With the news of the five S-Class Heroes' defeat spreading, the panic that had accumulated globally finally erupted the next day, transforming into a raging tide of fury.
Outside the Hero Association's Headquarters, a massive crowd, like an angry swarm of bees, packed the entire neighborhood.
They held up various placards, painted with glaring red letters:
"S-Class Heroes? Can't beat one man even when working together! Shameful!"
"Our donations are supporting you useless trash?"
"Where's Blast? Where's the S-Class Rank 1 Blast? Did the Association make him up to fool us? Does he even exist?"
The cacophony of shouts, cries, and roars mixed into a suffocating wave of sound battering the association headquarters' sturdy walls.
A torrent of abuse poured down, aimed directly at the Heroes who had just suffered a crushing defeat and were now receiving treatment.
In the high-level meeting room of the association headquarters, with excellent soundproofing, muffled commotion could be heard through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
Fubuki stood by the window, watching the crowd below with immense fury.
"These bastards! Don't they know how many times these Heroes saved their lives from monster attacks?"
"Why don't they dare vent their anger at that No.17? Just because we're Heroes, we have to endure this baseless blame and abuse?"
"Sometimes I really wonder, do we really need to protect this kind of garbage?"
"Maybe that No.17 was right. These people aren't worth protecting!"
Genos sat to the side, seemingly unconcerned with the commotion outside. "I used to be troubled by these voices too, but Sensei helped me understand."
"He said there are always more good people in this world. It's just that the bad ones make more noise, making you feel the world is full of filth."
"Those silent majority, those who are quietly saved by Heroes, who are grateful but don't know how to express it... they are the reason we fight."
Fubuki was silent for a moment, but the anger in her eyes didn't fully subside.
She looked at Genos, her tone challenging, "You knew how strong that No.17 was. Why didn't you stop them at the meeting?"
"Do you think it would have helped if I had stopped them?" Genos countered. "Isn't a Hero defined by running towards danger and disaster?"
"Even if they know hell awaits, even if they know their chances are slim, they will still charge forward resolutely."
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the blurred protestors outside the window, his voice low. "And honestly, I'm even a little grateful to that No.17."
"What?" Fubuki was taken aback.
Genos's eyes shone with anticipation. "When Sensei defeats that No.17 in front of the whole world and saves this world..."
"I want to see what those trash who slandered and mocked Sensei will have to say then!"
Fubuki shrugged. "At best, they'll delete their old comments and pretend nothing ever happened."
"You don't really think anyone will step forward and apologize for what they said, do you?"
Genos fell silent. Sometimes, he truly couldn't understand the logic of how this world operated.
Just then, a soft knock came at the meeting room door.
"Fubuki-sama, sorry to disturb you." A young female receptionist in association uniform poked her head in, her face apologetic and slightly anxious.
"I'm sorry to bother you at such a time, but there's a C-Class Hero applying for promotion to B-Class. He needs to take a combat test and interview."
She quickly explained, "This is usually handled by HR staff, but they're all fully occupied dealing with the aftermath of the [Earth Games] incident and can't get away."
"The HR director asked me to see if you might be available to assist?"
Fubuki frowned.
If this were the old her, she might have eagerly gone to recruit this new B-Class Hero.
But now, she couldn't muster much interest.
Compared to truly strong beings, her Fubuki Group felt like child's play.
But glancing at the escalating protest outside, and knowing staying here would only increase her irritation, she nodded. "Fine, lead the way."
As she followed the receptionist out of the meeting room, walking through the busy, oppressive corridors, she asked casually:
"That Saitama, didn't he just get promoted from C-Class Rank 1 to B-Class not long ago? Why is there another new promotion so soon?"
The receptionist, a girl in her early twenties, grew excited at Fubuki's question:
"Fubuki-sama, didn't you know? Although this Hero only joined the association less than a week ago, he has already independently resolved five Tiger-level monster attacks! His efficiency is astounding!"
"Oh?" Fubuki raised an eyebrow.
'Five Tiger-level incidents in a week? That kind of record was indeed impressive for a C-Class Hero.'
'No wonder HR was handling his promotion even at a time like this.'
But unbidden, an absurd thought crossed her mind.
'Appeared suddenly a week ago... incredibly powerful...'
'Could it be...' She quickly shook her head, forcing the terrifying speculation out of her mind.
'Impossible, impossible. A being of that caliber joining the Hero Association and starting from the lowest C-Class? I'm definitely overthinking...'
"What's his name?" Fubuki asked, trying to distract herself.
"His Hero name is [Hades]," The receptionist replied, a flicker of admiration in her eyes.
"He shot straight to first place in the new Hero popularity poll announced last week! Many people have written letters thanking him, saying he gives them hope in this desperate time."
"Hades?" Fubuki's mouth twitched. "This newcomer certainly chose a bold name."
She asked again, "You mentioned he resolved many monster attacks? Have monster activities been that frequent lately?"
The receptionist's expression dimmed, her voice lowering. "It's not just monsters, Fubuki-sama. As you know, since the moon's disappearance and the doomsday news, many people have broken down."
"They think the world is ending, so they've abandoned all restraint, wanting to go wild in these final days."
"Public safety incidents have skyrocketed. There's looting, arson, rioting everywhere. Many cities are in chaos."
"But Hades-sama... he not only deals with the monsters that appear, but also calms frightened people and stops riots. Many say just seeing him brings a sense of relief."
Fubuki listened, her heart stirring slightly.
In these times of fear, when Heroes' reputations were shattered, and the world was in chaos, a new Hero who appeared suddenly, possessed great strength, and could soothe people's fears...
It seemed very much like a 'savior' script.
As they spoke, they arrived at the door of the [Hero Ability Testing and Evaluation Room] on the third floor.
"This is it, Fubuki-sama." The receptionist stopped, respectfully pushing open the heavy metal door. "Hades-sama is already waiting inside."
Fubuki nodded, adjusted her breathing, pushed aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, and resumed her usual dignified expression befitting the top-ranked B-Class Hero. She was about to step inside.
However, just as she was about to push the door open, muffled conversation drifted out from within.
"You're lucky. Being promoted to B-Class right when our [Fubuki Group] has its eye on you."