Chapter 1

Max froze.

Standing before him was a monster, very similar to the Sea King he faced before. He trembled at the sight of it, but knew he has to face his fear. He wasn't alone in the fight either, yet Garou's son Hunter purposely hung back. There was a look of confidence on his face as he looked between the sea folk monster and Max.

"You got this Max. Come on, you can do this!" said Hunter.

The fear vanished from his eyes; Max stared down the monster and charged himself up. "Never again… will I be afraid of the likes of YOU!" running at full speed, he landed a lightning round house kick. The shock alone brought the monster to its knees. Max then started hitting all the fire hydrants around himself. Despite the fact this would strengthen the monster, it will also be its downfall! As it took in the water, Max ran furiously. Gathering every bit of electricity he could! He went as far as using the tentacles around his waist, he had them tear into streetlights and latch on to the underground cables in the road. He surge began to build as the monster grew from absorbing water. It focused on Max and came charging!

The time was right. Slamming his hands to the ground, Max sent all the energy he gathered into the water. "WATER SHOCKWAVE!" he yelled.

Everything he gathered, harnessed and absorbed went into the water. The monster froze, electrocuted as the water continued to hold the charge. Max unlatched from the power cables, he called back his appendages as the monster fell dead in the streets. It still smoldered, but no longer breathed. Max was breathless at the sight of it. The monster that stood as an equal to the Deep Sea King lay dead at his feet. "I… I did it." He whispered.

"Told you," said Hunter with a smirk. "Dad insisted that I merely watch and only step in if need be. You took care of that all on your own."

Max looked between the beast and then his own hands. "Yeah… guess Garou knows a lot more than he lets on huh?"

Hunter smirked. He got on the phone and made the call to his mother. "We got another one for dad."

He hung up the phone and waited for his mom to come and pick up the body. "So, how are you feeling? It's nearly been a year now." Asked Hunter.

Max shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mind it really anymore." He said, but before he could continue, other heroes arrived on the scene.

"Not again!" protested Stinger. His arms crossed at the sight of the fallen monster. "Seriously, first it was Suiryu in City R, then it was Snek in city V and now here!"

Max shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take him down on my own." Yet with the threats over, Max smiled. "Stinger, wanna hang out? We haven't done anything in a while! Want to get lunch tomorrow?"

There was a sneer on the face of Stinger, that and the other heroes began to stare at him oddly. "Nah, I think not. You aren't really the kind to hang out with anymore."

Max paused. "What do you mean…"

"Don't have him paint you a picture kid," came the voice of Snek. The heroes became startled as he slithered through them and towards Max. "They don't take kindly to our appearance. Huh, I guess when they see a monster, it's nothing more than a monster."

Lightning Max suddenly sparked, surges of electricity came off his body. "Is this true? You don't see me as a hero anymore?"

No one would even give him eye contact. "Your loss!" said Hunter. "He's great to hang out with, I learned a lot from Snek too! How can you dismiss them as heroes when they have fought just as hard as all of you to protect the city?"

"We don't need the son of the hero hunter to lecture us!" said Darkness Blade.

The conversation came to an abrupt end as Melee appeared in the sky. She picked up the monster body and the three to take them home. When they arrived, Suiryu was already there, he carried home his kill and left it outside. "This is what? The sixth one today?" he asked.

Melee dropped the sea folk body as she gently placed down Hunter, Max and Snek. "Dad is getting hungrier, I wonder how much longer it will be until my new siblings arrive?" asked Hunter.

Garou came out from the house and saw the feast before him. He said nothing but licked his lips in anticipation! He went on to devour the bodies.

Snek still shuttered at the sight. "I still ain't use to seeing that," he said. "Well, I think I am going to call it a night! Had a long day, not to mention I shed my skin again. That takes a lot out of me!"

"I'm going too," said Max.

"I think so as well, Night guys" called Suiryu.

Garou finished his meal as he looked back, there was uncertainty among the three heroes. "You okay?" asked Melee.

He shook his head. "Something's up." He said. He got rather defensive. "I think something is going on."

Hunter nodded in agreement. "They have all been acting strange ever since they got the letter from the Heroes association. We're all to go into city A tomorrow aren't we?"

Melee nodded. "We're in a meeting with the S Class, Alley is called on her progress with the cure. You and Pac are just coming for the food. Them… Them, I don't really know just yet."

Garou snorted. "Guess it will all be a surprise tomorrow."