Chapter 67 |
The kidnapping of a high-ranking official from the Hero Association and the general assembly of the Monster Association’s leadership to discuss the details of their next move—all these actions were orchestrated by Psykos with the goal of declaring war on the Hero Association!
Everything was being done with Yeruashi's tacit approval. The materials for Pain’s evolution were already sufficient, but one more condition remained: a grueling, all-out battle. Such a clash was necessary for Pain to reach his absolute limit and shatter his limiter once and for all!
A common skirmish wouldn't even make the current Pain flinch, so a massive and heavy confrontation was required. The stage for this battle had already been set.
"So, the Hero Association will not only be unable to launch a massive artillery strike against us, but we can also freely choose the most advantageous battlefield... an excellent strategy."
Homeless Emperor crossed his arms over his chest and nodded in satisfaction.
The four-eyed Gouketsu, sitting across from Homeless Emperor, leaned back in his chair and asked, "So the next step is the declaration of war? Should I be the one to handle it?!"
"There is no need."
Gyoro-Gyoro, under the direct control of Psykos, spoke calmly: "I have already prepared everything."
"In response to the declaration of war, the Hero Association will act immediately. It is possible they will deploy every S-Class hero they have, but our combat power is in no way inferior to theirs!"
Black Sperm muttered irritably, "We might indeed match the Hero Association in terms of overall combat power, but there are some truly dangerous opponents among those S-Class heroes... I've heard that the combat strength of the Bald God and the God of Thunder reaches Divine-level. Isn't that right? You and that fellow calling himself the Monster King intend to use us as cannon fodder to weaken and exhaust the enemy, don't you?!"
Several monsters began to cast suspicious glances at Gyoro-Gyoro following Black Sperm's words.
But Psykos remained perfectly composed: "The God of Thunder and the Bald God will, naturally, be handled by the Monster King. And... he has no intention of backing down from a challenge..."
As Gyoro-Gyoro spoke, the impenetrable darkness behind him partially dissipated, revealing a colossal eye! Following the eye, the silhouette of a gargantuan figure with ten lashing tails loomed in the shadows!!
With the emergence of this figure, a terrifying pressure rippled through the spacious chamber, and the atmosphere instantly became suffocatingly heavy.
All the gathered Dragon-level monsters, including Black Sperm, Gouketsu, Homeless Emperor, and Fuhrer Ugly, felt a wave of horrific oppression wash over them.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
With every step the ten-tails took, its massive body writhed and shrunk in size until a humanoid figure finally stepped out from behind Gyoro-Gyoro.
"Are you going to... challenge me?"
Pain slowly scanned the gathered monsters with his single eye, his voice completely flat and indifferent.
Black Sperm shuddered and whispered in shock, "You... you are the One-Eyed God. So that's how it is... It turns out you were the Monster King all along. In that case, I have no objections."
"And what about the rest of you?"
Gyoro-Gyoro, still under Psykos's control, addressed the other monsters.
Gouketsu and the other Dragon-level monsters quickly regained their composure and sat back in their seats after feeling the terrifying aura of suppression emanating from the One-Eyed God.
One should not underestimate the cells of the current Pain.
By this point, he had already absorbed the cells of both Orochi and Boros, undergoing a minor evolution that saw him completely surpass Lilith!
Pain's vitality already corresponded to a Divine-level threat!
However.
Even now, Pain had a massive gap in power compared to the main body. He needed to unleash his full potential without reservation and undergo a Great Evolution to facilitate the evolution of the main body itself!
"Let us proceed according to the plan since there are no more objections. The war with the Hero Association will begin in three days. Until then, you must prepare and rest."
Gyoro-Gyoro addressed the assembled monsters.
Gouketsu and the other Dragon-level monsters looked at one another and began to leave the room one by one, realizing there was nothing left to say.
As soon as all the Dragon-level monsters had departed, Gyoro-Gyoro's flesh began to writhe and split down the center. Then, from the resulting opening, Psykos emerged, covered from head to toe in a viscous white liquid.
Psykos nonchalantly wiped the fluid from her face and looked at Pain: "Do you have anything to say regarding my plan?"
"No."
Pain stated calmly: "Just follow your plan."
Using the hostage to spark a war with the Hero Association in the abandoned district of City Z was a strategy that perfectly aligned with Yeruashi's intentions, as a war in such a location would cause minimal damage to humanity.
Although he could simply annihilate all the Dragon-level monsters within the Monster Association and then personally challenge Saitama, such a simple solution seemed far too dull to him.
The final evolution required spectators; otherwise, the transition to the next stage of existence would not be nearly as thrilling or interesting.
*
Hero Association Headquarters.
Saman's kidnapping caused an unprecedented uproar within the Hero Association.
On one hand, Saman ranked fourth in terms of investment size, making him one of the largest and most vital sponsors. On the other hand, the incident had sparked intense fear and panic among the other investors.
Up until this moment, their lives could be described in just two words: safety and luxury.
With private residences inside the Hero Association Headquarters—rightfully considered the safest and most protected place in the world—and travels escorted by A-Class or even S-Class heroes, these people had been confident in their total security. But today, the situation had suddenly been turned upside down!
The other investors didn't care about Saman's life, but the successful kidnapping by monsters meant that the same thing could happen to them!
"How could you allow such a situation to arise?!"
"...Do you really expect to receive new investments after this?!"
The gathered investors shouted angrily at Sitch, spraying saliva and slamming their palms loudly against the table.
"Is there still no information about Saman?"
"Can you guarantee that Saman's life will be preserved?!"
Sitch ground his teeth as he faced the relentless questions from the furious and terrified investors, but he simply didn't know how best to respond.
Just as the atmosphere in the conference hall was reaching its breaking point, a staff member suddenly burst in and exclaimed anxiously, "Attention, please! We have just received a message from the monsters responsible for Saman's kidnapping! It appears this was a pre-planned and calculated move! They sent us a video recording!!"
"A video recording?"
Sitch frowned.
Beads of cold sweat rolled down the staff member's cheeks: "Precisely! We immediately routed the video file to the conference hall. You can begin viewing it right now!"
Sitch looked gravely at all the high-ranking officials of the Hero Association gathered in the hall and quickly tapped the sensor surface of the table several times.
Whir!
After another press, a three-dimensional projection appeared above the table, showing Gyoro-Gyoro sitting on a high stone throne.
Gyoro-Gyoro first looked ahead condescendingly with its single eye, then spoke in a voice that was perfectly calm and indifferent: "I, the leader of the Monster Association, am pleased to greet our friends from the Hero Association. You may call me Gyoro-Gyoro... Let us start with the good news—the hostage is fine... for now."
"The Monster Association has no intention of sparing this sinner's life, for his investments have allowed the Hero Association to thrive and slaughter more and more monsters."
"In three days, at exactly two o'clock, a public execution of this sinner will be held at the Monster Association headquarters, located in the deserted district of City Z... in the name of all the monsters of this world!"
"We would be more than happy if the Hero Association decides to attend this event in person."
"Ah, I almost forgot one more important message... The Monster Association officially declares war on the Hero Association!"
"That is all."
"I wish you a pleasant day."
The projection of Gyoro-Gyoro froze abruptly, then flickered and went dark.
Silence.
The only sounds in the conference hall were the steady breaths of those present.
The expressions on the investors' faces gradually shifted. While they might not have cared about Saman's life, they couldn't afford to sit idly by, for if they did, wouldn't the same fate await them if they were kidnapped?
After a while, Agoni, the lead investor and founder of the Hero Association, rose from his seat at the head of the rectangular table: "Can we really afford to sit back after the Monster Association has openly declared war on us? Furthermore, we are obligated to save our comrade, Mr. Saman!"
"Immediately initiate a general assembly of all heroes B-Class and above!"