Meanwhile, within the anomalous dimension—
Blast, the most mysterious S-Class Rank 1 Hero of the Hero Association, drifted inside a chaotic dimensional rift.
Here, there was no up, down, left, or right. Time and space twisted and folded over one another like spilled paint blending on glass.
Twelve blue energy crystals orbited him, constantly shifting into new geometric forms.
Before him stretched a spatiotemporal rift spanning his entire field of vision—a cosmic scar pulsing with fluctuations that set one's heart racing.
At the edge of that rift lay tens of thousands of alien warships, each enormous enough to rival the moon. Photon tethers connected them like a luminous web spread across several star systems.
Their silver-white hulls rippled like liquid metal, and massive amethyst cores embedded in their bows projected a stabilizing force field into the breach.
"Commander, dimensional anchoring rate is holding at 78.3%, but the target's activity is rising."
A mechanical voice crackled from his communicator.
"Based on current erosion speed, the blockade will be compromised in 47 hours."
Blast frowned. Data streamed across his silver-white tactical visor like a waterfall.
He raised a hand and tapped the void, causing a holographic star map to unfold—an ultra-advanced Xi Empire dimensional monitoring system. It displayed energy readings of the unspeakable entity sealed on the far side of the rift.
Suddenly, the system shrieked an alarm.
"Warning! Abnormal spatial fluctuations detected in the main universe! Coordinates: Earth's low orbit!"
Blast snapped his gaze upward. His visor instantly magnified the relevant sector.
On the star map, Earth's positional marker rippled with violent distortions, the tremors subtly disrupting gravitational balances across the entire solar system.
"What…?"
He flicked his fingers, commanding an energy crystal to break apart and reform into a miniature wormhole.
"How could Earth's gravitational field suddenly—"
The image that emerged made the seasoned guardian's pupils contract sharply.
Earth's western hemisphere—normally smooth and round—had swollen outward like a massive bulge.
"This is impossible…" Blast clenched his fists.
As someone who traversed dimensions freely, he understood the absurd, terrifying force needed to shift such a massive portion of planetary crust.
"Oh wow~"
A bright female voice chimed behind him. Nastashia floated into view—an alien woman with a delicate face and elven ears that twitched in excitement.
"Commander, look at the readings! The output just broke through the Level 1 Civilization threshold… it's reached Level 2!"
"Let me see!"
Karnok, a warrior reminiscent of Boros with a deep blue body and a single battle-hungry eye, pushed in.
"This power… since when did Earth produce someone like that? I want to fight him!"
"Calm down," Ryan said with a low rumble. The lion-headed veteran's mane shimmered with golden light. "The priority is reinforcing the dimensional seal. The anomaly on Earth is destabilizing it at an accelerated rate."
As if answering his warning, the rift convulsed violently.
Countless purple-black monstrosities poured out, each radiating a suffocating malice.
The Xi Empire fleet launched an immediate barrage—billions of antimatter shells painting the void with light.
Blast's expression darkened.
"Damn it! Everyone to your stations! Reinforce the seal before it breaks!"
He cast one final glance at the distorted Earth displayed through the spatial gate, jaw tightening, then severed the connection.
"I hope the people over there know what they're doing…"
---
*Z-City Underground*
The world-ending storm of energy slowly faded.
The air reeked of ozone from ionized particles, and the ground carried the scorched scent of stone melted and instantly cooled.
Kaito—now King—knelt on one knee. His Emperor Armor was covered in crackling lines that glowed crimson-gold like bleeding light.
"Cough… cough…" He spat blood shimmering with gold, yet laughed with exhilaration.
"That was intense!"
Under the dual effects of the Emperor Engine's Heart Source Creation and Eternal Rhythm, his wounds rapidly knitted closed.
Garou didn't fare much better. His Monster Armor was fractured, one bone wing broken, but the fire in his eyes only grew.
Seeing that Kaito could still stand, Garou scoffed and shifted his stance.
"Again! Monster Harmful God-Slaying Fist—Second Form—"
"Wait."
Kaito suddenly lifted a hand, halting him.
Garou skidded to a stop in front of Kaito, glaring as he snapped,
"What? Getting cold feet? I'm telling you—if I don't beat you down today, I'm not going home!"
"Cold feet?" Kaito scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I just think fighting seriously on this tiny, fragile planet is… unsatisfying. And more importantly—reckless."
"Reckless?"
Garou blinked, confused. Danger, to him, was the whole point.
"Yes."
Kaito tapped the fractured ground beneath their feet, then gestured upward.
"If I hadn't redirected that blast through the core just now, half the city would be gone. And if we go all-out again with our real trump cards…"
His tone turned playful—yet dead serious.
"What if we actually blow up Earth? Where exactly would you carry out your big 'Absolute Evil' plan? Storm the cosmos looking for alien cockroaches?"
Garou: "…"
The words hit him like cold water dumping straight over his battle-frenzied mind.
He wanted to be Earth's Absolute Evil. The villain everyone feared.
If Earth vanished… what would be left for him?
"…Hmph. Then what do you suggest?"
Kaito smiled inwardly—he knew the kid had accepted the logic.
His Emperor Armor dissolved, leaving him in his ordinary form. He turned toward the corner of the cavern, shouting:
"Saitama! Quit acting dead! Let's wrap up. I'm treating you to hot pot!"
"Hot pot?!"
Saitama, previously slumped like discarded laundry, shot upright instantly.
"Serious?! I want ten plates of wagyu! Minimum!"
A vein pulsed on Garou's forehead.
"Hey! We're in the middle of a duel! Who has time for hot pot?!"
Without shame, Kaito draped an arm over Garou's shoulder like old friends.
"How can you fight on an empty stomach? C'mon, Garou—don't tell me you want some pathetic hollow victory."
"You—!"
Garou tried to bark back, but his stomach let out an unmistakable growl.
Saitama pointed at him triumphantly.
"See? Your guts voted already."
Garou: "…"
And so the three walked off together, disappearing down the tunnel as their voices echoed behind them:
"I want extra-spicy! And more meat!"
"No. Last time I ate spicy I had diarrhea for three days."
"Nobody cares! Then we get a divided pot! Settle it!"
"…How about fighting on the moon later? No environmental damage to worry about."
"Whatever!"