The Phantom Slayer's Repute

Azar lay sprawled on his back, chest heaving as his vision blurred. His body ached from the clash with the Deep Sea King, and his wounds throbbed, but the thrill of the fight still coursed through him. A part of him reveled in the victory, in the battle that had forced him to dig deeper than he ever had before. But now, his strength faded, and he felt consciousness slipping away.

Just as his vision darkened, two figures appeared at the edge of the battlefield, surveying the devastation. Saitama and Genos, drawn by reports of the monstrous Sea King's rampage, took in the scene before them. Rubble and crumbled walls surrounded them, remnants of the fierce struggle, and the broken, unconscious body of the Deep Sea King lay not far from Azar.

"Looks like someone got here first," Saitama remarked, scratching his head as he noticed the crowd of evacuees gathered just beyond the blast zone. Murmurs and whispers filled the air as they pointed at Azar, excitement mixed with awe on their faces.

"It's him…" Genos muttered, recalling their brief encounter in the city not long ago. The Phantom Slayer—Azar. Genos had tried to recruit him into the Hero Association, but Azar had dismissed him without a second thought, uninterested in being tied down by hero ranks. He was enigmatic and powerful, and Genos had sensed something dangerous about him even then.

"He was the one who fought Silver Fang a while back, wasn't he?" Genos whispered. The sparring match had been caught on a Hero Association surveillance drone, quickly circulating within their ranks. The reports spoke of an intense exchange where Bang had the upper hand, but Azar hadn't backed down, and his potential was clear to those who saw it.

Genos leaned down to check Azar's condition, his sensors scanning for vital signs. "He's alive, but severely injured. He must've pushed himself to the limit to take down the Deep Sea King," he observed.

The Hero Association had been following the entire scene through the surveillance drone. As Genos contacted them, the response was immediate. "Bring him in," came the directive from the Association's command center. "The Phantom Slayer has been on our radar since his match with Silver Fang. His combat potential is something we need to keep an eye on, especially after this display. Get him to a hospital—this incident has raised his priority level."

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as a few children pushed forward, eager to share what they had witnessed. "He saved us!" one of the kids shouted, his eyes wide with excitement. "He fought the monster alone—didn't even look scared!"

"He was awesome!" another added, eyes glinting with admiration. "I thought he was an S-Class hero or something!"

One of the adults in the crowd recounted the scene to Genos. "It was like nothing I've ever seen. He fought so fiercely… the Deep Sea King looked unstoppable, but he didn't back down. I don't know who he is, but he's something else."

Genos observed the fallen fighter, processing the testimonies. The crowd's admiration had transformed Azar's image in their minds; to them, he was a hero, someone who fought and protected them even at great personal cost. He remembered how dismissive Azar had been during their first encounter, but he could see now why the Association considered him a valuable—if volatile—individual.

Genos addressed the Association over the communication channel again. "I'll ensure he receives medical attention immediately."

After confirming, he turned to Saitama. "Sensei, we should hurry. The Association will want to monitor him closely now."

Saitama watched Azar's face for a moment, his own expression unreadable. "Guess some people have their own way of doing things," he remarked before shrugging. "But yeah, let's get him some help."

Genos carefully lifted Azar, and the two heroes made their way through the crowd, which parted in quiet respect for the Phantom Slayer who had fought so valiantly. Whispers rippled through the group, excitement and awe still fresh in the air as they trailed behind.

At the Hero Association, the news spread quickly. Analysts reviewed the footage from the drone, noting Azar's resilience and adaptability against the Deep Sea King. In his last moves, they could see hints of the techniques he had absorbed from previous battles and encounters.

One of the senior analysts spoke to her team, her tone both curious and cautious. "This man… the Phantom Slayer… he isn't an official hero, but his strength is something we can't ignore. Monitor him closely. If he's capable of this much without any formal support, he could be one of the most formidable assets—or threats—this Association has ever seen."

As Genos and Saitama brought Azar to the hospital, they couldn't help but notice the crowd's lingering admiration for the man who had, without warning or explanation, stepped in and protected them.