Time Traveling Hero

**72nd Generation Hero, 362 years ago**

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"Oh dear, I sure am getting too old for this job."

I was amidst the city at a nearby coffee shop, stroking my stark white beard, looking up towards the clock tower. I took a deep sniff of my tea before letting out a relaxed sigh, taking a sip.

I looked across from me to see a young man, probably in his early twenties, stab his fork (ineloquently might I add) into his cake, shoving it into his mouth. He was dressed in a bright blue frock coat, with a dark vest underneath. With patterned ocean trousers, he was the epitome of a hooligan.

A shame too, I thought, looking him over once more. If he dressed properly, I bet he would be quite popular with ladies his age.

"Listen here old man, I gotta say, you're a tough one to find. I'm rather surprised you spend most of your time in this time period of all places. This time is such a bore," he said, taking another stab into his cake.

"I disagree. I like the clothing here, and the etiquette everyone has here is absolutely superb. I think this place suits me just fine. Now then, care to explain what you plan to do to a harmless old man such as myself?"

"Harmless my ȧss. You damn well know why I'm here. Plus, [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted], which is why I decided to humor you for a bit."

I frowned as I took another sip of my tea. "I'm sorry, my memory isn't as good as it was when I was younger. [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted]?"

He seemed to get angry at my question, slamming his feet down onto the table, showcasing his black boots. "Fuck off old man." His yellow eyes glowered at my question, as his entire demeanor changed.

"There's no point in telling you shit, so leave it alone. Now, how about we actually get started."

He snapped, and the entire world around us grew redder in shade, as everyone except the two of us vanished.

Well, almost anyway.

"Wh-what is this sorcery!? Where abouts did everyone go!?"

Out in the middle of the plaza stood a lone woman, slightly younger than the young man sitting in front of me. She wore a light pink dress, her sleeves just underneath her shoulder line. The dress was tight fitting, with a slimmer silhouette than usual. Judging from the rest of her attire, I surmised she was around middle class, although that's besides the point.

"Oh, you don't see that everyday," the young man said, smiling to himself. He hopped onto the table before leaping right in front of the distraught lady, who stepped backwards in surprise.

"Wh-who might you be? Do you know what might have happened to all the people? And why is it so very red?"

Well, this could become problematic. I finished my tea, placing it back down onto the saucer.

"These old bones don't work as well as they used to, so don't expect much of a fight," I said, walking over to the gate. "If you would be so kind as to leave the fair lady alone, we can begin when you're ready."

The young man sneered at me, looking back down at the girl. "I don't think I will. I quite like this one, so I'll keep her." He grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her in close. .

"Wh-what is the meaning of this!? Would someone please tell me what manner of witchcraft this is!?" The young woman yelled out, struggling against the young man's grip.

In a blink of an eye, the young man got sent flying backwards, demolishing a nearby building.

"Ohoho, forgive me young one, that was unsightly of me," I said, offering my hand. "Are you alright?"

She hesitated, looking back between where the man landed and where I stood. "Y-yes, I am quite alright. But, if you don't me asking, what exactly happened?" She took my hand, and I gracefully brought her to her feet.

"Old man, you're a lot stronger than you look," The young man said, a shining blue shell crumbling around him. "[redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted]."

I readjusted my outfit, a butler uniform, before taking out my weapon of choice. "Young lady, if you would take an old man like me as your protector, I will do my utmost to keep you safe. Do you accept?"

She nodded. "Better than being with that hooligan over there."

"Then forgive this old one for the fight you're about to witness," I said, putting on shining green brass knuckles. "Now, come and fight me already."

I hopped up into the air and landed on a nearby rooftop, taking the young miss along with me. I gently put her down, nodding at her. "It'll be alright, it'll be over quickly."

I hopped back down, looking behind me to see the remnants of the attack he pulled off, red shells embedded into the walls.

"Finally, I was starting to get bored," the young man said, red shells starting to sprout from his fingertips. "[redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted], old man."

I chuckled. "[redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted], have we not?"

"Fuck off, it means nothing now!" He shot out more of his red shells, coming at me as fast as a bullet.

"Ohoho, I see now," I said, deflecting the shots with my knuckles, sending them scattering across the city. "[redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted], [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted], [redacted] [redacted] [redacted]."

"The hell are you-!" I slammed my fist into his face, sending him skidding across the road, sliding to a stop.

"Oh, I really am getting old. You blocked that huh lad?" I said, feeling my bones creak from the pressure I was putting them under.

"Damn you Old-!" I slammed my fist into his face once again, except this time he stayed put, his legs off shooting multiple green shells to hold his ground.

"Oho, please don't try so hard, I'd rather not break something at my age," I said, giving him a warm smile. I stepped back, shaking off the residual pain from my hand.

"I'm not even trying my hardest right now. Is this really all you got?"

"Oh no, I wasn't saying that about me," I said, clenching my hand into a fist as I glared at him. "I was saying how awful it would be to break the younger generation before they had a chance to fully grow."

My body shifted, my arms muscles expanding outwards at a rapid pace until they were twice the size of my body.

"Oh dear, I really am getting old," I said, smiling at the young man. "I struggle even shifting my full body nowadays. Well, my arms will suffice."

Like a gunshot, my fist nailed into the young man's stomach, sending him flying through buildings, until he appeared back where the young miss was, skidding into a bloody pulp as he gasped for air, his body contorted into a shape not humanely possible.

"Oh, is it done already? I really didn't mean to break you," I said, my arms reverting back to normal, my bones cracking as I did so. "I think you're still alive, somehow."

I looked up towards the young miss, bowing my head. "Forgive me for this unsightly image you see here miss." I hopped up back to the rooftop, taking out my handkerchief to wipe the blood of my brass knuckles. "Are you well?"

She nodded, looking away from the young man. "Did you really have to go that far?"

"Forgive me. I am old, so it is harder to control myself these days. I thought for sure he would have been able to take it though…" I muttered, glancing back down at the young man. "But enough about that, are you willing to come with me, young miss?"

Reality started to crack violently around us until it shattered, bringing us back to the bright day as I offered my hand towards her. "It is exceedingly rare a civilian like yourself is able to come into a Time Loop. I know you must have questions, and if you come with me, I'll be able to answer all of them, understood?"

She hesitated once again, looking at me in the eye. "Will it always be this dangerous with you?"

I chuckled. "So long as these old bones of mine move, I promise to keep you safe. That's a promise."

She nodded, taking me by the hand. "My name is Eidothea. Who might you be?"

"I am Nereus. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

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In what was shown to be his most impressive feat yet, Nereus defeated then 12th Commander of the ATF Nerites, while also gaining who would eventually become 73rd Hero.

For being the oldest Hero, being chosen in his late 70's, he was granted the Title of Oldest Hero, which he himself quite liked.

I yawned, leaning back in my chair. I was back inside the archive room, having just went through one of the 72nd Hero's triumphs. I really only had one thought about him though.

I put his file back into the machine, letting out another loud yawn.

It was strange though. The same thing that happened in the 25th Hero's file happened here, with those redacted words. Have to wonder what it means.

"Master, there Master is."

Anna was by the entrance, dressed in her combat uniform. I waved at her, walking towards her. "You didn't have to come find me, I was about to go."

"Anna prefers sticking with Master," Anna said as we both started to walk towards the portal room. "Why does Master always spend so much time in there, if Master does not mind Anna asking."

"Well, I'm just curious about the previous Heroes. There have been a hundred of them over the last 2000 years, so I'm wondering what type of people they were, and also what sort of triumphs they accomplished."

Anna nodded, as she started to think to herself. "What Hero is Master on?"

"I'm probably going to be looking at the 86th Hero next, then the 99th Hero after. Although I don't know how well I'll be able to view the previous Hero." But something is starting to bug me about all this…

"Master is almost done then?" Anna said, and I gave her a grin along with thumbs up.

"Yep, hopefully I'll be done around the same time I finish my Triumphs!"

We walked into the portal room, where Roberto and his squad where waiting.

"You're late again kid! Are you going to do this every time!?" Roberto said, and I laughed.

"If you keep mentioning it, maybe I will!"

"You little!" Roberto exhaled sharply, before sighing to himself. "You know what, I'm not going to bother. You only do this to mess with me anyway."

Beatrice looked me up and down and frowned. "You seem suited for combat today. What's up with all the gear?"

"Oh, don't worry too much, I'll be fine. It's not that much anyway. It's just in case something happens." I said, patting my pockets. I was also wearing Blake's Jacket in the meantime, but I wasn't planning on keeping it for too long.

"Alright is everybody ready!? Is there aren't any complaints, let's get a move on!" Roberto turned towards the portal, and we all walked towards it, as my final thoughts rested on the 72nd Hero.

I grinned.. As I thought, Old Men truly are Badasses.