* This story is inspired by TheChickenMc's 'The Champion's Challenge' as I had stated in the last chapter. But very loosely.

*It is meant to be fun. I will not focus so much on fight scenes or anything, just the relationship between others and Saitama. I have always felt happy when reading fan fiction that showed more on Genos, Saitama, King and Bang. So, this is what I'm doing. But with them and others because I have an active mind and it was nagging me into doing this. I didn't fight it too hard to be honest.

* I forgot to mention in the last chapter, but as you can see I didn't do one for Genos and as you can probably guess, Sonic either. Their relationships will be already established, I liked how it was done, so I won't change that. Maybe include a bigger part for a later chapter, but they probably won't get their own.

* As for the practice between Saitama and Genos, imagine it the same, but with Zombieman and Child Emperor there.


It was an overcast day; the sky was grey and the clouds looked heavy with rain. But it was still dry. It seemed to be the start to any other day, but today was special. Today was the annual Hero Association Entrance Exams. The air was abuzz with excitement. People went around the block; there were so many ready to try to join.

Men and women of every shape, size and color; even some children – there were conditions and limitations of course – were standing in line. Each of them was talking, some louder than others; boasting about their abilities and why they think they should be in this class over any others. Others were simply talking to themselves; words of encouragement really. Most people however, were trying not to let their nerves overcome them. Some were doing better than others, a slight shake to their hand or their face and body a bit heated with a flush and the rapid beating of their heart.

The ones who weren't doing as well were looking green, a hand clasped to their mouth and the other cradling their stomach. Most weren't successful. There were piles of sick scattered around the sidewalk. It made the air smell terrible and others felt sick and threw up in response to the overpowering stench.


Child Emperor scrunched his nose in disgust, mouth firmly shut so he wouldn't let the scent settle on his tongue. Ignoring people trying to get his attention, he instead had pressed a button on a remote; the motion of the spider legs coming out of his backpack familiar to him. He blocked out people's 'oohs' and 'aww' as they settled on the ground lifting him into the air until his feet dangled three feet from the concrete.

As he moved inside, Child Emperor took a deep breath, relief coming in waves as the air in here was fresh. Well, it was heavy with sweat, but still loads better than outside. Reaching behind him, he pulled a lollipop out from his backpack; letting his eyes rove as he unwrapped it and put the treat into his mouth. Brown eyebrows furrowing, Child Emperor pushed through the crowd; going to where they held one group doing side-to-side hops. "Zombieman," the young hero called over the crowd – one of the instructors called out for the time to start – "what are you doing here? He continued, having come up to his fellow hero.

Child Emperor couldn't help but be surprised at the sight of him. Rarely did he see the undead hero outside of meetings and the extremely rare passing in City-Y. "I'm here for a friend." Zombieman explained, pointing towards the group of three working through the exercise. "I was reporting to the Association when I had run into him and I decided to stick around…" the rest of his explanation fell on deaf ears as Child Emperor followed where the man was pointing.

He nearly dropped his lollipop; the hero was so surprised by what he saw. Unlike the men on either side of him – both were slow, unsteady and sweaty – this man was a mere blur. Yet at the same time, he was not. The man moved so fast that he had multiple afterimages on either side. So instead of one man, there appeared to be six. "That's your friend?" Was all Child Emperor could manage to ask – the instructor called for them to stop – "He doesn't seem human." He said, stressing the last word.

Child Emperor looked up to the older hero – his spider legs having gone back into his backpack – he was shocked to see a slight smile resting on the pale man's lips. "He is." Zombieman said simply, watching as Saitama stepped up to them. "How did you meet him?" The hero asked, unaware of the approaching man. Instead of Zombieman it was Saitama who answered. "I saved him." Child Emperor heard, the voice steady but emotionless.

The man in front of him was about average height, he was muscular – but not overly so – his skin was pale and his chest and stomach were both firm. Child Emperor was surprised, the man's jawline was strong and his cheekbones were high and prominent. He was very handsome. But while his aura screamed of power and strength, there was an underlying emotion.

It took him a few moments to find it, but once he did, it was a very obvious thing. His brown eyes were dull and lifeless – like a corpse – but the man was still alive. 'Well,' Child Emperor corrected himself 'he is existing.' For no one could say they were alive with eyes lacking life like his did. "Who are you?" The man asked, breaking the young hero from his thoughts.

"I'm Child Emperor, S-Class; Rank 5." He introduced himself, sticking his hand out, the hero made sure to include his title; wanting to see how the man would react. He didn't do much. He didn't flush in embarrassment, didn't start peppering him with questions. His eyes didn't widen or light up with excitement. The man blinked languidly. "Oh." He said, face resting in one of disinterest.

"I'm Saitama." He said, taking the offered hand. He shook it firmly before turning to Zombieman. Before he could speak, the instructors called for the next exercise. "I'll be back in a minute." Saitama said, walking away before either could respond. Both heroes watched as the group – now consisting of five men – line up for the 1500-meter dash. The instructor raised his arm, holding a white flag in the air. The men went into a sprinter position.

Once the flag went down, they broke out into a run. But neither hero was focused on the other participants. Instead, they tried – in vain – to follow Saitama, who was nothing more than a blur. Child Emperor could barely believe his eyes. The blur went through one circuit, the other runners showing signs of struggle and surprise as they felt the air gush past them.

Saitama started around a second time – still a blur – the instructor was watching in shock, eyes tearing rapidly between the man and his stopwatch. Two others were struggling to put up the finish line. It was only when Saitama crossed – visible now, face showing an expression of such intensity and seriousness now that no one dared to approach – that they could see him. Instead of the muscular build and slight power showing through, his build had become larger, his shoulders were wider and his abs and muscles were more pronounced. Zombieman was the first to move, managing to get three steps ahead before Child Emperor could make himself move.

"You did a good job Saitama." Zombieman, voice laced with a warmth that Child Emperor had never heard before. "Thanks." The man – Saitama, the young hero reminded himself – said, hands resting lightly on his hips. It took a few moments more before the S-Class could make himself blink, he opened his mouth to speak, trying to figure out what to ask first, when something just clicked within his mind. "You're not sweating." Child Emperor said, unintentionally slipping into an accusatory tone. Saitama looked towards the child – face once again one of disinterest.

"I guess not." He said, not at all surprised. "Do you want to come over after this?" Saitama directed this question to Zombieman, turning his body slightly to better face his friend. "Genos and I are going to spar after." He continued, ignoring the slightly disgruntled look that had overcome the calm with a small smile. "Sure." Zombieman said, still looking disgruntled; but not wanting to miss it.

Child Emperor was barely listening, mind elsewhere before he registered what they were talking about. "Would you mind if I came along?" He asked, not entirely aware of what was coming from his mouth. It wasn't until Saitama stared at him for a few moments before his brain had caught up with his voice. The hero flushed with embarrassment, looking to the left of the pair and at the floor. But he didn't retract his words, now that he realized the chance to collect data on the upcoming hero he wouldn't be cut from the hero association, not with the physicality he had shown already.


Saitama was surprised, this kid – hero – his mind supplied, had asked to tag along to watch a sparring match. His first instinct was to say no, he didn't know much about the kid anyway. But something made him hesitate, there was a sense of familiarity and affection towards the child – like one would feel towards a younger sibling – Saitama looked towards Zombieman with the question in his eyes. The undead hero shrugged, gesturing between his friend and co-worker in response.

It was Saitama's decision. "Sure kid." He said with a sigh, unconsciously reaching towards the hero and ruffling his brown hair with some affection. Eyes widening, Saitama looked swiftly at his hand and the kid again. Zombieman was very surprised by the act, but at the same not surprised at all. Sure, he only knew Saitama for a little while, but if you put aside the insane strength and power he held and the disinterest in nearly everything there was something about the man that drew you in.

The man who claimed to be a hero for fun, just had this presence. Not everyone was going to like him – no one would ever have that – but the people who did were drawn into like moths to a flame. Which – Zombieman found fitting – would be deadly but still enticing. "My name is S-Sei." Child Emperor spoke quietly, breaking Zombieman from his musings. He had a slight blush but he looked pleased too, he didn't scramble away from Saitama's touch anyway. His hand was still resting in the kid's hair actually.

"Sei it is." Saitama agreed, a slight smile on his face as he continued to pet his hair affectionately. The man was beginning to feel alive again. For the first time in three years.


It had been four days after the Hero Association Entrance Exams. Four days since Child Emperor had met the man who had changed his life – second man that is – he was in City-Y, at home, sitting in front of a hand-built computer. The screen was fuzzy, like it was disconnected from something. But it still worked.

He was talking to the first man who had such a large effect on his life – he found that both had an equal standing but they were different at the same time – the first man, was as close to having a mentor as Child Emperor was going to get – since both had shared an interest in machinery and showed higher intellect than others they shared a kindred spirit of exchanging knowledge.

Which is why Child Emperor being in contact with him again. "Metal Knight. I think you'll be very interested in the data and video I had sent you." The young hero said, speaking around the lollipop in his mouth.

On the other side of the screen, in a dark room in an unknown location sat an elderly man. At least, if his bushy, white hair was any tell, he was elderly. There was an earpiece attached to the right side; letting the man hear Child Emperor's words. All we could see from the dim glow of his computer was a blue button up shirt, covered with a white lab coat, a wide smile, showing some of his top teeth and the bottom part of a large nose.


Disclaimer: I do not own One Punch Man or its Characters. The Creator and Author do.

Author's Note: Hi guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm having a lot of fun with this story – If no one could tell with how fast I'm updating – I will admit I did struggle with this part.

I had been thinking of it yesterday, and I have plans for the end of the anime. I only hope it will come to fruition like it has in my mind. But we're not there yet so let's not worry about it.

Anyway, I had such issues with this chapter because in my haste to start before I had lost my train of thought; I had started the chapter I mean to post after this one. So, I have to rewrite it just like I did this one.

Because of my mistake and rushing, this turned out differently than it had the first time through. But I am more pleased with this one. So, fingers crossed you guys felt the same way. Let me know what you think and tell me if you'd like to see anything specific happen. I'll try to make it happen.