Saitama took a step forward to the area where all the commotion happened. All that..gamma ray burst thingy messed up his suit badly, and he's starting to question if he should go to a trusted tailor to sew back his costume in one piece.

No time to think about that though. He needed to get back to Garou. All the time he spent getting lost back there, he's sure Garou would've done something bad, like, really, really bad by now. Maybe he just got a new get-up? His tendencies to roleplay as a monster is starting to get out of hand as of now.

But then...

Saitama noticed that multiple black colored droplets dripped itself towards the cracked ground. That's when he noticed something, something that triggered the thing that has been long lost inside him.

Emotion.

Grief.

Guilt.

Saitama felt a slippery liquid streaming down the surface of his forehead, as he glared towards the human-turned-monster he fought earlier.

He was holding what used to be..

Genos's core.

No..

No, no, no..

Anger began to reel his emotion like tightened rope, holding him hostage to the impulse within.

"Aren't you a bit late?" Garou remarked with such mockery, before tossing the sphere object into Saitama's hand, "Here ya go."

His fists shakes as he swiftly caught the core in his palm. He stared at it, "Genos..." He muttered with a long-suffering sad expression.

One, agonising memory flashed in his mind.

"It's amazing how you're never late to the crime scene. I guess that's a hero to you."

"Nah.

I usually arrive too late."

His heart swelled, as the oil from Genos's body began to stream down the shredded fabric of his yellow jumpsuit. His gaze fixed on the self proclaimed monster.

This is his fault. All his fault. If he took his whole job seriously, never fucked around and acted like an emotionless inconsiderate piece of shit..

He wouldn't have to face the pain of losing his friend, his self proclaimed disciple. Genos was the only person that brought him back a lot of things that he has lost.

Emotions.

Emotions used to swirl within him, whether when he's fighting, or when he's running an errand to earn money. But since he has gotten too strong, he felt alienated, lonely, living in a secluded area in the middle of a ghost town. It's like..as if he was a different species among all the others. It was as if he wasn't human at all, like he didn't belong on the planet earth itself.

But then, Genos came along and changed his whole life. He was slowly turning and becoming the human he once was. He was slowly earning the essential thing that is important to being a human.

Now, it was all taken away in an instant. He couldn't predict it, he never thought..he never thought Garou would do something like this. But maybe it was on him, being the absolute idiot he is, he didn't took precautions for situations like these.

He began to lose all the care in the world. His promise to Tareo about not hurting Garou?

Fuck all that.

He really didn't care anymore. Why would he? His reason to continue and to live as a hero was lost.

"Killer Move.." He uttered in a deep voice, as steam began to rise out of his tightly clenched fist, "Serious Series..."

Garou anticipated for the attack, preparing a stance, sliding both his foot to each of his side.

In an instant, a shockwave was produced by the mere leap from Saitama's foot, accelerating himself towards the human monster with his fist cocked back, unconsciously shifting the core in his left hand closer to his heart, "SERIOUS PUNCH!"

"Mode: Saitama." Saitama's face began to morph into Garou's own, as he took a step forward, subsequently propelling himself towards the enraged bald hero, "SERIOUS PUNCH!"

As their fist gradually grow closer, the energy emanating from both of their bodies caused Blast to be wary of their strength, "T- THIS ENERGY? THIS IS BAD!

THE EARTH WILL BE SHATTERED!"