"Why is his physical strength so overwhelming?"
The American military was in complete disbelief.
They had anticipated that their opponent possessed a powerful ability, but they assumed his physical strength would be a major weakness. In their eyes, no one could be perfect—every powerful being had to be lacking in some way.
Zenkichi didn't appear tall or particularly muscular, so they concluded that his physicality must be his weak point. Some even went as far as planning underhanded tactics to exploit what they believed to be a flaw in his body.
But reality shattered that belief.
The very fact that they could stand against him without being completely destroyed was already a testament to Zenkichi's strength. The unexpected truth was that his raw physical power rivaled even that of the Hulk.
Just moments ago, the two had clashed—and Zenkichi had not lost. They were evenly matched. That alone spoke volumes.
After all, the Hulk was known to be one of the most physically dominant beings alive. Yet Zenkichi matched him blow for blow.
This revelation sent shockwaves through the U.S. military. They prided themselves on being a global superpower, and their pride wouldn't allow them to accept such humiliation. Thoughts of revenge were already forming. They couldn't allow someone who had previously challenged them to walk away unpunished.
They wanted to take him down—decisively and completely.
"This guy needs to be brought into our organization."
A voice from within the Brotherhood of Mutants broke the silence.
They recognized what a game-changer Zenkichi could be.
Someone with that level of strength could elevate their group to a whole new level. They weren't about to let such a powerhouse slip through their fingers.
Even though Zenkichi wasn't a mutant, they were willing to make an exception. Someone of his caliber was simply too rare to ignore.
Other organizations were having similar thoughts. The world was watching, and nobody wanted to be left behind.
"This power is… terrifying."
Zenkichi flexed his fingers slightly, feeling the tingling numbness in his hands from the earlier clash.
That was from just one exchange of fists.
He had always believed his strength was near the top, almost unmatched. But this encounter showed him there was still a slight gap. Hulk's raw power was the real deal—an unfiltered force of nature.
Still, Zenkichi hadn't backed down.
The fact that he could hold his ground, trading blows with the Hulk, and come out with nothing more than trembling hands? That was a victory in itself.
It meant he had crossed a threshold very few could even approach.
"Let's go!" he shouted, reinvigorated.
Zenkichi surged forward, engaging the Hulk once more. He relied on nothing but the sheer force of his body.
He possessed the speed and light-powered might of the Pika Pika no Mi—yet chose to fight with raw power alone. His physical body had been pushed to extreme limits.
"RAAAARGH!"
The Hulk bellowed, his eyes glowing an even deeper red. He gripped one vehicle after another from the roadside and began launching them toward Zenkichi, hurling them like meteors with murderous intent.
He intended to crush him completely.
Zenkichi's expression remained calm.
He mimicked the move. Grabbing a nearby car, he hurled it at the incoming projectiles. Another vehicle soared from his hands, smashing into the one hurled by the Hulk, metal and glass exploding on impact as the titanic battle raged on.
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