Two weeks. Honestly, it's not that long of a period, especially if you have something to keep you distracted or busy. But what if, during that span, someone was absent? Someone who SHOULD be around but, for the first time, they weren't.
The S-Class heroes gathered for their morning meeting, their eyes instinctively drawn to the empty seat where their leader should have been. Saitama was off on a distant island, his return a matter of anticipation. Of course, no one here was going to get pouty or act like an upset child; that'd be ridiculous. Still, Saitama had always been here since the Hero Association's founding. Even before he evolved into the world's strongest hero, he was out there protecting others as Saitama, the former salaryman in a blue jumpsuit.
Yet, when that session of staring was done, all eyes moved toward King. Fortunately, the world's second-strongest hero was mindful of this outcome. Despite Blast holding the position beneath Saitama in the S-Class rankings, everyone believed that King had to be the second most powerful human being on the planet. I mean, why else would Saitama have taken him as a disciple? Surely, it couldn't be due to nepotism, right?
Eh, kind of? Look, it's a story in itself. Basically, here's what went down:
Due to his friendship with Saitama, King found himself in a LOT of monster encounters. Heck, that's how those two met each other! So, whenever Saitama defeated an opponent during his "normal" days, everyone assumed King had contributed in some way. However, these assumptions wouldn't reach the notice of Saitama or King until it was too late.
During Saitama's jumpsuit era, everyone viewed King as a sidekick. But as monsters started having massive chunks blown away from Saitama's punches, a major turning point occurred. Maybe that blonde-haired man hadn't just been tagging along. Perhaps, all this time, he had been studying Saitama!
Immediately, the perception of both King and Saitama changed. If Saitama was able to transform himself from an Average Joe into an almighty protector of humanity, then that HAD to mean whoever he'd allow to be with him during his fights was selectively chosen. THINK ABOUT IT! Why ELSE would Saitama allow King, who also seemed fairly normal, to be around him all the time AND engage in monster battles? IT'S BECAUSE SAITAMA WAS SECRETLY TRAINING KING!
That single conclusion dictated the rest of King's life. Saitama woke up one morning to frantic banging on his apartment door. King, who was sobbing and on the verge of collapse, was responsible for the knocks. In his tremoring hands was a special delivery message from the Hero Association.
"Dear sir, it is our privilege and honor to tell you that you have finally been acknowledged for your contribution to the protection of peace. We are deeply sorry that it has taken us and the rest of humanity so long to realize the truth. Out of every possible person in the world, the top-ranked S-Class hero, Saitama, now formally known as One Punch Man, has chosen you to be his student. Again, we are forever regretful of our ignorance. We have placed you in S-Class and saw fit to name you King. We selected this moniker as your heroic title since a King is directly beneath a God. It perfectly encapsulates the current dynamic between you and your mentor." -Agoni.
Wow. A written letter from the founder himself. Genuinely, Saitama was impressed. Sadly, that sentiment was not shared by the newly dubbed King, as he was on the verge of having a heart attack.
Understandably, King was distraught. HE DIDN'T FIGHT MONSTERS! THIS WAS A MISTAKE! THE ASSOCIATION NEEDED TO BE CORRECTED AND INFORMED THAT KING SIMPLY HAD THE WORST LUCK IN THE UNIVERSE! EVERY SINGLE TIME HE "HELPED" SAITAMA FIGHT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS UNEXPLAINABLE ABILITY TO ATTRACT DANGER! KING WASN'T A HERO! HE WAS A GAMER! A GAMER!
Saitama agreed wholeheartedly. He respected his best bud, but he also knew how hopeless King could be in a crisis. That statement isn't meant to mock the man. It was an unavoidable truth that some people weren't built for dangerous things, such as hero work.
Alas, Lady Luck is a right proper bitch. As Saitama traveled with King, it was as if his monster magnetism was briefly altered to pull in humans. Before the men reached a train station that would take them out of City Z, they had already been surrounded by a massive crowd. At the start, everyone fixated on One Punch Man. Then, halfway to the station, King became the target.
"How did you meet One Punch Man?" "Can you kill monsters in a single blow, too?" "Are your powers different? Can you shoot lasers or something?" "How did you two meet? Was it a fateful encounter?" "How far along are you in your training? Will you be as strong as One Punch Man soon?" "Can we see you fight? We'd love to follow your progress!" "How many monsters have you killed?" "Are you still early in your training?" "Is One Punch Man looking for any new students?" "What does it take to be like the two of you?"
Questions upon questions upon questions upon questions. There were also the usual requests for heroes, like autographs and photos. When Saitama and King made it to the station and entered a train, Saitama made sure that they were the ONLY people on board. From there, it was a quiet ride to City A.
Or, that's what it was meant to be. To Saitama's surprise, King disrupted the silence by commenting on the crowd. Everyone looked at him with excitement in their eyes. For the first time in King's life, he was more than a faceless NPC in an RPG. Viewing the situation from that perspective, he was the protagonist's best friend who carried a chip on his shoulder, which described him perfectly!
King was always a coward; he wasn't afraid to admit that. It wasn't just with monsters, though. King was nervous about everything. His trepidation to the world at large was so bad that you could hear his heartbeat whenever he was unsettled!
However, only Saitama knew that. That crowd in City Z looked at King and saw a hero. In the public's eyes, King deserved the same treatment and status as One Punch Man. Most people would've savored such unwarranted praise and kindness, but for him, it was gut-wrenching.
King didn't want to disappoint everybody. Plus, on a personal note, he didn't know if he could stand the backlash if the truth got out. It wasn't the notion of a social status suicide that bothered him. It was how it might come back to bite Saitama on the butt. Remember, their friendship was formed when Saitama saved his life! Even though Saitama had always told King he didn't need to feel indebted, how could he not?! As a result, King would never want to do anything that could negatively affect his best friend!
Naturally, Saitama assured King that he'd be fine. He also told him that if anyone harassed King, he'd set them straight. While grateful, King was still upset. He'd never been in a position like this in his entire life! To think that people viewed him in any high regard was shocking, mortifying, and...inspiring.
King...was conflicted. Don't worry; he was aware of how strange that sounded. Twenty minutes prior, the man had been on the cusp of passing out from anxiety! But the more King dwelled on the idea of being a hero, the more he realized that he wasn't sure about quitting or accepting it.
It was then that Saitama was struck by brilliance. What if, for realsies, he trained King? That way, although unlikely to reach the same level of absurd potential, King COULD be a hero and not face a horrible death. With his new prestige, Saitama could easily convince everyone that King's training needed to be done in secret. So, there'd be no worries about someone getting suspicious.
Furthermore, Agoni had legitimately done them a favor. King was put in S-Class. That meant he didn't need to be seen in public doing hero work like C, B, or even A-Class heroes! As King trained to become stronger, he would have the luxury of not being needed unless it was something that demanded S-Class involvement. And whenever that happened, Saitama could handle it alone!
The more Saitama spoke, the calmer King became. His body stopped sweating, his lungs weren't panting, and his blood pressure lowered. This plan wasn't a hopeful idea being thrown out there to see if it would stick or not. All of the pieces were in play to buy King the time he needed to improve himself. To top it all off, Saitama would be with him every step of the way.
At last, we reach the end of that tale. A friendship made stronger by the promise of cooperation and support between two men. So long as Saitama was around, King wouldn't have any worries. Even if Saitama wasn't the world's strongest hero, just having someone like him in his corner made King feel better than ever before.
With all that wholesomeness over, we return to this story. The story of a man who's been thrown into a position of temporary leadership. Even the usual egotistical members of S-Class, such as a certain vertically-challenged Esper, had no objections to King serving the role of substitute team captain. Funnily enough, King's assistance with her remodeling plans and not becoming a third wheel on her day out with Saitama probably contributed to that acceptance.
You'd imagine that King would've called in sick or faked his death to avoid this outcome. But, as stated, he expected this scenario. Additionally, so did Saitama. These two spent many hours alone working on something that they called: "The script of King".
For any instance where King wouldn't have Saitama to rely on, multiple stacks of practiced behavior and dialogue were written. By now, King could write "Shakespearean actor" on a resume, and it'd be accurate. He presented himself as a stoic man with everything under control, even as his colleagues stared at him. Now, it was time to put all that rehearsal into practice.
"Before we begin, could I have a status report?" King requested, resting his arms on the table with his fingers intertwined.
"Of course," Metal Knight replied, ready for that specific request. "The new transportation system Child Emperor and I have designed is almost complete. I've assigned multiple machines to work non-stop. Referring to the system as a train network wouldn't be correct. We've yet to decide on a name, but that's because we've implemented new technology in its construction. Don't worry; Child Emperor and I ensured its safety before we moved forward with this decision.
Regarding the unknown organization responsible for the Subterranean genocide, we've not found any new clues or leads. After Genos' encounter with Pochi, Child Emperor, Drive Knight, and I conducted surveys in multiple areas. All of City Z's underground was cleared. The same applies to other cities that were also surveyed. We intend to verify the safety of every city, which will be done by the end of the week. We'll continue to search for any underground structures and areas, but we want to tell all of you that the chances of this yielding results are slim. These mysterious adversaries are careful and intelligent. We're not dealing with a simple militia of monsters or a terrorist group. Whoever these individuals are, they're capable and coordinated. Or, at the very least, their leadership is.
Speaking of the Subterraneans, from the word of Hellish Blizzard, the Subterranean King is nearly recovered. He's been able to move around more but still has a ways to go to return to his former acrobatic self. The Subterranean King is trying his best to help us locate the Skyfolk, which is appreciated. However, there's only so much he can recall from memory, meaning that it might be necessary to visit the Subterraneans' home to look for more information. Of course, we will respect the wishes of the Subterranean King. If he doesn't want anyone, including himself, to tread upon the grounds his people once inhabited out of respect for their sacrifice, then that will be the end of that discussion. We're still waiting for the Seafolk to bring us their records and other information, which could make the Subterranean's knowledge unneeded anyway. We'll have to wait and see.
Next is the House of Evolution's training progress. From the updates I've been issued, everyone seems to be coming along quite nicely. The notable mentions are Mosquito Girl, who is still on probation, and Ground Dragon and Frog Man. In Flashy Flash's words, his pupils will need far more training before he allows them to conduct hero work. They'll still be revealed alongside the rest, but he's not happy with their current capabilities.
The Heroes-only news network that we've planned shall start broadcasting today. Captain Mizuki and Mumen Rider will record their broadcasts each night so that they can be issued at noon every day. The only exceptions to this schedule will be during significant events and general happenings. For example, if there is a disaster, then each hero will act as a reporter while fulfilling their hero-related responsibilities. A hands-on approach, if you will. In contrast, should there ever be some large-scale publicity stunt, likely caused by Sweet Mask's insistence, then they'll cover that as well.
The Seafolk have settled into City J with no issues. I've taken care of their essentials and remain in contact for any unforeseen quality-of-life improvements that they might think of. The people of City J have grown to love their non-human residents. When I asked for commentary from several citizens who were out and about, they expressed their amazement at how friendly non-humans could be and how helpful they were, too. Plus, given that City J is a beach and ocean-focused environment, having a population of aquatic non-humans is as perfect of a match as possible.
Returning our focus to the Skyfolk, we still haven't found them, which I've already mentioned. I have drones flying across the globe as we speak, but whatever methods the Skyfolk have employed to conceal themselves is outside of my knowledge. As for the Ancient King, although we're waiting for definitive confirmation from the Subterranean King, it appears as though he is, in fact, the gargantuan reptilian lifeform frozen within a mountain. Doctor Genus's aid has been invaluable as we try to determine the best course of action. The Ancient King is still alive, but we don't want to shock him with an abrupt awakening, nor do we wish to cause him any harm. Depending on what Hellish Blizzard has planned with the Subterranean King for today, I might have more information to give when we conduct our evening meeting.
Lastly, we've all agreed that Genos should be trained by you, King. Of course, when One Punch Man returns, he'll resume his duties as Genos' mentor. But for the next two weeks, should you have no objections, he'll be your student." He recited.
Five minutes of silence. Everyone, not just King, wanted to think about the report. Overall, it's pretty much what they expected. The most interesting thing was that there hadn't been any clues found about the unknown organization. Where could those jerks be hiding?
"...I have an idea," King began, getting the room's attention once more. "What if we used today to gather our bearings? To be clear, what I'm suggesting is that we take it easy. Not a vacation, but a group activity that allows us to adjust to Saitama not being here. I think the best way we can do that while still being productive is to have all of the upcoming heroes fight each other. That way, they can showcase their skills, abilities, and what they've learned so far from us. It will also be a great way to know what areas they need to improve in above all others. And, as a nice bonus, we can record everything for Captain Mizuki and Mumen Rider. After all, Saitama wanted them to share the news with the heroes first so they wouldn't be shocked at the same time as the public." He suggested.
"Hmm, I like that idea," Bang chimed in, rubbing his chin. "We have been debating the best moment to reveal the idea of non-humans being heroes. The good press with City J and the Seafolk has already made it easier to approach the subject. However, we can also ensure that our leader won't need to worry about this when he gets back." He said.
"I have an issue," Flashy Flash started. "I'm not against the idea itself. The problem lies with the capabilities of each participant. Look at Genos. His mechanical components already make him dangerous. But Genos has proven he can handle himself in a skirmish against a far more powerful foe, such as when he escaped Pochi's jaws of death. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have someone like Ground Dragon. Understand that I am not about to belittle or talk negatively about one of my pupils. We simply cannot ignore that, regardless of my involvement, Ground Dragon was genetically designed for covert operations. Can Ground Dragon fight aggressively? Yes. He's already capable of doing as much and has the potential for more with further training by me. But if we're putting Ground Dragon, in his current state, into a situation where he must confront Genos or one of his more combatively designed peers, it's going to be a one-sided smackdown." He told them.
"What if we make it more than just fighting?" Watchdog man suggested as he looked at Child Emperor. "You've been doing something similar with Armored Gorilla, right?" He asked.
"Yes, I have!" Isamu answered. "Much like Genos, Armored Gorilla is literally built for the kind of work heroes do. So, the only way to train him is to refine the non-combat elements of being a hero. We've been doing drills, obstacle courses, and many other exercises." He shared.
"Would the others be able to use that stuff?" Zombieman inquired.
"Absolutely! Heck, if you guys give me a few hours, I could turn all of Ghost Town into an optimal hero training course!" Isamu passionately promised.
"You won't need that much time. I can assist." Metal Knight offered.
"As can I. If the three of us work to get this done, we'll have everything ready within a maximum of two hours. Possibly three should an unknown complication arise, which isn't likely." Drive Knight said.
"Heh, damn. This is getting exciting," Atomic Samurai commented. "Say, could we use what we're doing here for other heroes?" He asked.
"You mean like a dedicated training space for heroes in general?" Bad questioned, receiving a nod.
"Yeah. Obviously, those of us in S-Class have our preferred training methods and such. But every other hero has to figure out what their strength is and then work on it by themselves. One Punch Man has come up with a lot of ideas to make being a hero easier. There's the transportation system and the news network. But what if we used Ghost Town to see if we could create dedicated hero training spaces? To my knowledge, the Association only uses its facilities for examinations and nothing else. I don't know about the rest of you, but I think that's wasteful and a disservice to the rest of the rankings." Atomic Samurai responded.
"You know, Superalloy and I have talked about this before," Tanktop Master admitted. "I love training the Tanktop Army, but I've always felt bad for heroes who aren't in groups like mine or the Blizzard Bunch. Having an environment where you're surrounded by those with the same goals and determination as you can do a lot for your improvement. There's also the undeniable benefit of having the proper equipment and resources for personal growth. If we set out to do something like this, I know it'd strengthen every hero, no matter the rank." He said.
"People, you're forgetting something," Tatsumaki spoke up with her arms folded and her usual glare. "Ghost Town might be free of the normies who'd make training a drag, but that doesn't mean we can invite whoever we damn well please. We don't even know if Baldy would be okay with this," She reminded them.
"That's true. One Punch Man has never mentioned his thoughts on how Ghost Town in its entirety should be." Superalloy acknowledged, only to have an idea a moment later. "King! You're our leader's right-hand man! How would he feel about this?" He inquired.
There was another brief silence. King closed his eyes and gave the question serious consideration. Saitama didn't appreciate too much commotion or having too many people around. But since he'd be gone for two weeks, then maybe they could use that time as a sort of trial period for this concept that S-Class was bouncing around.
"Two weeks. That's how long we've got before Saitama returns. If all of you find it acceptable, we could explore the potential of turning Ghost Town into a massive training ground for heroes within that timeframe. When Saitama gets back, we'll show him the results and see how he feels. However, I think he'd be on board with the idea of creating dedicated spaces for heroes to better themselves no matter what. So, if it's not too much to ask, could Metal Knight, Drive Knight, and Child Emperor come up with some designs?" King stated, ending with a request.
"Easily." Metal Knight immediately replied.
"It'll take no time at all," Drive Knight remarked.
"We'll have the first batch ready for you within a few days!" Isamu promised.
"Great. Thank you," King said. "As for the use of Ghost Town?" He pressed, now addressing everyone.
Amazingly, there wasn't a need for further discussion. Every hero, even Tatsumaki, nodded to show their approval. As King had pointed out, there was a whole fourteen days between now and Saitama's vacation ending. That was more than enough time to get everything ready, invite heroes to train, and do whatever else was necessary.
"Well then, we have a plan set for today," King said, rising from his seat. "We've already had breakfast, so let's just take it easy until everything is ready." He told them.
"Sir!" Genos called out as King headed for the exit. "Do you want me to accompany you?" He inquired.
"No, Genos. Instead, use this time to make sure you're prepared for later. Do a maintenance check on your body and review your techniques and skills." King instructed.
"Yes, sir!" Genos exclaimed, overflowing with resolve.
A few seconds later, King was out of the room. When the doors were closed, and he was out of earshot, everyone resumed chatting for a bit longer to work out the finer details. King's destination wasn't the building's lobby, his room, or somewhere else in Ghost Town. Instead, he got inside the elevator, took it up to the roof, walked to the roof's center, and then he...
THUD
THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP
King's arms and legs were stretched as far as they could go. The poor man was lying on his back as he gasped breathlessly. If Saitama were here, he'd be damn proud of his buddy and how long he kept his cool.
"How...does...he do it?..." King whispered, staring at the open blue sky. "Being the leader is so stressful...holy crap...Saitama...you REALLY needed a break..." He wheezed.
More than ever before, King felt immense sympathy for his best friend. If dealing with S-Class was like that for him, there's no WAY he could handle the frenzied masses! Of course, it's not as if King would ever find himself in that same scenario, but that's not what's important. He already respected Saitama so much, but it increased exponentially after just one meeting!
"Fourteen...days..." King muttered as his heartbeat returned to normal. "I...I think I can last that long...so...enjoy yourself, Saitama...for the both of us..." He said, hoping his words would somehow reach him.
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Saitama was horrified. His stomach was churning. His heart was ready to explode in his chest. For the first time in his life, Saitama screwed up BADLY.
No, badly isn't enough. What Saitama did was unforgivable. No, it was still worse than that! Saitama sinned! He did something that was beyond awful! It surpassed terrible! It transcended evil!
Saitama didn't mean to do it! It was an accident! Lord Great White had just dropped him off on the island. Then, Saitama went inside the house that Metal Knight made him, unpacked his stuff, and then came outside to explore the moderately-sized landmass. There was a perfect amount of terrain to do a variety of things, but it wasn't so large that you couldn't see one side from another.
Everything was fine. Everything was good. Everything was peaceful. Suddenly, an eruption from the ocean! A salty mist was sprayed everywhere! Saitama had been facing away from the source of the disturbance, so he didn't immediately see what had caused it. But before he could, his instincts activated. His body told him clear as crystal that he was about to be attacked. So, reactively, Saitama punched whatever was behind him.
As the viscera started to rain, Saitama processed what was going on and what he had done. His fist had come into contact with an appendage. By now, it was impossible to determine what it had been. The limb extended from the body it was connected to, which had been in the water just offshore. As Saitama studied the corpse, he discovered that...it...looked like...a Seafolk.
Sure, the creature was TITANIC. It was also difficult to determine what specific type of Seafolk it had been. At the risk of sounding rude, the body resembled some eldritch abomination you'd read about in a horror story more than a marine animal. Of course, Saitama knew very little about the Seafolk! On top of that, who was he to judge? They weren't human!
Yet, despite the abnormal visage of the now-deceased entity, Saitama recognized enough physiological similarities to the Seafolk that made him confident it wasn't some random monster. For the first time in his life, Saitama had punched something by accident. The result, as expected, was mortifying. It also left him at a loss for what to do. How could anyone POSSIBLY fix this?!
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"GENUS!" Saitama shouted, feeling as though God himself had given him mercy. "GENUS CAN FIX THIS! HE CAN CLONE STUFF! I JUST NEED TO CALL HIM!" He yelled.
Hurrying back inside the house, Saitama quickly obtained his phone and dialed Doctor Genus's number. He had no intentions of covering this incident up, only to undo his error by saving this innocent Seafolk's life! Mark his words; when Saitama learned who it was he had tragically killed, he'd do everything in his power to make amends! Hold on, mysterious Seafolk, One Punch Man is going to make things right!