"..."
The noisy venue instantly fell silent. Every professional hero stared in disbelief at the twitching body of S-Class Rank 16, Puri-Puri Prisoner, lying on the ground.
His strength was far from weak—more than enough to take on a tiger-class monster one-on-one. But now… in front of gatekeeper Sweet Mask… he couldn't even take a single move?
"This guy… is stronger than I thought!"
"I always assumed Sweet Mask wasted most of his energy on show business, but S-Class Rank 16 didn't even last one hit…"
"Damn! He's way too arrogant!"
The professional heroes and gathered media were in an uproar.
After all, Sweet Mask had been defeated in one move by Fubuki not long ago, leading many to believe he was just a pretty face. But now… an undeniably strong S-Class hero had been KO'd in a single strike.
"His power… has improved a lot since last time."
Floating mid-air with her arms crossed, Tatsumaki frowned slightly.
"Yeah. His strength, speed, even burst output… all clearly increased. Just what kind of ability does this guy have?"
Child Emperor was also deep in thought.
Atomic Samurai chewed on a toothpick, looking completely unconcerned.
"Barely earned a hundred points, huh."
Sweet Mask kicked the unconscious prisoner out of the ring, instantly taking half of his points. Puri-Puri Prisoner dropped from S-Class Rank 16 to A-Class Rank 8 in one blow.
After such an opening victory, no one present—whether media or hero—dared say Sweet Mask was just cocky anymore. The strength was real: a one-hit KO.
"Is there no one in S-Class even slightly decent? Do I really have to beat my way through all of you one by one before I'm satisfied?"
Sweet Mask grinned, his cold gaze dismissing every S-Class present—except Tatsumaki. She was the Association's trump card and couldn't be fought without authorization.
S-Class Rank 3, Bang, wasn't here. Rank 4, Atomic Samurai, seemed to have some sort of deal with him. As for Rank 5, Child Emperor? Sweet Mask had no fear. The rest? Trash.
"S-Class Rank 16… ah, that's right, you're not him. Rank 15: Genos. Points: 328. Much better than that other piece of trash earlier. Don't disappoint me."
Sweet Mask's eyes locked onto Genos.
"Me? Going by rank, I'm one of the weaker S-Class heroes."
Genos thought to himself as the media and spotlights shifted toward him. This handsome, justice-driven cyborg had been a rising star lately, drawing much attention.
"Sorry… I'm in the middle of a hardware upgrade. My new upgrade package is in transit. Estimated arrival: three minutes."
Genos shook his head, rejecting Sweet Mask's provocation.
The vibranium Saitama had brought back had finally been forged into upgrade components with the help of a certain doctor. As a logical machine, Genos wouldn't be baited so easily.
"Tch! I've been sick of your face for a long time, Sweet Mask! You like fighting? Then I'll fight you!"
Spitting on the ground, S-Class Rank 15, Metal Bat, leapt out of the crowd. Carrying his alloy bat, his eyes burned with hostility.
He couldn't stand these flashy, poser types. If he didn't smash him into the floor today, he didn't deserve to be an S-Class hero.
"Oh? Trash? Even someone like you can mix it up in S-Class? Disappointing."
Sweet Mask sneered, one hand in his pocket, the other raised in a ready stance.
"One hand?!"
A vein popped on Metal Bat's forehead. If there was one thing he had plenty of, it was temper.
Looking down on him? Using one hand against him?
"Don't blame me if I cripple you!"
The alloy bat ripped through the air with a heavy whoosh, aiming straight for Sweet Mask's head.
Normal Bat Swing!
Boom—
The attack missed, but the sturdy ring floor shattered into a crater over three meters wide, the tough alloy plates bent and twisted.
"Damn—his strength is incredible! If that hit the head, it'd explode like a watermelon!"
"Metal Bat isn't someone to underestimate in S-Class!"
"Sweet Mask… looks even stronger?!"
Amid the exclamations, Metal Bat's strikes kept missing. Sweet Mask, still with one hand in his pocket, moved with ease. Unfortunately, the ring floor wasn't so lucky, getting smashed full of holes.
"Damn it! You wanna test speed?"
Savage Tornado!!
Metal Bat's expression turned dark. He was pissed—Sweet Mask's trash talk was infuriating.
Several afterimages of Metal Bat appeared, surrounding Sweet Mask completely.
"Let's see you escape this! I'll smash you to pieces, you piece of trash!"
Metal Bat roared as his afterimages all swung down without mercy.
(End of Chapter)
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