One-Punch Man World.
Z-City, Underground. Monster Association Headquarters.
"Hurry up! Stop dawdling! If we're late with the Cadres' meal, we'll all be dead!"
In the dark, damp passageway, a glistening Mutant Cockroach Monster waved its antennae, its sharp voice urging the others on.
The air deep underground was cold and foul. Poorly maintained lights flickered, barely illuminating five Monsters of various grotesque forms…
Monsters!
These five Monsters differed in strength, but according to the five Disaster Levels—Wolf, Tiger, Demon, Dragon, and God—they were all at the lowest rank: ordinary Wolf-Level!
Cannon fodder among cannon fodder!
At this moment, they were strenuously dragging a huge, unidentified creature's corpse that reeked of blood. Mucus and gore from the corpse left long, slick trails on the artificially constructed brick floor, and their heavy footsteps echoed through the passage.
Hansen, clad in a hardened shell, was at the back of the line. His eyes were vacant, his mind screaming with internal complaints.
—I was just enjoying food and singing, and I actually got isekai'd!
—Not only did I transmigrate into the dangerous, power-level-breaking world of One-Punch Man, but I also became a Wolf-Level cannon fodder at the very bottom of the Monster Association!
This starting difficulty was simply hellish!
He thought that terrible start was bad enough, but he didn't expect his first mission to be—
Delivering a meal to the Dragon-level Cadre, Overgrown Rover!
That's right, it was that six-eyed black dog from the manga, the one beaten by Saitama until it doubted its very existence and eventually became a pet!
In the manga, the shrunken Rover looked cute, even a bit silly.
But what Hansen and the others were about to face… was the real Dragon-level beast!
A terrifying existence that could flatten a city with a few energy blasts!
Forget Hansen, a novice who had just transmigrated; even all five of these small fries combined wouldn't be enough to fill that Monster's teeth!
Rumor had it that very few Monsters who had previously carried out this mission returned alive.
Clearly, the delivery Monsters were also part of the food chain!
Seeing that he was very likely... no, almost certainly going to become an appetizer for the Dragon-level big dog, Hansen had no desire to communicate with his new, motley crew of colleagues. He screamed frantically in his heart—
—Where's my cheat?
—Where's my System, daddy?
—Help me!
Perhaps the distorted rules of the One-Punch Man world were especially friendly to transmigrators, or perhaps his will to survive was too strong, but a pleasant notification suddenly chimed in his mind.
[Ding! Detecting the host's life is facing extreme threat. Survival instinct activating…]
[No Longer Human System binding successful!]
"Yes!!"
Hansen screamed internally, almost shouting out loud.
His heart pounded, not from fear, but from excitement!
—Holy cow, it's real!
A narrow escape from death!
—No Longer Human System—
Host: Hansen
Current Race: Monster (Unknown Insectoid Mutation)
Disaster Level: Wolf (Mid)
(Note: Disaster Level Classification: Wolf, Tiger, Demon, Dragon, God. Each level is further refined: Bottom, Low, Mid, High, Peak.)
—Ability List—
Inherent Abilities: 1
1. "Hardened Shell (N)" Lv.3: A sturdy shell formed by mutation after consuming Monster cells. Its hardness is comparable to steel.
Ability Slots: 5 / 5
Origin Points: 0
——— E N D ———
A flood of information filled his mind, and Hansen instantly understood his cheat's function.
The "No Longer Human System"!
As the name suggests, it was a system that could only be awakened after one ceased to be human!
Its core function was to replicate the extraordinary abilities of non-human lifeforms, record them in the system's ability slots, and upgrade them by consuming "Origin Points"!
Extraordinary abilities were categorized by rarity, from low to high:
N (Normal) - White
R (Rare) - Blue
SR (Super Rare) - Purple
SSR (Superior Super Rare) - Gold
UR (Ultra Rare) - Red
The higher the ability's rarity, the more Origin Points were consumed per upgrade.
The initial ability slots were 5, increasing with the host's strength. The stronger one became, the more replicated abilities one could possess simultaneously!
Replicated abilities started at Lv.1. Upon reaching Lv.10, they could be fully integrated into the host, no longer occupying a slot, and could even break through their original limits!
The condition for replication was direct contact with the target. The raw material for upgrading, Origin Points, was the condensation of pure life force!
The system clearly stated that Origin Points did not necessarily require the host's own life force.
Understood!
It was time to farm Monsters for points and infinite upgrades!
After processing the system information, Hansen looked at his stinking Monster colleagues beside him and suddenly found them rather pleasing to the eye.
The greasy Cockroach Monster, the malnourished Rooster Monster, the Radiation Fish Monster emitting a tingling aura, the dirty One-Eared Rat Monster…
Although these guys looked like a bunch of misfits, they were all walking Origin Points!
"Hey, you!"
Just then, the greasy Cockroach-headed Monster beside Hansen suddenly turned. Its disgusting compound eyes fixed on Hansen, its tone naturally bossy.
"Judging by your shell, you should be one of us insect-type Monsters, right?"
"Later, you'll deliver the food. Got it? Consider this an opportunity given to and don't be grateful!"
Hansen: "…?"
He couldn't help but look down at himself—
A humanoid body, well-proportioned and slender.
His entire form was covered in a black, keratinized exoskeleton with ferocious spikes. His hands were also sheathed in hard armor tipped with sharp claws.
In his perception, he also had black, vertical horns like a longhorn beetle on his head.
At first glance, it indeed looked like sturdy battle armor evolved from an insect's carapace.
However…
Just because we look somewhat similar, you think you can order me to my death and even be grateful towards you?
As Hansen watched, the Cockroach Monster beside him wore a threatening expression. The other three Monster colleagues were full of approval, their not-so-intelligent eyes filled with urging and schadenfreude.
However, Hansen wasn't focused on their ugly faces, but on the basic information that popped up beside their heads like NPC tags—
[Monster: Mutant Cockroach]
[Disaster Level: Wolf (Low)]
[Ability: "Basic Regeneration (N)": Accelerates wound healing and energy recovery. Can slowly regrow severed limbs by consuming a large amount of life force.]
[Monster: Iron Rooster | Disaster Level: Wolf (Bottom) | Abilities: 1. "Screech (N)", 2. "Steel Feathers (N)"…]
[Monster: Radiation Fish | Disaster Level: Wolf (Bottom) | Ability: "Leap (N)"…]
[Monster: One-Ear | Disaster Level: Wolf (Bottom) | Ability: "Sharp Incisors (N)"…]
This was the system's built-in detection function, but it could only detect Monsters weaker than Hansen or those of similar strength.
The ability information of true powerhouses would only appear upon contact.
Hansen: "…"
Hard!
His fists hardened!
Indeed, the world was full of strange birds. As expected of the Monster Association, it was easy to find a bunch of hidden 'talents' and fools.
Among the four Monsters, only the Mutant Cockroach's 'Basic Regeneration' was somewhat interesting, as it was a relatively rare recovery ability.
However…
There were also hierarchies among Wolf-Level Monsters!
Hansen's current strength was judged by the system to be Wolf-level Mid. It seemed neither high nor low, and in reality, wasn't particularly strong.
But everything needed contrast.
Compared to his present Monster colleagues, Hansen suddenly felt his Wolf-level Mid strength wasn't so bad after all.
"Yare yare daze… What are you barking about?"
Unconsciously using his former self's catchphrase, an inexplicable aura emanated from Hansen's dark form. His gaze turned slightly cold, his killing intent chilling!
Before transmigrating, he had spent years on a certain social media platform watching videos of sword restoration, cooking, hoof trimming, wilderness shelter building… practicing various forms of boxing and swordsmanship... in his mind!
Lying at home, martial arts flourished in his heart!
It could be said he had already assimilated the strengths of a hundred schools.
Now that he had transmigrated into a Monster's body, possessing physicality, speed, and strength far beyond his human self, Hansen felt…
His fists aren't necessarily blunt!
Besides, they're all Wolf-level, and the other's rank is even lower. What does he have to fear?!
"Teme… What did you just say?!"
The Mutant Cockroach didn't expect this new no one to talk back. Its greasy antennae trembled violently, its face contorted, about to lash out.
Suddenly!
An indescribably terrifying heatwave, like an overwhelming tide, surged madly from the depths of the passage ahead!
"Ugh!"
"L-Lord… Lord Rover!"
The ferocity on the Cockroach Monster's face was instantly replaced by extreme terror, all six of its legs trembling frantically!
The other three Bottom-tier Wolf-Level Monsters were no better, collapsing to the ground, emitting meaningless wails!
Boom…!
Boom…!
Boom…!
Heavy footsteps, as if capable of crushing the earth's crust, approached from the distance. Each step caused the ground to tremble violently.
Cracked stones and dust rained down from the ceiling, pelting the Monsters' shells or fur!
A suffocating, terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire space!
Including Hansen, the five Wolf-Level Monsters froze instantly, as if an invisible giant hand had clutched their throats!
The light at the end of the passage was blotted out by an immense shadow, like a moving mountain…
Slowly approaching…
In the darkness at the passage's end, six burning, scorching lights suddenly ignited—like demonic eyes gazing from the depths of hell!
A terrifying aura assaulted them!
As the mountain-like black shadow slowly drew near, a horrifying giant beast of ferocious appearance gradually emerged!
Its entire body was covered in coarse, black fur, distinct as steel needles. Six eyes, burning with flame, were embedded in its monstrously large head, emitting a soul-freezing, terrifying pressure!
Monster Association, Dragon-level Cadre—
Overgrown Rover!
It was here!
Rover's massive head lowered slightly. Its six eyes rotated curiously, scanning the tiny, insect-like delivery Monsters at its feet, as if looking at a few moving appetizers.
(❍❍❍ᴥ❍❍❍ʋ)
Suffocation!
Although it showed no obvious hostility—no roar, no attack—the sheer terror from the crushing disparity in life forms seemed to solidify the air into glue!
The temperature in the passage plummeted. A bone-chilling cold shot from their tailbones to the crowns of their heads!
The shadow of death descended instantly. Hansen felt his heart stop, his mind go blank!
The fate of becoming dog food seemed destined for the very next second!!!