1
Saitama tells Genos that he's going to walk back to City Z. Genos asks him how long he thinks he's going to be there for. Saitama tells Genos: "Not too long." Genos nods in agreement with his decision and Saitama walks out of the Hero Association Headquarters and heads to City Z.
On his walk to City Z, he visualizes how it was like to walk down the streets of where he first started his journey in becoming a hero. All the pain and suffering he went through just to get his power came from here.
He remembers the rejection that he got from that job. He remembers the first time he had killed a monster: Crablante. Thinking back to it now, Saitama realizes that Crablante was only a Tiger Level Threat. Oh, how far he has come.
After all of this time, I still haven't remembered why I wanted to become a hero in the first place. I had the idea when I started hunting monsters, and I definitely had the drive, but the reason behind all of that just left me. I know to do this hero stuff only because it gives me some pleasure. I'm not even interested in trying something else. I don't want to try something else.
King told me that I needed to try something different, but I don't think it would make much of a difference in my life. Maybe I was just meant to stay a hero. It's not like I have other talents, anyway.
Saitama stumbled upon an area where there was a ton of rubble. He stepped over it and started digging on the other side. He continued digging and he eventually found a sign. It said "Apartment". Saitama sighed. There was nothing here that could've been useful to remember Saitama's past. Everything was destroyed-well, at least mostly.
Saitama found a burnt business card right next to his foot. He picked it up and closed his eyes. The memories of his past came flooding in.
2
Two Years Earlier
"I've looked at your resume, but I don't see how the company will benefit from you being here. You're just not cut out for the job. You should consider something else. I'm sorry." The man said.
He gave Saitama back the folder. Both bowed. Saitama walked out of the office. He straightened out his tie and strolled down the hallway. He headed to the elevator and planned on going down. When the elevator opened, he stepped in. The feeling of being so disappointing never left him.
Another woman entered the elevator. She was a blonde.
"Rejected?" She said calmly. Saitama nodded.
"Same. Don't worry. Sometimes, I think our rejections can be a blessing." She replied.
Saitama made a confused face. It took him about two seconds for him to understand what she was trying to say. Why was he always slow in the head?
When they reached the bottom floor, the woman was the first one to exit the elevator and say goodbye. Saitama said goodbye too.
As he walked out of the company building, he stretched his arms. He thought about walking back home, but was hungry. He checked his wallet. It was always disheartening for him to do this.
I barely have any yen. Sure, what a blessing this is…
He turned right and started going in the direction of his home. On his way home, he came in contact with a child that had a HUGE double-chin. He was playing soccer in an open area. Saitama couldn't take this kid seriously.
Are you kidding me?
3
Hisao drooled over the crabs that were prepared before him. He thought about consuming the legs first before he moved on to the main body. He grabbed the crab and ripped it apart. He showed no mercy.
In the crab restaurant, people could hear him rip the crabs apart viciously. It didn't help that he was near a family who was trying to eat their crabs in peace. One of the men got up and told him to stop.
"Could you please stop acting barbaric? My family and I are trying to eat in peace and you're making a lot of noise. Could you please stop?" The man asked.
Hisao continued eating. He was already on his fourth crab. The man cautiously tapped his shoulder, but Hisao gave the man an uppercut, breaking his jaw.
"LET ME EAT MY CRABS!" Hisao screamed.
He kneeled and began punching the man in the face. Four workers, including the family, tried to get him off the man— but it was too late. The man was dead—with his face caved in.
"He's so heavy! Call the police!" One man said as Hisao shoved him to the floor. Hisao's body started mutating. Within twenty seconds, he looked like a crab monster.
TIGER LEVEL THREAT: CRABLANTE.
Crablante glanced at his crab table. His transformation into a monster had destroyed most of the tables around him. He was so angry. He used his claws to destroy the pictures of famous staff members in the crab restaurant.
I'm heading out and killing everyone that left this restaurant. I will tear their limbs apart one by one.
Crablante fled the restaurant, searching for prey to sink his claws into.
4
Thirty Minutes Later
Saitama stood over Crablante's corpse—hyperventilating. Sweat came running down from his forehead. Blood was everywhere—on his face, arms, thighs…fists. The images of him absolutely destroying Crablante with his business tie came in his mind over and over again. It wouldn't go away.
What did I just fucking do? Huh? Did I just kill a monster? What made me do it? What was that inner part of myself that allowed me to kill this monster? I can feel it. It's hungry for more. This is just getting started.
Saitama limped in the direction of his home, hoping that the double-chin kid found his way back to whatever guardian that was supposed to be in charge of watching him.
5
Three Months Later
City Z
A trio of thugs are running away from a store. They smirk at each other and make a right out of the sidewalk into an alley. From now on, they knew that the cops would have no chance of tracking them.
"You idiot…money is falling out of the bag!" One of them said,
"Shit! Uh…UH…ummm!"
"You two cut it out! Just keep moving!"
Just on the other side of the buildings on the sidewalk, Saitama is doing his daily ten-kilometer run. He is gasping for air. He starts to slow down and takes a deep breath.
As he continues to jog, he comes in contact with three mysterious men wearing leather jackets and tattoos. Saitama is confused, but only until he sees a ton of yen come out of the bag that they're carrying. Saitama sprints in their direction.
"Hey! Who's that?!"
"Didn't I tell you to keep going!"
"Guys! He's so fast!"
Saitama punches one of them in the face so hard that they fly into a car. Saitama cracks his knuckles and uppercuts another one. That guy lands on a booth, completely covered in food.
Saitama turns around and stares at the last thug. The thug quickly drops the bag full of yen and kneels.
"Spare me! Here! Take the money…" Saitama kicked him in the face and he was knocked out immediately. Saitama decided to leave the thugs exactly where they were and continue his ten-kilometer run.
Later, when the police arrived on the scene, they couldn't figure out who could've done this to the thugs. They asked bystanders who they thought had done it. They replied saying: "It was a young man wearing a runner's suit that had done it."
6
Shin found the apartment of the man that had beat up the three thugs only a week ago. He was eager to meet this man—the benefits that he would get if he exploited him correctly.
Act naturally. He probably needs money. Well, the company has a lot of that.
Shin rang the doorbell. He waited for a whole minute until someone opened the door. It was the man who all the bystanders talked about. He looked rough, almost as if he had just been through a serious fight.
"Who are you exactly?" The man said, scratching his head.
"I'm Shin, one of the agents of my company. I know this might not be a good time…"
"Actually, it's perfect. I just finished beating up some monsters. I was gonna rest a little because my muscles are aching."
"Ok…can I come in?"
"Umm, sure. I'm Saitama by the way." Saitama replied.
Shin entered Saitama's part of the Apartment. He noticed that Saitama barely had anything. Only the necessities, really. Although, he did have some food.
Saitama took him to the living room where they began talking.
"I need a favor from you. It's probably nothing too big for you to handle. You must be superhuman after all. There's also money behind it." Shin said.
"Money? Clean, right?"
"Do you trust me or not?"
"Sure. Umm…how much are you willing to give me?"
"It depends on if you comply or not."
"Ok, well, what is it then?"
"I need you to dismantle a dangerous drug lord named Akuma and his underground gang. Don't worry, you'll be undercover."
"I don't think I need to be undercover. I'll just walk in and punch them."
"This isn't a joke. They have guns. You need a game plan, and I have one for you."
Saitama grumbled. He laid down on the couch with his legs propped up. Shin presumed that he could have a seat too. He took out his phone.
"Are you going to listen or what?" Shin asked.
"Sure."
"Alright. I have the address on the location of the nightclub. There is also another place, we believe, that's underground where most of his men probably gather. The thing is, we figured out where his men go to get the drugs and bring them to Akuma, but we have no idea how they get from that location to their underground HQ. Our best guess in the nightclub. We could try to send in a team but…Akuma might be too strong…"
"Wait…I'm lost…"
"…Okay, here me out—I need you to follow those men from City Z to City R. Here are some pictures of what they look like." Shin said.
Shin gave Saitama two pictures. Saitama took them and examined the men's facial features. They didn't look that far apart—almost like brothers, but they had that thug look to them that couldn't be ignored. Aside from the look, they were indistinguishable.
"Do you want me to beat them up or…"
"Here's the address. Go there and hijack their truck. We'll be tracking you."
Shin gave Saitama a tracking device. Saitama put it in his pocket and proceeded to listen to Shin's plan.
"Once you are in the truck, you'll force them to drive you to the nightclub in City R. From there, you'll have a better chance of finding their underground HQ. Don't worry too much, once you reach the nightclub, a gun team in disguise will already be there waiting for you. Got that?" Shin said.
"Sure. This is starting tomorrow, right?"
"Yes."
"I also want to ask another question."
"What?"
"When did you guys get all of this information?"
"Just mere hours ago…"
7
Iha and Umemoto were told to meet in the parking lot in the back of the restaurant in the evening by their boss, Shig. They knew the risk they were taking—possibly a lifetime in prison if things went bad. Even at those stakes, it wasn't enough to convince them to back off. They never knew if Akuma might bless them with his heavenly power. Plus, City Z was perfect because of the low population density.
When they drove the truck into the parking lot, they hopped out of the vehicle and greeted one of their friends. He was a worker for this restaurant, but he knew them. More importantly, the boss of this restaurant knew Akuma and had received his blessing.
"Where's the goods?" The restaurant worker said. Iha smiled.
"Here's a packet, taste it." Iha said.
Reluctantly, the restaurant worker took the packet. He tasted what was inside and grinned.
"It's good. I knew you guys were the real deal. Follow me inside, I'll show you where we keep the crates."
"Inside? Nah, we're good. Just bring it out here. Loading it in the truck is already going to be a pain." Umemoto replied.
The restaurant worker raised his eyebrows.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." Umemoto said. The restaurant worker sighed. He knew that there weren't any cameras on this side of the building, so his plan should work out perfectly. He glanced at Saitama, who was hiding in the bushes.
"Alright." The worker said. It took them almost fifteen minutes to load all the crates in the truck. Ida and Umemoto were standing inside the trailer of the truck trying to organize the cargo. The worker came back to check on them.
"You have everything?" The worker asked.
"Absolutely. We're heading out." Iha said.
"Alright, I'll close it for you."
Iha and Umemoto nodded.
They got out of the trailer and walked to the front of the truck. Before they even opened their doors, the worker (secretly working for Shig) watched as Saitama maneuvered out of the bushes and hid behind the crates in the truck trailer. The worker smiled and closed the trailer doors.
8
It took a minute for Saitama to realize that it was going to be a long ride before he got to City R. He wondered what type of people he was going to meet there. Thugs, most likely, but what about their taste in television? Saitama always had to sit in bars and pretend he was there for a drink when he was really only there to watch TV.
The truck shook. Something, anything, had probably hit the tires.
Nothing too much to worry about. I'm alright for now, what I need to be focusing on is how I'm going to dispose of these bad guys once I reach the nightclub. He thought about it for some time. He could just knock them out of anything were to come down to it, but his main goal was to find Akuma in that underground hideout. He closed his eyes and hoped for the best.
About an hour and a half later, he was woken up by the truck stopping in its tracks. It was night now. All of his senses were heightened, and he knew exactly what he needed to do.
The trailer doors started to open. Not two, but three men (the other one probably arrived from somewhere else) stepped in the trailer and started taking the crates out. When one of the men lifted a crate, he saw Saitama staring at him, smiling.
"What the…" The man began, before he was punched in the face and sent flying out of the trailer. The other two men gasped and attempted to pull out their gun, but it was useless. Saitama blitzed both of them and had the trio of men tied up and locked inside the trailer of the truck.
Saitama stood behind the truck looking in all directions. He was definitely somewhere in the slums of City R. He rubbed his eyes and tried to spot a sign. There was none. Odd. Saitama had snatched one of the men's clothes and proceeded to wear them.
When he was done changing, a beeping sound came from his pocket. It was the tracker. Saitama took it out of his pocket and listened.
Shin: "Are you okay? What happened? You guys stopped on the radar."
"Yes, but I'm hungry. You know if they got some food around here?"
Shin: "Now is not the time. Could you be serious for one second? Okay, there should be…"
Saitama looked up and saw a man walking in his direction while texting on his phone. He quickly took cover on the other side of the vehicle, but that didn't stop him from being seen.
"Hey! Iha? Moto? Are you…" The man started, but he was put fast asleep by a surprise flick from Saitama. The man's phone fell out of his hands and cracked. Saitama picked it up and looked at the text message. He took out the tracker.
Shin: "Did you just ignore me?!"
"No, but I got someone's phone and it looks like they were having an important conversation. I'm too lazy to read it to you, but they were talking to a guy named Shig. Is that name familiar?"
Shin: "Yes, he's one of Akuma's handymen. Wait, how did you get a phone?"
"I just knocked someone out. It says their name is Kenji."
Shin: "Shit. Umm…I supposed you knocked the others out too?"
"Yup." Saitama said with his bored face.
Shin (frustrated): "Could you for once follow protocol? You weren't even supposed to be out until you reached the nightclub. My radar says you still have a mile."
"But they had to make a stop for this guy named Kenji, and I took Kenji's phone. Also, so far, I think I knocked out four guys…"
Shin: "To be honest, we didn't think that they were going to make another stop. Anyway, you still have a mile to go and you need a gameplan. Don't think about going in fists blazing."
"Umm…"
Saitama looked at Kenji's phone. He read the messages and it looks like he was communicating with Shig that Iha and Umemoto were going to drop off some of the crates to him and give the majority of it to Shig for "T" to have.
"What's "T"? Kenji says "T" in a message. Who's that?" Saitama asks.
Shin: "They're probably not trying to say Akuma's surname directly. They're trying to prevent him from being discovered while keeping him in the center of all their deals. That's how this thing works. Now, acting as Kenji, I want you to text Shig that you're about a mile away with the drugs. Not literally, but say something "Hey, I'm close and I got the pack". Got it?"
"Um…sure." Saitama replied.
Still holding Kenji's phone, Saitama texted Shig that he was about a mile away and he should be there soon. Saitama puts the phone in his pocket but still holds onto the tracker.
Shin: "Okay, did you text him?"
"I did."
Shin: Good. Now, I know you don't know how to drive, but it's not that hard with trucks. I'll guide you with every step. Do you have the keys?
"I think it's still in the ignition or something like that."
Shin: "Good, get in the vehicle, but first, put the men in the back of the trailer. Saitama's mind went blank."
"Sure, but what about their phones? If they wake up they might call for help. Should I destroy it?" Saitama asked.
Shin: No. They might be tracked, that's why they're going to be locked in the trailer.
"Ok…I guess I see." Saitama replied.
Saitama gets the three men and puts them in the back of the trailer. He then quickly looks left and right to make sure there's no one watching him do this. When he realizes that there's simply no one there, he closes the trailer doors, walks to the driver seat of the truck, and hops in.
Shin: "Should I go over everything or…"
Saitama starts the truck again, and it awakes with a loud noise. Without listening to what Shin had to say, Saitama starts driving.
Shin: "Oh, dang, you're actually going. Um…keep going straight."
Saitama didn't take his foot off the pedal, and when he did, something was wrong. He tried slowing down a bit but the truck simply wouldn't slow down.
Shin: You're going a little fast over there. Gonna slow down or something…
"The breaks aren't working!" Saitama said.
Shin: "You gotta be fucking kidding me…"
The truck is going out of control. It's swerving left and right as it reaches 90 miles per hour. At one point, the truck almost flips over, but it regains its balance. Still, the disaster was far from over. The truck continued to swerve until it hit a tree and started spinning. Saitama held on to the steering wheel, a blank expression on his face once he realized just how much he screwed up. The truck finally gave in and slipped over. When it landed, it rolled a bit before it came to a stop.
The truck was turned upside down, so Saitama was simply staring out in the middle of the street—upside down.
Shin: "You really screwed up on this one. Anyway, I guess you'll have no choice but to sprint there. Can you sprint there?"
Saitama didn't reply. First, he casually kicked open the driver door and hopped out of the vehicle.
He stretched his arms and legs as he walked around the truck. When he reached the back he simply stared at the trailer doors.
"Sure I can sprint there. I mean, unless you're okay with me going in fists blazing, right?" Saitama asked.
Shin: "You simply can't follow directions. At this point, do whatever you need to do to beat the shit out of Akuma. I hope you don't get killed."
"So, is it settled? I can finally do it my way?"
Shin: WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU?!
"Ahhh…I see. Okay…" Saitama replied.
Saitama got in a sprinter's position. He imagined himself on the starting line for a track race. No one was watching him other than himself. He took a deep breath, then let it out. Within a moment's notice, Saitama darted forward, his foot cracking the concrete. Based on Shin's calculations, Saitama was probably sprinting at around 700-800 Miles an hour…
Shin: "Holy shit…just what the hell are you?!"
It didn't even take long before Saitama reached the outskirts of the nightclub. He was still hidden in plain sight by some of the other buildings nearby.
Shin: "My men should be near the trees hiding behind the parking lot. Tell me when you see them."
Saitama looked. He didn't see them at first, but when he did, he grinned.
"Yeah, I guess I see them." Saitama replied.
Shin: "Great. Now, I'm going to leave everything from this point on to you. Please don't disappoint."
With that, Shin disconnected, and Saitama was simply standing outside of the nightclub, thinking about how he was going to get Akuma.
9
Saitama stepped out from behind the building, his eyes on the entrance to the nightclub. The place was a dive, nestled in the dingy outskirts of City R. Neon lights flickered erratically, casting a sickly green and pink glow over the chipped paint and graffiti that decorated the club's facade. The air was thick with the stench of alcohol, smoke, and a hint of something metallic—perhaps blood, if the rumors about this place were true.
Ugh…there's a lot of people here. That'll simply give me a headache.
As Saitama approached, he could hear the low thrum of bass-heavy music, punctuated by muffled shouts and laughter. It was a typical seedy joint, the kind of place where people went to disappear, do dirty deals, and forget their troubles. Saitama wasn't here for the ambiance. He was here to find Akuma and put an end to his drug operations.
He pushed open the heavy door and was immediately hit by a wall of sound and the strobe of flashing lights. The inside of the nightclub was just as grimy as the outside. The walls were lined with booths occupied by shadowy figures, and the dance floor was a writhing mass of bodies moving to the pounding beat. Saitama made his way through the crowd, his eyes scanning the room for anything suspicious.
As he neared the bar, a man in a dark suit and sunglasses approached him. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with an air of authority that suggested he wasn't just another patron.
"You Kenji?" the man asked, his voice barely audible over the music.
Saitama nodded, deciding to go along with it for now.
"Yeah, that's me."
The man's eyes narrowed.
"Where are the drugs?"
Saitama scratched his head, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Drugs? Oh, I don't know about any drugs."
The man's expression darkened.
"Don't play dumb with me. Shig doesn't like it when people play games."
Before Saitama could respond, the man—Shig, presumably—lunged at him with a punch aimed at his face. Saitama sidestepped effortlessly, letting Shig's fist sail past him. Shig spun around, furious, and threw another punch. Saitama caught his fist mid-air, his grip like iron.
"Hey, calm down. I'm just here to talk." Saitama said.
But Shig wasn't listening. He wrenched his hand free and threw a kick at Saitama's midsection. Saitama barely moved, simply leaning back to avoid the strike. Shig's eyes widened as he realized he was dealing with someone far stronger than he'd anticipated.
Saitama sighed.
"Guess we're fighting…?"
With a casual flick of his wrist, Saitama slapped Shig across the face. The force sent Shig crashing into a nearby table, which shattered under his weight. The music screeched to a halt as the clubgoers turned to see what the commotion was about. Shig's men, who had been lounging around the edges of the room, jumped to their feet, drawing guns from their jackets.
"Get him!" one of them shouted.
Saitama watched as the men fanned out, trying to surround him. He could see the fear in their eyes, but they were clearly more afraid of Shig—or perhaps Akuma—than they were of him.
Bullets started flying. Saitama moved, his body a blur as he dodged the shots with ease. He darted forward, closing the distance between him and the nearest thug in the blink of an eye. A single punch sent the man flying backward, crashing into the wall with enough force to leave a dent.
Another thug tried to flank him, aiming his gun at Saitama's head. Saitama ducked just as the gun went off, the bullet whizzing past his ear. He grabbed the thug's wrist, twisting it until he heard a snap, then kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling across the floor.
The remaining thugs hesitated, their confidence wavering as they saw how effortlessly Saitama was taking them down. One of them, braver or more foolish than the others, charged at Saitama with a knife. Saitama caught the blade between his fingers, yanked it from the thug's hand, and tossed it aside.
"Cool knife dude." Saitama complimented with a plain smile.
He delivered a swift uppercut, and the thug went airborne, landing somewhere in the middle of the dance floor. The remaining men exchanged glances, then turned and ran for the exit. Saitama let them go. He wasn't here for them, after all.
With the thugs taken care of, the club was eerily quiet. The patrons had either fled or were hiding, peeking out from behind overturned tables and chairs. Saitama walked over to where Shig was lying in a heap and hauled him to his feet.
"Now, where's Akuma?" Saitama asked, his tone calm but firm.
Shig groaned, clutching his side.
"Go to hell." Shig spat.
Saitama sighed and tightened his grip.
"Listen, I don't have time for this. Tell me where he is."
Shig's eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but there was none. He finally nodded toward a door at the back of the club, partially hidden behind a curtain.
"There. The door leads to the basement—which then leads underground even further. Akuma's hideout is down there." Shig said.
Saitama nodded and released Shig, who collapsed to the floor, clutching his side and whimpering in pain. Saitama turned his attention to the door. It was heavy and reinforced, clearly meant to keep out anyone who didn't belong.
He walked over and pushed it open, revealing a dimly lit staircase leading down into darkness. The air that wafted up from below was cool and damp, with the faint scent of mildew. Saitama took a deep breath and started down the stairs, the sounds of the nightclub fading away behind him.
Each step echoed in the narrow stairwell, the only sound in the oppressive silence. Saitama's mind was focused, his senses alert. He didn't know what awaited him below, but he was ready for anything. This was just another step in his journey, another challenge to overcome. And he wasn't about to back down now.
As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he found himself in a long, dimly lit corridor. The walls were bare concrete, cold and unwelcoming. Saitama could hear the faint hum of machinery and the occasional distant murmur of voices. He moved forward, his footsteps silent on the concrete floor.
The corridor twisted and turned, leading him deeper into the underground complex. Saitama's eyes scanned his surroundings, noting every detail. He could feel the tension in the air, the sense that he was walking into a lion's den. But he was ready. He'd faced worse than this.
Finally, he reached a large metal door at the end of the corridor. It was marked with a symbol he didn't recognize, but he knew this had to be the place. He placed his hand on the door, feeling the cool metal beneath his fingers.
"Alright. Time to end this." Saitama said.
With a deep breath, Saitama pushed the door open and stepped inside.
10
A large, circular pit, surrounded by grimy concrete walls and filled with a chaotic blend of jeers, cheers. The lighting was dim, save for the harsh, glaring spotlights that bathed the center of the pit, where Akuma stood. Around him, thirty black belts circled, each one a seasoned fighter, each one knowing the danger they faced but unwilling to back down.
The gangsters surrounding the pit roared. Bets were shouted, money exchanged hands, and all eyes were on Akuma, the undefeated champion of this underworld coliseum.
Akuma rolled his shoulders.
"Well, who's going to come at me first? I don't have all day…"
The first black belt lunged at him with a fierce cry, a flurry of punches aimed at Akuma's head. Akuma dodged effortlessly as he sidestepped and retaliated with a single, devastating punch to the man's chest. The impact was bone-crushing, sending the black belt flying back into the crowd.
They're all so fucking fragile…
Two more fighters attacked from either side, hoping to catch him off guard. Akuma crouched low, sweeping his leg out in a powerful arc that took both men off their feet. He was up before they hit the ground, delivering precise, lightning-fast strikes to their throats, leaving them gasping for air and clutching at their necks.
A kick came at him from behind, and Akuma spun, catching the leg mid-air. He twisted sharply, the sound of bones snapping audible even over the din of the crowd. The attacker screamed, falling to the ground in agony, and Akuma let him drop without a second glance.
Four fighters moved in at once, a coordinated assault designed to overwhelm him. Akuma's smirk widened. He ducked under a punch, using the momentum to drive his elbow into the stomach of another attacker. As that one doubled over, Akuma grabbed him and swung him into the path of the incoming kick, using the man's body as a shield.
He released his human shield just in time to block a high kick aimed at his head, catching the foot and twisting it brutally, sending the attacker spinning to the ground. Another came at him with a flurry of kicks and punches, and Akuma danced around them. He struck back with a series of rapid blows, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. A punch to the jaw, a knee to the gut, an elbow to the temple. The man crumpled, unconscious before he hit the ground.
"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT! IT'S TOO EASY!"
The gangsters cheered louder, egging him on as the remaining black belts regrouped, wary now, but still determined.
They attacked in waves, trying to use their numbers to their advantage. Akuma met them head-on. He moved like a predator, each strike calculated, each movement efficient. He broke bones with a flick of his wrist, sent men flying with well-placed kicks, and dodged their attacks with almost contemptuous ease.
A particularly large fighter charged at him, hoping to use brute strength to overpower him. Akuma sidestepped at the last moment, tripping the man and sending him sprawling. Before he could get up, Akuma delivered a crushing stomp to his back, leaving him writhing on the ground.
Another fighter tried to grapple him, hoping to use his weight to pin Akuma down. Akuma laughed, a short, mocking sound, and twisted out of the hold with serpentine grace. He grabbed the man's arm, twisting it behind his back and using it as leverage to throw him into another attacker. They collided with a sickening thud, both of them going down in a tangle of limbs.
Akuma turned, his eyes scanning for the next threat. A black belt with a scarred face came at him with a flurry of kicks. Akuma blocked and dodged, his movements almost lazy in their efficiency. He caught the man's leg mid-kick, twisting and lifting him off the ground before slamming him down with bone-crushing force.
Another fighter tried to take advantage of his momentary distraction, but Akuma was ready. He ducked under a punch, delivering a devastating uppercut that lifted the man off his feet. He followed it with a roundhouse kick, the impact echoing through the arena as the man crashed to the ground.
The remaining fighters circled warily, their initial confidence shattered. Akuma's eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and disdain. He was untouchable, a force of nature in the underground pit. He beckoned them with a flick of his fingers, daring them to come at him.
They attacked together, a last-ditch effort to take him down. Akuma met them head-on, his body a blur of motion. He moved with the grace of a dancer and the ferocity of a wild beast, his strikes precise and devastating. He broke bones with a single punch, sent men flying with powerful kicks, and dodged their attacks with ease.
One fighter came at him with a spinning kick. Akuma ducked under the kick, grabbing the man's leg and using his momentum to throw him into another attacker. The two collided, going down in a heap.
The last few fighters came at him together. Akuma broke their bones with a flick of his wrist, sent men flying with well-placed kicks, and dodged their attacks with almost contemptuous ease.
One by one, the black belts fell, each one defeated with ruthless efficiency. Akuma stood in the center of the pit, breathing heavily but otherwise unscathed.
Akuma looked around. He had proven once again that he was the strongest, the most skilled fighter in the underground. He basked in the adulation, his chest swelling with pride.
11
Saitama was watching within the crowd of the gangsters as some of them were exchanging money and some others who were throwing money at Akuma. It all seemed bland to him—a little too bland. Sure, he had watched a man beat a lot of black belts at the same time, but it bored the living heck out of him. Martial arts, in his eyes, was simply a boring fighting style. Why waste your time learning it when you can simply punch and kick?
"ANYONE ELSE DARE TO CHALLENGE ME? I FELT LIKE I HAVEN'T MOVED A MUSCLE AT ALL!" Akuma screamed.
Saitama sighed. He knew what had to be done. He raised his hand in the middle of the crowd like a kid who knew the answer in the classroom. Everyone stopped jumping and screaming and turned to Saitama. The underground hideout was completely silent, then, everyone started laughing.
Saitama was kind of confused, but didn't really care.
"What's your name, young man?" Akuma asked.
Saitama cleared his throat.
"Saitama. I'm a hero for fun." Saitama replied.
Akuma started laughing, then, everyone started laughing too.
"Go home, kid, before I send you to the hospital."
"Umm…could I at least fight in a ring? The ring looks pretty nice, y'know, the design and everything." Saitama said.
Akuma sighed.
"Sure." Akuma replied.
Saitama casually shoved through the crowd and made his way to the center of the arena. Now, just like Akuma, he was also the center of attention.
Hmm…
Akuma grinned as he put his fists together, looking at Saitama.
"Just a head up first, I'm going to break your arm after the first punch, second, I'm going to break your legs, and third, I might leave you paralyzed depending on how I feel." Akuma said.
Saitama still had a blank facial expression.
"Ok." Saitama replied plainly.
Akuma seemed annoyed.
"You're not afraid? You're about to experience the worst pain in your life."
"I mean, I don't know. You sure did put those other fighters in pain though. Will they recover?"
"You're fighting me, the grand Akuma, and you're WORRIED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS FIGHTERS?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"They were weak. Their injuries and life means nothing to me, just like you, when I'm finished with you at least." Akuma said.
Saitama clenched his fists, his face serious.
"Then you will know their pain…" Saitama said, and just like that, the match started. Akuma was the first one to attack, but Saitama quickly ducked and used his left fist to slam Akuma's face into the ground of the arena. The force was so strong that it not only shattered the entire arena in half, but it caused a mini-earthquake above. The ceiling was also cracked and the gangsters watching the fight all fell forward and tripped on each other.
Saitama's face was still serious as he slowly removed his face from Akuma's face. Akuma was completely knocked out—unconscious.
Saitama rubbed his hand through his hair. The audience didn't say a word.
"Uh…well…I guess that's that…" Saitama said.
Before Saitama could say anything else, the doors had burst open and men with suits and rifles came pouring into the underground hideout.
"EVERYONE, HANDS ON THEIR HEAD!" The soldiers shouted.
Saitama watched as they took care of the gangsters and tried restraining all of them. One of the soldiers came into the arena and was shocked. He took off his head gear and stared at Saitama.
"You did this?" The man asked.
"I guess so." Saitama replied.
The man put out his hand.
"Thanks for putting down this fucker." He said.
Saitama reluctantly shook his hand.
"Uh…no problem."
Saitama and the man stared at Akuma for some time before moving on.
12
A Day Later
Saitama answered the person that was knocking on his door. He had just finished his workout routine and had a feeling that he knew exactly who it was.
When he opened his apartment door he saw Shig standing in front of him holding an envelope in his hand. Shin smiled.
"Well done. Seriously, if I knew you were that strong I would've simply told you to go in without a gameplan. I'm sorry that I tried controlling the situation too much, but regardless, you got the job done." Shin said.
"No problem." Saitama replied.
Shin gave Saitama and the envelope and waited for Saitama to do something.
"Are you gonna open it?" Shin asked.
Saitama slowly opened the envelope, and his eyes glowed. This was a LOT of yen. Saitama closes the envelope and bows to Shin. Shin bows back and leaves. Saitama watched him get into his fancy car and drive away.
Damn, thx for the yen dude.
As Saitama was daydreaming about the multitude of ways he was going to use the yen, a bird came out of nowhere and snatched the envelope from Saitama's hand. Saitama didn't notice until he glanced at his hand only to see the envelope was missing. He turned around and saw the bird flying away with the envelope.
"HEY! GIVE ME MY YEN BACK! THAT'S MY YEN!"
Saitama jumps off of his apartment floor and lands in the middle of the street. He starts sprinting towards the bird, hoping to get the yen back.
"GIVE ME BACK MY YEN!"