Chapter 389

"Are you King?"

King stood before the metal robot, holding his newly bought game, frozen in shock as the robot's "eyes" locked onto him.

"... Huh?"

Genos, who had been about to strike, also halted, surprised.

"Is that King, ranked seventh among S-Class?"

"Is he strong?"

Goku asked curiously.

Genos nodded: "Extremely strong. He's called 'the strongest man on Earth,' having single-handedly defeated many powerful monsters."

"Hmm..."

Goku stared at King, a flicker of interest arising.

"King, I'll defeat you!"

The metal robot spoke, drawing a massive metal greatsword from its back and pointing it down at King.

"Listen carefully—this is a performance test of my battle AI. To facilitate data collection, fight with your full strength."

King stared at it expressionlessly as the Emperor Engine began to activate.

Thump-thump-thump!

"What's that sound?"

Goku turned his head, puzzled.

Genos watched King and said: "That's the Emperor Engine—it means King has entered battle mode."

"Huh? Really?"

"Yes."

Genos gazed at the expressionless King: "Even facing such an opponent, he remains unmoved—he truly is strong."

In truth, King was nearly dead with fear.

We're done!

This is really it!

King screamed in despair inside his mind.

His legs had gone weak and wouldn't move.

Can anyone... can anyone save me?

"Die!"

The metal robot raised its massive metal greatsword and brought it down toward King.

It's over!

King closed his eyes in despair.

"It would be such a waste for the great King to die like this."

A light laugh echoed in his mind.

King snapped his eyes open.

That voice... is that him?!

"Try throwing a punch forward."

Hearing the divine-sounding laugh in his mind, King, with no other options left, seized it as his last lifeline—without thinking, he clenched his fist and punched forward with all his strength.

Let me die.

Meanwhile.

In a coffee shop near the street.

A silver-haired boy sat lazily by the window, resting his chin on his hand, and snapped his fingers.

And then.

The massive metal robot exploded right before King's eyes.

40, The Sweetheart Mask

Boom—!

The explosion sent fire and debris roaring skyward.

King, still in his punching stance, stared wide-eyed at the scene before him, utterly stunned.

Beside him, Genos frowned gravely: "He defeated such an opponent with a single blow—is this King's true power...?"

Goku nodded: "He really is strong."

Only King knew what had truly happened.

It had nothing to do with him—it was that man who acted.

"Thank goodness... I'm saved..."

King exhaled in relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

And at that moment.

A short figure burst out from the flames.

"You shattered my armor in an instant."

"King, you bastard... what did you do?!"

The tiny mechanical core roared, unleashing countless laser beams in an instant, blasting toward King.

King hadn't even reacted.

As he was about to be obliterated—

King's figure suddenly vanished on the spot.

Those lasers slammed into the ground, erupting in a chain of explosions, flames shooting into the sky.

The short, stocky main-body robot let out a terrified shriek.

"Wh-what?!"

Under the gaze of Saitama and Genos, the robot that called itself G4—boasting terrifying destructive power and advanced intelligence—had at some unknown moment been pierced clean through.

Cracks spread outward from the hole in its head, and dazzling, powerful energy light poured through them, like a piece of porcelain coming apart.

"King!!"

With one final scream, its energy-laden mechanical body exploded outright; every window within a hundred meters was shattered by the blast.

Genos stood speechless.

"Teacher, did you see clearly just now? What exactly did that King do?"

"No, I don't know either."

"Even Teacher didn't see it clearly... As expected of the strongest man on the surface."

Genos said with heartfelt admiration.

Saitama scratched his cheek, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

…………

【Emergency notice: a giant monster bird has appeared over City M. Citizens, please take shelter. I repeat…】

Inside an alleyway.

"Huff, huff, huff."

King knelt on the ground, gasping in huge breaths, his soul still not settled.

Wearing sunglasses, Luo En sipped his milk tea, leaning against the wall and smiling at him: "Didn't expect a disaster to come charging at you on its own. Hard to say if you're lucky or unlucky."

"Of course it's unlucky!"

King dropped onto his backside, grabbing his head with both hands: "Every single time I run into something this terrifying—I've had enough!"

Luo En took a sip of milk tea and said: "Otherwise, the fact that you're still alive up to now isn't lucky too? If it were someone else, they'd definitely be dead long ago."

"I-I guess you're right."

King looked up at Luo En, his face full of gratitude: "Right, I really have to thank you for saving me this time."

"It was nothing. Even if I hadn't stepped in, you probably wouldn't have died."

Luo En said, turning to walk out of the alley.

King got up and followed.

He was a little puzzled by what Luo En had just said: "Why?"