A/N: So yesterday (April 17th) was my birthday, and I'm planning to make some changes to the comic... in the meantime, enjoy this chapter!
The number of monsters just kept increasing and increasing. They were everywhere, like an invading swarm. Ayano knew that the group would have to split up to deal with them all, as they continued to traverse deeper and deeper into the Monster Association's base.
She glanced at Fubuki, who like Kizana, had invited herself. Ayano did not care about the woman, and did not think it was worth wasting time to convince her to leave. (In addition, Fubuki's powers were somewhat impressive, Ayano had to admit.)
"Yan-squad!" Ayano yelled, stabbing a monster through the chest, "we're going to have to split up!"
She grabbed Taro, keeping him by her side. Like a puppet, he blindly stayed near his master.
"Prepare to be eliminated," G5 boomed.
Ayano raised her katana, but the robotic samurai-wielding monster jumped out of the way. Behind her, she saw Raibaru and Budo fighting a bug-like monster, Oka, Itachi and Fureddo heading off in another direction, the martial arts brothers staying nearby the martial arts students, and Fubuki following after her group member, but also veering off into yet another direction. That left herself, Taro, and Genos to fight G5. They had managed to traverse deep underground, somewhere that looked like a sewer. Pathways were left, right and centre, spiralling around them.
"I will destroy you," G5 said, charging towards Ayano. Taro stood in front of her, and Genos prepared his incineration cannon. However, to their surprise, the monster dashed around Taro, slamming straight into Genos. The impact sent the S Class hero flying.
"I will destroy you first!" G5 yelled, chasing after Genos' flying form.
Ayano turned to Taro. "Let us-"
He narrowly dodged a blade cutting through his shoulder. Ayano turned to see two powerful monsters standing before her that resembled ninjas, and also reminding her of Speed-O'-Sound Sonic. One of them had long, light green hair, a muscular figure and a marking under his eye. He wore a black, tight-fitting shirt, white hakama pants, a white sash, and black arm warmers. The other monster had black, spiky hair, thick eyebrows, an angular face and muscular figure. He was dressed in a huge, furry coat, as well as a large sword on his back. He had blood on his sword as well.
"Ayano Aishi," the first monster greeted. He raised his hand. "Before you attack us, let us speak first. We have something to offer you."
Ayano didn't say anything, but kept her hand on her weapon.
"I'm Gale Wind, and this is Hellfire Flame," the monster introduced. "We're executives of the Monster Association. Our leaders, Gyoro-Gyoro and the Monster King Orochi, have taken an interest in you. We're aware that you are the one behind the deaths of all the heroes, and that you want to become stronger."
Ayano's grip tightened on her weapon.
"The Monster Association would like you to collaborate with us," Gale Wind explained. "If you do, we can help you get even stronger."
Hellfire Flame nodded in agreement.
"Is that so?" Ayano asked.
"It is," Hellfire Flame said. He held out his sword, and Ayano eyed the blood.
"You have already killed someone," she noted.
"It was only that annoying human with the purple hair," he said. "But you don't seem like the type of person to care about that."
So Kizana is dead, Ayano thought, unsurprised. We tried to warn her.
"In a way, you've done me a favour," Ayano said. "Has Garou joined you as well?"
"Not quite," Gale Wind admitted. "But he is your partner, right? He will join us soon enough."
"And him?" Ayano asked, gesturing to Taro.
"Your little friend can tag along as well, if he wants," the monster chuckled. "If he is your servant, we will allow him to assist you. The more the merrier!"
"The Monster Association will make me stronger," Ayano said, out-loud.
"Indeed," Gale Wind chuckled. "Much stronger. You'll become a monster - a monster much more powerful than any of those Class S heroes."
"Do you accept our offer?" Hellfire Flame asked.
Ayano paused. She looked around, and saw Garou's silhouette in the distance. At least, she believed she did.
The Monster Association could offer a lot of power. She could become the most powerful monster to ever live. But… no. She was something beyond a monster. She already had powers beyond what a monster could ever achieve. She needed to destroy every obstacle in her way, and fulfil her purpose, and become the strongest.
"I appreciate the offer," Ayano bowed, "but I'm going to have to refuse."
Gale Flame smirked, darkly. "Then you will have to die."
He and Hellfire Flame zoomed towards Ayano, faster than any other monster she'd encountered. Ayano and Taro jumped backwards, avoiding Hellfire Flame's swinging blade. Gale Wind held out a pair of blades, and lunged towards Ayano and Taro. Ayano grabbed Taro, pulling him out of the way. The buttons on his school uniform began to become undone.
"Not bad," Gale Flame taunted. "I can see why you were able to kill so many heroes. But you won't get out of here alive!"
He reminded what Gyoro-Gyoro had said well: this girl had the potential to kill every monster in the entire Association. The only other being known to have such power was Goddess. Gale Wind, of course, respected her strength, and realised aside from Flashy Flash, Goddess was a big threat. Thank goodness she was out of commission. He knew a lot of monsters wanted to fight her, but not many would be able to get out alive.
"We can't let Yan-chan get stronger," Gale Wind told Hellfire Flame, "or she'll become our greatest enemy!"
Ayano grimaced, feeling a blade pierce her side. Blood pooled around her. Taro fell to his knees, his face doused in blood. Ayano fell beside him.
"Pathetic," Gale Wind chortled. "Down already? I guess you're not so strong after all."
Hellfire Flame stood beside him. Ayano frowned.
They're stronger than I anticipated, she thought. She glanced at them. No, they're still just humans. I can torture them all I want.
She summoned her strings, the red energy surrounding her.
"Summon them," she whispered into Taro's ear.
He obeyed, soon getting himself covered in the same strings. The two stood together, facing the ninjas.
Gale Wind cackled. "Ha! Those strings won't work on us. We're too fast!"
Ayano smirked to herself, feeling the power surround her.
Garou, I know you're out there… she thought. Don't join the Monster Association. We'll destroy it… together.
The strings found their way towards the ninjas. They wrapped around their arms.
"What-?!" Gale Wind cursed. "Cut them off, Hellfire Wind!"
Hellfire Flame did so, but the strings kept coming back. A sadistic smirk bloomed on Ayano's face.
Gale Wind and Hellfire Flame began to scream as the strings wrapped around their bodies. Their minds were full of vivid flashbacks of them being treated as nothing but objects, slaves...
We were nothing, Gale Wind thought. They treated us like garbage!
Hellfire Flame gritted his teeth, his mind overwhelmed with the pain of the past. How dare they treat him like that. He despised them all.
"For once, we're going to be on the side of rulers," he said. "We'll be on the side… of the monsters!"
They cracked the ground. And they fell. They all fell down, landing on a bridge somewhere deep in the Monster Association. Ayano used her remaining strength to save Taro from falling into the abyss below.
Then the ninjas began to transform. Their bodies grew in size, black markings covered their skin, their veins pulsed, and their teeth grew sharp. Their forms hulked over Ayano and Taro. Now they were truly monsters.
Ayano stepped back, watching the madness unfold.
What is happening…? she thought.
"What did I say?" Gale Wind hissed. "You won't leave alive!"
He and Hellfire Flame charged towards Ayano and Taro with a new confidence. Ayano realised… she wouldn't be able to fend off the monsters, even with Taro's help. The power radiating from them was intense. They were too strong for her.
Is this really it? she thought.
She braced herself, only to be pulled out of the way. Her saviour was a man with long, blonde hair, a dark blue bodysuit with metallic bracers over his arms and upper chest armor with a long white cape over it. He adorned himself with two eight-pointed stars on either side of his head and on his cape. He had a chain strapped around his waist that holds his sheath and sword in place.
"Flashy Flash," Ayano greeted, absentmindedly. "Class S rank 14…"
Flashy Flash glanced down at her, then at the monsters, who suddenly looked a lot more eager.
"Flashy Flash," Gale Wind cackled. "The one we've been waiting for!"
Raibaru hated to admit it, but she was terrified.
When the number of monsters increased dramatically, and Ayano had declared the group had to split up, Raibaru tried not to panic. Deep down, the thought of dangerous monsters frightened her. She had her master Bang nearby… wait, no she didn't. He and his brother had disappeared too.
"Where's Bang-sensei?" Budo asked. Raibaru sighed. At least he was still there.
"Hee hee," the monster before them giggled. "Scared, kids?"
The two of them glared up at him. His name was 'Bug God'. Like the name implied, he resembled a humanoid bug. He had many insect-like traits, such as five eyes, two antennae, two large incisors on his face, two smaller incisors, and a tough carapace that granted him high levels of durability. However, he also possessed a large, round, human nose.
"Don't worry," the monster chortled. "I'll let you off easy… and turn you all into bug food!"
The monster lunged towards Raibaru, managing to shove her back. She coughed, chest aching.
"Stay away from my senpai!" Budo yelled. "Water Stream Rock Crushing Fist!"
He stepped in front of Raibaru, using his moves to combat the monster. It cried out in pain, falling over.
"Thanks, Budo," Raibaru said, holding up her hands. "But now it's my turn!"
She lunged towards the monster, raising her hands.
"You're not going to hurt anyone ever again!" she shouted. She took out the monster with a single blow, causing it to explode.
"You're as strong as ever, Indestructible Rival," Budo bowed.
Raibaru waved it off. "Oh, Budo, there's no need for that! Just call me Raibaru."
"He's right," a new voice said. "You are just as strong as ever."
Raibaru turned to face Bang and his brother walking over to them.
"Bang-sensei," Raibaru bowed, Budo copying her.
"Where were you, Master Bang?" Budo asked.
"We got a bit lost, I'm afraid," Bang chuckled. "But I knew you two could handle things by yourselves."
Raibaru flushed with pride. "Thank you, Sensei."
"Of course, you are - well, were - my best student, Raibaru," Bang said, pride in his eyes. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
Budo put a hand on his senpai's shoulder. "Let's take down the rest of the Monster Association!"
Itachi honestly had no idea how he got stuck with investigator boy and the creep of the school in the middle of a monster-filled basement.
Well, investigator boy wasn't totally useless. He had a torch on him, so they could actually navigate that dump of a basement.
"Are you experienced with fighting monsters, Itachi?" Fureddo asked Itachi, either to be practical, or just to start up a casual conversation.
"They shouldn't be too hard to beat," Itachi replied, flexing his muscles. "Honestly, what's a few little monsters got on me?"
"How about you find out, sweetie?"
"Look out!" Fureddo shouted.
The three jumped to the side as a whip went sailing through the air, slicing the ground between them.
"Three little kids running around, all by themselves," a voice giggled. "This will be fun."
Oka, Fureddo, and Itachi turned to face the monster known as Do-S. The sadistic monster had a twisted smile on her face. Despite her curvaceous figure, blonde hair, and pink heart on her forehead, her scleras were black, and she wore a spiky mask. The look in her eyes screamed 'dominatrix'.
"I heard one of you is an esper, is that correct?" the monster asked. "An esper that can summon demons. Very interesting indeed."
Oka went red, hiding behind Fureddo.
"Who the hell are you?" Itachi asked, stepping forward. "Why are you dressed like a skank?"
Do-S gave him a look. "Ooh, we've got a feisty one. I'll play with you later, sweetie. Right now, I need that lovely little lady."
Fureddo clenched his fist. "Not a chance!"
Do-S raised her whip. "Then I guess I'll have to take your heart as well!"
She sent the whip flying towards the two. They jumped out of the way, slamming into the ground. Fureddo used his hand to protect his camera. He cursed at the nasty blue bruise covering his hand.
"Aw, did you get a boo-boo?" Do-S teased. "I'll fix that right up for you!"
"Get out of here, you damn skank," Itachi grumbled, punching her in the side of her jaw.
Do-S cupped her cheek, glaring at him.
"You're not so weak after all, little boy," she giggled. "Fine, if you want to play so badly, I suppose I'll entertain you!"
She sent her whip flying towards Itachi. He held up his arms like a wall of muscle. He gritted his teeth when he got whipped, bowing his head.
"Itachi!" Fureddo yelled.
"He's mine now," Do-S giggled. "Heart, mind, and soul!"
"Dofus," Itachi glared at her, picking up her whip in his grip. "You really think I'll lose control of myself that quickly?"
"What the-?" Do-S stumbled backwards.
"Pitiful," Itachi said, stepping towards her. "Get with the program. I'm not one of those good-for-nothing heroes. I'm here because I'm sick of you and this Monster Association crap, and the heroes can't do shit about it. So I'm gonna take care of it myself."
What's with this guy? Do-S thought, stepping back.
"Idiot!" she screamed. "I'm not finished either!"
She suddenly pulled the whip out of his grip, sending it towards Oka instead.
"That girl is mine!" she shouted.
Oka trembled, covering herself. And then the whip froze in mid-air, surrounded by green light.
"Deja vu," a new voice said. "Oh well. I guess, if I have to, I can defeat you again."
"M-M-Miss Blizzard!" Oka trembled.
Fubuki arrived, holding up the whip with her powers.
"Honestly, Oka," she sighed. "Without me, you'd be hopeless."
"Oh, it's you," Itachi grunted, staring at the woman.
"You again," Do-S giggled. "Well, without your sister in the way, I can take you out for good!"
"Incorrect," Fubuki shook her head. "I don't need my sister. I have my disciple."
She pointed to Oka, who was, once again, hiding behind Fureddo.
"Me…?" Oka asked.
"Of course," Fubuki said. "I'm giving you the chance to work together with me, Oka."
Oka looked like she was about to melt. "Work together… with Miss Blizzard…!"
"Such a sweet moment," Do-S chuckled, raising her whip, "but have you forgotten about me?!"
"Oka, now!" Fubuki shouted.
Oka's hands glowed dark blue, conjoining with Fubuki's light green. A demon hand sprouted from the ground, wrapping around Do-S's middle.
"What is this?!" the monster demanded.
"You there, boy with ginger hair," Fubuki stared at Itachi. "Take her out."
"You're not the boss of me, Tits Mcgee," Itachi spat on the ground.
"Itachi, c'mon, man," Fureddo said, standing up.
Itachi rolled his eyes. "Fine. Whatever."
He ran over to Do-S, glaring down at her.
"No, please," Do-S pleaded, trying to break free. "Spare me! I'll become your slave!"
"Pathetic," Itachi chortled. "Weaklings like you deserve your fate."
He punched her in the face, hard enough to snap her neck. Her body went limp in the demon hand.
"Good work," Fubuki said, grabbing Oka's shoulder. "Let's go. I know where King is."
Oka nodded, smiling up at her boss.
"Miss Blizzard," she said, eyes glittering. "Where is Remarkable…?"
Fubuki looked away, for a moment. "Remarkable decided to be unreasonable, and so, he is not coming with us."
Oka wondered what she meant by that, but the group was already progressing deeper into the Monster Association.
King really wished he could be anywhere else right now. But of course, he was face to face with some huge, terrifying monster.
Despite all the rumours about him, King was, in fact, a fraud. The only real talent he had was amazing luck. He just happened to be at the right place at the right time, and boom, he was suddenly an S Class hero! He never asked for it to happen. But of course, it was too late. Everyone believed he was great, powerful, and amazing, when in actuality, he was just a 29-year-old otaku who liked to play video games. Saitama was the one who deserved all the credit, but unlike King, his luck was not so fortunate.
Is this it? King thought, staring up at the dog-like monster. Has my luck finally run out?
His 'King Engine' (aka his heartbeat) began beating loudly. Of course, many rumours surrounded his King Engine as well. Apparently, it was King's 'battle cry', and no monster that had heard it had come out alive. Not this time. The huge, dog-like monster was going to kill him.
However, just as it seemed the monster was going to attack, it suddenly cowered and ran away. King hadn't even done anything, just stared at it. He stared at his hand in confusion. Was that it?
"King!" a voice shouted.
He turned around, facing Fubuki, and three of those kids from Akademi High.
"Fubuki," he greeted, calmly.
"You defeated another monster?" Fubuki asked. "Impressive. I wouldn't expect less from you, King."
"Yes," King said. "Of course."
The kids seemed impressed. Even Itachi looked mildly impressed for a millisecond.
"Let's keep going," Fubuki raised a hand. "More monsters to slay!"