Chapter 170: I Have Learned Much!!
Looking at Tatsumaki, whose face was flushed with a mix of embarrassment and explosive fury, King felt a wave of helplessness.
One look was all it took to know that the little girl's mind had gone in a completely wrong direction.
While Tatsumaki certainly had her charms, and her petite stature could easily trigger a protective instinct in some, King had zero interest in children.
He waved his hand dismissively. His face showed no irritation or anger at being misunderstood; he maintained his domineering, majestic composure, and his voice remained steady:
"Tatsumaki, I meant no offense. I was simply healing your injuries. That is all."
Hearing King's explanation, Tatsumaki's emotions began to settle. Only now did she realize that despite the horrific wounds she had sustained earlier, she now felt full of energy and didn't feel a shred of pain.
This King guy... he even has the power to heal others...?
Tatsumaki realized she had indeed jumped to conclusions. She lowered her head in embarrassment, but her tsundere nature made it nearly impossible for her to simply admit she was wrong.
However, facing King's calm, bottomless gaze, she finally crossed her arms awkwardly and muttered in a tiny whisper:
"I'm sorry..."
Seeing her like this, King felt a sudden urge to tease the "brat." He cupped his ear and tilted his head:
"What was that, Tatsumaki? You're talking too quietly. I can't hear you."
Tatsumaki knew exactly what he was doing. She glanced around to ensure no one but Zombieman was listening, took a deep breath, and raised her voice slightly:
"I said I'm sorry!"
"Still can't hear you."
"UGHH! I SAID I'M SORRY!!"
Seeing Tatsumaki shouting her apology with a face as red as a tomato, King nodded in satisfaction.
Nice. Teasing kids is actually pretty good for stress relief.
Now, it was time to wake the others.
Over the next few minutes, King moved down the line, healing the heavily injured S-Class heroes one by one as they drifted back to consciousness.
When Superalloy Darkshine woke up, he stared silently at his mangled, torn muscles. The oily black sheen of his skin actually seemed to fade.
Seeing King beside him, Darkshine hesitated several times, but ultimately didn't dare to speak.
My muscles are broken... I've lost my pride. What right do I have to even speak to Mr. King now?
Before this, Darkshine had frequently boasted of being one of the "Association's Big Three" you must never provoke. All of that confidence was anchored entirely in his "perfect" muscles.
Now that his defense had been breached, his unparalleled self-esteem seemed to wither away.
Suddenly, Darkshine felt the light in front of him being blocked.
Ah... even my future has turned dark now that I've lost my muscles...
He subconsciously looked up, but he didn't see a dark future. He saw a tall, golden-haired man looking down at him.
"Mr. King? You..."
"You are lost in doubt."
King's words cut Darkshine off. Those four precise words were like a blade, piercing through the giant's fragile, crumbling psyche.
He lowered his head deeply, his expression desolate. As one of the heroes who genuinely admired King, he didn't want to hide his shame:
"Yes, Mr. King... I admit it. I'm lost. My proud muscles were torn apart like paper. The enemy was so much stronger than me... can I really trust my muscles anymore?"
Earlier, his confidence was absolute because he believed his muscles could tank anything. Now that they had reached their breaking point, his mind had followed suit.
Facing Darkshine's confession, King simply shook his head. He placed a hand on the hero's mountain-like trapezius muscle and spoke with absolute gravity:
"You are wrong about one thing. Your muscles are far from useless."
Then, King began a session of "Guided Enlightenment."
King: "Think for a moment. Who was the mastermind behind this crisis?"
Darkshine: "Uh... the mastermind? It was that 'GOD' person you held back."
King: "Correct. And tell me, has that God been driven out by me? Did we kick Him off the Earth? Are we the victors, or not?"
Darkshine: "Yes... we achieved the final victory. The invading God was driven away. But..."
King: "Then there you have it. Humanity won. We defeated a God. And since you are a human, you also achieved victory in this battle. Meanwhile, GOD is the loser."
Darkshine froze. He began to grasp the "King Logic" being woven for him. A spark of life returned to his eyes.
"You mean...?"
King nodded. Looking at Darkshine's expression, he knew the "Stat Monster" was taking the bait.
"Exactly. You are the winner. GOD is the loser. Therefore: Superalloy Darkshine > GOD."
As those words left King's mouth, Darkshine's muscles seemed to regain their oily luster instantly. His aura surged, and the desolate pain on his face vanished, replaced by an expression of pure, "Dark-shining" ecstasy.
"So that's how it is! Mr. King... I HAVE LEARNED MUCH!!"
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