Facing Garou's roar and seething killing intent, Setsuna remained calm.
"This is just your wishful thinking. You believe Heroes are evil, so their enemies must be justice."
"But if you think about it seriously, monsters cause far more damage to this world than any rogue Heroes."
"It's fine if you disdain becoming a Hero, but there's no need to obsess over becoming a monster."
"You only stare at the shadows beneath the Heroes' feet, turning a blind eye to the mountains of corpses and seas of blood created by monsters."
"Your path, from the very beginning, is built on escape."
"Shut up! What do you know!" Garou completely lost control.
He refused to admit that, deep down, he was being convinced.
He had to defeat this man before he was convinced.
"Die!"
He pushed the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist to an unprecedented limit.
His figure transformed into a streak of crimson light tearing through the night, charging at Setsuna with the determination to shatter everything.
"Look out!" Tanktop Master shouted.
He could tell that the power of Garou's move far exceeded the one that had defeated him.
However, Setsuna just slightly raised his right hand and gently flicked.
Garou was hit as if by an invisible cosmic storm, flying backward at terrifying speed like a blurry streak.
He ended up like a javelin, his upper body buried entirely in the ground.
Tanktop Master stared in shock, 'One finger had defeated that monster?'
He then realized that when Genos told him to keep his men in line, maybe it was truly for his own good.
Tanktop Vegetarian and the others were even more drenched in cold sweat. They were lucky Setsuna hadn't acted personally when they bothered him.
"He's alive, but temporarily neutralized." Setsuna's voice was calm. "Taking him back to the Association should help your Tank Topper Army regain some reputation."
Tanktop Master looked at Setsuna with gratitude. "Thank you..."
Setsuna said no more, turning to walk toward Mumen Rider, whose consciousness was fading.
"You're seriously injured. I'll take you to the hospital."
Mumen Rider nodded weakly. "Thank you."
…
The hospital room faintly smelled of disinfectant. Mumen Rider sat against the headboard, wrapped in bandages, but his eyes had regained their usual determination.
Setsuna stood by the window, looking at the city's night view.
"Mr. Hades," Mumen Rider's voice was still weak, but his tone was filled with gratitude, "Thank you so much for saving me and bringing me here... I'll find a way to cover the medical costs..."
"Don't worry about it." Setsuna didn't turn, his voice calm. "Speaking of which, I have a question for you."
"Please, go ahead."
Setsuna turned. "Do you want... to become a Hero with true 'power'?"
Mumen Rider fell silent.
Did he want to? How could he not?
So many times, due to his lack of power, he could only watch as victims fell into danger, helpless to do anything.
From those moments, he had desired power more than anyone, the power to protect others.
A bitter smile crossed Mumen Rider's face. "Of course I do. I dream of it. But I've tried. Physical training, martial arts practice..."
"I just don't seem to have any talent. My body is ordinary, my reactions are average. Maybe my willpower is a bit stronger than most, but that's about it."
"Maybe someone like me can only use this insignificant strength to help one more person, light up one more corner, within my limited capability."
Setsuna, as if performing magic, suddenly produced a strange fruit, fist-sized, with what looked like starlight slowly flowing inside it.
"This is called a [Fruit of Might]," Setsuna said, offering the fruit to Mumen Rider. "Eat it, and you'll gain great power."
Mumen Rider took the fruit without hesitation. It was partly due to his inexplicable trust in this mysterious, powerful Hades who had saved him, and partly due to the simple, unextinguished desire for power deep within his heart.
He opened his mouth and bit into it.
The fruit's flesh melted instantly, tasteless, but a warm current flowed through his limbs and body in an instant.
His body, originally only slightly stronger than an average person, now felt as if every muscle, every bone, even every cell had been refined, imbued with explosive power.
This feeling of being reborn left him speechless with shock.
He threw off the covers, jumped out of bed, and moved his limbs in disbelief.
Feeling the surging power within, he threw a punch at the air.
The force of the punch sent the door flying off its hinges.
Mumen Rider's eyes widened, 'This was my power now?'
'Combat power 120,' Setsuna assessed internally. That was certainly not weak.
Fubuki's true strength placed her among the top few in A-Class, but she only barely reached 100.
"Mr. Hades, thank you!" Mumen Rider was immensely grateful. "I can't thank you enough."
"Don't mention it. I just admire your sense of responsibility. Power in different hands leads down different paths. I hope you use it well."
Mumen Rider nodded firmly. "Yes, I will definitely use this power well!"
…
The next day, Hero Association's Headquarters.
Tanktop Master still had several bandages on, but his spirits had recovered somewhat. He had arrived at Sitch's office early in the morning.
"Director Sitch, about that Garou we caught yesterday, I don't think he's purely evil. Though extreme, he hasn't been indiscriminately killing."
"I think the Association should focus on reforming and guiding him, rather than simply imprisoning him as a serious criminal or..."
Listening to Tanktop Master, Sitch's face showed extreme awkwardness.
He rubbed his hands together, clearing his throat. "Um... about Garou..."
He took a deep breath, bracing himself. "In the latter half of the night, the Monster Association attacked our temporary holding facility. Garou was taken by them."
"What?" Tanktop Master shot up, pain from his injuries making him wince, but he pressed on. "Taken? What about the guards? The alarms?"
"They moved very quickly and seemed very familiar with our defenses." Sitch's expression was also grim.
"All the guards were incapacitated by some psychic attack, surveillance was jammed. By the time we discovered it, he was gone. Only the Monster Association's mark was left."
Tanktop Master slammed his fist on the table, frustrated and angry. "Those bastards!"
Sitch motioned for him to calm down, then picked up a special communicator on the table and opened a channel. "Don't worry, I'll express our strong condemnation right now."