Harem Hero

Successors

Mitsuru has been working up a storm for the past few hours. You were concerned about her since she hadn't contacted you today, but when you arrived in the lab you found her deeply immersed in the creation of her new form change system. Though the amount of effort being put into the creation of the system is not matched with real results. Mitsuru is getting increasingly frustrated as she stares at the complicated calculations of her teleportation system.

"Why on earth can't I get this to work!" she rages, "I'm supposed to be smarter than this!"

"Want me to summon someone to help?"

She sighs and waves you away, "No. I'm afraid this is something only I can really comprehend. Training another person to understand the ins and outs of my code would take even longer than simply doing it myself."

You scratch your chin, "So why not summon another copy of yourself?"

She is unusually hesitant about your idea, "I wouldn't like that. Just leave it to me. I'll make a breakthrough soon, and then those alien invaders won't know what hit them." Perhaps some kind of unknown calamity will happen if too many Mitsuru's gather in one place, she certainly looks shaken enough to make you believe that.

Your phone starts vibrating – one of the custom alerts that you and Mitsuru set to watch the news has been pinged. There's an attack ongoing a short distance from here. "We can talk more later, looks like it's time to fight again."

Mitsuru nods, "Don't hesitate to call for help. Remember, I gave you that thing for a reason."

You hurry over to the bike and kick the engine to life, it's time to dispense some justice.

------

When you arrive at the scene, there's nobody around to lead into another hostage situation. A few burning cars lay on either side of the street. Aside from some property damage there isn't much to concern yourself with; it doesn't seem like a lot of people were here when the attack started. Waiting in the middle of the chaos is Sundar, perched atop a pile of rubble like a makeshift throne. The smell of smoke chokes your senses.

You groan, "Why are you back? I was enjoying not seeing you again after that last fight."

The prideful commander smirks and slicks back his hair; "Ah, still upset about your previous loss, huh? Must have hurt your feelings to be so thoroughly outsmarted like that."

"Outsmarted? I seem to recall things a little differently. With you running like a beaten dog."

"Only because I got what I wanted. Those other morons in the officer's cadre don't have a brain cell to share between them. I realised early on that fighting you on uneven footing was a waste of time. I've seen enough of Faust flailing around and coming home with no results. So I'm changing the game."

You press the button on your bracelet, summoning Herarmor-kun around your body and get ready for a fight, "And how are you gonna' do that?"

Sundar was waiting for you to ask. He snaps his fingers, bringing forth another of his spark spewing portals. Your throat runs dry. A single black boot emerged from the gaping maw, and then another – you quickly discover exactly what Sundar meant, and why he had stolen a copy of the Sledgehammer from you in the first place. A black and purple imitator, wearing modified armour similar to yours, and wielding a weapon of matching décor.

They are... much shorter than you.

"Copyright infringement! I'll see you in court!" Mitsuru yells through your radio.

That aside, Sundar is hopping from foot to foot in excitement, "Oh, I wish I could see that tortured face of yours! I'll have to ask my new soldier here to tear that pathetic helmet from your head and allow me to see your despair properly."