"Oh my God…"
Tony froze at the sight before him, equal parts astonished and intrigued by Hayashi. This beautiful, doll-like "girl" who had appeared out of nowhere in the cave—(How many times do I have to say it? I'm a boy, Hayashi muttered inwardly)—was clearly hiding more than a few secrets.
Hayashi noticed Tony staring blankly and couldn't help feeling exasperated."You've been in a daze since I showed up. How about helping out instead?"
Snapping out of it, Tony rushed forward."Alright, kid—time to see what Uncle Tony can do."
He raised his gauntleted hands and unleashed jets of scorching fire, engulfing the enemies ahead.
The air filled with panicked screams as terrorists burned. Already unnerved by the bullet-immune "weirdo" Hayashi, the sudden arrival of a man encased in metal—immune to gunfire and capable of spewing flames—was more than their rattled minds could comprehend.
"Ethan, nameless girl—come with me! We're fighting our way out!" Tony barked.
"I'm not nameless! My name is Hayashi, and I'm a boy!" Hayashi snapped, voice edged with irritation.
"Alright, Hayashi-boy," Tony said briskly, "whatever your powers are, I need you to stick with me and push out, got it?"
Without waiting for a reply, Tony charged ahead. Ethan followed close behind, and—having vented his irritation—our "little princess" Hayashi trailed after them.
With the Iron Man suit, Tony tore through opposition like a juggernaut.
Hayashi kept pace, "cleaning up" after him—devouring fallen terrorists as he moved. Great Sage, analyze the abilities from these bodies.
"Analysis complete. Acquired: Firearms Proficiency, Basic Combat Skills."
Hayashi kept his expression neutral but inwardly grinned.The Great Sage is amazing. If I swallow Tony's armor one day, I'll gain the ability to make it myself. And if I ever got hold of the Infinity Stones… I'd be unstoppable.
He was still daydreaming about punching the "Purple Potato" Titan and kicking Dormammu into the void when they reached the cave's exit. Tony's final punch sent the last terrorist crumpling to the ground.
After three long months of captivity, the sight of open sky sent a jolt of exhilaration through Tony and Ethan.
"Alright, genius, any idea how we get out of the middle of a desert?" Hayashi's childlike voice cut through their moment of freedom, dragging them back to reality.
Tony glanced at him, chuckled, and muttered, "Clearly a girl… but insists on being a boy. Kids these days."
"Hey! I told you I'm a man!" Hayashi barked, his delicate features—waist-length azure hair, pale skin, and refined face—completely undermining his claim. His puffed-up glare only made him look cuter, much to Tony and Ethan's quiet amusement.
Tony's expression sobered as he turned toward the cave. "Time to blow this place."
"Are you sure? Everyone inside is already dead," Ethan asked cautiously.
"I want to make damn sure these weapons never end up back in terrorist hands."
A moment later—BOOM—the cavern exploded. A roaring fireball spewed from the entrance, the heat so intense that Tony and Ethan instinctively stepped back.
Hayashi, however, didn't so much as flinch.
"Great Sage, why can I see the flames but not feel them?"
"Answer: Slimes are naturally without sensory perception. You have perfectly inherited this trait."
Can I not have that? Hayashi thought sourly. What if I want to… hug someone? Kiss a pretty girl? Do… other things?
"Solution: Physical Perception skill generated. This mimics human senses through contact with the outside world. Additionally, your inherited Rimuru-based abilities have been optimized—your gender is likewise inherited."
Wait… so my gender is… neither?
"Yes, host."
Hayashi's face went pale. To confirm, he turned away from Tony and Ethan, unzipped his pants, and looked. The sight of his smooth, featureless lower half made the world dim around him.
"Oh no… why would you do this to me?!" he wailed.
Tony, still admiring the fiery wreckage, turned in alarm. "Hey—Hayashi—girl, boy, whatever—are you hurt? Let Ethan check you over!"
Ethan hurried to his side. "Are you injured? I can bandage you."
"Thanks, but I'm not hurt. I just… learned something awful," Hayashi muttered, despair painted across his face.
"Listen, kid," Tony said, "if you're injured, you tell us right away. Don't keep it to yourself—even if you have superpowers."
Their concern warmed Hayashi's heart. In his previous life, even with his parents alive, he'd been mostly alone, rarely receiving such genuine care.
"Alright, Mr. Stark. I'm fine. Thank you… really."
Tony didn't press further.
About an hour later, the thrum of helicopter blades reached them. Hayashi already knew—Rhodey was coming. Sure enough, minutes later, a chopper set down before them and a tall Black man leapt out, wrapping Tony in a hug.
"Hey, Rhodey."
"Tony! Still riding in your happy little jeep?" Rhodey grinned.
Tony gave an awkward smile.
"And who are these two?" Rhodey asked, eyeing Ethan's unassuming frame—and then Hayashi's strikingly beautiful face.