Garou stood before a grand manor, its dark silhouette standing against the dimming sky. The atmosphere felt heavy, as though the very air around him was thick with malice. "Where is this?" he asked, his voice cold but laced with curiosity, as his eyes swept over the intimidating structure before him.
The man leading him—a slithering figure with a serpentine appearance—smirked, his sharp, yellow eyes glimmering in the dim light. "We've been eager to see you in person, Hero Hunter," the man whispered with an unsettling hiss before pushing open the large wooden door.
Garou followed him inside, his every step echoing in the cavernous space as they ascended the spiraling staircase. The man led him through a series of shadowed hallways before arriving at a set of massive doors. With a swift motion, the serpentine figure opened them, revealing a vast chamber lit only by a faint, ominous glow. Ten dark figures sat at a long, obsidian table, their presence almost suffocating in the room.
The man gestured to Garou. "Ah, so the Hero Hunter finally arrives," he said in a voice that dripped with amusement. "Welcome to the Dark Council."
At the head of the table sat a figure that made even Garou's blood run cold. The man was clad in dark, menacing armor, with spikes protruding from his shoulders and back. His legs burned with an eerie, hellish fire that left scorched marks on the floor wherever he moved. In his right hand, he wielded a rod with a glowing red stone embedded in it, and in his left, a long, flaming battle axe. His helmet was black and jagged, crowned with flames that flickered like a living inferno. His red eyes, glowing from within the shadows, locked onto Garou as the leader of the council spoke.
"I am Lord Xenophilus, the being growled, his voice deep and powerful. "I am the leader of this council. And you, Hero Hunter, have been summoned for a very important purpose."
Garou didn't flinch. Instead, he met the leader's gaze with a defiant fire in his own eyes. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the eerie presence of the dark council members surrounding him.
"The rest of us?" Lord Xenophilus motioned to the others at the table with a sweep of his hand. "Allow me to introduce them."
Garou's gaze swept across the figures as Xenophilus named them one by one:
"This is Lord Vader," Xenophilus gestured to a tall, imposing figure clad in black armor, with a helmet that concealed his face. The figure's presence was chilling, his very aura dripping with power. "He is... a double agent," Xenophilus explained, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He desires world domination just as much as we do."
Garou's eyes narrowed in surprise as his gaze landed on the familiar figure. "Vader? But you're a hero!" he sputtered, pointing at the towering figure across the room.
Lord Vader's mechanical breath echoed in the still air as he spoke, his voice deep and emotionless. "I am merely playing a role," he replied, his tone as cold as the void of space. "I, too, wish for world domination, just like you, Hero Hunter."
Garou's eyes shifted uneasily as he continued his scan of the room.
The next figure stood up—his appearance just as unsettling as the rest. A man with a gaunt, pale face and cold, yellow eyes, his lips twisting into a cruel smile. "My name is Lord Voldemort," he hissed, his voice a whisper of venom. "I don't trust you completely, Hero Hunter. If I detect even a hint of disloyalty through my legilimency, you will not live to regret it."
A shiver ran down Garou's spine as Voldemort's dark gaze pierced through him.
Next, a tall, hooded man with purple skin and intricate tattoos covering his face and arms stood. He held a massive hammer in one hand, and a glowing purple stone was embedded in his chest, pulsating with malevolent energy. "I am Ronan the Accuser," he introduced himself, his voice booming. "I'm sure we will get along just fine after witnessing your display of skill and power."
The introductions continued as Xenophilus gestured to the rest of the council. "And these are the other leaders of our organization:, Sukuna, King of Curses, Cyn, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and a revived Boros."
Garou's eyes briefly locked with the familiar, alien overlord—Boros, whose massive, cyclopean eye seemed to pierce through him. His presence was unsettling, like the calm before a storm.
Garou narrowed his eyes. "Okay, so why did you bring me here?" His voice was direct, unshaken.
Lord Xenophilus's smile grew sinister as he leaned forward, his fiery eyes gleaming with malicious glee. "We are here to discuss the fall of the Hero Association," he whispered, his tone dropping into something cold and calculating. "The Hero Association will send all of their heroes to fight the Monster Association. And while they're distracted... WE WILL COMBINE OUR FORCES AND OVERWHELM THEM! WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL EVERY ONE OF THEM—MONSTERS AND HEROES—SPILL THEIR PRECIOUS BLOOD ON THE FLOOR! AND FINALLY, WE SHALL RULE THE WORLD! WITHOUT RIVALS!"
The room erupted in a chorus of evil laughter, each leader's voice echoing with anticipation, but Garou remained eerily silent, taking in the words with a dark smile.
"What about the Tornado of Terror?" Sukuna, the cursed king, asked with a dark grin, clearly intrigued by the idea of killing a powerful foe.
Lord Xenophilus raised a hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a hologram materialized in the air—a massive, spherical construct resembling a giant space station. "Lord Vader's got a superweapon. Powerful enough to vaporize the esper. Not even Tatsumaki can defend herself against such a blast."
The idea of a superweapon capable of obliterating one of the world's strongest espers seemed to please the council, and Sukuna's grin widened.
"And if that fails," Sukuna added eagerly, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure, "can I have the pleasure of torturing and killing her myself?"
Lord Xenophilus nodded without hesitation, his gaze cold. "Of course. I know how much you love a real challenge."
The conversation took a darker turn as each leader voiced their readiness, and Garou was no longer merely a spectator—he was part of something far larger than he had anticipated.
"So, is everyone ready?" Lord Xenophilus asked, his fiery eyes scanning the council.
"We've got our fleet ready," Vader and Thrawn spoke in unison, their voices unyielding.
"My Death Eaters are ready," Voldemort hissed, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Same here," Cyn giggled wickedly, "My murder drones will obey me, as per their directive."
Boros's voice boomed with excitement. "Finally! I get to fight Saitama again! This time, I won't lose! I will—"
"Yes, yes," Lord Xenophilus interrupted dismissively, his voice cutting through Boros's excitement like a blade. "But you are only to weaken him. Not kill him! That will be my job, or there will be consequences..."
The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. "Any objections?" Xenophilus asked coldly.
The leaders quickly shook their heads in agreement, including Garou, who felt an odd sense of resolve settle within him. This was no longer just about him—it was about something far more monumental.
"I can't wait to spill blood again," Sukuna cackled, his voice manic with excitement. "To hear the children and women scream!"
"Aren't we all excited?" Thrawn mused, though his voice was tempered with caution. "But don't get overconfident. We need to approach the heroes with caution. Do not underestimate our enemy."
Lord Xenophilus smiled coldly. "Well spoken, Thrawn." He turned to the rest of the council. "You are all dismissed. And remember..." His voice dropped to a low, menacing tone. "Do not fail me."