The Soul Palace.
The various versions of Chu Yang gathered once again, sharing their experiences from this period of time.
The newest member to join the group came from the One Punch Man world.
Jujutsu Chu Yang patted One-Punch Chu Yang on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Life as an office worker isn't easy, huh?"
One-Punch Chu Yang nodded in agreement.
Having both once been corporate drones in their respective worlds, the two couldn't help but feel a sense of mutual sympathy.
Naruto-world Chu Yang had successfully completed the extraction of the Ōtsutsuki clan's bloodline factors, evolving Sage Mode into Six Paths Sage Mode.
Yet the one who benefited the most was actually Bleach-world Chu Yang.
"I can feel my Zanpakutō about to be born. The power of Yin–Yang Release has pushed them to complete their transformation ahead of time,"Bleach Chu Yang said.
"Them? Two Zanpakutō? That's pretty rare in the Bleach world…"Magic Chu Yang said in surprise.
Among the captains of the Gotei 13, there were only two known dual-blade users—Captain-Commander Yamamoto's two most prized disciples: Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake.
And Shunsui Kyōraku would later become the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
"I'm really looking forward to the day my Zanpakutō take form. What do you think weapons that truly match our soul traits will look like?"
Demon-Slayer-world Chu Yang looked around excitedly, asking for everyone's thoughts. In his world, only two things mattered—swordsmanship and Breathing Techniques—so the birth of a Zanpakutō was of particular importance to him.
Ordinary swords simply couldn't carry the full power of Origin Breathing. Even the wooden swords Chu Yang created using Wood Release were no exception.
When Marvel-world Chu Yang fought the Destroyer using First Form · Sun–Moon Rotation, and when Jujutsu-world Chu Yang slaughtered thousands of cursed spirits using Second Form · Sun–Moon Radiance, both attacks had been significantly weakened.
Perhaps only a Zanpakutō could unleash the Origin Breathing sword techniques at one hundred percent power.
Everyone talked over one another, but no unified conclusion emerged.
Amid the noise, Demon-Slayer Chu Yang walked over to Wuxia-world Chu Yang and said,"While you're on the way to Mongolia, can you collect some sword techniques? The sword arts in the Pirate world and the Demon Slayer world are too crude—creating two techniques is already the limit."
Wuxia Chu Yang nodded in understanding. Although the Wuxia world ranked lower than most others in raw power levels, when it came to profound concepts like law and dao, it was overwhelmingly superior.
If Origin Breathing wanted to continue ascending, it had to absorb these deeper martial philosophies.
After all, Breathing Techniques themselves originated from ancient breathing and circulation methods.
After several days, Marvel-world Chu Yang had learned a great deal of magic in Asgard. Following this round of sharing, Magic Chu Yang gained many new inspirations—his wandless casting ability advanced yet another step.
He could now cast the three Unforgivable Curses effortlessly.
Once Marvel-world Chu Yang returned to Earth, he planned to use the Imperius Curse to infiltrate HYDRA from within and obtain two of the Infinity Stones.
Moments later, mist appeared, returning everyone to their respective worlds.
...
One Punch Man World.
The moth monster stepped over Chu Yang's fallen body and slowly headed toward the direction where the mother and child had fled. To it, a human whose life had already ended was no longer worth tormenting.
"Hahaha! These days, every Tom, Dick, and Harry wants to be a hero. It's so annoying. It's all because of that weird organization called the Hero Association."
Thinking of the recently established Hero Association, the moth monster's expression filled with disdain.
So far, none of the so-called heroes it had encountered had survived its attacks. Many were scared out of their wits—none performed better than the man from earlier.
"How should I play with that mother and son when I find them? The mom looks injured. Maybe I'll keep forcing her to run, and every time she stops, I'll kill her kid. Hahaha! Her expression will be priceless!"
Laughing loudly, the moth monster subconsciously glanced back at the overconfident young man from before.
And that single glance made it stop dead in its tracks.
The young man who should have been dead stood up from the pool of blood, dusting himself off. The gruesome wounds on his body were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"What's going on…? Is this guy really not an ordinary human?"
A sense of unease rose in the moth monster's heart, yet it still mocked him aloud."Hey, you're pretty tough. Don't tell me you're actually a hero? But I've killed plenty like you—nothing special."
No matter what it said, the young man paid no attention, calmly performing some basic warm-up movements as if adapting to his body.
Such absurd physical abilities were hard for Chu Yang to adjust to, given that he had been an ordinary human just moments ago.
"I'm talking to you! Did you hear me, you damn bastard?!"
The moth monster was furious. Accustomed to human screams of terror, it couldn't tolerate someone standing so calmly before it—this was a massive insult to its pride.
"I kept hearing some strange buzzing just now. Thought it was a mosquito… turns out it was you."
Chu Yang cast it a lazy glance.
"A mosquito?! The thing I hate most in my life is mosquitoes!"
The moth monster completely lost control. Chu Yang's words hit its absolute sore spot.
Its wings spread wide. With a single flap, its figure vanished from where it stood. As a Demon-level monster capable of flight, its speed rivaled that of some Dragon-level monsters.
At extreme speed, the moth monster opened its mandibles, baring sharp fangs aimed at Chu Yang's fragile neck.
Just as the fangs were about to touch Chu Yang's skin, they were caught between two slender fingers. A terrifying shockwave erupted at that instant.
"For a moth, you've got a pretty good bite."
Chu Yang snapped the monster's fangs in half, then punched it square in the face. The explosive force sent the moth monster flying.
It crashed through more than ten cars and even a building, dust billowing into the sky.
Compared to the impact when Chu Yang had been thrown earlier, this was on an entirely different level.
The moth monster crawled out of the rubble.
Most of its wings were shredded, its steel-hard carapace dented and cracked, its body drenched in blood.
Now, when it looked at Chu Yang, only fear and deep wariness remained.
"I'm not a monster specialized in raw strength. Beating me in that area isn't anything to brag about," the moth monster sneered."Human, you'll pay for angering me."
With that, it shot straight into the sky.
The reason it had been classified as a Demon-level monster was its ability to spread poisonous scale powder through wing vibrations.
This toxin was incredibly potent and spread rapidly—enough to poison an entire city in moments.
"Idiot! Die together with those ordinary humans!"
The moth monster laughed maniacally as it scattered the poison toward the ground.
"A moth is still just a moth. Even its attack methods lack any creativity."
Chu Yang sneered, summoning shadow clones to occupy high points throughout the city. They formed hand seals simultaneously and unleashed ninjutsu.
"Fire Release · Great Fire Annihilation!"
Multiple waves of flame converged into a terrifying sea of fire, roaring into the sky. Under the inferno's sweep, the poisonous powder instantly turned to ash.
The moth monster's face filled with terror as it flapped its wings with all its might, but it still couldn't escape the engulfing flames.
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
Amid piercing screams, its entire body ignited. The poison powder on it became perfect fuel, the flames growing fiercer and fiercer until it could no longer make a sound.
In a corner of the city, a mother and child who were fleeing stopped in their tracks, staring blankly at the scene.
"Mom, that big brother is a hero, right? He saved us!"
"Yes, my child. He is."
...
"Emergency bulletin!"
"Emergency bulletin!"
"D City has been declared safe!"
"The Demon-level monster roaming the city has been eliminated!"
"Residents of D City may return and resume normal life!"
The emergency news appeared on television once again.
The anchor was the same one who had warned people to evacuate that morning, though the content was now completely different.
He excitedly delivered the good news to the public, his words tinged with lingering fear.
The broadcast echoed clearly through every corner of the city. Refugees stopped where they were, listening in silence.
Some smiled in relief after surviving the disaster.
Others collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
"So heroes really arrived that fast?"
"Those guys usually drag their feet. Didn't expect them to be this quick today."
"What are you saying? They protected us!"
"Huh? Aren't they paid by the Hero Association? Everyone's just working for money—why talk about protection?"
"Even so, you don't have to say it like that."
Arguments erupted among the crowd. Some were grateful for being protected; others felt it was only natural.
Such debates were all too familiar. After every monster attack on a city, similar voices could always be heard.
If Chu Yang were here, he'd probably just smile it off. He had never been protecting these people—only the kindness left behind in his heart by that departed girl.
The swift elimination of the Demon-level monster left many A-Class heroes who had been rushing to D City with nothing to do. This, in turn, drew the attention of the Hero Association's headquarters in City A.
After confirming that the deed was not done by a registered hero, the Hero Association immediately dispatched investigators to D City.
Chu Yang's battle with the moth monster hadn't damaged nearby infrastructure. The investigators easily obtained traffic camera footage and viewed the entire fight.
About two days later, someone knocked on Chu Yang's door.
When Chu Yang opened it, a middle-aged man in a suit stood outside.
"Hello, Mr. Chu Yang. My name is Foster, from the Hero Association."
Foster introduced himself politely while observing Chu Yang.
Chu Yang looked even more ordinary than he had expected—like a young man who had just entered society.
"You guys move pretty fast."
"Of course. The elimination of a Demon-level monster is no small matter."
"But it was only Demon-level."
"Hahaha, you're too modest, Mr. Chu Yang. I watched your battle—the enemy had no chance to fight back. You won decisively."
Chu Yang smiled. "Then you definitely didn't watch the first half. I got beaten pretty badly."
Foster replied solemnly, "That's precisely what proves your potential. Talents like you—who awaken their abilities and immediately defeat a Demon-level monster—are extremely rare."
Chu Yang nodded noncommittally and invited Foster inside. The two sat on the sofa and talked for a while.
Foster explained his purpose: he was here to invite Chu Yang to join the Hero Association.
"If I join the Association," Chu Yang asked,"do I have to start as a C-Class hero?"
"Of course not, Mr. Chu Yang. You defeated a Demon-level monster on your own. The Association is prepared to rate you as A-Class, though your ranking would be toward the lower end for now."
Chu Yang thought about it for a moment and decided he was willing to accept—but before doing so, he put a condition.
"In the near future, I don't want to leave D City. If you're going to assign me missions, it'd be best if they're in or around D City. Otherwise, I may not be able to carry them out."
One day in the future, the Giant Brothers would pass through this place and destroy the city. If Chu Yang couldn't stop that from happening, then everything he'd done today would be meaningless.
Moreover, Z City lay right next to D City—the city where Saitama lived.
Sooner or later, Chu Yang was bound to come into contact with him.
The greatest attraction this world held for Chu Yang was uncovering how to break his own limiter.
Hearing Chu Yang's request, Foster scratched his head awkwardly, clearly troubled.
According to regulations, all heroes below S-Class had to unconditionally obey the Association's assignments. Chu Yang was only A-Class—and ranked near the bottom at that. It was difficult for Foster to agree to such a demand.
But the potential Chu Yang had displayed was anything but ordinary, and Foster didn't want to give up on him so easily.
"Mr. Chu Yang, please wait a moment. I need to ask for headquarters' opinion."
Foster stood up, forcing a smile as he took out his phone and walked to the balcony.
Chu Yang nodded, signaling for him to go ahead.
After a while, Foster returned from the call, his face full of regret.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chu Yang. Headquarters didn't approve your request."
"In fact, we originally wanted to invite you to be stationed at the Hero Association headquarters. There are many important figures there who need personal bodyguards—the compensation is extremely generous…"
Chu Yang raised his hand, cutting Foster off.
"That's enough, Mr. Foster. I'm sorry."
Foster hesitated, then let out a helpless sigh and stood up to leave.
He truly felt it was a shame.
This young man gave him a sense of unwavering stability, like Mount Tai itself—stronger even than many of the S-Class heroes he'd met before.
Failing to reach an agreement didn't trouble Chu Yang much. After all, his reason for considering the Hero Association in the first place was simply to gain more opportunities to interact with Saitama.
Money and fame—those were never things Chu Yang cared about.
Breaking the limiter was the only goal that mattered.
Night fell.
The entire city grew deathly quiet, like a giant slipping into sleep.
Chu Yang's figure appeared around the outskirts of the city. He was setting up barriers, intending to envelop all of D City within them.
These barriers could activate the instant the city suffered catastrophic damage, blocking most of the impact.
That way, when Chu Yang fought the "Giant" Marugori, the collateral damage to the city could be reduced to a minimum.
Half a month later.
The "Giant" Marugori appeared in D City.
His colossal body towered into the clouds, radiating overwhelming pressure. Everything above his chest was completely obscured by the cloud cover.
Each step he took sent out terrifying shockwaves.
The Hero Association had classified him as a Demon-level monster—a profoundly foolish judgment. His true strength was unquestionably above Demon-level. It was only because Saitama had killed him with a single punch that Marugori had seemed like a weakling.
Under emergency alerts, people once again fled the city in panic. Many froze in terror the moment they caught sight of Marugori's massive form.
With a casual wave of his hand, Marugori unleashed a horrifying blast of wind pressure that obliterated an entire forest on the city's outskirts.
Countless people witnessed the scene through live television broadcasts.
How are we supposed to escape an attack from something like that?
Citizens stared in shock.
Despair spread rapidly.
"We'll die even if we run!"
"Didn't you see that?"
"That giant just waved his hand and the whole forest vanished!"
"Instead of squeezing ourselves to death trying to escape, we might as well stay here and wait to die…"
Someone in the crowd screamed hysterically, already mentally broken.
"Where are the heroes?!"
"Please, save us! I'll never say anything bad about you again!"
Some were furious.Some begged.Some despaired.Some laughed maniacally.
At the edge of life and death, every facet of humanity was laid bare.
From atop a skyscraper, Chu Yang watched everything in silence.
The "Giant" slowly advanced in this direction. His real target wasn't D City—he was merely passing through. Unfortunately, the city lay directly in his path, an eyesore that needed to be removed.
Marugori raised his arm high, expression indifferent, like a demon god delivering judgment at the end of days.
He swung his arm down with full force. The wind pressure generated by that monstrous power was so intense that even the surrounding space began to distort.
But the gale didn't destroy the city as Marugori expected.
Just as it reached the city's edge, it was stopped by an unseen force.
Four purple barriers lit up around D City.
They then closed in, sealing the city securely within.
Four Violet Flames Formation!
The citizens looked up in confusion, only then realizing that solid walls formed from purple flames surrounded them.
"What… is this?"
Standing on Marugori's shoulder, the scientist Fukegao pushed up his glasses.
Marugori and Fukegao were brothers.
It was Fukegao's ultimate steroid compound that Marugori had consumed, transforming him into a super giant.
But while he grew larger and stronger, his intelligence declined sharply. The current "Giant" Marugori was little more than a brute.
"Brother, purple walls!"
"Walls or not, anything that blocks our path gets erased, Marugori!"
"Understood, brother."
Marugori stepped toward D City. His tens-of-thousands-of-tons body shook the earth with each step, every footfall like a magnitude-seven earthquake.
Countless citizens crouched on the ground, trembling uncontrollably.
Fukegao gazed down coldly at the city, a smile creeping onto his lips. At this moment, he felt like the ruler of the world.
In the distance, a small black dot rapidly approached.
Fukegao's smile faded. He said impatiently,"Another so-called hero, coming to die one after another like mosquitoes. Marugori, kill him."
"Okay, brother."
Marugori locked onto the black dot. As it drew near, he suddenly threw a punch.
The wind from the fist tore at the space ahead, forming an even greater storm.
Chu Yang swayed violently in the raging winds. The barrier behind him began to flicker. He realized that if the fight continued here, the Four Violet Flames Formation would eventually be destroyed.
In the next instant—
Chu Yang began forming hand seals.
A gigantic wooden giant burst forth from the ground.
Ten meters.
One hundred meters.
One thousand meters.
Ten thousand meters!
In the blink of an eye, the wooden giant's size matched that of the "Giant" Marugori.
Not only that—a massive wooden dragon coiled around the wooden giant's waist.
Its draconic head was raised high, eyes sharp and icy as it locked onto the giant.
Chu Yang stood atop the wooden giant's shoulder, staring across the distance at Fukegao.
"A hollow shell like that thinks it can be compared to Marugori?"Fukegao sneered coldly."Smash him to pieces, Marugori!"
The giant roared and charged at the wooden giant, his attacks crude and savage, like a rampaging beast.
The wooden giant reached out and clamped a hand over the giant's mouth. The roar was cut off instantly.Then—a brutal uppercut smashed into the giant's jaw.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Marugori was forced back again and again by the overwhelming force, his enormous body pitching backward, nearly falling before barely managing to regain his footing.
Fukegao wasn't so lucky.
He staggered, slipped from Marugori's shoulder, and plunged downward from a height of ten thousand meters.
"MARUGORI!!!"
Fukegao screamed in terror as he fell. The giant reacted sluggishly, lowering his head only then realizing his brother was dropping.
"BROTHER!!!"
Marugori panicked and reached out to grab him.
"NO—!!!"
Fukegao seemed to realize something at that moment and let out a shrill scream.
Squash!
A burst of blood exploded in Marugori's palm.
When he opened his hand, there was no sign of his brother—only a mess of crushed flesh and gore.
Chu Yang sighed softly."History really does like to repeat itself…"
Marugori froze for a moment, then threw his head back and howled in grief and rage.
"BROTHER!!!"
The brother-obsessed giant fell into absolute madness.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto the wooden giant—the sole culprit in his mind.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Marugori charged wildly, the ground shaking violently beneath his steps.
Seeing this, Chu Yang commanded the wooden giant to lower its stance, adopting a sumo-like posture to meet the savage charge head-on.
BOOM—!!!
The two colossal beings slammed into each other.
The shockwave erupted outward, the resulting gale flipping the helicopters broadcasting the battle live in the skies nearby.
Out of five helicopters, only one remained after the storm subsided.
In the heart of D City, a massive LED screen relied on that last helicopter's feed to continue broadcasting the scene. Countless citizens watched in breathless silence.
The Four Violet Flames Formation blocked the shockwave once more—but its glow dimmed significantly. It clearly wouldn't withstand another strike.
"I need to drag this guy farther away…"
Chu Yang muttered.
The wooden giant responded in perfect sync, power surging as it pushed Marugori back step by step.
Where the two struggled, the ground was torn open into abyss-like trenches.
"You bastard!!!"
Marugori roared, veins bulging as he squeezed out every last bit of strength, barely stabilizing himself.
Just as he prepared to counterattack—
the wooden giant moved first.
By the time Marugori realized what was happening, both his arms had already been locked in place.
The tiny black figure standing on the wooden giant's shoulder erupted in brilliant azure lightning.
A deep chill ran through Marugori's body.
An indescribable terror spread through his heart.
"Let me go!!!"
He struggled frantically, space and earth trembling under his movements.
Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Source Breathing, Armament Haki—everything that could be stacked, Chu Yang stacked.
Only Sage Mode was left unused.
In his hands, two wooden blades formed.
One blazed with dazzling sunlight.The other flowed with pure, silvery moonlight.
"This isn't my full power," Chu Yang said with a light smile."But six or seven tenths should be more than enough. I'm giving you face."
He leapt.
A brilliant streak of light shot forward.
The radiance pierced straight through Marugori's heart.
His chest exploded like it had been struck by a cannon.
Blood poured down like a torrential flood.
Marugori let out a few hoarse screams before his breath rapidly faded.
The wooden giant lifted him up—and flung him aside like discarded trash.
Chu Yang returned to sit calmly on the wooden giant's shoulder.
On the LED screen, the image froze on his indifferent face.
That face burned itself deep into the hearts of everyone in D City.
Far away in A City, Foster watched the news, once again convinced of Chu Yang's limitless potential. Unable to hold back, he rushed to find his direct superior.
"Believe me—he will definitely become an S-Class hero. Giving him special privileges in advance won't be a problem."
"Foster, that giant wasn't as strong as you think. According to investigations, he was just a drug-mutated human."
"But Chu Yang showed overwhelming strength! That's the second Demon-level monster he's defeated—and he only awakened recently!"
The superior hesitated, falling silent. After a moment of thought, he finally sighed.
"Foster… I'll trust you this once. From today onward, you'll be his assigned liaison, responsible for communication between him and headquarters."
Foster jumped up in excitement.
Becoming a liaison meant his status within the Hero Association would rise along with Chu Yang's strength.
And Foster had absolute faith in Chu Yang's future.
After the battle with the giant, Chu Yang's fame in D City exploded.
What followed was endless harassment.
His home address was leaked by former coworkers. Now, every day, countless media outlets squatted outside his door, hoping for an exclusive interview.
Ironically, becoming a household-name hero meant… becoming homeless.
"Sigh… these people really have nothing better to do."
Chu Yang stood in the shadows of an alley, gazing at the sea of people crowding his doorway, shaking his head helplessly.
"You'll get used to it. This kind of thing will happen often in the future. But this time, I suggest you move."
Foster appeared silently behind him.
Chu Yang turned in surprise. Foster lifted his briefcase and waved it lightly.
"I brought you a new contract, Mr. Chu Yang."
"I'm not interested in being a bodyguard."
Chu Yang stretched lazily.
"Of course not." Foster smiled awkwardly."Headquarters has agreed to your conditions. If you're willing, from today onward, you'll officially be a member of the Hero Association."
As he spoke, Foster took out a freshly printed contract and handed it over.
"Take your time reviewing the terms. If you have any questions, you can contact me anytime."
Chu Yang accepted the contract and nodded.
After leaving his contact information, Foster exited the alley.
Late at night, with no sign of Chu Yang all day, the opportunists finally dispersed.
Chu Yang let out a breath of relief.
But not long after returning home, there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it now?"
After hiding all day, his patience had worn thin.
Face dark, Chu Yang opened the door.
Outside stood a man in a trench coat.
Around forty years old, with a small mustache and black-rimmed glasses—cultured, yet rugged.
"Hello, Mr. Chu Yang. I'm Rod, Director of the Major Disaster Response Division of the D City Metropolitan Police."
The man smiled, eyes sharp.
"The police?"
Chu Yang froze.
In recent years, the Hero Association had dominated nearly all public safety affairs, rendering the police almost invisible. He'd nearly forgotten they existed.
Rod didn't seem offended. Instead, he smiled wryly.
"These days, the word 'police' does sound unfamiliar, doesn't it?"
"People are used to turning to heroes. Compared to them, the police seem… useless."
Chu Yang smiled awkwardly."That's not what I meant. I'm just curious why Officer Rod came to see me."
Rod took a deep breath, then spoke solemnly.
"I'm a straightforward man, so I won't beat around the bush. I hope Mr. Chu Yang can join our police department as a security consultant."
Join the police?Become an officer?
Chu Yang looked at him in surprise.
Rod smiled bitterly.
"As I said, people trust heroes far more than they trust us now. The word 'police' is practically becoming a slur."
"The Hero Association's influence keeps growing. Even the government can barely restrain them anymore. Many high-ranking officials have already sided with that organization."
His voice grew heavy.
"That's not a good thing. The Hero Association was founded by the tycoon Algeni. At its core, it serves the wealthy. Ordinary people are only secondary beneficiaries."
"When that organization completely replaces us… whether ordinary people will still be protected is anyone's guess."
Chu Yang listened silently.
Rod's concerns weren't unfounded.
The Hero Association had already crossed lines many times. But because they genuinely saved countless civilians, most people turned a blind eye.
A clear example was post-battle reconstruction.
While the Association handled much of it, they also frequently seized land for self-serving redevelopment.
They acted entirely on their own authority.
Once an organization built entirely on wealth gained real power, what it might become was something no one could guarantee—
no matter how popular it was right now.
Chu Yang could feel Rod's urgency, but he had no desire to get involved in power struggles.
He shook his head.
The light in Rod's eyes dimmed instantly.
Someone as powerful as Chu Yang, yet not absorbed by the Hero Association, was exceedingly rare.
"May I ask something bluntly?" Rod said quietly."Has the Hero Association contacted you?"
"They gave me a contract today."
"…I see."
Rod gave a self-mocking smile, as if he had already resigned himself to the outcome."The police department really can't offer conditions better than theirs—especially for someone as strong as you."
Chu Yang shook his head."They did give me very generous terms, but that's not why I would join them."
Aside from S-Class heroes, the income of other hero ranks really wasn't that high.
Rod looked at Chu Yang in confusion.
"Is the Hero Association flawed—then is the police department without problems?"
"Officer Rod, if you only push all the responsibility onto others, then even if I joined you, the police's position wouldn't improve at all."
"The Hero Association is just an organization that's existed for a few short years. Before it appeared, the police were the ones people relied on."
"And what did you do during that time?"
"Disappointment isn't something that accumulates overnight, Officer Rod."
Rod was rendered speechless. He lowered his head in shame, his body trembling slightly.
Chu Yang sighed. Some words hurt—but they still had to be said.
If the police really intended to change…
The next day.
Foster arrived at Chu Yang's home beaming with joy, signed the contract with him, and Chu Yang officially became an A-Class hero.
Temporarily ranked tenth.
In a café on A City's central commercial street.
"Why does some nobody I've never even heard of get to replace my position?"
"Just because he was on TV?"
"That kind of drug-mutated monster was all bark and no bite. I could've beaten it just as easily!"
Poison Stinger, who had just been pushed down from A-Class Rank 10 by Chu Yang, vented angrily to his companion. Why was it him who got pushed down—and not someone else?
Sitting beside Poison Stinger was another A-Class hero, Golden Ball, originally Rank 26.
Because of Chu Yang, he was now Rank 27.
"It is strange. This isn't even recruitment season, yet some hero no one's ever seen suddenly appears—and jumps straight to Rank 10."
Golden Ball dressed like a rapper, with a small goatee. As he spoke, his brow furrowed unconsciously, looking deeply dissatisfied.
"Do you think that guy pulled strings? That kind of thing isn't rare. The Association's full of people like that."
The man speaking wore a brown snakeskin suit with a red tie. He was thin, his whole demeanor gloomy.
He was Sneck—the lowest-ranked A-Class hero.
Sneck's words resonated strongly with Poison Stinger.
"That guy definitely used connections!" Poison Stinger said indignantly. "I'm going to D City and challenge him in front of everyone. I'll take back my Rank 10!"
Golden Ball frowned."That's not a good idea. Meaningless fights between heroes could get you punished by the Association."
Poison Stinger's attitude was resolute."I'm challenging him no matter what!"
Sneck said, "It's fine. As long as you don't beat him too badly, the Association won't care much. At worst, it'll just be a warning."
Sneck was more than happy to see Poison Stinger challenge Chu Yang. That newcomer had made his already precarious ranking even more unstable.
Poison Stinger was impulsive by nature. Once he made up his mind, he immediately stood up and hurried out of the café.
Golden Ball watched his back leave, worry on his face."This is going to cause trouble…"
By the time Poison Stinger arrived in D City by train, it was already the next day.
Chu Yang happened to be dealing with a Tiger-level monster near the station. He didn't use any abilities—didn't even activate Haki. With sheer physical strength alone, he killed it instantly. His fist, as big as a stew pot, slammed down like a butcher pounding meatballs. In the blink of an eye, the monster was reduced to a pile of pulp.
Poison Stinger saw the brutal scene the moment he exited the station. His eyelid twitched violently, and he licked his dry lips.
What a ferocious rookie. Strength-type, huh?
No problem!I can counter him with technique!
Poison Stinger silently pumped himself up and strode toward Chu Yang with imposing momentum.
Chu Yang also noticed the extravagantly styled Poison Stinger, his hairstyle looking like some internet café regular from the non-mainstream era.
The spear in his hand inexplicably resembled male anatomy.
"You're that newcomer who jumped straight to A-Class Rank 10? Your name's… Chu Yang, right? What an awkward name."
Poison Stinger's expression was hostile, his tone dripping with provocation.
"What do you want?"Chu Yang said indifferently, brushing the flesh and blood off his hands.
Poison Stinger sneered."Thanks to you, I went from Rank 10 to Rank 11."
Chu Yang found him baffling and frowned."Shouldn't you reflect on yourself? If you were Rank 9, you wouldn't have been pushed down."
For a brief moment, Poison Stinger felt Chu Yang's words made a terrifying amount of sense.
The two facing off quickly drew a crowd of onlookers. Some people were already pulling out their phones to record.
"In any case, I'm challenging you—to prove I deserve to be Rank 10!"
Poison Stinger thrust his beloved spear, "Bamboo Shoot," forward, the tip aimed straight at Chu Yang in blatant provocation.
"Why not challenge Rank 9 directly? Is it because you can't beat him? Or do you just really like the number ten?"Chu Yang asked sincerely.
That question instantly made Poison Stinger feel embarrassed and furious.
Every word implied he was picking on the weak, and objectively speaking, that wasn't entirely wrong.
Poison Stinger froze, suddenly realizing he was stuck—attacking felt wrong, backing down felt worse. Laughter had already started around them.
"I was joking just now. You can go ahead and attack. I'd also like to see how much weight my Rank 10 really carries."
Chu Yang put on a gentle smile. His voice was soft—but it made Poison Stinger feel an inexplicable chill.
At this point, there was no turning back. Poison Stinger charged forward with his spear, striking first.
"Special Move—Giant Spiral Poison Sting!"
The spearhead spun at extreme speed, tearing through the air with a deafening shriek.
This was Poison Stinger's ultimate technique. Against Tiger-level monsters, it was always a sure kill, and it could still injure Demon-level foes.
The spear flashed like lightning, stabbing toward Chu Yang's face.
Chu Yang coated his body in Armament Haki and calmly extended a hand, blocking the spear. The sharp tip struck his palm, erupting in a shower of sparks.
Poison Stinger's eyes went wide, as if he'd seen a ghost.
Someone blocked Giant Spiral Poison Sting with a bare hand—and wasn't injured?!
Is this guy a monster?!
The surrounding crowd sucked in a collective breath, stunned into silence.
Chu Yang clenched the spearhead. Sparks scattered like falling cherry blossoms as the spinning shaft slowly came to a halt.
No matter how hard Poison Stinger tried, the spear wouldn't budge—locked firmly in Chu Yang's grip.
Chu Yang grinned."You ran all this way. Must not have rested much, huh?"
Poison Stinger looked up at him blankly.
"Have a good sleep."
Chu Yang stepped forward and kicked hard into Poison Stinger's chest and abdomen. The blow sent his organs churning violently.
Poison Stinger gasped for air, his vision dimming. He couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed face-first onto the ground.
The next instant—
Camera flashes exploded!
The onlookers frantically took photos and videos, capturing this humiliating moment. Chu Yang shook his head. By tomorrow morning, Poison Stinger would be all over the news.
Within the crowd, a pair of eyes was fixed tightly on Chu Yang.
As more people gathered, Chu Yang quietly slipped away, leaving Poison Stinger unconscious on the ground.
He'd originally planned to send the guy to a clinic or hospital…
"What a hassle. Hopefully this opens some eyes. If you want to climb the rankings, killing monsters is the only way!"
On his way home, Chu Yang was still grumbling when he noticed someone blocking the road ahead.
"Again? Is this ever going to end?!"
Chu Yang scratched his head, thoroughly irritated.
The person suddenly spoke."You're a ninja, right? Which ninja village are you from?"
Chu Yang froze, then answered instinctively,"I'm from Konoha."
The man's expression turned blank.
"Where's Konoha?"
(End of Chapter)