"What's the word, Sitch? Everyone's waiting for an explanation," Atomic Samurai said, looking at Sitch, who was presiding over the meeting.
"Well..." Sitch didn't know how to respond for a moment.
He couldn't exactly say he was just tolerating the other party's behavior, could he?
If he said that, this bunch of eccentric S-Class heroes might end up causing a scene.
"So, do you have a problem, Atomic Samurai?" Genos, standing by Lexon's side, couldn't hold back and spoke up.
His tone was thick with hostility.
It wasn't his place to get involved in the drama between the Fubuki sisters earlier, but there was no need to hold back against someone he didn't know well.
"Oh? 'Demon Cyborg,' are you planning to openly flout the rules?" Atomic Samurai stared directly at Genos.
"Rules? Is there a rule stating that heroes other than the S-Class cannot attend this meeting?" Genos shot back, refusing to back down.
This was actually true; the Association staff mainly invited S-Class heroes, so everyone assumed it was a meeting exclusively for them.
But in reality, that wasn't the case, especially with an exception like Lexon, who was B-Class.
"Now, now, understanding the emergency situation is more important at the moment..." Seeing things take a turn for the worse, Bang spoke up to act as a peacemaker.
This matter wasn't really that big of a deal.
It was hardly worth mentioning.
In the original story, there wasn't much of a reaction when Genos brought Saitama along.
Right now, it was only because Lexon had so many people with him that it caught the S-Class heroes' attention.
"True." Atomic Samurai nodded, giving Silver Fang some face and taking the out he was offered. "We can discuss this later."
"It's not really a big deal anyway. Having a few more cute boys at the meeting is quite nice!" Puri-Puri Prisoner, who had been helped by Lexon and Genos before, chimed in supportively.
"Well... since no one has any objections... I don't really care either." Child Emperor, seeing others weigh in, was fine with moving past the issue.
"Just say it! And make it quick!" Metal Bat said, his face full of impatience. He wanted to get this over with and go to his sister's piano recital.
"Very well, I will now officially explain the emergency situation," Sitch continued, relieved after the tension had died down.
On Lexon's side, however, they were completely bewildered.
'How is it over just like that?'
'Wasn't I supposed to slap them in the face with my strength and dispel their suspicions?'
Lexon was confused.
'Does this mean my side quest succeeded or failed?'
'Could it be... the moment to dispel their suspicion isn't now, but during the upcoming Boros arc?'
Lexon suddenly realized.
'As expected, the Main God isn't so foolish as to just hand out a hundred thousand Reincarnation Points for free.'
"The reason we have invited the top experts in the hero world today is for nothing else but to ask you all... to protect the Earth!" Sitch said in a heavy tone.
"Huh? Protect the Earth? What are you talking about?" Tornado asked, puzzled.
"We've been doing that all along—protecting the Earth," Child Emperor said, licking the lollipop in his hand.
"This time, it's a crisis that threatens the entire planet!" Sitch said sternly. To ensure everyone present took it seriously, he added, "It is a terrifying crisis that can be classified as 'God-level'!"
"God-level?"
Upon hearing this classification, the S-Class heroes, who had been somewhat indifferent and casual, grew serious, their expressions gradually turning solemn.
Ever since the crisis classification standards were established... 'God-level' had only been a theoretical label. There had never been an actual event of such magnitude.
But now, words suggesting that such a crisis was about to occur were coming from the mouth of a high-ranking official at the Association headquarters...
"What I am about to say concerns the specifics of this crisis. If anyone wishes to decline participation, you may speak up now. We will even let those who refuse retain their hero rank, as this is a life-threatening crisis... the Association will not force you."
Sitch said.
"However! Once you have heard the details, no one will be allowed to desert! We will keep you all here until the incident is over! It's not for any other reason... simply to avoid chaos."
"Everyone, are you prepared?"
Ten seconds passed after he spoke, and not a single voice of refusal was heard.
Even Mumen, who was C-Class, remained steadfast.
"As long as what you have to say is worth all this trouble and doesn't disappoint, it's fine," Metal Bat replied, lightly swinging his bat with a gloomy expression. "If it's a disappointment and not worth missing my sister's piano recital for, watch out, because I'll smash this headquarters to pieces!"
"And how are you going to smash anything with that little stick of yours?" Tornado said dismissively.
"What did you say?! Watch it, or I'll chop off that curly mop of yours!" Metal Bat shouted at Tornado.
"You wouldn't dare! You guy with a head like a pill bug!" Tornado's features seemed to simplify into a caricature as she loudly mocked Metal Bat's pompadour.
"Say that again!"
"So what if I do! What are you going to do about it! Pill bug, pill bug, pill bug!!"
The two of them were bickering like children, shouting incessantly during the meeting.
"Stop it, stop it. Let's just hear what Sitch has to say," Bang interjected, playing the mediator once again.
"Indeed. If the bickering continues, the pompadour might actually die." Before Bang could settle things, the handsome S-Class Rank 13 man with long yellow hair, Flashy Flash, spoke up. His attempt to stop them only seemed to add fuel to the fire.
"Hey! Hair-clip guy! You're taking her side, aren't you?!" Metal Bat said irritably.
"The Great Prophet, Shi—"
*BOOM!*
Just as Sitch was about to use explosive information to forcefully stop the commotion, a violent blast that nearly shattered eardrums suddenly echoed from outside the building.
'Huh?'
'Is Boros attacking already?'
Lexon slightly expanded his perception, searching the exterior.
In his knowledge, Boros shouldn't have arrived just yet.
"What happened?" Child Emperor asked in surprise.
"Has the so-called 'God-level' crisis arrived?" Red light flickered in the electronic eye of the S-Class Rank 9 hero, Drive Knight, who was a cyborg like Genos.
"I'm not sure." Sitch's expression shifted uncertainly. "The prophecy left by the Great Prophet Shibabawa before she died was that the Earth would be doomed within roughly two years! But she didn't give a specific time, so I can't be certain!"
He then turned to Guqi, who had been checking the city's damage since the explosion, and asked, "How is it? Are there any problems in the city?"
"No... none," Guqi responded.
"That's good." Sitch sighed in relief. "Then what caused that explosion?"
"The cause has been monitored. See for yourself." As he spoke, cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he brought up a holographic screen.
The monitoring footage that appeared out of thin air instantly caught everyone's eyes.
High above the clouds, ripples suddenly spread out, and an immensely massive, menacing spaceship abruptly appeared.
"This spaceship?..." Child Emperor frowned slightly.
Being an expert in technology, he could tell at a glance the level of tech the ship possessed.
It was far beyond anything humanity currently possessed.
'Those cannons... a single shot would probably wipe out an entire city, wouldn't it?'
Child Emperor couldn't help but wonder.
"It seems this is the 'God-level' crisis," Puri-Puri Prisoner concluded.
However, in the next moment, something happened that was unexpected for him—and everyone else present.
A thick, pitch-black blade mark rose from the ground toward the sky, expanding from the size of a human arm to a scale that almost encompassed the entire spaceship.
*BOOM!*
The massive, menacing spaceship was instantly blown into a sky full of fireworks.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]