The fluorescent lights of the "Quick-Stop" hummed a low, buzzing tune that matched Maxwell's post-graduation mood: bored and slightly tired.
He was currently stacking cans of soup when the air in front of him simply… cracked.
A translucent blue screen shimmered into existence.
[Welcome, Maxwell.]
[Dimensional Chat Group System Initialized.]
Maxwell blinked. He looked around the empty store, then back at the floating window.
"Is this a prank? Or did the energy drinks finally get to me?"
[You have been appointed as the Administrator. To begin, you must use your first 'Dimensional Invitation Letter'.]
[Reward: 10% of the invited member's current power and 10% of their total potential.]
Maxwell's heart hammered against his ribs.
He thought about the legends he'd read—warriors, gods, and mages.
But depth didn't always mean complexity.
Sometimes, the most profound strength comes from the simplest places.
"If I want to survive these tasks,"
Maxwell whispered,
"I need someone who won't turn on me. Someone who is honest. Someone... invincible."
He thought of a bald man in a yellow jumpsuit.
Maxwell focused his mind, and a golden envelope materialized in his hand.
He didn't hesitate. He sent the invite to the world of One Punch Man.
[Invitation Sent...]
[User 'Saitama' has joined the chat.]
Maxwell: Uh, hello? Is this working?
Saitama: Whoa. A floating window? Is this a new psychic hero thing? I was just about to go to the grocery store.
Maxwell smiled. He knew exactly how to handle this.
Maxwell: It's not a hero trick, Saitama. It's a way to talk across worlds. And I have something you might be interested in.
Saitama: Unless it's a sale on premium beef, I'm not really interested in inter-dimensional talk. It sounds like a lot of work.
Maxwell: That's exactly what it is. Look at the attachment I just sent.
Maxwell scanned a flyer from the Quick-Stop: Manager's Special – 90% Off All Canned Goods and Instant Ramen. Today Only.
Saitama: ...Ninety percent?
Saitama: How do I get there? Tell me right now.
[Task Completed: First Recruitment.]
[Processing Reward: 10% of Saitama's Power and Potential...]
Suddenly, Maxwell felt it. It wasn't a flashy transformation. It was a terrifying, quiet weightlessness.
His senses sharpened until he could hear the heartbeat of a bird outside.
His muscles didn't grow larger, but they felt dense, like he was made of a material that didn't exist on Earth.
He looked at a metal shelf. He tapped it with a finger—just a tiny flick—and the steel crumpled like wet paper.
"10%..."
Maxwell breathed, his voice steady and calm.
"I feel like I could jump over the moon."
But more than the physical power, it was the potential.
Maxwell felt his own crack. He wasn't just strong; he now had the ability to grow without end.
Saitama: Hey, Maxwell? Are you still there? You promised a sale. I'm standing in my apartment with my boots on.
Maxwell: I'm here. Since I'm the Admin, I can eventually bring you here for a visit. But first, we have a 'Task' to do. The system says it's going to be dangerous.
Saitama: Dangerous? Like, 'the Earth is exploding' dangerous, or 'I might miss the sale' dangerous?
Maxwell: If we finish it, I'll give you a lifetime pass to this store. Everything is free for you.
Saitama: ...Alright. I'm in. Just tell me who I need to punch.
Maxwell leaned back against the counter, no longer feeling like a tired teenager.
He had the strongest man in any universe on his side, and a fraction of that power flowing through his veins.
"This,"
Maxwell chuckled,
"It is going to be a very interesting job."
The blue screen in front of Maxwell flickered again, changing from a calm blue to a warning red.
[First Dimensional Task Assigned: The Beginning of the End.]
[Objective: Eliminate 'Vaccine Man'.]
[Location: A-City, World-001 (One Punch Man).]
[Condition: The Administrator must be the primary combatant. The member 'Saitama' is restricted to a supporting role.]
Maxwell felt a cold shiver, but it was quickly replaced by a strange, steady warmth.
That was the 10%—the power of a man who never felt fear because he was too strong to be afraid.
"Saitama,"
Maxwell typed quickly.
"The system is pulling me to your world. It's starting now."
Saitama: Oh? You're coming here? Cool. I'll meet you in A-City. There's some giant purple guy screaming about Mother Earth. He's ruining the pavement.
With a silent pop, the air in the Quick-Stop folded. Maxwell wasn't behind the counter anymore.
He was standing in the middle of a ruined street.
Smoke rose from crumbled buildings, and the air smelled like burnt rubber.
In front of him stood a massive, purple creature with antennae. Vaccine Man.
"I am the natural apostle of the Earth!"
The monster roared, his voice shaking the windows that were still intact.
"You humans are a virus!"
"Hey,"
A bored voice called out.
Maxwell turned. Saitama was standing there, picking at a fingernail.
He looked exactly like the manga—plain face, yellow suit, and a white cape that flapped in the wind.
"You're the admin, right? Maxwell?"
Saitama asked, looking him up and down.
"You look... different than I thought. A bit more solid."
Maxwell tried to tell him that he got power from him but the system stopped him.
He just told Saitama that he had been working out.
"You can only support me and don't one hit kill him alright?"
Saitama sighed, sounding relieved.
"Fine by me. Fighting these guys is getting boring anyway. But hurry up, the supermarket sale starts in twenty minutes."
The Vaccine Man noticed them. He pointed a clawed finger at Maxwell.
"Another human? You think a boy can stop the wrath of the planet?"
The monster lunged.
He was fast—faster than anything Maxwell had ever seen.
But to Maxwell's new eyes, Vaccine Man looked like he was moving through thick syrup.
Maxwell didn't use a martial arts stance.
He didn't know how. He just did what felt natural. He moved his feet.
Whoosh.
Maxwell was suddenly ten feet to the left.
"Whoa,"
Maxwell whispered.
"I barely moved."
Vaccine Man turned, his face twisting in rage.
He began firing energy orbs—bright, exploding spheres of purple light.
They hit the ground around Maxwell, creating massive craters.
Maxwell stood in the smoke.
His heart was beating fast, not out of fear, but out of excitement.
"My turn,"
Maxwell said.
He stepped forward. The ground beneath his sneakers cracked from the sheer pressure of his movement.
He pulled back his fist. He didn't think about "styles." He just thought about the 10%.
He threw a simple, straight punch.
BOOM.
The air pressure alone created a shockwave that cleared the smoke for three blocks.
The punch connected with Vaccine Man's chest.
The monster didn't fly back.
He simply... disintegrated.
The purple giant turned into a cloud of mist and scrap before he could even scream.
Maxwell stood there, his arm still extended.
His hand didn't even hurt. He looked at his palm, then back at the crater where a city-level threat used to be.
"Not bad,"
Saitama said, walking over. He put a hand on Maxwell's shoulder.
"Your form is terrible, but you've got the spirit. That was a decent punch."
Maxwell looked at Saitama. He saw the depth in the hero's eyes—a mix of kindness and a deep, quiet loneliness.
Saitama was the strongest, and being the strongest was lonely.
"Thanks,"
Maxwell said softly.
"But I think I have a long way to go before I'm on your level."
"Don't worry about it,"
Saitama shrugged.
"You saved the city. That's what matters. Now, about that lifetime pass to your store... Does it cover the high-quality seaweed?"
Maxwell laughed, the tension finally leaving his body.
"Yeah, Saitama. It covers everything."