"Man, this place is confusing…" Budo said, looking around the dark tunnel he was walking through.

Raibaru nodded in agreement. "How are we ever going to find the others?" She went pale. "How do we even know if they're alive? I tried to call Ayano before, but she wouldn't pick up…"

Budo gave her a comforting glance. "Raibaru-senpai, it'll be okay. Bang-sensei trusted us to be by ourselves for a bit. If he trusts us that much, then I know everything's going to be okay!"

"I'm not just worried about Ayano, though," Raibaru admitted. "I'm worried about the others as well… Fureddo, Itachi, Oka… Taro Yamada…" She looked away, sighing. "Osana had loved Taro for a long time, y'know… since they were kids! And when she finally managed to confess…"

Budo grabbed her shoulder. "Osana would want you to be strong, Raibaru-senpai. And I bet she'd be really proud of how far you've come."

Raibaru looked away. "Budo… you remember Garou, right?"

Budo stared at her, grimly. "Yeah… I do."

"You know what he's become?" Raibaru asked.

"He's that 'Hero Hunter', isn't he?" Budo asked, scowling. "Damn him. Such a coward."

Raibaru stared at her hands. "I want to save him, Budo. I know what he's done, but still… I miss him. He was my childhood friend."

Budo's expression softened. "Raibaru-senpai…"

He was interrupted by a crash up ahead. The two martial arts students stared at each other.

"What was that?" Budo asked, furrowing his brow.

They raced ahead, seeing smoke and dust. They also heard frantic yelling and shouting.

The two finally arrived at an open room. There, they saw the four disciples of Atomic Samurai: Iaian, Bushidrill, Okamaitachi, and Strawberry Thief, AKA Miyuji Shan. The disciples were staring at Pig God, who had consumed an entire monster whole. They crept back, backing far away from the S Class hero.

"Miyuji!" Raibaru called out, recognising her fellow student.

Miyuji turned around, face lighting up when she saw Raibaru.

"Raibaru-chan!" she said, waving at her. "And Budo-kun!"

Iaian stared at the two disciples. "Silver Fang's disciples? What are you doing here?"

"We're actually looking for someone," Raibaru answered. "Have you seen the A Class hero Yan-chan here by any chance?"

Atomic Samurai's disciples shook their heads.

"The B Class hero Blizzard of Hell?" Raibaru asked, hopeful.

The disciples shook their heads again, causing Raibaru to sigh. She was about to ask if they had seen Garou, but decided to hold her tongue.

"Wait, Raibaru-chan, I thought you weren't Silver Fang's disciple anymore," Miyuji said.

Raibaru shook her head. "I'm not. I… I'm just here because I'm sick of monsters."

And to find Garou... she thought, clenching her fists.

Bushidrill cleared his throat. "Well-"

Another crash caught them off guard. A group of monsters suddenly appeared, racing towards the heroes. The disciples of Atomic Samurai held out their swords, slashing away at the monsters.

Budo leaned forward eagerly, but Raibaru grabbed his arm.

"I think they can handle this one," she said. "They're pretty strong. Let's-"

Suddenly, the floor beneath the four disciples cracked, opening a gap. The gap sent them flying to the floor below.

Raibaru and Budo glanced at each other, before following them down.

The martial artists landed beside Atomic Samurai's disciples. They were on a new floor, smoke and dust rising from the debris.

"Are you guys okay?" Raibaru asked, reaching out for Miyuji.

Miyuji nodded, brandishing her sword with a cheerful grin. "We're fine. We can handle a little fall, right, guys?"

The other disciples nodded. Their faces went pale when through the smoke, a large, humanoid yet still monstrous figure was visible.

"A monster…" Raibaru whispered, holding up her fists. Budo followed suit.

"Like moths to the flame," the monster giggled. He resembled a human with very long chestnut hair. His face and ears were decorated with vine-like design and his eyes were pure white. He donned a white attire with thigh-high black boots and black gloves. His jacket had many black embroilment and feathers giving him a rather flamboyant appearance.

"The heroes of justice jump in blindly and become entwined in my hair," he said, flipping his long hair. "Call me Devil Long Hair."

Bushidrill scowled, brandishing his sword. Just one enemy…

What a hottie… Okamaitachi thought, gulping. He's trying to seduce… but I cannot. He's a monster, and I'm a hero. It's forbidden love!

Miyuji groaned, staring at Okamaitachi's dreamy expression. "Kama, we've talked about this. The monsters aren't trying to seduce you."

"How do you know that?" Okamaitachi whined. He smirked. "Unless you're jealous, Miyuji-chan?"

Miyuji made a face. "Uh, no. I'm not."

Okamaitachi winked at her. "Are you sureeeee?"

"Guys, this is no time to be fooling around!" Iaian shouted. "If Master were here, he'd never let you hear the end of it! While we're fighting amongst ourselves, there are fierce battles being waged all around us! Our job is to lighten the burden on Master and his colleagues, even if only a little!"

Okamaitachi glowered at Devil Long Hair, holding out his sword. "I know that. You may be handsome, but I have no choice. Don't take it personally. I'm terribly flattered, but I'm afraid I won't be able to reciprocate your feelings!"

Miyuji face-palmed.

"Hikuken!" Okamaitachi yelled. The technique involved sending a large scythe by slicing the air.

"The A Class heroes know not the terror of hair," Devil Long Hair scoffed, using his hair to deflect the attack.

Impossible! Iaian thought. He stopped hikuken with his long hair! Even though his lines are so corny…

"Kama!" Bushidrill shouted. "Behind you! It's coming underground!"

Okamaitachi dodged flying hair at the last second, panting heavily.

"Thanks, Drill," he said, sweat-dripping.

Budo looked like he was about to cut into the hair as well, but Iaian stopped him.

"You and the Indestructible Rival should continue looking for your comrade," he said, blocking another wave of hair. "We will be fine here!"

Raibaru and Budo stared at each other.

"Are you sure?" Raibaru asked, concerned.

"He's right!" Miyuji agreed, glancing over her shoulder. "You guys keep moving on!"

Raibaru and Budo nodded at each other.

"Okay," Raibaru declared. "We'll see you guys later!"

The two ran off, leaving Atomic Samurai's disciples to handle Devil Long Hair by themselves.

"I'm kinda worried about them," Raibaru admitted to Budo.

"Well, they seemed confident," Budo replied. "Besides, if they really need help… we can always go back, right?"

Raibaru shrugged. She decided to set her mind on finding Garou. He was going to pay for what he'd done.

Fureddo was starting to regret his decisions.

He woke up, blood dripping down his face. He was in a dark tunnel, cold air surrounding him. He couldn't see anyone else.

"Hello…?" he croaked, sitting up. "Anyone?"

No response. He was alone. He blinked heavily, forcing himself to stand. His legs cried out in pain. His camera was broken too. He clutched the device to his chest, fists trembling. He wouldn't cry over it, but… the device held a special place in his heart. During his childhood, he had spent so many hours practising with it to take photos.

"Miss Blizzard?" he called out. "Itachi? Oka? Hello?"

He grabbed his phone, only to learn it too had been destroyed.

Oh, God… he thought. I'm… all alone… in the Monster Association… please, no…

He gritted his teeth. No. I'm not scared. I have to stay strong.

He took a deep breath, calming himself down.

I just have to find the others, he thought. They'll be looking for me, right?

Feebly clutching his broken camera, he began to walk. It was eerily silent, aside from ominous groans in the distance. Fureddo tried not to show the fear on his face. He had to be brave. He had to be strong.

That became much harder when he heard a loud BOOM somewhere in the distance. He shivered.

Should I just ignore it? He thought. No… someone could be in danger. I have to check it out.

He crept forward, hearing gunshots.

He reached the end of the hall, coming across a large room. He peeked in, seeing a group of soldiers mowing down tons of monsters.

"Yeah, that's right," an arrogant voice laughed. "Suck on that, you worthless scum. The Remarkable Group is unstoppable!"

Standing on a self-built platform was the B Class hero Remarkable, surrounded by a group of soldiers wearing black tuxedos. All of the tuxedos had a Saikou Corp logo on the breast pocket. They were wielding huge guns, all firing at a group of monsters. The monsters were going down in the shower of bullets.

"Heh heh heh…" one of the monsters stood up through the bullets, staring at Remarkable. "I bet you think you're very powerful, don't you, 'The Remarkable Kencho Saikou'?!"

Kencho tch-ed. "An ugly bastard who thinks he's got a chance, huh? How pathetic. Take him down."

The soldiers fired at the monster, but the bullets did nothing. His humanoid, bug-like skin protected him from the blows. He towered over the soldiers, incisors clicking impatiently.

Kencho raised his brow. "Hmph. I said, take him down!"

"We are trying, sir," one of the soldiers said. "But he is too strong."

Kencho gritted his teeth. "Worthless idiots. Let me show you how it's done."

He took the gun from the soldier, and fired at the monster as well. His face went pale when the bullets couldn't even penetrate the monster's skin.

"You have the nerve to call me pathetic, when in actuality, you are the pathetic one," the monster chortled. "I am Bug God, a god amongst bugs! But you? You are hiding behind an army, behaving like you have worth in this world… when in reality, you are nothing but a back-up for your older sister!"

Kencho's expression hardened. "'Back-up'? Don't talk out of your ass, idiot. I'm so much more than a back-up. I'm the leader of an empire!"

"You are leading a mere B Class group alongside another hero," Bug God rectified. "Another hero who babysits you."

Kencho laughed. "Ha! Fubuki never babysat me. I was running the whole thing by myself! I never needed her. This is my show now!"

He continued firing at the monster, the grin on his face growing wider. His confidence was growing. He was winning.

Fubuki can go screw herself, he thought. I don't need her! I can take him out by myself!

"Pathetic," Bug God shook his head. "And to think I was going to find someone strong!"

He began taking out the soldiers, sending them flying across the room. Kencho grimaced.

Whatever, I don't need them, he thought. I work fine alone!

He aimed his gun at Bug God's head.

"Lights out," he growled.

The bullet simply flicked off Bug God's head, like all its predecessors. Bug God continued knocking aside the soldiers like they were dead weight, getting closer to Kencho Saikou.

"Alright, then, you asked for the big guns," Kencho said, pulling out his taser. "Remember the name, Remarkable!"

He jumped down, pressing the trigger on his taser. Bug God stopped, his body deathly still.

"Heh," Kencho smirked. "I knew that would-"

He cut himself while narrowly dodging Bug God's fist. The monster towered above him, dousing him in his shadow.

"I will remember you as Unremarkable, Kencho Saikou," Bug God chuckled. "You weren't even strong enough to scratch me!"

Kencho tch-ed, holding his taser in front of his face. He thought of Fubuki, for a moment.

No, don't think about her, he told himself. She's not…

He dodged Bug God's fist, almost dropping his taser.

He backed up, hitting the wall with a jolt. The monster walked towards him, with a casual stride. Mockingly, he dare say.

Kencho gritted his teeth. Voices flew through his head.

"Hey, aren't you Goddess' little brother?"

"Where's your sister?"

"So… you're just her replacement."

I'm not a replacement… I'm going to be better than her.

"You really think you can surpass your sister when you can't even defeat a wolf level monster by yourself?"

"Kencho, you are never to interfere with your sister's life. Do you understand?"

... yes, Father.

"I know how you feel, Kencho."

Tch… like you could understand what it's like to be undermined by your sister!

"Actually, I understand that very well. I have wanted to surpass my sister since day one."

… maybe we aren't so different after all, Fubuki.

"REMARKABLE!"

Kencho perked up, Bug God looking away from him. His view was on Fureddo Jonzu, who was holding up his fists.

"Mystery boy?" Kencho chortled.

"Another hero?" Bug God laughed, staring down at Fureddo. "I guess you wish to die as well!"

Fureddo sweat-beaded. No, he did not wish to die. And he wasn't particularly fond of Remarkable (and Blizzard, for that matter). Both of them had proclaimed they 'tolerated' his group, belittling his ranking.

Thanks to him and Blizzard, it feels like my group will never leave Class B, Fureddo mused to himself. Is that all I'm going to be? Just a low B Class hero with a low B Class group?

He clenched his fists, staring up at Bug God.

This is my last year of high school, and it's going so bad, he thought. I just want our group to do something special… something that'll get us recognised!

"You really think you can take him on, Mystery Boy?" Kencho chortled. "A weak little Sherlock Holmes rip-off like you can't even hold a candle to a pile of trash!"

"Perhaps I should kill him first," Bug God said, glancing at Kencho over his shoulder.

Fureddo was half-tempted to agree.

He's lucky I'm not a heartless monster, he thought. In this case… I have to be the bigger man.

He glared at Bug God, holding up his fists.

I took those self-defence lessons for a reason, he thought.

He grimaced, narrowly dodging a fist from Bug God.

"Leave, Mystery Boy," Kencho ordered. "I can handle this by myself!"

"Can you?" Fureddo asked, glancing over his shoulder.

Kencho narrowed his eyes. "A hero of your rank shouldn't be speaking to me like that. I can have you demoted."

"I'm trying to save your life!" Fureddo yelled, clenching his fists. He was usually a laid-back person, but he couldn't stand Kencho's treatment, not here.

"You don't need to," Kencho argued. "I'll be fine by myself. You're just getting in my way. All you low-ranks are like that."

"Bold words from a hero who can't even scratch me!" Bug God taunted, turning to face Kencho.

"Water Stream Rock Crushing Fist!" Fureddo yelled, using a, well, watered down version of the attack. It was enough to make Bug God stumble, but not for long.

"He's too strong!" Fureddo cursed.

"For you, maybe," Kencho said, flipping his taser between his fingers. "I'll show you how it's done, bottom-feeder!"

He pulled out a second taser, and aimed the both of them at Bug God.

"Ultimate Move," he yelled, "REMARKABLE BLAST!"

The wave of electricity was strong enough to send Bug God flying into the wall. The wall cracked from the impact.

Kencho grinned. "What did I tell you, Mystery Boy? Saikou Corp technology is…"

He trailed off when the monster got back up, a scowl on his face.

"I'm wasting time with you idiots," Bug God hissed. "I have Class S heroes to annihilate!"

He raced forward, faster than before. Kencho scowled, and Fureddo cursed.

"Damn you, Mystery Boy," Kencho grumbled. "This is your fault."

Fureddo glowered at him, holding up his fists.

This is it, he thought, feeling tears burning behind his eyes. Mystery Gang… it was an honour to have you.

CRASH!

The monster's fists had collided with something, but not him. Fureddo opened his eyes, seeing a girl in front of him. She was wielding a shield, protecting him and Kencho.

"Black Turtle…" he gasped.

Kencho had a nasty scowl on his face.

"An A Class hero?" Bug God asked. "Wait, I know who you are… you're Black Turtle, A Class Rank 1!"

Kuroko tch-ed, spraying a can of pepper spray into the monster's five eyes. He screeched, covering his face.

"Leave," she told Fureddo and Kencho. "I will be able to fight this monster by myself."

Kencho gave her his nasty scowl. "Oh yeah? Just because you're in my sister's shitty group you-"

"Let's go," Fureddo said, grabbing Kencho's arm.

Kencho looked like he was going to protest again, but decided to keep his mouth shut. He followed Fureddo out of the room as Kuroko continued her battle with Bug God.

"You and her kept me from doing my job," Kencho scoffed, once they had escaped. "Thanks a lot, numbskull."

"Yeah," Fureddo spat. "You're welcome for saving your life."

He walked away. He heard Kencho muttering to himself, but ignored it.

"Hey, Mystery Boy?" Kencho called.

"What?" Fureddo drawled.

"Have you seen… actually, forget it, I don't care," Kencho said, storming off.

Fureddo sighed. He continued his walk, until he saw something interesting.

"Silver Fang?" he gasped.