Black Sperm smirked to herself. Being one of the executive members of the Monster Association, he was certainly nothing to scoff at.

Atomic Samurai, ever so arrogant, had made that mistake. While his disciples had managed to defeat Devil Long Hair, they couldn't handle Black Sperm. Well, they were mere A Class heroes. They weren't particularly hardy in the grand scheme of things.

Like a good master, Atomic Samurai had successfully protected his students. At first, he had been cocky, as many of the S Class heroes were. He had sliced Black Sperm into pieces, thinking he'd won.

But Black Sperm wouldn't fall so easily. He had been cut up before, and he'd always pull himself back together. He smirked, seeing Atomic Samurai's face as he reformed.

"I bet you weren't expecting that," he taunted. "Heh, pretty pathetic. I would've had a better fight with Goddess."

Atomic Samurai grimaced. Just as Gyoro-Gyoro had said, he did not like being compared to Goddess.

"You haven't seen all of my moves yet either," Atomic Samurai told the monster. "I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve."

"We'll see about that," Black Sperm drawled, casually waving a hand. Atomic Samurai lunged forward, swinging his sword. Black Sperm split into his multiple clones, racing towards the hero.

"Kamikaze!" Miyuji cried out. Okamaitachi grabbed her shoulder, gently pulling her back.

But it was too late. The clones slammed Atomic Samurai into the wall. The disciples flinched at the sickening crack.

"NO!" Miyuji cried out.

"Ah, Yan-chan! There you are!" Fubuki said, looking up.

Ayano nodded politely as she approached Fubuki and co, Taro behind her as always. Nearly the entire group had brought itself back together, excluding Raibaru, Budo, and Oka.

Raibaru is not there… Ayano thought, narrowing her eyes.

"Oka has gone missing," Fubuki spoke up, dragging Ayano out of her thoughts. "I believe she went chasing after my sister."

That's right, the powerful esper Tornado of Terror, Ayano thought. Of course Oka would be drawn to her.

"What about Raibaru and Budo?" Ayano asked.

"They went chasing after a monster that came after us," Bang explained. "But they should be fine. My students are far from being weak."

Ayano nodded in understanding.

"We'll find Raibaru and Budo, and then we'll reunite," she told Fubuki, grabbing Taro's arm. "You should find Oka."

"Now you're the leader?" Itachi grunted, glaring at Ayano.

"She's been the leader from day 1, Itachi," Fureddo retorted.

Itachi tch-ed. "Yeah, but I don't wanna go looking for that creepy occult girl. I wanna kick some more ass, dofus."

Fureddo rolled his eyes. Some people never changed.

"And once we are all back together…" Ayano smiled. "The Monster Association is finished."

It did not take long to find them.

Raibaru and Budo were wandering through the Monster Association, having successfully defeated the monster they had chased after. Ayano located them using her Yan-vision. As soon as she spotted them, she raced over to them, Taro behind her.

"Whoa!" Budo cried out. "Ayano! Hey!"

Raibaru grinned, wrapping her arms around Ayano's neck. "Yan-chan! I'm glad you're safe."

Ayano nodded, returning the hug. "I'm glad you're safe too."

Because now I get to kill you myself, she thought.

"Hey, Yamada," Budo said, lightly punching Taro's shoulder.

Taro didn't even react.

"What is wrong with you, man?" Budo asked, making a face.

Taro, of course, made no response.

"Do you know where the others are?" Raibaru asked Ayano.

Ayano nodded. "I was planning to take you to them. But first… I have something important to tell you."

"What is it?" Raibaru asked.

Ayano lowered her voice. "I saw Garou."

Raibaru gasped. "Y-You did? Where was he?"

"He was deep within the Monster Association's base," Ayano replied. "He didn't see me, but I saw him. He was looking for something." She grabbed Raibaru's shoulder. "This is our chance, Raibaru. We can take him out, once and for all."

Raibaru looked down, fists trembling. Her face steeled.

"You're right," she said. "We need to take him out."

"What's happening?" Budo asked, noticing the girls speaking to each other in a hushed tone.

"I'm going to fight Garou," Raibaru declared.

Budo held up a fist. "Let me come with you."

"No, Budo," Raibaru shook her head. "This is something personal to me. Garou was my best friend. I have to be the one to deal with him. Everything he did… is because of me. Because I left him." She sniffled. "This is all my fault…"

"It's not your fault, sensei," Budo retorted, shaking his head. "He's the one who wanted to become a monster."

Raibaru grimaced, a tear slipping down her cheek. Her arms shook.

"Sensei, don't cry…" Budo said, reaching out for her. "It's going to be okay."

"Go with the others, Budo," Raibaru told him. "Stay safe. Please, do it for me."

Budo's face shadowed over. He nodded and walked away, glancing over his shoulder.

"What about Yan-chan?" he asked.

Raibaru turned to face Ayano.

"You should go too, Ayano," she said, grabbing Ayano's hand. "You're my best friend. I wouldn't want you to get hurt, either."

"I'm a hero," Ayano assured her. "It's my job to take care of people like Garou."

Raibaru looked away, face scrunching up. Her eyes were watering.

"We're best friends, Raibaru," Ayano said, in a gentle, soothing voice. "If we're together, we can handle anything."

Raibaru wiped her eyes. "You're right… but please, Ayano, promise me one thing…" She grabbed Ayano's hand. "Promise me you won't leave me like they did."

Ayano smiled, sweetly. "I promise."

They shared one more long hug.

Budo coughed. "Well…"

"Senpai, take Budo back to the others," Ayano said, addressing Taro. "We will meet with them later."

She and Raibaru began their trek into the Monster Association, holding hands for good luck.

Taro walked ahead, head down. He paid Budo no mind.

"She really orders you around, huh, Yamada?" Budo chuckled, catching up to Taro.

Taro didn't respond. His expression was blank.

"Seriously, man, what's with you?" Budo asked, giving his fellow student's shoulder a gentle shake. "I know what you've been through, but you've been acting so weird."

Taro still didn't say anything.

"Your girlfriend isn't here anymore," Budo said, calmly. "If there's something wrong, you can tell me."

Suddenly, Taro stopped. He pointed at the retreating silhouettes of the girls.

"Danger…" he uttered, quietly.

"What?" Budo asked, tilting his head. "Do you mean they're in danger?"

"Raibaru…" Taro said. "Raibaru is in danger."

Raibaru held her ground, Ayano standing beside her.

The monster in front of them was proving to be quite tough. It had proven its worth by giving Raibaru a large gash on her forearm.

Raibaru could've sworn Ayano had pushed her into the blow… no, no, Ayano would never do that… she was her best friend!

… not that she'd been lucky with her other best friends.

She backed up against the cool and smooth wall. Ayano appeared, a taser in grip. She used it to electrify the monster, causing it to collapse into a pile of ash and smoke.

"Wow, nice job, Ayano!" Raibaru said, grinning at her friend.

Ayano was staring at Raibaru's forearm gash.

"Oh, ignore that," Raibaru said, covering it with a hand. "It won't stop me from fighting Garou."

She was about to stand up, when suddenly, the ground began to shake.

Raibaru trembled. "What the-"

The smooth walls cracked. Rubble toppled down from the ceiling. An avalanche.

Raibaru cried out, "Ayano, we need to-"

Then the rubble toppled onto Raibaru. Her legs were crushed underneath the piles of rubble. She was completely immobile, the pain tearing through her. It shot up her legs like fire, causing her to scream.

"HELP!" she cried. "AYANO!"

Ayano was there. But she simply stared at Raibaru, her expression completely blank. It was like she didn't care in the slightest.

"AYANO!" Raibaru begged. "HELP! IT REALLY HURTS!"

Ayano's face remained expressionless as she brought out a chainsaw.

"Wh… what are you doing?!" Raibaru asked, going pale.

Ayano raised the weapon above Raibaru's head.

"Are you… going to kill me?!" Raibaru demaded. She bared her teeth. "After everything we've been through, and you're going to kill me?!" She saw red. "Is every friend I make going to betray me or get me killed?!"

She had never felt so… furious. Never felt so disgusted, so belittled, so mocked. She was infuriated, she was angry, she was hungry for justice. Even Garou couldn't compare to this. No, she was going to show him. She was going to show them all why she was the Indestructible Rival.

"Are you crazy?!" Raibaru screeched, breaking past the rubble. "I won't let you hurt me!"

Ayano stumbled back as Raibaru pulled herself out of the rubble, her eyes burning orange.

"I'm not going to stand for this ANYMORE!" Raibaru yelled. "YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!"

She lunged towards Ayano, faster than she ever had moved before. She slammed Ayano into the ground with a sickening crack.

SNAP

Ayano's bones were shattered from the impact. She stared up at the glowing Raibaru, her red strings falling to the ground. Her body was half-mush. She had been taken out with almost one blow.

Raibaru gave her a heated glare. Power thrummed around her.

"Why, Ayano?!" she demanded. "Is it because you hate me?!" A tear slid down her cheek. "Were you ever my friend in the first place?!"

Ayano didn't respond.

"Who are you?" Raibaru asked, grabbing Ayano's shirt in a fist. "What do you want from me?!"

Ayano slipped out from her tight grip, brandishing a knife. Her bones were already healing. Raibaru wiped her tears away, hands shaking.

"I don't understand," she whimpered. "Why me?"

Ayano lunged towards Raibaru, swinging her knife. Raibaru leapt out of the way. Ayano landed and charged towards her again. Raibaru bared her teeth.

"WATER STREAM ROCK CRUSHING FIST!" Raibaru shouted, slamming Ayano into the wall.

Ayano slid to her knees. Her strings surrounded her, like deadly red serpents.

"I get it," Raibaru growled, clenching her fists. "You're a monster. You're the one who's been killing heroes, too."

Ayano didn't respond. She picked up her chainsaw from before. The deadly machine growled in anticipation.

"You're not going to win against me," Raibaru told her. "I'm not going to let you get away. You're not going to hurt anyone else!"

The girls zoomed towards each other, the chainsaw's blades clashing against Raibaru's martial arts. They moved almost faster than any normal human could see.

"I knew Garou didn't have it in him to kill," Raibaru grumbled. "I knew… it had to be something much worse! Like you!"

Raibaru's martial arts were powerful enough to protect her from the chainsaw's whirring blade. She cried out, slashing back the dangerous weapon. Her eyes were narrowed.

"That's why…" she jumped in the air, "I'm taking you out!"

She sent a final devastating blow towards Ayano. Ayano grimaced, falling to her knees. Her arms were badly twisted, and blood was pooling out of her mouth. Her mutilated body slumped over. She was dead.

"Goodbye," Raibaru spat.

Ayano's lifeless eyes went blood red. Her strings wrapped her arms. She sat up, slipping her broken bones back into place.

The fight isn't over yet…

Raibaru stepped back. "You really are a monster…"

She held up her hands, and jumped towards Ayano. But this time, her moves did nothing against Ayano. Raibaru gasped, stumbling back.

Kill.

Ayano's strings floated around her, wrapping around Raibaru's arms.

"Get off!" Raibaru screamed, shooing them away.

But the strings kept coming back. Raibaru cried out, slicing Ayano across the cheek. She didn't even flinch.

Raibaru held her ground, desperately trying to cut the strings off. But more and more kept coming. They wrapped around her arms and legs, trapping her in a swirling vortex of pain. Hot tears slipped down her cheeks. She saw Osana, smiling at her… then she fell to her knees, becoming a lifeless corpse.

The only real friend she'd ever had, dead.

"No…" Raibaru screamed. "STOP IT!"

Garou was there. He smiled down at her, condescendingly.

"If you're really my friend, then you'll join me," he said, offering his hand. "Become a monster with me. Let's take out all those worthless heroes, together."

"MAKE IT STOP!" Raibaru cried, bashing her head against the wall. Blood gushed down her forehead. Her vision faded in and out. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She slumped over like a corpse.

"Don't worry," Ayano told her, gently. "You still have me."

"Thank you, Ayano..." Raibaru said, smiling. "You're my only friend now."

Raibaru looked up. A chainsaw was above her head. But she couldn't fight it anymore. Her body was immobile. It was over. She was dead.

"RAIBARU-SENSEI!"

And then there was the sickening sound of someone's chest being torn open, bright red blood splattering across the walls. Raibaru peeked through her hands. She was alive, but he wasn't.

Budo was there in front of her, holding out his arms, protectively. He gave her one last smile as the chainsaw ripped through his chest.

"BUDO!" Raibaru screamed.

Budo collapsed onto the ground, his destroyed body completely still. He was surrounded in a pool of blood. No last words. He was gone as quick as he came.

"Why?!" Raibaru demanded. "Why would you…" Her fists trembled. YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME, BUDO!"

But there was no going back. Budo was gone.

"No…" Raibaru sobbed harder. "BUDO!"

Oka stopped in her tracks, her heart racing. She had never felt such power.

It was unmistakable. Ahead of her was the Tornado of Terror, Tatsumaki. And another psychic, too, hiding somewhere deep underground.

"So much… power…" Oka whispered, hugging herself.

Tornado scowled at Gyoro Gyoro, raising her hand. "Quit hiding in that puppet all the time. Come out and join us!"

Oka walked out, staring at Tatsumaki. Tatsumaki felt her presence, and stared down at her.

"Who are you?" she asked. "Another esper? How'd you get in here?"

Oka blushed. "Oh… um…"

Wow, she's so small, Oka thought. Even smaller than me…

"You're in my sister's dumb group, right?" Tatsumaki asked. She scowled. "I knew I could sense Fubuki's presence. I'll give Sekingar a piece of my mind later."

"Um…" Oka stammered. "Miss Tornado, you… um…"

"Get out of here, moron," Tatsumaki told her. "You're not strong enough to handle this place."

Oka stared down at her shoes. "Oh… okay, sorry… I'll leave…"

Awkwardly, she turned away. She could still sense the other psychic's powers. And hear their voice, too.

Damn her… how did she find me?

I need to find that Yan-chan girl soon… she's the only one who can save us… or end us.

Yan-chan? Oka thought. I don't understand…

She is the fate of this universe…

"Miss Tornado…" Oka tried to enlarge her voice. "Um… I'm sorry to bother you, but…"

Suddenly, she felt the ground shake. Psychic energy was everywhere, covering the area like a giant blanket. Oka gasped, falling to her knees. She summoned her demon hands to keep herself steady.

Oka gasped. Tornado is… lifting the psychic up?

She saw Tatsumaki raising her hands. A humanoid figure emerged from Gyoro-Gyoro's corpse.

"Aren't you Fubuki's friend?" she asked, staring at the figure. She glared down at Oka. "And you're still here? I told you to go! And what's with those demon hands?"

"She's down there," Oka blurted out, going red. "She's hiding from us, but she's down there… the leader of the Monster Association… Fubuki's friend..."

That psychic girl sensed me? A voice demanded.

Tatsumaki clapped her hands together. "I see."

Then Oka sensed something else. She gasped.

Budo is dead… she thought. And Ayano… is the one that killed him.