Chapter 172: Tell Me, What Kind of King Are You?
The words fell.
Facing the Deep Sea King's descending fist, Asuramaru released the demonic power within Satoru Suzuki's body and punched back.
The two fists collided.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted with both of them at the center.
For an instant, the pouring rain was blown away, forming a hollow vacuum around them where not a single drop could fall.
Even the Deep Sea King froze.
The ant he had been able to crush whenever he pleased had actually blocked his punch.
What had happened to this human just now?
Before he could think any further, the balance between them shattered.
Asuramaru's strength surged.
The Deep Sea King was blasted several meters backward by a single punch.
His massive body flipped through the air before landing heavily on the waterlogged ground. He immediately looked down at his throbbing right hand.
A fist mark had sunk deep into his flesh, almost exposing bone.
Black mist clung to the wound like a curse, writhing faintly before being swallowed by his regeneration.
"What is this?"
The wound recovered quickly, but the Deep Sea King's expression no longer carried the same casual contempt.
He raised his head and stared at the strange human standing before him.
"You... were you hiding your strength before?"
His bright yellow vertical pupils narrowed.
"How despicable. But fine. At least you're different from the trash that came before."
"Is that so?"
Asuramaru looked down at Satoru Suzuki's shattered right hand, his tone calm.
"Maybe you're just too weak."
Demonic power flowed through the broken bones and torn flesh.
In an instant, Satoru Suzuki's right hand began repairing itself.
At the same time, Asuramaru carefully sensed the condition of the body he was using.
It was bad.
Very bad.
Satoru Suzuki had already taken too much damage. Even with demonic power supporting him, this body could not endure high-intensity combat for long.
But within Asuramaru's Perception, another presence was approaching.
Saitama was almost here.
In that case...
Why not try to cut down this monster before then?
With that thought, Asuramaru spoke in his mind.
"System, use the Platinum Skill Upgrade Card on Sharpness."
The response came at once.
[Ding! Platinum Skill Upgrade Card used on Silver-level ability: Sharpness.]
[Ding! Sharpness has been upgraded to Platinum-level.]
Asuramaru did not know exactly how far the blade's sharpness had risen.
But that was simple enough to test.
There just happened to be a very good target in front of him.
The Deep Sea King lowered his gaze and looked down at Asuramaru with those cold yellow eyes.
"I am the Deep Sea King."
His voice rumbled through the rain.
"The King of the Great Sea."
The storm seemed to answer him. Rain poured harder, running down his towering body like rivers.
"Mother Sea is the origin of all life. As ruler of the ocean, I stand at the peak of this world's food chain."
His lips peeled back, revealing sharp teeth.
"And you think you can resist me?"
Facing that arrogant declaration, Asuramaru acted as if he had heard nothing.
He simply moved the blade behind his waist.
His right hand rested lightly on the hilt.
His body leaned forward.
A posture ready to draw and cut.
Demonization.
Ittō Shura.
Both states activated at the same time.
Light purple markings spread across one side of Satoru Suzuki's body, and a single horn grew from his forehead.
His aura surged to its limit.
Between Asuramaru's heavy breaths, arcs of electricity began to jump.
Focus on one point.
Reach the pinnacle.
Golden lightning roared around his body, wild and violent. The ground beneath his feet cracked apart. His crimson eyes were swallowed by lightning until they shone like burning gold.
Only then did Asuramaru raise his gaze.
"Tell me."
His voice cut through the storm.
"What kind of king are you?"
The Deep Sea King's expression changed.
He sensed the danger in that stance.
This strike was different.
His muscles tensed, his eyes locked onto Asuramaru, and he swung his right fist with all the power in his body.
At the same instant, Asuramaru drew his blade.
"Thunder Breathing."
The sword left its sheath.
"Seventh Form."
Golden lightning burst along the blade, condensing into the shape of a roaring dragon.
"Honoikazuchi no Kami!"
The moment the blade was fully drawn, Asuramaru shot forward.
Lightning tore through the rain.
A golden dragon screamed across the square.
In one breath, the sword passed the Deep Sea King's neck.
The two figures crossed.
Then silence fell.
Everyone at the stadium entrance stared into the rain, waiting for the result.
Satoru Suzuki's clothes, torn apart by the violent acceleration, fluttered in strips against his ruined body.
Beneath the fabric, his flesh began to collapse.
Skin split.
Muscles tore.
Blood poured from the wounds and ran down his body, mixing with the rain beneath his feet.
His helmet and goggles shattered.
Through Satoru Suzuki's round glasses, Asuramaru looked at the bloodstained blade in his hand with eyes that were bleeding at the corners.
Then the edge of his mouth lifted slightly.
The moment the sword returned to its sheath, Asuramaru released his possession.
With control gone, Satoru Suzuki's body lost all strength.
He dropped to his knees, then fell backward into the rain-filled puddles.
Unconscious.
At the shattered entrance of the stadium, the civilians watched in stunned silence.
No one spoke for a long time.
Finally, a young man swallowed hard and broke the silence.
"What... what just happened? I didn't see it clearly."
A woman beside him shook her head, her face pale.
"I didn't see it either."
"Then who won?"
"Mumen Rider is down..."
"Did he lose?"
The question had barely been spoken when a thin line of blood appeared on the Deep Sea King's neck.
The monster still stood in the middle of the square, bathed in the pouring rain.
His yellow pupils trembled.
"I am... the King of the Ocean..."
His voice was full of disbelief.
"How could I..."
He never finished.
His head slid from his neck and fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
Those bright yellow eyes remained wide open.
Unwilling.
Confused.
Unable to accept it.
Until the moment of death, the Deep Sea King still did not understand what had happened.
Not far away, Genos witnessed everything.
Perhaps among everyone present, he was the only one who had truly seen that stunning slash.
"C-Class... Mumen Rider?"
His voice was weak, but his eyes were burning.
"As expected, there are still many hidden powerhouses like Sensei in this world. I must work even harder."
Just as he finished speaking, Saitama finally arrived.
At some point, he had appeared behind Genos. He crouched down and looked at his nearly scrapped disciple.
"Are you okay, Genos?"
Saitama tilted his head.
"Do you need to replace some parts?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Genos turned his head with difficulty.
Sure enough, he saw that bald head and the simple yellow hero suit.
Just seeing Saitama there made him feel strangely at ease.
Even so, Genos still answered seriously.
"I'm fine, Sensei."
Then he shifted his gaze toward Mumen Rider, who lay motionless in the rain.
"Sensei, please check on Mumen Rider first. See how he's doing."
Only then did Saitama notice the figure lying behind the monster's corpse.
At first, he did not recognize him.
Then he saw the torn clothes scattered across the wet ground and finally remembered.
"Oh. It's you."
Saitama quickly walked over.
Looking at the blood-soaked body, he could not help but frown.
Then he noticed the faint rise and fall of Satoru Suzuki's chest.
He let out a small sigh of relief.
"Looks like he's alive."
.....
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