"Sensei?" Blast's gaze sharpened, refocusing on Genos.
A figure so highly praised by this cyborg, believed in even in such a desperate situation...
"Sensei's name is Saitama," Genos said solemnly. "Hades created this [Earth Games] precisely to stimulate Saitama-sensei's potential!"
Blast was deeply shaken, 'The being of immeasurable power had put the entire Earth on the brink of destruction just to 'nurture' an opponent?'
Fubuki muttered to herself, "I suspect that's only part of the reason. Hades-sama might actually want to use this 'game' to thoroughly change some of Earth's repugnant trends..."
"Your teacher, what kind of training is he doing now?" Blast pressed, a faint glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes. "If he needs help, whether resources or technology, I might be able to..."
Genos, however, smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Sensei... has gone to train in space."
"Space?" Blast was taken aback.
"Yes." Genos's eyes were filled with admiration. "Saitama-sensei said he was going to change his daily ten-kilometer run into ten billion kilometers."
"Ten billion kilometers? In space!" Blast gasped, then felt a surge of excitement.
Hearing Genos's description, he felt hope for the previously hopeless future for the first time.
...
Time passed mercilessly amidst growing panic.
Finally, the year was up.
All surviving humans, regardless of location or activity, almost simultaneously turned their eyes to the same place.
The ruins of A-City, that massive arena.
That day, there was no sun. Thick, lead-gray clouds hung low, as if the sky itself couldn't bear the weight.
On the arena, No.17 and No.18 stood side by side.
They still wore their signature black jackets, expressions calm, eyes indifferent, as if the fate of the planet beneath them was none of their concern.
Below the arena, Heroes and monsters, two factions once at odds, now stood eerily together.
Determination was etched on every face.
The challenge began.
Knowing the enemy had infinite energy, they still clung to a sliver of hope, wanting to drain the enemy's stamina for those who would come after.
"For Earth!"
"Even if we die, we'll take a chunk out of them!"
"Drain their energy for the stronger ones to come!"
Cries of sacrifice echoed.
However, reality was brutally disheartening.
Whether strength-type Heroes or monsters with strange abilities, whether coordinated teams or individual charges...
Before No.17 and No.18, the outcome was always the same.
Instant defeat.
They couldn't even make them take a step.
One figure after another charged up, only to be blasted back severely wounded.
The arena showed almost no signs of battle, only the accumulating, despairing absolute disparity.
Hope, like a candle in the wind, quickly dimmed and died with each futile charge.
Before screens worldwide, deathly silence, only muffled sobs and heavy breathing.
'Was it... really going to end like this?'
Just as the suffocating despair was about to peak-
Boom!
A dull roar, seemingly from deep space, tore through the clouds.
A dazzling golden meteor plummeted toward the arena from beyond the atmosphere at unimaginable speed.
Thud!
The meteor struck the arena with precision, landing just a hundred meters from No.17 and No.18.
The impact violently shook the arena, dust billowing.
As the dust slowly settled, a bald man in a yellow bodysuit, white cape, and shining head was revealed.
"Yo!" Saitama looked at No.17 across from him, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I'm not late, am I? It was a long trip, I almost got lost."
No.17 looked at Saitama, a glint of battle spirit in his eyes. "So you went to train in space? Hah, let's begin. Fighting these ants is too boring."
Saitama grinned. "Then... let's begin."
No warm-up, no testing.
Both vanished from their spots simultaneously.
Thud!
In the next instant, a sound like colliding planets exploded at the arena's center.
A visible ring-shaped shockwave spread, distorting even space.
The arena instantly shattered. Canyons spread across the ground like spiderwebs.
At the explosion's epicenter, the two figures separated after a brief clash.
Saitama stood firm. No.17 was sent flying backward like a cannonball, halting mid-air.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely.
Across the world, billions of eyes were glued to their screens.
The invincible No.17 had been sent flying!
After a brief silence—
"Ahhhhhh!"
A deafening, planet-shaking roar of ecstatic joy erupted from every corner of Earth.
"He did it! He really sent No.17 flying!"
"A Hero! He's a true Hero!"
Soon, people recognized the bald man through the Hero Association's public records.
"It's Saitama, the B-Class Rank 7 Hero, [Caped Baldy]!"
"The B-Class Hero they always said was a fraud, a glory-stealer, weak?"
"How can it be him? How can he be this strong?"
Shock, ecstasy, disbelief, and a twinge of guilt and remorse churned in countless hearts.
They remembered the mockery they'd directed at Saitama, that they had been among those who 'failed to cherish Heroes'.
Now, all doubts about Saitama were shattered by that earth-shattering punch.
On the arena, the battle continued.
No.17 shook his numb arm, his eyes burning with serious intent for the first time.
"Good. This is more like it."
He charged at Saitama again.
Their figures blurred again, colliding at high speed on the arena.
Each punch, each kick, caused terrifying tremors that shook the world.
The arena was gone, replaced by an expanding, bottomless crater.
But everyone could see Saitama had the upper hand.
His fists sent No.17 flying back time and again.
His strength seemed limitless.
"A Hero! A Hero!"
Across the globe, regardless of language, race, or culture, countless people wept tears of joy, hoarsely shouting the same word.
They watched the gleaming bald head on the screen, the figure repeatedly repelling the messenger of destruction, their hearts filled with unprecedented admiration.
In the viewing area, Genos watched, his body trembling slightly.
"Sensei, do you see? You've finally been recognized by everyone!"