"Excuse me... what kind of bird-thing are you?"
Seeing the sudden appearance of No. 18, Saitama felt a surge of instinctive loathing and couldn't help but speak out.
"What did you just say?" No. 18 was already in a foul mood after being crushed in a video game; now, being provoked by a mere ant was the final straw.
"I'm asking where you came from," Saitama's expression became deathly serious.
"Hey, Saitama, this person is probably a challenger arranged by the officials..." Someone noticed the tense atmosphere and tried to step forward to mediate, but was blocked by Suiryu.
Suiryu's face was grave, and he was even breaking out in a cold sweat. He spoke with great difficulty: "This person is terrifying. Don't go near her."
The words of an A-Class hero carried weight; everyone involuntarily took two steps back. "Is she an enemy?"
In the stands, the moment No. 18 appeared, Aomori stood up immediately, his brow furrowed. He didn't know this person's origin, but he had a terrible premonition.
"Hey, did you arrange this?" Tatsumaki flew to Aomori's side and asked, her expression sour.
"No," Aomori shook his head. "But with such intense bloodlust radiating from her, she clearly doesn't come with good intentions."
"Oh, well that's fine. I was getting bored anyway," Tatsumaki said happily. "Leave her to me."
"No, I'm quite interested in an opponent like this myself." Flashy Flash gripped the hilt of his sword, his heart racing with excitement.
"You want to steal my opponent? Go find a corner to cool off in!"
"What did you say?!" Flashy Flash was also a powder keg, ready to blow at the slightest spark.
"You two can go together, but let me ask her about her background first," Aomori said. He floated up and flew toward her.
"Hey, wait for me!" Tatsumaki followed closely, while Flashy Flash's figure vanished simultaneously.
"Will they be alright? Should we go help?" Nichirin asked. "There are thousands of people here; we can't afford a single oversight."
"No need, just let them handle it." Atomic Samurai, a toothpick held between his teeth, smiled and said, "We have to give the youngsters a chance to show off."
Bang and Bomb weren't worried either. In their eyes, Aomori and Tatsumaki were enough to handle any situation.
However, they didn't know that this time, the enemy was also someone completely off the charts.
The audience, who originally thought this was just for show, continued to cheer. The cacophony made No. 18 increasingly irritable until she finally snapped.
"Damn pigs! Do you have any idea how much of an eyesore you are? All of you, just die!"
Massive spheres of fire instantly condensed in her hands. One flew toward the spectator stands, while the other was hurled down at Saitama and the others below.
If those giant fireballs exploded, they would take at least several hundred lives. Fortunately, Aomori and Tatsumaki managed to control them just in time.
Looking at the giant fireballs suspended above their heads, Suiryu and the others gulped and quickly fled to a distance. Only Saitama remained standing still, his eyes fixed on No. 18.
"If only I could fly. I really want to punch her."
After seizing control of the two fireballs with her psychokinesis, Tatsumaki pointed at No. 18 and scolded, "Hey! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
Seeing the fireballs stopped, No. 18 felt extremely displeased. She said coldly, "Burst!"
The fireballs didn't explode as she commanded. Instead, they shrank smaller and smaller until they were the size of ping-pong balls, spinning playfully in Tatsumaki's hand.
"I told you, it's better not to do dangerous things."
Seeing this, No. 18 showed no surprise. Instead, a smile played on her lips. "As expected of someone who can fight alongside Blast. You do have some skill, Tatsumaki."
"Blast?" Tatsumaki's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you? What do you want here? Are you here to seek revenge on Blast?" Aomori asked.
He noticed that at the mention of Blast, the surrounding bloodlust grew even heavier.
"Why should I answer your questions? Do you think the person standing before you is trash like them?" No. 18 said with disdain. "However, if you get on your knees and beg me, I might just give you an answer."
'Where did this brain-dead person come from?' Aomori gave up on trying to communicate. He turned to Tatsumaki and said, "Go ahead. She's yours."
"Hmph, don't order me around!" Tatsumaki extended her small hand, and powerful telekinetic force slammed into No. 18, binding her in place.
"That easy? All that big talk just to be a paper tiger?"
"Hahaha, is this your power? How pathetic."
"Talk big after you've managed to break free, idiot." Tatsumaki also felt that the person in front of her had some mental issues.
"Heh. Then keep your eyes wide open and see the gap between us!"
Under the gaze of Tatsumaki and Aomori, No. 18's entire body lit up with a blinding radiance. A world-ending power appeared out of thin air.
"Tatsumaki, go all out!" Sensing this extraordinary aura, Aomori shouted urgently. His telekinetic and energy reserves poured out, layering over No. 18.
"I know that without you telling me!" Tatsumaki gritted her teeth, her esper powers erupting. Countless layers of shields wrapped around No. 18, while simultaneously pushing her high into the sky.
"Too late! All of you, die!" No. 18 laughed maniacally: "Helium Flash!!!"
BOOM!
Endless light and fire suddenly expanded. The telekinetic and energy shields Aomori applied shattered instantly. Tatsumaki's shields also buckled, holding for only two breaths before being breached. Being the closest, they were the first to be swallowed by the flames.
A brilliant sword light suddenly flared, momentarily outshining even the fire, but it was gone in an instant. Along with its master, it vanished, causing only a tiny ripple.
Watching the wall of fire occupy his entire vision, Saitama's expression turned resolute. His cape billowed behind him as he raised his fist and threw a straight punch. His upright silhouette was soon covered by the fire.
In the stands, Bang and Bomb, acting on years of unspoken chemistry before they even had time to be shocked, unleashed the Fist of Biting Fangs, Killing Dragons Ripping Fist.
Atomic Samurai and Nichirin drew their blades, carving out brilliant arcs of light.
Absol, who had been crouching, stood tall and let out a long howl toward the sky. Massive dark clouds appeared, only to vanish in an instant.
They were among the few who managed to react. Most people saw only a flash of light before losing consciousness.
Waves of fire surged, as if nothing could block their path. Forests and buildings were reduced to ash; the entire Hero's Starting Ground was annihilated.
A massive fireball several kilometers wide replaced the once-lush trees, becoming the most prominent sight between heaven and earth.
"Pijooo!" The Pidgeot flying in the sky let out a mournful cry and dove into the fireball, disappearing without a trace.
…
"Soool!" Absol suddenly woke up with a start. Looking around, it saw the crowds of people and the atmosphere of joy and celebration. It let out a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong, Absol?" Aomori asked. "Is it too noisy? Are you uncomfortable?"
"Sol!" The Pokémon shook its head and used its telepathy to show him the vision it had just seen through Future Sight.
"Because you felt uneasy and had a bad premonition, you used Future Sight? You've done a great service, Absol." After praising it, Aomori began to think about how to deal with that terrifying enemy.
'Who on earth is she? To take everyone down with a single move... could she be Blast's old flame, coming back to take revenge on society after being dumped? Whatever the case, I have to find a way to stop her.'
After thinking for a few seconds, Aomori stood up, walked over to Tatsumaki, and said, "Tatsumaki, I need your help with something. Come with me."
"What is it? If it's playing house with them, find someone else," Tatsumaki replied casually, her left hand propping up her cheek.
"It's something very important, and it's your favorite thing to do. We have vital intel on a troublesome enemy that needs you to handle them."
"Really?" Tatsumaki was instantly awake.
"When do I ever joke?" Aomori's expression was serious, emphasizing that this was no ordinary matter.
"Fine, let's go then." Tatsumaki didn't want to stay in this boring place for a second longer.
Aomori nodded. After instructing Oomoto to handle the affairs of the title matches, he took Tatsumaki and Absol and flew toward the direction No. 18 was expected to arrive.
"Did something happen? Why did Chairman Aomori rush off?" As a man in the spotlight, Aomori's departure was noticed by many.
Oomoto took the microphone at the right moment and said, "Chairman Aomori has a sudden matter to attend to and will be away for a short while; he'll be back soon. Although Chairman Aomori is very charming, he isn't the protagonist today. Please pay more attention to these poor kids!"
"Hahaha!" Oomoto's banter drew a roar of laughter from the audience.
"Alright, the title matches are about to begin. Now, let's welcome the contestants for the first round, competing for Hope!"
"Wooo!" The cheers shook the sky.
…
"Aren't we supposed to be fighting some troublesome enemy? Why did you bring your pet dog?"
During their high-speed flight, Tatsumaki looked at Absol by Aomori's side and complained. Absol remained obediently silent.
"Absol isn't a pet dog; it's my capable assistant." Aomori patted its head and said, "The time should be about right. Come, Absol."
Absol nodded and turned into a streak of light, merging into Aomori's body.
"Absol, Bond Evolution!"
A magatama-like pattern appeared on Aomori's forehead, and a long tail grew behind him. Other than that, there were no other changes.
"Heh, you have a move like that? Merging with a dog? Doesn't that make you a 'dog-man' now?" Tatsumaki teased.
"Your focus is in the wrong place. Also, we'll encounter the enemy in five seconds." Aomori wrapped the somewhat cumbersome tail around his waist.
"Where is the—oh, someone really is coming." Tatsumaki glanced at Aomori in surprise, seemingly not expecting his sensory abilities to be sharper than hers.
This was precisely the effect of Bond Evolution with Absol. Unlike Darkrai's extreme output and control, this form enhanced his sensory capabilities.
Similar to "Advanced Observation Haki," he didn't need to actively use Future Sight to vaguely sense what would happen a few seconds later.
"Watch out, here she comes." Aomori and Tatsumaki stopped in mid-air.
A streak of light whistled from the horizon and stopped in front of them, revealing the figure of No. 18.
"Oh, what a coincidence. This saves me some trouble." No. 18's eyes lit up when she saw Tatsumaki.
"This is the 'troublesome enemy' you mentioned? She looks pretty average," Tatsumaki said, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, looks like I was mistaken. She doesn't seem very strong at all. I'll leave her to you; I'll stay back and provide support, okay?" Aomori said indifferently.
"Hmph, then stay aside and watch carefully."
"Hey, what are you two talking about amongst yourselves? Defeat me? Are you joking?" No. 18 sneered.
"Shut up!" With a flick of her hand, Tatsumaki bound her tightly.
Feeling the pressure on her body, No. 18 smiled disdainfully. "Is this it... wait!"
Her vision was suddenly obscured by a flash of light, followed by a sensation of the world spinning. Her field of vision tumbled wildly.
Having had a similar experience before, she realized instantly that she had been decapitated.
Looking at Aomori, who was covered in lightning, she voiced one last question: "You... why..."
Who goes for the kill the moment they show up?! She hadn't even made a move yet!
"Sorry, I really don't like you," Aomori said, dispersing the lightning blade in his hand.
How do you deal with an enemy who can one-shot you? Just kill them before they can act.
Thus, while No. 18's attention was on Tatsumaki, Aomori used Ittou Shura for the first time in a long while, concentrating all his physical strength and energy to deliver his strongest strike, successfully taking her head in one blow.
Facts proved that when an assassin gets close to a mage, the result is tragic.
Looking at the blood geysering from the wound, Tatsumaki disgustedly gathered it together with her power to keep it from splashing. she glanced at Aomori and said, "Why so violent? Didn't we agree to let me have her?"
"My apologies. Seeing that arrogant look on her face, I just couldn't help myself."
"True, I really wanted to beat her up just now, too." Tatsumaki stretched and said, "Since it's settled so quickly, I guess I have to go back to that torture."
Aomori was about to offer a few words of comfort when alarm bells suddenly rang in his head. In a flash, his eyes saw the future.
He shoved Tatsumaki away with one hand and shouted, "Look out!"
A sphere of light rose from the corpse, rushing toward Tatsumaki with lightning speed, but it missed because Aomori had pushed her away just in time.
"Tch. I was going to take over Tatsumaki's body and see the look on Blast's face when he wants to attack but can't bring himself to do it." Seeing that Tatsumaki had been pushed a significant distance away, the light orb turned and targeted Aomori instead.
"Then you'll do! Since you broke my vessel, give me yours!"
Aomori watched the light orb charging toward him. He had already mastered its trajectory easily. Just as he was confidently about to dodge, a sudden wave of weakness washed over his body, causing him to falter for a split second.
'Damn it, the duration of Ittou Shura just ended.' He saw this moment in the future but was unable to change it. The pursuing light orb plunged into his body.
"Aomori!" Tatsumaki flew back and asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
"Of course I'm okay, my dear Tatsumaki." "Aomori" opened his eyes and gave a wicked smirk.
"You're not Aomori," Tatsumaki said, her face cold. "Get out of his body right now!"
"My, my, seen through so quickly?" "Aomori" spread his hands and said triumphantly, "As expected, a man's body suits me better. And this physical form is quite powerful; I like it! Hahahaha!"
"His name is Aomori, is it? Not a bad name. It belongs to me now too. From now on, call me Aomori!"
————
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