Chapter 176: Another Rematch?
Everything was now in place. The two items specialized for taking down GOD were in his inventory, and he had secured a skill that defied the very laws of reality.
But even so, King did not intend to set out immediately to find the deity.
During their previous clash, King had planted a soul mark on GOD. Even now, he could feel a faint, ethereal connection to the entity's location.
With the newly acquired [Dimensional Warp Gate], he could use that connection to lock onto GOD's coordinates regardless of the distance or dimension. There was no rush to hunt Him down.
Since being ruthlessly suppressed after his arrogant entry into the altar last time, King had become significantly more cautious.
Until he was 100% certain that he could effortlessly crush the opponent, King would not make his move.
Now then... it's time to grind those stats even higher.
Even though his base attributes had reached a staggering 200,000 across the board, King felt it wasn't enough. GOD was a high-dimensional being, an invader of worlds, and the higher dimensions were His home turf.
King decided that until his numbers reached a level where no one could ever hope to challenge him, he wouldn't pull the trigger on the final operation.
"What?"
In his somewhat messy apartment, Saitama's hand moved with practiced precision, swishing a slice of Premium Wagyu Beef through the boiling broth.
The beef had changed color, turning from a raw pink to a tender light brown, releasing a mouth-watering aroma and wisps of steam.
Saitama looked at his prize with satisfaction. He had timed it perfectly—seven seconds in the boiling soup to ensure it was at its most tender and succulent state. This was absolute perfection!
Saitama inhaled the beef and let out a moan of pure bliss. After savoring the flavor for a moment, he turned back to King.
"Are you serious, King? If I beat you, you'll cover my grocery bills for a whole year? And I can buy any game on the market, and you'll foot the bill for everything?!"
Just minutes ago, Saitama had been preparing a solo hotpot feast to celebrate his massive salary raise.
But the moment the meat hit the water, King had appeared out of nowhere like a ghost. His "indulgent solo meal" had instantly become a shared dinner.
Saitama had originally felt a tiny bit of sorrow about sharing his beef, but upon hearing King's proposal, his depression vanished instantly.
Facing Saitama's excited interrogation, King nodded with a smile. His majestic, domineering face softened with a hint of amusement.
"Of course. If you can defeat me, everything you just said becomes a reality. As long as money can solve it, I'll handle it for you.
"But there's one condition, Saitama. First... you have to actually beat me."
"SAY NO MORE!"
Saitama devoured the rest of the beef like a whirlwind and stood up, his voice booming with motivation.
To be able to experience the joy of battle with his best friend and get a massive windfall of gifts? This was a double win!
I win twice!
Seeing Saitama agree so quickly, King looked completely unruffled. He had never doubted the outcome of this negotiation.
A person like the Bald Demon—who craved the thrill of combat and lived a relatively frugal life—could never refuse a deal that offered both spiritual and material satisfaction.
Saitama stripped off his loungewear and flashed into his iconic mustard-yellow hero suit. His white cape snapped as it caught the air, and his shiny bald head caught the light like a polished jewel.
"So! Are we heading to the outskirts right now? I'm telling you, King, I'm definitely winning this bet!"
King shook his head, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"No, no, no. We aren't fighting on Earth. Our power levels are too high now; Earth wouldn't survive being our playground.
"I've invited a special guest today. He can take us to a suitable battlefield and act as our referee."
In the next second, a silver light flashed beside King. A middle-aged man in a white battle suit, sporting a bit of stubble and a weary but friendly grin, appeared.
"Hello there. I've heard much about you. The legendary and mysterious 'One Punch Man.' It's an honor to meet you in person!"
"Who are you?"
Saitama looked confused. Is this middle-aged chuunibyou uncle the 'referee'?
Blast froze for a second. He hadn't expected "One Punch Man" to have no idea who he was.
That's not right!
According to Blast's memory, he had just given a televised speech to the entire world, specifically mentioning both King and One Punch Man.
And yet, the One Punch Man himself didn't recognize him?
But Blast was a veteran who had seen it all. He quickly recovered and extended a hand with a confident smile.
"Let's get acquainted then, Mr. Saitama. My name is Blast. I was the former S-Class Rank 1, though your friend Mr. King has taken that spot now."
"Oh. Okay."
The three of them chatted casually for a bit. Finally, Blast rolled his shoulders, his expression turning solemn and focused.
"Gentlemen, I am going to teleport you to a location roughly one light-year away from Earth. It's a massive asteroid belt filled with planetary debris.
"The rest is up to you. I will act as referee from a nearby moon. Let's go!"
Blast let out a sharp cry. Dazzling silver light erupted from his body as spatial fluctuations rapidly expanded, enveloping the three of them in a blinding shroud.
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