Chu Yang sighed. "I was the one who chose the bloodline factor. What responsibility do you bear?"
This outcome was something he had already anticipated.
The bloodline factor he had transplanted into Melzargard belonged to Saitama. Even a dragon-level monster with immense regenerative abilities couldn't withstand it—its body simply broke apart.
"If I had used it on Mumen Rider, the result would have been even worse."
"What exactly is needed to break through the limiter?"
"Is it really just pure willpower?"
"If that's the case, Mumen Rider has a strong will too. He has faced life-or-death crises many times. So why is he still an ordinary human?"
"More likely, two conditions must be met: a strong will and some kind of physical stimulus…"
"Forget it, I'll keep observing for now. First, I need to get some more of Saitama's blood."
Chu Yang left the laboratory and headed to the living quarters upstairs.
Saitama was still playing video games with King. The former was getting increasingly frustrated, while the latter remained calm, displaying an air of a seasoned expert.
King's character had only a sliver of health left, while Saitama's character was getting comboed to death by a full-health opponent.
To be honest, even Chu Yang would be driven mad in this situation.
A pile of broken controllers beside Saitama subtly reflected his current mood.
During a brief break, Chu Yang casually walked in and used genjutsu to control both of them at the same time.
Inside the illusion, the two continued gaming as usual.
Meanwhile, Chu Yang began extracting Saitama's blood.
Saitama's skin had incredibly high defensive capabilities, making it impossible to draw blood using normal methods. However, with Chu Yang's expertise in ninjutsu, magic, kido, and curses, it was ridiculously easy for him to obtain a sample.
When the illusion was lifted, Saitama felt no discomfort. He only noticed Chu Yang smiling at him, which gave him an inexplicable sense of unease.
With a large vial of Saitama's blood in hand, Chu Yang was about to leave when Genos walked in.
He first greeted Chu Yang, then turned to Saitama and said, "Sensei, Mumen Rider was injured last night and is currently hospitalized. Do you want to visit him?"
Saitama scratched his head. "Why does he get hurt every day?"
Genos explained, "There's been a well-known 'Hero Hunter' recently. Mumen Rider was injured by him. Not long ago, he even caused havoc at headquarters and crippled several A-class heroes."
Hero Hunter?
Hearing this familiar plot development, Chu Yang immediately thought—could it be Garou?
He had been busy with experiments lately and hadn't been keeping up with the outside world.
The only person in the House of Evolution with external connections was Sonic, but Sonic was solely focused on capturing monsters for his master and had little interest in anything else.
"I've heard of the Hero Hunter too. Apparently, he's not a monster but a human…"
King's deep voice suddenly interrupted.
"A human attacking heroes?"
Saitama was puzzled by Garou's ideology.
"People are used to categorizing justice and evil based on heroes and monsters. Almost everyone assumes that heroes must be righteous, while monsters must be evil."
"But sometimes, the reality is the opposite."
Chu Yang chuckled.
Saitama and the others looked at him in surprise.
"Are there any monsters in this world that just want to live peacefully?"
"If such monsters exist and a hero eliminates them, is that hero's action truly righteous, or is it actually evil?"
"The purpose of heroes is to protect the weak. But if a monster becomes the weak, should heroes still protect them?"
"If they shouldn't, then what exactly are heroes protecting? The weak? Or simply human interests?"
Chu Yang's consecutive questions left the three in the room somewhat dazed.
Saitama had never thought so deeply about such philosophical matters.
But deep down, he still believed that heroes existed to protect the weak.
So far, every monster Saitama had defeated posed a direct threat to human lives.
He had never indiscriminately slaughtered.
"Are you saying that Garou views monsters as the weak and attacks heroes to protect them?" Genos asked in response.
Chu Yang smiled. "No, Garou considers himself one of the weak. His actions are driven by a sense of revenge against the injustice faced by the weak."
"He's angry."
Garou's admiration for monsters stemmed from his ability to empathize with their plight.
Because of his childhood experiences, he divided the world into two factions: the 'majority' and the 'minority.'
The majority represented the strong, while the minority represented the weak.
Monsters were obviously in the minority.
He placed heroes and the humans protected by heroes in the position of the strong.
He believed that "monsters were never meant to win."
To him, monsters were simply the oppressed, and he saw himself as one of them.
That's how his twisted ideology was born.
But at its core, Garou sought 'fairness' and 'justice,' which were not inherently evil concepts.
"You put it that way, and now I'm kind of interested in this Hero Hunter."
Saitama suddenly set his controller down, intending to visit Mumen Rider in the hospital with Genos.
The two often ran into each other during low-level missions, so they had a decent relationship.
"I'll go with you."
Chu Yang saw this as an opportunity to chat with Mumen Rider and see if his mindset had changed.
King, on the other hand, showed no intention of leaving. His eyes were locked on the other games, clearly planning to play alone once Saitama was gone.
At least with him staying here, Saitama would keep coming back, which was a good thing.
Chu Yang placed his hands on Saitama and Genos's shoulders. With a thought, the three of them instantly teleported into the city.
After experiencing the convenience of the Flying Thunder God technique multiple times, Saitama was visibly envious. "Man, I wish I had an ability like that."
"You always have weird abilities."
Chu Yang sighed and started walking toward the hospital. "Can't you find a better way to describe it?"
"It's all the same." Saitama paused, then turned to a nearby supermarket. "Can't visit a patient empty-handed."
After that, he bought a bag of bananas and, upon leaving the supermarket, started eating them as he walked.
"Aren't you buying those for the patient?"
"Yeah, I'm eating them for him to see."
The three of them entered the hospital, inquired about the room number at the nurse's station, and smoothly found the bedridden Mumen Rider.
His face had taken the most damage, but his other injuries weren't too serious.
Perhaps due to Chu Yang's life force infusion, Mumen Rider had recovered well—at least he looked quite energetic.
"Thank you all for coming to visit me."
Mumen Rider half-sat up and politely said, "I'm already happy that you're here. There was no need to bring gifts…"
Before he could finish his sentence, Saitama had already started eating another banana.
Mumen Rider: "…"
Chu Yang chuckled. "You've got a tough life. No matter how many times something like this happens, you never die."
Mumen Rider smiled wryly. "It's one of my few talents, I suppose."
"That's quite the talent. You should treasure it," Chu Yang remarked.
As Saitama devoured bananas like crazy, he suddenly asked, "That guy called Garou—what's he like? Stronger than the Deep Sea King? Judging from your injuries, it doesn't look as bad as last time."
Mumen Rider thought for a moment and shook his head. "They're different. The Deep Sea King's strength comes from his overwhelming physical superiority—power, speed, durability—completely suppressing humans. Once he goes berserk, he becomes even more terrifying. It's suffocating."
"But Garou…"
Another voice suddenly interrupted Mumen Rider.
"He's strong because of martial arts."
The curtain was pulled open, revealing Tanktop Master, who had also been beaten senseless by Garou and was lying on a hospital bed.
Saitama turned his head and asked Mumen Rider in a low voice, "Who's this guy? Why did he just butt in?"
Genos whispered, "That's Tanktop Master, ranked 14th in the S-Class."
Saitama scratched his head. "Never heard of him…"
Chu Yang laughed. "The guy who got beaten up the worst by Garou last night!"
Tanktop Master flew into a rage. "Can't you just say I held out the longest?!"
Saitama patted him on the shoulder. "Alright, alright, good work."
Tanktop Master's face darkened.
"Garou isn't actually stronger than me in terms of speed or strength," he explained. "But he can always deflect my attacks, predict my movements, and counter with precise strikes that deal the most damage with the least effort."
"His martial arts target joints and vital points. If you get hit, your body's functions will gradually shut down. I took too many hits to the joints, and by the end, my reactions just couldn't keep up with his punches."
"Compared to fighting monsters, battling Garou feels more like… slow death."
Tanktop Master recounted his experience, his voice trembling slightly. "Martial arts is a technique designed to destroy the human body. It restrains all heroes."
Saitama looked intrigued and was about to ask more when Chu Yang suddenly scoffed.
"Garou's just a guy who throws punches. What the hell does he know about martial arts?"
Chu Yang sneered.
Martial arts? In front of him?
He was the infamous demon lord of the martial arts world, a swordsman who had once dueled the legendary Wuming Sword Saint from Feng Yun!
His martial arts? Someone like Bang or Garou wouldn't even be able to comprehend them.
You throw a few punches and dare to call yourself a martial artist?
"When you meet him, you'll see that I'm not exaggerating," Tanktop Master said with dissatisfaction.
If someone like Garou didn't count as a martial artist, then what did it mean that he had lost to him?
"You know martial arts? I thought you were a ninja," Saitama asked, surprised.
"I know plenty of things. I even know magic. Want to see?"
Chu Yang cast a levitation spell, causing Saitama's bag of bananas to float into the air. Everyone in the room gawked in shock.
"You actually know magic?!"
Saitama rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Genos detected an abnormal energy signature, but his database had no reference for it. He immediately accepted it as real.
Mumen Rider swallowed nervously. Chu Yang seemed even more mysterious now.
"Can you teach me?"
Saitama stared at Chu Yang like a curious child.
"This one's not possible," Chu Yang shook his head. "Like ninjutsu, it requires talent."
"Why is it always 'not possible' with you? You can't teach anyone anything?" Saitama was frustrated.
Chu Yang thought for a moment. "Martial arts, I can teach."
As long as it didn't involve internal energy, some external martial arts techniques could work in this world. And with Saitama's absurd physique, they could become terrifyingly powerful.
Saitama rubbed his chin. "Is your martial arts better than Bang's? If it's about the same, forget it…"
Chu Yang rolled his eyes. "Are you looking down on me? He couldn't even see my taillights."
"Shut up! Don't insult Master Bang!"
The hospital door was suddenly yanked open.
A young man in a hospital gown, using a crutch and covered in plaster casts, stormed in, glaring at Chu Yang with righteous fury.
"Who's this now?"