Chapter 82: The Arrival of Boros.
.....
After touring Bang's modest—if somewhat old—dojo, Bang sat down cross-legged on a cushion.
His expression turned grave.
"There's something you all need to know… The Hero Association's greatest seer, Shibabawa, has passed away."
He paused.
"Her final prophecy was this—'The Earth is about to be destroyed.'"
This wasn't the rambling of some fraud.
Every prediction Shibabawa had ever made had come true—without exception.
Even Tatsumaki had relied on her forecasts in the past to locate high-threat monsters.
"…Wood… if the end of the world is really coming… what do we do?"
Minami Yume asked softly, clutching Kihara's arm.
"Hmph."
Tatsumaki snorted.
"My life with Kihara has only just begun. If anything dares to interfere—monster or otherwise—I'll crush it."
Even as she spoke, she quietly floated into his arms, pressing herself closer.
Despite her bravado.
She was uneasy.
Kihara gently patted both of them.
"Relax. A prophecy is just a possibility—not a fixed future."
Then he turned to Bang.
"What's the Hero Association planning?"
"They've called all S-Class heroes to headquarters. Preparing for a full-scale confrontation."
"How many are already there?"
"Everyone except Blast, Metal Knight, and… us."
Kihara's eyes narrowed slightly.
He remembered.
This was the moment—
The invasion.
The leader of the Dark Matter Thieves.
Boros.
A being easily classified as a God-level threat.
Kihara quickly evaluated the situation.
Boros possessed terrifying regeneration.
Defeating him would require overwhelming force—instant annihilation.
Yes, Kihara had ways to do it.
But the cost…
Too high.
Not worth it.
Besides—
If Saitama handled it, things would resolve cleanly.
And maybe…
He could use this chance to push Saitama into the S-Class.
Replacing Tatsumaki's vacant position.
A perfect outcome.
Decision made, Kihara stood up.
"Let's go. We're heading to the Hero Association."
Bang blinked in surprise.
He had expected a long negotiation.
But Kihara agreed instantly.
"Scarlet Rider truly cares for Earth's safety," he said with visible relief. "I'll arrange transportation immediately."
"No need to rush. I'm bringing Yume along."
"…That may be a bit—"
Bang hesitated.
But remembering Kihara's temperament, he sighed.
"…Understood. I'll inform them."
"Wood… are you sure it's okay for me to go?" Yume asked nervously. "That's a gathering of S-Class heroes…"
"What's there to worry about?" Kihara replied casually. "If I say you can come, you can come. Right, Tatsumaki?"
"Of course," Tatsumaki said flatly. "If they try to stop us, we leave."
"…Alright then," Yume smiled. "Wood, I like you the most."
Ahead of them, Bang could only wipe cold sweat from his brow.
Let's just hope nobody starts a fight…
Hero Association Headquarters
The moment they entered the meeting room.
Over a dozen S-Class heroes turned to look at them.
Some curious.
Some hostile.
The pressure alone would have crushed an ordinary person.
Kihara stepped forward calmly, shielding Yume behind him.
Then—
A suffocating killing intent flooded the room.
It was like stepping into a battlefield of corpses and blood.
Even the S-Class heroes felt it.
Before Bang could speak.
Kihara suddenly raised his hand.
A massive black pistol appeared out of nowhere.
No one saw when it was drawn.
BANG!
The head of a robot exploded instantly.
Metal Knight's remote-controlled unit collapsed.
"Scarlet Rider! What are you doing?!"
"Are you attacking an S-Class hero?!"
Weapons were drawn. Tension spiked.
Kihara didn't even look at them.
His gaze stayed fixed on the ruined machine.
"That was for sending drones to spy on me," he said coldly.
"Try it again… and I'll take your real head."
"…Understood."
A distorted mechanical voice replied.
The damaged robot staggered out of the room.
"Well," someone muttered, "we've lost one S-Class before the meeting even began."
Kihara ignored the comment.
He casually pulled Tatsumaki and Yume to sit down.
Right in the seat belonging to Rank 1, Blast.
He nodded briefly at Genos and Saitama.
Then spoke.
"I don't have time for a long meeting."
"I'll give you the plan."
He pointed directly at Saitama.
"Handle the threat with him."
"…Huh? Me?" Saitama blinked.
At that moment, the child genius Child Emperor leaned forward.
"Wait. What do you mean 'the threat'? And what do you mean 'in a moment'?"
Kihara's tone turned serious.
"An alien warlord is on his way here. He'll arrive in A-City aboard a massive spaceship."
"His goal is simple—find someone strong enough to fight him."
"And if he can't…"
"He'll destroy the Earth."
"That's not exactly convincing," someone scoffed.
Tatsumaki's expression darkened.
"My man doesn't lie."
She looked upward, eyes narrowing.
"…There is something approaching A-City. Fast."
And then—
The building trembled violently.
Outside—
A massive U-shaped spaceship blotted out the sky.
Boros had arrived.
The mere force of its descent.
The shockwaves from its thrusters.
Flattened entire sections of A-City.
Buildings crumbled.
The ground shattered.
In an instant—
The city became a living hell.
....
Thank you for reading.
(T/N: Sorry for the delay update.)