[Fantasy Card: Carnage Kabuto]
Card Type: Character Card (Monster)
Description: An insect-like monster born from countless genetic experiments. Possesses overwhelming power but lacks moral compass entirely. Disaster Level—Dragon.
Effect 1: Gene Enhancement Carnage Kabuto, fused with numerous superior genes, represents the House of Evolution's most powerful genetically modified creation.
Effect 2: Super Shell Biological carapace with extreme defensive capabilities. Can withstand low-yield nuclear detonation.
Effect 3: Extinction Strikes Unleashes supersonic rampage, rapidly slaughtering enemies across a wide area.
Effect 4: Asura Mode Activates transformation, massively enhancing all performance metrics. Consumes sanity completely. Duration: One week.
Carnage Kabuto was a completely irrational killing machine.
But as a training dummy? Not bad at all.
Jordan didn't need the card personally—but it would be perfect for King to practice against.
Saitama, as the world's ultimate powerhouse, needed no assistance. But Dragon-level monsters remained genuinely dangerous for King at his current level.
With Jordan supervising the matches, though? Completely different story.
Evening approached. Jordan, having worked a rare half-day shift, clocked out precisely on time.
He returned to the no-man's land apartment.
Saitama hadn't come home yet.
Could he be out hunting Saturday's special sale deals? Jordan wondered.
Darkness fell. Still no sign of him.
Jordan called.
After much insistence, Saitama had reluctantly purchased a secondhand flip phone—ancient model, could only make calls and send texts. He often didn't carry it because protecting the device during battles seemed too troublesome. But this time it finally proved useful.
"Mmph, ish Jorphan—"
Jordan wanted to ask if Saitama had gotten home yet, but before he could speak, the sound of a mouth stuffed full of food came through clearly.
He was obviously sneaking bites!
"You're eating sukiyaki at King's place?"
Jordan's voice rose indignantly. "You didn't even invite me... That's it! Forget excuses. Save me some food—I'll be right there!"
"Although we usually eat spicy hot pot, the sweet broth tastes pretty good once in a while, doesn't it?"
Jordan materialized via teleportation and immediately snatched a slice of cooked beef chuck from Saitama's chopsticks mid-journey. The tender, slightly sweet meat was perfectly marbled—melted in his mouth instantly.
His eyes lit up with appreciation.
King, wearing a black and white apron, added soup base from a kettle. A gentle smile crossed his scarred features—the expression of a strongman playing host.
"If you like it, eat more. I was thinking of asking Saitama to invite you along, but he mentioned you might be busy with work. Didn't want to bother you." King's smile widened. "Feels like it's been so long since we last met!"
"It really has been ages." Jordan examined King carefully—not just visually, but checking the flow of energy. "You look great. How's the training going? Any problems with the training method? Don't hesitate to tell me if something's off."
The electrical current in King's body flowed smoothly with his bloodstream. The changes in spirit and vitality were visible even to normal perception. His strength had grown substantially.
As expected, Jordan thought. The world's number one luck makes breakthroughs much easier than for ordinary people.
If this accumulation pace continued, perhaps all King needed was a proper trigger—then he could rotate the magnetic field based on electrical current propulsion!
The opportunity might come from dramatic emotional fluctuation. Or pressure from a powerful enemy.
Either way, if you wanted breakthroughs, combat remained the best method.
Once Dr. Genus completed his first research batch, King could test himself against the creations!
The House of Evolution needed test subjects anyway. Win-win situation.
King considered Jordan's question seriously.
"Problems?" He frowned in thought. "Haven't encountered any yet, I think?"
Then, recalling recent monster battles, sudden realization dawned.
"Actually—my strength always increases explosively during combat. I still feel somewhat unaccustomed to the sudden power surges."
"Is that so?" Jordan took another piece of meat casually. "Then we'll do more predictive training. Saitama's here too, so he can serve as free sparring partner."
"Of course," King agreed readily. "I'm happy to spar."
"Ugh, what a pain..."
"It's no trouble at all. After all, Saitama has nothing to do all day anyway."
The two chatted enthusiastically, completely ignoring the third party.
Saitama, feeling thoroughly dismissed, swallowed his hot pot meat and protested loudly:
"Hey, hey, HEY! You're volunteering me for free labor? Even capitalists don't exploit people this shamelessly!"
His voice rose. "And you stole my meat the second you arrived! That's too much!"
Jordan squinted back at Saitama's powerful aura without showing any weakness.
"You're the one who abandoned me and ran off to eat in secret! Who's really being unreasonable here?!"
"Besides, King treated you to food, so what's wrong with training with him a little in return?"
"I never said I didn't want to..." Saitama began, then caught himself. "Wait, that's not the point!"
His earlier protest had been half-hearted.
"I called you this morning, but it kept showing 'out of service area.' That's clearly YOUR problem!"
Jordan paused, thinking back. The House of Evolution used a private network Dr. Genus had installed himself. Ordinary cell phones genuinely had no signal deep in those mountains.
"Oh, so what?" Jordan grinned wickedly. "Hey—this entire pot of meat is mine now!"
"WHAT?! You can't—!"
King watched the two scramble for hot pot with undisguised amusement, as if transported back to the early days training together in Z-City.
Jordan, Saitama... It seems I might finally have a chance of joining battles at your level!
Electricity crackled.
King, as if making an important decision, calmly picked up his bowl and chopsticks.
Violent current surrounded him, illuminating his face with flickering light. His right hand—gripping chopsticks—transformed into a blur, thrusting forward with unwavering speed and precision!
CRACK—
Saitama jerked as tingling electric current struck him. He didn't react much beyond his hair standing completely on end!
Seeing the usually unassuming King actually join the battle, both combatants froze in surprise.
"Ah! King, you actually—"
King, having caught Saitama off guard, lifted his chopsticks triumphantly. A freshly cooked shrimp paste sat captured between them.
"Saitama-san," King declared solemnly. "This shrimp paste is mine."
"Another meat thief!"
"War?" Saitama's eyes gleamed. "Let's FIGHT!"
The sweltering heat and smoky atmosphere instantly filled the apartment to bursting.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Outside M-City, the sounds of battle had continued all morning.
Two fast-moving figures intertwined. One covered in dazzling electrical current effects. The other, though unremarkable in appearance, moved no slower.
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
The King Engine roared.