The group rushed forward after receiving the report from the scout. After a quick rush, they found the bear the scout team reported.
It was truly a giant black bear. Its height was about nine meters tall; its robust body was about the same as three adult's bodies, and the same for the lizardmen, the bear's eyes were hollow. Aside from that, it also had a long claw and a single black horn on its forehead.
As the group arrived, the bear noticed their presence and turned around. Meanwhile, Sun Zhou Yi immediately activated his Mystical Eyes. Sun Zhou Yi was surprised as he scanned the bear.
"The bear is stronger than the lizardmen, it has three cores, be careful!" Sun Zhou Yi reminded his comrades. Yes, he discovered three cores inside the bear's body.
"Center of its left paw, right thigh, and crotch!" Sun Zhou Yi immediately told the three dark cores location. As soon as he said it, Musashi Naizen was the first one to move.
He rushed forward with his firm steps, his hand was holding his sword's handle, and the sword was still inside the sheath. Not only Musashi Naizen, but the bear also rushed forward.
Dum! Dum! Dum!
Each of its steps caused the ground to vibrate. Soon, the bear reached Musashi Naizen, both stopped their steps as the bear raised its big paw and slammed it toward Musashi Naizen.
Unfortunately, Musashi Naizen was faster than the bear. Sword after sword flashed toward the bear. The sword aimed at three targets, the bear's left paw, right thigh, and crotch.
Musashi Naizen's sword landed right at the place he aimed, but he still failed to achieve his goal. His sword failed to reach the dark core, leaving only a deep cut on the bear. As his attack failed, the paw slammed down at him as his sword had no effect on the bear.
Boom!
The black dust rose and covered the two figures. But then there was a figure rushed out of the dust. Musashi Naizen avoided the paw, but there were three lines of shallow cut on his left cheek.
The long claw grazed at his left cheek, but he avoided the fatal attack. Musashi Naizen was overconfident with his strength and thought he could kill the bear in one move. And this mistake almost cost him his life.
Whoosh!
There was a huge shadow coming from the cloud of dust. The huge shadow charged toward Musashi Naizen. Despite its huge size, the bear's movement was fast.
Despite facing an enormous bear that charged at him, a slight smile appeared on Musashi Naizen's face. He bent his body a little with his hand was still in his sword. He took a deep breath and held it.
Soon, the bear reached him with its horn aimed at him, but something amazing happened. Three swords flashed and cut through the bear. It happened so fast and the heroes only saw Musashi Naizen take a light step to avoid the bear.
The bear failed to pierce Musashi Naizen and had its body cut into three big pieces. A left paw that only left half, a foot that got cut from the thigh and its body halved into two. As the bear fell, its body dried up and black gas escaped from the bear's remains.
Musashi Naizen distance himself from the remains with Sun Zhou Yi's reminder in his mind. The black gas was poison.
Meanwhile, the other heroes looked at Musashi Naizen in awe. This is the power of the Emperor Class Hero - Rank 7. Each of them imagined themselves in the bear's position. If they were in the bear's position, could they avoid the sword?
Certainly not, but only one man thought differently. It was Sun Zhou Yi; he was comparing himself with the Emperor Class Hero - Rank 7. Recalling Musashi Naizen's sword technique that surpassed even Musashi Hirata, Sun Zhou Yi shook his head.
'I can't still beat him!' It was his conclusion, 'There's still a long way to go…'
"Let's continue, it's better to avoid the monster from now on, we are exploring the danger within the dungeon not eradicating them!" Musashi Naizen's voice resounded from the front as he gave out a new order."
From the simple exchange with the bear, what Sun Zhou Yi told him was right, the bear was stronger than the lizardmen. He could kill the bear as long as Sun Zhou Yi's told him the core's position, but if they had to fight many of these bears, it was dangerous to the other heroes.
Moreover, these Gold Class Heroes could only enter the dungeon in a limited time. They could afford to waste their time to kill a few bears, that was why Musashi Naizen decided to avoid the monster.
'It seems I have to form a new reliable group for the expedition…' Thought Musashi Naizen as a frown appeared on his forehead.
*** ***
Xing District, Miao Miao Noodle Shop
Heero and Hong Yu were currently in a serious talk. They were talking about building a preschool. Han Ying was sick, so they closed the shop and Heero took this chance to talk with his wife about her dream to build the preschool.
He explained his idea to his wife about it, but he was surprised to see a frown on his wife's face.
"What with that face? Don't you want to open a preschool?" Heero asked in a puzzle. It did not work as he planned, he thought Hong Yu would be delighted and happy, but it was not the case.
"First, if I take in charge of the preschool, who's going to help in the shop? As you know, Sister doesn't want to hire people in her shop. Second, your relationship with the Central Government is bad, how are we going to get the permit to establish the preschool?"
Different from the orphanage and nursing home, if we don't have a permit who is going to sign up for our school? Then what about the teachers? There will be no teacher who wants to teach at a school without a permit."
Hong Yu pointed out every problem and obstacle to establishing a preschool. But the obstacles mentioned by his wife were not a problem at all.
"First, I will make sure Shen Miao never goes back to the inner region anymore. If the Little Tigress stays here, I am sure your sister will reduce her work so she can play with her daughter and it will be better for the little tigress too. Second, we have Sun Zhou Yi and Hirata, a permit to build a preschool is no problem at all."
Heero explained with a gentle smile and added, "Remember, your joy is also my joy. Your happiness is my happiness as well,"
As he said that, his right hand reached Hong Yu's cheek and stroked her cheek lovingly.
Tump!
Hong Yu's heart thumped as she heard her husband's statement. She was touched, nevertheless, worries still filled her heart. Just as she wanted to say something, Heero's smartwatch vibrated.
She looked at the smartwatch and Heero also turned toward his smartwatch. He saw Hirata's name on the screen. He answered the call and Hirata's face appeared in the smartwatch.
As he directed the smartwatch toward him, Hirata did not see Hong Yu on Heero's opposite while Hong Yu could see Hirata's face.
"Master, I am sorry, I lost their trace," Hirata showed a regretful look as he said this. This was the first mission given to him by Heero, so he regretted not being able to complete the mission.
"Nah, it's okay. You can come back, for now, I want to hear the report. Let's meet at the Security House!" Said Heero calmly. He was not disappointed or angry at all, but Hirata was still disappointed in himself. Hirata showed it on his expression.
"Okay," Hirata answer dispiritedly and close the call. As soon as the call was closed, Hong Yu's worried voice rang, "Were you talking about Shadow Fang?"
Heero never concealed anything before his wife, except a certain part that needed to be concealed. Such as things about Dramonia, his origin that unbelievable for the people on Earth.
He nodded in response and said, "Yeah, it seems a few groups managed to escape from Hirata. Dear, I am going to the Security House to meet Hirata."
Hong Yu nodded her head as she knew how serious it was. Shadow Fang, a group that spread terror and fear among the heroes and normal citizens. For people who lived in Star City, they must be heard the name of Shadow Fang.
"What about lunch? Do you want to eat at home or will you eat outside?" as it was almost lunchtime, she asked Heero who was ready to leave.
Heero stopped and answered, "We will eat outside, Hotpot, let's eat hotpot. Don't forget to take the Little Tigress with you,"
Conquer The Little Tigress operation had started. He would feast the little girl with the food here so she would not want to leave this place anymore. Of course, the food was not the only plan, he had many plans in his mind.
After that, Heero went to the Security House at the entrance of the Xing District. Hirata was not there but there was no need for him to wait long as Hirata back ten minutes after he arrived.
As the two met, Musashi Hirata's reported what happened in his hunt. Yesterday, after checking the camera surveillance, he managed to locate the Shadow Fang's new secret base.
There were sixty-one secret bases of Shadow Fang in the north and twelve of them were not far from the Xing District. At that time, Musashi Hirata offered himself to hunt these people and from yesterday until now, he managed to clean ten secret bases.
The last two secret bases seemed to have found something fishy and ran away, leaving the secret base empty.
However, during their escape, these guys left many clues regarding Shadow Fang. Even though only two groups escaped, Hirata found many bases located all over Star City. it was thanks to these two groups
Shadow Fang even had a few secret bases in the inner region and three secret bases in the core region. What did it mean? It meant the Shadow Fang had infiltrated deep even into the core region.
The whole situation was worse than Heero thought, but it was not his problem. His main focus was on the two groups who managed to escape.
"Do you think they know it was us who are hunting them down?" Heero asked Hirata who was more familiar to Shadow Fang than himself.
"They surely know it was us who are hunting them down. We are the biggest force in the north of the outer city. They must be aware that we are hunting them down!" Hirata gave a convincing answer.
"Then maybe…" Heero's words trailed off.
"Maybe?"
"There is a saying, "the safest place is in the most dangerous place!" They might be hiding here, it's possible." Heero stood up and ordered, "Tighten up the security!"
Even though it was less likely those two groups hid here, it was better safe than sorry.