“What… did she just say?”

Forrest grinded his teeth. If one were to look around at the rest of the crowd, only a few were acting in a similar fashion. One of these people, a Class B rank 71 hero named Flex Pecks, yelled with his muscles tensed with anger.

“You can’t talk to us that way! Even if your S class, we’re still heroes too!”

“Oh?”

Aurora, with her short, icy-blue hair and slim build, answered without looking at Flex Pecks. She clearly did not intend to respect his presence. Flex Pecks continued with even more anger.

“Yeah! Calling other heroes weaklings, when a lot of us are just beginning! I don’t care if you’re S class or whatever, to me you’re just a bit-!”

The crowd gasped as a high-pitched screech soared through the air. Before Flex Pecks could finish speaking, a large icicle had already pierced his arm. Blood splattered out of his arm as he roared in pain. Aurora’s cold words pierced the hearts of everyone watching in fear.

“You, who are merely a class B hero, have the audacity to speak to me in such a tone?”

Flex Pecks, while holding his arm, looked at Aurora with terror in his eyes. As a man who was raised to never bow his head, he would not apologize- even if it meant another icicle in his arm. Just as he was beginning to reply, a hand gripped his shoulder. He turned his head to see the dark-haired Forrest with a particularly dark glare.

“Oh?” Aurora, seeing Forrest firmly staring at her, began to raise her hand for further punishment.

Ring

Aurora answered her ringing cellphone. “Fine.” The only word that came out of her mouth before hanging up and walking toward the forest, she spoke once more.

“We are heading out now. Follow my lead if you do not wish to die.”

The crowd of tense heroes, who were only even more tense due to Aurora’s unruly demeanor, followed promptly. Forrest began to follow the pack while Flex Pecks spoke.

“Just my luck, to have such a crazy bitch for a captain. What’s your name?”

“Forrest. Class C rank 193.”

“Forrest, huh? I’m Flex Pecks. Class B rank 71. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one with some pride around here.”

Forrest laughed.

“Well, it’s not my pride that made me upset. I don’t like seeing people act so haughtily to comrades.”

“Well said.” Flex Pecks began to wrap his arm with a bandage out of his pocket.

“Will you be able to fight with that injury?”

“Ah, yeah. It didn’t go very deep, and hit a pretty thick area. Lucky, huh?”

Forrest looked at Aurora’s back while walking. Luck had nothing to do with it. Even though she spoke down to the heroes in her squad, she probably realized that she needed them to deal with the small fry while she fought the boss.

“Anyway, we’re moving at a pretty quick pace. Is she trying to make people fall behind on purpose?” Flex Pecks sighed as the heroes transitioned into a jog.

Forrest narrowed his eyes. Something must have happened for us to risk breaking order like this.

Something, indeed.

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“RUN FOR YOUR LI-!”

A hero yelled while frantically speeding away before foaming at the mouth and falling down.

Heroes unconscious bodies lay throughout the forest. Clashing of swords and gunshots echoed in all directions. Izumi took a few steps back while looking around with a worried face. Purple smoke radiated through the forest. He took a heart-woven handkerchief out of his pocket and tied it around his face as a mask.

“Just a second ago, we were talking amongst ourselves… how could one person have such an impact on such a large group of heroes?!”

Indeed, the group of heroes had been moving as planned. However, a hissing voice came from behind the crowd.

“Ssso… you must be the rookie S class, Sssteel Blade?”

The group of heroes turned around in a panic as they drew their weapons. In front of them, a woman with snakes as hair and venomous eyes stared at them. Her long scaly tail was wrapped around a thick tree as she looked down at the heroes from above. However, before any had time to even take a step back, a silver flash passed by them. Their eyes widened as the silver flash slashed through the stomach of the snake. The speed that Steel Blade had moved caused wind currents to blow through the crowd and kick up the leaves on the ground.

“Wha-! So fast!” The voice of a hero echoed. However, the corpse turned into purple smoke as the serpent voice surrounded the crowd of heroes, this time coming from every direction.

“It ssseems you’re as fast as the rumors, Sssteel Blade. I wonder… are you fast enough to protect your fellow heroesss?”

A bloodcurdling shriek came from the front of the crowd. The hero that had been standing next to Izumi fell to the ground while grasping his neck. Foam began to seep out of his mouth as the life left his eyes. Steel Blade narrowed his eyes as he looked around.

“You coward… If you are truly S rank, quit hiding and resorting to unsightly gimmicks.”

“Hahaha! I love your type~! Ssso, I’ll kill you last to see the dessspair on your face as the life leaves your eyesss~!”

The sinister voice, to the crowd of confused and frightened heroes, seemed to be that of the devil. Izumi looked at the corpse of the hero before calling out in a panicked yet firm voice.

“He has a needle in his neck! Watch out for poisoned attacks!”

“Oh~! Don’t lisssten to him, children! I wouldn’t do sssuch a thing! Hahaha~!

Medusa’s giggling caused panic among the heroes. As the heroes began to tense up and yell out in frustration, a hero ran away from the group.

“We need to spread out! We’re sitting ducks lined up like this!”

“Fool.”

Steel Blade spoke with detest. Suddenly, a purple smoke began to rise from the ground in the direction that the hero was running. Surrounding him, he began to foam at the mouth as he fell to the ground. The group of heroes, that had fallen silent at the sight, stared in fear. The smoke slowly crept toward the crowd. With increasing panic on their faces, the heroes were almost completely broken.

Medusa’s eerie giggle rang through the forest once again, causing many of the heroes to jump. They grinded their teeth as their bodies shook in fear.

“So cute~ The tough heroes act tough until their in danger. Really, my children are even more heroic than you!”

“Shut up!” Mohawk Thug roared. Even though he was tense, he wasn’t visibly shaking like most of the others. Even if he knew he was in a dangerous position, anybody that looked down on him would not do so without resistance.

“Oh~! Sssomeone with a bit of backbone, hm? Don’t take offense. My children are pretty tough, you know. Would you like to meet them?”

Mohawk Thug grinded his teeth. Izumi, who was now back to back with Mohawk Thug while the other heroes clutched their weapons with frightened faces, was attempting to calmly analyze the situation.

“Don’t tell me…” Izumi whispered as his face twisted into a darker expression.

“AAAHHHHH!” Three heroes let loose a bloodcurdling scream as something was thrown into the air. Steel Blade narrowed his eyes as he saw a man drop to his knees in the center of the screaming heroes. The object landed in front of Steel Blade as his expression remained calm.

“H… His head!!!” One of heroes near Steel Blade yelled.

The man, that had dropped to his knees, had already been decapitated. Yells spilled throughout the crowd as dark figures appeared with killing intent. This sudden assault pushed the already panicked heroes over the edge- utter chaos broke out.

Ding

Sparks flew as the sound of metal swords colliding echoed in all directions. Izumi and Mohawk Thug, who were still standing back to back in the chaos, were attempting to remain calm despite the chaos. Cold sweat dripped from their faces as Mohawk Thug hollered out.

“Steel Blade! What the hell should we do?!”

Steel Blade, who had remained unmoving after slashing the false Medusa, calmly observed the surroundings. His eyes shifted back and forth as he absorbed the sequence of events in front of him. After a few moments, he spoke in a voice that was loud enough for every hero to hear in the chaos.

“Heroes, is that not what you are?”

The heroes stopped their running and panic at these words. The dark figures continued their onslaught, but most of the heroes were in a more defendable position. They listened with wide eyes for the voice of hope.

“If you call yourselves heroes, earn your keep. There are 14 attacking figures, each with the skill of a B rank villain. With our numbers, this should not be a threat. The poison gas in coming from the east- move with the help of those around you to the west as you fight. I will find Medusa and slay her. Exterminate those that dare attack the Hero Association.”

The group of heroes stared wide-eyed at the graceful man. Even though these words were with some insult, a sudden surge of strength filled them. Mohawk Thug roared as he swung his bat onto the skull of an attacker.

“YOU HEARD HIM! SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MESS WITH A HERO!”

“UUUURRRRRAAAAA!” The heroes replied in powerful unison. Steel Blade disappeared with a flash into the forest in pursuit of Medusa.

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