"This is…"
Everyone stared at the scene on the screen, stunned.
"Did Shibabawa's prophecy come true? Has a monster beyond Dragon-level come to conquer Earth?"
Sitch said in disbelief as he watched what was unfolding.
"Jovian, you knew something, didn't you?"
"That's why you had me get ready ahead of time and catch that attack strong enough to blow A-City apart, right?!"
Tatsumaki bit down hard on the words blow A-City apart.
Yes—nothing else in that sentence mattered.
Only one thing mattered: she was strong enough to casually stop an attack that could wipe A-City off the map. That was the only point that mattered.
"The thing on the street is, at most, Dragon-level. Not that big a problem."
"You handle it."
"As for the big one in the ship—leave that to me."
Jovian didn't even acknowledge Tatsumaki's fishing for praise. He just kept talking like it was decided.
"Huh? And why exactly should I listen to you?"
Before anyone else could speak, Tatsumaki was the first to stand up and challenge him.
"If I go all-out against the guy up there, there's a very real chance I won't be able to guarantee the safety of A-City's civilians."
"The only way to fight while also getting everyone evacuated safely…"
"…is if you do it."
Jovian looked straight at Tatsumaki as he said it—then, with perfect seriousness, his gaze drifted past her… toward Saitama behind her.
"Hmph. If you're putting it like that, then I guess I have no choice."
"Just like you said… I really am the only one who can protect all of A-City…"
Tatsumaki let out a smug, stubborn huff. Her mouth was nasty, but her actions were honest.
"Yeah. Leave it to me."
Behind her, Saitama gave a small nod.
He understood.
That last part had been aimed at him.
"Good."
After getting Saitama's response, Jovian nodded once.
The next second, he became a streak of white light—blasting straight through the Hero Association HQ ceiling and shooting upward toward the colossal warship hanging over A-City.
"He just left?!"
"And what about the praise?! Where's the praise?!"
Tatsumaki's vibe changed instantly. She screamed up at Jovian's disappearing trail like a kid denied a gold star.
"…Wow."
"Are you actually an elementary school kid?"
"I remember when I was in second grade, I was obsessed with getting praised too."
"Just like you."
Saitama stared at her in disbelief, his eyes basically saying: And you still claim you're not an elementary school kid?
"Bald asshole, shut up!"
Tatsumaki didn't even look at him. She floated out through the hole Jovian had made in the ceiling.
"That damn elementary school kid…"
Saitama clenched his fist and hissed through his teeth.
"Great. I feel personally attacked."
Child Emperor—an actual elementary school kid—sat there with a lollipop, the corner of his eye twitching.
What's wrong with being an elementary school kid?! Did elementary school kids steal your lunch money?!
Who didn't start out as an elementary school kid at some point?!
Apologize to every elementary school kid in the country, you bastard!!!
Child Emperor kept his face calm, but internally he was screaming.
"So… what are we supposed to do?"
Aside from Child Emperor's silent rage, everyone else in the room just looked at each other.
"Why are we letting Jovian handle the strongest enemy?!"
"Who the hell is he to order me around?!"
"I'm going up there too! I'm fighting the strongest one—show them my guts!"
Metal Bat, gripping his bat, looked cocky as ever.
"Idiot. You'd just get in the way."
"Why do you people have zero self-awareness?"
Right as Metal Bat started to move, Tatsumaki floated back down through the hole in the ceiling, glaring coldly at the assembled S-Class heroes.
"…So you didn't leave."
Everyone stared at Tatsumaki, thoroughly unimpressed.
"I'm keeping an eye on you idiots."
"I'm not letting some brainless morons run up there just to die."
Arms crossed, Tatsumaki hovered in midair, expression icy.
"Ahem…"
"Let's leave the big one in the sky to Jovian."
"The greatest threat to this planet should be defeated by the planet's strongest hero."
Sitch thought for a moment, then hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
"So we have nothing to do?"
The other S-Class heroes all looked confused. If Jovian and Tatsumaki handled everything, what was the point of forcing an S-Class gathering in the first place?
"There's still an enemy down on the streets, destroying the city."
"That one is for all of you."
Sitch said, voice firm.
"…Fine."
The S-Class heroes could only nod along. A bunch of them really wanted to go up into the warship and see what the "unstoppable enemy" looked like…
But with Tatsumaki blocking the path, they had no choice but to give up.
If they couldn't go to the warship to witness the strongest enemy…
Then the only thing left to do was deal with the enemy "scout" on the ground.
"Run! Wail! Tremble, you stupid natives!"
On the street, the five-headed warrior Melzargard bellowed. He delighted in terrifying Earth's civilians, savoring the sight of weak locals scattering in panic.
"Aaaah!!"
Screams ripped through the crowd, the whole street dissolving into chaos.
"Ha-ha-ha…"
All five of Melzargard's heads laughed wildly. His favorite music in the universe was the sound of enemies crying, and the shrieks of fear.
"So you're the enemy?"
Right as Melzargard cackled, a low voice whispered—
And a single sword strike cut him cleanly in half.
"It's Iaian!"
The terrified civilians shouted the name the moment the figure appeared. Seeing Iaian—one of the very best A-Class heroes—made them feel instantly safer.
As Atomic Samurai's disciple, he was an elite among A-Class, capable of handling weaker Demon-level monsters.
The only reason he couldn't rise to S-Class was simple:
At the very top of A-Class stood a single immovable mountain, blocking everyone's path upward.
"Is that the last enemy?"
Iaian looked down at the Melzargard he'd split in two and asked the crowd.
"We won!!!"
The civilians—who had been moments from breaking—burst into cheers, convinced Iaian had already won.
"Interesting. I didn't expect a planet like this to produce an individual this strong."
"Very interesting."
As Iaian lightly touched his head, soaking in the praise, a cold voice sounded behind him.
"What—?!"
Iaian's face changed instantly. He dodged to the right on instinct.
Slash!
A flash of steel—
And one of Iaian's arms was cut clean off.
"Everyone, run! Evacuate now!"
"The enemy is far stronger than I imagined—there's a good chance it's Dragon-level!"
Iaian clutched the stump of his severed arm. He didn't even have time to scream.
As a hero, he did his job first—shouting for civilians to get to safety.
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