Saitama's apartment.
"Ora-ora-ora-ora-ora-ora!!"
On-screen, a muscular brawler unleashed a storm of fists against the diminutive Little Loli. Every strike radiated raw power, yet the Loli danced effortlessly, blocking and dodging with flawless timing.
"Damn it! Why can't I land a hit? Are you cheating?!"
Outside the screen, Saitama—the Bald Demon King capable of one-punching nearly anything—was crimson with frustration. Veins bulged on his gleaming scalp, eyes wide, fingers a blur across the controller.
Across from him, King—piloting the Little Loli—stretched lazily, utterly relaxed. One finger casually rolled the dodge and block buttons.
The match was sixty seconds long. Whoever had less health when the timer hit zero would lose. Before the fight, King had promised: he wouldn't attack for the first fifty seconds. Only the final ten would he strike.
Saitama's grin had lit up when he first heard that rule.
"Dude, I just need to land a few hits early, then dodge the last ten seconds—you're guaranteed to lose!"
But once the match began, Saitama sensed something was off.
"Why can't I hurt him… why?!"
The game featured a hidden mechanic: a Perfect Block. If timed precisely, a block would cost no gauge at all. King executed Perfect Blocks every time, leaving Saitama's attacks impotent.
"Tch—take my ultimate!"
With only two seconds left before the final ten, Saitama panicked. He unleashed his super—a flaming fist of overwhelming power.
Finally, he thought, a chance to beat King in a game!
But the Little Loli simply rolled twice, sidestepping the blow. Saitama froze.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
King calmly pointed to the timer.
"Final ten seconds—my turn."
Before Saitama could react, the Loli launched a flawless combo: two light kicks, three heavy punches, a sweep, and a finishing super. All under ten seconds. The timer hit zero as the sequence ended.
"K.O.!!"
Clack! The controller hit the floor. Saitama slumped, soul-drained, staring blankly at the ceiling. He had lost again—even under conditions heavily favoring him. Fifty rounds, and this was the fiftieth defeat.
Genos recorded every moment, golden eyes gleaming with analytical precision.
[Though KING-sensei and Mr. Saitama seemed to be playing games, they had already clashed fifty rounds in a virtual cosmos. KING-sensei's virtual power towered effortlessly above, leaving Mr. Saitama repeatedly defeated.]
"No more. I'll just watch TV," Saitama muttered, flicking on the screen.
He tuned to the daily news, listless, the frustration ebbing.
"Boring news always calms me down…"
Until the feed cut to the next item. His pupils shrank.
"Why the hell is this guy bald too?!"
On-screen, a vicious, mace-headed bald man appeared in a wanted photo. The anchor continued:
[Today, a gang calling itself the Taoyuan Group rampaged, gathering outside Z-City's richest man's villa. Disaster Level: Tiger. Citizens are advised to take caution.]
[Members of the Taoyuan Group share the following traits; please stay alert and safe.]
Mostly wear civilian combat-tech suits, usually black, rarely yellow.
Every member is bald.
At the first trait, Saitama barely reacted. But the second? His lounging posture snapped upright.
"You've got to be kidding me!!"
...
(End of Chapter)
[Throw some stones]