Under the combined pressure from Igarashi Masata and Todoroki Shouto, the monkey quickly revealed why it had been following them.
"Actually… I was originally human."
That single sentence stunned Masata and Todoroki. Even Endeavor, standing behind them, went momentarily still, the flames in his beard flickering.
"You're here to catch the doctor, aren't you?"
Judging from Masata and Todoroki's combat uniforms—and the unmistakable flames surrounding Endeavor—the monkey spoke with certainty.
"The doctor…"
"That must be him," Masata said.
He exchanged a glance with Todoroki, and both nodded.
"Then where is this 'doctor' now?" Todoroki asked.
"And how did you end up like this?"
At those words, fear flashed across the monkey's face. The reaction was immediate and visceral.
"I advise you to leave as soon as possible," the monkey said shakily.
"Don't lose yourselves the way I did."
"Is the doctor really that dangerous?" Masata asked, frowning.
"Why are you so afraid of him?"
From the information they had, the doctor's quirk wasn't particularly strong. On paper, he shouldn't be this terrifying.
"No," the monkey replied. "It's not the doctor himself. It's the powerful subordinates protecting him."
"They were the first ones to follow him. I heard they used to be his colleagues… but now, they're all like me."
"Early followers… colleagues…" Todoroki murmured.
"Then they're probably the guards who disappeared with him from the research institute."
"That makes sense."
"Then how did you encounter the doctor?" Todoroki asked.
"I was originally a villager nearby," the monkey said.
"About a year ago, I went into the mountains to gather firewood. Suddenly, everything went black. When I woke up, I was already in a laboratory… and I had become like this."
"Since then, I've been forced to work for the doctor."
"He also made me take a slow-acting poison. I have to take the antidote once a week, so I never dared to escape."
"This time, I was sent out on patrol. When I saw the three of you—outsiders—I followed you."
Having nothing left to hide, the monkey cooperated fully, revealing everything it knew.
"Don't worry," Masata said firmly.
"We're here to arrest him. We're strong enough. Just lead the way."
Now that he knew the doctor was hiding in this forest, Masata didn't want to waste any more time.
He kicked away the ice encasing the monkey's lower body and hauled him upright.
"Be honest," Masata warned coldly.
"We caught you once, we can catch you again. Next time, we won't be so polite."
After following the doctor for so long—forced or not—the monkey was no longer innocent.
Under the monkey's guidance, the group trekked through the forest for a long time. Eventually, after pushing aside dense bushes, they spotted signs of human activity.
"So… this tower is your base?" Masata asked.
The structure ahead stood no more than five meters tall. Surrounded by towering trees, it looked almost insignificant.
"Of course not," the monkey said quickly.
"That building is just for storing supplies. The real research facility is underground."
He stomped his foot against the ground.
"The entrance is inside that building. But there are guards stationed there. They're not as weak as I am. The doctor once said I was just a failure."
"Guards?" Masata said thoughtfully.
"With our abilities, there's no way to sneak in. A frontal assault is the only option."
One of them wielded magma, the other ice and fire. Stealth simply wasn't in the cards.
"So… we smash our way in?" Masata asked, glancing at Todoroki.
Todoroki nodded.
Endeavor remained silent behind them. As long as they weren't in danger and the mission didn't fail, he had no intention of intervening.
"For something this sturdy," Masata said, stepping out from the bushes,
"leave it to me."
He shook off his coat.
"Meteor Volcano!"
Both of his arms transformed into blazing magma. Countless molten projectiles shot into the sky, dyeing it blood-red. Though it was clearly midday, the light dimmed as if evening had arrived.
Ten seconds later, the magma bombs came screaming down from above.
They slammed into the building with overwhelming force.
Alarms blared from inside, mixed with frantic screams. Against such destructive power, the building's reinforced shell was meaningless—it collapsed instantly.
The interior was laid bare.
Inside, it resembled a factory. Half-human, half-beast creatures scattered in panic, while others were pinned beneath falling debris.
"That was excessive."
Todoroki stepped forward calmly, pressing his right foot against the ground.
A wave of frost spread outward, colliding with the flowing lava. Ice and fire met violently, expanding the air between them. Thick steam erupted, engulfing the area.
When the steam cleared, the factory building was gone—reduced to an open clearing. Rubble and injured guards were flung aside, groaning in pain.
"So this is the entrance to the laboratory," Masata said.
In the center of the clearing, a circular metal plate—like a massive manhole cover—was embedded in the ground.
Masata stepped on it.
"Don't go down there!"
From the wreckage, a half-human, half-tiger creature suddenly lunged out, charging at Masata from behind.
"Can't you just stay down?" Masata sighed.
"Trying to fight when you're already beaten?"
He turned his head casually.
The creature's face was less than a meter away. Saliva dripped from its sharp fangs.
"Get away from me. You're disgusting."
"Volcanic Eruption!"
Propelled by magma, Masata's massive fist slammed straight into the tiger-man's abdomen.
The charging creature came to an abrupt halt midair, eyes bulging—then was blasted backward at even greater speed.
"BOOM!"
The tiger-man crashed into the rubble and went completely still. His body twitched once before going limp, a deep fist-shaped crater burned into his stomach.
"Tch," Masata clicked his tongue.
"If all the guards are like this, this mission won't take long."
He casually shook his fist, blowing away imaginary smoke.
Nearby, the monkey stared in stunned silence.
In its eyes, the terrifying half-tiger guard—someone it had always feared—had been defeated in a single blow.
Grabbing the metal plate with both hands, Masata braced his legs and heaved upward.
With a heavy groan, the massive cover was lifted aside, revealing a dark shaft leading underground.
Masata peered into the abyss.
"Alright," he said calmly.
"Let's go."