Chapter 31

"I don't understand… you didn't get my message?"

Melee was worried. When Alley and Suiryu came home, they told her everything that happened. Melee however was more startled that they were caught up in the situation after she telepathically told the family to avoid City T after Max called her. "I didn't get any message from you mom, are you sure you used your telepathic power?" asked Alley.

She was sure she did. Yet she tried it again, thinking a simple thought, she tried to project it at Alley. "Did you get that?" she asked her daughter.

"Get what? You just stared at me."

She froze. "Wait… could this mean…"

"Mom?" asked Alley. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't think I am… I should have seen this… I haven't been able to use my power. None of it! I mean I had to ask Luna to open a jar of pickles this morning for me."

"You… don't have your strength? Nothing?" asked Suiryu with concern.

She nodded. "I don't know why, but perhaps…" her hands gently went on to her slightly grown belly. She was just over the four month mark, was this part of the pregnancy? She hasn't been able to keep warm, use any of her strength or even telepathic power. It was as if she had been rendered human herself!

"Mom, we will keep a close eye on you from now on," vowed Alley.

"I know. But I don't want to be a burden to anyone either, we are all so busy with our lives moving forward…"

"Well after today, it's going to feel a lot more like the old times." Alley said with a sigh.

Melee cringed to that bit of info. She has been watching the news and each and every day this asshole is on, more and more people are turning to him, wanting him to lead the world in a new direction. Melee worried for her children once more. They have gone through this all before. But now, to have a political power influencing this, and having a hero group to back up the notion… it could be an all out war for survival.

Melee sighed, until she was suddenly caught up in a familiar coil.

Titan had returned and was bracing her. "It's okay mom, we'll protect you." He whispered.

"Titan, I thought you were training?"

"I just finished a short while ago. But I could hear your heart, it sounded so sad. I want you to know I will protect you and the family. I promise!"

He is such a sweetheart. Melee wondered if he is too kind for this world. But then again, she is reminded of his power. That dent he made in the wall with Amai has yet to be fixed to say the least.

"We will all watch out for each other from here on, understood?" Melee decreed.

"Of course," said Titan.

"I'll let everyone know what happened today. You rest up mom. I got to make Suiryu some more dinner. We didn't get a chance to really sit and take our fill."

#

Garou froze.

In fact, the boys were rendered silent as they all were knocked out of the ring. Tempest had turned back to his human state, his time as a serpent paid off as he grew once more and his strength was nearly double! He managed to catch even Akira off guard and pushed him out of the ring. But now, the brothers are aware of his strength.

Hunter was the first to shake it off. "Little bro got some power behind him down. That hurt like a bitch!"

"Did… I hit too hard?" Tempest asked with worry.

Garou smirked. "Not for these guys. Quite frankly, I think you got the strength now to take on Raiden. You advantage thus far is your size. But even so, you need to back up your advantage any way possible. When I had you eat, you were finally able to feed that strength you have been trying to grow over the past few months. After all, the human body can only take so much in and process. When your serpent, nothing is wasted. It went to feed every inch of your muscles." Garou explained. "I just brought the boys back to be sure about your growth. But we will continue to train with just Akira… if you're cool with that."

Akira nodded. "It's not like I got anything better to do," he said and smirked.

Garou was about to dismiss the boys, when he got a small headache

"Ooo incoming message!" joked Hunter.

'Dad?'

'Hey Alley, what's up?'

He was a little concerned when she fell silent for a moment. 'I just want to let you know, mom doesn't have any of her strength right now. No telepathic power, no speed, or anything. It's like she has been rendered human.' Alley explained.

Garou felt his stomach drop. 'Is everything okay?' he asked with concern.

'Mom's fine. Suiryu and I had a run in with that Chet guy. He has robot bodyguards that target monsters, and apparently they don't give a damn if there are people around. No one was hurt but they blew out a restaurant we were in.'

He felt his body tense up. But not just his. He saw his sons appear just as aggravated as he was. "What the HELL is going on?" demanded Pac. "Why are we going through this shit again!"

'Who's with your mother now?'

'Titan,'

Garou sighed with relief. Titan will be at her side no matter what. Perhaps he may have to ask a HUGE favor sooner than later if this is escalating. 'Thanks for the update hon, be careful out there too.'

'Thanks dad' When the connections severed. Garou turned to his sons. There came a look of determination in their eyes. "He's not going to ruin our lives. This Chet guy or whatever the hell he is…" said Goliath. "I mean, seriously. I've heard Pac and Hunter say this before. But how many times do we have to save people in order to be seen as heroes?! Hell, why are we even called monsters?!" he demanded.

"Because we look more like them than human," muttered Pac.

"BULLSHIT!" shouted Tempest. It caught everyone off guard as he looked about the room with anger. "Bullshit and I will say it again. Whoever made that call can go to hell. Because I find we act more humane than people themselves. We don't give a damn as to what someone believes in, who they are, we save their lives when they are in danger from huge threats like monsters, and yet. Why are we calling ourselves that when we are not one of them?"

The room froze. "I got to admit, he has a point," said Hunter.

"Yeah, it's a good one too," said Draven as he turned to Garou. "Dad…"

The room fell silent, until Pac spoke up. "He has a point." He said meekly. "I'll be the first to admit this too. I mean, I have always called myself a monster, Zenko, Mom and everyone else have told me I don't act like it. Since that is the case. Tempest is right. Why the hell are we still being called and calling ourselves monsters?"

Garou snorted a small laugh, but smirked. "Look at you kids growing up." He said and snickered. "You're all right, absolutely right. We're not monsters, despite the fact I wanted to be one for my own personal reasons. Yet, with what we have been doing, with everything going on. I got to agree. We're not in their league, nor are they in ours."

"So what would we call ourselves then?" asked Draven. "It's not like people are going to jump on the band wagon right now if we ask them to address us by something else… I wish the M Class was still a thing. I like being called an M Class dragon!"

"You know the M stands for Monster, right?" snickered Akira.

"Either way, but we're called M Class dragons, it sounds better. Or just Dragons!"

"Yeah, keep dreaming," said Garou. "We got enough shit to deal with at the moment. Let's get a few things out of the way first and then we will have a family meeting on a name change or whatever." Garou wasn't exactly holding his breath on the notion either. After all, it's not like the name will spread throughout the super continent, or would people care as to what they wish to be addressed as.

Not everyone has forgiven him for acting out in his youthful days. Also, some believe that he was WITH the monsters association. That stigma still remains to say the least.

"Dad?"

He snapped out of his blank stare as his sons looked to him with great worry. "Are you okay?" asked Tempest.

He smiled. "Dandy, just reminiscing…" he then nodded. "Okay, let's call it a day for now. Akira, you got an idea of Tempest's strength, you are already planning your counter strike right?"

Akira merely nodded his head.

"Tempest. You are going to prepare for a world of hurt tomorrow. Understood?"

He smiled and nodded. "Okay then, boys, take the day. Me. I'm going back home and keeping an eye on your mother."