Watching in bewildered horror from Zombie Man's shoulder as the newly mutated Garou pointed at him, Shunshi felt sick to his stomach and thought, Shit, shit, shit, shit! What the Hell happened to Garou?! What am I gonna-?! Before Shunshi could panic further, he saw Saitama start walking toward Garou. Oh... Right.
Taking a breath, his lungs hurting strangely more than they should, Shunshi replied to Garou's challenge with a melancholic smile, "Yeah... Sorry, Garou, but I'm done. My power's used up, and my spine's broken."
Lowering his hand, ignoring Saitama's slow approach, Garou sounded furious and heartbroken as he asked, "What are you saying?"
"You won. I lost... Now what happens? Do you kill me? Or do we figure something else out?" Shunshi replied with a genuinely apologetic tone.
Immediately, while Garou was utterly floored, Zombie Man turned from the Hero Hunter and sprinted away with Shunshi while shouting, "What happens is that we run, you crazy idiot!"
"Wait! We're still talking!" Shunshi exclaimed with startled annoyance.
"Not happening, Monster Mask! We need to grab everyone who can still stand if we want to have a chance at stopping the Hero Hunter! Come on, Caped Baldy!" Zombie Man yelled, hoping the B-Class Hero would listen.
However, after Zombie Man sprinted far enough away that Garou was completely out of sight, he was forced to a swerving stop when one of Blast's warping orbs appeared in his path.
Coming to a halt as Blast stepped out of the orb, Zombie Man and Shunshi, lifting himself as much as he could, stared at him with complete bewilderment.
As Zombie Man shifted back from Blast, Shunshi thought, Okay, who the Hell is this...?! Argh, dammit! Twisting over Zombie Man's shoulder hurts like Hell with only half a spine! I wish he'd flip me around!
Walking toward the nervous Heroes, Blast instructed Zombie Man, "Don't do that. Sorry to say, but you'd all just get in my way. Just leave Garou to me."
Gritting his teeth, Zombie Man asked the massive man, "What are you talking about?! Who are you?!"
Pointing at himself, Blast explained sternly, "I do Hero work as a hobby. The Hero Association calls me Blast."
The moment Shunshi heard this man introduce himself, his pupils dilated as wide as they could.
Blast?! Holy shit! Blast?! The real number one S-Class! Is it really him?! Can... Can I get his autograph?!
While Shunshi geeked out internally and Zombie Man stared at Blast with inquisitive caution, the number 1 S-Class told them, "I'll do what I can to keep the fight away from all of you. But try to get yourselves and the others to safety anyways."
Walking past them, it seemed as if Blast was about to leave. Instead, he turned at the last moment, pointed at Shunshi, and scolded him, "And you! You did a good job against the Hero Hunter, but hold off on the raw power next time. My allies and I had to divert a chunk of what you and Garou were throwing around to keep the Earth from being destroyed!"
Shrinking from Blast's critique, Shunshi stuttered, "Er, I... Your...? But he... What did...? Erm.. Yes, sir."
Nodding, Blast gave a soft smile and seemed to vanish into thin air without another word.
Cursing himself once Blast disappeared, Shunshi thought, Dammit! I couldn't get a word out! Now I'll never get that autograph...! Oh well. If That's really Blast, then Master'll have no issues taking down Garou... But, come on! What did he expect me to do?! I had to try and beat Garou somehow. It's not my fault he got so strong... I mean... It somewhat is, but... still.
Picking his pace back up, Zombie Man seemed disheartened as he told Shunshi, "I'm sorry, Monster Mask. Your friend, Caped Baldy, was fast, but it doesn't look like he made it out with us. I'm afraid the Hero Hunter must have got him while we ran."
With a hint of sass, Shunshi frowned, looked at the back of Zombie Man's head, and told him, "You're the one doing the running. And besides, Master Saitama's gonna be fine."
As he talked, Shunshi kept his eyes directed upward, thinking, I wish he didn't have me staring at his butt... I guess it's better than the alternative...
Breaking his stride somewhat, Zombie Man looked over his shoulder and asked, "I'm sorry... Master...?"
Nodding, Shunshi explained proudly, "Yeah. Saitama-Sensei is the one who gave me strength training. To this day, I still can't imagine the full limit of his strength... He's at least as tough as Blast, though. So the two of them should have Garou handled."
Doing his best not to come to a stop, Zombie Man, utterly baffled, asked, "Are... Are you serious...? That guy?"
During the time Zombie Man was running away, Garou twitched with unexplainable emotions as he tried to string coherent thoughts together.
He can't fight anymore...? No...! Shunshi lied to me! He failed!
While Garou's rage grew, Saitama walked up to him and asked, "Hey? You in there?"
Snapping out of his stupor, Garou noticed the Caped Baldy staring at him. Remembering what Shunshi told him about Saitama, Garou flinched slightly.
"You wanna go after Shunshi, right? Well, he's in no condition for another brawl, so you've gotta go through me first," Saitama told him plainly.
Feeling phantom pains all over his body when Saitama spoke to him, Garou thought, What's going on with me...? Don't tell me this guy's actually... Wait... Wait!
All at once, the memories previously beaten out of the Hero Hunter came flooding back. All three times Saitama had laid him out: In the market, in front of King, and in the playground. It was all back in a flash.
Pointing at Saitama with his arm and one of his bone wings, Garou exclaimed, "You! This whole time, you... You've been the Hero Association's secret weapon! The guy who kept sending Shunshi after me, stronger each time!" And as Saitama stared at Garou with bewilderment, he shouted, "Why?! You could've beaten me whenever you wanted! Why did you keep sending Monster Mask after me?!"
With a hint of confusion, Saitama replied, "Sent him after you? What are you talking about? Shunshi did that on his own cuz he had a beef with you. This is the first time I've actually met you."
"Don't give me that crap!" Garou exclaimed furiously. "The market, in the road with King, and in the park! You beat me senseless three times! What's wrong with you and your students?! Can't any of you remember when you've almost killed somebody?!"
Folding his arms, Saitama thought for a second before remarking, "Oh...? Oh! Right, I remember now. Wow, you were the Hero Hunter this whole time? Huh. You really got a thing for causing problems."
As the tips of his bony wings pointed at Saitama, Garou's annoyance let up slightly, and he stated, "Good! You get it. Now, didn't you say I have to get past you to get to Shunshi? Well then, give me a great fight worthy of the praise Monster Mask threw on you!"
Raising his hand to stop Garou, Saitama told him, "No, hold on. You don't get it."
Tilting his head in confusion, Garou listened as Saitama emotionlessly explained, "I came here to give a noise complaint to whoever the Monster King is, but I'm pretty sure he's dead by now. But after all the bullcrap I went through underground today, I come back to the surface just to find my town and house have been destroyed. Then I found Genos and learned you tore him apart. On top of that, you ripped off Shunshi's arm a few days ago, and now you broke his spine. I swear, I'm so pissed off right now, I could destroy the whole world...! So..." Saitama's brow then took on the slightest furrow, and the veins in his face popped as he concluded, "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to kick your ass."
Garou couldn't explain it, but his instincts made him feel as if Saitama's threat was burying him under the weight of the whole Earth. Even so, with his newly gifted power, even this pressure was something the new champion of God could overcome.
At first, Garou went to channel Kie to get his defenses up. However, Garou was stumped when he felt no trace of Kie from within himself.
While making another attempt to channel his power, Garou remembered something Monster Mask told him. I'll show you the power that Humanity's goodness holds!
As Monster Mask's words rang in his mind, Garou realized something vital. Humanity's power, huh...? I guess it makes sense a monster like me can't use that anymore... It doesn't matter. I have plenty of more powerful tricks up my sleeve now!
Clenching his fists as Saitama did the same, Garou's wings suddenly and completely fell off his back into motionless piles of bones.
Puzzled, Saitama asked, "Are you falling apart already? I haven't even touched you yet."
Taking up his preferred stance, Garou asked the Caped Baldy, "You think you can kick my ass like I'm just another monster of the week? Well, Shunshi thought the same thing... And just like how I beat him, I'll get stronger infinitely and keep throwing new techniques out until I beat you!" Garou then threw a punch at Saitama, moving at a shocking tenth of the mightiest Hero's full speed.
Although surprised, Saitama was ready to catch the attack and uppercut Garou with a Normal Punch. However, Saitama was completely taken off guard when the bones of Garou's discarded wings congealed into six piles that took on the forms of large bone fists and flew at the Caped Baldy.
Saitama managed to catch Garou's actual hand in his own, ducked out of the way of the first bone fist, and caught the second with his free hand. Unfortunately, the third boneball managed to land a strike across his jaw.
As the bone fist struck Saitama, an orb of simultaneous light and dark erupted from the pseudo knuckles. The resulting blow unleashed a radioactive explosion so powerful it could be mistaken from space to be a whole city.
"Cosmic Hammer!" And with the force of cosmic power behind the attack, Saitama found himself suddenly launched to the opposite end of the Earth in less than a second.
Mentally speaking, Saitama had been startled. Physically, Saitama only felt a dull ache as his skin received a few scratches, and the right half of the collar of his suit was burnt up. With no real injuries, though, the Caped Baldy quickly recomposed himself.
Catching himself on some water, Saitama quickly started running across the liquid surface of the ocean and sprinting back toward the battleground, grumbling, "Dammit! It's gonna take me a second to get back if I don't want to destroy everything I run by."
After sending Saitama flying, Garou was staring at the bones of his wings as they floated around him as six makeshift fists.
Tightening his fists, the wing bones moved to orbit over Garou's shoulders. And as they settled into place, the balls of bones began glowing with cosmic energy.
Remembering how Monster Mask used his Burn whips as makeshift limbs, Garou excited himself as he thought of how he could use these free-moving orbs for the same effect. Even more so than when they were wings.
However, just as Garou was about to move toward where he sensed the gathered Heroes, one of Blast's wormholes appeared in his path.
Stepping out of his portal, Blast towered over Garou and told him, "I'm afraid I can't let you get anywhere near those people."
Tilting his head while moving his bone orbs in front of himself, Garou asked, "Who the Hell are you?"
Closing the portal behind him, Blast introduced himself frankly, "Most people who know me around these parts call me Blast."
Sliding a foot back to ready himself for combat, Garou exclaimed in a reinvigorated tone, "Blast?! The number 1 S-Class, Blast...?! I wasn't even sure you were real! This final hunt just keeps getting better and better!"
Raising a hand, Blast exclaimed, "Stop! You can't take another step forward!"
"Giving me orders, eh? Are you so used to everyone doing what you say that you think I'll listen like a good little monster?! No-!"
Cutting back in, Blast elaborated, "That's not what I'm saying, Hero Hunter! We already had to divert power away from Earth during your and Monster Mask's final clash! You would have destroyed the planet otherwise!"
Destroyed the planet...? Give me a break. Does he think I'm an idiot? Garou grumbled internally.
"And now your body contains more power than both of you would have been combined. Not only that, but your new power is fueled by cosmic radiation! My body is capable of withstanding the energy, but you'll kill everyone else you go near. You have to stay away from them!"
As Blast wrapped up his warning, Garou's empty face seemed as if it cocked a brow.
Chuckling, Garou responded dismissively, "After I've come this far and even beat my final rival, you expect me to just surrender here? Just because you're making up warnings about some science crap?"
In truth, while Garou could no doubt be called a genius, his brilliant mind could only focus on the world of martial arts. It had no room for anything past a basic understanding of all other fields. In fact, it's doubtful he even grasped the concept of what radiation would do to people. Let alone the cosmic variety.
Clenching his fists as his face grew dour, Blast pleaded, "You have to believe me, boy! Your life is being played with by a thing that calls itself God. Your divine power threatens all life on Earth. Is that really what you want?!"
Staying silent for a moment, as if to contemplate Blast's words, Garou eventually stated, "Blah, blah, blah! Even if any of that's true, I'm the Ultimate Evil! Why should I care?"
Disappointed beyond belief, Blast let out a sigh before raising his palm and producing a dark orb surrounded by white and red energy.
Is that Kie, too...? No. It's nothing like what Shunshi and I were throwing around. It's more like the new power I've got my hands on. Heh. Calls himself the number 1 Hero, and he can't even use that sappy power fueled by kindness? What a joke.
"If you won't listen to reason, then I'll have to seal you in another dimension for now," Blast stated.
While tightening his glare, Blast thought, I hope he comes along without too much of a fight. He didn't seem like he actually wanted anyone to die before now... And he's maintained at least part of himself. So the power transfer must have been incomplete... What if it had been completed...? If he doesn't cooperate, then we might need to determine which one of us has greater cosmic power.
All of a sudden, Garou's stance loosened as he began laughing, "Hahaha!"
"What are you-?" Blast began.
Cutting him off, Garou stated, "I just realized what you said. Divine Power! I like that! It's appropriate! My mere presence will bring death wherever I go! Perfect for the ultimate symbol of terror! I am Threat Level God, and I will create a future where Humanity is twisted into constant terror and unity!"
"You... damn fool!" Blast exclaimed before slamming his knuckles together, crushing the black orb between them. Then, as the energy was released, a glowing infinity symbol appeared across both his forearms.
Stretching his hands out as his bone fists began glowing with greater intensity, Garou shouted back, "I'm the fool?! You're the one trying to challenge my godly power!"
After he and Zombie Man reunited with the other Heroes, Shunshi had been set on the ground beside Genos while S-Class' number 8 told everyone what was going on. Simultaneously, Shunshi caught Genos up on everything he'd missed.
"So, yeah. Saitama-Sensei and Blast should have this wrapped up in a minute or two," Shunshi told Genos.
"I see... Once more, Master has pulled us out of Hell itself," Genos remarked with the admiration he reserved only for Saitama.
"Heh... Seems like it, Senpai," Shunshi answered with a melancholic stare at the sky.
Giving Shunshi a sideways glance, Genos thought for a second before telling him, "I... I am sorry you could not defeat the Hero Hunter yourself."
Frowning at Genos' sympathies, Shunshi let himself complain, "I don't even understand what's happening with him anymore. I thought I'd won, but now Garou looks like he's made of space, and I felt sick just being near him... Still feel a bit barfy, actually."
Raising his remaining eyebrow in confusion, Genos replied, "Really...? If my sensors were still working, I could scan you to see what sort of energy he might have exposed you to."
"Oh," Shunshi muttered with concern. "You think it could really be dangerous?"
"Perhaps. Based on what you said, he could have poisoned you," Genos stated tactlessly.
"Er... Crrrrap," Shunshi stated as his pupils dilated and he tried to think of what to do.
Glancing toward the gathering of unconscious and conscious Heroes, Shunshi saw Sweet Mask standing and Child Emperor lying on the ground.
Baffled yet happy, Shunshi quickly thought, They're both alive...? I guess I never actually saw a body for Child Emperor... But I saw Sweet Mask get torn in half! What's going on with him?
While Saitama's pupils conversed separately, Zombie Man told the group of conscious Heroes, "So, while Blast and... possibly Caped Baldy take out the Hero Hunter, we're supposed to get to safety... I... Who is that?"
Turning to look where Zombie Man was staring, everyone saw an ugly little boy desperately running toward them.
"Uuuunnncle!" Tareo yelled as he clumsily ran toward them.
Picking himself up as much as he could, Shunshi was horrified when he saw Tareo rushing toward them.
"Is that a boy?" Amahare asked.
"I think so," Spring Mustachio answered.
"I thought he was another monster at first..." Manako whispered as she hid behind Flashy Flash's unconscious body.
Screaming, King asked, "What's that kid doing back here?!"
Flipping himself over to stare at Tareo as he finished his sprint, Shunshi snapped at him, "Tareo! Why did you come back?! What happened?!"
Stopping in front of Shunshi and gasping for breath, Tareo took in a huge gulp of air and answered, "I need to talk to Uncle one more time! Where is he?!"
Immediately, Shunshi felt his tongue get stuck in his throat. He wanted to be honest with the boy. But how could he when the truth was so horrible? Not to mention the issue of not understanding the full scope of things himself.
"I... He..." Shunshi tried to speak, but the sentences refused to form.
Before the A-Class Hero could explain the situation at all, he noticed a horde of more figures sprinting toward them. Unlike Tareo, though, they all ran with perfect form and superhuman strides. Once they were close enough, Shunshi and the rest recognized them as a mix of some Heroes from the Support Team and a few of the Heroes who'd been hospitalized by Garou and the Monster Association.
"Is the kid over here?!" Lightning Max asked.
"I think I see him over there!" Sneck exclaimed, pointing toward the gathering of still-conscious combatants.
"Yeah! That's him! And the S-Class are there too!" Stinger shouted excitedly.
"Looks like we'll need to save them, too, then!" Death Gatling stated confidently.
Running as best he could with his bandages and broken armor, Lightning Genji remarked pessimistically, "Right... We'll save them."
"Is Shunshi with them?" Lin Lin asked as she sprinted ahead of the others.
"I think I see him lying on the ground by the kid!" Needle Star exclaimed.
Sprinting past the other Heroes and Tareo, Lin Lin slid to her knees and violently hugged Shunshi's head to her chest.
"Hahaha! You're still alive...!" Lin Lin cried out despite her bandaged face. However, when her eyes went down his back, she saw the massive gash in the center of his back. A gash so deep she could see his severed spine.
"What the Hell?! What happened?!"
Pulling his face to freedom, Shunshi answered reluctantly, "Um... I was... Well, throwing Garou into orbit when my Kie gave out... Then I landed on my spine when I fell back to the surface."
Immediately, Lin Lin's face screamed how horrified she was, so Shunshi desperately tried to smile as he told her, "My, uh... I'll get better. I promise."
Cutting back in, Tareo yelled, "You threw Uncle into space?!"
"I... No, no! Garou made it back down!"
"You didn't beat him?!" Lin Lin yelled judgemental.
"Huh?! No, I did...! And then he got back up, but still, I beat him," Shunshi explained halfheartedly.
"Yeah! Uncle's alive and still fighting!" Tareo cheered.
Pinching his cheek, Lin Lin told Shunshi, "That's not beating him. That's-."
Cutting into the discussion, Genos exclaimed, "Stop critiquing Shunshi! His spine is broken and has earned a moment of rest!"
Flinching at the Demon Cyborg's annoyance, Tareo, Lin Lin, and the other Heroes looked at Genos.
In his awkward position, Genos was forced to crane his head back to stare at them. If he had been a man of lesser will, Genos would appear almost silly to the other Heroes at this moment. However, the Demon Cyborg's sheer aura of intimidation, paired with his glowing yellow eyes, shuttered the reinforcements to their cores.
It was during this instant, before conversations could be carried out further, that all the conscious Heroes and Tareo were bounced off the ground by a sudden barrage of what sounded like explosions in the distance. Immediately after, a sudden dust storm washed across the battlefield, just as they had been anytime Shunshi detonated a sizeable Light Ball during his battle moments earlier. And similar to the Kie clashes, a blinding light went off in the horizon.
To most of those present, the noises sounded like they began and ended in three seconds. However, to the ears of those of S-Class level, they could tell this had been a much longer ordeal.
Two or more combatants were involved in a huge battle. However, all the participants were so fast that the three seconds of clashing contained what would have taken an hour of fighting for any normal Humans.
Worried, Shunshi muttered, "Garou... What are you doing now?"
"What? The Hero Hunter?! He's here...?! He can't actually be doing this, right?" Stinger asked desperately.
Putting a hand on Stinger's shoulder in solidarity, Lightning Genji asked him, "After we saw Shunshi fighting that big bug, do you really doubt it?"
Meanwhile, within the command deck, the crew of the aircraft carrier Saitama rescued were starting to panic as warning alarms blared.
Standing at attention to try and calm his men, the ship's captain addressed one of his crewmen, "Lieutenant, which alarm is that for?"
Reading the ship's computers, the color in the Lieutenant's face drained away as he answered, "This... This is the emergency alarm for a nuclear bomb going off."
As the sounds of conflict ceased, the vibrations of the Earth were enough to wake up a few of the injured Heroes, including Metal Bat, Flashy Flash, and Silver Fang.
Grabbing his head as he woke up, Metal Bat asked, "Geez, what was that light? It's so annoying... Hm?" As Metal Bat complained, he noticed that his nose, which hadn't been broken by some miracle, started to bleed.
Sitting up and rubbing the fist-shaped burn mark Shunshi left on his face, Flash groaned, "Ergh... What kind of secret technique did the Hero Hunter hit me with? I can't even recall him turning to face me..."
Suddenly hugging Flash's arm, Manako exclaimed with tears in her eye, "You're alive!"
Noticing Flashy Flash sitting and getting glomped by the monster Caped Baldy defended, Sweet Mask, who'd pulled himself free from the ship hull, walked over to them.
Glaring down at Flash as he halfheartedly tried to pull his arm from Manako, the A-Class Hero asked, "Hey, Flashy Flash... Why are you with a monster?"
Noticing as the veins characteristic of his anger bulged on Sweet Mask's face, Flash forced Manako off of him, stared Sweet Mask down, and told him, "I found this helpful animal and used it for lighting in the dark."
Doing her best to sound sweet despite her terror, Manako added, "Hehe... Yep, that's me! Nice to meet you properly!"
Glaring, Sweet Mask began, "You expect me to believe-?" However, he stopped once he, Flash, and Manako noticed blood start leaking from his eye.
Finally, Bang used what strength he still had and climbed to his feet. Taking note of his surroundings, the elder S-Class noticed Shunshi lying on the ground as a child, and numerous lower-ranked Heroes were gathered around him.
Seeing how hurt his pupil was, Bang jogged toward him, exclaiming, "Shunshi! It seems I was out cold for a minute there. Are you alright?! Did you-?"
Just as Bang got near Shunshi and was about to ask him if he'd fought Garou, Bang felt his neck getting wet. Feeling the blood on his neck, Bang quickly realized there were no open wounds there, and the blood was actually coming from his ears.
Bang, Sweet Mask, and Metal Bat weren't the soul victims, however. Just about everyone else in this gathering of Heroes was confused and concerned when their nostrils, eyes, and ears started leaking blood.
Before anyone could understand the source of their afflictions, a figure suddenly appeared atop one of the shards of steel broken off of the destroyed ship, standing over the crowd with an air of divine menace.
Behind this figure, what looked like six glowing stars floated behind him, but the light from them did not give off the typical feelings of hope and wonder that normal stars would. Instead, it was like staring into the eyes of an otherworldly, hateful deity.
It was at that moment, that all the gathered Heroes realized the source of that flash must have been the monster before them now.
Flipping himself over once more as his eyes bled, Shunshi stared at this figure and asked in unison with Bang, "Garou... What have you done?"
"Is that... a monster?" One of the Tanktop Heroes asked fearfully.
Is that the Hero Hunter...? Did he monsterize? Tanktop Master thought as he positioned himself between Garou and the Tanktop Army.
Sweating anxiously as his body started to ache, Zombie Man thought, I can feel the power coming off him... Where's Blast and Caped Baldy...?
Getting in front of Manako, Flashy Flash told himself, There's no way to run from this.
Staring down at the bewildered and terrified Heroes, Garou noticed Tareo was among them. The boy's eyes were in a strange mix of wonder and horror.
Giving off the aura that he was smiling despite his lack of a proper face, Garou muttered, "This is perfect... I'll show you a world where the Monster finally defeats the Hero, Tareo. I have become a symbol of terror that sends Heroes running in fear... I am absolute evil..."
Staring into the sky, Garou stated, "Thank you..."
Looking back down, the Hero Hunter took notice of Shunshi splayed on the ground with several other Heroes around him, including their shared master, Bang.
His aura shifting back to pure malice, Garou pointed to his fallen rival, telling him, "So... In the end, the Hero and his false ideas of justice weren't enough to stop absolute Evil... And after all the shit you gave me. What a fucking failure! And now you won't have Blast or that bald muscle-head boss of yours!"
"What?! What did you do?!" Genos and Shunshi asked at once.
Despite struggling to stand in Garou's presence, Silver Fang walked closer to his student, asking him, "Garou...? Is that really you?"
Tilting his head, Garou replied dismissively, "Still alive, old man?"
"What happened to you?! Why do you look like that? Have you really given yourself up to the monsters?" Bang asked with disappointed frustration.
Pausing for a moment, Garou replied, "Not exactly... You used to tell me to find the flow of power and go with it, as that's the way of Flowing Water. Well... I've found the and become one with that flow. Taken control of it. So thanks for that. I'm genuinely grateful."
Garou then hopped off the metal shard and started walking closer to everyone, worsening their feelings of sickness.
"I avoided becoming that thing's pawn. This power is mine, and I'm acting of my own will."
As Garou walked, though, he was taken off guard when Tareo suddenly shot to his feet and walked closer to him too.
With tears in his eyes, Tareo exclaimed, "Uncle, please stop! I know you're not some evil bad guy! To me... You're the coolest Hero of them all!"
Genuinely stopped in his tracks, not noticing how Tareo was starting to bleed from his orifices, Garou's hostility died down once more as he replied, "Tareo... I'm sorry. It's time to say goodbye to the version of me you've known up until now... I have evil to commit!"
As Garou spoke, Child Emperor and Tareo both passed out as they bled more, and their hair fell out. Their smaller bodies were simply incapable of withstanding his presence any longer.
"My aura knocked the kids out, eh? Well, rest, Tareo. You'll wake up to a whole new world," Garou pontificated ignorantly.
A world where neither of us ever see each other again. It'll be better that way.
Despite lacking his Kie and being so weakened, Shunshi's body still had the strength it needed to move. The same could not be said for his friends and allies around him.
Injured as they were, not to mention the larger gap in power, Stinger, Lin Lin, Lightning Genji, and all the other Heroes below S-Class had lost consciousness before any of them even had time to react.
As such, when Shunshi saw all the blood leaking from the faces of his companions and failed to notice Manako fleeing even as she bled from her massive eye, he was overcome with absolute disgust and rage.
Using what strength he had in his arms, Monster Mask began dragging himself toward the Hero Hunter and yelled, "For fuck's sake, Garou! What are you doing?! How is this going to create the world peace you want!? I don't know how you're doing it, but how is killing us all supposed to do anything for that goal!?"
Staring at his fallen rival, Garou felt a mix of regret and disgust as he asked, "Shunshi...? I'd as if you're making your last stand, but that doesn't seem to be an option for you anymore... I'll admit, you had me going for a second. I even thought that your ideas might have held some air... But now I'm stronger than ever, and you're a damn cripple!"
Crushing rocks in his palms in fury, Shunshi was hit with an explosion of realization. The pain and decay he felt now was, in some odd way, a far more intense version of how he felt when the fake Saitama tried to offer him power.
Enraged, Shunshi spat up a puddle of blood as he yelled, "Is this really how you want to end things between us, you weak-willed coward?! I'm too hurt to fight back while you had to resort to getting power lent to you by some weird ghost imposter asshole!?"
"Coward?! You...!" Letting out a stiff guff of air, Garou went on, "Yes, this is a fine ending. If you were really the Hero this world needed, then it wouldn't matter where my power comes from. You'd be able to stop me. Your inability to act isn't an excuse for failure, Shit Mask!"
By now, even the S-Class couldn't stand Garou's presence any longer. One by one, they all fell to their faces as the life left their bodies. That is, all but one blond cyborg, a blue-eyed young man who was far too used to pain, and an old man who forced himself beyond reason to stay in the land of the living for the sake of his students.
Despite the internal bleeding he was now suffering, Bang stepped closer to Garou and cut in, "That's enough, you damned fool! If you want to take this any farther, you'll have to get through me first!"
Looking up at his elderly sensei, Shunshi exclaimed, "Bang-Sensei, no! Leave this to me!"
"Are you a fool, too?!" Bang yelled at Shunshi, shutting him up. "I am both of your sensei. Settling things when one of you gets out of line is my duty! And, Garou... If you truly believe what you're doing is worth all this death, then the next person you'll have to kill is me!"
Giving Silver Fang's words a second of pause, Garou eventually stated, "Fine... For the sake of my new world, I'll do it!"
Suddenly, taking everyone off guard, Genos ignited the remaining rockets on his torso and sent himself shooting through the air.
Aiming himself at Garou, Genos shouted, "MOVE!"
Thanks to surprising Garou so completely, Genos was able to slam himself head-first into the Divine Monster's chest while exclaiming, "I am the only Hero present who is immune to his toxic aura! Leave him to me!"
Despite his words, Genos' rockets died in the next second without having budged Garou an inch.
Grabbing the Demon Cyborg via what remained of his hair before he could fall, the Hero Hunter asked, "Shunshi's best buddy and partner in crime, the Demon Cyborg, eh? You sure are brave. I guess it all makes sense, though. Shunshi did tell me that Saitama loser trained you, too. The bald dumbass even said he knows you."
Glancing between Genos and Shunshi as they glared with fury and fear at him, Garou thought, That bald guy... He's still out there. And he didn't give me anywhere near his best. But after copying Blast's techniques and leaving him on the floor, I know I can copy his full strength too and surpass him... I just need to force him to get serious.
Without hesitation, Garou formed a dagger hand and pointed it at Genos' chest.
Utterly horrified, Shunshi and Bang yelled, "NOOOO!"
Using the last of his dying strength, Shunshi slammed his hands to the ground and flung himself through the air. At the same time, as black irradiated rain began to drizzle in, Bang, despite himself, felt the last of his life leave him and collapsed to the ground.
Master. I failed as a-. These were the last thoughts that went through Genos' mind.
Launching through the air as he clasped his fists together, Shunshi felt tears mix with the blood in his eyes as he saw Garou's hand go through Genos' body and tear out his power core.
All Shunshi could do now was scream out the blood clogging his airway and aim his fists at Garou's skull. However, the last thing Shunshi would ever see at this moment, as the black rain went from a drizzle to a downpour, was one of Garou's bone fists aimed flying at his face.
Just past the edge of the fist filling his view, though, Shunshi swore in his last moment that he saw a bald figure walking toward them.
Before anyone could understand the source of their afflictions, a figure suddenly appeared atop one of the shards of steel broken off of the destroyed ship, standing over the crowd with an air of divine menace.
Behind this figure, what looked like six glowing stars floated behind him, but the light from them did not give off the typical feelings of hope and wonder that normal stars would. Instead, it was like staring into the eyes of an otherworldly, hateful deity.
It was at that moment, that all the gathered Heroes realized the source of that flash must have been the monster before them now.
Flipping himself over once more as his eyes bled, Shunshi stared at this figure and asked in unison with Bang, "Garou... What have you done?"
However, for some reason, Shunshi and Bang were both hit out of nowhere with a sudden case of deja vu. Both of them felt as if they'd already said this to Garou. However, with how infuriating he could be for both of them, the master and student simply chalked it up to a sense of the last time either of them had yelled at the Hero Hunter.
However, just as Garouw was about to begin speaking, a portal opened up beside him. And, just as out of nowhere, a fist flew from the portal, socking Garou across the jaw with such force, that not only was he knocked off his perch, but the shell of his cosmic power began to shatter off of his face.
The flash from this sudden portal left most people blinded, only able to make out the silhouette of a figure striking Garou. However, the one exception to this rule was Genos and his mechanical eyes.
He was the only one able to see Saitama, completely naked except for the tattered remains of one of his gloves on his left hand. And in it, he held a metal orb wrapped in the remains of some shredded black cloth.
"Master?!" Genos couldn't help but exclaim.
Overhearing his Senpai, Shunshi instantly realized what this sudden appearance meant. Once again, Saitama-Sensei had pulled their butts out of the fire.
Properly recognizing the now staggered figure, the other gathered Heroes exclaimed in mass, "The Hero Hunter?!"
Spitting out blood as his bone fists crumbled to dust, Garou wheezed, "What happened?!" Just then, he felt a light and smoke begin pouring from his re-Humaned face.
Grabbing at his face, Garou exclaimed, "My power... is... leaking out!"
Then, in another explosion of light coming from Garou's face that left everyone still unable to perceive Saitama, the Human Monster's cosmically powered body shattered apart. And underneath the shell of cosmic power was a fully Human Garou once more, dressed in whatever was left of the clothes the Monster Association gave him. There were still pieces of the cosmic shell on Garou, but even those were quickly flaking off.
What just happened? That punch came out of nowhere! It even made Saitama's punches seem like a lovetap! Garou thought through his physical agony.
And, as everyone was distracted by Garou's explosive loss of power, the nude Saitama suddenly found himself pulled through the air against his will.
At the same time, a fully clothed version of Saitama was running along the ocean when he found himself lifted off his feet and pulled through the air too.
Although both the clothed and nude Saitamas were baffled, neither could process their thoughts as they were slammed into each other halfway between the shore and the battleground. Then, as the Saitamas collided, space warbled around them as their two bodies merged into one Saitama with a more ripped-up uniform.
Absolutely bewildered, the fused Saitama sat on the ground, scratching his scalp as he asked himself, "Huh...? What was I doing here again...? Let's see... Garou's floating bone orb hit me, and then... Hm?"
Glancing into his palm, Saitama saw he was holding Genos' power core wrapped in a small remnant of Shunshi's cloak. Suddenly, a flood of half-clear memories of a final climactic battle with the Hero Hunter raced through his mind. And as he somewhat recalled coming across Genos with his heart removed and Shunshi decapitated, Saitama leaped to his feet and let out a startled and possibly even frightened yell.
However, as he stood up, another horrific realization hit him that made him scream with confusion and embarrassment. The damage done to his uniform resulted in the groin of his clothes being torn out, leaving his personal flag flying for the world to see.
Before Saitama could work to cover himself, Genos came flying at him with the rockets in his torso, headbutting Saitama in his chest and knocking him down while exclaiming joyfully, "Master!"
Distracted as he was, Saitama was knocked on his back by the force of Genos' collision before flipping to his hands and knees. When he saw the limbless Genos staring back at him, Saitama's expression became that of genuine relief and confusion.
"Sorry! I got too excited by your return!" Genos said.
"Dude! You really surprised me! Are you really alive?! Is Shunshi alive too?!" Saitama exclaimed happily, bewildering his cyborg disciple.
Seeing Genos' puzzled expression, Saitama extended his hand, showed Genos the copy of his core wrapped in black cloth, and said, "I was holding this for some reason, and it gave me a feeling something bad might've happened to you guys... Also, my pants got a hole in them out of nowhere."
Staring at the scuffed-up version of his core, Genos remarked, "Yes... That closely resembles my core. May I have a look at it?"
Setting the orb down next to his student's face, Saitama began tying the ripped cloth around his groin together and said, "Sure. I'll need a sec for this anyways."
As Saitama gave his pants a makeshift patch job, Genos extended a metal cord with a plug at its end out of his shoulder and muttered, "I will use a sub-connector to see if it functions."
The cord then plugged itself into the power core, causing the orb to start glowing.
Then, while Genos' grew startled and his eyes began to glow, Saitama asked, "Is whatever you're doing working?"
As Genos sorted through the information stored in this second power core, Garou was still gasping for air as the pieces of his cosmic power fell from his body.
At the same time, Shunshi, Tareo, and all the other Heroes were looking at the fallen Hero Hunter. The tone of the observers were mixes of confusion, concern, and hesitant aggression from his prior victims.
Just as Tareo was about to stand up and approach Garou out of concern, he and Shunshi heard a familiar, yet ghostly voice call out to the kid, "Don't worry about him. So long as you're fine, he's fine."
Frantically scanning their surroundings, Tareo and Shunshi saw what looked like a spectral clone of Garou staring at them. He had a melancholic smile, and just as the two started getting a clear look at him, this second Garou started fading away, as if his body were shattering to pieces.
"Shunshi... I wish things had gone differently between us," Phantom Garou told the baffled man wistfully as he finished vanishing.
"U-Uncle?" Tareo asked in confusion.
"Garou? H-how did you do that?!" Shunshi asked simultaneously.
Startled by his sudden question, Bang, Lin Lin, Stinger, and Genji looked at where Shunshi was staring, with Stinger asking, "Uh... I think the Hero Hunter's still on his knees over there, dude. Did you mess up your head too?"
"What? No! Didn't any of you-?"
Before Shunshi could finish speaking, Tareo jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "Uncle, w-wait!" However, as he took just a couple steps, the wind blew in Tareo's face, knocking dust into his eyes and stopping him in his tracks.
Rubbing his peepers clean, Tareo tried to look for the Phantom Garou again but saw nothing.
Was I dreaming? Tareo wondered.
His concern for the kid overweighing his bewilderment, Shunshi yelled after Tareo, "Hey, Tareo! Don't go too far off! Your uncle-!"
Once more, Shunshi was cut off when he heard the sounds of dozens of battle cries.
Following the source of the screams, Shunshi, and his companions saw dozens of Heroes, all of whom Garou had hospitalized, were currently beating him into the ground. All the while, Garou was making now attempt to defend himself, if he was able to at all.
"Grah! Die Hero Hunter!" "You kicked our butts before! How do you like it?!" "Now we're the Hunters!" A few members of the Tanktop Army shouted as they punched and kicked at Garou.
The hardest kick yet of the group came from Death Gatling, who shouted with perverse glee, "You think you can just humiliate the A-Class like you did and get away with it?! Not on my watch!"
As he was being thrashed about, too weakened and demoralized to put up a fight, Garou thought, Will this all finally end...? I don't know what took my power away... but I feel like I deserve this for some reason... Did Shunshi's ideas get through to me after all...? No, it's not that. Not completely... This just feels appropriate somehow.
Watching the beatdown of his foe unfold, Shunshi, his voice as monotone as Saitama's normally is, told his friends, "One of you. Pick me up and take me over there. If you don't, I'll drag myself over there."
Although Lin Lin and Lightning Genji were a bit surprised by this request, Stinger smirked and replied immediately, "No problem. I want to get a few licks in myself anyways!"
Ignoring Stinger's remark as his friend put him on his back, Shunshi told him, "Alright. Let's move."
As Stinger started walking toward Garou, though, Silver Fang matched his pace, stating, "I think I'll come too."
Jogging as fast as they could, Lin and Genji caught up too. However, Genji also grabbed Tareo.
"I'm not letting you out of my sight in your condition, idiot!" Lin Lin snapped.
"I hope you're all not expecting me to babysit this kid by myself in the middle of this warzone," Genji groaned.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Tareo complained as Genji put him on his shoulders.
"Making sure you don't get yourself hurt out here. Now stop squirming," Genji told him, annoyed.
With that, the six of them were approaching the public thrashing of the Hero Hunter Garou.
As for the man in question. After a solid minute of getting beatings from dozens of Heroes, Garou was, perhaps unsurprisingly, still alive.
Giving off a wicked and bloodied smile, Garou asked the crowd, "What's wrong, weaklings!? Is that all you got!?"
Stepping through some of the crowd with Shunshi on his back, Stinger proclaimed, "Heha! Not even close, you rotten villain! Monster Mask and I'll- Ack!" Stopping Stinger mid-proclamation, Shunshi tightened an arm around his buddy's neck, choking him briefly.
"We're not killing him," Monster Mask stated as Stinger caught his breath. "We're Heroes. We only kill monsters. Not punk criminals."
Snapping his gaze at Monster Mask and Stinger, Death Gatling roared, "Are you kidding!? After everything this bastard's done!? The Hero Association labeled him a Monster for a reason!"
Pushing his way past everyone else, Metal Bat shouted at the crowd, "Hey, no! Monster Mask's right! That's enough! Garou's already beaten! This ain't right!"
Infuriated, a couple of C-Class Heroes pointed at their wounds and shouted, "What are you guys saying?! He did this to us!"
With a quick cough, Stinger glared back at Monster Mask and asked him, "Dammit, Shunshi! Did you really need to-?!"
Faster Stinger than Stinger could react, Shunshi was pulled off his back. Sweet Mask held him up by the back of his neck and was already behind Metal Bat.
"What the fuck!? What's happening?!" The blue-eyed Hero yelled.
"Hey! What the Hell are you doing?!" Stinger yelled while pointing the severed head of his spear at Sweet Mask.
Just managing to ignite some of her purple Kie, Lin Lin shouted, "Put him down, you prissy pretty boy!"
Putting his free hand on Metal Bat's shoulder as Shunshi grabbed at the arm holding him, Sweet Mask told Metal Bat, "You two fools experienced how dangerous he is. If we let him off easy, then we could all end up in cinders. The decision to kill him is unanimous and- Argh!"
Taking Sweet Mask completely off guard, Monster Mask threw a fist back and punched him in his throat.
Falling to the ground as Sweet Mask recoiled and gasped for air, Shunshi lifted himself up and growled at him, "Keep your hands off me and Garou! I'm the one who fought him the most, and no one told me about a decision."
Spinning his bat as he stepped between Sweet Mask and Monster Mask, Metal Bat added, "Yeah. I never agreed either!"
"Me neither," Saitama added as he suddenly strolled in, carrying Genos under his arm like a suitcase.
Perking up a bit, Shunshi exclaimed, "Sensei! You're back!"
Noticing Shunshi, Saitama let off a bit of a relieved smirk as he asked, "So, who defeated Garou? Was it that Blast guy?"
Rubbing the fist-shaped burn mark on his face, Flashy Flash answered, "I was too dizzy to see after this blow Garou landed on me... but a naked man appeared from nowhere, defeated Garou with one punch, then vanished. He did move a bit like Blast."
Giving Flash a sideways glance from the ground, Shunshi thought, What? Is this guy really so delusional he thinks Garou did that to him...? Or, wait... Did I hit him too hard...? Shhhit!
Clearing his throat with a cough, Sweet Mask recomposed himself, ignored Shunshi for a moment, and asked, "What?! Blast?!"
Intrigued, Lightning Genji remarked, "Blast joined the battle...?! Why was he naked?" Glancing over and noticing a naked Zombie Man, and Sweet Mask with a cloth tied around his otherwise nude lower half, Genji remarked, "Is that just a thing the higher-up Heroes are doing right now?"
As this conversation went on, a few more Heroes slipped past everyone's notice and started beating on Garou again.
Infuriated, Shunshi and Bad snapped at the group, "Hey! Knock it off!"
Despite the higher-ranked Heroes' words, these others just continued to pummel the Hero Hunter.
Narrowing his eyes, Genos remarked from under Saitama's arm, "Master. I believe you are the only one who has the right to determine Garou's fate."
Raising a brow, Saitama asked, "Huh? Why? Isn't Shunshi the one with a beef with the guy...? I don't really get what's happening, but it actually looks like he wants them to hit him. I say just let them work it out of their systems. It doesn't look like he's really getting hurt after all."
However, the beatdown was halted once again by the intervention of a third Hero, Zombie Man.
Pushing a few Tanktoppers aside, Zombie Man stated, "Wait. I have a question for this guy."
Awed and confused, the Heroes stepped back for a moment as Garou glared at Zombie Man with hostile intrigue.
"Garou... I don't think gaining the kind of power you did is possible for a Human to achieve through Monsterization." Zombie Man remarked. "Tell me. Did your power come from someone else? Someone who was using you? For example, a god? One of the Cadres claimed he was empowered like that after all."
When Zombie Man asked this, Flashy Flash reacted with a slight crease in his brow, and the image of the fake Saitama appeared in Shunshi's mind.
"God? Blast did mention that concept to Saitama and I," Flashy Flash added.
"He did?" Saitama asked.
Surprising everyone but Shunshi and Bang, Garou suddenly began laughing at the top of his lungs, "Hahahahaha! Are you kidding me!? God?! That's bullshit! I did all I did because I wanted to! So go on! Kill me! Finish me off!"
His eyes full of pain, Shunshi stared at Garou's maddened yet exhausted expression and thought, Garou... Someone as strong as you... Have you really given up on living?
Taking a few dashing steps forward, Sweet Mask pulled his fist back and shouted, "Heh! Well, if that's what he wants, then it's execution time!"
In response, Monster Mask immediately shot his hand out as Sweet Mask tried to race past him and Metal Bat. And at the same time, another brave but small soul jumped into action.
Jumping off Lightning Genji's shoulders, using the Hero's head as a springboard, Tareo tumbled along the ground before managing to latch onto Sweet Mask's left leg while Shunshi grabbed his right ankle.
"Stop!" Tareo cried in unison with Shunshi breaking Sweet Mask's ankle.
While Sweet Mask was frozen from the injury, Tareo made himself believe he was holding the number 1 A-Class back and shouted, "You guys're mean! If you're Heroes, you shouldn't do stuff like this! Uncle saved my life! Run away, Uncle!"
Surprised as he watched Tareo bawling for Garou, King thought, Is this the guy Tareo was asking Shunshi to save?
Deciding to take advantage of this moment, Shunshi made his move. With one motion, he pulled on Sweet Mask's leg just as he was about to retaliate, threw him into the crowd, and pulled Tareo free from his grip on Sweet Mask's other leg.
Holding a very surprised and confused Tareo up by his shirt collar for the crowd to see, Shunshi yelled to everyone, "A little boy scared out of his mind in a warzone can think more rationally than a bunch of people who dare to call themselves Heroes?! Are you cowards really going to take a beaten man's life in front of his own nephew?! Or are you going to be the kinds of Heroes that originally inspired me to train so I could fight by your sides in the first place!?"
Amongst the crowd, a couple of Heroes remarked, "Wow... The idea of an execution is starting to feel a bit... wrong. Right?" "Well, we can't just let him go, can we?"
Yelling as loud as he could, Death Gatling stated, "Of course we can't! He's the one who started hunting us...!" As he yelled, though, Death Gatling stared at Monster Mask's completely resolute and judging glare, before adding, "But... I guess ending the Hero Hunter like this might be a bit overkill..."
Pushing himself away from the Heroes that's caught him, Sweet Mask snapped, "Don't talk like that! Your reasoning was perfect! We can't show mercy just because this monster tricked a child into joining his side! In fact, that's all the more reason to... make him take accountability for his actions."
Walking back over to Shunshi and Tareo, Sweet Mask addressed the boy in a patient and charming tone, "Why don't we have this crazy man set you down and have you escorted away so you don't get hurt?"
Flailing his fists as Shunshi held him up, Tareo yelled, "No way! You just wanna kill Uncle!"
Physically and mentally exhausted by this point, Shunshi couldn't help but tell Sweet Mask the first thing that came to mind as he shifted his arm to move Tareo out from between them, "I can't believe I used to look up to a fake Hero like you."
A large vein popping on his face, Sweet Mask smiled, leaned down, and demanded to know, "What did you just call me?"
Emotionally unmoved, Shunshi set Tareo down and stated, "My legs might not work right now, but my arms are enough to thrash your cold-hearted ass."
Folding his arms, Stinger stepped forward and yelled at Sweet Mask, "Look, he's a bit of a spaz at times, but Monster Mask is my friend, and he's as real a Hero as I've ever seen! I'm gonna trust what he says on this!"
"Yeah... But Garou's a monster, so..." Another Hero added in as Sweet Mask shifted his gaze to Stinger.
Just as Lightning Genji, Lin Lin, and Metal Bat were about to make their own cases for Monster Mask, a defeating drumming noise suddenly silenced all the arguing.
With unbearable pressure weighing down on them, all the gathered Heroes turned to face the source of the familiar noise.
As King stepped toward everyone, his King Engine at full blare as the veins on his forehead popped, he stated with a calm authority in his voice, "Everyone, just let it go. The are children present."
He's super pissed! What did we do wrong?! All the Heroes who'd been beating on Garou thought at once.
Absolutely terrified and overcome with reverence, the entire crowd, except for Shunshi, Tareo, Bang, and Sweet Mask, cleared a path for King to Garou.
"King. He..." Sweet Mask started. However, when King met his gaze, the A-Class idol lost his nerve and went quiet.
Next, though, was Shunshi, who started, "King..."
When the Hero, second only in power to Saitama, stared at Shunshi, he got choked up for a half-second too. However, knowing the man on a somewhat more personal level, Monster Mask was able to pull out an appreciative smile.
"Thank you for saving my favorite sparing partner, King," Shunshi told him while gesturing to an annoyed yet also mixed-up-looking Garou.
Looking between Shunshi, Garou, and Tareo, the latter of whom had run over to Garou's side with tears running down his face, King let out a relieved sigh and said, "Of course, Shunshi."
With everyone else out of the way, Bang walked past King and Shunshi and finally chose to speak.
Folding his arms behind his back as Garou stared daggers at him, Bang told him with the patience of a stern but caring father, "Garou... You must not give in to your despair. You hurt people. Now atone by helping them a hundred times over."
As Garou's brow twitched at Bang's words, Shunshi shifted himself around and chimed in with a sort of goading chipperness, "Hey, Garou! We're not done with each other yet! Other Heroes and monsters kept getting in the middle of that brawl of ours! I don't know about you, but I'm not satisfied with this fight at all! I want a rematch once my spine heals and you start listening to Bang-Sensei's advice!"
At Shunshi's taunting, Garou's brows raised a slight bit more, and Bang couldn't help but let out a chortle from his nostrils.
"That sounds like a good idea for a guy like you! Good for you!" Saitama stated encouragingly, surprising Garou up another notch.
Spitting some blood from his mouth, Garou asked, "You all really intend to let me live? We'll... you'll regret it!"
"Nah! I know I said I was pissed off at you for roughing up my buddies, but I also saw you team up with Shunshi to save Genos and King. So thanks for that, dude. Also, you and Shunshi looked like you were both having a blast whenever you guys got to fight with just the two of you. Don't you think it'd be a shame to let all that go just cuz you're feeling down on yourself right now?"
After all these words, Garou couldn't stop himself from giving off an exasperated smile.
"Tch... You're a real irritating guy, Saitama... No wonder you're Shunshi's teacher."
And just like that, as a trail of dust and pebbles lifted into the air, Garou vanished. The only ones who were watching him and were able to follow his trail were Saitama, Bang, and Shunshi.
As for those who couldn't keep track of his movements, Sweet Mask erupted, "He got away! Argh! Which way'd he go?"
While nearly everyone else was panicking, Saitama walked over to Shunshi's side while staring into the sky.
"So... You're alright, right? Still alive and all that good stuff?" Saitama asked lazily.
Staring up at him and the damaged Genos, Shunshi replied exhaustedly, "For the most part... Thank you, Sensei."
Glancing at Shunshi's injuries, Genos asked, "Will he commit more crimes?"
"It's probably okay," Saitama remarked as Bang went over to pick up the unconscious Bomb. "The old guy'll handle the rest."
"Yeah. You can count on Master Silver-Fang for this... Besides. I think he got everything out of his system that he needed to," Shunshi answered.
Suddenly rushing in, Lin Lin, Stinger, and Lightning Genji came to Shunshi's side.
"Is it all finally over?!" Lin Lin asked as she hugged Shunshi's head.
"I seriously hope so. If even Monster Mask is down for the count, there's not much the rest of us could do if things keep going," Genji remarked tiredly.
Lifting up Shunshi and putting him on his back again, Stinger told him, "Hey, dude. I'm willing to give you another piggyback ride to a doctor if you don't squeeze my throat again."
Smiling weakly, Shunshi hooked his arms around Stinger's neck and said, "Thanks... And sorry about that. I should've told you what I was doing before I did it."
His expression molded into a mix of a smirk and a scowl, Stinger replied, "Yeah... You should have."
With minimal interest, Saitama pointed at this trio and remarked, "Oh, hey... You guys are pals of Shunshi's, right?"
Annoyed, Genji answered, "Yeah. We've met before, Ca-... Er, Saitama." His hasty correction was a reflex from the last time he disrespected the B-Class Hero in front of Monster Mask.
"I met you a second time at the park with the first big centipede... Good times," Stinger remarked with sarcastic exhaustion.
Folding her arms as her tone took on a hint of pride, Lin Lin corrected, "I'm his girlfriend, actually. And we hung out together the whole of Super Fight before you ran off."
Genuinely surprised, Saitama replied encouragingly, "Whoa! You're dating this girl, Shunshi?! No way, dude! Congratulations!" Saitama's cheerful tone was somewhat genuine but mostly stemmed from a reflexive desire to move the topic away from his illegal involvement in Super Fight.
While Saitama worked his masterful mind games, Genos stared at Lin Lin, Stinger, and Lightning Genji with what they assumed was hostility and thought about the time Shunshi told Genos he wouldn't mind making more friends in the Hero Association.
Shunshi... Seems to have lived up to that ideal... Is our friendship anything special...? The Demon Cyborg then reminisced on all his open hostilities toward Shunshi and thought, Or is it even something he would wish to maintain...?
Before Genos could worry himself about this too much, the ground near where Garou had been kneeling exploded into a shower of dirt and debris. Emerging from this hole in the Earth appeared to be a version of Metal Knight on treads and with massive drills for hands.
Picking up Tareo reflexively, Lightning Genji jumped back and exclaimed, "Metal Knight?! He's here too?!"
Addressing the entirety of the gathered masses, Drill Metal Knight announced, "The threat has passed."
Grimacing, Shunshi grumbled from over Stinger's shoulder, "Yeah, I know. We were actually here to help stop it."
While Shunshi complained, Stinger's attention was drawn to the sky as he stated with awe, "Holy crap! Guys, look!"
Getting their attention drawn to the sky, all the Heroes saw the setting sun getting blanketed by a swarming mass of flying drones with Metal Knight's face on them headed their way.
Gesturing to the ship Saitama rescued, Drill Metal Knight explained, "The ship I designed detects and suppresses nuclear attacks. Now, removal of radioactive fallout-" As he said this, the Metal Knight drones began showering the landscape with bubbling gels and disintegrating lasers. "- and analysis of the attack will commence. You all show signs of acute radiation poisoning and must undergo testing and decontamination."
Almost losing his grip on Stinger, Shunshi hastily exclaimed, "I'm sorry, what?!"
Glancing at Genos quickly, Shunshi thought, I've never been so jealous of Senpai's cyborg body...
Utterly terrified by the news of their exposure to potentially lethal toxins, all any of the other Heroes could manage to say was variants of, "Oh... okay."
Saitama and Genos, on the other hand, seemed completely unphased, with Saitama letting out a long sigh and remarking, "Euuuuuuuu... Well, that sucks for Shunshi, I guess. As for us..."
Noticing Saitama's pause, Genos asked, "Master?"
Staring out over the ruined city that was once his, Genos', and temporarily Shunshi's, home, Saitama stated, "First, we gotta get Dr. Stench to fix your body up. After that, maybe once Shunshi's legs heal, he can help us. We'll definitely need it... Finding the stuff from our house is gonna take a lot of digging out here..."
"Yes, Sensei!" Genos exclaimed loyally.
Meanwhile, as Metal Knight's drones got to work attending to all the poisoned Heroes, another pint-sized, mono-eyed figure was dashing away on stubby limbs near the edge of the remnants of City-Z.
Manako was going as fast as she could, panting for breath as she sprinted.
I knew the Monster Association was a bad idea from the start! Gotta get away! Gotta get away before all the Heroes kill me! Manako thought frantically.
However, as she ran, she faltered when she heard a voice call out, "Excuse me! Eyeball creature?"
Tripping over herself, Manako tried to get back to her feet as she desperately searched for what she was sure would be a Hero ready to kill her. To her surprise, though, she saw another monster.
This creature appeared to be just a Human-like head with feet where a neck should be and hands where its ears should be. It had gray, kevlar-like skin, red eyes, and razor-sharp teeth.
The thing was stuck underneath a chunk of debris that its sad excuses for appendages couldn't do anything about. The debris wasn't even that large, possibly only twenty pounds or so.
"Excuse me, sir. I-" The head creature began before Manako cut him off.
"I'm a girl!" She snapped as she stood up.
Putting on a pleasant smirk, the head creature replied, "Apologies, mam... But could you help me move this? I had just grown these new hands and feet, and I was trying to leave the city when all those earthquakes happened and trapped me."
Initially, Manako wanted to tell this head to go to Hell. However, remembering all the times Saitama saved her life in the past few hours, she felt pangs of guilt for not mirroring his behavior.
Hesitantly, Manako answered, "Erm... Fine. I'll see what I can do."
Waddling over to the head creature, Manako made a show of struggling with the rock, although it was actually quite easy for her.
Rolling onto its feet, the head creature remarked, "Thank you so much! I owe you for that one!"
Pretending like she was winded from the ordeal, Manako replied, "Yeah... Huff... Don't forget it."
Doing what he could to brush himself off, the head creature asked, "Well then, should we get outta here?"
"No, duh. Let's go," Manako answered as she got back to running.
Doing his best to keep pace with her, the head creature asked, "Mind if I get my rescuer's name, mam?"
Giving the oddly polite monster a puzzled look, Manako answered, "Er, sure... I'm Manako."
Smiling at her appreciatively, the head creature replied, "Thanks. The name of this handsome mug before ya's Uchiara."