The first thing Jordan did after regaining consciousness was dispel the protective force field.
Immediately, a blurry figure crashed through the railing with a bang and swept past his eyes.
Deep blue light caught Saitama mid-air. The unusually heavy sensation in the telekinetic feedback surprised Jordan.
It didn't feel like grabbing a 1.75-meter adult male. More like a solid lead ball shaped like a human.
Saitama's biomagnetic field was spontaneously resisting Jordan's psychic power.
Considering his current condition, Jordan couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
You little bastard. You're not even human anymore.
Jordan pulled the curiously flailing Saitama back to the balcony with a casual wave. The broken, curled metal fence seemed to come alive—twisting, flowing, reconnecting.
At the microscopic level, invisible to the naked eye, under magnetic field influence, the particles comprising matter were manipulated by electromagnetic force. They recombined, restoring themselves completely to their pre-damaged state. The scene appeared to rewind time itself.
Because of Jordan's psychic status, Saitama and the others weren't surprised to see him casually repair the railing. In fact, they thought it only natural.
Only Jordan knew the difference.
Before his breakthrough, he could only forcibly magnetize and fuse metals or generate heat through electric friction to remelt them.
Now he manipulated particle structure and altered matter's state as easily as breathing.
With further development, many previously unrealizable ideas could become reality.
This power already possessed hints of Magneto's Omega-level mutant ability.
Bang didn't understand psychic powers, but he raised an eyebrow, keenly noticing Jordan looked slightly different from before.
In the martial artist's intuition, Jordan's aura was no longer the ethereal unity of heaven and man. Like King, he seemed just an ordinary person.
The old man's eyes widened slightly. Lightning flashed through his mind.
He glanced at King, then at Jordan.
Suddenly, understanding dawned.
His expression grew complicated. "Jordan-san, your aura... seems to have become stronger again?"
"Eh, Bang-san noticed? I was bored, so I casually broke through another barrier."
Am I really getting old?
I understand the world of young people less and less.
The next day, just after dawn.
Saitama rose early as usual to prepare for morning training. He habitually changed into workout clothes and went to the guest room, ready to wake King for their daily suffering session.
"King, wake up! The sun's already high in the sky!"
Silence.
Saitama called again.
"King, King, it's time for training! Hiding won't help!"
Can someone sleep that soundly?
We weren't out late yesterday!
Puzzled, Saitama raised his hand to knock.
Before his fingers could touch wood, the half-closed door creaked open. Saitama peeked into the darkened room where bedding was neatly folded.
Empty.
He actually got up earlier than me. Did King run away because he couldn't take it anymore?
Lightning streaked across the sky and touched down on a barren hill.
King, who'd been transported by Jordan, suddenly felt weakness in his legs. He clenched his fists, supporting himself on the ground, kneeling on one knee.
Baseball cap and downturned head completely obscured his face in shadow.
THUMP-THUMP-THUMP! THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!
Thump-thump-thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump-thump...
His innate intimidating aura was amplified instantly by the King Engine's intense rhythm. At first glance, his posture resembled Superman charging up for takeoff.
"How was the experience, King?"
Hearing Jordan's voice, King wiped away tears that had been smeared across his face by high-altitude winds. His body trembled as if electrocuted.
The next second, crackling electrical current emerged across his body. Miraculously, it didn't burn his clothes—flowing away and disappearing into his body.
I was pulled out of bed early this morning by Jordan, who said he had something good to show me.
And this is how it turned out.
"Humans can generate bioelectricity by using willpower to make body cells vibrate at high speeds. I call this method 'Electric Current Propulsion!'"
"Not only can Electric Current Propulsion stimulate cells for greater strength, but it enhances the sensory system, granting advantages of various animals. You can force electricity out for attack, defense, flight, and more. Most importantly—it's a power anyone can train!"
"By pushing electric current to its ultimate limit, you can master magnetic field control like I do. That state is called Magnetic Field Rotation. Once achieved, you can freely control electrons, metals, and machines. You're practically omnipotent. You can even simulate the power of any game character you're skilled with!"
Jordan's devilish whispers echoed in his ears. King admitted he'd been bewitched for a moment.
In reality, even with telekinetic protection, King's eyes had rolled back and he'd nearly gone into shock the instant bio-electric current simulated by Jordan entered his body.
No way around it. His physical condition ranked among the worst of ordinary adults.
Being able to survive in this dangerous world was also his greatest misfortune.
Because King had always existed at the bottom of the food chain, any disaster could frighten him until his heart pounded and his courage fled.
Upon waking, he'd been overwhelmed by burning, stinging, numbing pain. Almost shouted that he was giving up.
But the next moment, he met Jordan's indifferent gaze. Sweat covered his forehead.
The image of his most desperate moment flashed before his eyes: that tall, ragged figure standing in front of him.
Even someone as timid as me doesn't possess power to control my own destiny like Saitama and Jordan.
At that moment, King wavered.
He used almost all the courage accumulated in his life, gritted his teeth, and endured the electric shock.
The current seemed to hear his thoughts, flowing and spreading deep into his cells. The next moment, his previously withered muscles bulged slightly. King's eyes widened, feeling unprecedented power contained in his clenched fist.
I've been enhanced!
"I... am still okay."
Hearing King's answer, Jordan patted his shoulder approvingly.
The electric current flowing through King's body and the psychic power protecting him were withdrawn one after another. King was like a laptop with a damaged battery suddenly unplugged. His straight back involuntarily bent.
His body felt much lighter, but that sense of power and control was fleeting—disappearing without a trace.
At that moment, King felt overwhelming loss.