"Resonance?!" Shinpachi was shocked.
" Gin-chan, you're not seriously thinking of fighting it, are you Aru?" Kagura blinked her eyes.
"Hah? Who'd fight a puff of smoke?!" Gin rolled his eyes. "Besides, if we really fought, I'd definitely send the Shinsengumi—those muscle-brained idiots—first."
"Isn't that just you being a total coward!?" Shinpachi sighed. "Don't tell me you're actually admiring a villain like Cirrus?"
"Admire my ass. I just think compared to boring schemes, a straightforward lunatic like this is way less hassle."
"Oh! I get it!" Kagura grinned mischievously. "Gin-chan just likes these one-track-mind dummies Aru!"
"Shut up! Go eat your pickled kelp!"
——
[With the aid of these will-o'-the-wisps, Cirrus gained even more confidence in clashing with the group. It reignited the battle, fighting Stelle and the others to a stalemate.]
[Huohuo was worrying about Cirrus's near-endless regeneration when Tail spoke calmly: "Relax. Though heliobi have no fixed form, they're not unbeatable by material things. Cirrus is just barely holding on."]
["Once it believes it's lost on a mental level, even the strongest heliobus can't aggregate like this anymore."]
["And right now, the only thing that can make it feel mentally defeated is the General."]
[As he spoke, Jing Yuan strolled leisurely into Fyxestroll Garden.]
[About to face the battle it had long awaited, Cirrus grew excited: "You've finally come, General of the Luofu. Finally willing to play a game with me?"]
[Jing Yuan kept his word and showed no regret, but before the fight he kindly reminded: "However, as I said before, when Liaoyuan and Tengxiao clashed, both sides were evenly matched. But for you, Cirrus—this chess match has never been fair from the start. My strength completely surpasses yours."]
["Following rules and seeking fair fights are common delusions among players. Allow me to teach you about the endgame."]
[With a ferocious laugh from Cirrus, the Netherworld Envoy child it possessed suddenly swelled countless times larger, becoming a towering mountain piercing the clouds. Cirrus wore a smile of assured victory as its shadow completely engulfed Jing Yuan.]
——
Still Gintama.
"Hey hey… this is way too exaggerated!" Gintoki's eyes widened. "Suddenly getting taller than a Kabukicho bar tab—what the hell?!"
Shinpachi's glasses flashed wildly, voice trembling: "Th-This isn't a duel between warriors anymore, is it?! It's straight-up a kaiju movie!"
On the Celestial Screen, Jing Yuan's figure looked as tiny as an ant beneath Cirrus's colossal shadow, yet a relaxed smile still hung on his lips.
Gin suddenly went quiet for two seconds, then dug in his ear: "But y'know… this closed-eyes General kinda reminds me of a certain idiot."
"Huh? Who?" Shinpachi asked, puzzled.
"Y'know… the one who's always 'ahahaha,' but turns terrifying when serious—that natural perm." Gin pointed at the screen. "The enemy practically blocks out the moon, yet he's chilling like he's queuing at a dessert shop."
"You mean Mr. Sakata?" Shinpachi was stunned. "No way! General Jing Yuan is way steadier… Wait, Gin-san, are you secretly talking about yourself?!"
"Hah?! Who'd compare me to a guy like Sakata?! When I'm nervous I properly run away!"
Kagura suddenly pulled out her pickled kelp like binoculars to observe: "But Gin-chan, last time you fought the Night King, didn't you also…"
"Shut up! That was different! That was to protect JUMP's serialization!"
——
["A human's victory or defeat means nothing to me. We have our own rules."]
[The enlarged Cirrus extended one finger, intending to crush the tiny Jing Yuan like an ant.]
[The moment the knuckle pressed down, rolling dust clouds suddenly erupted with bursts of golden lightning. Lord Ravager's giant palm steadily caught Cirrus's strike. Thunder expanded rapidly with Lord Ravager's colossal form, like a heaven-supporting dharma idol raising its thunderous edge toward it.]
[The originally imposing Cirrus now seemed like a mere struggling wisp beneath Lord Ravager's blade—incapable of anything but shock and bewilderment in its eyes.]
[Cirrus closed its eyes. Facing Lord Ravager's sea-and-mountain-cleaving strike, it could only instinctively raise both hands to block. But what came wasn't a slash—instead, a light tap on its forehead and Jing Yuan's understated voice.]
["General."]
——
One Punch Man.
Genos's mechanical pupils contracted slightly, his core processor buzzing faintly from over-analysis. The pressure from Lord Ravager's single slash blanked his mind instantly… his vision filled only with dazzling golden thunder.
—Death.
That was the sole, only thought left in his head.
(The despair I felt from Sensei's Serious Punch back then… now transmitted just through the Celestial Screen?)
(It seems the threat level of an Emanator needs reevaluation.)
"Sensei…" He turned to Saitama, who was digging in his ear, his voice unusually trembling. "Did you see the power of that slash?"
Saitama yawned: "Huh? Oh… yeah, it's pretty big. If it were on Earth, it'd probably kill a bunch of monsters, right?"
"Sensei! Please take Emanator-level combat power seriously!" Genos rarely raised his volume. "A powerhouse of this level—if one day—"
"Genos." Saitama patted his disciple's shoulder. "You're overanalyzing again. Those scenarios you imagine are things only destructive Emanators would do."
"Besides, with Jing Yuan's personality, worrying about what to eat the next day probably bothers him more than thinking about an opponent like Cirrus."
"I see… diet is one of many considerations…"
After Saitama returned to the living room, Genos pulled up his data panel and secretly added another update:
[Common Traits of the Strongest—Additional Observation]
Maintaining composure toward battle (Saitama-sensei: 100% General Jing Yuan: 100%)
Daily food preferences (General Jing Yuan: Scalegorge Waterscape spring tea snacks, White Cloud Crisp, Immortal's Happy Tea Saitama-sensei: Premium beef hotpot)