Just then, my phone rang, and I quickly answered it. On the other end, I could hear Fubuki's concerned voice. At first, it didn't seem like she was in city C, but then I found out the reason behind it.
"Sorry, I'll be running behind schedule for our meet-up in City C... I've gotta deal with these crazy monsters that just keep popping up out of nowhere on my journey."
I'm not shocked by Fubuki's response since her new headquarters is located in city A, which explains why it took her quite a while to get here.
"Take it easy, there's a whole bunch of tough monsters showing up this time-"
I couldn't even finish my sentence when the massive cicada monster zoomed past this spot. I hurriedly took Mizuki's hand and guided her up to the rooftop of one of the buildings.
The streets, once littered with lifeless bodies, now lay empty. The big-belly monster Mizuki had vanquished had vanished as well. The black asphalt from the previous burning also became damaged.
I'm pretty sure Fubuki could tell that I was feeling overwhelmed, but she seemed completely oblivious when she spoke again. Without missing a beat, she let out an annoyed tone:
"Do you believe I'll be defeated just because a few powerful monsters show up?... never mind, one of my members told me that they ran into Mizuki and this girl named Lin Lin."
"That's great! It's important for your members to look after her because I've ensured she's ready to join your Blizzard Group."
I didn't want to add any more stress to her plate, so I quickly brushed off her initial comment.
"Oh, so you think I'm unaware of your other objectives? Well, we'll have a chance to talk about this in person. Just sit tight and wait."
I could tell Mizuki was listening to our conversation because she would occasionally turn in my direction. As I chucked my cell phone to her, she quickly snatched it out of the air and gave me a puzzled look.
"Just keep her busy for a while."
I could hear Fubuki calling out to me, but Mizuki stepped up and took charge. She was excited when she mentioned the cicada monster that was right in front of us.
As I shifted my focus elsewhere, I couldn't help but notice something strange. The cicada monster's body suddenly came to a stop, and at the same time, the earthquake I had experienced earlier ceased as well.
"Is there someone taking care of it?" I wondered aloud, my curiosity piqued. It's been a while since those monsters attacked, and the Heroes Association has been making announcement after announcement that echoed throughout the city.
I had to dig deeper to uncover the truth about the cicada monster. When Mizuki ran out of things to talk about, I wasted no time and sprang into action.
"Hey, Kaiser, she's looking to have a chat with you-"
I gently retrieved my cell phone from her grasp and addressed Fubuki, who was still engrossed in her conversation. "Feel free to come over if you'd like, but just remember to take it easy and not do anything impulsive that might cause me to worry."
Fubuki seemed caught off guard by my unexpected remark, letting out a strange sound. Unfortunately, I couldn't get her response as I had already ended the call.
"Mizuki, come over here. I'm curious about the tipping point on this cicada's head."
After chatting with Fubuki, she felt much more at ease. With a newfound determination, Mizuki nodded and started trailing behind.
Instead of relying on my battle suit to get me to my destination quickly, I prefer a more hands-on approach. I opt for running and jumping from one building to another, ensuring that I don't miss any important details along the way.
I was completely stumped when the body of this cicada monster suddenly stopped moving. But then, I stumbled upon its head, and when I found the cause, I couldn't hide my surprise.
"I thought the S-class hero was out there kicking butt... but seriously, what's that man doing here?"
I have often heard his name recently, and he's a big deal in this story.
Garou, known as the professional hero hunter, has stirred up quite a commotion with his cruel actions. The Hero Association is now taking precautions to handle this man.
Having been a student of Silver Fang, he's got the skills to completely dominate his enemies. He often displays his cruelty when the professional heroes he hunts meet their demise, leaving some with severe physical and mental injuries that force them to retire.
"Who's that guy?... Wow, he's going all out to take down that cicada monster on his own, isn't he?"
Mizuki wouldn't know since Garou has been keeping his identity hidden. But if I mention the name Hero Hunter, she'll get it right away.
"Human! You've got some serious courage trying to stop me!... You should just die crushed to the asphalt!"
The cicada let out a loud, booming voice that echoed through the air. I could sense Mizuki's unease mirrored in her furrowed eyebrows, a clear indication that she shared my discomfort. However, I chose to hold back and simply observe for the time being.
"That's my line! If you hadn't blocked my path with your massive body, those professional heroes wouldn't have managed to escape from me."
"Hmm, you made this 170,000-Year-Old Cicada Adult surprised, human."
Their conversation took an intriguing turn when Garou boldly asked, "Do you believe that only monsters should be allowed to challenge professional heroes? That's pretty gross. Maybe that's why you guys always end up losing."
"You're quite an intriguing human, but unfortunately, it's time for you to meet your end."
The massive cicada monster made another move, slamming into Garou without a moment's hesitation as he stood in the middle of the road. Mizuki, who was standing beside me, let out a gasp of surprise. However, I had a feeling that Garou wasn't going to go down that easily.
The giant cicada, which had been freely wreaking havoc without any regard for its surroundings, came to a sudden halt once more. Garou boldly positioned himself in front of the cicada monster's head as if he were single-handedly halting a speeding train. His hands trembled under the pressure, but he somehow found the strength to push through.
"The heck... what a monster. How did I not know there was someone like him all this time."
I think Mizuki is referring to Garou, but I don't think we should be quick to sing his praises. Even though he's undeniably powerful, I believe that the current Garou still has a ways to go before he can take down this formidable cicada monster.
Garou couldn't hold it in any longer. His body, which had been standing strong, now had to recoil, blood pouring from his mouth. A massive shadow engulfed him as he reluctantly allowed the monstrous cicada to trample over him.
"This is great. At least I don't have to think about him for now."