On the coastal streets of New York, panicked civilians fled in every direction.
Behind them chased a five-meter-tall monstrosity with human limbs and the head of an octopus. Dozens of writhing tentacles, rows of suction cups, and clusters of twitching eyes made it impossible to look at without revulsion.
Wolf-Level Disaster — Deep Sea Octopus.
"If you don't want to be slaughtered, listen well!" it screeched.
"We are the envoys of the deep sea!"
"Humans! Surrender the land to the Deep Sea Race!"
"You will serve as our food—Aaaaargh!!"
A vibranium shield spun through the air like a circular blade.
With terrifying force, it sliced clean through the creature's head, splitting it in two. Amid heavy spurts of blood and a shrill death cry, the Deep Sea Octopus collapsed.
The shield curved back through the air and returned neatly to its owner's hand.
"Please tell me this is a joke," Captain America muttered. "I slept for seventy years and now the ocean has a civilization?"
"No," Hawkeye replied as he loosed another arrow, perfectly piercing the vital point of a Wolf-level Monster. He rolled aside smoothly. "These Monsters only started appearing in the last month."
For Wolf-level threats, Hawkeye's sniper-grade archery and flawless accuracy made him lethally efficient.
But that advantage vanished at Tiger-level and above. At that stage, Monsters no longer died from a single vital hit. Many times, arrows couldn't even pierce their hide.
"Prepare for combat," Black Widow said calmly, pistol in hand. "This is the Avengers' first battle."
Though she lacked Hawkeye's precision, her close-quarters combat skills gave her a different edge.
"Dr. Banner, we're counting on you."
"I'll… do my best."
Banner inhaled deeply.
His skin rapidly turned green. His body swelled in size. Clothes tore apart into rags, leaving only a remarkably resilient pair of black shorts intact.
The strongest Avenger—
Hulk.
"ROAR!"
Like a god descending to earth, Hulk charged into the Deep Sea horde.
He began tearing through them. One punch per Monster. Ripping them apart with bare hands as if it were routine.
"Move out!" Captain America shouted.
Falcon soared forward with his mechanical wings, while War Machine blasted ahead in Stark-built armor.
They were only the vanguard. No one expected a handful of people to eliminate hundreds of thousands of sea Monsters.
The military would arrive soon.
The Avengers had been sent first to build public reputation—before the Hero League could intervene.
"Heroes, huh…"
A man in a black tight shirt, white trousers, and a yellow belt stood nearby. His white hair flared upward like horns.
The calm in his eyes vanished, replaced with something feral.
Garou.
Watching the Avengers rush to the front lines, a smile slowly curled across his lips.
"Sorry, teammates," he muttered. "The hunt… begins."
He locked onto the nearest target—Hawkeye.
In an instant, Garou exploded forward with inhuman speed. Hawkeye sensed the danger, but Garou's heavy punch came too fast to evade.
After all, Garou's combat level was already Ghost-class.
"BOOM!"
Hawkeye crashed into shattered concrete ruins, coughing up blood.
Though he hadn't been able to dodge, his enhanced physique, rapid damage control, and Garou's casual strike kept him from losing consciousness. Only several bones were broken.
"Garou! What the hell are you doing?!" Hawkeye shouted.
"What am I doing?" Garou grinned. "Hunting heroes."
"Have you lost your mind?!"
"No," Garou said, clenching his fists. "I've never felt clearer."
Why must villains always lose?Why must heroes always win?
Garou despised the hypocrisy of heroes. He sympathized with villains. He wanted a world where good and evil stood equal.
And to build that world—
The heroes had to fall.
Especially Captain America—the newly crowned symbol of hope.
When he joined the Avengers, Garou had concealed his true nature. No one had seen through him.
Now, standing before Hawkeye, Garou radiated pure, tangible malice.
Not the chaotic evil of the Deep Sea Race.
But something colder. More deliberate.
"You carry an incredibly pure evil," Hawkeye said grimly, drawing another arrow. "I can't let you walk away."
"If you can stop me," Garou replied, smiling wider, "then try, hero."
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