-Two Days Later-

“Hey! Did you hear?”

A hero spoke to his friend in a bar.

“The Hero Association are paying big bucks to any C and B class hero that will participate in the upcoming Villain Organization attack.”

“Yeah, I heard. I’m already signed up. Apparently, there are even going to be three S class heroes in the group.” The other hero responded energetically.

“You’d have to be stupid not to participate. I mean, with the S class there, it will be easy money.”

“True, but didn’t the Villain Association have five S ranked Villains? Will just three S ranks be enough?”

“Idiot.”

A third hero from across the bar joined the conversation. The tavern was popular among local heroes, as the owner is the brother of an A rank. Additionally, he offered a discount to heroes. The bar’s name was Smooth Justice. Fitting.

“One of our S class heroes are worth ten S class monsters or villains. Have you even seen the list of S class that are signed up?”

“Eh? Is it already out?” The two tipsy heroes looked at the third in surprise.

“It just got released. There are some really big names on there, too. The first is King Ape.”

“Oooohhh!” The first hero spoke excitedly.

“King Ape is gonna be there? Awesome!” The first hero spoke.

“His superb strength and long arms give him the advantage over anyone.” The second hero spoke while pushing his glasses up over his face that was red from the liquor.

“The second is a newcomer to the S class. His name is Steel Blade.”

“Hm? Steel Blade? I don’t think I’ve heard of him.”

“Neither have I.” The second hero agreed with the first.

“No surprise there. He was promoted directly to A class after taking the exam this year, and he managed to get promoted to S class in just a month. If you haven’t been keeping up with current media for the past month, you would have never even heard of him.”

“Wha-! He was promoted to S class already?! We joined at the same time, but he’s already at S?!” The first hero spoke in an envious yell.

“That’s certainly impressive. I had been focused on training and meeting quotas for the past month after passing the exam, so I haven’t been paying much attention to other affairs.” The second hero replied as he pushed his glasses up again.

“Rookies, eh?” The third hero walked over and sat down beside them.

“The name’s Bjorn. B class Rank 88.”

“Wow, B class? Cool!” The first hero replied.

“My name is Izumi. I still haven’t gotten my hero name.” Izumi awkwardly laughed. He was really looking forward to a cool-sounding name like other heroes.

“You can call me Four Eyes. It’s nice to meet you.” Four Eyes spoke respectfully to the veteran in front of him. Bjorn had a jagged scar over his left eye and wore an eyepatch on his right. His clothes were reminiscent of a pirate captain.

“Always good to see new heroes. I’ve been in the business for a long time now- going on ten years, and am one of the oldest employed B ranked heroes around.”

“Likewise, it’s good to see experienced veterans in our field of work. It gives me inspiration for future endeavors.” Four Eyes spoke in as professional manner as ever. Izumi continued to sip his drink as he attempted to pay attention despite his drunk body.

“Anyway, who is the third S class?” Four Eyes pressed for more information.

“The third hero is probably the most well-known of the three. Her many fan clubs have already blown up about her participation in the event. Her name’s Aurora.”

PFFFT

Izumi spat out his drink all over the table.

“Aurora’s going to be there?! Isn’t she S class rank 9?!” Izumi asked in a flustered display.

“Aurora… If she’s there, I’d say that even twenty S class villains won’t be enough.” Four Eyes offered high praise to the hero Aurora.

Aurora, who had joined the Hero Association years ago, had progressed through the ranks quickly. Starting as a C class hero, she quickly flew through the ranks to S class. Acquiring many fans along the way, she was often on the cover of magazines. One example of her fame is that when she was on the cover of a swimsuit magazine, the magazine broke many sales records. Aurora was definitely known across the world as a face of the Hero Association.

A scream from across the bar grabbed the attention of the heroes and everyone around.

“Ah! Help! I’m being robbed!” A woman yelled as she cowered in fear.

“No! I’m not robbing you, I’m just walking to meet some friends!” Mohawk Thug tried to explain that he was not actually a thug.

“It’s your nasty face. It’s only natural for people to be scared of it.” The voice of the tiny, blue haired girl insulted Mohawk Thug.

“Shut up!” Mohawk Thug yelled back with a face of both anger and embarrassment.

“Ah! Mohawk Thug!”

Four Eyes called over Mohawk Thug. By this time, Izumi was practically asleep on the table.

“Yo. Who’s the old dude?”

“How rude. The name’s Bjorn.”

“Old Dude it is.”

“You!”

Mohawk Thug pulled out a seat and sat with his friends that he hadn’t seen in a week. Mandy walked over to the bartender to order her extremely elaborate drink. After conversing amongst each other for a while, Mohawk Thug suddenly realized something.

“Oh yeah, where’s Forrest? He not here yet?”

“We couldn’t get in touch with him. Earlier today we stopped by his house but nobody was home.” Four Eyes replied in a worried tone.

“Geez. He better not miss this opportunity! He’s struggling for cash as much as us.”

“You guys have money problems?” Bjorn laughed.

“I didn’t know that there were any heroes that struggled for money.”

“Shut up, old dude. It’s tough in the C class.”

Izumi, who apparently had just registered in his mind what Mohawk Thug had asked, lifted his head to speak.

“I talked to him a couple of days ago on the phone. He said he’s on the verge of a breakthrough so he’s practicing all day with Jarret.”

“Hm.” Four Eyes responded approvingly.

“His ability does have potential.”

“He can’t even use it though, so it’s useless.” Mohawk Thug scoffed while looking away. He appeared to be pouting.

Slap

A small, delicate hand slapped the back of his head. His face, completely covered in rage, turned toward his back as he lifted his bat and spoke.

“Who has a death wish?”

“Don’t be jealous of other’s abilities. Your ability isn’t weak, and I don’t plan to spend forever among the dregs of C class.” Mandy spoke as she sipped from her glass with a blank expression.

“Whatever!” Mohawk Thug downed his drink and started walking toward the door in an annoyed fashion.

“I’m going to get some rest before the attack. Forrest better be there.”

Mohawk Thug opened the door and left into the dark night toward his house.

“Then, I’ll take his seat!” Mandy sat down with an innocent expression as she smiled while sipping her colorful drink.

Izumi and Four Eyes stared in shock. They had never seen anyone act that way toward Mohawk Thug. He would normally fight anyone that as much as looked at him funny. Mandy, apparently, had an extremely manipulative personality.

“So…” Bjorn ventured to change the subject.

“What are your guys abilities, anyway?”

Mandy responded first for Mohawk Thug.

“He can channel power into his baseball bat. In addition, the power can empower himself as well. Until recently, however, he didn’t even know about that.”

Bjorn and the rest listened intently. Four Eyes spoke next.

“When I wear my glasses, I can see through objects if I focus. I can also do other things, but that is my main ability.”

Izumi tipped his glass into his mouth to get the last drop. He spoke with slurred words.

“My ability is teleportation.”

Bjorn showed a surprised reaction. That was a strangely incredible ability for the average-looking in front of him. However, Izumi continued.

“Of course, I lose consciousness almost immediately after I teleport, so it’s not very useful in fights.”

Bjorn’s previously impressed face dropped. That was the definition of incomplete ability. After telling his ability, Izumi’s head dropped back to the desk as he passed out. Four Eyes stood up and put his arm over his shoulder to help him stand up.

“Well, it’s getting late. I’ll make sure he gets home- I’m sure his mom is worried. Goodbye.”

Mandy had finished her drink and stood up as well.

“I better make sure Mohawk Thug isn’t doing anything indecent, so I’ll be going as well.”

Bjorn said goodbye and left the bar as well. They all had an important day tomorrow, so they wanted to get plenty of rest. The Villain Organization was large, and the operation to exterminate them was large as well. Many heroes rested in preparation for the coming battle. However, none of them knew the incredible turn of events that would take place the next day.