Archer knocked on the door to Julia Ming's home. When she answered the door she was greeted by a smiling Archer. Behind him was Professor Phil Doyle's pickup truck parked by the street, the windows were tinted so she couldn't see who was inside.
"Hello there." Archer said.
"Hey Archer, I assume she's in there?" Julia asked looking at the car.
"Yep, can we come in?"
"Yeah I got a room ready for her. Whose car is that anyways?"
"Professor Doyle's."
"He drives a pickup truck?" Julia said raising an eyebrow.
"I know, right? Seems out of character." Archer said as he motioned them to exit the car.
"I don't think you have a right to judge."
"What do you mean?" Archer asked looking at Julia curiously.
"Are they here?" Luna's voice called from inside the house, she quickly poked her head around a corner and looked at Archer excitedly, "Hi Archer!"
"Hello there Luna." Archer greeted her as Esme guided by Phil approached the doorway, "So are you having a sleepover of sorts?"
"Yeah! We thought that Esme would like some company after everything that happened." Luna said smiling at Esme, "Hello Esme how have you been?" She asked as Julia went to get drinks.
"Miserable, but not dead at least." Esme said as she cautiously looked around the street before entering in. Phil and Archer seemed to have a private conversation with each other as the door closed.
"Hey Esme, I'm Luna. I was possessed by a ghost." Luna introduced herself.
"Huh?" Esme said taken aback.
"Yeah, a jealous ghost took over my body and flirted with a bunch of boys trying to replace me." Luna said with a laugh.
"Wait, are you serious?" Esme asked before recalling, "Is that why those weirdos surrounded you all the time?"
"Yeah. I've got my body to myself again. But it was pretty scary during that week."
"How did you get rid of the spirit?" Esme asked.
"Archer helped me." Luna said gesturing over to Archer, who was still discussing something with Phil, "He'll help you too." She added.
"You really believe in him huh?" Esme said looking over to Archer.
"He saved my life." Luna said with a shrug.
"True, but I think my situation is a bit different from yours." Esme said somberly.
Archer then turned towards them, "Alright I'm going to go get the ingredients for the cure."
"What?" Julia said returning with some water.
"Huh?" Esme gasped flabbergasted.
"You already figured it out?" Luna said looking just as surprised, "I mean, I knew you would figure it out, just not already."
"Oh yeah I forgot to mention, remember the waitress at the café? She's related to the commissioner and we explored around the area and found remnants of a serum. According to Soothsayer-2 it matches what's in your blood." Archer explained, "Only not quite complete."
"Not complete?"
"The serum apparently matches the formula of one that was confiscated from a gang. It just so happens that the team researching that formula are all dead, eaten, save for one Amadeus Count. We can assume that this Amadeus was the person who jabbed you and ate his friends." Archer added.
"So I'm a monster like him then." Esme said looking crestfallen.
"What's the difference between the two?" Julia asked.
"Now we think. Well, Soothsayer-2 thinks that there is a component lacking between the two, what's in Esme doesn't provide as much strength as Amadeus. But on the bright side, it means that she isn't as manic."
"So she won't attack us wildly?" Luna asked.
"As long as she has something in her stomach. It explains why she didn't go on a bender immediately upon getting transformed." Archer said.
"But you said I can be cured? This can be reverted? I don't know how long the plasma can last, I'm getting hungry faster than before." Esme asked looking at Archer.
"Sort of, you might still have a few of the symptoms after this." Archer admitted.
"But I'll be better than I am now?"
"I believe so yes." Archer said nodding.
"So what do you need?" Julia asked.
"A few simple chemicals that will be easy enough to gather. Though it would be done tomorrow." Phil answered for Archer, "What Archer is currently heading off to do is to procure the final 'ingredient' needed."
"What's that?" Esme asked not liking the implication of what that entailed.
Phil looked hesitant to answer but Archer waved him off, "Don't worry, enough have been set tonight that it won't be serious." He assured them.
"You're going after Amadeus aren't you?" Julia guessed. Archer scratched his neck in response which was enough to answer her question.
"Can you beat him?" Luna asked.
"Probably." Archer said with a shrug.
"Archer, I know that you handled those level four dungeon monsters, and you were able to escape the grasp of an S rank with Esme, but aren't you acting a bit overconfident?" Julia asked.
"Oh, I'm well aware that he's a danger. Don't worry, I won't be fighting him tonight." Archer answered calmly.
"Then what are you doing?"
"Lending the soon-to-be search party a small hand. They'll help me get my catch later." Archer said with a wry grin.
***
Jarold Walker violently struck into the training dummy with all his might. His thoughts were still filled with what had happened last night. He failed to catch Esme Soto and was currently venting out his frustration in the training facility. Each blow caused the entire room to shake.
As he continued to wail on the dummy he noticed someone enter the facility. Stopping momentarily, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Mercy Cowen enter room, she looked as though she bore news.
"What is it?" Jarold asked before he began striking at the dummy again.
"The police sent us a message, asking if we want to participate in helping." Mercy answered noticing the amount of rage Jarold put behind those strikes.
"So? They give us missions all the time." Jarold said not breaking his pace.
"It seems to be regarding the culprit who killed the animals at the pen."
Jarold immediately stopped and turned to face Mercy properly, "They found Esme?"
"We don't actually know if it was Esme." Mercy corrected, "All we have are the claims from an E-rank that while holding some validity, are not substantial enough for us to say that Esme was the true culprit for sure."
"She ran." Jarold snapped.
"From your report someone snatched her. It could've been for another reason entirely. We don't know for sure." Mercy said calmly.
"Are you defending her?" Jarold asked narrowing his eyes at Mercy.
"Just stating facts. Besides don't you want to catch the real monster or do you want to stay here?" Mercy asked.
"Hmph." Jarold gave an unimpressed grunt as he stashed his sword and reached to grab a towel, "I'll be ready in three minutes."
"Lother will be joining us."
"Lothar? Why would a senior be joining us? Isn't this a first-year issue?" Jarold asked a frown appearing on his face. Lothar Pontus was an annoyance to Jarold. He always seemed to stick his nose into business that didn't belong to him. He was too damn nice and noble-acting. It honestly got on Jarold's nerves.
"He says he just wants to observe. It's normal to have a senior student act as an observer for first years." Mercy said.
"Right." Jarold said not sounding quite convinced, "Anyways who is this monster supposedly?"
"They suspect some man-monster hybrid responsible for several other killings around the city the last few months."
"I wonder if that guy is a part of this at all?" Jarold muttered to no one in particular.
"Who?" Mercy asked.
"Whoever helped Esme that night. I want to pay him back." Jarold said as he headed into the changing room. That mysterious stranger actually hit me and escaped from my grasp. His fist clenched around his towel at the thought of the man. He won't get away a second time.
***
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Amadeus screamed internally as he frantically searched for a place to hide. He had found his target, an elderly man going on a night walk, and prepared himself to strike when a patrol car spotted him. Next thing he knew there were police all around the place with a few fledging heroes on his tail as well.
It made no sense, there was never any police in this neighbourhood! It was a quiet place where the police didn't bother, now there were heroes roaming the stupid area? Why? It was as if they were expecting him to arrive here, but how did they know they would strike here?
It's fine, they won't catch me. Amadeus thought as he pulled out a small device and pressed a button. The device triggered a signal that awakened all his contingencies. Littered around the city were a dozen monsters that were set in stasis mode, hidden in specific areas he had set earlier now active.
Amadeus couldn't help but smile at his own genius. The monsters were all placed in areas that would specifically cause a commotion, within minutes of them rampaging around the police would be made aware of them and be forced to disperse to deal with them. He had specifically placed them in areas where heroes tended to avoid due to the usual safe and quiet nature of those areas.
Very soon the police will be busy dealing with monsters and not enough of them will be able to stop him. Still, this could mean that he goes hungry for a day, and even worse it means that he would need to lie low even longer.
Gritting his teeth, he resolved to himself that at the very least he would escape with a stomach full of blood and enough to live off for the next two weeks. He just needed to find another victim in the chaos, and that would be easy for a genius like him. Besides he had another more explosive contingency if needed.
***
Archer checked his phone to listen in on tapped-in reports from the police. Judging from the messages they definitely spotted Amadeus and had him on the run. Still it seems that they've lost the trail of him for now. With all this standing around Archer was glad that he had switched his school uniform for a gray hoodie, hiking boots, and simple jeans. It would be annoying if he were noticed this late at night.
Archer, took a moment to pause and thought what he would do if he were in the shoes of Amadeus. If Amadeus was so careful to keep himself safe and undetected despite obviously suspicious killings, he obviously has some type of contingencies set. It was most likely like some type of distraction placed, away from his base, and it should be big enough to cause a commotion to draw people away.
But then what sort of distraction would be needed? It would have to be something that would endanger a lot of people. Archer clicked his tongue in frustration as he realized that he would have no choice but to put on hold the chase for Amadeus.
Thinking back on the reports, he noted the direction that Amadeus was taking and how he had made a sudden turn after a street, the same street that would lead to one of his first kills. What's he hiding there? Bombs? Maybe, but that would be very easy to spot, can only be triggered once and way too flashy. Archer thought. But if it isn't massive then there might be more than one to guarantee chaos. Some weird experiment?
Archer thought for a moment as he decided to at least investigate the one area he knew where something might occur. He kept his eye on his phone waiting to see when something new turned up. He still needs to keep track of Amadeus and stop him from acting out as much as he could.
***
Jarold Walker stood there in the middle of the street with cop cars driving by him as he tapped his foot impatiently waiting for the police inspector to finish conversing on the radio. Looking over he saw Mercy, who had a much calmer demeanor in comparison to him.
"What is taking so long? Why aren't we getting after this thing already?" Jarold snapped after a while longer.
"We're still getting the details sorted." Mercy said calmly.
"What details? They said they found the thing!"
"We can't go around trashing every street and neighbourhood. Once they lock in on whatever this killer is we'll catch them." Mercy assured.
"I still think we should be looking for Esme." Jarold grumbled, "I mean where the hell did this source even come from?"
"Apparently from the police inspector." Mercy said with a shrug as she stared up at the night sky tapping the hilt of her sword in a rhythm.
"How the hell does the police chief know?"
"Not sure, it came as a shock to the detectives."
"What? He won't give me credit?" A voice from behind some bushes said sounding offended.
"What the?" Jarold said alarmed pulling out his longsword instinctively.
"I was wondering when you would show." Mercy said as she casually moved between Jarold and the talking bush.
"Uh-oh, I mean I wasn't here!" The bush said quickly.
"Come out." Mercy ordered sternly.
"Okay." A dejected voice replied after a moment of contemplation. Emerging from the bushes was a girl with black hair braided into a ponytail, looking rather sheepish.
"Who are you?" Mercy questioned.
"Hey, I'm Yeling, I was the one that gave my dad the tip." She greeted as she played with her ponytail awkwardly.
"Dad? Your father is Inspector Xiao?" Jarold said wide-eyed.
"Yeah, and he didn't even credit me at all." Yeling complained.
"How did you figure out the pattern of killings?" Mercy asked.
"You two are from Trinity Academy right? I had help from one of your classmates." Yeling answered.
"Classmates? Who?" Mercy said looking extremely interested.
"Uh, they said they were working a job specially given to them by a professor Phil Doyle, never gave a real name." Yeling said with a shrug, "They really didn't want me to reveal too much to others."
"Why?" Mercy asked.
"Not sure, they said that if you had concerns ask Professor Doyle." She answered remembering what Archer texted her to say when she was pressed for answers.
"Hmm." Mercy said not sounding satisfied but if a professor gave the order, she couldn't really question it.
"Yeling? Is that you?" Inspector Xaio said turning around and spotting her daughter.
"Uh oh." Yeling said looking to hide, too late.
"Yeling what on earth are you doing here at night? It's dangerous!" He said angrily at her. Inspector Xaio was a man in his forties, while time has given him a larger frame, that frame was not without some substantial muscle. He had a graying beard and hair with just as many grays.
"I was just coming to look." Yeling complained.
"Look? This place is dangerous! There is a killer on the loose. You need to go home right now." Inspector Xaio ordered.
"But I helped find the guy! Why can't I stay?"
"I am not here to argue with you." Inspector Xaio said before shouting at someone else, "Helio! Get over here!"
"What is it Inspector?" The man called Helio asked, he was a shabbier-dressed man with a receding hairline.
"Take Yeling and get her back home."
"Aw boss! Do I have to? Why can't someone else do it? You know I'm not good with kids!" He complained, however one venomous look from his boss changed his tune, "Yes sure thing Inspector, right away."
"But dad I-" Yeling yelled as Helio came to usher her along, "Come one let's go before your dad slashes my pay!"
"You're the worst dad!" She yelled to her father as she disappeared from view. Mercy kept watching the scene with great interest.
"Sorry about that." Inspector Xaio said with an annoyed sigh as he made sure that his daughter entered the detective's car.
"What's going on with this bloodsucker?" Jarold asked impatiently.
"We're cornering him, we'll send you after him once we pin him down."
"Listen to the inspector, you need to be calm Jarold. It's not good for a student of Trinity Academy to be so hot-headed." Lothar said casually approaching Jarold from the side.
Jarold shot Lothar a dirty look, who remained passive. With a scowl Jarold backed off and leaned next to a cop car, arms crossed, and continued to wait impatiently.
Suddenly the radio came blaring on and everyone heard a panicked voice, "Code blue! Code blue! We have monsters running around everywhere!" Followed by other voices reporting the same issue.
Inspector Xaio looked wide-eyed and began to shout for orders and details, "What's going on? Report!"
"Monsters! They came from nowhere! They're wreaking havoc!" A panicked officer cried out.
"We're sending reinforcements to your locations!" Inspector Xaio reported.
"Perfect." Jarold said with a grin, "You hear that? It's my turn now."
***
Archer when he slinked around the corner gave a small disappointed sigh. Standing down the street was Annaxia Torri, who seemed to be impatiently waiting for someone, flicking through her phone. Right where the danger zone is too. Archer thought as he just read a new report of how monsters had begun to break out around the area.
As Archer was wondering who Annaxia was waiting for his question was answered when the Fiery Falcon out of costume came rolling up to her on a black motorcycle. Oh please no. Come on Annaxia you're better than doing something this bad! Archer thought as he overheard their conversation.
"Hey there baby, waited for me long?" The Fiery Falcon, or going by his birth-given name, Set Juro said, flashing her a million-dollar smile.
"Oh yeah, a bit." Annaxia said with a fake smile plastered on her face.
"Here, I brought you a couple of nice gifts." Set said casually handing her a shopping bag.
Annaxia looked a lot more interested in the bag than Set and quickly dug into its contents. Pulling the first item out she looked at a very much cropped leather jacket, it didn't even look like it could zip up properly. In all honestly it looked like something you buy at a certain shop tailored to adults.
"Oh, how nice." Annaxia said making a face of displeasure as she knew what he was thinking when he got her this.
"That's not all, look what else is in the bag." He said proudly.
Bracing for the worst Annaxia looked into the box, her expression soon shifted to happiness as she recognized the second item, "An entire moisturizing set from Shannel? They're so expensive!"
"Yeah I know." Set said grinning, "So what do you think? It's a CDR1100YY Super Blancbird, newly purchased too. Let's go ride this baby down the town a bit, there's plenty of room on the bike." He said as he grabbed a red motorcycle helmet with cat ears on it, resting on the side of the bike.
"Oh. A ride with you?" Annaxia asked looking a bit hesitant.
"Yeah, go around town, get dinner, and maybe I'll give you some direct one-on-one lessons." Set flirted.
Oh thank god, she's trying to use him. Or maybe he's manipulating her into using him… huh. Either way this scenario is weird, isn't he an established hero in his thirties? I wonder how this came about? He really shouldn't be doing this. Wait a minute, I was supposed to do something else right? Something more important than this weird relationship is occurring.
Before Archer could finish his inner ramblings and Annaxia could give a response to Set's offer, a loud buzzing sound could be heard quickly approaching them. Archer quickly looked down at his phone and almost swore out loud. If he had been paying attention he would've known that reports of something was nearing them.
Now what? Archer thought as he kept himself hidden around the corner. Can't just expose my identity, not in school uniform at least. But he is an adult C-rank and she is an A-rank. They can take of it right? He hoped.
His hope didn't last long as he saw the monster that crawled its way over. It most resembled a Hercules beetle, however it lacked any wings, but still flapped its elytra as if it was trying to take flight. Below the long, wicked horn was a jaw with razor-sharp teeth grinding back and forth. The shade of its shell was a shimmering purple, which normally would be beautiful if not for its fleshy and bulbous body.
Though looks weren't everything, it was the sense that Archer got from the thing that concerned him. This was no simple creature, it had been experimented on, genetically mutated into becoming a mindless killer. What was most concerning was that in its obsidian eyes lay an intelligence that was not seen from the insect monsters in the dungeon.
It seemed that the years that Set had spent as the Fiery Falcon gave enough experience to have the same thought as Archer. His mouth went agape as he stammered out, "W-w-what the hell!"
"How is there a monster here?" Annaxia cried out.
Set shook as the beast made eye contact with him. Fear gripped him and his only instinct running through him was to escape as quickly as possible. Quickly he revved his bike and began to race away from the insect monster.
The helmet was dropped and rolled behind him as he abandoned Annaxia to the monster. As the monster began its charge, Annaxia looked at her only chance of escape leaving her.
"Wait! Don't leave me alone!" She cried out to Set who was currently ignoring her. She then proceeded to try and run only to feel her legs give out from fear, she looked back towards the beetle like a deer in headlights.
Oh, for- I need to have a low profile! Archer complained as Set was about to pass him. A quick boot from Archer connecting to a speeding Set's temple quickly halted the C-rank hero's escape attempt.
As both the Falcon and the Blancbird motorcycle went sprawling to the ground, Archer made sure to check that Set was not going to wake up and see him. Seeing Set completely in the depths of unconsciousness Archer decided to help himself to the spoils.
As the monstrous beetle charged toward Annaxia its head lowered ready to pierce through. A man in a gray hoodie with a red motorcycle helmet with cat ears that was dropped earlier atop his head and riding Falcon's bike came flying over. Grinding the back wheel atop the base of the horn, the hard exoskeleton carapace began to chip and separate from the softer, fleshier inner layer.
The beetle in response tried to shake the attacker off. It succeeded in doing so but not before the man wrapped an arm around the broken horn and ripped it off as he and the bike landed back onto the road.
Whipping the bike around he refaced the beetle now crying out in fear and pain. Too busy dealing with the agonizing pain of losing its horn. Black ichor continuously poured out of the open wound as it gave deathly wails.
Facing the crippled creature's side he revved the bike and gathered speed as he hurled the broken horn like a javelin at the creature. His throw struck true as it pierced through the monster and mercifully ended its suffering.
As the monster's body began to slowly dissolve, only leaving behind a few base items the bike drove through the deteriorating body and hovered over Annaxia. The hum of the motorcycle sounded like a monster growling at her as she shook staring at him.
Wordlessly the biker bent down and Annaxia flinched. Her eyes closed, she felt something rip from her grasp. Peeking her eyes open she realized that he had snatched the risqué jacket that she had been gripping in her hands instinctively.
The helmeted man put on the jacket over his hoodie and while it couldn't be zipped, it did cover his shoulders and arms. Without sparing another glance at her the biker checked his phone then drove off.
As Archer left Annaxia alone he mused on the quality of the bike. It had held up surprisingly well, though likely won't last through the end of the night. The jacket could be better, but as a temporary piece of attire it worked out fine. Real tight though. Archer complained inwardly as he thought of the beetle he killed. Take care of them first then get the Amadeus.