Chapter 16: He's THAT Strong?!
What...
Genos couldn't wrap his head around it. How could the monster in front of him evolve to such a terrifying level in a split second?
Seeing the cyborg, who had just been boasting about "eliminating" her, now reduced to a piece of scrap metal, Mosquito Girl's confidence exploded.
She covered her mouth and laughed maniacally, her scarlet eyes filled with disdain and mockery.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you were going to eliminate me? How are you going to do that lying on the ground? Did I give you permission to rest?!"
BAM!
Mosquito Girl kicked Genos in the stomach, launching him high into the air.
Genos tried to activate his mid-air stabilizers to correct his posture, but it was too late.
Mosquito Girl's wings buzzed violently. Moving faster than sound, she appeared in front of the tumbling cyborg, her blade-like forelimbs slashing down.
Slash.
The sound of metal shearing filled the air. Parts and oil sprayed everywhere. Genos was sliced open at the waist, exposing his intricate internal mechanics.
"AHAHAHAHAHA! This power is intoxicating! DIE!!"
A crimson streak tore through the sky. Genos was like a small boat in a hurricane, battered helplessly by her relentless attacks.
CRASH!
When he hit the ground again, less than half of his body remained. His limbs had been chopped off; only his head and torso were still connected to his tattered chassis.
Even the light in his mechanical eyes began to dim. Genos realized with crystal clarity: I cannot defeat this monster.
Is this my only option left...?
His gaze drifted to the blue core glowing in his chest. A dark resolve formed in his processor.
Mosquito Girl landed lightly, stepping on Genos's head with a playful, cruel tone.
"Relax. Dying by the hands of my evolved self is a form of honor. You won't be the last."
I'm sorry... Doctor Kuseno... I must destroy this evil at all costs!
Genos roared internally. Without hesitation, he initiated the overload sequence in his core. Destructive energy began to build up rapidly within his broken mechanical body.
Suddenly, Mosquito Girl's insect instincts screamed at her. Her pupils constricted, and she instinctively flinched back.
Bad news! This guy is going to self-destruct!
Just as Genos was about to detonate...
Rapid footsteps echoed from the asphalt road in the distance, accompanied by a shout:
"Get back here! You damn mosquito! I'm gonna gas you to death today!"
Genos froze. He aborted the self-destruct sequence, looking up in confusion with his cracked face toward the source of the voice.
On the scorched street, a bald man wearing striped pajamas was chasing a wobbling mosquito with a look of pure rage, spraying a can of insecticide wildly.
And floating to the left of the bald man was a tall figure with flowing blond hair and a face that radiated terrifying intimidation.
Kenji's gaze fell on the broken Genos, then shifted to the crimson Mosquito Girl. He immediately knew what stage the plot was at.
Looks like Mosquito Girl finished her evolution and beat the "Budget-Burning Warrior" into the "Out-of-Service Warrior."
Genos's mechanical eyes rapidly scanned the two newcomers, pulling up data in his HUD.
The bald guy in front... no data. His aura is weak. Just a civilian.
The man beside him looks familiar... Wait! That's... S-Class Rank 7! The Strongest Man on Earth, KING!
The flame of hope ignited in Genos's heart. Although he didn't know exactly how strong S-Class heroes were, he had read countless legends about King online.
I couldn't defeat this monster, but if the Strongest Man on Earth is here... maybe there's a chance!
Mosquito Girl was also startled by the sudden arrivals. She entered high-alert mode, sensing their auras.
The bald one is weak. But the blond man next to him... He's strong! Terrifyingly strong!
But so what! I can suck blood endlessly to evolve! I will become the supreme ruler of this world! How could I be scared off by a mere human?!
Mosquito Girl prepared to attack, but she suddenly found her limbs feeling as heavy as lead. They were trembling uncontrollably.
What is happening?! What's wrong with me!
She focused her senses and froze.
Her body was shaking purely out of fear of the blond man. Every cell in her body was screaming in terror.
"ENOUGH!!"
Mosquito Girl shrieked, forcibly suppressing the fear in her heart. The ground beneath her exploded from the force of her launch as she turned into a crimson streak of light, charging forward.
Seeing this, Kenji silently took a step back, hiding behind Saitama.
This Mosquito Girl is bad news. Not because she's strong, but because whoever kills her gets the 'curse'.
If I slap her, I'll automatically acquire a clingy cyborg disciple who refuses to leave until I agree to teach him. I do not want Genos following me around with a notebook, recording my every word. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
I'll let Saitama handle this. He's the canon teacher anyway, even if he was forced into it.
However, something strange happened.
Mosquito Girl completely ignored Saitama—who was still trying to spray the tiny mosquito—and charged straight past him, aiming directly for Kenji.
In her mind, the cyborg was scrap metal, and the baldy with no aura wasn't a threat.
The only one I need to kill is that blond man who makes me feel fear!
If I kill him, I can roam free and ascend to the peak of the world!
Mosquito Girl concentrated all her power into this one strike. She burned every drop of blood stored in her sac, boosting her attack power to a new level.
The crimson streak lingered in the air, carrying the heavy scent of blood. Mosquito Girl reached Kenji's face, her eyes manic with excitement.
DIE, HUMAN!!
Slap.
Kenji casually waved his hand.
The crimson streak instantly disintegrated.
Mosquito Girl was launched away like a cannonball. She flew into the distance and smashed directly into a skyscraper, exploding on impact and painting the entire floor with blood.
"She almost got blood all over me. Good thing my hand speed is fast."
Kenji dusted off his hands. He didn't look like someone who had just obliterated a "Peak Demon" level monster; he looked like someone who had swatted a bug and was just worried about staining his clothes.
Genos: "......"
He's THAT strong?!