Chapter 53: Watch Me Give Earth a Middle Parting!
"Brothers! I think I know why he's called 'The Bald Caped Baldy'!"
"Bro, why are you kneeling?"
"My legs are weak..."
"Why are your legs weak?"
"Scared, naturally kneeling!"
"Why is your face red and white?"
"Radiant with health!"
....
[Saitama broke into the spaceship alone, plowing through everything, finally reaching the deepest part, before the throne...]
On the throne sat a figure.
The ruler of the universe—Lord Boros!
He had long, starry pinkish-purple hair and wore bio-armor. His single eye looked down upon Saitama with scrutiny and anticipation.
In Boros's eye, Saitama emitted a terrifying, heart-stopping aura. He murmured:
[Are you this planet's representative?]
[I can sense that unfathomable power...]
This was the intangible sense between powerful beings!
Boros slowly stood up, looking down from above.
[Subarashii! (Magnificent!)]
[Before we fight, state your name!]
[I am the leader of the Dark Matter Thieves!]
[The ruler of the universe... Boros!]
.....
Countless people were shocked by Boros's introduction.
Ruler of the universe?!
Are you kidding me!
Previous saviors faced crises mostly confined to one world. This guy escalated to universal level?!
Probably even the previous War God, Artosh, might not be this Boros's对手 (match)!
This was too terrifying!
More people began to sweat for Saitama. This opponent was likely stronger than all previous enemies combined!
"Luffy! Your jaw is about to hit the floor! Close it!"
"Usopp! Stop kneeling!"
"Chopper... never mind... the doctor fainted!"
...
[The footage continued]
Saitama also replied with a "serious" expression:
[I'm a hero for fun... no, now a professional hero! Saitama!]
Boros showed extreme excitement, grinning:
[Saitama!]
Boros descended the steps and approached Saitama, saying:
[There was once a prophecy...]
[In the past, I conquered space, invincible, but grew immensely bored and痛苦 (painful) due to my invincibility...]
[Then, a fortune teller told me that on a distant planet, someone could fight me and satisfy my desire...]
[Twenty years have passed...]
[My subordinates thought it was just an excuse to avoid war...]
[But now I firmly believe the prophecy was correct!]
[Come! Bring some excitement to my life!]
[That is my purpose!]
Boros's single eye shone with extreme excitement. He believed this would be a satisfying fight!
Well then, come! Fight me to your heart's content!
The next second.
[BOOM!!!—]
Boros's body was instantly sent flying backward, smashing through several huge pillars before embedding deeply into the wall!
[You idiot!]
[You invade other planets just for excitement? Not even gamers think that way! (Original text mentioned 'ol', likely gaming-related, adjusted for context)]
Saitama looked somewhat speechless at Boros, fist smoking with the familiar white vapor...
Boros emerged from the wall, his armor crumbling and falling off, but he himself was completely unharmed!
As expected of the universe ruler, able to withstand one punch!
Boros said calmly:
[This armor was meant to seal my excessive power. Now, you have broken it!]
Saitama frowned, his art style becoming comically simple, as if a row of ellipses appeared on the left, the strong aura was gone.
(Perhaps this is the unique style of a top expert.)
[Is that so...]
The terrifying power suppressed within Boros erupted instantly! His purple skin deepened, his body expanded rapidly, and bone spikes protruded from his spine!
This was definitely not a herniated disc!
[BOOM!!!—]
A violent energy storm swept through the ship's interior! Purple lightning crackled wildly over Boros's body!
A power that made all living beings across the realms feel powerless and insignificant was awakening!
This battle had everyone's attention!
The figures of the two instantly vanished from the screen! If not for the earth-shattering impacts and explosions, people would have thought the video froze!
They turned into two streams of light, clashing fiercely within the huge ship at speeds invisible to the naked eye!
Each collision released shockwaves that made space tremble!
The incredibly sturdy, space-worthy ship's interior was being destroyed at an unprecedented rate!
This was like a battle between gods!
[BOOM!!!]
Saitama remained in a defensive and evasive state, not fighting back. Until he raised that plain fist...
[Splat!]
The two separated briefly. One of Boros's arms was severed and fell to the ground.
[To think you can fight me to this extent even after I released my power...]
Saitama turned around, expressionless, looking at Boros. He raised his slightly smoking fist and said flatly:
[Well... you're pretty strong...]
....
In reality, Boros, on his way to Earth, showed extreme excitement.
"Saitama... wait for me! This is too thrilling!"
....
[In the footage, Boros attacked Saitama with all his might. The ship's interior suffered continuous catastrophic damage.]
Boros punched Saitama, sending him flying hundreds of meters into a wall.
He followed closely, his whole body bursting with dazzling purple light, both feet together, and kicked Saitama hard in the chest!
Instantly, deafening explosions rang out!
The two fought at speeds beyond common sense, from the ship's bottom all the way to the top deck!
They landed on the ship's outer shell. Saitama was covered in dust, while Boros grew more excited.
[You really are amazing!]
[You're the first opponent who can match me!]
Saitama remained as impassive as ever!
[Now, I will release all the energy within my body!]
Boros erupted with a towering cyan energy torrent from within! He condensed a huge energy ball in his chest and fired it at Saitama!
[BOOM!—]
Explosive flames covered kilometers, swallowing Saitama's figure.
However...
Saitama walked out of the explosion unhurriedly. Aside from some damage to his clothes, his body only had minor scratches!
[Behind you!]
Boros confidently appeared behind Saitama and punched him hard in the face!
The terrifying force created an impact storm, blowing away all debris around!
But Saitama didn't even move his feet, only his head tilted slightly.
[It seems that punch worked!]
[The outcome between us seems decided!]
[My home planet has an extreme environment... Our regeneration and healing abilities are the best in the universe, and I am the best among them...]
[The damage you've taken...]
Before Boros finished, Saitama looked at him coldly and interrupted:
[You talk too much... Is the fight... over?]
Boros was stunned, looking at him in a daze. This man... was disappointed in him?
Then...
He must give his all to respond to this man!
Boros erupted with energy far surpassing before! The energy formed a huge hemispherical force field covered with endless black lightning! He roared:
[It's not over yet!]
Facing Saitama, even if it cost everything, he must defeat him!
[Meteoric Burst!]
Purple-black lightning patterns covered Boros's entire body! His single eye burned with极致 (ultimate) fighting spirit!
Instantly!
Boros released all his energy! The pouring energy tore the ship's surface apart, instantly turning it into ruins!
A trace of interest finally appeared on Saitama's perpetually calm face! Only now did Boros truly garner a bit of his seriousness!
The next moment!
The ruins under Boros's feet exploded! His figure vanished instantly, appearing before Saitama!
[Thud!]
Saitama was punched flying thousands of meters! Boros attacked with超越极限 (transcendent limit) speed, his fists falling like rain! Saitama seemed unable to fight back!
[Thud! Thud!!]
Even space seemed to twist and tear under this energy! Boros no longer cared about his subordinates' lives; he only wanted to fight this man to the end!
[Thud!]
Saitama was sent flying high into the air! Boros concentrated energy on his knee and slammed it hard into Saitama's abdomen!
For a moment, the world seemed quiet.
The scene spun. Saitama flew out like a meteor and crashed heavily into—the surface of the Moon!
After a long moment.
[BOOM!!!] (SFX for impact on the Moon)
Everyone across the realms was utterly dumbfounded.
A kick... sent someone flying to the Moon?!
What kind of cosmic-level joke is this?!
It takes human spacecraft a long time to reach the Moon!
And you did it with one kick?!
Countless people were terrified beyond belief. Powerful individuals across worlds began to doubt their lives.
So... I'm this weak?
Those dreaming of world domination—demons, heroes, archmages—seemed to hear their dreams shatter...
How would Saitama... return to Earth?
Was the battle over just like that?
[In the footage, Saitama came to his senses, found he couldn't breathe, saw he was on the Moon, hurriedly pinched his nose (though it was useless)... and then assumed a running stance.]
Everyone: "???" He couldn't be planning to... no way...
[BOOM!!!—]
Saitama's legs exerted immense force! The Moon's surface was instantly stamped with a huge crater! He turned into a stream of light, shooting towards Earth at a speed far exceeding Boros's Meteoric Burst state!
Moments later...
Saitama descended from the sky like a meteor! The already damaged ship tilted severely. From the dust, Saitama walked out unscathed, looking relieved.
"Ah... I'm back."
Boros looked at the returned Saitama, his gaze resolute!
[For this man, I will dedicate everything!]
Boros charged at Saitama without hesitation! At this moment, he seemed not like a universe conqueror, but more like a hero charging at the final demon king!
...
"Big brother flying the ship, do your best!" (A cheer from an unknown child in some world)
.....
Boros's light-speed punches landed on Saitama.
But Saitama simply threw one punch.
This plain punch dealt Boros unprecedented massive damage!
His eyes bloodshot, his body flew back hundreds of meters uncontrollably, looking extremely disheveled.
[This is it... Saitama... This makes defeating you worthwhile...]
But Saitama suddenly appeared before him and said calmly:
[Consecutive Normal Punches.]
Instantly, countless fist shadows like a storm engulfed Boros!
The next moment, Boros was beaten into an indescribable mass of flesh and blood, floating in the low gravity.
[Ugh...]
Boros, with only one eye left, couldn't believe it, but his powerful regeneration began rapidly repairing his body. He roared:
[I must be the one to defeat you!]
[Release all energy!]
[I will destroy you along with the Earth's surface!]
Infinite energy madly poured into Boros's chest! A massive energy field tens of meters in diameter formed around him! A blue energy torrent capable of destroying a planetary surface surged out, aimed straight at Saitama!
[Collapsing Star Roaring Cannon!]
Saitama looked at Boros's final attack, his expression finally turning serious.
[Then, I'll use my trump card too...]
[Finishing Move: Serious Series...]
[Serious Punch!]
The blue energy torrent collided with the seemingly ordinary fist! Then, an earth-shattering roar erupted!
[BOOM!!!—]
The energy wave was split in two! The fist's pressure continued unabated, shooting straight into the distant sky!
At this moment, heaven and earth fell silent, the world as if pressed on pause.
The scene gradually distanced, pulling back to show the Earth from space.
Behind Boros, the Earth's atmosphere and cloud sea were split open by that fist's pressure into a gap spanning who knows how many tens of thousands of kilometers!
It was as if... Earth had been given a perfectly straight Split!
Boros's body rapidly withered, like a weather-beaten mummy, his gorgeous pink-purple hair spreading out. He said weakly:
[Did I lose...]
Now, the background music became tragic and sorrowful, as if playing a elegy for this universe ruler who gave his all.
Saitama turned around and looked at him.
[Still conscious... You really are strong...]
[Just like the prophecy... an equal fight...] Boros said, breath fading.
[Yeah... sure...] Saitama responded.
[Heh... liar... You clearly still had strength to spare...]
[I was completely helpless...]
[This can't even be called a fight...]
[The prophecy... really is unreliable... Saitama... you're too strong...]
The spaceship finally completely shattered, its wreckage falling towards the city below.
Saitama's figure walked further away amidst the ruins. He looked up at the sky he had "middle-parted" and sighed helplessly,
[Being invincible... is really lonely...]
The screen abruptly cut to black!