Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1091: SSS Rank Portal || The Statue of Liberty

"Whatever are you talking about?" Triss inspected around to confirm everything was fully restored. She was astonished, but no longer baffled by Rudy's abilities. She had accepted Rudy as her equal.

"You could have told the truth and ratted me out, but not only did you lie about everything, you also turned the tables on the officials and closed the case for good."

"I did that to protect my restaurant's image. It had nothing to do with you."

Rudy quietly chuckled and said, "You know, I have many abilities. I can't even tell when a person is lying. I can also read their minds."

Triss angrily chewed down the fries with a frustrated look on her face. It was natural, since ever since she had faced him, she hadn't won a single time.

"What do you want?" Triss inquired with a sigh.

"I believe I have already told you everything."

"Hmm… I don't know. Someone making a deal to fuck another is… unheard of. Isn't that basically R*pe?" she wondered.

"You have a choice to accept that challenge or push it away. I am not forcing you to make a decision, although some things have changed. Earlier, you had no disadvantage in turning me down, but not anymore."

"Wow. Taking advantage of my kindness like that… you, mister, are a bad boy."

Rudy patiently waited for a few minutes for Triss to finish eating. He was wondering whether or not Triss would accept the challenge.

'I definitely don't have any romantic feelings for her. But…' Rudy glanced at her as he wondered, 'Is it really just lust? I do feel some kind of attraction towards her, though.'

Rudy was certain that there was someone helping him out with everything, like a guiding angel.

'Is it truly just a coincidence that I ran into her? There are still a few hours left before the spiritualist makes her presence known. Yeah, it should be fine.'

After finishing her food, Triss glanced back at Rudy.

"Oh, you are still here. You were so quiet that I thought you left."

"..." Rudy didn't say a single word in response and simply stared at her with an eager look on his face.

Triss let out a soft sigh and said, "I was expecting a comeback, for which I had thought of a finisher comeback. Now I feel lame. Wait… you said you could read minds, so that means you already knew what I was going to say, which is why you kept your mouth shut."

"Argh!" she yelled in frustration. "This feels so unfair. I already know I am going to lose if I accept your challenge, but I also don't want to accept my defeat and feel like a loser!"

'Well, I know I can read people's minds, but it doesn't work like that, at least as far as I remember. But whatever, I don't want to drag this out any longer.'

"Okay, how about this; I will let you decide on the challenge. You will set the rules and conditions, but that will apply to both of us. I will play it fair. If it's a challenge of speed, I will use only my speed. I won't teleport."

Rudy proposed an idea that was hard to turn down. He had given Triss the opportunity to win, although it was less likely that she was going to use it for her advantage.

"I don't know what's wrong with you for wanting to fuck me for no reason, but I like that you aren't forcing yourself on me even though you clearly can— given your extraordinary abilities in the last 15 minutes."

"Is that a nod to accept my challenge?" Rudy asked with a raised brow.

"Follow me."

Triss and Rudy left the restaurant without catching the attention of the passersby and blended into the crowd of the never-sleeping city.

"Where are we going?" Rudy asked curiously.

"Are you from New York?"

"No."

"Hmm." Triss took a moment and asked, "Do you know where the statue of liberty is located?"

"Well, I don't know the way, but it doesn't matter." Rudy shrugged. "Why are you asking?"

"I will tell the rest when we meet there." Triss disappeared as soon as she finished speaking.

"Whoa… she is fast, alright. And I don't think that was her peak speed."

Rudy jumped into the air and, with a sonic boom, he flew his way to the statue of liberty.

Although he had to travel from the central park, he covered the distance in less than three seconds, out of which it took him a second each to jump and land.

He expected a crowd there as it was a tourist attraction, but much to his surprise, only a few dozen people were there. Not only that, but he also saw a portal with restricted entry.

"I got here first, as expected," Rudy muttered as he walked towards the portal surrounded by the heroes.

"Hey, what took you so long?" A voice called out to him from the crowd.

It was Triss, and she was eating pizza with her friends.

"Hmm~ Interesting. I should have scanned the area instead of just focusing on the goal."

Rudy wasn't experienced in analyzing the area, nor in combat. He believed that his super power was enough for him to get out of any possible dilemma he might face.

Of course, that was true, but he lacked the ability to properly comprehend the situation and take advantage of it.

"Why are we here?" He asked Triss.

Triss moved the pizza box towards Rudy and gestured to him to eat. He took a slice and pushed the box back.

Triss then pointed her eyes at the portal and said, "This portal appeared three months ago. Back then, it was a B rank portal, but it was left unattended and it became an A rank. A few heroes were dispatched to clear it, but they never returned.

It is now New York's third SSS rank portal. If it's not cleared within a week, it will explode and the monsters inside will come out. Obviously, neither the hero organization nor the government wanted that to happen, so they launched an emergency expedition. S and SS rank heroes from all over the world have gathered here today to clear it."

"So… your challenge is…?"

"Yup. We are going to compete, and whoever gains the highest rank, wins."