In the blink of an eye, several days had passed. Just as Shinji had foreseen, the Seafolk began erging in large numbers along the coastlines of J-City.
It began with an eerie low tide, the ocean pulling back unnaturally far. Then, a massive tsunami ca roaring in, towering waves dozens of ters high crashing toward the shore. Within the churning waters, shadowy humanoid shapes could be seen, monsters from the Seafolk race. Most were categorized as Wolf-level or Tiger-level threats.
As the waves slamd against the coastline, the destruction was imdiate. Buildings were battered into rubble, cars were hurled like toys, and entire trees were ripped from the ground. In the wake of this devastation, the Seafolk marched ashore.
Crabs with human torsos, monstrous fish with legs, towering octopuses, and humanoid lobsters, each one bore unmistakable features of marine life, fused with unsettling human traits. That grotesque hybrid form was what gave them their na: Seafolk.
Their abrupt invasion triggered instant chaos. Civilians scread and scattered, fleeing in every direction as panic spread across the city.
"Multiple monsters claiming to be Seafolk have appeared along the J-City coast. One hero is currently engaged in a fierce battle with them," reported the newscaster on the television.
"The threat level is Tiger. All civilians are strongly advised to avoid the area!"
Watching the broadcast, Saitama imdiately stood up.
"The Seafolk again, huh? Let's get moving..."
Without hesitation, he changed into his hero costu and cape, then dashed out the door on foot, heading straight for J-City.
"Master, let's go too," Genos said, turning to Shinji.
"Yeah, but I'm in a hurry, so I'll go on ahead."
The mont the words left his mouth, Shinji vanished from sight.
Genos blinked, only mildly surprised at his teacher's sudden disappearance, then quickly gathered himself. Without wasting ti, he powered up and launched toward J-City at full throttle. He knew he couldn't match Shinji's speed, but he wasn't about to let himself fall too far behind.
...
anwhile, Saitama sprinted along a main road, effortlessly passing a van packed with a dozen C-Class heroes heading in the sa direction.
Because of their relatively lower combat strength, C-Class heroes typically operated in groups for added safety and effectiveness during missions.
Inside the van, the driver stared ahead in disbelief as Saitama blew past them.
The man riding shotgun assud the driver had eased off the accelerator. "Step on it already!" he urged.
"I am flooring it..." the driver replied, bewildered.
...
Elsewhere, A-Class Rank 11 hero Stinger had just finished dispatching a few Seafolk monsters when their leader finally appeared.
The Deep Sea King stepped onto land.
Towering and muscular, with a humanoid physique, a crown-like fin on his head, and two heart-shaped red markings on his chest, he looked more refined than the other Seafolk. His appearance was the most human-like among them, yet far more nacing.
He was the benchmark for Demon-level threats. While his initial display might not have seed overwhelming, he established the standard for Demon-level opponents. Anyone stronger than him would be classified as a "high Demon," and anyone weaker as a "low Demon."
Even so, Deep Sea King's strength far surpassed that of the lowest-ranked S-Class hero, Puri-Puri Prisoner. If Genos let his guard down, he could be in serious danger too.
Right now, Stinger, already worn down from continuous combat, was swiftly and effortlessly defeated by Deep Sea King. His body was flung aside like broken trash.
In response, the disaster level was imdiately raised from Tiger to Demon.
"Ergency evacuation alert!"
"The threat level from the Seafolk has now risen to Demon! All citizens in J-City, especially those in coastal areas, please proceed to shelters imdiately!"
As Deep Sea King strolled through the chaotic streets, the ergency broadcast still played over loudspeakers.
He let out a low, mocking chuckle. "Evacuate? Foolish humans. None of you are getting away. For every one of my fallen soldiers, I'll make you pay a billion tis over in blood!"
The next unfortunate hero to cross his path was A-Class Rank 20, Lightning Max.
From a rooftop vantage point, Max was observing the battlefield through a pair of binoculars. He had just witnessed Stinger get brutally taken down and decided it would be best to wait for backup before jumping in.
What he didn't expect was for Deep Sea King to materialize behind him out of nowhere.
A chill ran down his spine. Sensing sothing wrong, he whipped around, only to co face-to-face with a massive, grotesque face staring him down from an uncomfortably close distance.
"Wah, WJOK, HUYAH, MN!" Max sputtered a series of unintelligible noises, overwheld by sheer terror.
Despite his panic, his reflexes kicked in. He lashed out with an attack.
"Lightning Flying Kick!"
This was one of his signature techniques; his specially designed shoes were rigged with gunpowder to increase impact. But Deep Sea King casually raised his arm, and the kick harmlessly hit his rock-like muscles.
"What was that supposed to be? That kind of hurt, you know~" he mocked with a saccharine tone that only made the situation more unnerving.
As Lightning Max scrambled to figure out a follow-up, Deep Sea King's counterattack ca like a blur.
He didn't even see the punch. One mont, he was bracing himself, and the next, he was flying through the air, slamming across the street and into the side of another building with bone-shaking force.
Deep Sea King didn't give him a mont to breathe. He imdiately pursued, intent on finishing him off.
Backed into a corner, Lightning Max forced himself up, battered and shaky, and launched a desperate move.
"Lightning Jumping Spin Kick!"
Another of his signature moves. But the outco didn't change. Deep Sea King swatted him aside with a single, dismissive punch.
This ti, Lightning Max might've been done for, if not for the sudden arrival of Puri-Puri Prisoner.
Descending like a savior, the burly S-Class hero caught Max mid-air and gently set him down.
He had seen Stinger in peril on a TV screen in prison and had imdiately broken out to help.
Now, standing tall in his prison-issued striped pants and a pink heart-emblazoned vest, Puri-Puri Prisoner pointed an accusing finger at Deep Sea King. His pronounced cleft chin jutted forward in fury.
"Stinger and Little Lightning are both my favorite n... and you dared to hurt them? Unforgivable! I'll start by using half my strength to test you."
With that declaration, he flexed mightily, and his vest split open with a loud tear.
Then he froze.
"AAAAAHHHH!! My boyfriend knitted that sweater for eeee!!"
He let out a wail of pure heartbreak. But his sorrow quickly turned into unbridled rage.
"I'll never forgive youuuuu!!"
He charged at Deep Sea King, and the two collided in a brutal clash. Fists flew like cannonballs as the two exchanged blows in rapid succession.
"Looks like I'll need to transform..."
A warm glow enveloped Puri-Puri Prisoner's body.
"Transform☆!"
Angel☆Form!
In an instant, his muscles bulked up dramatically, shredding through the remains of his prison outfit. He was now completely nude, hovering mid-air with radiant energy pulsing from his form.
"How disgusting..." Deep Sea King muttered in visible disgust.
"Is that the last thing you'll regret seeing?"
Hovering proudly, arms spread like wings, Puri-Puri Prisoner posed dramatically, convinced he was radiating irresistible charm.
Then Puri-Puri Prisoner surged forward, his fist aid directly at Deep Sea King. "Angel☆Impact!" Like a torrential storm, his fists ca crashing down in a relentless barrage. Blow after blow landed in rapid succession, the sound echoing through the ruined streets. It was impossible to count how many punches he unleashed before finally stopping, his breathing labored and sweat dripping from his face.
"Whew... whew... that should be enough..." He stared into the thick dust cloud that had ford from his assault, convinced he had finally brought the monster down. But he failed to notice the low, cold voice rising from within the haze.
"Was that it? Then I suppose it's my turn." As the dust settled, the imposing figure of Deep Sea King stepped out, barely scratched. Without any warning, he drove a brutal punch straight into Puri-Puri Prisoner's gut, knocking the air from his lungs.
"When it cos to combo attacks," Deep Sea King said with disturbing delight, "you've got to put killing intent into every strike. Like this..."
He imdiately followed with a chain of vicious blows. Fists rained down in calculated bursts, each hit striking with deadly precision.
At that mont, Puri-Puri Prisoner beca both the victim and the student. Unintentionally, Deep Sea King had taken on the role of his teacher, an instructor of violence. Dazed, Puri-Puri Prisoner could barely think as the monster's rapid-fire attacks left his mind spinning and his body staggering.
Then ca the final blow, a sweeping strike that launched him across the sky like a human missile, his massive fra crashing sowhere far off in the distance.
"Even the S-Class hero, Puri-Puri Prisoner, has been defeated!" The news anchor's voice echoed from televisions across the city, broadcasting the disaster live. "Is there anyone left who can stop this Demon-level threat?"
The collapse of A-Class Rank 11 Stinger, A-Class Rank 20 Lightning Max, and S-Class Rank 19 Puri-Puri Prisoner was being witnessed by a terrified public. Even those taking shelter felt their confidence begin to crumble.
But just then, a new figure arrived on the battlefield, Shinji.
Standing calmly in the rain-soaked street, he surveyed the devastation. "Too late...? No... I'm right on ti."
As he tilted his head upward, cold raindrops rolled down his cheeks. He understood what this signified. When it rains, Deep Sea King transforms into his 'Wet' form, significantly boosting his strength and durability.
But that only ant one thing for Shinji: more points. The greater the danger, the bigger the reward.
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