Bang!
As Mumen Rider collapsed into the pouring rain, covered in blood, the people in the shelter fell into complete despair.
"It's over, the heroes have all been defeated. Who on earth can save us?"
"What kind of trash did the Hero Association recruit? So many heroes, and they can't even beat a single monster!"
"The monster is right, this bunch of heroes is just trash."
"Why don't we try to curry favor with the monster? Isn't he only hunting heroes? He shouldn't do anything to us, right?"
"This is our only option now. We must send a representative to negotiate with the monster. He can do whatever he wants with these heroes, as long as he spares our lives."
A commotion rippled through the crowd. The humans revealing their ugly faces stood in stark contrast to the heroes lying in pools of blood.
"No! These people risked their lives for us! How could you betray them? Heroes are the best!" A childish voice rang out.
Most people lowered their heads. They knew full well what the heroes had done, but their desperation to survive forced them to act this way.
"What would a little brat like you know? One more word and we'll throw you out and let the monster eat you first!"
A young man with dyed yellow hair and a freckled face stepped forward and spat on the heroes lying on the ground.
"A bunch of trash! Monster-san, these heroes are yours to deal with! Please, spare our lives!" The yellow-haired man wore a fawning expression.
The Deep Sea King revealed a playful smile. "Humans truly are a pathetic species. That's why, from the very beginning, I've wanted to crush all of you ants to death."
"What?!"
The blonde man's face turned pale with fear.
Facing such a powerful monster, everyone felt a wave of despair.
"Is there anyone who can save us?!"
"Heroes! Only heroes can save us!"
"Hmph! Counting on this trash?"
"Heroes aren't trash, they're the best!" The little boy argued back firmly.
The heroes' actions of sacrificing themselves one after another to protect everyone had deeply touched his young heart.
"Not trash? Fine, then let the heroes you speak of come and protect everyone right now."
Boom... Boom...
Just then, a deafening sound echoed across the sky, and the Deep Sea King sensed an unusual aura.
"Oh? Is that a new hero? You look a bit different from the other trash."
The Deep Sea King watched the aura radiating from the man before him, which felt like that of an emperor, and a bloodthirsty desire for battle surged within him.
"He... he is!"
Someone in the crowd had already recognized the newcomer: a tall, imposing figure, and three terrifying scars on a cold face.
"King! The strongest man on Earth!"
"Great, we're saved!"
"But so many heroes have already been defeated by the monster. Even if it's King, he might not..."
Under King's cold gaze, the blonde man felt an extreme killing intent and wisely shut his mouth.
"King!"
Mumen Rider struggled to open his eyes, looking through the rain at King's imposing back.
"Well done. Leave the rest to me." King's voice reached Mumen Rider's ears clearly.
Mumen Rider smiled slightly before losing consciousness.
"Yo, Genos, you alright?"
"Master..."
Genos barely lifted his head.
Saitama was crouching in front of him. Seeing that Genos wasn't dead, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew... Good thing you're still alive. Don't worry, I'm going to beat this stinky fish up right now."
Saitama's words made King's heart skip a beat. He knew that as soon as the other party acted, the Deep Sea King would definitely be killed instantly.
'No, I must attack before Saitama. A peak Demon-level monster is hard to come by.'
King secretly gathered his strength, mobilizing his entire Fighting Spirit. The surging air currents around him parted the heavy rain.
'The accumulated Fighting Spirit probably isn't enough to take down the Deep Sea King, I just have to find an opportunity.'
"A bunch of ants, you actually think you can oppose me? I come from the deep sea, I am the king of the ocean. The ocean is the source of all things, and I am the existence standing at the pinnacle of the pyramid. If you want to resist me..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. It's raining, just hurry up and come at me."
"Die!"
The Deep Sea King threw a punch.
Everyone held their breath.
King's Fighting Spirit had already reached its peak.
Boom!
The moment Saitama threw his punch, King's Fighting Spirit erupted. The terrifying force of the punch pierced through the Deep Sea King's body, and the surrounding rain was instantly scattered.
Thud!
The Deep Sea King's corpse fell to the ground, and a pool of green blood slowly spread outwards.
"Eh?!"
"Hooray!!!"
After a brief silence, deafening cheers erupted from the shelter.
'Did I get it?'
King remained calm on the surface, but his heart was pounding. After all, Saitama's punch was simply too terrifying.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing a apeak Demon-level Monster. Obtained 3,000 Talent Points and one random Talent Trial Card.]
'Great, I got it.'
Hearing the system prompt, King breathed a sigh of relief. His previously empty Talent Points had unknowingly reached 14,400.
"Are you a hero too?" Saitama's words startled King.
After all, he had interfered in the battle without authorization, but the other party didn't seem to mind.
"My name is King. Nice to meet you."
King managed to force a smile, but to his surprise, Saitama became interested immediately.
"Oh! So you're King. I often see your merchandise and figures in stores. Strange, even though we're meeting for the first time, why do I feel so familiar with you?"
"Ahem! I have things to do, so I'll be going now."
Leaving Saitama behind to ponder, King hurriedly left the scene. Not long after he left, he received a call from the Hero Association.
"King-san, thank you for stepping in to take care of the Deep Sea Monster and saving the citizens of J-City."
"You must be mistaken. I hadn't even had a chance to act yet, it was the C-Class Hero Saitama who took out the monster."
Beep! Beep!
Jess was bewildered. "Why is it Saitama again? Why does King-san always give the credit to him?"
"Jess-san, come take a look at this!" Maria's voice came over.
It turned out that the footage of the Deep Sea King being killed had been captured in its entirety by surveillance cameras.
Looking from this angle, although both had acted simultaneously, the slow-motion footage confirmed that Saitama's attack had indeed pierced through the Deep Sea King's body first. King hadn't lied.
"C-Class Rank 2 Hero, Saitama. Are you just lucky, or do you have real substance?"