Lin Mo's speed was pushed to its limit.
He didn't choose to leap from the tops of buildings; while that method was more skillful, it wasted more time.
In the face of absolute power and speed, all obstacles lost their meaning as obstacles.
He chose the most brutal and effective route—a straight line.
Everything in his path, whether abandoned vehicles, collapsed walls, or low-level monsters foolish enough to try and block him, was effortlessly shattered by him.
This was his current strength.
He had come to understand that flashy skills were far less reliable than a solid foundation.
Therefore, almost every energy point he gained afterward was unhesitatingly invested in the three basic attributes.
Over time, he had become terrifyingly strong.
"System, open my personal panel," he murmured mentally.
A blue light screen, visible only to him, unfolded before his eyes.
Name: Lin Mo (KING)
Gender: Male
Energy Value: 19,130
Stamina: 600
Strength: 600
Speed: 600
Psychic Power: 200
Skills: Intimidation (Dragon-level), Energy Blast (Dragon-level), Martial Arts · Pinnacle, Supersonic Speed (Demon-level)
Items: bad luck coin x1, Basic Stamina Potion x2, Basic Healing Potion x2, Basic Mental Recovery Potion...
He didn't even need to exert himself; merely maintaining high-speed movement was enough to crush everything below a "Tiger" disaster level.
"Gouket's strength is at least mid-Dragon-level, possibly even higher," Lin Mo analyzed rapidly.
"He could easily defeat Genos, and in the original story, even a martial arts genius like Suiryu was utterly helpless against him; his strength should absolutely not be underestimated."
However, there wasn't a hint of tension on Lin Mo's face.
His Martial Arts · Pinnacle was the product of the system integrating countless combat techniques and elevating them, reaching the upper limit of Dragon-level strength.
Coupled with his immensely powerful physique, it could definitely achieve a result far greater than one plus one equals two.
Gouket was a desperate chasm for others, but for him, he was merely a target that needed to be eliminated.
Just as he was about to reach the arena area, a powerful and malevolent aura made him abruptly stop.
The source of that aura was at a crossroads not far ahead.
Lin Mo stopped steadily, standing on a broken lamppost.
He looked up, his gaze piercing through the swirling dust, and saw that figure.
Over ten meters tall, with bulging muscles and four eyes glowing with an ominous red light.
He merely stood there, like a mountain, exuding a suffocating sense of Intimidation.
Gouket.
He seemed to have noticed Lin Mo's arrival as well, slowly turning around, his four eyes simultaneously locking onto Lin Mo.
"Hmm?" Gouket let out a low hum, with a hint of surprise, "This feeling... are you a hero too?"
His mission was complete.
Those martial artists he had chosen, such as Bakuzan and others, had already consumed Monster Cells, completing their life-level transition from humans to monsters.
Now he only needed to return to the Monster Association and report back to Monster King Orochi.
He hadn't expected to encounter a human who dared to block his path alone on his way back.
Lin Mo slowly took off the baseball cap he wore to conceal his identity, revealing a calm face.
Immediately after, he activated the ability that he hadn't actively used in a long time, yet was already famous throughout the world—the "Emperor Engine."
"Intimidation, activate."
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
In an instant, a low, rhythmic roar emanated from Lin Mo's body, initially faint, but rapidly intensifying.
Accompanied by the drum-like roar, a dense, almost tangible Intimidation swept out from him in all directions!
The dust swirling in the wind was instantly pressed to the ground, and the glass windows of the dilapidated buildings along the street let out an unbearable "creak" before shattering completely.
This Intimidation was full of dominance, as if an emperor was announcing his arrival.
This sudden change quickly turned the hint of surprise on Gouket's face into wariness and solemnity.
"This sense of oppression... and this sound..."
Gouket's four eyes narrowed slightly, and the Monster Association's data on S-Class Heroes quickly flashed through his mind.
"So that's it. S-Class Hero, Rank 6, KING."
He put away the casual, disdainful expression on his face, becoming focused and solemn for the first time.
"I didn't expect to see you here, the legendary strongest man on earth."
Lin Mo's figure flickered, silently landing on the ground.
He stood before Gouket, his small stature forming a stark contrast with the opponent's massive size.
"First Super Fight Tournament Champion, Gouket," Lin Mo said, his voice calm and even, yet clearly stating the other party's origin.
"The former King of Martial Arts, fallen to this state, truly pathetic."
Upon hearing this, Gouket, far from getting angry, let out a deep, wild laugh, filled with arrogance and pity.
"Pathetic? Hahahaha! You're wrong, KING! I haven't fallen, I've evolved!"
His laughter echoed through the ruins, as if mocking Lin Mo's ignorance.
"I discarded that fragile shell and reached a realm you mortals will never understand!"
His gaze burned as he stared at Lin Mo, "I admit, you might be the strongest among humans. I've heard of your name; it's said that no monster can withstand a single blow from you."
"But you are, after all, 'human'. You'll never understand how vast the world is that one can see after breaking the shackles of life's hierarchy!"
He spread his arms as if to embrace the entire world: "I once spent my entire life pursuing the Martial Arts · Pinnacle, only to find that the end of that path was an insurmountable wall."
"And now, I've easily climbed over that wall! KING, you and I are both people who stand at the pinnacle; you should understand my feelings best."
"Give up, abandon that ridiculous hero identity, accept the Monster Cells, and you will become an existence that transcends everything, a true god!"
In Gouket's eyes, the KING before him was his past self.
A gifted individual, yet trapped in the well of human limits, pitiful and pathetic, despite being a supreme powerhouse.
Lin Mo listened quietly, with no expression on his face. It wasn't until Gouket finished speaking that he slowly shook his head.
"You're wrong, Gouket."
His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
"You didn't climb over that wall; you merely crawled through the dog hole beside it."
"You... what did you say?!"
Gouket's smile instantly froze, and terrifyingly fierce light burst from his four eyes.
The other party actually... actually compared his god-like evolution to a... dog crawling through a dog hole!?
---
PS: I changed the trial card time to permanent earlier, and someone also reminded me that KING was present during the Meteorite Crisis, so he should be S-Class Rank 6, with Metal Knight as S-Class Rank 7.