Chapter 81: First Entry into Z-City Ghost Town, Ambushed by the Invincible Baldy!
Marcus stepped out of the space portal, landing in the living room of that familiar villa in Queens.
Kumoko hopped out from behind him, her thick, sturdy legs tapping out dull thuds on the wooden floor.
Milong floated up from atop Kumoko's head, curiously observing this unfamiliar environment.
Marcus took out his phone and sent a message to Gwen.
About thirty minutes later, Gwen's figure swung in from the rooftop, landing steadily outside the living room window.
She immediately pushed the window open and stepped inside.
Pulling off her mask, she hadn't even had a chance to say hello before her gaze was firmly locked onto the half-human-sized giant spider in the living room.
"What is that?" She instinctively took a half-step back, her wrist-mounted web-shooters already aimed at Kumoko.
"It's Little Spider," Marcus introduced in a flat tone. "It has evolved."
Kumoko raised a front leg and waved at Gwen, letting out a crisp voice: "Hi, Gwen, long time no see! I have a name now, my name is Kumoko."
Gwen paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.
She relaxed her combat stance, walked over to Kumoko, and crouched down, reaching out to stroke the soft fur on its back.
"You've grown so much. But you feel even better than before."
Kumoko squinted its eyes in comfort, while Milong poked its head out from behind her, letting out two timid squeaks at Gwen.
"Hello." Gwen waved gently at the little Dragon, then turned her head to look at Marcus.
"I picked him up in another world; his name is Milong," Marcus explained.
Gwen stood up, brushed the fur off her hands, and walked over to Marcus.
"How long are you staying this time?"
"I don't know either." Marcus shook his head, his gaze falling on Kumoko.
"I came back this time to have Octopus Spider-Man give Kumoko a check-up."
Gwen didn't ask any more questions.
She raised her right wrist, pressed her thumb onto the bracelet screen, and whispered, "Otto."
A faint blue light flashed across the surface of the bracelet; the signal had been sent.
——————————
A few days later
"The check-up results are in." Octopus Spider-Manstraightened up and turned the holographic screen toward Marcus.
"There is a special substance inside Kumoko's body that is continuously causing her body to evolve."
He zoomed in on a set of molecular structure diagrams on the screen.
"This substance changes in response to the host's psychological desires.
According to my analysis, Kumoko wants to become stronger deep down, so this substance has responded to her will, causing her body to grow larger and stronger."
He closed the screen and added in a calm tone, "But you don't need to worry; this substance is not harmful to any living organism."
Marcus looked down at Kumoko and asked, "You actually want to become stronger?"
"Of course!" Kumoko raised her head, several eyes lighting up simultaneously.
"If I become stronger, I can help Master in battle!"
Milong also floated in front of Marcus, nodding vigorously while letting out a series of high-pitched squeaks.
Marcus reached out to stroke Kumoko's head, then gently rubbed Milong's chin with his finger.
"So, do you still want to go back?"
"Of course I want to go back!" Kumoko answered without hesitation.
Marcus nodded. "Alright."
After staying for two more days and saying goodbye to Gwen, Marcus took Kumoko and Milong through the space portal and returned to the One Punch World.
On the tenth day after returning to the One Punch World, in the afternoon.
Marcus was packing up daily necessities and food supplies in the living room.
Kumoko was crouching in the center of the living room; her body had grown to the height of an adult, with Milonglying on top of her head.
At this moment, Kumoko tilted her head and asked, "Master, where are we moving to?"
"We are going to the Z-City Ghost Town," Marcus said, storing the last item into his space bracelet.
"Once we get there, it won't matter how big you grow."
"Yay! Master, let's go!" Kumoko's eyes lit up simultaneously, and her eight legs tapped the floor in excitement.
Marcus looked at Kumoko stamping her feet in joy, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Milong was on top of Kumoko's head, gripping the fur on her head tightly with its four short claws.
Marcus walked to Kumoko's side, bent down to grab the underside of her abdomen, and lifted her, along with Milong on her back, above his head.
With a light tap of his feet, he soared into the air from the backyard and flew toward Z-City.
Not long after, a police cordon stretching across the desolate streets appeared below.
Marcus crossed the cordon and landed slowly on an empty, abandoned plaza deep within the Ghost Town.
All around were collapsed buildings and rusted vehicles, with weeds growing wildly from the cracks; the entire area was so quiet that only the sound of the wind remained.
Marcus gently placed Kumoko on the ground.
Kumoko looked down at the cracked concrete floor beneath her feet, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Master, this place is huge! Can I run around as I please?"
"Run as you please." Marcus nodded.
Kumoko let out a cheer, her eight legs moving alternately as she dashed around the empty plaza, the concrete ground trembling slightly beneath her feet.
After running for a while, Kumoko turned around and ran toward Marcus.
Her massive body created a series of dull echoes across the abandoned plaza.
Just then, the sound of rapid footsteps reached Marcus's ears.
He whipped his head around, and a bald figure in a yellow hero suit was charging straight toward Kumoko at an astonishing speed, fist already raised high.
Marcus's expression changed, and his figure vanished instantly from where he stood, appearing out of thin air beside Kumoko.
He crossed his arms in front of his chest, and purple energy surged into his arms like a tidal wave.
Almost at the same instant, that fist slammed into his arms.
Boom—
A deafening blast exploded over the empty ruins.
Marcus was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing through the wall of an abandoned building and then smashing through two more buildings behind it.
Rubble and dust shot into the sky, kicking up a gray haze of smoke amidst the ruins.
Kumoko stood frozen in place, watching Marcus vanish into the collapsed ruins.
Her eyes widened simultaneously, and she let out a heart-wrenching scream: "Master—!"
She spun around violently, her eight legs moving frantically as she charged toward the bald man.
She raised her front legs high and brought them down with all her might onto that bald head, blow after blow, her legs striking Saitama with dull thuds.
"Kill him! Kill him!"
Milong also flew down from Kumoko's head, its four short claws scratching desperately at Saitama's arm, its tail whipping back and forth with a slapping sound as it emitted rapid, urgent squeaks.
The attacks from the two pets rained down on Saitama.
"Eh?" Saitama was stunned.
He heard that cry of "Master," and looked at the giant spider in front of him attacking him like a madwoman; a look of confusion appeared on his blank face.
He stood there motionless, letting the attacks from Kumoko and Milong land on him.
Cold sweat seeped out from Saitama's bald head, streaming down his cheeks.
He raised his hand and scratched his cheek with his finger, his voice filled with obvious guilt: "Ah... this... looks like I made a mistake..."
Chapter 82: Saitama Makes Amends with a Giant Beast, Late-Night Feast of Advanced Barbecue!
Just then, Marcus's voice came from the ruins: "Stop."
He walked out from the smoke and dust that had yet to settle, his arms hanging limply at his sides.
"Master!" Kumoko turned sharply and sprinted toward him.
It circled around Marcus incessantly, firing off questions like a machine gun: "Master, are you okay? Does it hurt? Did your arms break?"
Saitama watched Marcus walk out from the smoke, letting out a sigh of relief at first.
Then, his gaze landed on Marcus's limply hanging arms, and the cold sweat on his bald head broke out even more densely.
He turned around silently, tiptoed, and took a step in the opposite direction.
Milong flew in front of him from the air, opening its short claws to block his path.
"I'm fine," Marcus said to Kumoko, who was still circling him, then looked up at Milong: "Milong, don't stop him."
Hearing Marcus's words, Milong immediately retracted its claws and flew to Marcus's side.
Saitama turned back around, beads of sweat from his bald head streaming down his cheeks.
He raised his hand to scratch the back of his smooth, bald head, his eyes drifting elsewhere: "I wasn't trying to run away. I was just going to look for a doctor."
He added guiltily: "Looking at you, it shouldn't be anything major. Don't think about trying to scam me."
Marcus looked down at his two arms that were still dangling, then lifted his head to look at Saitama again, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Do you think my hands look like they're fine?"
Kumoko chimed in angrily from the side: "Exactly! You stinky bald guy injured Master and tried to run away; you're just too evil!"
Hearing the words "stinky bald guy," veins popped on Saitama's forehead instantly, and his entire face turned beet red.
He clenched his fists, but because he was in the wrong, he didn't dare to lash out, so he could only roar back just as loudly, his voice full of guilty conscience: "Anyway, no matter how you try to scam me, I don't have any money!"
"Rest assured, I'm not trying to scam you. You can go."
As Marcus spoke, he channeled the Aether Particle within his body; dark red liquid energy wrapped around his arms, and the broken bones slowly returned to their proper place under the guidance of the Aether.
"Master, are you really going to let this stinky bald guy go?" Kumoko asked hurriedly.
Saitama, who had calmed down after hearing Marcus's words, was provoked to a flushed face again by Kumoko's words and shouted hurriedly: "Your master has already let me go, what else do you want!"
Kumoko was not to be outdone and shouted back: "Of course, you need to compensate Master! You hurt someone, can't we ask for compensation? You're such a grown-up, don't you even understand this simple logic!"
Saitama roared with a flushed face: "Fine, I'll go get something right now!"
With that, he turned and ran, his yellow-suited figure disappearing at the end of the ruins at an astonishing speed, kicking up a trail of dust.
"Stinky bald guy, don't think about running!" Just as Kumoko was about to chase after him, Marcus grabbed one of its front legs with his newly recovered right hand.
"Alright, stop being angry. Let him go."
Kumoko looked in the direction where Saitama had disappeared and said indignantly: "That stinky bald guy is too bad. He hurt Master and ran away without giving any compensation."
Marcus looked at Kumoko's indignant expression, raised his hand to pat its head, and his tone became uncharacteristically serious: "In the future, if you encounter this person, don't provoke him. His strength is not something we can contend with."
While speaking, he raised his right hand, and Aether Particle surged from his palm. The dark red liquid energy spread throughout the abandoned factory like spilled mercury. Cracked walls stitched and reassembled themselves; rusted steel beams shed their rust and were recoated with a cold sheen; the collapsed roof rolled and extended into a brand-new alloy frame and crystal dome.
In a matter of seconds, an imposing two-story villa stood in the center of the ruins.
Listening to Marcus's serious tone, Kumoko, although still holding a grudge, obediently nodded: "Understood, Master. But if he hurts Master again, I will still rush up to fight him."
Milong also squeaked twice from the side, clenching its small claws into fists and waving them forcefully in the air.
Marcus looked at the two little ones, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
He stopped the renovation and looked down at his palms; renovating this villa had consumed about thirty percent of the energy in his body.
Just then, a sound of heavy running came from the distance, causing the debris on the ground to vibrate and jump.
Marcus turned his head to look and saw that yellow-suited, bald figure sprinting toward him while carrying a giant wild boar that was at least ten meters tall.
Saitama ran to the entrance of the villa and dropped the giant wild boar from his shoulder onto the ground with a thud. The boar's tusks were over a meter long, and its body still bore the penetrating wound from being punched through.
He clapped the dust off his hands and looked at Marcus, saying: "I don't have money to compensate you, but this kind of monster tastes even better than the most Advancedbeef, so it's completely enough for your medical expenses."
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze landed on that uninjured hand, his expression gradually freezing, and then he suddenly stepped back half a pace, pointing his finger at Marcus's hand: "You, you guys really were trying to scam me!"
Just as Kumoko was about to lash out, Marcus raised his hand to stop it.
He looked at Saitama, his tone calm: "I wasn't trying to scam you. You can take this wild boar back."
Saitama looked at the two-story villa that had appeared out of thin air, then looked down at the ten-meter-tall giant wild boar on the ground, reaching up to stroke his chin: "It's a fact that I hit you, but you didn't really get hurt. So, I'll give you half as an apology."
He paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his words: "But I don't have a fridge that big at home. Since you can conjure up this big villa, you can also conjure up a big fridge, right?"
His gaze swept back and forth between Marcus and the villa, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation: "If you help me store it, I can share my half with you."
Marcus looked at Saitama's bald head reflecting in the sunlight and calculated for a moment.
Doing a favor for the strongest person in this world and building a good relationship was, after all, not a bad thing.
So he nodded: "Then I will accept my half. I will help you store your half as well."
He raised his left hand, and the space bracelet on his wrist glowed slightly. The giant wild boar was sucked into it, and even the residual bloodstains on the ground disappeared along with it.
"This is a space bracelet; for items placed inside, time will be permanently frozen at the moment they were stored," Marcus said, shaking his wrist to explain briefly.
Saitama's eyes lit up instantly, and a rare expression of obvious excitement appeared on his dull face: "Doesn't that mean I can always eat the freshest Advanced meat!"
Marcus nodded.
Saitama turned and ran, his yellow-suited back dragging a trail of dust through the ruins, his voice coming from afar: "That's perfect! I'm going back to get the Materials, and we'll have an Advanced meat feast at your place tonight!"
Before his voice had even faded, he was already gone, not giving Marcus any chance to refuse.
That evening, Saitama appeared on time, carrying a pile of ingredients.
Marcus took the giant wild boar out of the space braceletand cut off enough meat for five people.
Although Kumoko was still holding a grudge about Saitama hurting Master, it quickly let go of its prejudice in the face of the aroma of the food.
Milong had long forgotten about the incident during the day and was lying next to the barbecue, eating so happily its tail was wagging non-stop.
A ten-meter-tall wild boar was eaten clean in just one dinner by the two people and two pets.
Chapter 83: The Blonde Cyborg Appears, Kumoko Angrily Smacks the Baldy
At noon, more than ten days later, the scent of roasted meat filled the villa's dining room. On the dining table sat a roasted, golden-brown, super-sized bird-like monster, and four individuals were sitting around the table, feasting heartily.
Saitama held a bird leg thicker than his own arm in each hand, tearing into them from both sides, his cheeks stuffed full, with grease dripping down the corners of his mouth.
Kumoko crouched on the other side of the dining table, holding a large piece of breast meat with several of her front legs, using her mouthparts to tear it off bit by bit and feed it into her mouth. Milong lay on the table, its entire head buried in a piece of roasted meat larger than its own body, its tail whipping back and forth rapidly outside.
Just then, a clear doorbell rang at the entrance.
The four of them paused for a moment, turning their heads in unison toward the door. In this uninhabited area where one couldn't even see a living person, the sound of a doorbell was rarer than the roar of a monster.
Saitama swallowed the meat in his mouth, raised an oily hand to wave at Marcus, and while still chewing, mumbled, "Marcus, go open the door."
After saying this, he lowered his head and took another bite of the bird leg in his left hand.
Beside him, Kumoko swallowed the meat in her mouth, her several eyes staring fixedly at Saitama, her tone full of dissatisfaction: "Why don't you go open the door, and make my master go instead!"
Milong also lifted its head from the pile of meat, grease still hanging from the corners of its mouth, and squeaked twice at Saitama in agreement.
Saitama stuffed another large mouthful of meat into his mouth, his cheeks bulging like a balloon, and while chewing, mumbled indistinctly: "The person outside is here to see Marcus, not me. So it wouldn't be appropriate for me to open the door."
Just as Kumoko was about to retort, Marcus had already put down his cutlery. If he let these two guys keep arguing, the person outside would probably get impatient from waiting.
He picked up the golden, oily, roasted wing from the table and got up to walk toward the door.
Opening the door, Fubuki was standing there. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her cold eyes glaring at him, and her lips were pursed into a straight line. Not waiting for Marcus to speak, she squeezed past him into the house, speaking like a machine gun: "You guy, you didn't even tell me when you moved. You made me search for so many days!"
"I..." Marcus was just about to speak when Saitama's voice came from behind, his tone lazy: "Marcus, being a scumbag is no good, you know."
Marcus didn't even turn his head, instead backhanding the wing in his hand toward Saitama's mouth, which was still chewing meat: "Just eat your meat."
Saitama opened his mouth and caught the flying wing steadily, holding it in his mouth while waving at Marcus, making an indistinct sound: "Thanks."
Hearing the commotion, Fubuki tilted her head, her gaze passing over Marcus and landing on the roasted, golden-brown, super-sized bird-like monster. She quickly bypassed Marcus and walked over, saying: "Are you eating? It just so happens I haven't eaten either, count me in."
She walked to the seat where Marcus had been sitting, picked up the cutlery he had just put down, and picked up a piece of roasted meat to put in her mouth. While chewing, she turned to look at Kumoko beside her and greeted her casually: "Haven't seen you in over ten days, you've grown a bit more."
Kumoko blinked her several eyes: "How come you're not polite at all."
"The taste is really good!" Fubuki picked up another piece of meat, completely ignoring Kumoko's remark.
Marcus walked over and sat back down, and not long after he started eating, the doorbell rang again.
Kumoko lifted her greasy head, her several eyes staring in unison at the door: "Who is it this time."
Marcus put down his chopsticks, his super hearing spreading out silently. There was no heartbeat outside the door, replaced by the precise sound of gears turning and the steady hum of an energy core. He stood up and said in a flat tone: "It seems to be a cyborg."
Everyone present, except for Saitama who was still burying his head in eating meat, showed expressions of curiosity. Marcus walked to the door and pulled it open. Standing outside was a young man with short, messy blonde hair, black sclerae, and sharp golden pupils. A metallic shell covered his arms and torso, gleaming coldly in the noon sun.
Marcus recognized him at a glance—Genos, the future S-Class Rank 14, the Demon Cyborg, and also Saitama's future number one Disciple. He stepped aside to clear the doorway and tilted his head toward the house: "Here to see Saitama, right."
Genos nodded. Marcus turned his head and shouted toward the dining table: "Saitama, someone's here to see you."
After shouting, Marcus turned and walked back. Saitamaput down the meat in his hand, stood up, walked to the door, and looked at the person outside: "Who is it?"
"Master!" Genos bowed sharply, his voice so loud that the entire villa shook.
Saitama saw the person at the door clearly and instinctively took half a step back: "How did you find this place? Uh... what's your name?"
"My name is Genos, Master Saitama." Genos raised his head, his golden pupils burning with undisguised admiration.
"Come in and have a cup of tea first. But please leave after you finish drinking it." Saitama scratched the back of his head, turned, and led Genos inside, casually saying to Marcus: "Marcus, make a cup of tea."
When Kumoko heard this, her several eyes widened simultaneously, and one of her oil-covered front legs was raised high, striking Saitama's bald head hard with a loud, crisp sound. She shouted angrily: "You stinky bald guy! If you want tea, make it yourself!"
Genos's expression changed drastically when he saw Saitama being hit by a large spider. He suddenly raised his arms, the energy cannon ports in his palms lighting up with a blinding golden glow, his voice cold and tense: "Master Saitama, are you okay? Let me help you deal with this big spider."
Marcus stood expressionlessly in front of Kumoko. Milongflew up from beside the dining table, hovering in mid-air, waving its short claws at Genos with bared fangs and brandished claws, making rapid squeaking sounds. Fubuki also stood up, a small knife flying from her waist and hovering beside her, its tip pointing straight at Genos, Psychokinesis trembling slightly in the air.
White smoke was still rising from Saitama's bald head where Kumoko had hit him. He raised a hand to rub the spot where he was hit, while waving the other hand at Genos, his tone as casual as if nothing had happened: "I'm fine. Put your hands down first, I don't want to ruin this meal."
Genos lowered his hands, his gaze sweeping between Marcus, Fubuki, Kumoko, and Milong, before straightening his body again, his tone returning to its initial respect: "Master Saitama, since you are fine, please take me as your Disciple."
Saitama sat back down at the dining table and took a bite of a bird leg: "Why do you insist on having me as your master?"
Everyone sat back around the dining table, Genos sitting with a straight back, his hands on his knees, his golden pupils reflecting the steaming roasted meat on the table.
He began to tell his past—the rampage of a mad cyborg, his home destroyed, his family killed, and he himself losing his original body in that disaster, only to be saved by Dr. Kuseno and transformed into his current mechanical body.
His voice was steady and restrained, but the metallic fists he kept tightly clenched revealed the surging hatred in his heart.
"So, Master." Genos bowed deeply again, his forehead almost touching the table, "Please teach me how to become stronger."
Chapter 84: The House of Evolution Attacks! SaitamaInstantly Kills the Lion King! King in Danger, Urgent!
After listening to Genos's story, Kumoko watched Saitamaquietly with her multiple eyes. Her previous anger had completely faded, and she spoke first: "Saitama, Genos is so pitiful. You should take him as your Disciple."
Saitama took a bite of the bird leg in his hand, chewing with his cheeks bulging: "But, I don't know how to train a cyborg."
"I believe that by following Master Saitama, I will definitely be able to become stronger." Genos remained in a bowing position, his tone firm.
"Saitama, don't be so cold-blooded." Kumoko tapped the table with her front leg. "He's already said it like that, you should just agree to it."
Saitama put down the bird leg, and just as he was about to say something, Genos suddenly turned around abruptly. The sensors on his metal arms emitted a faint humming sound: "Something is approaching at high speed."
At the same instant, Marcus released a portion of his hearing. The whistling sound of air being torn apart came from the distance, mixed with heavy breathing and the crisp sound of metal colliding. He put down his cutlery, and his figure instantly vanished from the chair.
Everyone hurriedly got up and rushed out of the villa gate. In the open space outside, a group of bizarre-looking monsters was emerging from the ruins. Leading them was a humanoid lion monster, its mane standing on end, its grinning mouth revealing two rows of sharp fangs.
Beside it stood an armored monster as tall as a single-story building, each step leaving deep indentations on the ground.
Behind them, dozens of ordinary monsters of various shapes were poking their heads out from behind the ruins, glaring covetously in the direction of the villa.
Marcus was hovering in mid-air, holding a mantis monster by the back of its neck with his right hand. The monster's long, slender sickle-like forelimbs hung limply at its sides, and the red light in its compound eyes had gone out, clearly having been subdued in one blow.
Marcus looked down at the group of monsters below and asked in a calm tone: "Who are you, and why have you come to attack me?"
The humanoid lion monster raised its head, its mane swaying slightly in the wind, its voice hoarse and loud: "We are the new humans of the House of Evolution. We are here to capture that bald guy. Unrelated personnel can leave."
Upon hearing this, Marcus descended from mid-air. He casually threw the unconscious mantis monster onto the ground and turned to walk toward the villa: "As long as you don't attack my house, I won't intervene."
He walked two steps, then raised his hand to beckon Kumoko and Milong.
Kumoko obediently followed her master's pace. Milongfloated over from the air and landed on Kumoko's back.
"Aren't you going to help me?" Saitama stood where he was, looking at Marcus's back, his tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
Marcus didn't turn back, just raised his hand and waved it casually: "I believe in your strength."
Genos stepped forward, the metal casing of his arms gleaming coldly under the sunlight, his tone calm and resolute: "Master Saitama, I will help you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the thrusters on Genos's legs erupted with a boom, carving two scorched marks on the ground with their orange-gold exhaust. He twisted his body in mid-air and kicked hard at the armored monster's chest.
The armored monster raised its arms to block, the metal bracers colliding with the mechanical lower leg in mid-air, exploding in a circle of piercing metallic clashing sounds. The next second, that massive body, as tall as a single-story building, flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into the dense crowd of monsters behind it. Flesh and metal fragments splattered everywhere, and dozens of ordinary monsters were crushed into a pile of minced meat.
Genos didn't land; the thrusters on his hands and feet fired simultaneously, carrying his body in a straight trajectory through the air as he continued to pursue the direction where the armored monster had fallen.
Saitama stood where he was, hands hanging at his sides, his gaze landing on the motionless lion monster: "Aren't you going to help?"
The lion monster stood in place, looking at Saitama, and said in a calm tone: "In this world where the weak are meat and the strong eat, if he gets killed by your Disciple, it's because he lacks the ability himself."
"You guys really are cold-blooded." Just as Saitamafinished speaking, Fubuki's voice suddenly exploded from behind: "Watch out!"
She waved her hands forward, and the flying knives at her waist were enveloped by Psychokinesis, tearing through the air and turning into a silver streak of light, precisely severing the frog tongue that had shot out from the ruins behind Saitama.
A frog monster lurking behind a broken wall let out a shrill scream, clutching its bleeding mouth as it retreated back into the shadows.
"Thanks." Saitama turned his head and nodded at Fubuki. At the very moment he turned his head, the lion monster moved. Its thick hind legs kicked the ground violently, causing the ground to explode into a deep pit beneath its feet. Its massive body lunged toward Saitama with a speed completely inconsistent with its size, its sharp claws tearing through the air, aiming straight for Saitama's head.
Fubuki's pupils constricted violently; she opened her mouth to warn him again, but her voice couldn't keep up with the speed of those sharp claws.
Saitama turned his head back, watching the lion monster lunging toward him, and raised his hands.
"Consecutive Normal Punches."
In that instant, all Fubuki's eyes could capture were the afterimages of countless fists, dense and numerous, as if they were being thrown from a dozen directions simultaneously, completely swallowing the lion monster's body. The next second, the body of the lion monster, which had been so arrogant just moments before, exploded in mid-air, flesh and shattered bones scattering in all directions like a rainstorm, splattering across the entire open space.
Fubuki stood there blankly, her fingers still maintaining the posture of releasing Psychokinesis, and the flying knives that had been suspended in mid-air clattered to the ground. Her lips were slightly parted, unable to close for a long time. She knew that anyone who could be Marcus's friend must be strong, but she had never imagined they would be strong to this extent.
Inside the villa at this time, Marcus had just sat back down at the dining table when his phone rang. He answered the call, and King's signature hoarse voice came through the receiver, only at this moment, the voice was filled with panic: "Marcus-kun, help me!"
Marcus raised an eyebrow slightly: "King, what's wrong with you?"
"A monster wants to duel me! He said if I don't duel him, he's going to kill people!" King's voice was hurried and flustered, the speed of his speech as fast as spilling beans.
"Wait there, I'll be there immediately."
"I don't know how long I can stall, Marcus-kun, you must come quickly!" There was already a crying tone in King's voice.
Just as Marcus hung up the phone, Kumoko poked her head over from the side of the dining table, her multiple eyes filled with anxiety: "Master, go save King quickly!"
Marcus nodded, and his figure flashed and appeared in the open space outside the villa. Outside, Saitama and Genoswere standing next to an Armored Gorilla whose limbs had been broken. The gorilla was slumped on the ground, its metal armor already shattered beyond recognition, and it was intermittently confessing something in a hoarse voice.
Marcus said very quickly: "King is in danger, I'm going to help." Before the words had faded, his figure had already vanished from the spot.
Saitama turned his head to look at Genos and said in a casual tone: "Then let's go and take care of the House of Evolution too. It just so happens that there's a big supermarket sale tonight. After we deal with the House of Evolution, we can buy some ingredients to go with the barbecue."
"Yes, Master Saitama." Genos immediately stood straight.
The two walked towards the depths of the ruins one after the other, leaving Fubuki standing there alone. She watched the disappearing figures, stomped her feet hard twice, and turned back to the villa.
Chapter 85: The End of a Fake Strongman? I Fed Him One Dose and Created a True Emperor!
On the other side, King was in the restroom, clutching his head with both hands, his expression panicked, sweat streaming down his face.
His heart was pounding frantically in his chest, and only one thought filled his mind: "Oh god, I just came out to buy something, why do I have to run into this kind of mess?"
At this moment, the voice of the Duel Monster echoed through the supermarket: "King, you have one minute remaining. If you haven't composed yourself by then, I'm going to start killing people."
King stood up trembling and slowly pushed the door open to walk out, thinking to himself: "As expected, I should have listened to Teacher Marcus. If I can survive this time, I must have the Hero Association spread the news that I've retired or died in battle. Then I certainly won't run into these messes anymore."
When he walked out, the gazes of the onlookers fell upon him in unison.
His expression remained composed, but his face was deathly pale, and cold sweat covered his forehead.
Someone in the crowd whispered: "King looks so pale."
"Could it be that his body hasn't recovered yet?"
"Are we going to die here?"
"How is that possible? Even if King isn't feeling well, he can definitely defeat the monster with ease."
A little boy with pink hair squeezed to the front of the crowd, looked up at King, and said in a voice full of trust: "King is the strongest, you will definitely win, right King!"
King turned his head to look at the little boy.
His pale and fierce face remained silent for a moment, then he said in a calm voice: "I will win."
After speaking, he continued walking toward the monster.
Every step felt like he was treading on his own frantically beating heart, and his mind was filled with a desperate scream: "I'm not the strongest at all, I'll definitely die if I fight him. Marcus, help me!"
The Duel Monster was three meters tall, wearing a tight-fitting dueling suit, and looked down at King as he approached.
The roar of the King Engine echoed through the supermarket.
The monster flexed his wrists, his tone carrying a hint of regret: "What a pity, King. I originally wanted to duel you in your prime state. But if other heroes come to team up with you against me later, that would be troublesome. So don't blame me for taking advantage of your poor condition."
As his voice fell, he threw a punch without warning, smashing toward King's face.
King let out a shrill scream in his heart: "Marcus!"
With a loud bang, smoke instantly engulfed the entire supermarket.
When the smoke cleared, the Duel Monster's corpse lay in the pile of rubble, its head tilted to one side at an unnatural angle.
King's figure, however, had disappeared.
In the crowd, the little boy with pink hair was the first to jump up, his childish voice full of excitement: "I knew King would win!"
High in the sky outside, Marcus was gripping the back of King's collar with one hand, and the two were speeding across the city skyline.
Just a moment ago, the instant that fist was about to smash into King's face, he had arrived in time, taken out the monster with a single blow, and whisked King away from the scene.
They flew to a secluded lakeside.
Marcus slowly descended and placed King on the grass.
King slumped to the ground, his legs still shaking uncontrollably.
Marcus looked down at his soaked pant legs and said in a calm tone: "Go down and wash up first."
King nodded silently, stood up, took off his clothes, and walked barefoot into the lake water.
He lowered his head, looking at his reflection in the water.
Marcus conjured some clean clothes and placed them by the lakeside, then looked at King in the middle of the lake and said: "King, I can't always appear in time to save you."
King stood in the lake, the water reaching his waist.
He didn't turn back, his voice hoarse and low: "I know, Marcus. I've already decided, I must have the Hero Association spread the news that I've died in battle."
"That is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause," Marcus's voice was calm and direct.
"Even if no monster actively seeks you out, what will you do if you have bad luck and run into a monster while you're out?"
King turned around to look at Marcus on the shore.
A bitter smile appeared on his face: "Then tell me, Marcus, what should I do?"
Marcus was silent for a moment.
He raised his left hand, and the space bracelet on his wrist glowed slightly.
That precision alloy medicine box appeared in his hand.
He opened the lid, took out a glowing vial, and tossed it toward King in the lake.
"Isn't it enough if you just become stronger yourself?"
King hurriedly stretched out his hands and caught the vial steadily in his palms.
He looked down at the cold light on the tube wall, then raised his head, his voice full of confusion: "What is this?"
Marcus looked into King's eyes, which were full of confusion, and said in a calm tone: "This is something that can make you stronger. Drink it, and you will be able to become powerful."
After hearing this, King looked down at the medicine in his palm.
He was silent for a good while, and complex emotions flickered across that fierce face: desire, wavering, and then hesitation.
He shook his head and raised his hand, intending to throw the medicine back: "No. I can't accept something so valuable."
"Kumoko and I don't have many friends in this world," Marcus interrupted him, his tone calm but it made King's movement freeze in mid-air.
"If you die, Kumoko will be sad. So you should just drink it."
King was stunned.
He lowered his head, the hand holding the medicine trembling slightly.
A moment later, he raised his head, his eyes slightly reddened, his voice hoarse and solemn: "Marcus... no, Master Marcus. From now on, my life is yours. Whatever you tell me to do, I will do."
After saying this, he unscrewed the medicine and drank it down in one gulp.
"Forget about 'Master'. Just call me Teacher."
"Yes, Teacher Marcus!" King shouted.
As soon as he finished speaking, his body jolted violently.
A burst of intense pain exploded from within him.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
Dazzling light erupted from his body, illuminating the entire lake in a blinding white.
As the white light flashed, a massive amount of steam rose from the lake surface, making a hissing sound.
Marcus clapped his hands together forcefully, and a strong wind swept the steam away to both sides, clearing the white mist from the lake.
The scene that appeared before him was that the entire lake level had dropped slightly, and King stood in the middle of the lake, fists clenched, his muscle definition even more pronounced than before.
"Teacher Marcus! I feel so strong right now!"
King stood in the lake, looking down at his hands, a radiant smile blooming on his face.
"Go on up and put your clothes on first."
Marcus pointed to the pile of clean clothes by the lakeside.
King hurriedly climbed onto the shore from the lake and scrambled to put on his clothes.
Marcus watched him adjust his collar and asked: "What ability did you gain from your Awakening?"
Chapter 86: Shattering a Mountain with One Shot! A Seafood Feast Resolves the Conflict!
King stood where he was, closing his eyes to sense for a moment. A short while later, he opened his eyes, a look of uncertainty appearing on his face: "It seems... to be firing a blast."
He raised his right hand, spreading his palm upward, and a white ball of energy the size of a fist condensed and formed in his palm.
Marcus nodded: "Show me its power."
"Yes, Teacher Marcus!" King straightened his back and extended both palms. The white ball of light expanded rapidly between his palms, growing from the size of a fist to the size of a cartwheel, and the blinding white light illuminated the entire lakeshore in a ghastly pale hue.
He took a deep breath, his arm muscles tensed, and the veins on his fierce face bulged out. He thrust the ball of light forward violently and shouted loudly: "Purgatory Unrivaled Explosive Heat Wave Cannon!"
The white ball of light whistled as it smashed into the hundred-meter-high hill on the opposite side of the lake.
Boom—! A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering explosion erupted over the lake. The blinding white light engulfed the entire lakeshore, and a shockwave carrying debris and Qi waves swept over from the opposite bank, raising a wall of water several meters high on the lake surface. When the light dissipated, the hundred-meter hill had vanished without a trace, leaving only a charred, deep pit still emitting blue smoke.
King stood blankly where he was, his hands still holding the pose of pushing out the ball of light. He looked at the flattened hill, and a hoarse murmur squeezed out of his throat: "Is... is this what I did?"
Marcus nodded: "Now you have power. In the future, after my training, you will no longer need others to save you."
King turned around abruptly, a brilliant smile blooming on his fierce face, though his eyes were still red-rimmed: "I will definitely train hard, Teacher Marcus!"
Marcus nodded, raised his hand to grab King by the back of his collar, and with a light kick of his feet, the two soared into the air from the lakeshore, flying toward the direction of the villa.
As soon as the two entered the door, Fubuki quickly greeted them from the living room. She opened her mouth, and before words could escape, her gaze crossed over Marcus's shoulder and landed on the tall figure behind him. Her footsteps suddenly froze in place, and after moving her lips for a long time, she stuttered out a few words: "K... King?"
King nodded at Fubuki. At this moment, Kumoko rushed over from the dining table, extended her front legs to grab King's arm, and dragged him toward the table, shouting excitedly: "King, you came just in time! Let's finish the barbecue quickly so we don't leave any for Saitama!"
King was dragged toward the dining table by Kumoko; as he stumbled to keep up, he turned his head and shouted to Marcus: "Teacher Marcus, you should come eat too!"
Upon hearing the four words "Teacher Marcus," Fubuki's mouth opened slowly. Her gaze swept back and forth between King and Marcus several times, her cold and beautiful face filled with disbelief.
Marcus walked past her and said in a calm tone: "Go ahead and be shocked, I'm going over first."
By the time Fubuki regained her composure, Marcus was already seated at the dining table. She stood where she was, her heart pounding, calculating rapidly in her mind that since Marcus was the teacher of the Strongest Man on Earth, as long as Marcus joined the Blizzard Group, King would definitely join as well.
Thinking of this, she hurriedly walked to the dining table, placed her hands on the surface, and stared intensely at Marcus, who was bowing his head to pick up food: "I must make you join the Blizzard Group!"
Marcus did not look up and simply continued to put barbecue into his mouth.
And so, evening arrived. Saitama and Genos pushed open the door, carrying large and small bags of Advancedingredients, and shouted excitedly: "I've bought the Advanced ingredients back! Let's get the barbecue party started!"
His voice grew quieter and quieter. His gaze swept over the empty dining table, over the super-large bird-type monster that had been gnawed down to just a skeleton, and finally landed on the living room floor. Kumoko was lying on her back on the floor, several of her front legs resting on her round belly, rubbing it with satisfaction. Milong followed suit, lying on its back beside her, patting its own bulging little belly with its short claws, its tail flicking back and forth.
Fubuki sat on the sofa, holding the remote control and boringly changing channels, not even glancing at him. From the kitchen came the sounds of a faucet and dishes clinking.
"You stinky spider! You actually ate all the meat!" Saitamaroared as he walked toward Kumoko, the veins on his forehead bulging one by one.
Kumoko lay on the floor, calmly continuing to rub her belly, too lazy to even lift her eyelids: "Oh, so Saitama is back. Don't get Life Qi, Master has already gone to find something to eat."
At this moment, King, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, heard the commotion and poked half his body out. He was wearing an apron, his hands still covered in dish soap foam: "Saitama-kun, don't get Life Qi. Teacher Marcus should be back soon."
When Genos saw King, his golden pupils lit up, and his tone carried heartfelt admiration: "As expected of Teacher Saitama, to actually know even the Strongest Man on Earth, King."
Hearing Genos's words, Saitama looked at King in confusion: "You actually have such an impressive title?"
King awkwardly squeezed out a bitter smile: "That's just something others said randomly because they didn't know my situation. But I am very powerful now, Saitama-kun."
Saitama grunted in acknowledgment, not asking further. He could feel that the current King was indeed different from before.
"Saitama-kun, I saved some barbecue on the table for you." King pointed to the dining table.
Saitama hurriedly turned his head to look at the table: "Where, where, where is my meat?"
Kumoko lay on the floor, using her front legs to rub her round belly, and said in an exaggerated tone: "So that was left for Saitama? I thought it was for me."
"You, this, stinky, spider!" Saitama squeezed this sentence out through his teeth, word by word, the veins on his forehead bulging, and he clenched his fists, about to walk toward Kumoko.
Just at this moment, Marcus's voice came from outside the door: "I'm back. Open the door."
Upon hearing Marcus's voice, Kumoko flipped over and sprang up from the floor, her eight legs moving fast as she rushed to the door and opened it.
Saitama followed behind Kumoko to the door, and just as he was about to lash out, he saw Marcus standing outside. In one hand, he carried a large fish over two meters long, and in the other, he carried a giant octopus with tentacles still slowly wriggling.
"This is?"
"It's boring to just eat barbecue all the time." Marcuscarried the two seafood items and stepped into the house, saying in a calm tone, "We're having seafood tonight. Saitama, you get all the best parts."
The angry look on Saitama's face disappeared without a trace instantly. He slapped Marcus on the shoulder, and a brilliant smile bloomed on his dull face: "I knew it! Marcus, you are my best friend!"
Several of Kumoko's eyes curved into crescents at the same time, and she poked Milong with her front leg: "Look at that bald guy, his face changes faster than flipping a book."
Milong floated in mid-air, squeaked twice, and flicked its tail rapidly.
That night, the villa was brightly lit. The octopus was prepared in two ways, as sashimi and takoyaki, while the large fish was processed by Genos into fish soup and fried fish. A table of people sat around the dining table, chopsticks moving back and forth between plates and dishes, laughter and noise intertwined.
Chapter 87: Deep Sea King Ravages J City, Genos Makes a Powerful Entrance!
A few months later, in the morning. On a desolate patch of open ground, two figures were colliding at high speed.
Kumoko was now two stories tall, her eight thick legs moving rapidly across the ground, her massive body whipping up gusts of wind as she moved.
She swung her two front legs, launching a fierce assault on the tiny figure before her. King dodged at high speed, his hands constantly parrying the spider's front legs, which were thicker than his own arms, each collision exploding into a ring of shockwaves.
Suddenly, several of Kumoko's eyes flashed with light simultaneously. She caught a gap in King's defense and landed a heavy blow squarely on King's stomach. King was sent flying backward like a cannonball, carving a straight trajectory through the air.
He barely managed to stabilize his body in mid-air, a white ball of light instantly condensing in his right palm, which he threw at the pursuing Kumoko. Kumoko swung her front leg, batting the light ball away with a "pop," her massive body already charging at King once more.
King landed on his feet, his soles plowing two deep furrows into the ground. Without pausing to catch his breath, he extended both arms, his palms firing countless light balls in rapid succession, pouring down on Kumokolike a rainstorm. The massive Kumoko couldn't dodge them all, so she could only wave her front legs rapidly, knocking away the incoming light balls one by one.
One of the deflected light balls, trailing a white streak, flew straight toward Marcus, who was watching from a distance.
Just as the light ball was about to hit Marcus, he backhanded it, swatting it into the ruins behind him. The light ball hit the ground and exploded, sending rubble and dust billowing into the sky.
Beside him, a Milong that had grown to a meter thick floated in mid-air, its two short claws waving excitedly, making loud squeaking noises as it cheered on the two sparring in the field.
Just then, a cell phone rang from the jacket lying on the ground nearby. Marcus walked over, bent down to pick up the jacket, took out the phone from the pocket, and said to the man and spider still sparring in the field: "You two stop for a moment. King, someone is looking for you."
They stopped sparring simultaneously. Kumoko retracted her front legs, and King wiped the sweat from his forehead before walking quickly to Marcus to take the phone. He glanced at the screen and answered the call: "What do you need from me?"
A hurried voice came from the other end of the line: "Mr. King, a powerful Demon-level monster has appeared in J City! Puri-Puri Prisoner, S-Class Rank 17, has already been defeated. The monster is heading toward the Shelter and is expected to arrive in five minutes. The Shelter needs your support now!"
King frowned upon hearing this: "Are there no other S-Class heroes available?"
"S-Class Rank 16, Demon Cyborg, is on his way to the Shelter, but we fear he won't be a match for the monster either, which is why we are calling you. Besides, you are the closest person other than Demon Cyborg!"
King was silent for a moment, then said: "I understand." He hung up the phone and looked up at Marcus.
Marcus nodded at him and said in a calm tone: "I've been training you for a few months now; it's time. Go, face your first real battle."
King stood up straight, an unprecedented look of determination appearing on his face: "Yes, Master!"
Elsewhere, at the Shelter.
Sneck put down the phone and turned to the civilians crowded into the corner behind him. He tried to keep his voice steady and forceful, attempting to soothe every face filled with fear: "Everyone, don't be afraid. S-Class Rank 7 King is on his way, we will be fine."
Upon hearing King's name, the crowd's tense shoulders relaxed one by one. Some even let out a long sigh of relief, whispering repeatedly, "That's great, King is coming."
Sneck watched the people's eyes reignite with hope, but his own fingers were still trembling slightly. Five minutes, he just had to hold out for these five minutes.
Boom—!
The ceiling of the Shelter was smashed apart by a tremendous force, and chunks of reinforced concrete poured down like rain. A dark shadow crashed heavily onto the floor from the hole, the splashing rubble hitting the ground near Sneck's feet.
He froze in place and slowly turned around. That figure, over three meters tall, stood in the rising dust, its body covered in dark green scales, deep red gill slits split open on both cheeks, looking down at the crowd in the Shelter.
Deep Sea King cracked his mouth open, revealing two rows of serrated fangs: "Hello. Goodbye."
Sneck's pupils contracted violently. His heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by a cold hand; the agreed-upon five minutes, it hadn't even been one minute yet.
Deep Sea King raised that massive, scale-covered claw. Just then, a hand was raised high in the crowd. A young man wearing a hero uniform said with a trembling voice: "Wait... wait! We surrender! We will agree to any conditions you propose, so please don't kill us, please."
Deep Sea King slowly lowered his sharp claw, tilting his head to look at the shivering hero: "Surrender?"
He chuckled coldly, as if he had heard an extremely funny joke: "Whether you surrender or not, it's a dead end. As for my request, it is simply that you let out pleasant screams before you die."
"How shameful," the young hero thought, unable to move even a finger, "I couldn't buy enough time for the S-Class to arrive."
Just then, two figures rushed out from the crowd. A cyborg wearing boxing gloves took a fighting stance, and next to him stood a young hero also wearing boxing gloves: "Boxing Cyborg, reporting for duty!" "Boxing Man, reporting for duty!"
Sneck also stepped forward, standing beside the two of them: "Even if I am the bottom-ranked 38th, I am still an A-Class hero; how could I possibly hide behind you!"
"Let's go!" The three shouted simultaneously and charged at Deep Sea King. The young hero gritted his teeth and staggered along after them.
Deep Sea King just raised his arm and swung it casually. The four figures flew backward almost simultaneously, crashing heavily into the ruins, and fell silent.
People watched the heroes who had been defeated in an instant, and desperate cries echoed throughout the Shelter. Deep Sea King grinned, revealing a mouthful of serrated fangs: "What a pleasant sound."
At this moment, a figure descended from the hole in the ceiling, landing steadily on the ground. Just as Deep Sea King heard the commotion and turned around, he saw a blond cyborg standing in the center of the ruins, those golden pupils staring at him coldly.
"I will eliminate you immediately." Before Genos finished speaking, his leg thrusters roared to life. His figure appeared instantly in front of Deep Sea King, and he punched that scale-covered face hard. The energy cannon in his palm blasted simultaneously, a blinding golden beam piercing through the entire Shelter, forcibly clearing an empty street through the city.
When the light of the energy cannon faded, people discovered a huge hole in the wall of the Shelter, and the monster had vanished without a trace. Genos turned around and asked calmly: "Was that the last enemy?"
A cheer of survival erupted from the crowd.
Chapter 88: Rain Curtain, Desperate Situation! Everyone Defeated and Dying, The King Descends from Heaven!
Suddenly, the Deep Sea King's figure appeared without warning behind Genos.
He grabbed one of Genos's arms, then immediately slammed a fist into Genos's face.
The mechanical arm snapped on impact, and Genos was sent flying, crashing heavily into the wall.
The Deep Sea King slowly lifted his face, which had a hole punched through it by an energy blast, the muscles around the edges of the crater writhing and regenerating crazily.
His voice was low and furious: "My Life Qi is boiling. I am going to completely destroy you."
"I was careless." Genos leaned against the wall, his broken arm revealing shattered mechanical parts inside, electric arcs crackling at the wound.
He struggled to stand up and shouted to the crowd behind him: "Run! I might not be able to defeat it!"
The people rushed in terror to the other side.
The Deep Sea King turned back, the wounds on his face completely healed.
He widened his eyes, his grinning mouth stretching almost to his ears: "Not a single one of you will escape!"
He charged at the crowd.
Genos activated the thrusters on his remaining arm and legs, launching himself like a cannonball at the Deep Sea King, kicking that hideous face.
The Deep Sea King backhanded a fist into Genos's face, the metal cheek caving in upon impact.
The two engaged in a fierce close-quarters battle within the narrow Shelter.
The muffled thuds of fists and feet striking flesh and metal intertwined with the roar of the thrusters, each collision unleashing a shockwave.
The Deep Sea King's heavy punches rained down on Genos; with only one arm left, Genos's defensive gaps grew larger.
The Deep Sea King seized an opening and drove a heavy punch straight at his face.
Genos barely managed to raise his single arm to block, the metal arm bone emitting a harsh screeching sound of distortion under the punch.
Just then, a little girl's clear voice rang out from the crowd: "Go! Big Brother!"
The Deep Sea King snapped his head around, locking onto the little girl being held by her father in the crowd. "So noisy."
He opened his mouth, and a jet of dark green strong acid solution sprayed from deep within his throat, heading straight for the little girl.
In the nick of time, Genos's body blocked the path in front of the little girl, the acid solution splashing entirely onto his back and arms.
The metal casing hissed as it corroded under the strong acid, mechanical parts peeling off layer by layer, revealing the broken circuitry inside.
The little girl watched this scene in despair, tears streaming down her face.
Her father scooped her up and stumbled toward the back of the crowd.
The Deep Sea King walked with heavy steps to Genos, looking down at the cyborg whose torso was dissolved into a mangled mess: "Sacrificing yourself to save a kid. You really are strange."
He kicked Genos's remains, sending Genos flying out of the Shelter like a kite with a broken string, tumbling onto the rain-soaked street outside.
The Deep Sea King stepped out of the Shelter, rain washing over his scales.
He looked down at Genos, who was struggling in a puddle: "However, you guy, being able to hurt me, you're quite capable."
He poked his already-healed cheek with a finger, saying in a relaxed tone: "Even though my face has already healed."
Then he raised his fist, "Die."
"Justice — Rush!" A loud shout exploded behind the Deep Sea King.
Immediately after, a bicycle slammed into his back, the force as light as a massage.
The Deep Sea King turned his head in confusion, a sound coming from his throat: "Huh?"
Mumen Rider stood in the rain, his chest heaving violently.
"The bicycle-riding hero of justice, Mumen Rider, has arrived!"
"Run... run away!" Genos lay in the puddle, using his last bit of strength to squeeze out these words.
"I will not abandon you!"
After Mumen Rider finished speaking, he threw a punch at the Deep Sea King.
The Deep Sea King looked down at this tiny human, his tone carrying obvious boredom: "I'm tired of playing."
He extended a palm, easily wrapping it around Mumen Rider's fist.
He grabbed Mumen Rider's arm and repeatedly slammed him into the ground like a rag.
One, two, three times.
The gloves shattered, the knee pads burst, and blood flowed from his forehead and mouth, mixing with the rain.
On the last strike, he tossed Mumen Rider high into the air, letting him crash into a pile of rubble in the distance.
The Deep Sea King looked at the glove fragments remaining in his palm, tilting his head slightly, his tone full of confusion: "What did you come here for?"
Mumen Rider struggled to crawl up.
His legs were trembling violently, and blood was streaming from his forehead into his eyes.
He walked step by step toward the Deep Sea King, opening his arms to embrace the Deep Sea King's body, using all his strength to try and push it further away. "Justice... Tackle."
The Deep Sea King didn't budge.
It looked down at this blood-covered human who was still clutching it tightly, its voice filled with pure bewilderment: "What are you doing?"
"I know, no one is counting on me."
Mumen Rider's voice was so weak it was almost drowned out by the rain.
The Deep Sea King slapped him, sending him flying sideways, rolling several times on the slippery road before stopping.
He lay in the cold rain, his body no longer obeying him.
But he still gritted his teeth, using his trembling hands to prop up his upper body, his voice hoarse and resolute: "I understand better than anyone that a C-Class hero is useless. I know how weak I am, no one knows better than me, I can't beat you!"
"What are you muttering about? Begging for mercy?"
The Deep Sea King tilted his head, rain flowing down his dark green scales.
Mumen Rider panted heavily, his legs trembling violently, but he held his ground, refusing to fall.
He raised his head, and on that blood-stained face, his eyes shone with startling intensity: "But, I have to do this!"
He raised his arms and shouted with all his might, "This isn't a question of whether I can win or not, it's that I must stand in front of you!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
The Deep Sea King frowned, completely unable to understand the behavior of the weak human before him.
Just then, the children's childish yet forceful shouts came from the Shelter: "Go for it! Bicycle-riding big brother!"
Mumen Rider's body jolted.
The sound was like an electric current passing through his already exhausted limbs, his eyes reddened, and tears mixed with the rain slid down his cheeks.
He took a deep breath, let out a desperate roar at the Deep Sea King, moved his trembling legs, and launched a final charge at the invincible figure.
The Deep Sea King watched this scene, his mouth slowly grinning, revealing two rows of sharp fangs: "Die."
He raised his fist and smashed it down toward Mumen Rider's face.
Just then, a low and resounding voice suddenly came from the air: "That's enough!"
Before the words faded, a dark shadow slammed between the Deep Sea King and Mumen Rider.
The ground exploded into a deep crater from the impact, and the Deep Sea King's fist was caught steadily less than half an arm's length from Mumen Rider.
The dust cleared, King stood tall, his face, accentuated by three scars, expressionless and extremely fierce.
His right hand firmly gripped the Deep Sea King's fist, the roar of the King Engine echoing in the rain, low and powerful, like a giant beast awakening.