“...A monster using [Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist]?!“
“Yes. [Snack] from [Social Circle], who engaged it in battle, just woke up and gave his testimony.”
[Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist]—what was that?
Among the known martial arts, it was a style created by Silver Fang, the third-ranked S-Class hero, with terrifying power if properly learned.
Its defining traits were smooth, flowing movements like water and the overwhelming defensive ability that came from them.
Because its origin was self-defense, it was a fist technique focused on deflecting or absorbing an opponent’s attacks.
And.
As far as anyone knew, Silver Fang was still the only one who used it at a true combat level.
That was what was known.
And yet this martial art...
“...Could he have just seen something that wasn’t there? A monster using [Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist]?”
Unless Silver Fang taught it, was that even possible?
And to have learned it only one or two weeks after first appearing?
Besides, the fact that the monster was suspected to be the one who killed [Gogmuboots]—that part was left unsaid.
Its old, rounder appearance and its current form were clearly very different.
One of the differences was its larger, sharper body and the overall more dangerous impression it gave off.
But there was one important clue.
The blood left at the scene matched its composition by more than 79 percent.
At first, there had been speculation that it might be a relative or a similar species, but after comparing tissue samples and shed scales, the mood shifted toward near certainty that it was the same individual.
So.
They hid it again.
After discussion among the executives, it was decided that the battle on Maguchi Mountain would once again not be disclosed to heroes below A-rank.
After all, they had already announced it as a Demon-level threat before... and if the thing was still only Demon-level after seeming at least four or five times stronger, that would be strange indeed.
They planned to silence the three heroes who had directly fought it by some means or another.
And they seemed intent on bringing in S-Class heroes who could be trusted to keep the matter secret while they searched for the cause of the monster’s sudden growth from Wolf to Demon.
...In the first place, even if they did tell the S-Class heroes, how many of them would even blink at the death of a C-Class hero?
The reason the executives had been so strangely fixated on those lizard monsters was [Gogmuboots].
He had a fairly handsome face and combat ability that was practically B-rank, so the executives had wanted to promote him.
But then he was said to have been killed by nothing more than a Wolf-level monster.
And they had even lost track of it.
They had announced it as Demon-level to hide that shame, so if someone exterminated it and exposed the lie, that would be a disaster.
It was basically the executives’ sore spot, not something that really affected the S-Class heroes.
...If a low-level employee like him leaked something like this, he might be cut loose without a sound.
In a situation like this.
That monster used [Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist]?
“Yes. He said he was certain because the monster deflected and returned his techniques with water-like movements...”
“........”
Even if he was the lowest rank.
[Snack] of [Social Circle] was still an A-Class hero.
There was no comparing him to B-Class, and his skill was unquestionably excellent.
If even his techniques had been so one-sidedly deflected and countered...
Then wasn’t that already the level of someone who could fight at true combat strength?
“...For now, leave.”
After sending the female employee away, only when the door closed did he finally clutch his head.
“I’m screwed. What the hell am I supposed to report to the higher-ups?”
He was already starting to lose his hair from stress these days.
What kind of disaster was this supposed to be?
And if he reported this upstairs, what kind of nonsense would he get in return...?
Ughhh...
...Ah.
Forget it. He didn’t know. He really didn’t.
Maybe he should just quit this filthy, corruption-ridden job like that veteran operator he’d been chatting with lately...
...It was the suffering of a hungry underling.
He had reaped an enormous harvest from a place he had never expected.
He realized that only the day after his clash with the heroes.
After staying up all night and putting as much distance as he could from that mountain, he found himself walking through the deserted streets of J City.
This time as well, he kept walking and running with no particular destination.
Inside, he kept reflecting and reflecting.
...And then it suddenly occurred to him that he had not checked the skill he gained from the monster he ate last.
Over the past few days, every time he devoured a monster, he had always checked the skills he gained, then deleted or kept them as needed.
Forgetting to do that this time because of everything that happened was clearly a mistake.
To check quickly, he summoned the blue rectangular window listing his skills.
[Warp LV1]
-Warp to a location you have marked in advance. The more your proficiency increases, the greater its utility becomes.
The moment he saw that line, what filled his mind was unmistakably expectation, joy, and hope.
Warp.
Teleportation!
With this, maybe he could avoid collisions with humans even more easily in the future.
He could simply hunt monsters quickly and warp somewhere else to leave the area.
Was that all?
There was no telling how many varied and limitless uses it might have in combat.
For example, he could warp away from an enemy’s finishing move and counterattack from behind.
He could warp an enemy attack away so it disappeared somewhere.
He could warp a difficult opponent somewhere else entirely.
He could use warp to retreat...
It was such a broken ability with so many applications.
He felt like singing on the spot... no, that was a bit much.
Anyway, he was definitely thrilled.
His heart was pounding, and he felt like he might float away.
That was.
Until he looked at the line underneath it.
-Currently unavailable.
“...Huh?”
...Why.
...Why?
...Why the hell not?!
No, sure, he had thought it was a little strange to get something this easily!
But still, “currently unavailable” without even telling him why? What was this supposed to mean?
At least give him a reason—
BOOM!!!
“Kya-hahahahahat!!”
“...What now?”
Smashing through the wall of the neighboring building, a monster suddenly burst out.
...A humanoid about three meters tall, wearing strange armor, with four arms.
He was already irritated, and now this too...
Ssssshhhh...!
...No, wait a second.
This guy...
BOOM!!!
“Ghk?!”
Strong...!?
He hurriedly guarded with both arms against the straight punch, but the impact still didn’t fully stop.
Still, without hesitation, he immediately threw a counter at the monster’s face.
BOOM!!!
“Kgh?!“
BOOM!!
“Ugh...!”
His fist slammed into the monster’s face.
And in the meantime, the monster’s fist, launched by surprise, slammed into his abdomen.
Powerful shockwaves burst from both their bodies, and both staggered back to create distance.
“Heh, heh heh. As expected, you’re strong. The nickname ‘monster hunter’ is well deserved...! You are an opponent who lacks nothing as a match for this [Earth General]!”
“...Seriously, what kind of cringey nickname is ‘monster hunter’...?”
...One thing was certain.
This guy was.
Among all the opponents he had faced so far, excluding Vaccine Man...
“Kwahahahahaha!... Now then, I’m coming!!!”
...his toughest enemy yet.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register