We gathered a little bit of energy, but it's not enough. The air around us felt heavy, like the world itself was tired. Goku stood there, looking ahead, calm but serious.
"I've told you before," Zeno said, his voice low but clear, "mercy is for the weak. Our home was destroyed. Our loved ones… everything that mattered to us is gone."
The memories came back again, sharp and painful. The fire, the screams, the silence that followed.
"We are only here because we need to become stronger," Zeno clenched his fist. "Stronger to face the demon whose power knows no boundaries."
Goku did not reply at once. He only listened.
"We have to go back right now and complete the mission. It's already been three weeks, and you have recovered fully."
There was a short silence after that, the kind that feels long.
"Let's let them be for now, Lord Zeno. They were far weaker than the last multiverse we went to. Much weaker."
Goku slowly turned, his eyes now different. There was something dark inside them.
"Take me somewhere else," he said. "Somewhere far stronger. I am ready to go on a rampage."
His energy sparked around him, wild and filled with rage that had not been seen before. It moved like fire, dark and dangerous.
"Once we are done with this new multiverse," Goku continued, "we are returning back to the Avengers world and completing what we started."
Goku nodded, his face serious.
Zeno smirked. With a simple wave of his hand, a circular dark portal opened up in front of them. It spun slowly, glowing with dark sparks that looked like small stars burning in the night.
"Where are we heading this time?" Goku asked as he stepped closer to the portal.
"The One Punch Man universe," Zeno replied. "There's a human there whose power grows without limit."
As he spoke, Zeno's form changed into a crystal white ball and moved into Goku's body once again.
Without waiting, Goku walked into the portal. The dark light swallowed him, and in a moment, he was gone.
Deep under the earth's surface, inside a quiet room filled with computers and screens, alarms suddenly went off one after another. The sound was loud and sharp. Red lights flashed across the walls.
"What is going on now?" Blast said, walking in with a piece of pizza still in his mouth. He looked tired but alert. "Stella, what is going on?"
"An unknown being just appeared in our world," Stella replied. "Its power is unmeasurable. It is currently high above us in the clouds."
Blast stopped chewing. His eyes became serious.
"Alright, Stella. Keep me updated. I am going to inform Saitama and our allies. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Blast," Stella replied.
Blast turned on the communication system. His voice spread across the city.
"Code red, code red. Everyone, we have a level God threat that just appeared in our city right now. I repeat, a level God threat. Stop whatever you are doing and assemble at the wasteland central now. And somebody please get to Saitama in case this is more than we can handle. This is Blast, over and out."
A voice replied almost at once.
"Don't worry about Saitama, Blast. This isn't like the battle with Goro and God. Saitama needs to rest more. There's no way whoever that is is more powerful than God and Goro."
It was Tornado. Her voice sounded confident.
"I agree with her," another voice said. "Let's allow master to rest a bit. I am with Silver Fang. We will be at the central wasteland soon. Genos, over and out."
Blast looked down for a moment and clenched his fists tightly.
"Let's pray you are all correct," he said quietly.
Up above the city, high in the clouds, Goku floated in the sky. He was wearing his dark ki, and his arms were crossed. His eyes moved slowly as he studied the world below him.
"Every world we go to, it's always the same," Zeno's voice echoed from within him. "You appear, and then the ants start coming after you."
"It doesn't matter, Lord Zeno," Goku replied with a small, dangerous smile. "They will feel my wrath."
"Seems like they have arrived," Zeno said. "You should greet them, don't you think?"
Goku did not reply. Instead, he slowly floated down.
The moment his feet touched the ground, the earth cracked under him. The force was strong, and dust rose into the air.
A group of heroes stood in front of him. Tornado stepped forward, her eyes sharp.
"Hey, spiky," she said, "do us all a favor and return back to where you came from. Save us all the stress and the destruction."
"Tornado, pull back. That's dangerous. We don't know what we are dealing with yet," Blast warned as he arrived behind her.
He looked at Genos.
"Genos, did you at least send any message to Saitama?"
"Sorry, Blast," Genos replied. "I did not. Master needs to rest."
"Enough with the Saitama talk," Tornado said, raising her hand. "I am going to break this spiky here."
She stretched her hand forward. The air around Goku suddenly tightened. It crushed inwards, forming a powerful force. Then—
BOOM!
The explosion hit. It was strong, but it stayed only in the place where Goku stood. Dust and fire filled the area.
"You have no idea what you have done, Tornado," Blast said as he stepped back.
"What are you talking about?" Silver Fang asked.
"Stella just finished scanning him," Blast said. "His power is unmeasurable. And whatever you did just made him more angry than he already is. I am going to find Saitama. You guys try your best to hold him back."
Before anyone could reply, Blast disappeared instantly.
"Hold him back…?" Silver Fang said slowly. "What is he saying? I don't think—"
"That was a nice attack, small child," Goku's voice suddenly spoke.
Everyone froze.
Out of the dust and fire, Goku walked forward slowly. Not a single mark was on his body. His voice was deep and calm, but something about it felt heavy.
"Impossible!" Tornado said, her eyes wide open. "That attack has killed monsters capable of destroying the earth. If the pressure didn't get to you, then the explosion, which is stronger than a nuclear blast, should have done it!"
Goku looked at her.
"I am more than a monster, child."
Before anyone could react, Goku vanished.
"Watch out, Tornado!" Silver Fang shouted as he dashed forward.
But he was too late.
Goku's fist had already connected with her face.
The impact was loud. Tornado's body flew across the air like a broken leaf. She crashed into the ruined city behind them, destroying half of the buildings as she wen
t down. The ground shook, and dust filled the sky once again.
The battle had just begun, and already, fear started to spread.