Chapter 21

"He drank from me last night…"

It was an emergency meeting, Garou had to call it. After the incident, he knew it wasn't right. Bad never craves blood, but the fact remained that he took it from him without hesitation. "I don't know what to say anymore… I mean… why?" he asked.

The table froze, even Pig God. "This is highly unusual to say the least. He devours nearly 10,000 souls, and yet has been unable to digest them all, now he is drinking blood?" he said.

"I'm scared for him," Garou confessed. "I mean… he's gotten a lot stronger no doubt, but the blood thing… worries me."

The table agreed as Atomic turned to Pig God. "We're not going to have to… you know…" he said in a not so settled voice.

"What?" Garou demanded. "YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KILL HIM!"

"Easy there, sometimes we got to say it to eliminate the probability of it." Atomic explained. "Besides, the sooner we know, the sooner we can deal with it."

"It's not that…" Zombieman announced. "I've been to the shadow realm recently, they are acting a little strange there… something is going on but no one wishes to speak about it."

"That's right Zombieman can go to the Shadow realm!" Garou said. "Wait, what do you mean something is going on? Are they planning a takeover?!"

He shook his head. "Nah, they like him too much, the first king to ever give them comfort and consider their needs. Bad doesn't see them as throw away pawns, he sees them as fallen warriors that deserve respect as if they were alive. No, something else is happening. I've been trying to gain access to their books, but some are being kept hidden from me. No one will mention them let alone attempt to help me find them. So the answer has to be in those."

"Books? What kind of books?" asked Silverfang.

"From what I could hear, they are journals and histories of the past two kings." He explained. "The one before last left something behind, the last one Bad overthrew was seeking it out, yet it was kept hidden from him. So, whatever it was… perhaps is playing a role in what's happening now."

"We need to find it…" said Flash.

"The sooner I have answers the sooner I can help Bad!" Garou announced.

"Say… where is he?" asked Tatsumaki.

Garou shrugged. "Said he got hungry, but he ate a big breakfast this morning. I don't see how he can be starving an hour later…"

#

It did nothing.

Bad ate a big and healthy breakfast this morning, and yet there was a part of him that still wanted more. Yet food wasn't the least bit interesting to him. "What the hell is it that I am craving?" he muttered.

He kept to the darkness yet patrolled the streets as he usually did. Bad was able to walk the shadows with ease and remain unseen. Yet before he could move on, the felt the world shake under his feet.

A humanoid like monster appeared and started to rampage. Bad took one look at it… and his stomach grumbled in hunger. "Are you shitting me right now? Nearly 10,000 souls and I want to eat more! Damn it!" he protested.

Yet the hunger was only growing, perhaps this wasn't want he needed, but he had to eliminate the possibility. Bad made his move. Using his power he was able make himself appear normal, but the effect only lasts a few minutes or so. He hasn't been able to keep a hold on the illusion when he moves fast or is struck against a monster. Fortunately for him, the streets were rather cleared out, it was just him and the ugly bastard in front of him.

The monster turned and took notice of him right away. "I use to be someone important, a body builder aiming for the big league, but they kept saying I was too small! Too weak! NOW I'M THE STRONGEST!" it announced.

It looked like a beefed up version of tank top master, yet not as powerful looking. "Whatever man, you all fall the same anyways…" then he felt it. His stomach turned as black smoke began to escape out his mouth. Bad tried to cover his lips, but the smoke kept seeping out.

The monster even froze. "Wai… wait a minute… what are you doing? What's happening to you?" The smoke dashed forward, the monster couldn't stop the wisps as they latched on to him! Through the eyes, nose and mouth they slinked into the body until Bad began to draw them back.

He slurped hard as the soul of the monster was forced out!

It resisted him, struggled and begged for mercy. Even offering to become a loyal minion. But Bad wasn't looking for new legions at the moment. He gave a deep and gratifying slurp, drawing the whole monster soul into his body and down his throat.

"Belch!" Bad let out a massive burp, but became rather bloated again. "Shit, shit, shit!" he muttered as his stomach ached. Yet soon, it settled once more. The shifting stopped along with the screaming. He was relieved and yet worried. "Why the hell was I craving this?" he muttered.

Bad decided to get a move on, his illusion effect was wearing off, and people were beginning to stop and stare at him…

#

Sonic admired from a far.

His twisted grin only grew as he saw his King feast once more. "Such an appetite, I am impressed for a halfling yet to adjust to his shadow form so quickly… Still it isn't enough!"

"With what was just consumed, that was equal to two souls." Said Galewind. "Simply won't do"

"I suggest we try and poke the hornets nest in a sense, find the larger beasts to feed our King." Stated Hellfire.

"In due time, remember we cannot rush this!" protested Sonic. "Our King is not a greedy man, he eats when hungry."

"Or out of anger if someone wrongs his sister…" chimed Hellfire.

Sonic gave him a sarcastic grin. "Very well, you poke the dragon on that! You fail to remember our Princess is under the best protection. And if the King ever finds out you used her to get to him, you will be added to his meal!"

The two ninjas sneered at the notion, neither one willing to risk it all to gain what they desired from King Bad. "So be it, we will do this your way Sonic."

He smiled in victory.

"Very well, we must ensure our King does not make it to the Shadow Realm at this time, he does, we will have to start over again. How fortunate that he hasn't had the desire to go and my warning was received well… we must keep it that way."

Hellfire and Galewind nodded in agreement. They took their leave as Sonic kept a close eye on Bad and ensured he had enough to sustain himself for the day.