Hero Association's Headquarters, Highest Level Meeting Room.
The S-Class Heroes not seriously injured and incapacitated in A-City were gathered, each with an unusually grim expression.
Metal Bat tapped the table irritably. "Where's Blast? Where is that Rank 1 Blast? How much longer is he going to hide?"
"Yeah!" Pig God's face was full of anxiety. "Now, Blast is probably the only one who can handle that No.17, right? Even Tatsumaki-san and the others working together..."
Sitch could only smile bitterly. The Hero Association had only been established for about three years, and in that time, Blast had almost never appeared nor had any official achievements.
If it weren't for Tatsumaki insisting that Blast deserved the top rank, they would have removed him long ago.
Sitch tried to calm them. "Everyone, please be patient. We have a year. We'll do our best to contact Blast during this time."
"If we truly can't reach Blast, don't we still have our ultimate trump card, King?"
At Sitch's mention, King's heart began to pound violently.
'What a joke? Asking me to fight someone who could casually destroy the moon would be worse than killing me!'
However, hearing his heartbeat, which sounded like an engine roaring, everyone else looked relieved.
Metal Bat praised, "As expected of King. Can't wait to fight that No.17, can you?"
Puri-Puri Prisoner nodded repeatedly, tears of emotion glistening in his eyes. "King is using the King Engine to reassure us, to motivate us."
"He's telling us not to despair... he's still here! That roar is a war drum, a bugle! It's the prelude to our counterattack!"
Inside, King screamed: 'I'm not! Please don't say that!'
But the more nervous he became, the louder the engine roared.
"Look! King's fighting spirit is even higher!"
"The sound of the King Engine is full of power!"
Just then, the meeting room's heavy alloy door was silently pushed open.
A young man in a low-level association guard uniform, with a blank expression, walked in stiffly.
Sitch frowned. "Who let you in? Without a report..."
But his words died in his throat as he noticed two wriggling antennae growing from the guard's forehead.
"What is this?" Sitch's pupils contracted sharply.
"He's been parasitized!" Metal Bat shot up, grabbing the metal bat leaning against his chair, his eyes fierce. "A monster's doing! Let me eliminate the parasite!"
"Wait." The 'guard' suddenly spoke. "Don't be impulsive, Metal Bat. I am not your enemy."
"On the contrary," The entity controlling the guard's body scanned the assembled S-Class Heroes with its hollow eyes. "I came seeking cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Zombieman sneered coldly. "A monster controlling a human body comes to Heroes talking about 'cooperation'? Do you expect us to believe that?"
"I know it's hard to earn your trust, but allow me to introduce myself. I am the Monster Association's Staff Officer, Gyoro Gyoro."
Controlling the guard's body, Gyoro Gyoro slowly walked to the conference table:
"Though humans and monsters have long fought and killed each other, regardless, we are all lifeforms on Earth."
"Facing a disaster that threatens the very existence of Earth, I believe we should, at least temporarily, set aside our disputes and unite against the external threat."
Sitch stared intently. "The disaster you speak of is that No.17?"
"Indeed." Gyoro Gyoro's tone grew heavy. "Today, the Monster Association sent several powerful Dragon-level monsters to challenge him at the A-City arena."
"The result was... an unquestionable, devastating defeat."
"You Heroes will likely receive the relevant reports soon enough."
The S-Class Heroes weren't surprised. While Dragon-level monsters were indeed strong, that No.17 had effortlessly defeated even Tatsumaki.
"How do you propose we cooperate?" Silver Fang, who had been silent, spoke slowly.
"The enemy's strength exceeds what conventional tactics can handle," Gyoro Gyoro stated. "Whether Hero or monster, fighting alone or even with the combined forces we can currently muster, there's no chance of victory. We must pool all possible strength."
Her gaze swept over everyone present:
"When that space pirate crew attacked Earth last time, their leader was defeated by a mysterious Hero. His corpse was reportedly recovered by S-Class Rank 6, Metal Knight."
"We want that corpse. To revive it using certain means, thereby gaining a powerful force to oppose No.17."
"Heh." Zombieman let out a low, cold laugh. "Hand over that corpse to you? So you can revive a monster that might destroy Earth?"
"And then? After dealing with No.17, let that space pirate leader turn on us?"
"You humans do love your infighting." Gyoro Gyoro sighed. "The greatest enemy hasn't even been dealt with yet, and you're already planning for after the battle."
"I can promise, on behalf of the Monster Association, that at least until No.17 is defeated, we will not actively attack humans. We could even temporarily accept 'supervision' from the Hero Association."
"But if you refuse to cooperate, then in one year, both humans and monsters will... together become cosmic dust at the hands of that Destroyer."
"Choose between possible risk or certain annihilation. The decision is yours."
A long silence filled the meeting room.
Finally, Silver Fang slowly stood. "We will contact Metal Knight as soon as possible. Whether he is willing to cooperate with you is beyond our control."
The guard's body controlled by Gyoro Gyoro bowed slightly. "Then I await your favorable reply."
With that, the two purple antennae quickly retracted.
The guard's body went limp, collapsing to the floor, regaining consciousness and looking around blankly.
The meeting ended in this strange, heavy atmosphere.
As the meeting room's heavy alloy door closed behind him, Tanktop Master took a breath of the fresh corridor air and shook his head.
He didn't actually agree with cooperating with the Monster Association, but he had to admit that monster made a compelling point.
Just then, his phone vibrated urgently in his pocket.
Pulling it out, he saw a distress message from one of his underlings, filled with panic:
"Boss, help! Vegetarian and the others are in huge trouble in the first-floor atrium. They offended that B-Class Rank 1, Hades, and got beaten badly! Come save them!"
'Hades?' Tanktop Master's brow furrowed.
He was quite familiar with this newcomer who had rocketed up the ranks recently, causing quite a stir.
After all, Genos had specifically sought him out about Hades, asking him to keep his men in check. It was completely ridiculous.
Every one of his underlings was a Hero with a strong sense of justice. How could they possibly be harassing anyone?
"That Hades must be bullying my men, relying on Genos for support!" Tanktop Master gritted his teeth and strode towards the elevator.
He wanted to see just how bold this so-called Hades really was.