Evolving Infinitely From An E-Class Hero-Chapter 97: Maelstrom

"This is resonance..."

Boomerang Man managed to pull a knee out of his crouching position amidst the intense pain his body was going through.

Grit!.

He gnashed his teeth against eachother as he pulled his second knee and then climbed to his feet.

"Argghhh!" 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Pain shot through his body like an earthquake ripple, but he fought through it relentlessly.

"Spit the entire depths of my knowledge..."

The Calamity Creature tilted its head inquisitively, eyes still locked on him.

"Imagine a future version of myself who’s fully surpassed my limits...!"

Skrrrrr!

He dragged his legs across the tilted flooring, dropping smoothly into a combat pose.

"I think I can do it!!!!..." He yelled out loud and then a manicle laugh followed.

Shiioom!

He pulled a bundle of boomerangs out of know where, at least ten to twenty of them skillfully held within his hands.

"With a strong foundation— which I already have... And a little bit of sense and imagination, it just takes the slightest trigger to change a person..."

Clang!

The boomerangs metal surfaces clanked against eachother as he switched his arms into a criss cross.

"Supreme Skill: Maelstrom!"

Shiioom!

He switched again and released all boomerangs in the air, swinging towards the Calamity Creature with amazing speed.

The boomerangs flew around their space as if they were unnaturally controlled. And of course they were, he was controlling them with the magnetic recall system imbued in each and every one of them.

"Separate!"

Shiioom!

Each of the boomerangs further divided into two further increasing their numbers to about ninety to a hundred.

It took him a lot of focus to be able to control each and every one of those projectiles. But, he was hell bent on destroying this Calamity Creature.

"Argghhh!"

The boomerangs began engaging the creature, slicing and dicing it. Each Boomerang hitting the creature flew off giving way for another two to hit and move on before circling back and repeating the process — like a whirlpool.

Shriiieekk!

The creature shirked in pain and its once blueish skin turned towards red now and purple spewing from the hundreds of open cuts.

"More... I need more!!!"

"Separate!"

Shiioom!

A half of the boomerangs further divided into two making the total number up to a hundred and twenty.

Slice! Slice! Slice!

"Argghhh!"

He was starting to loose control of some of the boomerangs in the out skirts of the whirlpool so he decided to end the skill before he would run out of boomerangs.

Cling, Cling, Cling, Cling, Cling, Cling, Cling, Cling!

The boomerangs combined back together and then smoothly made their way back into his hands.

By this time, the Calamity Creature was completely covered in cuts. From its head all the way to its feet, every nuke and cranny of its body had some sought of appendage that oozed out purple blood.

Then, it fell slowly to the floor like a sac of potatoes. Crumbling under its own weight and its limbs separated from its body and tumbled to the ground as well.

"I did it..."

Boomerang Man fell to his knees as he felt a wave of exhaustion hit him from the top of his head.

"I’m tired..."

He said before falling to the ground head first and then blacked out.

***

RUNWAY, SECTOR D AIRPORT.

So much going on all at once.

While engaging this Calamity Creature, I was keeping track of Boomerang Mans vitals— he’s badly injured.

But its stable for now, my guess is that he found a way to evade the Calamity Creatures and get some sought of first aid.

Simultaneously, I was scrolling through the news and internet. Seeing the wreckage done the Calamity Creature over at Sector B with Thunderlash and Ice Blast handling it. And more importantly, The Hero Hunter.

Finally, he shows himself to the light.

Although he crushed every expectation I had of his physical appearance, he seems to be rather stronger than he led us to believe.

He’s on par with S-Class or worse higher!

The only thing is that he hasn’t faced any hero as strong as him, so he’s about to get a run for his money.

Tti-ring.

[Master...]

[Query Received: Distance Assessment – Sector D ↔ Sector B

[Calculating...]

Geographical Link Established!

> Result: Distance between Sector B and the current location point in Sector D ~800 kilometers (≈497 miles)

> [Status: Intercontinental Neighbor]

[Incinerate Travel Time: Approx. 1– 2 minutes depending on percentage output]

"Thank you..." I muttered as I jumped back and skipped a couple steps across the asphalt of the runway.

This particular Calamity Creature had the ability to punch faster than the human eye can calculate, so I tried keeping my distance from its pincers.

It looked like a shrimp, a huge one.

With multiple feet and an exoskeleton that was so hard it resisted my skill Machine Gun Blows — Twice.

It’s like for every new Calamity Creature that surfaced, it would be several times stronger than previous ones.

There was no time to waste, I had to help Thunderlash and Ice Blast any way I can while taking care of this creature.

"This things are such a pain in the ass..."

"How does a shrimp become this strong!"

"Grrr!"

I shot a blast of golden energy at it and it simply doged it easily without any fuss— its fast too.

Tti-ring.

[Master...]

[Has it come to your notice that these monsters have a lot in common with earths native creatures...?]

"Yes... I think that is very obvious!"

Tti-ring.

[For example, this specific Calamity Creature has the characteristics and attributes of a Mantis Shrimp...]

"Mantis Shrimp?"

Tti-ring.

[Yes... Master...]

[So in other to find an effective and efficient way to get rid of this specific Calamity Creature, you would have to use the method adopted in crippling a real life Mantis Shrimp...]

"Ha!..." I blurted out in glee, why the hell didn’t I think of that?

But, these creatures are several times bigger, stronger and faster than the normal earth creature that they mimic, so would the same tactics even work on them?

"There’s only one way to find out..."

Tti-ring.

[Master, I’ve prepared a step by step catalogue to kill this Calamity Creature]

Target Identified:

Composition: Giant Mantis Shrimp

Threat Level: A-Class Apex Predator

Size: 3 meters

Notable Abilities:

– Hypervelocity Strike (23 m/s punch force)

– Armored Exoskeleton (Resistant to bullets and energy blast)

– Ultraviolet Vision

– Rapid Regeneration (Minor injuries only)

"It has ultraviolet vision? What the hell!!"

Objective: Terminate Giant Mantis Shrimp looking Calamity Creature using real-world anatomical vulnerabilities and tactical science.

"Let’s go!"

Boom!

I left the ground in attack, aiming my body towards the Calamity Creature.

Tti-ring.

[Step 1: [Target Weak Point – Visual Nodes]

> "Strike the eyes to blind the beast."

The mantis shrimp’s stalked eyes contain complex optical structures. Destroying these reduces accuracy and aggressiveness.

Tactic Unlocked: Use precision lasers or armor-piercing darts aimed at the ocular stalks.

Status Effect: -40% Target Accuracy | +30% Enrage Chance

Step 2: [Disable Raptorial Appendages – "Claw Lock"]

> "Its punch can shatter armor. Remove the hammer."

The mantis shrimp’s club-like claws deliver sonic cavitation bubbles. Target the soft connective membrane at the base of each raptorial limb.

Tactic Unlocked: Net trap with plasma-thread binding or explosive bolas to restrict movement.

Bonus Effect: +100% Critical Damage to forelimb joints.

Step 3: [Exploit Internal Overheat]

> "Let its own power devour it."

When striking, mantis shrimps generate localized heat up to 4,800°C due to cavitation. Force it to punch reinforced obsidian decoys repeatedly.

Status Effect: +90% Chance of Self-Damage

Special Condition Triggered: Limb Overload – "Self-Rupture"

Step 4: [Ventral Assault – "Belly Breach"]

> "Crack the shell where it’s thinnest."

Underneath the thorax lies thinner exoskeletal plating.

Tactic Unlocked: Piercing harpoon + shock grenade combo fired from below.

Critical Effect: Instant Organ Exposure

Final Execution Protocol: "Shell Shatter Gambit"

Activate Skill [ Machine Gun Blows] with mantis-specific kinetic tuning.

Hit into the exposed thoracic vent to ensure neural collapse.

Confirm target remains motionless for 10 seconds.

Kill Confirmed.

----

There it was, the signature purple-ish blood oozing from its dead body. The whole exchange was quick, not lasting more than a minute and the Calamity Creature had no chance to retaliate or even defend its self.

Tti-ring.

[Congratulations]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

[You have leveled up!]

[Reward: +10 in all physical stats.]

[Stats]

[Strength: 175 + 10

Endurance: 134 + 10

Agility: 164 + 10

Intelligence: 164 + 10

Perception: 136 +10]

Tti-ring.

[Reward Received]

[Stats]

[Strength: 185

Endurance: 144

Agility: 174

Intelligence: 174

Perception: 146]

Tti-ring.

[New Skill Unlocked]

[Tactical Swarm]

[Composition: Deploys a swarm of microdrones from internal compartments within the suit. These autonomous drones function as multi-role units—handling recon, crowd control, sabotage, or short-range assault depending on real-time battlefield conditions.

Primary Functions:

Recon Mode: Drones map enemy positions via thermal, motion, and acoustic scans, then feed the data to Masters POV.

Suppression Mode: Emits blinding strobe pulses and directed sound bursts to disorient targets.

Assault Mode: Equips select drones with micro-tasers, acid capsules, or high-velocity needle projectiles.

Disruption Mode: Targets enemy electronics and systems with EMP bursts or signal jammers.]

"That’s good... Now unto that Hero Hunter!"