Chapter 174: Happy New Year to Everyone!!
The disaster that had brought humanity to the brink of extinction was finally resolved by the Hero Association.
To be more precise, it was settled by the intervention of the Strongest Man on Earth, King, and the recently meteoric "One Punch Man," Saitama.
The Hero Association was not about to let such a monumental opportunity slip by. They immediately deployed their PR department to broadcast the details of the event to every corner of the globe.
In an instant, the Association's prestige reached unprecedented heights, effectively eclipsing the influence of the world government. The social obsession with the "Hero" profession soared to a new level; the public began to worship top-tier heroes far more than any Hollywood celebrity or pop idol.
Under the Association's careful image-crafting, King and the uniquely powerful Saitama became the ultimate national icons.
Driven by public demand and the sheer weight of their contributions, the Hero Association Executives decided to reorganize the S-Class rankings.
King, formerly S-Class Rank 5, was officially promoted to S-Class Rank 1, finally overtaking Blast, who had held the top spot since the Association's inception.
Normally, the high-ranking officials wouldn't have dared to make such a drastic change; at most, they would have moved King to Rank 2, replacing Tatsumaki.
The reason for this leap to the absolute summit was due to a personal endorsement from a very specific individual.
The mysterious powerhouse himself, Blast, had returned from deep space with severe injuries and personally vouched for King. He praised King's "horrific, god-like strength" before the eyes of the world and publicly announced his decision to step down and cede his position to a more worthy successor. This revelation sent shockwaves through the internet.
King's fame became a juggernaut. He completely left the former second-place popularity icon, Sweet Mask, in the dust. His approval rating was now in a league of its own—an uncontested number one.
The world knew: This legendary man had saved the planet. He was the one who stood between humanity and total annihilation. King was great. King was a savior.
Meanwhile, Saitama, the "One Punch Man," was promoted to S-Class Rank 3, taking the spot formerly held by Silver Fang.
As for why he wasn't placed at Rank 2, the Executives had to consider things carefully. While Saitama's achievements were blindingly bright, Tatsumaki (Rank 2) had been the Association's most diligent "model worker" for years and had played a vital role in the recent crisis. In terms of seniority and cumulative service, the Executives felt Saitama should sit comfortably at Rank 3 for the time being.
As Saitama's influence grew, observant citizens noticed a strange trend: the number of bald people on the streets was skyrocketing.
These "new baldies" were predominantly young. While a hairless head used to be the sign of middle-aged male pattern baldness, it was now becoming the trendiest look for teenagers and young adults. They were all imitating Saitama's "style," believing that being bald was cool—and perhaps, if they shaved it all off, they could obtain power like the "One Punch Man."
As time went on, Saitama, who had initially been thrilled by his massive salary hike, began to grow somber.
He went from frequenting the streets to becoming a shut-in. Whenever he had to go out, he had to wear a variety of disguises and high-quality wigs, double-checking they wouldn't blow away in the wind.
But even with such elaborate disguises, he was still frequently recognized. After all, his most iconic features weren't just his shiny head, but his perpetually deadpan eyes and his "minimalist-sketch" face.
Eventually, Saitama gave up on walking. Every time he needed groceries, he would simply launch himself from his doorstep in a massive leap, flying through the sky to avoid the swarms of fanatical fans.
King's Penthouse Suite.
King lay on his massive, plush bed, staring unblinkingly at the translucent blue data panel floating before him.
[Ding! Congratulations Host for successfully defeating GOD, inflicting heavy injuries, and driving Him back to the High-Dimensional Realm.]
[Option 1: Beat the GOD before you until He kneels. Let this self-proclaimed "Higher Being" from a higher dimension witness the true meaning of "there is always a sky beyond the sky." Show Him what a limitless, adaptive Super Stat Monster looks like!]
Status: COMPLETED.
[Ding! Rewards are being distributed!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained System Item: True Warrior's Duel Scroll.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained System Item: Dimensional Warp Gate.]
[Ding! Congratulations Host! You have received a Random Ability Upgrade: [Adaptive Nature] has evolved into [Infinite Evolution].]
What?!
King sat up, his eyes wide. Even that broken ability got an upgrade?
He stared at the notifications, his mind reeling.
I really am a walking cheat code now, aren't I?
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