Chapter 20: A Living Hell
"King-sensei, this is..."
As the piercing alarm rang out, all three of them looked down at the smartphone flashing with a red interface.
"Ah, this," King looked at the flashing screen and explained thoughtfully. "This is a special phone issued to S-Class heroes. When a major disaster strikes, it forces a broadcast. This ensures that S-Class heroes can provide timely support and prevent the disaster from spreading."
Hearing this, Saitama paused. He patted his trouser pockets but only found the flip phone he had bought ages ago.
"Eh? I thought you said all S-Class heroes have one? Why don't I have one?"
King explained patiently, "Saitama, you just became S-Class today. You haven't gone to pick up your exclusive equipment yet. You can go to the Hero Association later to claim it. While you're there, you can talk to them about your codename."
Saitama turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the noisy alarm on King's phone with a hint of confusion.
"Shouldn't we go deal with the disaster first? That thing is pretty loud and annoying."
Just as King was about to speak, the long-awaited system notification chime rang in his ears.
[Ding! Congratulations Host, you have triggered a Choice Event.]
[Option 1: The Anime-Buffed Version of "The Titan" (Marugori) has appeared in City B. He will cause immense damage to the city, and his power level is at the "High Dragon" tier. As the legendary Strongest Man on Earth, go forth and protect humanity. Duel the Titan alone and achieve a crushing victory to add even more weight to your title.]
Reward: All Attributes +10%.
[Option 2: How can one grow without facing the storm? Since the "Budget-Burning Warrior" Genos has chosen you, fulfill your duty as a teacher. Decide to bring Genos along to face the Titan, and let him experience the true weight of the Strongest Man on Earth.]
Reward: Random Passive Skill x1, Random Active Skill x1.
Oh?
King was starting to figure out the pattern of this system. The main source of rewards seemed to rely on these multiple-choice scenarios; everything else was a mystery.
It seemed he could also get stats and rewards for "First Kills" on certain monster tiers, though he hadn't fully tested that yet.
Perfect. A fresh "Titan" just spawned. I can use him to test the system's reward mechanisms.
King scanned the two options rapidly, analyzing them in a split second.
Option 1 offered a solid reward. A 10% increase to all stats was a direct and substantial boost to his combat power.
However...
The corner of King's mouth slowly curled up. He chose Option 2 without hesitation.
Two random skills? That is way too tempting. I am, after all, a gambler at heart!
[Ding! Congratulations Host, you have selected Option 2. Rewards will be issued after the Titan is slain.]
Having made his choice, King quickly swiped away the blue data panel in front of him.
"Saitama, you go to the Hero Association and sort out your issues first. Leave the monster in City B to me."
Hearing King's words, Saitama scratched his bald head. Eventually, he nodded.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you then. I really need to go have a word with those Association guys today. I can't believe they gave me such a humiliating codename!"
With that, Saitama's figure vanished from the spot at a speed invisible to the naked eye, turning into a yellow streak of light that disappeared into the horizon.
He didn't fly; he just jumped lightly from the doorway.
Having sent the Caped Baldy away, King turned his gaze to Genos, who was standing by, awaiting orders. His tone became deep and steady.
"Genos, you have been wanting to take me as your teacher, to follow me on the path to becoming stronger. Do you know what allows a person to grow the fastest?"
Genos's heart skipped a beat. He knew that King-sensei, the Strongest Man on Earth, was about to reveal the secret to ultimate power.
"There is only one answer."
King slowly raised his head. His majestic, scarred face looked up, and his blue eyes seemed to radiate a domineering aura that looked down upon the world.
"Actual combat is the sole criterion for testing truth. If you want to become strong, you must experience countless life-and-death battles. Only by dancing on the edge of death can you achieve your true self and break the limits of your soul."
Genos felt like he had been struck by lightning. He stared blankly, absorbing the profound wisdom.
Actual combat is the sole criterion for testing truth...
As expected of King-sensei! A short sentence, yet so incredibly philosophical. This is how a true powerhouse speaks and acts!
It seems that the reason King-sensei became the Strongest Man on Earth is that he, too, underwent countless death matches to achieve this ultimate sublimation.
Seeing Genos looking enlightened, King smiled with gratification. He patted Genos's mechanical shoulder, creating a heavy metallic clang.
"And now, I will take you to experience real combat. This is the path to strength that belongs to everyone. I hope you do not disappoint me."
King-sensei wants to take me to resolve the giant monster ravaging City B?!
Genos instantly became excited. This would be his first time fighting side-by-side with his teacher. His expression turned incredibly serious.
"Yes, Sensei! I guarantee I will complete the mission!"
City B, District 3.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!
Accompanied by roarings that sounded like earthquakes, another section of the skyscraper-filled city was ground into dust.
People fled in terror, scattering in all directions. The streets were packed with crowds trying desperately to escape.
Some didn't even have the will to run. They simply sat paralyzed on the ground in despair, staring up at the colossal figure that pierced the clouds.
The piercing alarm rang incessantly in everyone's ears, heralding the arrival of doom.
[WARNING: A Giant Monster has appeared in City B. Current Disaster Level: Demon. Residents of City B are urged to evacuate effectively to prevent casualties!!]
[WARNING: A Giant Monster has appeared in City B. Current Disaster Level: Demon...]
Terrified screams, shrill alarms, exploding cars, and the rumble of collapsing earth formed a symphony of death.
In this moment, the vast metropolis of City B had been reduced to a Living Hell.