Having successfully handled the matters with Tatsumaki and Blast, Aomori descended to the street. After a moment of thought, he got on his Motorcycle and headed for his next destination.
Z-City Central Hospital.
Aomori smoothly navigated to the inpatient ward, intending to visit Garou.
He opened the door to the hospital room, only to see an empty bed.
He walked up and touched the bedding, which was cold as water. It felt as if no one had slept there for a long time.
"Garou left."
A voice came from the doorway. Aomori turned around and saw an unexpected person.
"Suiryu? What are you doing here?"
"After that guy beat me, I felt terrible. I couldn't settle down at home for a whole month, so I decided to come and look for him. Turns out he left the hospital two days ago."
Suiryu still carried his usual carefree, unrestrained air, but there was a hint of maturity in his eyes.
"Is that so?" Aomori had no strong feelings about Garou's departure. He turned the question back to Suiryu: "If you were to meet Garou, what would you do?"
"Hmm, I don't know." Suiryu shrugged. "I just felt like coming, didn't think too much about it. Maybe I'd challenge him to another fight, even though I'd probably still lose."
"Do you want to become stronger than Garou?"
"Lying and saying no would be a lie. Being defeated makes you realize that the taste of failure is really unpleasant. Although it's a new feeling, I... I don't want to try that taste again." As he spoke, Suiryu couldn't help but clench his fists.
"I think your potential is greater than this. If you can fully unlock it, you might be able to keep up with Garou. If you want to unlock your potential and become stronger, I suggest you give the Hero Association a try."
"The Hero Association? Become a hero? No thanks, I don't want to get involved in your hero games."
"Suit yourself. This is my business card. You can contact me if you change your mind." With that, Aomori handed him a card and left the hospital.
In the hospital room, Suiryu held the business card in his hand, remaining silent for a long time.
…
Outside the hospital, Aomori took out his phone and called Bang.
"Hello, Bang-sensei, it's me."
"I just went to visit Garou and found that he had left."
"I see. It's good for a young man to go out and see the world. I hope he figures things out for himself."
He hung up, got back on his Motorcycle, and vanished into the traffic in an instant.
…
Two days later, in a newly constructed field camp on the outskirts of A-City.
This field camp, which began construction a month ago and was now quite sizable, was named the "Hero's Starting Ground" by Aomori.
The Hero Association's current roster of nearly 1,000 Professional Heroes and 600 Part-Time Heroes would begin their hero journeys here.
This was the Hero Association's first collective debut. They invited not only numerous media and news professionals but also many political and business titans, as well as 3,000 lucky audience members who won tickets in a lottery to attend the ceremony.
At the front of the camp was an amphitheater-like outdoor stadium capable of seating 5,000 spectators.
Currently, the stadium was almost full. Many spectators were waving posters or banners supporting Aomori. To the uninformed, it would look like Aomori was holding a concert.
Mr. Oomoto, the Head of the Hero Association's Public Relations Department, served as the host for the debut ceremony.
Standing on the viewing platform, he spoke with an impassioned voice: "Distinguished guests, dear friends, welcome to the Hero's Starting Ground! Today marks the debut of our first batch of heroes! Now, let us welcome with thunderous applause these heroes who will brave fire and water to protect us and confront the Monsters!"
Uplifting music played. Dressed in their unique specialized gear, the heroes marched out in neat rows from the underground passage.
"Heroes! Heroes! Heroes!"
"I love you all!"
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"We're counting on you!"
The audience's powerful cheers gave these heroes immense encouragement and a sense of accomplishment. Smiles beamed on everyone's faces.
Mumen Rider, mixed in with the crowd, waved his hands desperately, tears already streaming down his eyes.
"This is the meaning of my existence! For these lovely people, I must protect them, even if I have to spill my last drop of blood!"
Beside him, Tanktop Black Hole was also emotionally stirred: "Damn it! With all this support, even if I face a strong enemy, I have no choice but to go all out!"
Lightning Max, Spring Mustachio, Golden Ball, and every other hero felt that the reward they received in that moment was worth infinitely more than the money in their pockets.
Being recognized and admired was the driving force that would propel them further down the hero's path.
Amidst the audience's cheers, they completed one lap around the field and then arranged themselves into four formations, occupying one corner each.
When the cheering gradually subsided, Mr. Oomoto picked up the microphone and said, "Was everyone satisfied with the heroes who just made their appearance?"
"Satisfied!"
"However, not all the heroes of the Hero Association have appeared yet. There is a small group who are either renowned in the hero world or possess exceptional strength, earning the unanimous recognition of the Hero Association's management. They are the cornerstones of the Hero Association and have been designated as the strongest S-Class Heroes! Now, let us once again welcome them with thunderous applause as they make their entrance!"
"S-Class Heroes?" This unheard-of title caused confusion among many of the heroes present, while building anticipation among the audience.
"Now, making the first appearance is the representative of the physical strength school, who trained for nearly a decade to forge an impenetrable body of copper and iron—Superalloy Darkshine!"
" Darkshine! Darkshine! Darkshine!"
"Ah, everyone is looking at my muscles." The over two-meter tall Darkshine walked out of the passage, showing off his muscles as he strode to the center of the field.
Tanktop Black Hole couldn't help but swallow, saying, "His muscles look a lot stronger than Tanktop Boss's."
"Making the second appearance is the lone ninja, little known but supremely powerful, who bravely seized first place in the ability test—Flashy Flash!"
After Mr. Oomoto's introduction, no one emerged from the special passage. Just as he looked confused, a gasp of astonishment erupted from the hero formations.
He looked out onto the field and was astonished to find that Flashy Flash was already standing beside Darkshine.
"What astonishing speed! To appear so suddenly, escaping the notice of so many people, truly worthy of the first place in the ability test!"
"Hmph!" Flashy Flash tossed his fringe, radiating elegance, and earning screams from many young women.
"Making the third appearance is the renowned grandmaster of swordsmanship, known as the 'Swordmaster'—Atomic Samurai!"
Chewing on a senbon that he may or may not have changed, Atomic Samurai slowly walked out of the passage, his face aloof, and took his place between Darkshine and Flashy Flash.
"It's Sensei!" The three disciples in the hero ranks—Iaian, Bushidrill, and Okamaitachi—cheered loudly for their master.
"Making the fourth appearance is the equally famous, venerable master of the martial arts world—'Silver Fang,' Bang!"
Bang walked with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling warmly like a kind old grandpa next door, nodding in acknowledgment to the audience.
"Hmph, Bang, come stand by me. Only you are worthy to stand beside me here," Atomic Samurai said to Bang.
"Huh? Old man, I respect your age, but you shouldn't talk nonsense," the arrogant Flashy Flash felt he couldn't let that go unchallenged.
Unfortunately, Atomic Samurai only had eyes for Bang, completely ignoring Flashy Flash.
Under Darkshine's strenuous persuasion, Flashy Flash finally avoided starting a full-blown fight.
"Position isn't important," Bang did not accept Atomic Samurai's provocation, laughing it off good-naturedly, and took a separate spot to stand.
————
You can read the ahead chapter on Patr-eon if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]