Chapter 212: Monster Association Arc
For a time, a new craze swept across the internet.
Mumen Rider, whose popularity had already been rising at an astonishing rate, climbed to third place on the Hero Popularity Rankings.
Only Terrible Tornado and Amai Mask stood above him.
With Amai Mask quietly fanning the flames from behind the scenes, fans across the country began demanding that the Hero Association promote Mumen Rider to S Class.
The pressure quickly became impossible to ignore.
The Hero Association had no choice but to agree.
After all, Satoru Suzuki had originally qualified for promotion to S Class. The only reason it had not happened before was because Amai Mask had opposed it.
This time, however, Amai Mask raised no objections.
Everything was proceeding according to his plan.
Mumen Rider's fame and social standing had finally reached a level ordinary heroes could never hope to attain.
In Amai Mask's eyes, Satoru had taken several more steps toward becoming the perfect hero he envisioned.
Meanwhile, Tsukuyomi and the Machine God Organization continued plotting in the shadows.
However, both organizations had suffered severe losses among their strongest combatants. For the time being, neither side could afford to act openly.
At the same time, deep beneath City Z's Ghost Town, the morale of the Monster Association had been completely shattered by Sonic.
Even Monster King Orochi was beginning to lose patience.
If this continued, that human would eventually grow beyond anything they could oppose.
Orochi wanted to launch their plan immediately.
Psykos, standing beneath the throne, remained calm.
"Lord Orochi, we can begin the operation within two weeks at the latest."
Her voice carried complete confidence.
"I have already prepared every detail."
Hearing her answer, Orochi finally suppressed his growing impatience.
"Two weeks."
His enormous figure shifted upon the throne.
"No longer than that. Even if we are exposed ahead of schedule, that human must be eliminated completely."
"As you command, Lord Orochi."
Psykos lowered her head.
Then her gaze moved toward the many figures hidden in the darkness of the second level.
As far as she was concerned, everything was ready.
All they needed now was the final signal.
Inside the Ghost Town, the dim evening sun was sinking below the horizon.
On an abandoned street, Sonic calmly returned his sword to its sheath.
Several decapitated Monsters lay behind him, their blood spreading across the cracked pavement.
Sonic ignored them and headed back toward the apartment with an unusually cheerful smile.
"Today, I'll make Saitama suffer again."
He entered Saitama's apartment with the ease of someone returning to his own home.
Seeing Saitama sitting on the tatami and playing a video game, Sonic hurried over and sat beside him.
"Saitama, let's play."
He picked up another controller.
"Same conditions as before. If you defeat me, I'll waive your rent for life and give you enough Special Grade beef to last an entire month."
Saitama had not intended to play with him.
But the offer was too generous to refuse.
He tightened his grip on the controller.
"I've been practising for days."
A rare flame of determination burned in his eyes.
"Bring it on."
The two immediately began a one on one fighting game.
The moment the match started, Saitama laughed confidently.
"You were acting pretty arrogant last time, weren't you? Today, it ends!"
His character began throwing repeated low kicks.
"Hahaha! Behold, the infinite combo I discovered!"
Sonic's lips curved upward.
"Saitama, you're far too naive."
His fingers moved rapidly across the controller.
"I'll show you what true suffering feels like."
A few seconds later, Saitama's character collapsed.
Sonic had crushed him without mercy.
"One more round!"
Saitama stubbornly demanded a rematch.
The next round ended the same way.
Then the next.
And the one after that.
After only a few matches, Saitama was visibly fuming.
Inside the sword, system notifications rang one after another in Asuramaru's mind.
[Ding! Negative emotions detected from Saitama. Gained 50,000 emotion points!]
[Ding! Negative emotions detected from Saitama. Gained 70,000 emotion points!]
[Ding! Negative emotions detected from Saitama. Gained 100,000 emotion points!]
[Ding! Negative emotions detected from Saitama. Gained 150,000 emotion points!]
Asuramaru could hardly believe how easy earning emotion points had become.
But the evening was far from over.
After driving Saitama to the verge of exploding with the game, Sonic immediately joined him for hotpot.
Then he began stealing the beef from Saitama's bowl.
The entire sequence was executed with flawless precision.
After dinner, Sonic turned around and returned to his own apartment.
Sonic gained happiness.
Asuramaru gained emotion points.
Saitama gained...
Nothing worth mentioning.
While those cheerful days continued in the Ghost Town, Satoru Suzuki was still training tirelessly elsewhere.
During this period, he finally mastered the Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist.
He could even perform the Roaring Aura Sky Ripping Fist.
Combined with the enhancement provided by his Breathing Style, his strength had taken another enormous leap.
He had officially reached Dragon level.
Even Asuramaru had not expected his progress to be this fast.
Bang and Bomb were equally speechless.
Bomb sat on the porch, watching Satoru practise in the courtyard.
"The Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin."
He glanced toward Bang.
"Are you really planning to let Satoru participate?"
It was not difficult to understand his concern.
Most contestants in the Martial Arts Tournament were disciples from various schools.
Sending Satoru into the tournament could no longer be called competition.
It was closer to a father beating his children.
Bang considered the question for a moment before replying with a smile.
"Young people should see more of the world."
He stroked his beard.
"Only then will they understand that there is always someone better."
Bomb's lips twitched.
After this tournament, he feared everyone else might be the ones realising there was no one better than Satoru.
In the blink of an eye, the day of the competition arrived.
Satoru Suzuki came alone to the enormous stadium in the centre of City Z.
The twenty second Super Fight Tournament would be held here.
After completing his registration, Satoru entered the waiting area.
At the centre of the arena stood an unshaven announcer wearing sunglasses.
He raised the microphone enthusiastically.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for waiting!"
His voice echoed through the packed stadium.
"All contestants participating in the twenty second Super Fight Tournament, please enter the arena!"
He turned toward the entrance below.
"First, we have an incredibly popular contestant making his tournament debut!"
The announcer raised his voice even further.
"S Class Rank 19 Hero, Mumen Rider!"
"He will be representing the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!"
The instant the introduction ended, a deafening wave of cheers erupted throughout the stadium.
The sound rolled across the arena like thunder.
Even several contestants waiting behind Satoru were openly cheering for him.
Compared to his reception, the introductions that followed received only scattered applause.
Inside the sword, Asuramaru had little interest in the spectacle.
His thoughts were elsewhere.
Would the Monster Association begin its operation now, just as it had in the original story?
If they intended to act, there should already be movement inside the Ghost Town.
With that thought, Asuramaru immediately shifted his attention toward Sonic.
Sonic was still wandering through City Z's Ghost Town, hunting Monsters as usual.
At first glance, nothing appeared unusual.
Then Asuramaru's perception spread outward.
Numerous powerful presences were concealed in the surrounding darkness.
One of them was no weaker than Sonic.
Asuramaru immediately warned him.
"Sonic, watch your surroundings. You're being ambushed."
His voice became serious.
"One of them is definitely no weaker than you."
Sonic's eyes swept across the deserted street.
"Come out."
His voice carried across the ruins.
"So you already noticed us, Speed o' Sound Sonic?"
Figures emerged from every direction, surrounding him in an instant.
One glance at their clothing was enough for Sonic to recognise them.
"The so called Heavenly Ninja Party again?"
His expression turned cold.
"You people really don't know when to quit."
Before anyone could answer, Sonic vanished.
A flash of steel crossed the night.
One of the ninjas' heads flew into the air.
.....
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