Chapter 185: Speak Up, You Stupid Mouth!!
Two Days Later.
Amidst the surprised gazes of pedestrians, a middle-aged man wearing a red haori, a toothpick dangling from his lips and a katana strapped to his waist, walked unhurriedly down the street with a stern expression.
The reason for the public's surprise was simple: this was the former S-Class Rank 4, now S-Class Rank 6, Atomic Samurai.
"Look! That middle-aged guy... isn't that Atomic Samurai?"
"It really is! I heard he always dresses like a wandering ronin. I didn't think he actually looked like that in real life! He really has that 'lone swordsman' vibe!"
"Yeah, he's Rank 6 now. I heard his swordsmanship is insane—he can dice a monster into ten thousand pieces in a heartbeat."
Hearing these compliments, the corner of Atomic Samurai's mouth quirked upward. The gloom in his heart dissipated just a little.
However, in the very next second, a discordant voice struck his ears like a physical projectile:
"So what if he's 'badass'? Atomic Samurai got wrecked in that last monster incident. If it weren't for the legendary King heroically saving the day, he'd be six feet under by now."
A group of kids nearby thought they were whispering, but how could their murmurs escape the ears of a Great Swordsmaster?
Atomic Samurai's face turned green instantly. He felt a sudden urge to stomp over and argue with them, but he abandoned the thought a second later.
Whatever... they aren't wrong... there's no point in seeking further humiliation...
His mood plummeted back into loneliness, his eyes filled with a weary resignation.
The kids were right. In that earth-shattering battle, he had been beaten like a dog. It was King, the Strongest Man on Earth, whose intervention had snatched his life back from the jaws of death.
He found a random restaurant and sat down. Having skipped breakfast, Atomic Samurai felt his stomach growling.
He ordered a few dishes and stared blankly at the clean tabletop. His mind felt like it was drifting into a dark abyss.
Ever since that war ended, he had been questioning himself. Had his path of the sword been correct, or had he been heading in the wrong direction this entire time?
His proudest technique, the Atomic Slash, had been effortlessly neutralized by that flame-wreathed monster. Solar Sperm had dismantled him with a single casual punch.
And that monster—the entity that had been powerful beyond measure in his eyes—was now living as a domestic pet in the home of his fellow S-Class hero, "One Punch Man" Saitama.
The monster who one-shotted me is someone else's pet. For a swordsman as proud as Atomic Samurai, this was an unbearable stigma.
"Sigh..."
Atomic Samurai let out a long, heavy sigh. His food arrived.
The dishes looked and smelled great, but as he ate, everything tasted like cardboard. He couldn't find a shred of flavor in the meal.
Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an incredibly familiar silhouette.
The tall figure had flowing golden hair. Even with his back turned, he radiated a pressure that felt like it could suppress anyone in the room at any moment.
That man... is that King?
The moment the thought occurred, Atomic Samurai's eyes lit up.
What is he doing eating at a place like this?
Atomic Samurai subconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword. His gaze became firm as he cast aside his pride.
In the mind of this swordsman, seeking guidance from someone infinitely more powerful than himself was not a disgrace. He wanted to ask King what a "True Blade" was—what the ultimate path of the sword looked like.
With that goal in mind, he shoveled the remaining food into his mouth.
He wiped his lips, grumbling internally. This place is way more expensive than the other restaurants, but the taste is mediocre at best. What a ripoff.
Swallowing the last bite, Atomic Samurai stood up and strode purposefully toward King's table.
At this moment, King was currently regretting his decision to visit this "viral" restaurant he'd seen on social media. His face was turning a darker shade of green with every bite.
Not only is it overpriced, it tastes like garbage. What kind of trash-tier chef works here?! To hell with these social media recommendations!
In the next heartbeat, a hesitant voice spoke near his ear:
"Um... King? What a coincidence. Are you eating here too?"
Hearing the somewhat familiar voice, King turned his head in confusion. Seeing the wandering ronin attire, he recognized the man instantly.
Oh, it's Atomic Samurai.
Standing directly before the Strongest Man on Earth, Atomic Samurai suddenly felt every cell in his body begin to vibrate with terror. It was the sensation of a fluffy white bunny encountering a prehistoric predator at the very top of the food chain. He couldn't stop himself from trembling.
The involuntary shuddering made his words come out in a stutter, which only made his expression more frustrated.
Damn it! Don't lose your cool now! What the hell am I doing?!
In truth, it wasn't Atomic Samurai's fault. It was King.
Currently, under the influence of the passive skill [Infinite Evolution], King had become astronomically powerful. His very state of existence far surpassed that of a normal human.
This created a natural biological pressure. King crushed regular humans on a fundamental level. Whether he intended to or not, any human who laid eyes on him would feel an instinctive, primal sense of awe and dread.
It was a reverence carved into the genes—the respect of the weak for the absolute strong.
Seeing Atomic Samurai looking so nervous, King's mind was filled with question marks.
Bro, what do you want from me?
King hadn't expected to run into a fellow S-Class hero while trying to find a decent meal.
The world really is small. Sometimes fate just catches up with you.
Under King's gaze, Atomic Samurai grew increasingly tense. He subconsciously gripped his katana, and a sharp, lethal aura began to leak from his body uncontrollably.
Sensing the air around them turning as sharp as a blade, King's expression soured.
This bastard... you come over here, don't say a word, and then you put on a combat stance? Are you looking for a fight?!
If possible, King didn't want to fight Atomic Samurai. The guy was too weak; King was afraid a light flick of his finger might send him into a permanent coma.
But if this guy was truly looking for trouble, King didn't mind giving him a "small" lesson in humility.
Atomic Samurai's face was now flushed bright red. He reached down and pinched his own thigh, twisting the skin with a brutal wrench.
Speak up, you stupid mouth! SAY SOMETHING!
The sharp spike of pain made his face twitch, but it finally allowed him to break free from the paralyzing awe.
Drenched in cold sweat, Atomic Samurai exhaled.
This is the power of King, the Strongest Man on Earth! Just a glance and I almost lost my will to resist!