Saitama was standing on his small balcony in his blue shorts and yellow shirt. He was lazily watering his cactus, which was now a respectable six inches tall. He looked around and wondered what he would do today. Ever since the heroes successfully raided and destroyed the monster association three years ago, monsters have been almost non-existent. With no monsters around, society did not need as many heroes, so all but the S-ranked heroes were let go from the Hero Association. Having been recognized by multiple S-ranked heroes Saitama was given an S-rank himself, and was able to keep from being decommissioned. But, without anything but the few stray monsters that lurked about there was nothing to do. And even those few monsters were quickly dispatched by the remaining heroes in an effort to stay relevant.
"Maybe I should go travel the world. Ever since Genos left I suppose it has been too quiet. Even the usual pests have left me alone by now."
One year ago, Genos finally discovered the cyborg who had killed his parents. In a twist of fate, it was the very doctor who had helped him all this time that designed the cyborg that rampaged through his village. In a fit of rage, Genos easily dispatched the cyborg and the late doctor. Unable to cope with having taken a human life, Genos decided to travel the world as a vigilante as penance.
"I wonder where he is now. Heh, I guess he really did grow on me. Nobody could cook eggs to that perfect point where the yolk is runny but not watery quite like him."
Satisfied that his cactus was watered enough, he put down his damaged elephant watering can and stepped back inside of his apartment. He sat on his bed and turned on his T.V. with the remote. He barely listened as the newswoman that popped up went on.
"The multiple natural disasters that have been occurring these last three years still have no explanation and scientists are stumped. They can not find a reason why there would be random earthquakes, hurricanes, or tidal waves on otherwise normal days with no weather patterns or tectonic shifts to speak of. The superstitious amongst us have taken to calling it the end of times, as city after city is simply wiped out of existence across the globe."
"I suppose that would be an accurate description of what is happening."
Saitama didn't have time to be shocked at the new voice before he was sent flying outside through his wall, from what felt like a punch.
'Wait, that felt like a punch? I felt that?'
"Heh, even after all this time, I still haven't found something as hard as you to punch." Saitama heard from above, and he looked up just in time to see a heel coming his way.
On instinct long forgotten, he quickly dodged to the side and avoided a dropkick that split the earth in a mile long, one inch wide crack. The figure that delivered the attack slowly rose and Saitama felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention.
"I know you don't remember people, so I won't bother with any explanations. I'll just say this. I am the Hero Hunter, and I've come for your head Saitima!"
Saitama was immediately faced with an onslaught of attacks that cracked the air like lightning. He had to actually try and dodge the strikes, as they were too fast to match with his casual speed, or even his slightly-annoyed speed. Saitama allowed a small, almost imperceptible grin to cross his lips. Hoping for the best, he let loose a casual punch, right into his aggressors sternum. He was completely surprised by the instantaneous counter cross that came and speared itself onto his left cheek.
Saitama stumbled back and gazed at his attacker, the strike seemingly having jogged his memory.
"Wait, I've seen you before. Back when the Heroes raided the Monster Association. What are you doing here? You should know, despite being strong, you'll only disappoint me." Saitama said. Really, he was trying to keep himself from getting too excited. That last hit actually hurt, something Saitama hadn't experienced in a very long time.
"Heh, I would never disappoint you. I'll tell you then. Yes, I was there when you jerks raided the Monster Association. I am Garou, the hero hunter. I killed many heroes by then, and during my fight with DarkShine in the underground lairs, I achieved something my old master Bang only dreamed of. I had removed my limiter. It allowed me to finish that fight and kill DarkShine. Once I had done that, I realized why you were so strong. Yes, I researched you. Found out your name, realized you were the one beating all the strongest monsters and even me. It was because you, too, had long since removed your own limiter!"
"Well, that was pretty long, but you said some interesting stuff so I'll let it slide. So, you removed your limiter huh. Why didn't you come find me then? I'm sorta getting excited here Garou." Saitama responded.
"Well, removing your limiter doesn't make you all powerful from the get go, it just allows you to get there. I had no clue how long you'd been training for after you removed yours, so I wanted to make sure I didn't waste this chance by biting off more than I could chew from the get go. So I traveled for three years, practicing and honing my new found power, testing what it could do. I quickly found that I could easily destroy this entire planet with one well placed punch. So I decided to take it one step forward, and focused on control. I applied my endless strength with my endless skill in martial arts, and was able to exercise control over my power. With it, I left natural disasters in my wake, taking out heroes and entire cities. An earthquake with a well placed stomp. A tsunami with a measured roundhouse kick. A hurricane with a perfect lance-punch. All these things I did to kill the ultimate threat to monster kind. You." Garou explained.
Saitama looked very serious at Garou's confession at being the cause of countless people dying. But much to his shame, he was still just as giddy to fight Garou.
"Well, if you are being honest about all of this, I am here. I don't want to waste another second. You will be brought to justice here and now, Hero Hunter."
Garou scoffed and dashed at Saitama with speed that warped the light around him. Saitama was barely able to block Garou's spear thrust. The impact made contact and the force from the blow traveled through Saitama and out of his feet into the ground, causing a moderate earthquake for a few seconds.
"Looks like I'll have to get serious"
"Give it all you got! I am not a demon or a dragon but a God, a King among Kings!"
Saitama matched Garou's precise strikes with raw power, and sure steps with uncanny reflexes. The air shuddered with every clash and within minutes the entire district Saitama had lived in for years was rubble. Saitama decided to throw a serious punch directly into Garou's face, and Garou spun rapidly from the force before throwing his leg out in a wide sumo stomp into a low horse stance. Garou was able to transfer the energy from the punch through his body and out through his stomp. The force was such an awesome amount that it pierced deep within the earth, traveling through the crust and splintering it before it finally dispersed in the mantle. Garou lunged with a crisp roundhouse that landed directly on Saitama's neck, creating a void in the air where his leg traveled through that was quickly refilled by oxygen with a resounding clap of sound.
Saitama spat some blood from his mouth as he worked out the kinks in his neck. "At this rate we really will destroy everything."
"I have done everything I wanted to do. This is the final thing. I will have no regrets, so why don't you take this seriously damn it!" Garou said, the feeling of disrespect burning in his core. "I trained just for you. Don't disrespect me by downplaying it."
"Alright alright you got me. I was just making sure you were the real deal. You'd be surprised how many schmucks think they are the strongest thing around. But I can see you are the genuine article. So I'll fight you, with the power that lies beyond absolute power." Saitama said. He then got into a stance with his fist reared back.
"Life or death punch, Atrocity." Saitama intoned.
Saitama threw his punch with such speed and force that the light around him was absorbed into the punch, because the force he was generating was so massive it rivaled a black-hole. He was confident this would end it, but deep inside he was hoping it wouldn't. His hope would be answered.
At the last possible moment, Garou tensed his shoulders and brought his hands up into a parry, redirecting the blow off to his side. The damage was catastrophic.
The force blew through the earth and out into space, making a deep gouge in the earth that was visible from Mars. Against the blue and green marble there was now an angry red scar covering about one-eight of its surface. The force had dug many miles into the earth's crust, and went on for endless miles into space. It was truly an atrocity to behold.
"Destruction is always so lovely to look at" Garou said, readying his response. "Here's my art contribution. Wondrous Drill Of The Heavens!" He gave a small gallop before rotating his arm with such velocity that a hurricane big enough to cover the entire continent was conjured in an instant, followed by a thrust that drove impossible force towards Saitama's chest right where his heart is.
Thinking quickly, Saitama bent backward, just avoiding the blow. Garou's thrust sailed on and into the earth, sending a visceral column of energy through the earth. It traveled unbidden through the Crust Mantle and Core, then out again until it exploded out the other side.
All this was unknown to Saitama, who took the miss of his enemy as an opportunity to counter his opponents counterattack. Saitama twisted his body and led with a chop that split and dispersed the colossal hurricane but missed Garou's throat due to a well timed dodge. The simple chop penetrated the earth followed by a wave of crescent shock-wave energy that was enough to finish splintering the planet. The entire earth trembled in resignation as it was split all the way through, and then all the way across. The earth was now officially split into two pieces, and the helpless citizens of the world could not make sense of what the hell was going on.
Still caught up in their phantasmal battle, Saitama grip the ground, and moved to slam a rock into Garou. That rock just happened to be the half of the world he was standing on, and with a grunt of effort Saitama swung half of the planet into Garou, crushing Garou between the two halves of the world in a cosmic slam.
It was only then Saitama noticed he was floating in space. Luckily, he was close enough to the destroyed earth to still have some oxygen, but this was quickly put in the back of his mind and a dull sound caught his attention. The noise didn't travel well in the vacuum of space, but Garou had launched multiple mountains from the destroyed earth careening towards Saitama.
Saitama placed a foot on one and hurled himself into the moon. He landed a jackhammer fist onto the surface shattering the entire moon in one titanic blow. He then slammed his hand together in front of him, creating a powerful shock-wave that sent the moon fragments speeding toward Garou. Garou simply batted each city-sized hunk of moon to the side, and used the last one to send himself soaring towards Saitama. He rammed into him and the two exchanged a myriad of blows as they were launched forward into the endless void of space.