Z-City's uninhabited zone was infamous for its frequent monster attacks, which made rent absurdly cheap. Those who chose to live there either possessed enough strength to protect themselves or simply had nothing left to lose.
"Saitama, haven't we reached your place yet?"
On the empty pedestrian street, silence stretched as far as the eye could see. Lucien carried a convenience bag filled with hotpot ingredients he had purchased from a discount supermarket. The bag swayed lightly at his side, though his expression remained calm.
Lucien's current plan was simple. First, he would befriend Saitama. Then, he would push him into a serious battle and use him to trigger his near death ability.
If there were other reincarnators or transmigrators lurking in this world, he would make even greater use of Saitama.
Unlike the Pirate World, where he had needed to manipulate and control numerous powerful figures to reach his objectives, this world required only one person.
Saitama.
Until Lucien discovered a way to kill him.
"We're almost there."
Saitama sounded impatient. Earlier, he had bought high grade beef, seafood, and other expensive ingredients at the supermarket, all paid for by Lucien. He had not spent a single yen.
For someone who lived frugally, that felt like winning the lottery.
After turning a corner and waiting for a red light, they walked another block and stopped in front of an apartment building.
There was no need to question why Z-City still had working traffic lights, water, and electricity despite being largely abandoned. It was simply part of the setting.
They took the elevator upstairs. Thanks to Lucien's deliberate friendliness and the shared supermarket trip, the two had grown somewhat familiar with each other. However, what truly won Saitama over was the invitation to eat hotpot.
"It's messy."
Lucien stepped into the apartment. The room was small and cluttered, which perfectly suited Saitama's lifestyle.
Half an hour later, they sat cross legged on tatami mats. A mandarin duck hotpot simmered between them, steam rising into the air. The television played news reports about monster attacks and hero activity. In this world, chaos never slept. Explosions and destruction were as common as fireworks.
"Saitama, do you have any alcohol?"
Lucien dipped slices of beef into the broth. He cooked them until medium rare, coated them in chili sauce, and placed them into his mouth. Across from him, Saitama carefully blanched lamb with surprising seriousness.
Lucien could not remember the last time he had eaten hotpot. The warmth and spice were satisfying.
"No."
Saitama did not even look up.
Lucien clicked his tongue. "How can you eat hotpot without alcohol? You're too poor."
Saitama finally raised his head, his face darkening. His mouth twitched repeatedly.
That comment struck a painful truth.
"Wait one minute. Don't finish everything."
Lucien set down his bowl and chopsticks. Eating hotpot without alcohol felt incomplete.
"Only one minute," Saitama replied flatly. If Lucien failed to return in time, he would eat everything without hesitation.
Lucien waved casually and stepped onto the balcony.
With a thunderous boom, he shot upward. Standing midair, his tall figure, 193 centimeters of lean strength, was outlined against the sky. His amethyst eyes glimmered coldly as golden lightning erupted around him. In the next instant, he transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished, leaving a white trail slicing through the clouds.
"He's pretty strong," Saitama muttered, chewing his lamb before turning his attention back to the hotpot.
At the Hero Association headquarters, alarms blared.
"Warning. A massive energy reading has appeared above Z-City. Unknown aerial object. Speed has reached Mach 10. Mach 11. Mach 12. It's still accelerating."
"Can we get satellite visuals?"
"Yes. Displaying now."
The large screen showed a golden bolt tearing across the sky. Within it, a vague humanoid silhouette flickered.
"Disaster alert. Demon level threat detected in B-City."
"What?"
"The lightning is heading toward B-City. Is it a hero?"
"No registered hero matches that signature. Could it be S-Class?"
"Notify the heroes stationed in B-City immediately."
At that moment, B-City was already in ruins.
Colossal footprints crushed streets and buildings. A 270 meter giant strode through the city, each movement generating violent gusts of wind.
On the giant's shoulder stood a bespectacled scientist, his expression twisted with exhilaration. In his hand was an empty bottle of a muscle enhancement serum.
"Excellent, brother. Now you are the strongest being on Earth. Destroy everything. Hahaha."
Golden lightning condensed in the sky.
Lucien hovered above the chaos, staring down at the scene with indifference. To him, this was nothing more than disposable trash.
He casually swung his right leg. Armament Haki hardened his limb as lightning crackled around it. The compressed Rankyaku expanded to five hundred meters, far larger than the giant itself, and sliced cleanly across its neck.
Lucien disappeared.
He landed inside a deserted supermarket and calmly walked to the liquor section. Selecting several of the most expensive bottles, he ignored the distant rumble behind him.
Back in B-City, the scientist screamed as his brother's severed head crashed toward the ground, blood spraying like a fountain.
In desperation, the scientist drank the remaining serum. Veins bulged across his face. His body swelled grotesquely, expanding to ten meters, fifty meters, one hundred meters, then two hundred meters tall. The ground shattered beneath him, shockwaves flattening everything within a thousand meter radius.
"Hahaha. This power. I am the strongest."
Lucien stepped out of the supermarket.
Without even glancing back, he kicked again.
Another five hundred meter slash tore through the air.
As he ascended in a burst of lightning, the scientist's laughter abruptly stopped. His body split cleanly in half. Blood rained from the sky as the severed halves crashed into the ruins below, organs spilling across the shattered streets.
The extended slash continued upward, splitting clouds and cutting deep into the atmosphere before fading into space.
Moments later, several heroes arrived, staring at the grotesque corpses.
"The battle is already over?"
"This was Demon level."
The cuts were smooth and precise.
An S-Class hero?
By then, Lucien had already returned to Z-City.
"I'm back."
He stepped into the apartment. The hotpot still steamed, though half the ingredients were gone. Saitama sat watching television.
Lucien opened a bottle of sake and poured himself a glass, then poured one for Saitama as well.
"You defeated those two giants in B-City."
Saitama pointed at the television, where a reporter stood before the massive corpses.
"How did you know it was me?" Lucien asked.
"You appeared on screen for a second."
Saitama took a sip. "You're strong."
Lucien stared at him strangely. Coming from someone who could end any fight with a single punch, that compliment felt ironic.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Saitama asked.
"Nothing. Let's fight after we finish eating."
"No. It's better to lie down after hotpot."
Lucien smirked faintly. "Fight me seriously and I'll treat you to another meal."
Saitama's lazy eyes sharpened instantly.
"Deal."
Sometimes, one hotpot was enough to settle things.
If not, then two would do.
Milestone
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Also,
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