Tanktop Master trailed behind a group of members from his Tank Topper Army along a lesser-traveled pathway within Z-City.
Staying close from the shadows would allow him to react to the situation in case his members weren't able to defeat whoever assaulted Tanktop Vegetarian.
He believed that in order for his Tank Topper Army members to grow stronger, aside from rigorous care of one's tank top, they should handle their own battles without relying too much on him.
And tonight was exactly one of those times.
Continuing to travel within the shadows provided by the forest to the right, he clenched his fist and grinned.
Since the time Lord Boros had defeated him, Tanktop Master had tripled his workout regiment, but of greater importance, he started wearing a second tank top under his blue one. If he ran into Lord Boros again, he knew he could defeat him.
"Brother Vegetarian, with the amount of veggies you packed away in the past hour, their nutritional value has pushed your strength to the next level."
Tanktop Tiger's voice caught Tanktop Master's attention.
"That's right, we'll make that bastard pay for sneak attacking our bro. Hey!" Tanktop Black Hole pointed ahead. "There's a human over there colluding with two monsters… it's them! Hey, did that pink spotted one just cheer at our arrival?"
"Brother Black Hole, you must be mistaken," said Tanktop Mask.
Tanktop Master's heart throttled. Lord Boros might be near. He glanced straight ahead, trying to spot a set of golden armor. You are hiding well. But you will come out once your group members are in danger.
Tanktop Vegetarian's voice sounded. "Found you!"
¤ ¤ ¤
Perfect. More opportunities to grow. Still, heroes never learn.
"Hey! I came to repay you for the other da—"
Garou swiftly struck Tanktop Vegetarian's face, keeping a portion of his attention on the two monsters behind him.
"You came to get revenge, Tanktop Vegetarian? Well, aren't you an adorable fool, coming here to throw away the life you were given a second chance at?
I'll kill the rest of your musclehead buddies, too."
Too easy.
Garou sprung forward toward the group. "Die!"
Before he could reach them, a crushing impact smashed into his face. From where?! The force launched him backward — skidding and tumbling across the pavement until he barely regained footing, sliding to a halt.
"What?"
Tanktop Master stood ahead of him with his fist raised. "I heard you gave my bro a hard time."
"An S-Class?!" Adrenaline and jubilation filled Garou. "Hyahaha! I've caught a big one! This is great! I'm getting all fired up!"
¤ ¤ ¤
Why aren't we running away? Gunner glanced toward Kombu Infinity. He's too focused on the fight…
Gunner's wish came to true at the very least — a group of heroes had arrived. But if this gray-haired man hadn't appeared out of nowhere, then wouldn't they have run into them instead? And there's no way this group of heroes would let them escape, considering what happened the last time they met.
While the Tank Topper Army members were busy fighting him, the two of them could escape. At least, that what should've happened…
Kombu Infinity's faith in Lord Boros' impending arrival is... Gunner focused back on the fight.
Tanktop Master pulled back his arm before driving his fist into the ground, repeating the move he once used against Lord Boros.
The might of his attack sent cracks bursting forward in jagged lines, racing across the surface like the limbs of a withering tree. After the slightest pause, the concrete erupted, shards and dust shooting skyward as the ground gave way beneath his fist.
His body shot forward, arms crossed over his chest, toward the gray-haired man.
The man's eyes widened while his balance went haywire.
"'Tanktop Tackle!'" He passed right through him, sending the gray-haired man spiraling skyward.
It was that easy? Gunner couldn't believe his eyes. He thought this man would've had put up a bit more of a fight.
Tank Topper Army members cheered.
"There it is! Master's 'Tanktop Tackle!'"
"He's taken down almost every monster with that move!"
"Way to go, Master! Now that bastard—"
The gray-haired man broke free from the tackle's force and then landed with ease.
W-Why didn't that defeat him…? A dreadful feeling spread through Gunner.
"Bro, he didn't go down!"
"All right, Little Bro. Prepare to run!"
Gunner's heart rate burgeoned at the sight of the man's blood-stained face. H-He's smiling? I've never seen a human like this before...
"Kombu, let's leave now." Gunner whispered.
"Have faith in our leader."
You have too much faith!
Gunner wanted to run away, but… he couldn't abandon his best friend.
However, the dreadful feeling he experienced ascended a moment later.
Even after taking a direct 'Tanktop Punch,' the gray-haired man refused to go down as he coughed out a large amount of blood..
Is this the end? Gunner focused.
Tanktop Master rushed forward with his fist drawn back. "Sorry, but this is the end."
It is!
His fist collided with the gray-haired man's face. Instead of the expected result, the man counterattacked with a devastating blow, causing Tanktop Master's body to bend backward, blood splashing out his face.
It isn't!
Blue streams of blue aura started trailing behind the gray-haired man's hands as he motioned into a martial artist's stance. Without warning, he let free a flurry of strikes that Gunner couldn't track. But Gunner could track the bad time Tanktop Master was having.
With a strong blow Tanktop Master's body flew toward the stone wall, the gray-haired man blistered forward, landing a powerful punch that embedded Tanktop Master into the wall and sent a huge fissure running through the wall, past the shocked members of the Tank Topper Army.
"Oh, what's this? A mighty S-Class Hero is on his knees?"
"Don't underestimate me." Tanktop Master struggled to stand. "You just took me by surprise, that's all."
"You can just sit there and watch as the Monster Garou goes on to kill off all your comrades."
"Garou?! You're Garou, the human calling himself a monster?!"
Gunner flinched when Garou's yellow eyes swept over him before the Human Monster turned around.
"W-Wait! Don't touch them!"
Garou ignored him and stepped forward.
"Are you sure we shouldn't make a run for it? Lord Boros can find us somewhere else, right?" Gunner whispered to Kombu once more.
Kombu's bloodshot gaze didn't waver. "Maybe we can recruit this Monster Garou."
Leader, what have you done to Kombu!?
Tanktop Master got to his feet and pressed forward. "Garou—"
Garou couldn't be bothered to turn his head. A single backhanded fist strike was all it took to disrupt the oncoming Tanktop Master.
"I know your fighting style now. I'm done with you, Tanktop Master."
Gunner's worst nightmare came true. Why was his luck so poor that he kept running into terrifying humans?
"Now, then… I guess I'd better clean up the rest of you and those two monsters."
Garou moved about like a phantom brutalizing every Tank Topper he drifted past. The resounding sounds of broken limbs and pained cries permeated this lesser-traveled pathway.
Gunner's five eyes snapped wide open as a subtle movement caught his attention. H-He's actually rising back up!
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