Two dull days passed.

  “Although Z-City was able to avoid total destru, the city was still devastated, with the effects of the metements visible everywhere.”

  In the apartment, Genos sat fag Caspian, his expression pensive as the TV pyed in the background.

  “Master, are you certain what you said about Drive Knight is true?”

  Caspian, leaning against the wall, answered. “No. Holy, I’m not sure if telling you this so soon was the right call.”

  “No, this information is crucial,” Genos replied. “‘The anization’ you mentioned, and Drive Knight’s potential e to them, gives me a genuine lead. It’s likely they created ‘The Rampaging Cyb,’ who destroyed my family and town.”

  “Even if that's the case, you o fight as much as possible and keep upgrading yourself. Also, don’t raining your willpower. Right now, you’re far too weak to face them.”

  I’m definitely not going to mention Doctor Kuseno’s future death to him. There’s no point. For one, he would definitely lose himself te and go after Drive Knight and ‘The anization.’ But more importantly, I won’t let Doctor Kuseno die. I’ll make sure that old man’s dreams e true. Not just his… The more happy endings I create for others, the better.

  Caspian, pleased with his line of thought, returned his focus to the present.

  Genos nodded, g his fists. “I uand. I promise I will keep a level head and won’t throw my life away. You and Doctor Kuseno have done so mue. I would never squahat.”

  “A good mio have. By the way, did our ranking go up at all?”

  “Yes, we did. I went for S-Css Rank 17 to 16.” Genos’ tenance brightened. “Master, you shot up from C-Css Rank 342 to C-Css Rank 11.”

  “Rank 11? I guess some people noticed me running around killing monsters... Who got credited with destroying the meteor?”

  “Metal Knight. The Hero Association cimed his missiles had a deyed effect that shattered it.”

  “What a joke. Is part of the public making him out the be the vilin for the partial destru of Z-City, at the very least?”

  Genos shook his head. “Not that I’ve seen. Actually, the sensus is one of praise and uanding.”

  “Of course…” Caspian stood and walked toward the hallway.

  “Master, are you going out?”

  “No… I’ll let things calm down a bit more before I venture around Z-City.” Caspiaered the kit. “I just want something to eat. Also, we’ll be taking a trip in a soon. It’ll be a great training opportunity for you.”

  “Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”

  “And this may be ing out of left field, but…” Caspian stuck his head through the kit’s peek-through window. “…about Wavygyaza. Once we this uping trip, I think we should start iigating the Neo Heroes if we hope to find her sooner.”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  Peals of thunder roared above J-City as thick storm clouds gathered, casting a shadow over the ey.

  Master told me to rush toward the elevated energy levels the moment I detect them. I must be ready

  Genos stood atop the roof of a t building, the empty briefcase that once held his prototype cyberic upgrade lying discarded beside him.

  Yesterday, Caspian had sent him to J-City to face a Mysterious Being called the ‘Messenger of the Seafolk’ — an ugly, bipedal octopus-like monster wearing a toga. While the fight wasn’t particurly difficult, Genos treated the creature as a serious threat, pushing himself to avoid uimating his foes as he had done in the past.

  Genos reflected on his master’s prophetic abilities. It was as if Caspian could see the timeline of events unfold in his mind, pnning his moves accly. Genos had heard of others with the ability to foresee the future, like Shibabawa, but he was certain that not even someone as renowned as her could match Caspian’s skill.

  When the Hero Association called him today, Genos was already a step ahead. He had arrived before they even reached out. Now, all he had to do was watch for two key ges: the elevated energy signals and the moment the rain starts to fall.

  Less than a minute passed before he detected the energy signals he had been waiting for.

  It’s time!

  Genos unched himself from the building at top speed, his body a blur as he darted from one rooftop to the . His mind was focused solely on one goal: to reach his destination before the first raindrop fell. He wouldn’t fail!

  In mere moments, he spotted something.

  SMASH!

  A massive, naked, muscur figure rocketed past, shattering through the edge of a building and streaking into the distahat must have been Puri-Puri Prisoner.

  Genos raced forward, his eyes locked o seafolk monster and a feminine man standing beside it. He nded beside the man with a burst of speed, instantly drawing the attention of both. They turned in unison, their gazes sharp and assessing as they took in the newer.

  “You’re the Deep Sea King, I assume?”

  “Who’s asking?” He tilted his head, his mouth crag into a jagged grin.

  Genos ighe question, turning his gaze toward the figure beside him. “And you’re my master’s ninja stalker—’Jack-o’-Lantern Panic.’”

  ¤ ¤ ¤

  “Mumen Rider went in?” asked Jinzuren, a staff member of the Hero Association.

  Busho focused on the puter s, hoping the call would be answered. “Yes. I couldn’t stop—Mumen Rider?!” Busho’s hand nded on his earpiece. “What’s your location? This is beyond you. The monster even took out an S-Css Hero! We o assemble a subjugation squad.”

  An unknown man’s voice sounded from the other end of the line. “An S-Css Hero was defeated? Something’s nht here. There shouldn’t be a mohere…”

  Busho had no idea what the man was muttering about, but he urgently asked, “Who is this? Where’s Mumen Rider?”

  There was a brief silen the line.

  “You’re Busho from the Hero Associatiht?”

  How did he know his identity? No, that detail wasn’t important right now.

  “Yes. Who are you? Give me the owner of that cell phht now!”

  “This is the hero Caspian.”

  “Caspian?”

  tless questions burned in Busho’s mind. This man, Caspian, was a mystery. Reports from multiple cities described someog his appearance, obliterating monsters with a single punch, feats no C-Css hero should achieve. Why did he vanish immediately after each battle? If all reports had been verified, such power would have catapulted him into A-Css at the least.

  But the oddities ran deeper. ‘Caspian’ wasn’t even his legal name. Birth records listed him as ‘Saitama’—an utterly ordinary man with an unremarkable life. Three years ago, around the time of the Hero Association’s founding, he had vanished. Beyond his registered addresses, there were no traces, no records of his existehen, out of nowhere, he had resurfaced, wielding a strength that defied the Hero Association’s fitests ahem uo evaluate his true power.

  What had happened in those missing years? And why the alias?

  “You’re C-Css, Rank 4.” Busho had to learn what this man was capable of. “Are you sure?”

  Caspian answered. “It went up again... Yes. Sehe coordinates. It’s down-p here.”

  Busho glossed over Caspian’s file on the puter s for what robably the 100th time.

  He’s bee a phantasm to the popuce. Defeating monsters in a sirike and disappearing at a speed that leaves them unsure if what they saw was even real. I’d stop any other C-Css Hero, but this man is different…

  Busho looked toward Jinzuren.

  Jinzuren nodded. “This may be our ce to see how stroruly is.”

  Bushht his hand to his earpiece. “Caspian, I’m sending you the locatiohere immediately.”

  “On my way.”