Chapter 348: Chapter 49 – The Third Match
"Huff... Huff... Huff..."
Blood trickled down his forehead, his clothes were tattered, and Atomic Samurai looked battered and worn as he knelt on one knee, his sword still held in the posture of a slash, panting heavily.
But in that moment, his eyes were gleaming with an almost blinding sharpness, and the aura emanating from his body was at its peak—overflowing with vitality, spirit, and resolve.
The heroes looked shocked. Even the monsters frowned in silent tension. Even they, who considered themselves overwhelmingly powerful, had to admit—that slash just now had been too much. Too strong.
How many times did he slash in that instant?
A thousand? More?
The flurry of sword light had been so fine and rapid that it didn’t just cut flesh—it obliterated cells.
The Black Sperms stared intently at Atomic Samurai. "You’re more capable than I expected, old man."
Atomic Samurai leaned on his sword and slowly stood up, swaying slightly. The blood flowing from his forehead blurred his vision, but his presence was like that of a raging tiger.
"Don’t underestimate heroes... especially those who wield swords."
With a swing of his katana, a surge of overwhelming sword intent burst forth from Atomic Samurai, accompanied by a pressure unique to swordsmen—it surged like a tsunami, crashing toward the Black Sperms.
Their expressions darkened. Annoyed.
"With that wrecked body of yours... how many more times can you pull off that move?"
A swarm of Black Sperms lunged toward him.
A flash of the blade.
Another precise, concentrated slash.
After that strike, Atomic Samurai’s face turned completely pale, and cracks appeared on his katana.
The corner of one Black Sperm’s mouth curled into a sneer. "In front of the mighty me, who commands eleven trillion cells, you’re nothing but a joke."
"Die!"
One of the Black Sperms, only reaching up to Atomic Samurai’s knee, darted in front of him and threw a punch.
Startled, Atomic Samurai instinctively swung his sword.
Flash.
The Black Sperm was cleaved in two—but instead of dying, it split and shrank into two smaller versions, which immediately launched a combo: an uppercut to his jaw, and a punch to the gut.
"Guh..."
Atomic Samurai gritted his teeth in agony, eyes tightly shut.
Then another swarm of Black Sperms swarmed in, fists flying.
Atomic Samurai was sent flying, skidding more than ten meters across the ground before stopping at the edge of the arena.
"It’s over."
The small Black Sperms leapt into the air, aiming for a finishing strike.
Covered in blood, Atomic Samurai raised his middle finger toward them and grinned, "Like hell I’m dying to the likes of you bastards."
With that, he twisted his body—and dropped off the edge of the arena.
The Black Sperms’ attacks missed.
Up in the sky, Ron clapped his hands. "Round two—Black Sperm wins. Victory goes to the Monster Side."
Watching Atomic Samurai fall from the arena, the lead Black Sperm’s expression turned grim.
They had won. But it didn’t feel good.
Atomic Samurai was caught mid-air by Superalloy Darkshine.
"Thanks... I’ll leave the rest... to you guys now."
Atomic Samurai looked up at the group of S-Class heroes gathered in front of him, forcing a few words out.
He had fought with everything he had. There was no shame in losing.
But... he did feel a little regret. His matchup against this opponent was just too unfavorable.
Looking at the heavily injured Atomic Samurai, Genos narrowed his eyes. The others were visibly tense with suppressed fury.
Silver Fang Bang, shirtless and covered in bruises, folded his arms behind his back and looked toward the arena. "One win, one loss now."
Superalloy Darkshine turned to the others. "Who’s going up next?"
"I will."
Flashy Flash took a step forward.
"Wait."
Genos cut in coldly. "Why you? I said I’m next."
"What did you just say?"
Flashy Flash shot him a sharp glare.
"I’m ranked higher than you. Naturally, I should go."
"Hah?!"
Genos didn’t back down. "Says who?"
The two glared at each other, neither willing to give way.
"Guys, don’t fight..." said Puri-Puri Prisoner, flustered. He didn’t know who to support—both Flashy Flash and Genos were such perfect boys in his eyes.
Child Emperor, stroking his chin, looked toward the monster side thoughtfully. "The compatibility of abilities is key in these battles. That last match with Atomic Samurai taught us a lesson. We can’t just send anyone out randomly—we should first see what kind of opponent they’re sending next."
Zombie Man nodded. "I agree."
No one else objected.
The swarm of Black Sperms leapt off the arena and returned to the monster side.
Homeless Emperor looked at the others. "Who’s up next?"
The Ugly President raised his hand, but before he could say anything—
A blur shot toward the arena with speed that turned him into a ghostly afterimage.
It was a man dressed like a ninja.
"A human?"
The heroes were startled.
"No... that aura... He’s a monster," Bang said solemnly.
The ninja on the stage pointed toward Flashy Flash. "Judging by that outfit... you’re from Ninja Village too, huh? I’m Wind of Gale, graduate of the 37th Golden Class of Ninja Village."
"Ninja Village?"
Flashy Flash narrowed his eyes. "So you chose to abandon your humanity and become a monster. What a disgrace to our kind."
"What do you know?! Power is everything! Come on, let me show you the strength I’ve obtained—and let a fellow Ninja Village brat be the first to witness it!"
Flashy Flash’s eyes turned icy as he stepped forward past Genos—and vanished in a blink, appearing instantly on the arena.
The arena’s 9x gravity pressed down on his shoulders. He frowned slightly.
"Let’s see how much speed you can muster under this gravity," Wind of Gale sneered, drawing his sword from his waist and charging forward in a ninja sprint.
"Just so you know, with my enhanced body, this gravity means nothing to me."
Mid-run, he disappeared like the wind.
Flashy Flash’s brow twitched.
Wind of Gale reappeared behind him, slashing with a blade that glinted coldly.
Clang!
Without turning his head, Flashy Flash drew his blade and blocked the strike.
"What?!"
Wind of Gale’s face was full of shock.
Flashy Flash glanced at him. "That kind of speed... and you’re proud of it?"
"Pathetic."
He disappeared from sight.
...
From Z-City, Garou arrived on the battlefield. Almost simultaneously, Speed-o’-Sound Sonic arrived as well, along with Sweet Mask in a sports car.
"Oooh... A floating arena in the sky. Now that’s what I call a perfect stage for battle."
Standing on a small hill about a hundred meters from the arena, Garou’s eyes gleamed with excitement like a predator spotting prey. "Now this is worth the trip."
Sonic stood a bit further back, gazing at the two figures flickering on the stage. His eyes narrowed. "Those two... they’re from Ninja Village too, huh?"
"The blond one’s not bad. As for the other... he’s a disgrace."
His gaze slowly lifted toward the silver-haired boy floating above the battlefield, a trace of heat flaring in his eyes.
The face was different now. But it was definitely you!
Sonic gripped the hilt of his sword, a sweet and innocent smile spreading across his handsome face.
"I’m here... to kill you."
A gust of sandy wind blew by.
And Sonic vanished.
Sweet Mask removed his sunglasses and stared at the scene ahead, visibly stunned.
He had known something big had happened—but this... this was beyond imagination.
The place that should’ve been a city had become a massive crater.
Where did the city go?
He looked up.
Rumor was it had been lifted into the sky by someone with psychic powers.
Where was it?
He, of course, had no idea—that the arena floating high above like an upside-down mountain... was made by compressing that very city.