Chapter 30 – Garou's Transformation
A little boy was playing alone inside his "secret base" when he suddenly looked up—the roof above him had just been pierced clean through by something that fell from the sky.
He turned his gaze toward the ground and froze.
A man-shaped crater had formed right in the middle of the concrete floor.
"Whoa! Mister, you fell from that high and you're still alive?!" the boy shouted, eyes wide with awe. "You must be a hero too, right?!"
He took a step closer, panic spreading across his face as he saw the blood pooling around the fallen man. "But… you're bleeding a lot! I'll go get someone! You need a hospital!"
Before he could run off, the bloodied figure—Garou—opened his eyes just enough for a faint, broken whisper to escape his lips.
"Don't… let anyone… know I'm here…"
Then, his consciousness faded away completely.
The boy stood there, frozen between fear and confusion, before running back home as fast as his legs could carry him.
When he returned, he had an armful of supplies—random rolls of bandages, antiseptic, and a messy mix of first-aid items.
— — —
Garou slept for an entire day and night.
When he finally opened his eyes, his body was covered in crooked layers of white bandages—clumsily wrapped around him by the boy.
He stared at them in silence for a few seconds… then sighed. He couldn't even be mad. Somehow, it was both ridiculous and oddly touching.
— — —
And that was how it began.
Garou, the man who had fallen into the "secret base" of a child, survived thanks to a small piece of bread and a bottle of water brought to him every day.
Time passed quietly.
And before he knew it, half a month had gone by.
By then, Garou's body had completely healed—but along with his recovery came… something else.
His once-dark hair had turned a fiery shade of orange-red, and his right eye glowed with the same color.
His muscles felt heavier, denser, brimming with an unfamiliar power.
Touching the bandages over his chest, he stayed still for a moment, deep in thought—then silently turned away, walking out of the place that had sheltered him for two long weeks.
— — —
Outer Space – Zenin Kyūjō's Starship
Inside the ship's laboratory, Dr. Genus was trembling with excitement as he examined a single strand of hair—bright orange, faintly pulsing with energy.
His voice quivered as he whispered, "The owner of this hair… is transforming."
"He keeps pushing the limits of his body. His growth rate is extraordinary!" The doctor's eyes gleamed like a madman's. "Sir… this man might become the second being in the world to break his own limiter!"
— — —
On Earth – A Café in City Y
Meanwhile, Zenin Kyūjō sat at a quiet corner table, sipping warm coffee while monitoring Garou's evolution through his Infinity Sensory System.
When Dr. Genus's message appeared on his phone, he smiled faintly.
"So Garou's close to breaking his limiter, huh? Should I really tell you that?" he murmured, amused.
He typed out a calm reply:
> "Dr. Genus, I'm aware of the situation. Remember your orders: record every single genetic and physical change of that hair's owner—every day, in detail. Do not interfere."
With that message sent, Kyūjō stood up, tossed a few bills on the counter, and vanished from the café.
He was heading toward City V.
He knew Garou's strength was climbing rapidly—and with his stubborn personality, there was no way the man would stay quiet after healing.
That very day, Garou achieved something remarkable: he defeated his first S-Class hero.
His victim—Puri Puri Prisoner, the flamboyant, muscle-bound hero known for fighting naked.
The battle was… visually traumatic.
Even Kyūjō, watching through his sensory field, had to look away.
But it ended quickly.
Garou, now vastly stronger, struck once using Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist—a clean, precise blow that shattered Puri Puri Prisoner's chest and left him unable to move.
— — —
After leaving City Y, Garou wandered aimlessly toward City V.
What he didn't know was that, at that very moment, three S-Class heroes were already gathered there—not to hunt him, but by coincidence, on assignment from the Hero Association to exterminate the remaining members of the Monster Association.
Those three were:
Superalloy Darkshine – Rank 11
Tank-Top Master – Rank 15
Metal Bat – Rank 16
Their target: Gouketsu, a former martial arts master who had sold his humanity for power and transformed into a terrifying Dragon-level monster.
— — —
Outskirts of City V – The Mountain Range
The enormous Gouketsu, with his monstrous physique, rows of sharp teeth, and clusters of eyes sprouting across his forehead, thundered through the forest in retreat.
Behind him, three figures gave chase—muscles rippling, determination burning.
Superalloy Darkshine ran shoulder to shoulder with Tank-Top Master and Metal Bat, shouting over the howling wind:
"Man, this guy sure can run fast!"
Tank-Top Master grunted but said nothing. Long-distance running wasn't his strong suit—he didn't dare waste breath on words.
Meanwhile, Metal Bat, fueled by rage and adrenaline, twirled his steel bat and snarled.
"Stop running, you cowardly freak!" he roared, surging ahead with explosive speed.
Despite ranking lowest among the three, Metal Bat was the first to close the gap.
At one hundred and twenty-five yards, he raised his bat, shouting, "How long do you plan to keep running, you—"
He never finished the sentence.
A sharp gust split the air.
Something flashed—so fast it blurred reality itself.
And in that instant, Gouketsu was cut clean in half.
— — —
Standing in front of the bisected monster was a blood-soaked figure, his body radiating murderous intent.
Garou.
Each half of Gouketsu's corpse hung from his hands like trophies. He stood tall, crimson eyes glowing, dripping with raw, violent energy.
Metal Bat skidded to a halt, frozen for a second as he stared at the horrifying scene.
Then, instinct overtook reason.
With a furious roar, he charged—swinging his bat straight for Garou's skull.
But Garou didn't flinch.
His head tilted slightly, a cruel grin spreading across his face. His orange-red hair glowed under the moonlight, and the air around him grew thick with killing intent.
That smile—sharp, knowing, dangerous—
was no longer the smile of a man.
It was the smile of a monster.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
📖 Full Novel Available! 📖
All chapters are now complete and available in full on Patreon!
If you want to read the story faster and without waiting, join here 👇
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
Thank you so much for all your support! ❤️
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —