✔ The Hunters | Garou

TWELFTH HUNT

RUMORS

"O my enemy.
Do I terrify?"

- Sylvia Plath

There have been a hell lot of monsters popping up lately, and a huge chunk of them are demon level threats. An hour or two after this morning's breakfast, Garou set out to do his favourite activity: hero hunting, while I got a call from the Association to assist an S-class hero defeat a dragon level threat.

A dragon level threat is a big deal, a worrisome thing, but something else that the Association told me bugged the hell out of me:

"After you have taken down the dragon level threat, please make your way to the main headquarters immediately. There is a very important matter to discuss with you."

I wish he told me what it was.

I sped down the damaged roads on my motorcycle, drifting and leaping around and over holes and broken roads and I soon joined the S-class hero Metal Bat, or Bad, as he is named, who happened to be one of my close friends, who was fighting this massive centipede with reinforced armour.

He was assigned to be the bodyguard of one of the Hero Association execs, Narinki, who was in the city with his son, Waganma. Things went out of hand when monsters attacked, and now he was in a bit of a pinch. He didn't want any backup, but when he heard that I was going to be sent, he accepted without a murmur.

He stood on an empty road with his bat on his shoulder. He was already bloodied and battered and his red turtleneck shirt was already torn.

"Infernogun reporting." I announced as I screeched to a stop right next to him.

"Finally." he huffed, "Get ready, Tenrou. Hate to admit, but I ain't enough to take this stupid insect down."

"Right on. What happened to the father and son?" I asked as I killed the motorcycle's engine, got off, and then pressed the button next to the ignition to shrink it down.

"I sent them with Mohican and Pineapple and they're currently taking them to safety." replied Bad as he watched my motorcycle shrink to the size of a keychain.

I didn't know who Mohican and Pineapple were, but I assumed they were heroes that ranked lower than us.

When my motorcycle shrunk, I attached it to my gun holster, and pulled out both my guns. While I loaded them with the bullets, I raised my head and found Bad staring curiously at me.

"What?" I asked.

"There's been a rumor," he started, narrowing his eyes at me, "that yer givin' shelter to the Hero Hunter."

I felt my stomach drop, and an instant surge of adrenaline caused my heart to start pounding against my chest. I remained silent and pursed my lips, and Metal Bat's eyes softened for a split second.

Could this be what the Association called me for?

"So it's true, huh?" he exhaled in disappointment, "I don't know why yer housing him, but lemme tell ya this as your friend..."

I already kind of could tell what he would say.

"...That bastard's dangerous. Haven't you heard of all his exploits? He even beat that Tank Top Master, ya know?!" he exclaimed, "Besides, he ain't discriminating against heroes and doesn't care about ranks. He'll beat 'em all."