"Hey, crab monster over there! Picking on the weak is pathetic! Got any guts? Let's spar!"
Kaito Ren cracked his knuckles, warming up for the fight.
"Huh?!"
The crab monster, about to finish off Saitama, slowly turned at Kaito Ren's words.
"Chirp chirp chirp! Since you're so eager to die, I'll gladly send you on your way!"
The crab monster grinned, tossing the half-dead Saitama aside. It charged towards Kaito Ren, its blood-stained claws like a death sentence.
Kaito Ren ducked, sidestepping the claws, his nimble feet constantly shifting his position.
"Damn it, you punk! All you do is run?! Fight me head-on!"
The crab monster thrashed, its eyes unable to track Kaito Ren's speed. It roared in frustration, its claws flailing wildly.
Opportunity!
Kaito Ren moved, seizing the opening as the crab monster twisted.
With a "Tiger Descending the Mountain" strike, his speed maximized, he became a blur, appearing above the crab monster before it could react.
Just as the crab monster raised its claws to finish him off, Kaito Ren struck its eyes.
"Aaah! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
Its weakness exposed, the crab monster's arrogance vanished, replaced by desperate pleas for mercy. But a cruel glint remained in its eyes. Everyone who knew its weakness had to die! Not a single one would be spared!
Kaito Ren wasn't fooled. With a powerful yank, he ripped the crab monster apart.
[Ding… Congratulations, host successfully defeated a Wolf-level Crab Monster. Reward: Constitution Enhancement Agent +5.]
[Ding… Congratulations, host successfully defeated a Wolf-level Crab Monster. Reward: Strength Enhancement Agent +3.]
[Ding… Congratulations, host successfully defeated a Wolf-level Crab Monster. Reward: Speed Enhancement Agent +3.]
[Ding… Congratulations, host successfully defeated a Wolf-level Crab Monster. Reward: Pair of Crab Claws.]
Huh?!
Kaito Ren looked puzzled.
Something weird in the rewards.
A pair of crab claws? Seriously? Could it be…?
He glanced at the blood-soaked crab claws.
Is the system being stingy?! This counts as a reward?!
[In the One Punch Man world, all matter contains energy. Monsters, especially, possess significantly higher energy levels. Consumption yields energy absorption.]
So…
Those crab claws suddenly looked appealing.
Just as Kaito Ren was debating whether to steam or spice them, Saitama stumbled over. He dropped to his knees.
"Please, take me as your disciple! I want to be as strong as you!"
[Saitama wishes to become your disciple.]
[1: Accept and train Saitama to become a hero. (Rewards will be granted as Saitama grows stronger.)]
[2: Refuse and leave. (Reward: Strength Enhancement Agent +5)]
[Your choice: Accept or Refuse?]
No brainer.
Accept, of course! Not only would he have a ridiculously powerful disciple, but the rewards for Saitama's growth were too good to pass up.
"You want to become a hero as strong as me?"
Kaito Ren turned to Saitama.
"Yes! I want to be a hero like you!"
Saitama's eyes burned with determination. Witnessing his teacher's fight against the crab monster, he'd had an epiphany. Fighting monsters was his destiny! He was destined to become a hero, like his teacher, protecting everyone!
"My training is incredibly harsh. You need to be prepared to risk your life. Can you do that? If not, give up now. I don't tolerate quitters!"
Kaito Ren adopted a profound air.
"Yes!"
Saitama gritted his teeth. To become a hero like his teacher, he'd endure anything.
"Good! I accept you!"
Kaito Ren gestured, officially taking Saitama as his disciple.
[Ding… Disciple acquired. Reward: Constitution Enhancement Agent +1.]
[Ding… Disciple acquired. Reward: Strength Enhancement Agent +1.]
[Ding… Disciple acquired. Reward: Speed Enhancement Agent +1.]
Whoa?!
Kaito Ren grinned at the notifications.
Even taking a disciple gave rewards. Easy peasy.
"Teacher, where do you live? Is it far? If it's convenient, can I move in with you? It'll make it easier to learn from you."
Saitama looked at Kaito Ren expectantly, eager to begin training.
Uh…
Kaito Ren felt awkward. He couldn't exactly say the park was his home.
"I live far away; it'll be a while before I can go back."
"Oh."
Saitama looked disappointed. Living with his teacher was out of the question.
Then, a new idea struck him.
"Teacher, if you're not busy, could you stay at my place for a while? My house is nearby."
"Sure. I'm free."
Kaito Ren considered it and agreed.
He'd conveniently moved into Saitama's place.
"Wait, wait…"
Algernon XIII, having escaped, tried to thank Kaito Ren and Saitama, but they were already gone.
Heroes… huh?
Algernon XIII watched them go, lost in thought.
"Teacher, I live alone, so my place is a bit messy. Sorry about that."
Back at the apartment, Saitama was embarrassed by the chaotic state of his home and started cleaning frantically.
"It's fine. I understand."
As a fellow single guy and shut-in, Kaito Ren understood perfectly.
But…
Kaito Ren looked around the cramped apartment.
Confused.
Wasn't Saitama supposed to live in a high-class apartment? Why…
Then it hit him. Z-City hadn't yet faced the monster onslaught. The residents hadn't evacuated. Saitama, with his meager savings, was still stuck in this cheap apartment, unable to afford a nicer place.
Still, for two single guys, it was adequate. At least for Kaito Ren. In this strange land… or rather, strange world and strange land… he had a place to stay.
"Saitama, in my homeland, there's a tradition of giving gifts upon becoming a disciple. I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything, but take one of these crab claws."
Kaito Ren produced two enormous crab claws from his inventory.
"Teacher, that's not necessary."
Saitama said it was unnecessary, but his body honestly chose the larger right claw.
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