### Chapter 22: Terrified Carnage Kabuto
"Understood!"
Genos nodded. The energy circuits all over his body lit up with blinding blue light, instantly entering the highest combat state.
However, the next second—
*BOOM—!!!*
A deafening noise.
Fast!
Carnage Kabuto's speed was so fast it exceeded the limit of visual capture.
Genos hadn't even moved before a massive force smashed him into the alloy wall behind him.
His entire upper body was embedded in it.
"Pfft..."
Kouki almost couldn't help laughing out loud and hurriedly cleared his throat to cover it up.
Of course, this level of attack wasn't enough to completely scrap Genos.
Immediately after, Carnage Kabuto's figure also rushed into a wider space nearby like a ghost.
A fierce battle broke out instantly!
Two figures turned into streams of light indistinguishable to the naked eye, colliding madly, separating, and colliding again in the huge space.
Deafening roars, shockwaves from energy explosions, ear-piercing sounds of tearing metal... the entire space seemed to be wailing!
"So... so strong!"
Fubuki watched with her heart palpitating. This extreme collision of pure power and speed far exceeded her usual understanding.
"Mm, after all, it's a Monster with Dragon-level strength. Genos losing isn't unjust."
Kouki crossed his arms, his tone carrying a certainty of "as expected."
Before his voice fell—
*Bang!*
A tattered cyborg body flew back like a kite with a cut string, crashing heavily at Saitama's feet.
Genos was sparking all over, armor shattered, joints twisted, almost becoming a pile of scrap iron barely maintaining a human shape.
"Hey, Genos, are you okay?"
Saitama squatted down, curiously poking Genos's smoking shoulder armor with his finger.
"I... am fine..." Genos's voice was intermittent. "Sen... Sensei... careful... that guy... is very strong!"
He struggled to stand up, but his damaged body emitted frictional sounds of being overwhelmed, completely losing mobility.
"Saitama," Kouki extended his hand at the right time, making a "please" gesture, with a teasing smile on his face. "It's your turn. If you finish this Dragon-level Monster, the Hero Association should have no problem giving you an S-Class hero position directly."
"Oh?!"
Thinking of S-Class hero, Saitama's trademark dead-fish eyes seemed to be injected with soul, suddenly lighting up!
S-Class = Highest Salary = Unlimited Hot Pot Supply!
This equation was instantly established in his mind.
"Hoo—"
Saitama waved his hand to lift his heavy cloak and strode towards Carnage Kabuto, who was emitting a terrifying aura, with steps devoid of any imposing manner.
"Heh~~"
Carnage Kabuto watched this bald human approach defenselessly, a cruel and bloodthirsty grin spreading across his ugly face.
The next second, his figure disappeared abruptly!
When he reappeared, he was behind Saitama like a ghost, accompanied by a piercing shriek tearing the air.
A gigantic fist, wrapped in destructive power, smashed down with the force of ten thousand jun!
However, Saitama still wore that bored dead-fish-eyed expression.
He just extremely subtly, as if inadvertently... glanced sideways.
Immediately after, Carnage Kabuto's determined punch actually froze stiffly just a hair's breadth from the back of Saitama's head!
The grin on his face solidified instantly, replaced by unspeakable fear penetrating into his marrow.
Bean-sized cold sweat poured down his face like a waterfall, and his huge body couldn't help trembling violently.
As if he had seen something terrifying.
Kouki narrowed his eyes with interest, a smile of seeing through everything curling his lips.
Interesting!
In the entire "One Punch Man" world.
This unlucky Carnage Kabuto in front of him.
Was probably the first guy to truly "see" Saitama's bottomless... terrifying strength that was enough to make any creature tremble instinctively, right?
*Swish—!*
Carnage Kabuto, who was fierce and monstrous a second ago, acted like a frightened rabbit the next.
Ejecting backward at an astonishing speed, he instantly opened a distance of tens of meters.
That hideous face was now clearly etched with... fear?
"What... what's wrong with it?"
Fubuki frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.
This Monster showing such a human-like terrified expression.
It was simply unheard of.
"Heh~~" Kouki crossed his arms, a knowing smile curling his lips. "What else? Scared out of his wits by the aura of the strong emitted from that guy Saitama."
"Is that so?"
Fubuki looked sideways at Kouki in surprise.
To receive such high praise from Kouki, who exactly was this bald guy?
A strong curiosity quietly grew in her heart.
How strong must that man wearing a tacky yellow jumpsuit and sporting a shiny bald head be to make a Monster afraid?
"ROAAAAR—!!!"
Carnage Kabuto, completely swallowed by fear, let out a hysterical roar, as if to dispel the shadow in his heart.
His body underwent a terrifying mutation in an instant!
Muscles swelled madly as if inflated, the shell became deeper and more hideous, and violent killing intent swept out like a substantial hurricane.
Carnage Mode, Activated!
At this moment, he forgot all fear, completely reduced to a slaughter weapon that knew only destruction.
However...
*Bang!* A soft sound, muffled enough to make hearts palpitate.
Facing this ultimate form capable of plunging a city into a sea of blood, Saitama just calmly, even somewhat boredly, threw a punch.
The world went quiet.
The Dragon-level Monster that was insufferably arrogant just now collapsed softly to the ground like a popped balloon, silent forever.
"Alright, wrap it up." Kouki clapped his hands, his gaze sweeping over the pile of mechanical wreckage on the ground that was almost falling apart. "Leave the rest to the Association to clean up. But... Genos, with this appearance of yours, can you still participate in today's assessment?"
He pointed to the damaged parts on Genos that were sizzling with electric sparks.
"Very... sorry."
Genos's voice carried a mechanical hum, his tone full of helplessness.
He tried to move his arm, and the joints made a piercing metal friction sound.
It seemed he could only wait for the doctor's repairs.
A few days later.
A-City Hero Association Headquarters.
Kouki led Saitama, Genos, and Fubuki, familiarly finding the personnel assessment officer Coutes.
"Here, these two, Saitama and Genos, their strength is definitely enough for S-Class."
Kouki introduced concisely.
Saitama's battle record was impeccable: the Demon-level Mosquito Girl, the Dragon-level Carnage Kabuto, were all solved by him alone.
Although he didn't directly save the entire A-City like Kouki did when solving Vaccine Man.
But this record was dazzling enough.
The assessment was just going through the motions.
With the actual achievement of solo killing a Dragon-level Monster, the position of S-Class hero was already a sure thing for Saitama.
You have to know, those few at the tail end of S-Class, let alone solo killing a Dragon-level, even dealing with a Demon-level was tough enough.
If Saitama couldn't be rated as S-Class, then the Hero Association's evaluation standards should be thrown into the trash can.
...