M City, Central Park
"Monster alert! Monster alert!"
The blaring siren rang through the park's speakers like a knife cutting through calm air.
"According to the latest report, a monster has appeared near Central Park in M City. Residents nearby are advised to evacuate to the nearest shelter immediately. The Hero Association has dispatched heroes to contain the threat..."
Panic erupted like a switch flipped in the crowd. People scattered, screaming, pushing, running in every direction.
Among them, a man in a black baseball cap moved swiftly with the flow, his face hidden beneath the brim.
"Damn it… King's monster-magnet curse really lives up to its name," he muttered under his breath. "I only stepped out for half a day!"
Kaito's fists clenched as he quickened his pace.
He wasn't originally from this world.
In his previous life, he'd been an ordinary guy — a well-behaved young man from 21st-century Earth who enjoyed video games and staying out of trouble. Then one day, boom — a sudden stroke, lights out.
When he woke up, he found himself in a strange apartment. A glance in the mirror revealed a scarred face he immediately recognized.
Three long scars across his left cheek. The silent intensity. That infamous aura.
He had transmigrated into King, the "Strongest Man on Earth."
His first thought: I'm screwed.
The world of One Punch Man was no joke. Dragon-level and Demon-level monsters popped up like mushrooms after rain. Cities got flattened overnight. Heroes died gruesomely. Even S-class heroes weren't safe.
And King? The man feared by villains and revered by civilians? He was just a lucky guy with terrifying coincidence power. No real strength. No technique. Just a permanent poker face and a string of flukes.
Kaito had spent weeks thinking of how to survive.
One conclusion: find Saitama. Stick to the caped bald guy like glue.
As long as Saitama was nearby, he'd be safe. Even if God himself descended, Saitama would just one-punch him into oblivion.
Unfortunately, according to the timeline, Saitama hadn't joined the Hero Association yet. And Kaito had no clue where in Z City the man lived. Wandering aimlessly was suicide — the Monster Association's HQ was buried somewhere beneath Z City.
So instead, he camped in M City, roaming discount supermarkets, hoping to bump into Saitama during a sale. The man loved bargains.
But today? He got tired, sat down in Central Park, and boom — monster attack.
A shrill voice cut through the air like a buzzsaw.
"Hehehe... You can't escape!"
Blocking the park's main entrance stood a grotesque, chrome-plated creature — a Vending Machine Monster.
"I am the Vending Machine Monster! Because you parasites never bought my drinks, I failed my monthly KPI! So now, I'll turn you all... into drinks!"
The thing burst into mechanical laughter. From its dispensing slot shot several metal tentacles, whipping through the air like snapping cables.
Screams followed.
"Help!"
"No! Let me go!"
Three people were already caught, wrapped tight by the metal coils. The monster reeled them in like prey, dragging them toward its belly — a gaping slot with spinning blades and bubbling black liquid visible inside.
Kaito stood frozen, cold sweat running down his back.
His instincts screamed at him: Run.
Sure, King's body had impressive physical stats — enough to survive the "Emperor Engine" without cardiac arrest. But that was it. He wasn't a fighter. He couldn't punch through steel. He couldn't save anyone.
Save myself first.
The decision was easy. He crouched low, planning to use the park benches and trees as cover and sneak out.
Just then—
A boy in a school uniform charged toward the monster from behind.
"Stop!"
The Vending Machine Monster whipped around, its tentacles flailing. The boy rolled away, agile — but lost his balance and slammed into Kaito.
Thud.
The impact knocked off Kaito's cap, exposing his full face.
The boy's eyes widened. "W-Wait... Are you... Mr. King?!"
Like a stone dropped in still water, the shout rippled across the chaos.
People stopped. Heads turned. Dozens of eyes locked onto him.
"It's really King!"
"The strongest man on Earth!"
"We're saved!"
Cheers erupted from all sides.
A fanatical female voice even screamed, "Lord King! I want to bear your children!"
Kaito's mouth twitched.
In this moment, all he wanted was to find a hole to crawl into—or better yet, stuff that loudmouthed kid into the Vending Machine Monster.
This is bad... I'm completely exposed!
Kaito cried out internally. Panic surged as he looked up at the monster—only to see the expression on its LED display morph from menacing to... terrified.
"Th-The strongest man on Earth... King?!"
The Vending Machine Monster's digitized voice trembled. Its tentacles froze midair, motionless.
"I-Impossible! Why are you here?!"
Kaito's heart began to race. That terrifying heartbeat sound—the so-called Emperor Engine—throbbed in his chest like war drums.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The sound vibrated through the air, low and ominous. Passersby could feel it in their bones.
The Vending Machine Monster stumbled two steps back. Its tentacles retracted in an instant.
"D-Don't come any closer! I warn you!"
Suddenly, Kaito had a flash of inspiration.
If they all think I'm King... why not lean into it?
He slowly raised his right arm and took a half-baked punching stance. His face, though inwardly screaming, remained calm—sharp, enigmatic, unreadable.
A perfect poker face.
From the crowd, gasps of admiration burst out.
"Lord King is preparing to use his signature move!"
"It's the 'Inferno Unrivaled Blazing Wave Cannon'!"
"They say this move annihilates everything in its path—no monster has ever survived it!"
"Lord King, please destroy that vending freak!"
Kaito's inner monologue exploded: Who the hell came up with such a cringe-worthy, chuunibyou move name?!
But he knew he couldn't break character now. If he faltered for even a second, he might not survive.
The key now... was momentum.
The monster, seeing the wild reaction from the crowd, immediately broke down.
"W-Wait!"
Its voice pitched into panic.
"Lord King, I surrender! I surrender! I'm leaving right now! Please don't use your ultimate move!"
And with that, the monster turned and bolted.
Its mechanical legs spun furiously as it ran, screaming all the way, "HELP! KING IS GOING TO KILL MONSTERS AGAIN!"
Kaito: "..."
Wait... That actually worked?!
The crowd erupted in a frenzy.
"King is so cool! He scared off the monster without even lifting a finger!"
"Is this the power of deterrence from Earth's strongest?!"
"Mr. King, look at me! Please sign my shirt!"
"Marry me, Lord King!"
Kaito quickly ducked his head, shoved his cap back on, and turned to leave.
I've got to get out of here before that tin can realizes its mistake and comes back swinging.
As he rounded the corner—
Ding!
A clear chime echoed in his mind.