Outwardly, Deep Sea King looked no different from his original design.
And this wasn't the water-starved humanoid face; it was the fully hydrated, savage visage of a fish.
Several rings of flowing water drifted above his skin.
''More heroes? Coming one after another to die—how delightful~'' Deep Sea King bared a cruel grin.
''Oh, Aokiji, you finally made it.'' Saitama stood atop a fallen Deep Sea Tribesman.
''Not too late, I hope—I sprinted here along an ice road that cuts straight across the cities.' 'Aokiji spread his hands.
''City Y woke up a chunk of wood ahead of schedule, City Z dumped a bunch of juiced-up fish—obviously trying to drain my stamina.''
''Chances are there's more coming. Leave these seafood snacks to me; Saitama, move the defeated heroes somewhere safe.''
''If more enemies show up, shouldn't you save your strength?'' Saitama asked.
Aokiji glanced at the progress bar only he could see.
''No need. Almost there…''
Disaster level of Forest King: 'Dragon', plus a horde of Forest Tribes at 'Tiger'.
With that weird thing stuffed inside him, Deep Sea King could fight on land at full power and even control water—an Esper ability.
He'd probably hit 'Dragon' Rank too.
''Hey, human, too scared to face me?'' Deep Sea King leaned in, eyes locked on Aokiji.
''Chatting about "the next enemy" already? Struggle to survive us first!''
''Kin! Storm that eggshell and wipe out every human inside!''
Some of the heroes knocked down by the earlier water cannon managed to stir.
Clutching battered bodies, they hauled themselves upright.
''Damn it… we came to help and ended up useless…''
Smileman rose with a hammer-shaped kendama.
Beside him, Snake—his suit shredded—spat blood: 'Least we can do is protect the civilians while Aokiji takes their boss.'
The temperature plummeted!
An iceberg simply… existed, as if it had always been there.
Grotesque Deep Sea Tribesmen frozen inside like bad modern art.
A spear of ice shot from beneath Aokiji's feet.
Snake:' '…''
Hah—he should've seen that coming.
Mumen Rider dashed out through a tunnel left in the ice.
He helped Butterfly DX—who'd barely joined the fight—back to his feet.
''Thanks, mister.''
''I didn't help at all.'' Butterfly DX gave a wry smile, his thick chest hair quivering. ''And I'm not old enough to be "mister" yet!''
Deep Sea King's pupils shrank; he half-stepped back.
This was the man who'd once frozen an erupting volcano?!
HIM?!
Deep Sea King's face twisted in real time.
If not for this guy, he'd never have led his tribe to investigate.
And he'd never have met those Tsukuyomi creeps, suffered humiliating defeat, and been remade!
''It's… all because of YOU!!!''
His Aura spiked; he roared, savage and mad.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—
Buried water mains burst one after another.
Geysers of water erupted.
Under Deep Sea King's command the flood surged like a torrent!
He lashed out in fury.
Water droplets clinging to his fist detonated in unison.
Facing the multi-layered assault, Aokiji raised his right hand—now rimed with cold, ice already forming.
A gigantic frozen bird burst forth!
Icy wings spread; everywhere they passed, spears of ice sprouted!
Ice Block: Ice Pheasant Beak!!
BOOM—!!
A violent shockwave fanned outward.
The vapor in the air flash-froze into hail that hammered every direction!
Even distant supporting heroes had to scramble to block the backlash.
A white cape snapped—
The shrapnel-like ice was intercepted.
Saitama, still blank-faced, held the cape.
''You guys okay?''
''Ah—yeah, fine. Thanks.''
Snake and the others, hearts still racing, retreated farther to watch.
They sneaked a glance at Saitama—this guy's pretty strong too…
Green fists pummelled his own body as Deep Sea King tried to shatter the ice cocoon.
''Merely human—merely human!!''
He looked deranged, half his frozen body warped at unnatural angles.
''Deep-sea fish really are tough.''
Aokiji stepped onto the Monster's head, an ice sabre in hand now wrapped in dense Armament Haki.
He glanced skyward.
''Right on schedule.''
Numerous presences had arrived overhead.
Strange machines began to power up.
''Perfect—I only needed a sliver more.''
The ice sabre stabbed downward!
[Progress: 100%]
[Drawing next character template…]
[Draw successful! New template loaded!]
''Mr. Aokiji, we meet again.''
A man with four linked black stars on his brow descended, expression cold.
Countless Artificial Espers wearing warped smiles dropped with him.
Some landed on streets and rooftops, others hovered mid-air.
Every escape route was sealed.
''Our tech doesn't work on you, so we'll use the crudest method—wear you down. Sorry about that.''
The leader was clearly remote-controlled by the Tsukuyomi Leader.
His tone stayed polite, his face frozen.
He looked at Aokiji, who kept his eyes shut.
''No need for theatrics. Two Dragon-level Monsters plus their armies, plus the marathon across Cities Y and Z—you must be exhausted…''
Aokiji raised a finger to his lips.
Silence.
The watching heroes fretted.
''Who are these guys?! Identical faces and they can fly?''
''They've surrounded Mr. Aokiji—new enemies?!''
''Let's back him up!''
Saitama sat cross-legged.
Elbow on knee, chin in palm, he lifted his other hand to stop them.
''Aokiji said he'd handle it… and he feels even stronger now.''
Aokiji opened his eyes; black-crimson lightning crackled around him!
Power surged through every fibre of his being.
''Falling from that height is gonna hurt.''
The Tsukuyomi Leader frowned, about to speak—
A terrifying pressure detonated!
Conqueror's Haki, solidified into black-red bolts, swept the field!
The ground underfoot webbed with cracks.
The air rippled and warped.
Clouds high above were torn apart.
Under that irrational, crushing Aura, heart, brain, even Soul felt clutched by a titanic hand.
Consciousness shattered in an instant.
Thud—
Thud—
Thud-thud—
Countless Artificial Espers rolled their eyes, minds severed from bodies, collapsing limp.
Those hovering mid-air plummeted, slamming to the ground.
After clearing the minions, the monstrous Conqueror's Haki didn't retract.
Instead it gathered into thick black-crimson bolts that shattered the earth.
Aokiji strode forward.
Azure dragon scales sprouted over his skin, horns lengthened, frame swelled.
By the time he stood before the trembling Tsukuyomi puppet, he radiated unstoppable might.
''Thanks for helping me unlock my new Esper ability.''
The Tsukuyomi Leader's mind exploded.
''Call this an Esper ability?! He's switched species, damn it!!''
Aokiji didn't care—he'd already tested it.
Even Monster detectors couldn't find a single Monster cell in his fruit-powered form.
Jackpot.
one of the Four Emperors—Kaido, King of the Beasts!!
...
(Throw some stones)