Genos gave a slight nod, a trace of unwillingness and guilt flashing in his electronic eyes. "I'm sorry, Sensei… as your disciple, my strength is too weak…"
"Disciple?!"
That single word made every professional hero present freeze for a moment.
"That bald guy is the teacher of the rampaging pretty boy Genos?"
"He… he looks like Blizzard's boyfriend. Isn't he the rumored C-Class Rank 233 hero, Caped Baldy Saitama?"
"Seriously? The teacher of an S-Class hero is only C-Class? Judging by his look, is he here to get back at Sweet Mask?"
"Baldy, you'd better get out of here before Sweet Mask beats you down too!"
For many, this was their first time seeing Saitama. After all, a C-Class hero… was about as relevant as a mall security guard in the real world. Few in the hero circle paid him any mind—most had never even heard his name.
The crowd's attention shifted again as cheers erupted—newly promoted S-Class hero Blizzard had arrived. Her worried eyes made it clear to everyone that she had a close relationship with the bald man.
"Blizzard, I'm sorry, but this is still during the match. You'd better not interfere."
Blizzard, who had been about to jump into the ring to help Genos, was stopped. After all, Genos had once cooked for her, making him a friend of sorts.
The man blocking her path made her frown—an antique katana at his side, a toothpick in his mouth, a confident smile on his face.
S-Class Rank 4, Atomic Samurai.
"You're going to block me?"
Emerald-green psychic energy began to spread—since becoming S-Class, Blizzard had never fought another S-Class hero. She was curious to test her strength.
"Psychic power? As expected of Tornado's sister. Unfortunately, that ability, troublesome as it is, isn't invincible."
A razor-thin flash of sword light split the air, and the psychic force around Atomic Samurai shattered instantly.
"Blizzard! Stay out of this—it's not your fight."
In the distance, Saitama propped Genos onto a chair and stood up slowly, his back to Blizzard, voice utterly flat.
"Saitama… is he… worried about me?"
Blizzard's heart trembled, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she stopped.
All eyes turned toward Saitama—and toward the slightly uneasy Sweet Mask across from him.
"Sensei… the vibranium you gave me, the doctor used it to make me an upgrade package. It worked great, but I'm too weak to bring out its full potential. I'm sorry…"
Even battered and broken, Genos still apologized about the vibranium.
Saitama waved it off, ignoring the murmurs of the crowd. He looked at Genos seriously. "You've done well. I believe that one day, you'll become as strong as me."
"As strong as him? Is this baldy sleep-talking?"
"Man, I can't help it—I'm dying laughing. A C-Class hero lecturing an S-Class? That's comedy gold!"
"Get off the stage, baldy! That's not a place for some lowly C-Class like you!"
"Sweet Mask must be terrified—afraid he might accidentally kill the bald guy! Hahaha!"
Even among pro heroes, some had sharp tongues. To them, C-Class was beneath contempt, hardly deserving the hero title.
"Sorry, Sensei… I've caused you trouble again."
"Genos, I'm the one who should apologize. I've been your teacher from the start, but I've never really helped you train or grow stronger. Honestly, I'm not sure how to train you… but maybe, I can just make you stronger directly."
Saitama rubbed his chin as he spoke.
"Stronger?"
Genos's eyes lit up, but then he shook his head. As a cyborg, his only paths to strength were more powerful output engines and better armor materials.
But the vibranium Saitama had brought back had already surpassed the known theoretical limits. As for his engine… Genos already had the most advanced model. Pushing his power further was nearly impossible.
Being a cyborg meant his potential was inherently limited.
'System, can my enhancement scroll and Arc Reactor be used on Genos?'
In his mind, Saitama asked the question.
[Respected Saitama, Genos is a cybernetic lifeform. The Arc Reactor was originally designed by Tony Stark for mechanical bodies. Estimated compatibility: 99.999%. Perfect fit. Use the Arc Reactor?]
[The Perfect Enhancement Scroll cannot be used directly on Genos, but it can enhance the vibranium he possesses. Enhance it now?]
Hearing the system's voice, Saitama's normally blank face curved into a rare, faint smile. He nodded. "Do it. Give Genos both the Arc Reactor and the enhancement scroll."
[Yes, respected Saitama.]
[Applying Arc Reactor to target Genos.]
[Applying Perfect Grade Enhancement Scroll to target vibranium.]
…
One after another, the system prompts rang out as the enhancement scroll and reactor in Saitama's system space slowly vanished.
"This… what's happening?"
Slumped in the chair, Genos's golden electronic eyes flickered wildly. He was shocked to find the vibranium remaining on his back and shoulders undergoing a strange transformation.
The destroyed circuits… were healing?
Healing!
Impossible—how could a mechanical body heal itself?!
[Ding! Perfect Grade Enhancement Scroll consumed ×1. Vibranium upgraded to SS-Class Mimetic Bio-Alloy.]
[Ding! Fourth-Generation Arc Reactor installation complete. Target Genos's energy system updated. Current power output is 76 times higher than before.]
[Ding! SS-Class Mimetic Bio-Alloy and SS-Class Fourth-Generation Arc Reactor have produced a catalytic reaction. Fusing… fusion complete.]
[Ding! Congratulations, respected Saitama. Your disciple Genos has obtained SS+ Class Super Bio-Bionic Battle Armor.]
The prompts echoed in Saitama's mind.
Genos's mechanical body began to change color—not just color, but texture—slowly transforming from cold, hard machinery into something resembling human flesh and blood.
Normal human skin, with the severed arm and torn chest cavity regenerating until no trace of damage remained.
"My body… my strength?! Sensei!!"
Genos's voice had changed too—richer, magnetic, without a hint of synthetic tone.
He now stood before Saitama as a living man, his striking features and handsome face filled with shock and gratitude.
"Oh, looks like it worked even better than I expected," Saitama murmured, surprised that the SS-Class Arc Reactor and evolved vibranium had reacted, fusing into an entirely new creation.
Just a minute ago, Genos had been a pile of scrap metal. Now, he was a fully intact, good-looking man, without a single wound.
"How do you feel? Stronger than before, Genos?" Saitama asked curiously.
"So strong! This feeling…"
Genos's golden eyes lit up. The Fourth-Generation Arc Reactor embedded in his chest glowed faintly. He raised a hand—what looked like an ordinary palm split open to reveal a swirling black aperture, drawing a flood of particles inward.
"The energy output is over three times higher than before… and this is less than ten percent of full capacity?!"
Eyes wide in excitement, Genos could clearly feel two streams of energy from Saitama flowing into his body. Was his teacher even stronger now?
"Saitama? Heh… Referee, this is still during a match, right? What he's doing is seriously interfering with my fight," Sweet Mask said with clear annoyance.
"C-Class Rank 233 hero Saitama, please leave the stage. Otherwise, I will invoke Association Rule #176 to deduct your hero points and revoke your hero license!" the referee barked.
"If he's breaking the rules, then I should have the right to deal with him directly, shouldn't I?"
Sweet Mask smirked. This was exactly what he'd been waiting for—the referee's words gave him the excuse to 'legitimately' beat the bald man in front of Blizzard and humiliate him.
Without another word, Sweet Mask dropped into a low stance, legs coiling like springs before he exploded forward. The alloy floor dented underfoot as his steel-like whip kick arced toward the back of Saitama's head.
"Get off the stage, baldy!"
To Sweet Mask, this weak C-Class hero would be the perfect target to utterly crush, making sure he'd lose all face—especially in front of Blizzard.
"Watch out, Saitama!"
Blizzard's warning rang out, emerald psychic energy gathering—but Atomic Samurai stepped in to block her, deflecting her power.
Smack!
The sound was dull, like a boot striking leather.
Without even turning around, Saitama raised his right arm in a simple guard. Sweet Mask's powerful kick landed squarely on it.
A strike strong enough to blast through a wall… met an unmoving arm. Saitama didn't budge an inch, while the recoil made Sweet Mask's expression shift slightly.
The heroes who had been watching suddenly froze.
A C-Class Rank 233 "nobody" had just blocked an attack from the surging S-Class hero Sweet Mask?!
What kind of nonsense was this?!
"Are you trying to sucker-punch me?"
Saitama slowly turned, brushing dust off his sleeve. His dead-fish eyes lifted slightly, a hint of real displeasure in them.
(End of Chapter)
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