Chapter 2: Bro, Do I Know You?
Location: Hero Association HQ
Inside the command center, the atmosphere was thick with panic. Staff members were glued to their workstations, fingers flying across keyboards as red emergency alarms flashed rhythmically on the massive main screen.
"Report! Dragon-level threat 'Vaccine Man' is continuing to spike in energy levels! At this rate, his next attack will wipe out the entirety of City M!"
"Where are the heroes? Are there any S-Class heroes nearby?!"
"A large number of A-Class and B-Class heroes were deployed minutes ago, but they couldn't even stand against him for a single round! The S-Class heroes are currently en route!"
The operator's voice cracked with tension as he shouted the report. Standing behind him was Sitch, the department chief. Sweat was already pouring down his face, dripping off his famously large nose.
If this monster—possessed of such terrifying destructive power—was allowed to rampage any longer, City M would be reduced to dust. The collateral damage would ripple out to neighboring cities.
But more importantly, if the Hero Association failed to handle a threat of this magnitude, their influence and public trust would plummet. The societal consequences would be immeasurable.
Just as Sitch felt despair creeping in, a new notification popped up. The terrified operator suddenly froze, his eyes widening in joy.
"Sir! We have a visual! The satellite signal has cut through the energy interference. King has arrived at the scene! He is engaging Vaccine Man!"
Hearing that name, Sitch's expression shifted instantly. The heavy stone crushing his heart vanished.
The Strongest Man on Earth... King.
If he was there to handle the disaster, then it was handled.
Although almost no one had ever actually seen King fight, the legends surrounding him were countless. Sitch held near 100% faith in this mysterious, god-like figure.
If it was King, City M might actually be saved.
Location: City M Ruins
I'm going to die!
A terrifying sense of mortality screamed through every cell in Vaccine Man's body. He didn't hesitate. He immediately drew upon every ounce of energy he had left.
A sphere of energy, pulsating with the aura of absolute annihilation, formed rapidly in his mouth. He aimed it directly at the charging Kenji.
This was a desperation move—an attack born from the brink of death. Its power was at its absolute peak.
If this thing exploded here, the surrounding district wouldn't just be destroyed; it would be atomized.
Kenji's eyes narrowed.
With his "Gate of Death" physique, he could face-tank the explosion without taking much damage. But everything around him? Gone.
His heightened senses expanded outward like a radar. To his shock, he detected thousands of faint life signatures within a few kilometers.
These were survivors buried under the rubble. They were alive, but if that energy ball detonated here, their only fate was to be turned into ash.
In that case...
Kenji abandoned his direct strike on Vaccine Man. With a flicker of movement, he vanished and reappeared directly underneath the massive energy sphere.
"Sekizo! (Evening Elephant)"
His fists became a blur. He punched the empty air above him with god-speed velocity.
The terrifying force compressed the atmosphere itself into solid shapes. Massive cannons of pressurized air, visible to the naked eye, blasted upward like artillery fire.
In just a few seconds, Kenji threw over a hundred punches. The area around him became a near-vacuum as all the air was sucked in and compressed to bombard the energy sphere.
Driven by the overwhelming kinetic force, the sphere—moments away from detonation—was launched violently into the upper atmosphere.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sky changed color.
A golden light blinded the heavens as the sphere detonated high above. The shockwave scattered the clouds for dozens of kilometers, leaving the sky eerily clear.
Vaccine Man, now shriveled and drained after expending all his energy, watched this scene with eyes popping out of his skull.
"Impossible! You... you definitely aren't human! Who the hell are you?! Humans cannot possess this kind of power! You are nothing but pollution—filthy bugs! How can you threaten me, the very incarnation of the Earth's Will?!"
Kenji didn't bother answering.
He flickered again, appearing instantly right in front of Vaccine Man's face. Crimson steam—vaporized blood from his high-octane metabolism—began to leak from his pores, condensing around his fist.
Pop.
It sounded like a balloon bursting.
Vaccine Man's head exploded on impact.
The massive, headless body went limp and crashed to the ground with a thunderous thud. Green blood sprayed into the air like a grim fountain, raining down on the ruins.
Standing amidst the green rain, Kenji felt the terrifying power still coursing through his veins. He couldn't help but marvel at his luck.
Talk about a god-tier start. I just got here and my combat power is already broken.
Based on how easily he handled Vaccine Man, Kenji estimated his strength was at least Dragon-Level (Peak). Maybe even higher.
After all, he had warped space with a punch and one-shot a Dragon-level monster without suffering any side effects. Even in the absurd power-scaling of the One Punch Man world, this was a top-tier feat.
[Ding! Congratulations Host for defeating a Dragon-Level Monster for the first time.]
[Reward: Random Passive Skill x1, Stat Points +500]
[Ding! Congratulations! You have obtained Passive Skill: Extreme Regeneration.]
[Extreme Regeneration: You possess unparalleled healing speed. Regrowing severed limbs is child's play. As long as your head is not destroyed and you remain conscious, you can regenerate from almost anything. Note: Regeneration consumes Stamina.]
This skill is huge!
Self-healing was the ultimate sustain tool. It guaranteed his survival and raised his combat floor. It was arguably one of the best passives he could have asked for.
Wait a minute...
A bold, somewhat chaotic idea formed in Kenji's mind.
A physique that can handle the Gate of Death + High-Speed Regeneration... doesn't that mean I can spam "Night Guy"?
The ultimate move, Night Guy, was so powerful that even with the Eighth Gate open, the recoil from the kick would shatter the user's leg bones upon impact.
But if he combined that with instant regeneration?
Kick. Leg breaks. Instant heal. Kick again.
Infinite Night Guy spam. That is absolutely diabolical.
Just as he was theory-crafting his new combat style, a voice echoed through the empty ruins.
"Eh? It's already over?"
That voice... could it be?
Kenji turned around.
The first thing that caught his eye was a shiny, reflective surface.
A mustard-yellow jumpsuit, a white cape, red rubber gloves, and a trademark deadpan expression that looked like a hastily drawn doodle.
The true invincible existence of this world. The Caped Baldy. Saitama.
Looking at the headless corpse of Vaccine Man lying on the ground, Saitama scratched his bald head, looking mildly disappointed.
"Oh well. Since someone else took care of it, I guess I'll head back."
Saitama mumbled to himself, turned around, and bent his knees, preparing to super-jump his way home to catch the grocery sales.
However, Kenji, still covered in the green blood of the monster, stepped forward and casually patted Saitama on the shoulder.
"Long time no see, Saitama. How have you been lately?"
Saitama froze. A row of question marks practically floated above his head.
?????
Bro... do I know you?