First the head…
Then the neck, the chest, the waist and abdomen…
Even that violent energy inside him that was about to explode…
Was forcibly neutralized, decomposed, and evaporated by this higher-dimensional photon energy!
There was no earth-shattering self-detonation.
There was no mushroom cloud.
There was only a golden pillar of light connecting heaven and earth, like a Divine Needle of the Sea, firmly pinned into the ground.
A few seconds later…
The light faded.
A bottomless hole appeared on the battlefield.
It had been burned out by the light through sheer force.
The walls of the hole were as smooth as mirrors, and had even crystallized, turning into shimmering glass.
And that insufferable Dragon-level Monster Vaccine Man, who had been clamoring to destroy humanity…
Had completely vanished.
Not even a trace of residue remained.
If not for the lingering foul stench unique to Monsters in the air, one might even doubt if he had ever existed.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
In the entire block, only the crackling of distant flames could be heard.
Whether it was the survivors…
Or the heroes lying on the ground…
They all had their mouths wide open, staring blankly at the massive hole.
Their minds were a complete blank.
They won?
That Monster that even A-Class Heroes couldn’t touch…
Was just…
gone?
A one-shot kill?
And he even conveniently resolved a self-detonation crisis capable of destroying the city?
Sage’s figure reconsolidated in mid-air.
He looked down at the deep hole.
He scanned the area carefully with his Observation Haki.
“Hmm, life reaction has completely vanished.” “Looks like he’s dead as a doornail.” Sage breathed a sigh of relief.
To be honest, using such a big move for the first time, he himself had been a bit unsure.
If he hadn’t controlled the power well and punched through City A, it would have been embarrassing.
Fortunately, his mastery over the Glint-Glint Fruit was already consummate.
“System.” “The mission is complete, right?” “Ding!” “Mission [Showing One’s Talent] has been completed!” “Congratulations to the host for obtaining the reward: [Observation Haki (Elementary)] (Automatically advanced to Intermediate, allowing the prediction of an enemy’s brief movements).” Hearing the System’s notification…
The smile on the corner of Sage’s mouth deepened.
A huge profit.
This trip out not only tested his new abilities but also netted him an Observation Haki for free.
However…
He didn’t plan to stay here.
In the distance…
The roar unique to S-Class Heroes traveling was rapidly approaching.
That was the sound of Genos’s jet engines.
It might even be those higher-ups from the Hero Association.
“Time to withdraw.” “Running after showing off—that’s the style of a true master.” Sage didn’t want to be surrounded by those people asking questions.
Too much trouble.
He just wanted to quietly be a game producer living off a woman.
“Whoosh!” Without the slightest hesitation…
Sage’s form once again turned into countless points of light.
Like a gust of wind…
He instantly dissipated into the air.
About a minute after he left…
A yellow figure, carrying a supermarket plastic bag, ran out from behind the ruins like a headless fly.
“Huh?” Saitama stood at the edge of the massive, still-smoking glass pit.
Looking at the empty street…
He rubbed his smooth, bald head.
He looked completely bewildered.
“It’s…
over?” “I thought it was some commotion from a special sale.” He looked around.
The people who had survived were still staring blankly, muttering things like “Golden Light Hero” and “Descent of a God.” Saitama blinked.
In those listless dead-fish eyes, there was a faint trace of disappointment.
“Am I late again?” “I was hoping to get a bit of exercise.” He sighed.
He looked at the plastic bag in his hand.
“Forget it, I’ll go back and make hot pot.” “Beef was on sale today, anyway.” After saying that…
The truly strongest in the world…
Silently turned around.
His back looked a bit lonely.
Absolutely no one noticed him.
Meanwhile…
In a small alley several blocks away…
Sage’s figure reappeared.
The golden light on his body had been completely withdrawn.
He had returned to being that gentle-looking, somewhat handsome ordinary young man.
He pulled a small mirror from his pocket.
He carefully checked his hairstyle.
“Hmm, not messy.” “Perfect.” He adjusted his tie.
He blended into the crowd of panicked people heading back.
Hiding his achievement and name.
Leaving behind only a legend of the “Golden Light Hero”…
Tonight…
No one was destined to sleep.