"What do you think the human will be like?" Groribas asked his fellow elites as they waited outside their ship.
A day had passed since Boros spoke with the champion of Earth. As of now, she was en route to fetch and bring him back here. Yet since this champion was Boros's equal, perhaps he could keep up with her. Maybe he even possessed an energy-based power to fly with? If so, Boros's elites would need to wait for the fight to see it in full display.
Regarding their mistress, Geryuganshoop could not find anything amiss with his lady's body. Boros hadn't contracted a disease and wasn't reacting to Earth in any way. Furthermore, Melzargard and Groribas didn't discover something in their continued study of the planet that could explain her mysterious hot flashes. An enigma they would remain for now.
Back to the present, Boros's elites had prepared a proper meal for their honored guest to enjoy when they returned. Secretly, Groribas hoped that the champion would find all their offerings unappealing. The succulent flavors of the spread would be his if that were the outcome!
"Well, if we use Lady Boros for reference..." Geryuganshoop started, giving it some thought. "I suspect Saitama will likely appear bland. To be more precise, he'll look neutral. After all, Lady Boros did say they were equals in every way. She even stated that he suffers the same affliction as her." He said.
"What about clothing?" Groribas continued with this line of questioning.
"I'd wager it's something plain." "If Saitama wore armor similar to our lady's, he'd surely be noticed." "Then those two men from before wouldn't be so unaware of him." Three of Melzargard's heads replied.
"True. Saitama mustn't flaunt his power like our mistress. Strange. Why would he not?" Geryuganshoop questioned.
"Pfft, you kidding? That's obvious." Groribas scoffed. "As you did with our lady, use Saitama's species as a reference. Earthlings seem to be astoundingly vulnerable. Lady Boros had her species AND the rest of the universe to fight. These Earthlings haven't even colonized their moon yet! What would the point be for Saitama to flaunt his strength when he knows none in his world can rival him? Their innate potential and where they are technologically is tragic." He suggested.
"True." "The Earth would be conquered easily." Two of Melzargard's heads chimed in.
"Still, the probability of not a SINGLE one of his feats being noticed seems so minuscule it may as well be impossible," Geryuganshoop argued.
"Well, we'll ask him about it when he arrives. Maybe he'll know why." Groribas said.
Following that, the trio saw something approaching their ship in the distance. However, they quickly realized it wasn't their mistress or the champion.
"Well, well, look who it is," Groribas said.
"What purpose brings them here?" Melzargard inquired.
"Most likely, they anticipated it'd take us little time to locate Saitama. To their fortune, they've managed to get here before the discussions begin." Geryuganshoop reasoned.
After a few minutes, a familiar black car parked itself roughly twenty feet away from the ship. Unsurprisingly, the same gentlemen from before exited the vehicle.
"Greetings, Earthlings," Geryuganshoop spoke, electing to handle the imminent conversation. "What brings you back here so soon? Have you located your unknown champion?" He inquired.
"No, but he is why we're here," Busho said as he and his partner approached. "We're here to make a request." He announced once they reached the trio.
"Oh?" Geryuganshoop responded; he and the others' curiosities were piqued.
"First of all, I'd like to stress that we have no intention of interrupting or stopping the battle between this mysterious hero and Lady Boros. Of course, there's no way we COULD do that even IF we wanted to. Still, I wanted to convey that the following request did not bear such intent." Busho started, followed by a brief pause to gather his breath. "My partner and I would like to see a demonstration of the man's strength before the fight commences. We would also want to witness the skirmish between him and Lady Boros. I suspect we'll ultimately need permission from your mistress, but even so, that is our request." He told them.
After hearing this, the trio slowly exchanged a look between themselves. Afterward, they burst into uproarious laughter, startling their guests.
"THAT is what you seemed so nervous about?" Groribas bellowed while holding his sides.
"Uh...yes...we didn't think it'd be within our right to watch the battle..." Busho confirmed.
"How amusing!" "Earthlings are timid, it seems!" "Such a simple request, yet so dramatic!" "Hilarious!" Four of Melzargard's heads exclaimed.
"So...we'll be able to observe the fight then, yes? And see a demonstration of the man's power?" Jinzuren cautiously asked, wanting to be certain.
"We can't say anything about the latter; that'll be up to your champion," Geryuganshoop answered as he wiped a tear from his eye. Truly, as Melzargard said, these Earthlings were a riot. "But there will be no issue with your request to spectate the conflict. Truthfully, Lady Boros assumed that everyone would be eager to witness their strongest warrior fight her. The fact that this has become a nearly private event is the most shocking thing we've encountered." He explained.
"Oh. Well, that's good." Busho replied. Honestly, he wasn't expecting this to go so smoothly.
"Speaking of our mistress." "We see her in the distance now." "There also seems to be something beneath her on the ground." Three of Melzargard's heads informed everyone.
Following the multi-headed creature's gaze, the others saw what he was referring to. Boros was coming toward them in the sky, emitting bright purple energy. On the ground, there was a...
...
...
Busho and Jinzuren couldn't believe their eyes. In contrast, the alien trio was amazed and impressed by the sight. Directly below Boros was a human man of average height and size. From this distance, his attire appeared fairly normal, nothing flashy like a hero costume or anything similar.
However, one detail that could be made out from so far away was the unmistakable shine of his bald head. Although, only Geryuganshoop, Groribas, and Melzargard noticed these aspects. Busho and Jinzuren were still trying to process what was happening.
A human man who looked like the most average person in the world was running WELL beyond Mach speeds. He was, seemingly without strain, matching Boros's pace. You know, the Dominator of the Universe. In under thirty seconds, the duo arrived at the awaiting group.
Standing before them, the others could make out the finer details of the man's visage. As they assumed, the man's clothing was simple. Beige shorts. A short-sleeved shirt. Sandals. Yet, this plain outfit held not a candle to the man's face.
The face lacked any major detail. It was nearly as smooth and without definition as his hairless cranium. Even the man's eyes didn't seem to have color; they were black dots in the center of white masses. As for his expression, it was neutral, the same as Boros.
"Geryuganshoop!" Boros called from above during her descent. "I see we have more visitors than we planned." She stated as her feet touched the ground.
"That we do, m'lady," Geryuganshoop replied. He and the other elites bowed before her. "The men from two days ago came with a request. They'd like to see your fight with their champion and witness a demonstration of his abilities." He informed her.
"Doubtful of him, are you?" Boros assumed, now looking at the men.
"No offense to you, Lady Boros, but how could we not be?" Busho asked.
"No offense taken," Boros answered. "However, you need to ask Saitama if he'd be willing to demonstrate his abilities for you. But before you do that, I'd like to introduce him to my elites properly." She said.
"Of course. Please, go ahead." Busho responded.
"Saitama." Boros began, getting his attention on her. "From left to right, this is Geryuganshoop, Groribas, and Melzargard. They are my strongest soldiers and most loyal companions." She told him.
"A pleasure, sir." Geryuganshoop greeted, offering another bow.
"You managed to keep up with our mistress; you are most impressive, champion!" Groribas praised him with an excited smile and a snap of his hands.
"We look forward to your battle with our lady." "She has been unable to unleash her full strength in quite some time." "Please, hold nothing back." Three of Melzargard's heads spoke, ending with a request.
"Wow. You guys are straight out of a sci-fi movie." Saitama commented in amazement, taking in each of their details. "In my head, I figured you'd have space suits or something. Maybe wear armor like Boros." He admitted.
"A fair assumption, but our lady's armor is special." Geryuganshoop started as he raised a tendril and pointed at it. "It is the only thing we could find to suppress her abilities. Not drain them, mind you, which was our actual intent. Sadly, even with a suppressant as strong as that armor, our mistress still surpasses all life in the universe." He explained. "At least, before we learned of you." He added while lowering his tendril.
"Are you going to fight with that on, then?" Saitama inquired, now looking at the mono-eyed woman next to him.
"I have no reason to. I've witnessed your strength firsthand; you can survive my attacks without issue." Boros responded. "Additionally, I don't want any harm to befall it. My elites put forth such effort to make it. As such, its value to me is immeasurable." She confessed.
"You flatter and honor us, mam," Geryuganshoop said with an appreciative smile.
"Ahem." Busho cleared his throat, regaining everyone's focus. "I'm sorry to be rude, but we'd like to know whether or not a demonstration is possible. It's the main reason we came out here, to verify that this man is as strong as you say he is." He requested again.
"And as I told you, it's Saitama's decision." Boros reminded, looking at him once more. "What say you?" She asked.
"I don't have a problem with it," Saitama answered with a shrug. "However, we do have one issue. There's nothing here except your ship and their car. How can I demonstrate my strength? I don't want to punch the ground because that'd be disastrous for all of us." He pointed out, followed by a question.
"Hmm, a reasonable concern..." Boros hummed, giving it some thought.
"M'lady, if I may," Groribas spoke while raising one of his hands. "There were many battles where you dispatched enemies, projectiles, and weaponry without direct contact or by using your power. With a single powerful swing of your arm, you'd create a shockwave that destroyed or deflected them. There were also moments where you brought your hands together for a stronger version of this effect. Perhaps Saitama could do something similar?" He suggested.
"A perfect idea, Groribas. Well done." Boros praised him, making him grin with pride. "Does that sound good to you, Saitama?" She inquired.
"Sure. I can do a clap." Saitama agreed. "But...that creates another problem. If I clap as HARD as I can, it will be LOUD. I'm worried about your guys' ears." He said.
"Do not worry, Saitama," Geryuganshoop replied as he gestured to himself and his fellow elites. "Our anatomy is far different than that of Earthlings. Furthermore, our resilience is much greater. We've been in the presence of our mistress's many great feats and have never been scathed." He assured before looking at the other men. "As for you two, I can erect barriers of psychic energy around your ears that'll fully protect them. All I need is your permission." He stated.
"That'd be wonderful. Thank you." Busho permitted as he and Jinzuren nodded in unison.
"Alright then. Everything is set. Whenever you're ready, Saitama." Boros told him.
Waiting until Geryuganshoop gave him the go-ahead once the barriers were erected, Saitama walked thirty feet from the group. Now standing with his back to them in the middle of this flat dust-covered landscape, he drew back his hands as far as he could and brought them together.
...
...
No word is available within the lexicon of Earth's many languages that could properly summarize the sound generated by this action. The aftermath, however, is a different situation.
Every spec of dirt and dust was either sent flying away in every direction at impossible speeds or was obliterated. The ground in front of and to Saitama's sides was spotless and smoothed to perfection. The force from his clap alone shaved away any abnormalities that were formerly present. Yet, this description only focused on what happened to the land.
In the sky, there were no more clouds. Granted, it wasn't particularly cloudy beforehand. Yet still, a decent number of sizable white giants were gently floating across the blue horizon. Now, they were non-existent. Like the dust and dirt, the clouds flew in different directions or dissipated completely.
In total, there were two reactions to this display. The first, Busho and Jinzuren, was horror, sickness, and shock. Both men's mouths and eyes were wide open. Their bodies were instantly overcome with a layer of sweat. Their bones began to rattle uncontrollably, and their minds were on the verge of shutting down.
Then, there was the second.
"EXCEPTIONAL, CHAMPION! EXCEPTIONAL!" Groribas cheered with a rapid-fire of snapping jaws. However, he was not alone in this joyous celebration.
"BRAVO!" "INCREDIBLE!" "TRULY, YOU ARE OUR LADY'S EQUAL!" "AS GRORIBAS SAID, YOUR BATTLE WILL BE LEGENDARY!" "THIS IS AMAZING!" All five of Melzargard's heads roared with excitement.
"The seer's vision WAS true! Not that I doubted him or our mistress's claims." Geryuganshoop exclaimed, far calmer than his fellow elites. "M'lady, what do you think? Surely you are overcome with-"
Geryuganshoop stopped dead in his tracks. Groribas and Melzargard quickly noticed, so they followed his line of sight. The trio's vision fell onto Boros. Specifically, they looked at her eye and discovered that...it had a tear.
"Whoa. Boros, are you okay?" Saitama was the first to ask. He'd been in the process of turning around after he heard her elites cheer him on. "Did dirt get in your eye? If it did, I'm SO sorry." He preemptively apologized.
"...No...it's...not that..." Boros quietly muttered as she wiped the tear away. In its place, a smile appeared. "I...didn't think this was possible. Even after seeing you slay that giant, a part of me still doubted this was real. It's been so long...since I've had a true opponent. Knowing that our fight WILL be a fight and not a one-sided slaughter...fills me with joy." She explained.
Before that moment, it hadn't donned on Saitama just how long it must've been for Boros. She didn't specify an amount of time; he just assumed it was the same as his. But how long has Boros been forced to deal with this insufferable boredom? How long did it take for her to find him?
Unfortunately, Saitama wouldn't be able to explore these questions now since a trio of aliens rushed over and began tossing him into the air.
"EMOTIONS! REAL EMOTIONS! YOU'VE DONE THE IMPOSSIBLE!" Geryuganshoop, Groribas, and Melzargard cheered. This was BEYOND description! Their mistress had shed a tear not of sadness but relief and joy! She even smiled! Saitama was more than an equal to her in strength; he was the cure for her loss of emotion and expression!
While Saitama was taken aback by the sudden merriment he was given, someone else had a different response to the trio's action.
"Stop! What are you doing?!" Boros questioned in alarm. Her face now showed surprise.
"Forgive us, mam." Geryuganshoop requested as the trio set him back on his feet. "We couldn't contain ourselves. It's been so long since you've been able to show such emotion that we needed to express our gratitude to Saitama." He explained.
"Well...I...suppose I can understand..." Boros said with a sigh. "But in the future, you MUST restrain yourselves! Think of how awkward that must've been for Saitama!" She exclaimed, embarrassed by her elites' behavior.
"It's cool, Boros. Don't worry." Saitama promised with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Plus, I've never been tossed in the air like that, let alone by aliens. This is the kind of experience some people would KILL to have." He told her.
"See? The champion gets it!" Groribas chimed in as he wrapped an arm around Saitama's shoulders. "Come, champion! We have prepared a meal for you to enjoy! You deserve it after what you've done this day!" He informed him.
"Whoa, really? You guys didn't have to do that." Saitama replied as the trio guided him toward the ship.
"Think nothing of it." "This is the least we can do." "You are our honored guest." Three of Melzargard's heads assured.
For a moment, Boros stayed in place. What just happened? She was meant to take Saitama into HER ship and give him the tour. Was she feeling...jealous?
No. That's ridiculous. The Dominator of the Universe jealous? Absurd.
...
...
Still, it WAS Boros's ship. She WAS the captain. Plus, she was HOSTING Saitama. If anything, her elites were disrespecting the chain of command.
"Hold on!" Boros called after them before giving chase. "I am your leader, remember! And Saitama's opponent! I will be in charge of the conversation!" She asserted.
As Boros disappeared into her vessel, only two remained outside. Busho and Jinzuren. However, it was impossible to say if they were even "here" anymore. They stared blankly into the distance. Their mouths were still open, and they were stiffer than statues.