A few days later.
In a massive skyscraper, a multitude of people clad in red uniforms stood gathered, listening to a speech delivered by a cold, buzz-cut man in a business suit.
"I thank you all for gathering on this memorable day. I am the leader of Claw, Toichiro Suzuki."
His voice, devoid of emotion, echoed throughout the vast hall.
"Let me get straight to the point: as of now, we declare war on the entire world. Over these past twenty years, I have amassed sufficient funds and military strength. Revolution begins with destruction. We shall demolish everything built upon human values and make the powerless realize our existence!"
"Yeah!" The crowd beneath him erupted into cheers.
Toichiro Suzuki raised a hand to quiet them. Once the noise subsided, he continued, "The first step to world conquest is subjugating the land beneath our feet. This nation has roughly 600,000 armed personnel. In contrast, we have about 600 combatants. Therefore, each person only needs to deal with 1,000 men. Quite simple, isn't it?"
"Amazing! As expected of the boss, I love this plan!"
"Suddenly it sounds so easy. I guarantee I'll finish the mission!"
"1,000 isn't even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth. I'm taking down 10,000!"
"No way... are they serious?" Amidst the fanatical atmosphere, a few remained clear-headed. These were the five espers Suzuki had recruited from overseas.
Their leader, Joseph, exhaled a cloud of smoke and said, "Following their logic, if we were to fight them, each of us would only need to take out 120 people."
"Backstabbing them? Sounds like fun."
"I don't mind either way, as long as there's a fight."
The five quickly reached a consensus.
After inciting the crowd, Toichiro Suzuki turned to a man wearing glasses behind him. "Hatori, are you ready?"
Nozomu Hatori, an esper with the ability to control various electronic devices.
"No preparation needed." Hatori controlled a drone camera to focus on Toichiro Suzuki, intending to broadcast his image onto every electronic screen so the world could witness his face and hear his declaration of war.
However, after a few moments of operating, sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Something's wrong. The signal here is being jammed. The footage won't transmit!" Hatori said anxiously.
"It seems so. My phone has no service," someone quickly echoed.
"Hmm?" Toichiro Suzuki frowned slightly, a rare sight. This unexpected situation was not part of his calculations.
"Boss! Look outside!" someone suddenly pointed out the window and screamed.
Toichiro Suzuki walked to the window and looked out. He saw a black membrane extending from the ground all the way to the sky, as if it had completely encased the building.
"A specialist esper? Interesting." He wasn't worried in the slightest. Before absolute power, any obstruction was destined to be futile.
"Who did this? Find them immediately!" someone ordered.
"No need. That person isn't hiding their presence." Toichiro Suzuki could feel a massive amount of energy condensing in the sky.
A few impatient red-uniformed goons ran outside. Their eyes widened and their jaws dropped as they witnessed a scene that would haunt them for a lifetime.
High in the sky, a gargantuan palm was slowly taking shape. It was lifelike, with even the palm lines clearly visible. The area covered by the spread palm was larger than the entire footprint of the skyscraper.
"What on earth is that thing?!"
"It's a God! That must be the palm of a God, come to deliver judgment! I knew world conquest would bring divine retribution!"
Witnessing this, even these espers, who considered themselves superior to ordinary humans, felt their courage shatter as despair took hold.
"No, impossible! This has to be a fake, an illusion created by an esper!" Some clung to hope, but it was soon extinguished.
They watched as the giant palm descended with the weight of the heavens, seemingly slow but actually rapid, pressing down upon the top of the skyscraper.
BOOM!
Reinforced concrete shattered upon contact. Nothing could stop the descent of the giant palm.
Floor by floor, the building proved as fragile as a child's sandcastle. In the blink of an eye, it was on the verge of total collapse.
As debris rained down around them, the people below finally realized this was no illusion. They scattered in a crying, screaming panic. Fortunately, the black barrier did not block their path, allowing them to flee.
"I don't want to conquer the world anymore! I want to go home to my mommy!"
Only a lucky few escaped so easily. Most had no idea what was happening; seeing the walls tilt and the ceilings shatter, they assumed it was a massive earthquake. If Toichiro Suzuki hadn't wanted his "tools" to be wiped out in one go and deployed a shield to save his subordinates, they would have all met their end.
"It seems I've met a worthy opponent." Toichiro Suzuki looked up, staring fearlessly at the glowing figure floating in mid-air.
"A spiritual body? Not human?" he asked. "You are strong. Join me and let's conquer the world together."
"Is the world that beautiful? Why are you all so obsessed with 'conquering' her?" Aomori shook his head. "Sorry, I decline. If I have that kind of free time, I'd rather go back and tease Miko."
"Besides, you think you can conquer the world with this trash? It's pure fantasy."
Toichiro Suzuki glanced at the panicked red-uniforms and shook his head. "These are indeed trash. I never expected much from them; it doesn't matter how many die. The only true elite force I acknowledge are five individuals I call the 'Ultimate 5'."
As if in response, five people immediately stepped up behind him.
In addition to the aforementioned Nozomu Hatori, there was "Teleporter" Ryo Shimazaki, "Plant Master" Toshiki Minegishi, "Muscle Expert" Hiroshi Shibata, and the seemingly pathetic but actually strongest of the five, "Social Phobe" Katsuya Serizawa.
They showed no fear toward Aomori, despite him crushing the building in one blow.
"Such staggering energy... it's like a sun has been placed in front of me. It's truly uncomfortable." Ryo Shimazaki, though blind, possessed incredible sensory perception, even allowing him to predict an opponent's movements. Combined with teleportation, he was virtually invincible.
"The sun, eh? Just right for charging my plants," Toshiki Minegishi said. His plants could grow by absorbing the energy of others.
"Leave this guy to us. Boss, there's no need for you to step in," Hiroshi Shibata said, clenching his fists.
"You're the one who jammed the signal, aren't you? How annoying," Nozomu Hatori said, pushing up his glasses.
"For me, it's just too bright," Katsuya Serizawa said, opening his umbrella to block the light radiating from Aomori.
"Fine. I'll leave him to you." Toichiro Suzuki turned his back, looking at the ruined skyscraper and considering where to establish his next base.
The battle behind him had already begun. After a series of thunderous crashes, Toichiro Suzuki saw Hiroshi Shibata fly past him and land at his feet, eyes rolled back, seemingly unconscious.
"Shibata, you've fallen off." He shook his head at Shibata and turned around again, but the scene before him was shocking.
Ryo Shimazaki, the teleporter, was being held by the throat and lifted into the air by Aomori. Toshiki Minegishi and Hatori Nozomu lay on the ground, their status unknown. The strongest, Katsuya Serizawa, was clutching an umbrella that had been reduced to just its ribs, trapped in a state of total withdrawal.
Aomori tossed Shimazaki aside and dusted off his hands. "Sorry. I'm not targeting anyone specifically, but I am saying that except for you, everyone else is trash."
"What formidable strength. Even if those five worked together, it would take me some effort to deal with them." Toichiro Suzuki acknowledged Aomori's power. He asked once more, "Will you really not join me in conquering the world?"
"Sorry, no interest."
"What a pity." A red light began to glow on Toichiro Suzuki's body. He raised his arm toward Aomori, and a red beam shot from his finger, arriving before Aomori in an instant.
BOOM!
The beam was blocked directly by Aomori's shield, serving no purpose other than creating a bit more dust.
"Stop using these probing tactics. Use your real skills and show me the confidence you have in conquering the world," Aomori said.
"Very well. You are the first person capable of making me show my true strength. As you wish."
With those words, a terrifying aura erupted from Toichiro Suzuki. Dense red energy even overflowed from his eyes and mouth, turning his face into a hideous visage.
"Do you know? I possess an esper ability that allows me to store energy. Day after day, I have collected every drop of excess energy for twenty years. This is my true preparation! Out of respect for you, I'll start with 50% of that energy."
Influenced by his own energy, his previously cold demeanor became manic.
"Hahaha!" He conjured a massive energy sphere between his hands and controlled countless small energy orbs to fly out of it, swarming toward Aomori from all directions.
Aomori snapped his fingers. Countless small light orbs appeared as well, colliding with the red orbs one by one. They formed brilliant fireworks blooming in the sky, beautiful to look at, but they were thorny roses carrying the scent of destruction.
Amidst the endless explosions, the surviving red-uniforms fled in every direction, not daring to linger any longer.
Aomori and Suzuki fought from the ground to the sky, chasing one another, hurling energy at each other as if it cost nothing.
"So 50% is this troublesome? You really do have some skill." Feeling his energy depleting rapidly, Aomori hesitated no longer. He formed a hand seal, condensing a small black orb, and flicked it toward Toichiro Suzuki.
"Chibaku Tensei!"
The small black orb suddenly expanded into a massive black sphere, catching Toichiro Suzuki off guard and pulling him in. Then, a titanic suction force pulled up the skyscraper ruins, merging them into a gargantuan sphere of rock that trapped him inside.
In the center of the sphere, enduring unimaginable pressure, Toichiro Suzuki released his energy once more.
"Energy Output… 80%!!!"
Even Chibaku Tensei could not contain his eruption. The concrete sphere was instantly blown open. With veins bulging on his face like a demon, Toichiro Suzuki charged out, kicked through Aomori's shield, and sent him crashing to the ground.
BOOM!
The ground shattered. Aomori was kicked directly into a hole over 100 meters deep.
"That hurts. It's been a long time since I've been injured. How nostalgic." Aomori wiped the blood from his lip and whispered, "It looks like I'll have to borrow your power, Darkrai."
"I've been ready." Darkrai appeared beside him and turned into a shadow, entering Aomori's body.
Thump-thump, thump-thump. Two heartbeats synchronized.
"Darkrai, Bond Evolution!"
Dense darkness erupted from the hole, blasting Toichiro Suzuki away just as he was about to enter. A cloud of black mist reconsolidated into Aomori's form in the sky, but his appearance was vastly different. His white trench coat had become black armor, his fox mask was replaced by one in the shape of a bat, and a long cloak trailed behind him.
After so much growth and his understanding of dark energy, Aomori could now fully accept the darkness in Darkrai's heart without his consciousness being affected in the slightest.
"This feeling of power... it's truly intoxicating." Aomori clenched his fists as black energy surged over him.
Facing the aggressively charging Toichiro Suzuki, Aomori twisted his waist and threw a punch. A violent hurricane formed instantly; the mere wind from the punch blew Suzuki away until he slammed into the barrier.
A dazed Suzuki hadn't even grasped the situation before he was grabbed by the throat and lifted up by the suddenly appearing Aomori.
"Now I understand why villains like doing this. It really does feel quite good."
Toichiro Suzuki struggled desperately, using his hands and feet, each strike accompanied by a massive explosion of energy, yet none of it could affect Aomori.
"You still have energy left, don't you? I'll give you a chance. Come on." Aomori slowly increased the pressure of his grip.
"Damn you! Die, die, die, die! Energy Output, 100%!!!" Toichiro Suzuki finally released all the power he had accumulated over twenty years.
The overwhelming energy shoved Aomori's hand away. Suzuki's clothes were shredded. He resembled a beast, crouching on all fours, with a head that burned with fire like a demon.
"Now this is getting interesting." Aomori revealed an excited smile.
Both abandoned their previous energy clashes and turned to trading raw punches. Every collision brought tremors that shook heaven and earth. The site of the skyscraper was completely leveled; every piece of debris was ground into fine dust.
Ultimately, Toichiro Suzuki could not withstand the energy within his own body. Cracks appeared on his skin, and he became a giant bomb ready to detonate at any moment.
"Did I give you permission to explode?" Aomori was prepared. He grabbed Suzuki's head, and dark energy surged, wrapping around him layer by layer. He forcibly suppressed and sealed the out-of-control energy.
After successfully sealing Toichiro Suzuki, Aomori could no longer maintain the Bond Evolution form and separated from Darkrai.
Checking the system message for the points gained, he nodded with satisfaction, retracted the barrier, and left.
…
After resting at the shrine for a day, Aomori had mostly recovered.
"Then let's not waste any more time. Let's finish the final task."
He looked up at the sky and vanished instantly. Absol and the others vanished along with him.
That night, stars fell like rain.
…
Post-Dungeon Stat Panel:
Player Name: Aomori (Omohara Aomori)
Home World: One Punch Man
Level: 27
Titles:
- A Small-Time Novice (Equipped): All stats +1.
- Ultimate Hottie: Charisma +5.
- Demon Scourge: Damage dealt to man-eating evil lifeforms increased by 5%.
- Hero Association Founder: Increases the combat power of professional heroes on the field by 5%.
- Heavenly Cursed Spirit: Can transform into a Heavenly Cursed Spirit for one minute per day; immune to pure physical damage.
Attributes: Physique 51, Energy 53, Spirit 52 (Remaining Stat Points: 0)
Points: 153,089
Talents:
- Primal Body (Can adapt to any energy system)
- Energy Manipulation (lv6) (Can effectively master own energy and convert it into other variants)
- Lightning Affinity (lv6) (Greatly increases efficiency of lightning energy conversion)
- Light Affinity (lv7) (Greatly increases efficiency of light energy conversion)
- Body Control (lv4) (Can effectively control own body; grants a certain level of regenerative ability)
- Dark Affinity (lv7) (Slightly increases efficiency of dark energy conversion)
Lifestyle Skills:
- Singing (lv7), Dancing (lv7), Cooking (lv6), Mechanical Mastery (lv7), Acting (lv8)
Combat Skills:
- Healing Spell (lv6), Three-Stage Breathing Style (Lightning) (lv7), Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist (lv5), Knight of Owner (lv4), Meditation (lv4), Ah Wei's 18 Forms (lv4), Ittou Shura (lv4), Mind's Eye (lv7), Swordsmanship (lv5), Three-Stage Breathing Style (Light) (lv7), 100% Princess Carry (lv3), Exploding Heart Release Fist (lv6), Psychokinesis (lv7), Reflect (lv5), Hypnosis (lv6), Thunder-Light Duality Fist (lv2), Hado #63: Raikoho (lv3), Iron Body (lv2), Barrier Techniques (lv3), Domain (lv3), Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki (lv1), Skysplitter (lv2), Dodon Ray (lv2), Chibaku Tensei (lv2).
System Inventory:
- Heavy Training Gi Set (Blue), Polymerization (Blue), 13 Totem Pole (Blue), Zero Score Test Paper (White), Stun-Gun Watch (White), Sanae's Homemade Bread (White), Make-Out Paradise (White), Novel Recommendation Vote (White), Pokébals (White) * 5, Potion (White), PP Up, Skateboard Shoes (White), Tattered Tracksuit (White), Laptop (Blue), Computer Parts (White), Ryuko (Blue), Violet-Gold Knight Set (Blue), Motorcycle (White), Explosive Tag (Blue), A Toothpick (White), Diary (White), Ballpoint Pen (White), Silverback Alpha (Blue), Portable Camcorder (White), Boruto Manga Volume (White), Bluetooth Headphones (White), Fine Snow (Blue), Cat Food (White), Pocket Watch (White), A Cup of Hot Water (White), Soap (White), Thunder Orb (Purple), Vision Ward (Blue), Goblin Rocket Boots (Blue), Strengthening Frog (Purple), Toyako (Blue).
[Pet Slot 1:]
Species: Absol
Individual Name: Absol
Level: 47
Type: Dark
Stats: Physique 33, Energy 43, Spirit 41
Friendship: lv10 (Friendship Skills: Telepathy, Bond Evolution)
Ability: Justified
Skills: Leer (lv3), Tackle (lv4), Quick Attack (lv6), Taunt (lv3), Razor Wind (lv6), Thunderbolt (lv5), Bite (lv2), Swords Dance (lv2), Reflect (lv6), Rain Dance (lv4), Sunny Day (lv4), Protect (lv3), Future Sight (lv3).
[Pet Slot 2:]
[Species: Pidgeot]
[Individual Name: Pidgeot]
[Level: 49]
[Type: Normal/Flying]
[Stats: Physique 53, Energy 43, Spirit 33]
[Friendship: lv9 (Friendship Skills: Telepathy)]
[Ability: Keen Eye]
[Skills: Gust (lv5), Tackle (lv4), Sand Attack (lv3), Quick Attack (lv5), Gust (lv6), Whirlwind (lv5), Wing Attack (lv5), Feather Dance (lv2), Steel Wing (lv4), Sky Attack (lv4), Substitute (lv4), Agility (lv7).]
[Pet Slot 3:]
[Species: Darkrai]
[Individual Name: Darkrai]
[Level: 46]
[Type: Dark]
[Stats: Physique 45, Energy 62, Spirit 66]
[Friendship: lv10 (Friendship Skills: Telepathy, Bond Evolution)]
[Ability: Bad Dreams]
[Skills: Ominous Wind (lv2), Night Shade (lv3), Disable (lv6), Quick Attack (lv2), Hypnosis (lv6), Double Team (lv7), Shadow Ball (lv7), Shadow Claw (lv3), Reflect (lv3), Hyper Beam (lv2), Substitute (lv2), Psychic (lv4), Dream Eater (lv5), Teleport (lv5), Meditation (lv4), Rest (lv3), Dark Void (lv4).]
[Pet Slot 4:]
[Species: Ditto]
[Individual Name: Ditto]
[Level: 45]
[Type: Normal]
[Stats: Physique 32, Energy 29, Spirit 33]
[Friendship: lv9]
[Ability: Imposter]
[Skills: Transform (lv9)]