Enforcers 148 The Next Step

Kitsune turned to the two kids as they entered their room. "Oh! Hey Ken, Hero-" He stopped as they walked past him and silently set on the bed. "Guys?"

"We lost..." Hero said slowly.

"What?"

"We lost," Ken said again. 

Kitsune shared a look with Cloud and Irene.

Irene set down at a chair next to Ken's bed. "What happened."

"Enforcer Reserve Member Of Squad Seven, Ren..." Hero said slowly. He seemed to stop for a moment shaking his head. "She was KIA killed in action... After an accident and a series of events, she has unfortunately fallen in combat at the hands of an enemy."

"Oh..." Kitsune said slowly. He placed a hand on Hero's shoulder. "Of you need to talk..."

"I'm fine." Hero said slowly standing back up. "I feel bad for Squad Seven though. They lost an important member on their Squad."

"Damn..." Cloud slowly collapsed in his chair letting out a heavy sigh. "How is everyone else handling it?" He asked.

"We don't know," Ken said slowly. "Sif, Nick, and Dawson, were all called into Master Storms office to talk about it."

"Yeah... The same is with Katrina and Jackson." Kitsune said with a sigh. "Hannah is actually outside our room making sure we don't run off. I think we're in big trouble."

"We should be." Hero said. "We completely lost." He growled out hitting the wall. He stared down at his hands as he clenched his teeth. "I managed to use a powerful Monster-Point. Boosted my power beyond anything I was ever able to do. And I still lost! Hell, I wasn't even there when she... When she... I hate that stupid white aura stuff they do!"

"Oh. You guys fought that too." Cloud asked.

"Yeah," Ken mumbled. "Weren't able to do crap against him... I feel so useless!"

"How about you guys?" Hero asked.

"Us too," Kitsune said nodding. "I completely lost. Me and Cloud. We had to be saved by a little girl."

"A little girl?"

"Yeah. Some little girl." Kitsune said with a sigh. "She did a real number on the city. Thankfully Okane Genkin, the Noble who owns Dandelion will be paying for all the damage."

"Genkin." Hero said slowly. "That's the father of Heather... He was in our city..."

"Really? Woe what are the chances."

"Hmm..."

Kitsune let out a small sigh as he folded his arms. "That power though. The one they bust out. It's absolutely insane. We need to train Hero. Train so that we can beat that bull crap! I'm tired of the person we're fighting beating is by pulling that out! It is so unfair!"

"Yeah..." Hero said slowly. He thought of Okane for a second. Then he thought of that Organization member, the one with the flames. 'Now that I think about it. Those smells. Their stench. I know it. I think? Hmm...' Hero glanced down at his hands for a moment. 'Next time I fight those guys I'll need more power. Ava... Will you help me?' A white liquid dripped out of his hand for a second before vanishing. Hero smiled as he turned back to Kitsune. "You're right... We'll train! We'll just have to become versions of ourselves that can defeat them!"

Kitsune held his fist out. Hero gave a cheeky grin as he reached up and fist-bumped his friend.

Meanwhile...

"I can't believe you three!" Ward practically yelled slamming his hand onto the wooden table in front of him. His emerald green eyes glared at Dawson, Sif, and Nick. They all looked down a look of pure sorrow, and shame on their face. 

"Hey, Ward..." Katrina said softly. She placed two hands on Dawson's and Sif's shoulder. "Be easy on them."

"I'll get to you and your boyfriend later!" He hissed out glaring at Jackson and Katrina now. They recoiled as the man turned to look back at the other three. Master Storm set behind Ward. The old man was completely silent. He stared at the five Enforcers with a look of disappointment on his face. "You guys..." Ward said through gritted teeth. He took a deep breath. "Five hundred million, two thousand, and forty-six." He finally said. "That was the population of the city known as Chrysanthemum. Across the world, in all Nations, there are nearly two Trillion. Of that population a majority are Humans. In fact, around 90% are normal humans. Nearly four hundred million. That is the amount of bodies that have been recovered from Chrysanthemum. The entire city is gone. The Noble who lived there is on trial. And we lost a high ranking Enforcer, as well as not stopping the Organization from destroying the city. It is one thing for an Enforcer to die. It is another when her death meant nothing!" Ward yelled punching the desk again, his fist instantly broke through it. "What's worse is most of the damage was caused by those two Recruits of yours!"

"It is my fault," Dawson said cutting him off. "I take full blame for all actions. I made the mistakes. I didn't fix the problems sooner. I take full responsibility for my action."

"No," Sif said slowly. "I was the Captain. I was in charge. All blame is mine to bear."

"Rest assured." Master Storm said. His tone caused the room to go dead silent once again. "There will be consequences for these actions. Not only have you all failed, you allowed an entire city to fall..."

"He's right." Ward hissed out. He turned to Katrina and Jackson. "As for you two... You also let a city block get completely obliterated. Thankfully all the damage is being repaired but still. You both failed at your mention. We have a prison with a massive hole in it, filled with a bunch of dead guards." He shook his head. "Right now we have a ton of reporters who are burning with passion. They all want to know what is going on. We're doing everything we can to fix this but it'll get out. This amount of death. It's something that won't be hidden forever."

"All of you." Master Storm said speaking once again. "I want you all to return to your buildings, and rooms..." He said slowly. "You'll all be on a bit of a break for a few months. It is better if all of you aren't associated with the Enforcers for now. You can stay here but, we won't be giving you guys missions... I'd use this time to help your Recruits. Sera, Hero, and Ken especially. They were in the heart of it all and are still recovering."

"As you wish..." All five of them said giving a bow.

"Oh... And I don't want you to fail me again..." His voice held an edge to it now... "I won't repeat myself."

"...Yes..."

Meanwhile...

Hero walked down the path as he let out a loud sigh. He folded his arms as he stared up to the black sky.

"What's wrong kid?" The man who guards the Golden gates of the Enforcers home base asked.

"What? Didn't hear about it this time?" Hero asked. "I thought the gossip would have spread by now."

"Nah. Not today. They're being very hushush hush about what happened this time." Tue man let out a chuckle as he folded his arms. "Actually. I'm kind of bored kid. How about a quick match?"

"Nah." Hero held his arms up showing the many bandages that was on them. He unzipped his jacket showing off his chest was also covered in the white bandages. "I'm still healing."

"I thought you could heal quickly."

"Normally I can." Hero said staring down at his hands. "Living Nano and Monsterfication team up to heal my body. Monsterfication can make new parts, and Living Nano has a bunch of tiny microscopic creature inside of me that help keep me together. However in my last fight, I completely burned through my reserves. I used all my power up and tired out my Monsterfication ability as well as killed all the microscopic creatures inside of me. Monster-Point really overdid it haha... Luckily I can make new creatures by resting, and my Monster energy will eventually come back but for now, I'm too exhausted to do much of anything. I'll just rest up for a few days and be back in top shape!"

"I see." The man gave a small smirk as he nodded. "Well take care Hero. I look forward to seeing what you can do."

"I will." Hero waved as he began to walk away.

The teen stared ahead as he walked forward. His eyes slowly focused on a man as he walked past. Eins. That Enforcer jerk? Hero stopped suddenly as his nose twitched. 

"Doctor Hyde..."

Eins stopped. He slowly turned to stare at the boy. "Ahh. That Seraphin nose I always hear about? Well. I'm not surprised you can smell the man on me. After all, he did make you. And I and he have been working-"

Hero reached out grabbing the man as his eyes flashed. "How!" He questioned. "You've been near that man! Tell me where he is-"

There was a snapping sound as Eins reached up and broke Hero's arm. The teen fell back letting out a loud gasp of pain.

"Never. Ever. Touch. Me." Eins stared down at the boy with a look of disgust. 

"Where is he," Hero asked through gritted teeth. "Where is he!"

"You're looking for the girl right? Ava? Well. If you must know Doctor Hyde is gone. I won't be seeing him for a few months."

"Bastard!" Herl jumped up but was backhanded back down.

Eins faced away as he began to walk off. "Hey, brat. Listen. You have no idea what you're trying to get into."

"I'm going to find her..."

"Maybe so. But it won't be through me."

"Why are you working with him!" Hero asked.

"We're working on a project. And before you ask. Master Storm already knows about it so go ahead and go tell someone. It doesn't matter."

"Where is Ava!"

The man began to walk away as he gave a small wave. "I don't know kid. But why don't you give up? Some things are better off not being found. And believe me. That girl. After the things, she went through. I'd hate to be the poor bastard that gets close to her. That girl will bring you nothing but pain."

"I don't care." Hero announced. "No matter what it takes. No matter how strong I have to get. I'll find her!"

Eins gave a small smirk. "Hero Otoko? What a fool you are."

Chapter end