[What a strange man]
Tatsumaki was just left dumbfounded as the spaceship came crashing down out of nowhere. After all the times she had relentlessly attacked by hurling the remnants of the city at it, she couldn't shake the feeling that bringing it down was still a distant goal. But what lay before her now was the stark truth of the situation.
The sheer size of the spaceship made it clear just how heavy it was. Anyone unfortunate enough to be standing beneath it would undoubtedly meet a grim fate. Even the S-class professional heroes weren't immune to such a perilous situation.
They were just one step away from obliterating the five marbles that formed the very core of Melzargard. However, the imminent danger looming over them was far too pressing, leaving them with no option but to make a hasty retreat.
As Melzargard watched the humans who had attacked him flee in a panic, he found himself standing there all alone, frozen in place. As he gradually raised his head, his entire field of vision was consumed by the spaceship plummeting closer and closer.
"That's just impossible, Boros-Sama can't lose. There has to be some kind of mistake here." This time, only a single voice emerged from Melzargard, a whisper that echoed the remnants of his true self still lingering within.
His heart sank instantly, a weight settling in his chest. He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea of his leader, someone he had revered almost like a god, being bested by someone from this primitive planet called Earth.
Despite telling himself over and over that it just couldn't be true, the proof lay right in front of him, undeniable and clear. Deep down, he understood this reality better than anyone else.
His spaceship, despite being heavily damaged, managed to stay afloat because of the energy core that powered it. This core was linked to Boros's immense energy, providing the necessary support for the ship's survival in dire circumstances.
As long as Boros was around, this spaceship would continue to thrive.
As Melzargard's vision gradually faded into darkness, he found himself reflecting on the memories of how he became a part of Dark Matter—those moments replayed in his mind, each detail vivid and haunting. Their journey up to this point had been nothing short of incredible. Traveling from one planet to the next, they encountered a wide array of life forms, each more formidable than the last, ready to put up a fight.
Even when Boros earned the nickname the Dominator of the Universe, Melzargard couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. He basked in the glory that came hand in hand with the growth of his strength, leaving everyone else in the dust, unable to keep up.
"I can't quite remember how long we've been on this journey, but today marks the end for the band of thieves known as Dark Matter... Boros-sama…" Melzargard muttered, his gaze fixed ahead as the weight of his formidable form was forced down into the earth. The massive muzzle of the spaceship descended, landing squarely on him.
As soon as the spaceship touched down on the surface, a series of vibrations, strong enough to rival an earthquake, rippled through the ground, felt by everyone in C city. It was followed by a massive explosion that sent a shockwave rippling out over a wide area.
This time, it wasn't merely dust that got swept away. It was the very ground and the remnants of the city itself. People were not just dealing with their impaired vision. They also had to contend with the real threat of cars and debris from buildings hurtling toward them.
The S-class professional heroes, who were sprinting away, must have been completely shocked when they realized they couldn't fully escape the chaos unleashed by the spaceship. Luckily, they came out of it without any serious injuries, all thanks to their resilient bodies and the strong teamwork they displayed.
"That was a close call! If we had been just a few seconds late, we would have been flattened right to the ground," Puri Puri Prisoner said, rubbing his chest with a mix of relief and disbelief.
"This is all happening because you're such a slow runner, you damn sissy! Seriously, you even tried to slow me down by running right in front of me!" Metal Bat erupted angrily, "And put on some clothes, goddammit!"
It dawned on everyone that Puri Puri Prisoner was still completely naked. This all began when he unleashed his ultimate move against Melzargard. At that moment, everyone was so focused on the enemy that no one bothered to mention it. But now, the situation has changed, and it is hard to ignore.
"Alright, I'll take the leave. After putting up a tough fight for such a long time, my back just isn't what it used to be."
"Make sure to look after yourself, Silver Fang. We can't afford to lose you just yet," Atomic Samurai said, reaching out to shake his hand. He then offered another round of praise for Silver Fang, clearly impressed.
Even though neither of them came right out and said it, they both tried to shift their attention away from Puri Puri Prisoner, who was busy striking all sorts of strange poses.
"Cut it out, you damn sissy! I'll kill you! Hey, seriously, you need to listen! I'm not joking around here!" Metal Bat was feeling pretty frustrated. He swung his baseball bat but couldn't bring himself to hit Puri Puri Prisoner. It was tough for him to focus when he had to look away from that naked, muscular body.
"You idiot, you could just leave or close your eyes," Child Emperor muttered, his gaze still glued to his tablet. The atmosphere was pretty chill, and he was casually enjoying his favorite lollipop as he spoke.
But then, his typing hand abruptly stopped as a thought crossed his mind. He turned to Superalloy Darkshine, posing next to him, and asked, "Have you seen King? He should definitely be here with us, don't you think?"
"You're right. Just a moment ago, I could still see him running alongside us, but now... where did he go?" Superalloy Darkshine glanced around, searching for any sign of him, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Well, I think he'll be just fine. After all, we're talking about King here," Not wanting to drag the conversation out any further, Child Emperor was once again engrossed in his gadget.
Despite everything, Superalloy Darkshine, who always had a strong sense of empathy for his fellow professional heroes, displayed genuine concern. He had even planned to search for King alone, completely unaware that the person he was seeking was hiding on purpose.
Huddled behind one of the houses that still stood about fifty percent intact, King was trembling with fear. If you pay close attention, you might catch King's voice echoing repeatedly, pleading to go home.
Amidst his tears, he shared his deep regret for not having run away from the very beginning. His courageous move to trick everyone ended up putting him right back in the same predicament over and over again.
"I can't pretend to be a hero anymore... this job has nearly cost me my life more times than I can count..." King let out a whine, his nose running freely as he didn't even try to wipe it away. Tears streamed down his face, growing louder with each sob he let out.
"I'm just a regular person, nothing special about me, and I definitely don't have any superpowers… How could they expect me to fight those powerful aliens!..."
"I can't... I've pretended enough..."
Even with his intimidating look, complete with scratches adorning his face, King seemed utterly pitiful as he huddled in the dark corner, his presence fading away. He was completely unaware that someone was making their way toward him.
"What's got you in tears?" The question posed by the person caught King's attention, prompting him to lift his head. "Are you just an ordinary citizen or a professional hero?"
Saitama was the one standing right in front of King. After taking down Boros, he found himself in a bit of a panic, realizing he still had no escape route. So, when the spaceship came crashing down, he followed suit.
Saitama made up his mind to take the direct route, smashing through every wall in his way until he could finally enjoy the fresh air outside. He stumbled upon Genos' body, which was buried deep in the ground.
He felt another surge of panic when he spotted his student lying there, looking lifeless. But then it hit him—Genos was a cyborg. With that thought easing his mind a bit, Saitama quickly tied Genos to his back and took off.
"What...?" King, his thoughts still tangled and chaotic, struggled to find the right words. He simply stared into space, lost in his confusion, until Saitama finally broke the silence once more:
"Forget it. Today is just one of those tough days for everyone, whether you're an ordinary citizen or a professional hero," Saitama said, giving King's shoulder a reassuring pat before continuing on his way. "Just remember, don't push yourself too hard. Everyone has their own limits, and the fact that you're still here is what really matters."
King didn't quite know who Saitama was. When the bald man suddenly struck up a conversation, King thought he was a bit off his rocker. Yet, strangely enough, as they talked, his fear and anxiety began to fade away.
Saitama's look didn't stand out in any way, but his words kept echoing in King's thoughts over and over again.
King's heart was finally beating normally again, a clear sign that he had managed to calm down. It dawned on him that the cyborg on Saitama's back was none other than Genos, the identical cyborg who had lent a hand in the battle against Melzargard.
"What a strange man..."