Chapter 166: Huh? You're Actually Going to Do It!
Hearing Garou's answer, King was somewhat surprised.
Huh? You're actually going to do it!
He had originally just asked casually, while also seeing if he could change Garou's way of thinking.
After all, having experienced so many things and witnessed the heroes' actions in protecting Earth, one would think he'd be somewhat moved.
Yet you still want to keep targeting heroes and become your own absolute evil?
For a moment, King didn't know whether to call this guy a purely chuunibyou teenager or simply thick-headed.
After thinking for a bit, King gave his reply:
"Have you ever considered that wanting to become absolute evil doesn't only have to be proven by defeating heroes?"
"If you want to prove you're superior to heroes, violence isn't the only path. There are other ways, such as joining the Hero Association and becoming one of the S-Class Heroes."
"Huh?"
Garou and King stared at each other wide-eyed. Garou didn't understand his meaning for a moment:
"You mean, have me join the Hero Association and become a hero?"
"Yep."
Receiving King's confirmation again, Garou, his brain short-circuiting, scratched his head.
This guy... what is he saying... Me, a hero? Seriously?
Seeing Garou's confusion, King calmly gave an explanation:
"It's simple. S-Class Heroes are beings who stand above heroes of other Ranks. So if you surpass all the S-Class Heroes and become s-class rank 1, that's also indirectly defeating all heroes."
"That way, after successfully overpowering all heroes, you can then choose a Monster identity, and naturally become absolute evil. What do you think?"
"Uh..."
Garou was dumbfounded by this speech, but upon second thought, it actually seemed to make some sense.
You don't necessarily have to use your fists to defeat all the heroes. After becoming a hero, you can surpass them with your ranking. After becoming the strongest hero as s-class rank 1 and then transforming into a Monster identity, you'd become the biggest Monster.
That sounds great!
No, no! That's definitely sophistry!
Garou finally reacted. He was just about to refute King's theory when he saw a fist as big as a sandbag that had unconsciously tightened.
Garou: "..."
He stopped talking.
With a martial artist's intuition, he could almost guarantee that if he spoke a few more words of his opinion, he'd definitely get a good beating.
This wasn't the ground; it was outer space. King wouldn't even need to do anything else—just remove the Energy Shield on his body's surface—and he'd die on the spot.
Thinking that his life was in the other's hands, and that his current life was the one the other had personally saved, Garou felt as uncomfortable as if he'd eaten a big portion of something unpleasant.
On one side was his ideal; on the other was the benefactor who had saved his life and prevented his Possession, and refusal would probably also result in a beating.
Moreover... Garou's mind flashed to that white-haired figure. Memories from back then were still vivid, as fresh in his mind as a yellowed slide show.
If I became a hero, the old man would probably be happy too.
After some thought, Garou sighed and helplessly grabbed his hair:
"Let's be clear first. After I become the s-class rank 1 hero, I will definitely transform into a Monster identity! That's beyond doubt!"
"Sure, sure."
King didn't pay too much attention to Garou's words. Never mind whether the other could reach s-class rank 1; even if he could, so what?
For Garou to get promoted to s-class rank 1, he'd definitely have to engage in a lot of hero activities. After so many hero activities, his former impressions of heroes would probably change quite a bit.
Furthermore, if after experiencing a lot of hero activities he still remained true to his original aspiration and wanted to transform into a Monster, it would be even simpler.
He could choose between King's fist and the Bald Demon King's fist.
Hiss... Just then, King suddenly remembered something very important.
It seems that Genos still hasn't registered as a hero!
King finally remembered his cheap robot disciple. It seemed the other still hadn't registered as a hero with the Hero Association.
Perfect. When the time comes, he'd take this guy Garou back, and the two of them could go register as S-Class Heroes for fun.
After experiencing a near-death state and having his body strengthened by the God's Possession, Garou's strength was also much greater than when he was still in prison.
If nothing unexpected happens, the current Garou could beat Puri-Puri Prisoner down within ten rounds.
"Good decision. Well then, time to head back to Earth."
Saying this, King transformed into a crimson streak of light and flew rapidly forward, instantly plunging into the atmosphere.
Garou, meanwhile, was stuck inside the Energy Shield, drifting back and forth behind King like a dog being hauled away in a sack.
From a distance, it looked like a red crystal pendant with a little white-haired doll inside bumping around, seeing stars...