One-Punch Man World, Z-City, Edge of the Ghost Town.
In front of a slightly rundown apartment building.
"It seems you're determined to get in my way, huh?" The beautiful woman in a dark green high-slit dress with long black hair glared at the bald, blank-faced man before her.
She was the 1st-ranked B-Class Hero, [Blizzard of Hell], Fubuki. She had personally come to invite this [Caped Baldy], yet not only had he dared to refuse her kindness, he had also sent her underlings flying.
"How boring. If Heroes are going to have rankings, why bother being a Hero?" Saitama sighed lazily.
"Hmph, then I'll show you..."
Before she could finish, a deafening explosion erupted from an open area on the other side of the apartment building.
Boom!
The scorching flames and shockwave blasted the ruins and debris in the area away.
Two figures collided, separated, and collided again at high speed amidst the dust and smoke.
"That's... the S-Class Hero [Demon Cyborg] Genos!" Fubuki's pupils contracted as she recognized the figure covered in silver metal, jetting hot flames.
But what surprised her even more was the other person fighting Genos.
It was a handsome young man with a crazed murderous intent.
His speed was absurd, leaving countless afterimages in the air. Kunai and shuriken gleamed coldly in his hands, raining down upon Genos like a storm.
"That ninja can actually hold his own against an S-Class Hero?" Fubuki was stunned.
As the top of B-Class, she knew exactly what S-Class meant.
They were monsters among monsters, super-strong individuals capable of single-handedly combating [Demon-level] or even [Dragon-level] disasters that could destroy cities.
And this ninja before her was actually trading blows with Genos?
'How many monsters were hiding in this Ghost Town?'
"Genos, what are you two doing?" Saitama asked, exasperated.
Fubuki looked at Saitama, shocked. "You dare speak to an S-Class Hero with that tone?"
What shocked her even more was Genos apologizing to Saitama: "Saitama-sensei, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
"Sensei?" Fubuki was baffled. "A B-Class Hero teaching an S-Class?"
"Saitama!" Sonic leaped down from a lamppost with a flourish. "I came specifically to get my revenge!"
"The humiliation you left me with last time..." Sonic trailed off, his testicles aching faintly. "I'll never forget it!"
Saitama sighed. "Didn't I apologize?"
"You think an apology can settle something like this?" Sonic moved at high speed, creating ten afterimages.
"I'll make you feel my pain! Ten Shadows Burial!"
'This guy is definitely strong!' Genos's expression was serious, but knowing Sonic's opponent was Saitama-sensei, he immediately relaxed.
Fubuki evaluated in her mind, 'Purely in terms of combat technique, this man is undeniably S-Class!'
However, Saitama suddenly generated countless afterimages himself.
"Special Move: Serious Side Hops."
Just the shockwaves from his rapid back-and-forth leaps sent Sonic flying.
Fubuki's mouth hung open, her eyes filled with shock, 'What had just happened?'
A warrior on par with an S-Class Hero had been inexplicably defeated!
She couldn't help but ask, "You, aren't you just a B-Class Hero? How can you be so strong?"
"You should be asking," Genos looked coldly at Fubuki, "What is the Hero Association doing? Why is a Hero as strong as Saitama-sensei still only B-Class?"
However, Saitama himself seemed completely oblivious to their conversation.
He was just looking up at the sky. His usually dull, listless eyes were now shining with an unprecedented light.
"Sensei?" Genos was stunned.
He had been with Saitama for days now, had seen him fight monsters, even aliens...
But no matter how powerful the enemy, Saitama always seemed bored.
'But now, Saitama-sensei was getting excited?'
"I feel it..." Saitama murmured, his gaze fixed on a specific direction in the sky. "A strong presence. Unprecedentedly strong!"
"It's making my blood boil."
"What?" Genos and Fubuki were both shaken.
'What kind of being could make Saitama, who could defeat S-Class Heroes effortlessly, say such a thing?'
The two looked up sharply, following Saitama's gaze.
Four figures were standing silently in the sky.
Like gods, overlooking the mortal realm.
"Just an ordinary human, yet he can sense our presence." No.17 raised an eyebrow slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
"No wonder Setsuna-sama values him so highly." No.18 looked down at Saitama with interest.
'They can all fly?' Fubuki and Genos were inwardly shocked.
They hadn't sensed any psychic energy fluctuations from these people.
Saitama looked up, his eyes filled only with curiosity and anticipation: "Are you here for me too?"
"Correct." Setsuna nodded calmly. "I came for you, Saitama."
"For me?" Saitama asked, puzzled. "What for? If it's about sales or religion, I'm busy right now..."
"Nothing boring like that." Setsuna shook his head slightly. "However, you... don't seem strong enough yet."
"Huh?" Saitama tilted his head.
"The creatures on this planet, including those so-called monsters and Heroes, are too weak," Setsuna said calmly. "They simply can't draw out your true potential."
"So," Setsuna turned his head to look at No.17 behind him, "No.17, go fight him."
"Yes, Setsuna-sama."
No.17 stepped forward, his figure descending slowly.
"Attack me with all your strength," No.17 beckoned to Saitama. "Let me see what's so special about you that Setsuna-sama values you."
"Well, I'm going to get serious then!" Saitama's eyes blazed with unprecedented light.
He stomped his feet on the ground.
Boom!
The ground exploded as if hit by a meteor, instantly forming a massive crater over twenty meters in diameter.
Saitama's figure had become a blur, charging at No.17 at hundreds of times the speed of sound.
"Nice speed." No.17 nodded slightly, casually raising his right hand.
Saitama's fist collided head-on with No.17's palm.
There was no energy burst, no shockwave diffusion.
But at the point of impact, space distorted.
Fine black cracks spread like a spiderweb through the air, healing just as quickly.
"Oh?" A flicker of surprise crossed No.17's eyes. "Can a purely physical body actually reach this level?"