The ground still shook from the crash of Tornado's body. Dust and broken pieces of buildings floated in the air like gray snow. The other heroes stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock. They could not believe what they had just seen.
Tornado was one of the strongest heroes in the Hero Association. Her power could lift giant rocks, crush monsters, and even throw buildings like toys. But one punch from this stranger had sent her flying like she weighed nothing. Now she lay somewhere deep inside the ruined city, not moving.
Silver Fang took a step back. His old body was still strong, but fear crept into his heart. "That speed… I could not even see him move," he whispered.
Genos's eyes glowed bright red as his scanners worked hard. "Master Blast was right," he said in a low voice. "This enemy's power level is off the charts. It keeps rising. We need to be careful."
Goku stood in the middle of the cracked ground. His arms were still crossed. His dark clothes moved slightly in the wind. His hair stood up wild, and his eyes looked cold and empty, like a storm that had not yet started to rain. He looked at the heroes as if they were small bugs on the ground.
"You call that an attack?" Goku said. His voice was calm, but it carried far, like thunder rolling across the wasteland. "I have felt mosquito bites stronger than that."
Tornado's voice suddenly came from the ruins. She was standing up slowly, wiping blood from her mouth. Her green hair was messy, and her dress was torn. "You… you bastard!" she shouted. Her eyes burned with anger. "I am not done with you!"
She raised both hands high. The air around her started to twist and spin. Rocks, metal pieces, and even cars from the broken city began to float up. They circled around her like a deadly storm.
"Take this!" Tornado screamed.
With a strong push of her hands, she sent everything flying at Goku at once. Hundreds of sharp objects shot forward like bullets. The ground exploded behind them as they flew.
Goku did not move. He just watched.
The rocks and metal hit him from every side. Loud crashes filled the air. Dust and sparks flew everywhere. For a few seconds, the heroes could not see him.
Genos fired his own attack too. "Incinerate!" he shouted. A powerful beam of fire shot out from his chest and joined Tornado's storm.
Silver Fang jumped high into the air. "Spring Blade!" he yelled. His body spun like a top, and his hands cut through the air with sharp force, sending invisible blades toward Goku.
The attacks hit together. The explosion was so big that the sky lit up for a moment. The ground cracked even more. A huge cloud of smoke covered the spot where Goku stood.
For a short time, the heroes felt hope.
"Did we get him?" a younger hero asked, breathing hard.
But then a laugh came from inside the smoke. It was low at first, then it grew louder and darker.
The smoke cleared slowly.
Goku was still standing in the same place. Not even his clothes were damaged. A few small rocks fell off his shoulders like dust. He brushed his arm once, as if cleaning dirt.
"That tickled," he said.
Tornado's face turned pale. "Impossible… My full power… Genos's beam… even the old man's blades… nothing?"
Goku uncrossed his arms. His fists clenched slowly. Dark energy started to spark around his body again. It looked like black and purple fire dancing in the air. The ground under his feet began to sink deeper.
"Lord Zeno," Goku said quietly, talking to the voice inside him. "These ones are weak too. But maybe if I push them a little, they will show me something fun."
Zeno's voice answered from within Goku's body. It sounded cold and amused. "Do what you want, Goku. Break them. Make them feel the same pain we felt when our world burned. But remember, we are looking for real strength. If they cannot give it, end it quickly."
Goku smiled. It was not a happy smile. It was the smile of someone who had lost too much and now wanted others to lose too.
He disappeared again.
This time, he moved so fast that the air screamed. He appeared right in front of Silver Fang.
The old hero tried to block, but Goku's fist was already there. The punch landed on Silver Fang's chest with a loud crack. The sound was like a tree breaking in half.
Silver Fang's body flew backward. He crashed through three hills before he stopped. When he tried to stand, blood came out of his mouth. His arms shook. "So… strong…" he whispered before falling down.
Genos turned quickly. His arms changed into powerful cannons. "I will not let you hurt anyone else!" he shouted.
He fired again and again. Blast after blast of burning energy flew at Goku.
Goku walked forward through the beams like they were nothing. Each blast hit his body and exploded, but he did not slow down. His eyes stayed locked on Genos.
"You are a machine," Goku said. "But even machines break."
In one quick move, Goku grabbed Genos by the head. He lifted the cyborg high into the air. Genos kicked and tried to fire more blasts, but it was useless.
With a roar, Goku slammed Genos into the ground so hard that a huge hole formed. Dust and rocks shot up like a volcano. When the dust settled, Genos lay broken in the hole. One of his arms was gone. Sparks came out of his body.
"No…" Genos whispered weakly. "Master… I am sorry…"
Goku looked down at him without pity. "Tell your master to come. I am getting bored."
Tornado was the only one still standing. She was breathing hard. Her power was shaking the air around her, but she looked scared now.
"You monster!" she screamed. "I will crush your bones!"
She used all her strength. The entire wasteland started to shake. Giant pieces of earth rose up and formed a huge hand made of rock and metal. The hand was as big as a mountain. It came down toward Goku, ready to smash him flat.
Goku looked up. For the first time, his eyes showed a little interest.
"Not bad," he said.
He raised one hand. His dark energy exploded outward. It met the giant hand in the sky.
BOOOOOOM!
The crash was louder than anything before. The sky flashed with dark light. The giant hand broke into a thousand pieces. Rocks rained down everywhere.
Tornado screamed in pain as the force pushed her back. She fell to her knees, blood running from her nose and ears.
Goku walked toward her slowly. Each step made the ground crack more.
"Child," he said, "your power is like a candle in the wind. It looks bright for a moment, but it dies fast."
Tornado tried to stand. Her legs shook. "You… you don't know who you are messing with. Saitama will come. And when he does, he will punch you into nothing!"
Goku stopped. He tilted his head. "Saitama? The one with power that grows without limit? That is the name I heard."
He smiled again, but this time it was wider and more dangerous.
"Good. I hope he is strong. Because if he is not…" Goku raised his hand. Dark energy gathered in his palm, forming a small black ball that grew bigger and bigger. "Then this world will burn like the last one."
Far from the city, in a small apartment, Saitama was sitting on his couch. He was eating noodles from a cup. His yellow suit was hanging on the wall. He looked bored, as always.
Suddenly, his phone rang many times. Then it stopped. Then it rang again.
He sighed. "Another monster? Can't a guy eat in peace?"
He stood up slowly and walked to the window. From far away, he could see black smoke rising from the central wasteland. The sky looked darker than normal.
"Hmm," Saitama said, scratching his bald head. "Looks serious this time."
He put on his hero suit. It was simple and yellow, with a white cape. He tied the cape slowly.
"Alright," he said in a tired voice. "Let's go see what the noise is about."
Back in the wasteland, the heroes were losing badly.
Tornado was on the ground, barely able to move. Silver Fang was unconscious. Genos was trying to repair himself but could not stand.
Other heroes had arrived too. King was hiding behind a rock, pretending to be brave. Child Emperor was sending small robots, but Goku destroyed them with one wave of his hand.
Goku stood in the middle of all the destruction. His body was covered in dark ki. The air around him felt heavy and hot.
"Lord Zeno," he said, "these ants are not enough. But I can feel something coming. Something different."
Zeno's voice answered inside him. "Yes. I feel it too. A power that is… strange. It does not grow with training. It just… is. Be ready, Goku. This might be what we need."
Goku nodded. He looked up at the sky.
"Come on then," he shouted loudly. His voice echoed across the whole city. "Saitama! If you are the strongest here, show yourself! I came here to fight someone who can push me! Don't make me wait!"
The wind blew stronger. The clouds above started to move.
Far away, a simple figure in a yellow suit was walking toward the wasteland. His steps were slow and calm. He had one hand in his pocket. His face looked like he was going to the store for milk.
The battle had just started, but the real fight was about to begin.
Goku felt it. His blood started to boil with excitement and rage.
"This time," he whispered, "I will not hold back."
The ground cracked even wider under his feet as his power grew. Dark energy shot into the sky like a black pillar of fire.
The heroes who could still see him felt their hearts sink.
The One Punch Man world had never faced anything like this before.
And Saitama was getting closer.
To be continued...