"What a nostalgic scene."
A low voice rang out, clearly reaching everyone's ears, causing many people who were running to involuntarily pause.
Gojō slowly raised an arm, pointing towards the arena's giant electronic screen, which still displayed the words "Super Fight Tournament."
"I once stood here too, basking in your cheers," he said in a tone recalling the past.
"The champion of the first Super Fight Tournament, 'Gojō.' Do any of you still remember that name?"
His words caused the faces of some older martial artists and spectators to change drastically.
Gojō!
The legend who once swept through the entire martial arts world with overwhelming power!
The man hailed as the "King of Martial Arts"!
Didn't he disappear? How could he… have become like this?!
Above the ruins of the ring, Suiryu's pupils suddenly contracted.
He had, of course, heard that name; it was an insurmountable mountain in the hearts of his father's generation of martial artists!
"It seems some of you still remember," Gojō seemed pleased with everyone's reaction. He bared his teeth, revealing a ferocious smile.
"However, human martial arts ultimately have their limits."
"I once stood at the pinnacle, but I saw a far higher sky, a sky that humans could never reach, no matter what."
His voice was full of temptation: "So, I chose to evolve! I abandoned my fragile human body and gained this perfect body, and infinite power!"
He clenched his fist, and a visible wave of air exploded outwards from him!
"Boom—!"
The entire arena trembled violently again, and countless cracks spread out from beneath his feet.
"Do you see? This is power that transcends limits!"
Under Gojō's declaration, the martial artists who hadn't managed to escape yet had faces filled with shock, fear, and a hint of… wavering.
"Don't listen to his nonsense!" A furious shout interrupted Gojō's speech.
A-Class Hero Snake of the Snake Bite Fist leaped down from the contestant seating. Behind him, the A-Class Hero Lightning Max also followed closely.
"We are heroes! Protecting the public is our duty!"
Snake assumed the stance of the Snake Bite Fist, his gaze firm.
"Everyone, evacuate immediately! Leave this to us!"
"That's right! A mere monster, don't think you can run wild here!"
Lightning Max's legs were covered in specialized mechanical shoes, which had already begun to accumulate energy, emitting a "zzzt" electrical sound.
Their appearance was like a shot in the arm for the chaotic scene.
Some martial artists who had been scared witless also reacted, stepping behind the two heroes and assuming fighting stances.
"Oh?"
Gojō looked at this group of people, oblivious to their impending doom, with interest.
"Heroes… and the last dignity of martial artists? Very well, let you personally experience how insignificant and ridiculous everything you uphold is."
"Snake Bite Fist Secret Technique: Snake Fang Thrust!"
Snake made the first move, his hands transforming into Snake heads, aiming at Gojō's ankle joint from an extremely cunning angle!
However, facing this sure-kill strike, Gojō merely casually lifted his foot.
"Too slow."
"Bang!"
The moment Snake's arms made contact with Gojō's sole, an irresistible immense force surged through.
"Crack!!"
The crisp sound of bones breaking echoed throughout the arena.
Snake's arms twisted into a bizarre angle, and he instantly flew backward, crashing heavily against a distant wall, then sliding down, his life unknown.
"Mr. Snake!"
Lightning Max's eyes were bloodshot. He roared, channeling all his energy into his right leg.
"Lightning Kick!"
His figure transformed into a golden streak of lightning, carrying the force of a thunderbolt, directly kicking at Gojō's head!
"Flashy."
Gojō commented disdainfully.
He extended two fingers, moving later but arriving first, precisely clamping Lightning Max's ankle.
"Your use of power is too crude, full of waste," Gojō said, like a strict mentor critiquing a student's homework.
"Let me teach you what 'martial arts' is."
With that, he slightly tightened the fingers clamping Max's ankle.
"Ah ah ah ah ah—!!!"
A shrill scream rang out.
Gojō casually flung him away like trash, throwing him towards the spectator stands on the other side, where he smashed through a large section of seats and fell silent.
In just two moves, two formidable A-Class Heroes were instantly defeated!
The remaining martial artists all froze in place, a chill running from their feet to the tops of their heads.
Their proudly held martial arts were as fragile as paper in the face of absolute power.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the contestant seating, Bakuzan of the "Dark Hell Style," one of the top contenders of this tournament, was trembling as he watched it all unfold.
His face showed none of the fear of others; instead, it was filled with extreme excitement and fanaticism.
"Strong… too strong…"
He muttered, "Is this… is this the ultimate power I've been pursuing all along? The limits of humanity… are indeed just a joke!"
Gojō's gaze swept across the arena, finally landing on the group of trembling martial artists.
"Now, do you understand?" His voice rang out again, "Your human identity will only become your shackles."
"Come, accept my blessing, become my companions, and you will gain new life, obtaining the power you've always dreamed of!"
With that, he pulled out a cloth bag from behind him, casually tossing it. The bag landed on the ground, and a dozen or so pulsating chunks of flesh, like hearts, rolled out.
"Monster Cells," Gojō's voice was filled with a devilish allure, "Eat them, and you can break your chains and transcend your limits."
"Will you choose to be eliminated as weak humans, or choose to become powerful monsters and open a new era with me?"
"The choice is yours."
— — — — — —
"Mr. KING, please… be extremely careful!"
Genos, his armor shattered, was being urgently transported by an unmanned drone to Dr. Kuseno's laboratory for repairs.
His eyes were fixed on the rising dust in the distance.
He was reporting to Mr. KING using his backup energy communicator.
"That monster is incredibly powerful. I couldn't even see his movements before I passed out! His direction is—the Martial Arts Tournament!"
"I understand. You go get repaired. I'll handle this."
Lin Mo hung up the communicator and casually threw a punch behind him.
The force of the punch instantly pulverized a Tiger-level monster attempting to ambush him into countless fragments.
He looked up, his deep gaze penetrating through layers of buildings, towards the direction of the distant Martial Arts Tournament.
"So, he's finally here… Gojō,"
Lin Mo murmured. Without hesitation, the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly, and he transformed into a black shadow, speeding towards the Martial Arts Tournament.