Though there was no change in his appearance, Jack clearly felt King's aura grow significantly stronger in an instant. It was almost as if he had advanced from a wolf cub—one that could be subdued by a few ordinary people in a one-on-one fight—to a true wolf. While it seemed like a small change, for a shut-in who was once physically inactive and weak, this was a transformative leap.
So—is this the power of 'idealism'? Or rather, 'willpower'?
Though he didn't know what had stimulated King, a substantial increase in his power had indeed occurred.
Can humans also evolve at such a rapid pace, like Monsters? This is truly a bizarre world…
The next moment, his thoughts were interrupted by the soft, jade-like touch in his hand and the seductive hum of the beauty beside him.
"Oh, that feels so good~~ Claude, your technique is truly professional! It's even better than the masseuses at those high-end SPA salons!" Alice let out a satisfied purr, her voice sweet.
"Yes—I feel like my skin has become so smooth and tender after the massage~~ Can we… invite you to our hotel room tonight for another deep massage?" Tifa also blushed and boldly extended the invitation, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Tonight, huh…"
Jack came back to his senses, hesitated for a moment, then righteously declared, "That would be asking me to abandon my brothers—my dearest friends and family! How could I do such a thing?"
Alice blinked her watery eyes and pouted her sexy red lips. "Ah… no? But that gentleman looks very strong. He probably doesn't need you to stay with him all the time, right?"
"No, what I mean is…"
Jack felt the delicate skin glide under his fingertips. The concentrated force deep beneath the surface made the two bikini beauties almost melt. Then, he slowly grinned, revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth.
"You have to pay more."
"Huh~~?"
"You're so bad… I like it so much~~"
Under the scorching sun, King ran silently along J City's long coastline, sweat soaking his hooded sweatshirt and black T-shirt.
On the other side, Jack had already made plans with the two bikini babes—Alice and Tifa—to attend the concert of the popular idol hero Sweet Mask that night.
Just then…
*BOOM—!!! *
A huge hole suddenly exploded in the sea not far away. A massive dark shadow, accompanied by a sky-high column of water, shot out fiercely, crashing onto the beach with an ear-piercing shriek and a strong stench.
"Ah—! What is that? It stinks so bad!!"
"Oh no! It's a Monster!!"
"Wuwuwu… Mommy~~!"
"Everyone, run!!"
The golden beach, once filled with laughter, instantly turned into a living hell. Tourists screamed in terror, scrambling to flee in all directions. However, some ordinary people who were closer and physically weaker collapsed after only a few steps, their eyes rolling back. They were actually directly dizzied by the intense stench emanating from the Monster.
Seeing this, the remaining tourists were scared out of their wits. The scene instantly spiraled out of control.
The column of water slapped against the sand, turning into large streams of foul-smelling white foam that flowed back into the sea. The dark shadow within revealed its true form, standing firmly on the beach with a thud.
This was a humanoid Monster forcefully melded together from countless rotten seaweeds, discarded fishing nets, broken plastics, and the decaying corpses of unknown marine creatures, among other filth. Its massive, nearly five-meter-tall body emitted a suffocating stench. Its deformed limbs swelled with knotted muscles.
Beneath the foul-smelling seaweed that moved without wind was an ugly human face capable of making children stop crying. Two cloudy eyes, made of broken beer bottle bottoms, flickered with tyrannical and brutal light.
"I… am the ultimate Monster who mutated in despair and resentment—because I was too ugly to find work, and could only salvage the endless ocean trash you created day after day, yet could never finish… —"
"Ocean Trash!"
A hoarse, enraged roar tore from its throat.
"You bastards who discriminate against my appearance while enjoying yourselves, and constantly increase my workload—ALL! DESERVE! TO! DIE!!"
The Ocean Garbage Monster's slimy giant hand violently pulled discarded home appliances, foul-smelling fishing nets, broken plastic pipes, and other trash from its body—made of seaweed, rotting flesh, and sludge—and swept them wildly toward the fleeing crowd.
"Watch out!"
"Help me~~!"
"Please help me—ahhh!"
Under the beach umbrella, Alice and Tifa were scared pale. They screamed as they instinctively clutched Jack's arm tightly, their delicate bodies pressed against him, trembling.
"Claude—should we run?"
"I-I-I-I'm so scared!"
Jack glanced at the Monster that had made a powerful entrance not far away and casually said, "It's alright. I'll handle it."
His tone was as calm as if he were discussing the weather. Strangely, upon hearing his steady voice, the panic and fear in the two women's hearts miraculously subsided significantly. It was as if, as long as this man was present, he could hold up the sky if it fell.
It is the instinct of the weak to depend on the strong. And the presence of a truly strong person can, in itself, give immense courage to the weak.
Jack did not deliberately use any ability. Merely a faint word of comfort and a calm gaze dispelled the intense fear of the Monster and death in the two women's hearts.
Not far away, a blue-haired young man wearing sunglasses—a cross pendant around his neck, casual beachwear—who had been reclining under a sun umbrella, slowly stood up. Even from a distance, one could see that he possessed a handsome face capable of making countless women scream in madness. His temperament was extraordinary, nearly on par with Jack on the other side.
"Tsk… how utterly disappointing. I didn't expect to encounter such unclean trash while trying to steal some leisure time for a vacation."
The young man removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of sharp, cold eyes devoid of emotion. His expression was full of arrogance and indifference. His cold gaze swept over Jack and the two women who had not yet left, and the Monster still wreaking havoc on the crowd not far away. He casually tucked his expensive sunglasses into the pocket of his beach shirt and elegantly stretched his neck.
"Are there still citizens watching the show who don't want to leave? It doesn't matter—I'll just deal with it quickly."
His voice dropped, cold and final.
"Monsters—these filthy things… all! Deserve! To! Die!!"
Before his words finished, his figure had already transformed into an extremely fast afterimage, rushing toward the Ocean Garbage Monster like a sharp arrow.
"Look quickly… that's!!"
"Wow! Super Idol Sweet Mask?! How is he here?!"
"It seems Sweet Mask has already become the #1 A-Class hero! So strong!"
"Sweet Mask, I love you!! Please, please eliminate that disgusting thing!"
"This is great! It's Sweet Mask! We're saved!"