The Broker's Assistant

Episode Ten: The Hunter

Episode Ten
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The Hero Killer stood atop a tower overlooking a sleepy city, the cold air of Northern Japan seeming to bite as the empty spot that once held his nose. His eyes were filled with glorious purpose as he began to pace atop the tower. He had killed powerful heroes since he began his great crusade. Most serial killers killed for pleasure, whether it be sexual or just the rush of a life being taken.

Being a killer wasn't something that just anyone could do, it required a specific set of skills and a very special personality. These were things Stain posssed in great abundance, not to mention his experience when it came to the hunting and combating of heroes.

Yet Stain didn't consider himself a hunter, no he was a cleaner. Taking the rotten filth that was the stench of false heroes and reshaping society itself by weeding out the pretenders.

The man stopped his pacing before he jumped off the tower drawing his sword as he fell faster and faster before he slammed it into the tower cutting through the the windows causing the glass to shatter into shards the flew toward the ground around him. Below Stain was the secret identity of the Pro Hero Kamui Woods known as Shinji Nishiya.

Shinji didn't look too different from his hero appearance, which came as a shock to Stain. That being said it didn't really matter all that much to Stain if Kamui Woods dressed like a killer clown in his free time. All that mattered was that Kamui Woods was a false hero that paraded around like he was worthy of even a ounce of the fame he had obtained.

Kamui managed to look up as the glass fell and activated his quirk, not realizing that Stain wasn't a civilian who accidentally fell. At this time, it was not commonly known what the hero killer actually looked like. There were rumors of course but no one has survived to tell a full account, which only added to Stain's personal fame as time went on.

These rumors were of course read by Kamui who assumed the hero killer would be some giant behemoth that resembled a middle earth orc more than a human being of flesh and blood. Luckily for Kamui he had his reflexes which allowed him to dodge Stain's sword slash by put a wood wall in between himself and Stain.

The Hero Killer got to his feet quickly and rushed at Kamui, who expertly put some distance between him and Stain by using the wood to elevate himself. The high ground would be his chance to secure a victory over the monster who had claimed the lives of so many so early. The wood took on movements that were inorganic. Branches rapidly sprouted, ripping through trees and the very earth below it.

Stain knew he needed to put distance between him and Kamui so he slashed his sword through a car sliding in between the split before using it as coverage for him to throw a knife at Kamui. The knife cut though the branches. However, the heavier trunks were vastly superior to even metal. Kamui Woods didn't gain his power through simple mind games. He had fought killers before and despite not knowing his face prior he was well aware that the man in front of him was the hero killer and Kamui Woods had no intention of falling to the sword of such a sinister despot.

The woods increased as the buildings around the two fighter began to become infested with overgrowth that had to be cut down again and again and again. The repeated cycle a tactic was used to wear down Stain, who was unable to get a clean cut on Kamui Woods. As a tree slammed into his side Stain was forced to climb atop it as it rose into the sky, allowing him to catch a glance of Kamui Woods.

The Pro Hero was exhausting himself, his stamina rapidly depleting as the wood began to take longer to react to Kamui's commands. The timing was only off by mere seconds, but that was enough for Stain to be able to pick up his own rhythm. Pulling out a knife, he put the handle in his mouth while he jumped from branch to branch with cat-like agility. Using each branch, he propelled himself forward, inching closer and closer to victory. He only needed a single cut to draw blood from Kamui Woods.

That being said, despite the lowered speed, Kamui wasn't making things easy, and as Stain looked up Sakura, TV helicopters were closing in meaning more heroes would arrive shortly. The closest hero was Fat Gum, but he was a city away on his typical patrol. Fat Gum wouldn't be that much of an issue, but if other heroes showed up, things could get hot.

Breathing through the slits that uses to be his nose, he set a mental timer inside of his mind, a trick he learned from a past encounter with a certain person he tried hard to forget. "Two minutes to put an end to you." He muttered as his mind went to work, preparing to cut down Kamui before he himself fell to the wretched false heroes.

Stain using his acrobatic moves was able to find openings as he got closer and closer to Kamui. The swords seemed to feel lighter as he closed in on the kill. His body felt hot as trees tore into his body, a futile act as Stain was able to overcome the pain. The passion for his mission overcoming all of his senses. Pain was a lie, a falsehood just like the heroes who policed this corrupted society. Stain could only smile as he caught a glance of Kamui's eyes. Eyes that were filled with fear and dread. Just knowing the rumors and the kill list Stain had was enough to terrify a hero.

"Pathetic." Stain mumbled to himself as his blade cut into Kamui's shoulder. Blood splattered everywhere as Stain licked it with his long tongue, causing the trees to stop their motion. The only sounds were the fleeing civilians and choppers overhead. The faint breathing of Kamui Woods as he lay on the ground.

"You failed to pacify any civilians, in your fear you fixated on the hero killer which only cements you as a false hero." Stain declared his sword now ready to be sent through the heart of Kamui Woods. Kamui looked at the blue sky above their heads, then into the wretched eyes of the Hero Killer.

"You won't last forever." Kamui said as Stain slowly put the blade through his chest as thin lines of blood dripped down Kamui's face.

"I never planned on living forever anyway." Stain said as he pushed the blade cleanly through Kamui's chest, putting an end to the hardwood hero as Stain snuck into the shadows planning to rest somewhere up north before he makes his next hero kill.

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