares scoffed at his dramatics.
People never understood what they hadn’t experienced firsthand. If he had seen Satan or Clear in this state instead, he probably would’ve reacted the same way.
A Guardian, once tasked with protecting humanity, now nothing more than a servant to humans—no wonder Satan thought it was a tragedy.
"Anyway, you came here to fight, right? Let’s go."
"...I really don’t want to fight an old comrade. Ah—help me out, both of you. The three of us should be able to handle this."
"You forget where we came from?"
"Evilus’s weapon is dangerous. Mr. Clear confirmed it. That thing could wipe out humanity."
"And yet, you still don’t get it!"
Ares dashed forward. His ability—to absorb the powers of those around him—turned his childlike body into that of a superhuman.
Seeing him charge, Mr. Satan realized something.
Ares had completely escaped the Guardians' duty.
He didn’t know how, but he had severed the compulsion to protect humanity. Damn it, I’m jealous...
Dodging the first attack, Satan calmly asked,
"Could you do that for me, too?"
"Surrender! Then sure!"
"You know that’s not an option... Fine. Then die."
He wanted to break free of his duty, but the only way to do that was to resist his genetic programming.
To resist, he needed external help.
But to receive external help, he had to resist first.
A contradiction.
Defeated by that contradiction, Satan unleashed his power. The Horseman of Famine. His ability weakened all enemies, and upon activation, Ares collapsed to the ground like a terminally ill patient.
His body was so weak that even breathing became a struggle.
"Kh... ugh...!"
"Sorry, but since we know each other, I’ll make it quick."
The Four Horsemen.
War, which made him stronger than all.
Pestilence, which equalized power.
And Famine, which weakened everything.
Famine was the strongest.
No matter how powerful someone was, no matter how much they suppressed others’ abilities, they couldn’t stop themselves from weakening.
"Now, die—"
[Hostile entity detected. Eliminating.]
Just as Satan moved to finish Ares, a pitch-black robot appeared.
Startled, Satan immediately activated his ability. The robot’s armor dented under the weakening force, but it didn’t stop functioning.
It was the Peacekeeper. A machine designed for war, incapable of losing in a battle.
Ares, despite the pain, chuckled weakly. Each laugh felt like his ribs were cracking apart, but he couldn’t stop.
"Good... Now you’ll see for yourself."
The thing that had turned them into this.
Ares watched as Mr. Satan prepared to face the same horror.
Only Satan, unaware of what awaited him, kept a grim expression as he stared down the machine.