Through various media networks, it was easy to determine the current timeline of the One-Punch world.
A certain bald trainee had not yet made his debut, though the conflict between heroes and monsters was already brewing. Monster incidents in major cities would inevitably become more frequent, with disasters growing increasingly severe.
Johnson unconsciously adjusted the brim of his hat.
Yare yare, what a hassle.
BOOM—
The thunderous sound snapped Johnson to attention, his brows furrowing.
Black smoke billowed from the district to his left, carrying faint screams and chaotic shouts.
That's... Senki Shopping Street!
With a squeeze of the throttle, his scooter roared — a sound disproportionate to its size — as he accelerated toward the explosion site.
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Five minutes later.
The scooter skidded to a stop at the roadside. As Johnson dismounted, he faced a scene of raging flames and sky-darkening smoke.
Smoke stains coated the office buildings lining the street. A deadly barrier of burning vehicles and broken tree branches, combined with intense flames, had cut off all escape routes.
Everyone except those trapped in the pedestrian street had fled. Johnson nodded — this saved him the trouble of clearing the area.
He loosened his tie and tossed it into the trunk along with his police cap and jacket. Rolling up his sleeves, he cracked his neck.
He strode toward the flames.
Click!
Behind him, a newly arrived reporter instinctively raised their camera, capturing his advance against the inferno on film.
The reporter couldn't see what happened next: as flames engulfed Johnson, his body became surrounded by azure flame — an almost tangible spiritual fire forming a barrier against the surrounding inferno and smoke.
In the One Punch world, Stand Users' spiritual energy had transformed into Esper abilities like those of the Psychic Sisters, Tatsumaki and Fubuki — powers that could directly influence reality.
{T/N: Esper, in One Punch's world definition, is an individual who possesses telepathic or psychokinetic powers.}
After one and a half months of psychic training and daily Destiny Draw cards, Johnson's base combat power was formidable.
✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱✱
"Help!"
"Somebody save me!"
"Ah! No! Oh God, I'm dead!"
"Monster sir, please don't kill me! Ugh..."
...
Inside the pedestrian street.
Crack, Crackle...
Near the shattered floor-to-ceiling windows, a broken neon sign sputtered its final spark before going dark. The metallic scent of blood hung heavy in the air.
Following the cries for help, Johnson's brows furrowed as his gaze sharpened.
Bodies littered the ground everywhere. Humans had become prey, indiscriminately slaughtered by an unknown hunter.
A pet shop on the street suddenly exploded, launching steel bars and debris through the clothing store's window across the street, filling the air with dust.
Thump, Thump, Thump...
Heavy, slow footsteps echoed as a reptilian blue-black five-toed claw emerged through the smoke. The foot — over fifty centimeters long — stepped onto the cracked ground, sending an unsettling tremor through the street.
As the smoke cleared, a massive monster revealed its true form: over three meters tall, with thick armored skin, two sturdy hind legs for bipedal walking, and a barrel-thick tail that carved deep grooves in the concrete as it swung.
"I am the 'Lizard Monster' who mutated from looking too much like a lizard! Hiss hiss hiss hiss—"
The Lizard Monster grinned smugly, its forked tongue dangling from its huge maw. Viscous, foul-smelling green saliva dripped to the ground, corroding smoking holes into the surface.
"Foolish humans, you will finally pay for mocking me—Ahh!!!"
Bang—
A pistol bullet, charged with extraordinary kinetic energy, drilled precisely into the giant lizard's left eye socket. It pierced the armored eyelid — normally impervious to ordinary weapons — and reduced the lens inside to pulp.
"Roar!!" The now one-eyed Lizard Monster bellowed in rage, "Who! Who!! Who dares to sneak attack me!!!"
Bang Bang Bang Bang—
A series of gunshots answered the Lizard Monster.
Had any power users been present, they would have seen each bullet wrapped in a layer of azure energy flame, amplifying the handgun rounds' power.
Thud Thud Thud Thud—
The monster's facial scales, though as strong as armor plating, proved as fragile as paper against the psychic bullets. Despite over a dozen bleeding holes in its face, the Lizard Monster only cried out twice. Its muscles immediately began pushing out the bullets, minimizing the damage.
Even its destroyed eye was rapidly regenerating — growing a completely new one would take mere moments. Such was a monster's vitality.
"Strong as a monster indeed, what a pain."
Muttering under his breath, Johnson stowed his empty gun and emerged from the shadows, planting his feet firmly to face the dinosaur-sized beast.
The monster's reptilian vertical pupils instantly locked onto the seemingly defenseless human. It spun around, its massive tail leaving afterimages as it demolished a decorative lamppost, its grotesque head twisted in a humanlike sneer.
"You dare show yourself!"
Boom, Boom, Boom!!
Bricks exploded and scattered. In three massive strides, the cold-blooded hunter crossed thirty meters, its massive maw gaping wide to strike.
The Lizard Monster's mind had already conjured the delightful image of its prey writhing in agony, bitten in half.
Facing the incoming fangs and their putrid stench, Johnson looked up, his lips curling into a cold smile.
✱ Spider-Sense ↠ Spider-Time! ✱
The world froze in that moment, with only the Lizard Monster's amber eye reflecting a blue flame-wrapped fist growing larger.
✱ ORA Punch Series ↠ Orbital Strike! ✱
ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!
Time flow returned to normal.
Before the monster could react, a barrage of iron fists pummeled its face. The fearsome lizard head that had been menacing moments ago was now grotesquely deformed, its swollen eye and twisted mouth forming a grotesque caricature.
"Phew—"
Having completed the ORA Punch Series, Johnson sent the massive Lizard Monster flying with a full-body swing punch. He exhaled deeply and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Stand ability activate!
An ordinary N card materialized, flashing brilliantly as Johnson flicked it skyward.
In the next instant, a massive shadow darkened the sky. The Lizard Monster's barely open eye constricted in terror at the sight above!
A yellow-painted road roller materialized overhead, transforming into a charging steel beast propelled by both gravity and azure flames.
Finishing move—
✱ Get Rolled, Bitch! ✱
"OH MY GOD! No—"
WHAM!
The heavy compression roller crashed down mercilessly, instantly crushing the Lizard Monster's spine, chest cavity, and most of its body!