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Chapter 19 - Chapter 19 ↠ The Demon Instructor and the Monster's Attack

Under the scorching sun, at the training ground. A figure sprinted across the empty track field at incredible speed. Beneath his tank top an

Under the scorching sun, at the training ground.

A figure sprinted across the empty track field at incredible speed. Beneath his tank top and shorts was a striking, powerful physique that gleamed under the sunlight. His muscles, coiled like steel springs, and his long legs unleashed extraordinary power with every stride.

If captured by a high-speed camera, Johnson would appear like a sharpened sword — fierce, imposing, and formidable.

One lap, two laps, three laps...

Countless trainees stood at the field's edge, watching the blur of motion grow increasingly impossible, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads.

That speed, that physique, that endurance, that body... It's just like a monster!

Huff—

After casually jogging a few warm-up laps, Johnson approached the student he had appointed as record keeper, "Did you record the times?"

The student, dazed, nodded frantically, "Y-yes, I recorded them..."

"Then next, you'll all train according to this standard. After you finish, head to the comprehensive training hall for combat practice. Did everyone hear me?"

"Yes, sir!!"

Moments later, at the comprehensive training hall.

A group of sweat-drenched trainees supported each other as they stumbled in. Just as they were about to collapse, they spotted that demonic figure on the training ground. Their faces turned pale as they forced their exhausted bodies to stand at attention.

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In the monitoring room, the chief instructor nodded with satisfaction, "Hmm, they're finally starting to look like elite officers! Which class are they from?"

"Report, they're from Class Seven!"

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"Next, ID number A0027, Kevin, step forward!"

In the indoor gymnasium's temporary ring, Kevin from A-City gulped nervously, his Adam's apple bobbing.

His opponent was a demon in human skin, a physical monster, the tiger of law enforcement — the demon instructor Johnson from Z-City!

As Kevin recalled his opponent's many nicknames, his heart sank into despair. This is way beyond my capabilities! Impossible!

Only when facing Johnson directly did Kevin realize how terrifying the man's presence was. Just standing there made it hard to breathe, like a mountain looming above, ready to collapse!

He's just like a Monster!

If Johnson knew how much his opponent was dramatizing things, he would have said that yes, this was the Color of the Supreme King!

Kidding...

Seeing the student hesitate to attack, Johnson understood. Having broken through human limitations, he had indeed become something else. For ordinary people to sense this superiority was itself a rare talent.

This Kevin, not bad.

"HAH—"

A great roar erupted from the ring.

"Watch out, instructor!" Kevin finally snapped under the pressure of the standoff. His face flushed, veins bulging, fighting spirit blazing, "As a police officer, I cannot back down! Even if you're a Demon King, I will challenge you!"

"Demon King..."

"He actually said it..."

"Kevin's going to die, isn't he?"

The students below the ring whispered among themselves, pronouncing their bold colleague's death sentence.

Johnson: ...Demon King?

Wait, is my image really that intimidating?

As he pondered, a dark shadow rushed forward. His body instinctively dodged Kevin's flying tackle, then raised his fist...

Thud!

A muffled sound of impact rang out. The spectators watched as Kevin practically delivered his stomach to Johnson's fist. In an instant, his abdomen caved in, his eyes bulged, and his body crumpled, curling up like a well-cooked shrimp.

"Oh man... the instructor is just too powerful!"

"He moved so fast I couldn't even see the strike!"

"I'm next... I'm doomed, I'm doomed, somebody help me!"

Amid the commotion below, Johnson's forehead creased with exasperation.

After all this time, they still weren't used to his abilities?

Then again, perhaps it was natural — people with ordinary mindsets might struggle to cope in this monster-filled world. Their reactions were probably appropriate, all things considered.

The matches continued.

As Class Seven's designated challenger, Johnson maintained his perfect record. Anyone bold enough to face him received strikes with triple the force.

Tough love education, he called it. No further questions needed.

As dusk approached.

The bored instructors organized an impromptu combat tournament on the main field. Johnson's Class Seven claimed victory, catching the attention of both the chief instructor and other senior officials.

During his time at the training camp, Johnson had learned that the chief instructor served as the Police Headquarters Director — the highest-ranking officer on site. This special officer training program operated under his direct supervision.

"Everyone showed exceptional spirit today! Such impressive — uh..."

BOOM—

Mid-speech, an ominous whistling pierced the air. The chief instructor froze, his head snapping toward the sound.

A massive shadow loomed overhead, expanding until it eclipsed the sky — something enormous was plummeting toward them!

Panic erupted across the field.

Johnson's Spider-Sense tingled faintly, alerting him before anyone else. Visual assessment confirmed it: a partial office building was hurtling toward them.

His enhanced senses picked up countless screams from within — people were still trapped inside.

Johnson scratched his head in classic Saitama fashion, his expression hardening. "Yare yare, what a mess."

With civilians trapped in the falling structure and officers scattered below, this crisis demanded more than simply deflecting the building elsewhere.

✱ Spider-Sense ↠ Spider-Time! ✱

Johnson took a deep breath and sprang into action.

Just before impact, a flash of azure light streaked across the sky. A membrane of psychic energy formed an enormous sphere, expanding to envelop the entire building. His mental processing power surged, creating thousands of protective bubbles that wrapped around every person present.

Hum—

The AT Field expanded, weaving a bird's nest-like force field that shielded all officers below. Under its support, the building's descent slowed until it hung suspended twenty meters above ground. The absorbed kinetic energy discharged into the earth, sending shockwaves that nearly leveled every structure beyond the training ground!

Fortunately, the training camp stood isolated in the wilderness.

The catastrophe had been averted!

Swirling air currents scattered the impact's dust cloud. Every person, wrapped safely in their psychic bubbles, emerged unscathed.

Silence fell over the scene as all eyes fixed on the glowing figure in the sky, radiating the same azure light as the suspended building.

"Is that... Instructor Johnson?"

"It's Instructor Johnson!"

"He's actually flying!"

"Idiot, he just saved us from a fucking BUILDING!"

...

"Chief, this is Instructor Johnson, ID Z0001. I'll set the building down at the camp's outskirts. Please organize rescue operations."

Through the chaos, the Chief heard Johnson's voice in his ear, snapping out of his daze.

Through the billowing dust, he stared in awe at the suspended building and the figure hovering above. If not for this man, the entire Special Training Camp — including himself and countless high-ranking officials — would have met their end today. The kind of end where families receive only condolence payments.

"Johnson-kun, thank heaven you were here..." The Chief gathered himself and spoke firmly, "I'll begin rescue preparations right away! What about you?"

Johnson carefully lowered the building to the ground and replied, "A-City was likely attacked by a Monster. I'll investigate."

"Alright! Leave this to us!"

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A-City District.

Boom! Boom!

A metal crane tower, dozens of meters tall, stalked through the bustling streets, leaving craters with each thunderous step. Traffic in the city district had ground to a halt, with terrified crowds fleeing in all directions.

At the intersection of its crane arms grew a grotesque human face, its metal-scraping laugh piercing the air.

"Kee-hee-hee... I am the Crane Monster! I fused with this crane because I was sick of climbing up and down for work every day! Human buildings are worthless before me! I'll destroy everything! Kee-hee-hee!"

Warning sirens wailed across A-City.

[Hero Association announcement! Hero Association announcement! A thirty-meter-class giant mechanical mysterious being has appeared in A-City, designated as 'Crane Monster'! Initial disaster level assessment: Demon! Nearby heroes please rush to the scene immediately!

Repeat announcement! A-City...]

With a sonic boom, Johnson soared to the skies above A-City. Below him, the giant Crane Monster swung its multiple crane arms wildly, shattering buildings on both sides and filling the air with debris.

This was how the half-collapsed building that had nearly destroyed the Special Training Camp came to be.

His enhanced perception took in the apocalyptic scene. Agonized screams and wails rose from beneath the ruins and rubble — their owners weren't so fortunate, having become casualties the instant disaster struck.

Although this wasn't the first time he'd seen such scenes since crossing over, Johnson's anger burned hot.

Crack—

Above A-City, the once-calm sky began to churn.

Thunder power erupted as Johnson's eyes blazed silver-white. Lightning gathered around him in waves, and the white clouds darkened like an angry face, streaked with flashes of electricity that rumbled like drums.

A storm was brewing!

"Kee-hee-hee... hic! Why did the weather suddenly change?" The Crane Monster paused its rampage and looked up in confusion, "No matter! I'm no longer a weak human — what's a little rain to me! Kee-hee-hee... eh?"

Crack—

A jagged bolt of lightning split the darkening sky, crashing down with a deafening roar. The thunder echoed from the heights, rolling across the city!

✱ Raiton Hijutsu: Banrai no Rōgoku ↠ Lightning Secret Art: Prison of Ten Thousand Thunderbolts! ✱

Dense pillars of lightning rained from above. The Crane Monster barely glimpsed them before being engulfed in blinding light, paralyzed where it stood!

Storm marks stacked instantly to their limit, the rule-like power tearing through the monster's consciousness and stunning it in place.

Boom Boom Boom Boom!

As the lightning faded, thick smoke rolled across the scorched ground. Two red-hot pieces of scrap metal lay in the blast zone — the remains of the Crane Monster's body.

But the monster wasn't finished yet!

"Kee... it hurts! It hurts so much! Damn you!! Just wait until I catch you — I'll pound you into the construction site foundation!!"

"So noisy—"

Just as Johnson prepared to blast it again, an impatient cry pierced the sky.

Under the lingering dark clouds floated a tiny green speck, radiating an immense psychic wave that belied its size.

"That's..."

As the speck descended, it revealed itself to be a petite figure with flowing emerald curls, dressed in an elegant black dress with side slits.

"It's her!" Recognition dawned on Johnson at the sight of her distinctive attire, "S-Class Rank 2, Tornado of Terror! Oh... right, the Association doesn't have S-Class rankings yet. But this presence — Tatsumaki is already incredibly powerful, truly deserving to be the Association's strongest fighter besides Baldy!"

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Z-City, a certain supermarket.

"Ah... choo!" A black-haired man with an unremarkable face suddenly sneezed.

He stood contemplating two choices: limited-time special price chicken breast or limited quantity special sale beef.

It was Saitama.

He wore his distinctive yellow hero suit and rubber gloves, looking like he'd simply stopped by to shop during his hero duties.

Though his hero suit lent him a somewhat gallant appearance, a closer look revealed his characteristically round features, his eyes particularly fish-like as he deliberated over his groceries.

He resembled nothing more than an ordinary person with an unusual taste in clothing.

"Hmm... is someone thinking about me, or am I catching a cold?" Saitama rubbed his nose thoughtfully, ignoring the strange looks from other customers as he held his chin in contemplation, "Strange, it's not even cold out, but I might be getting sick. I've kept up with my daily training — what could be the reason?"

"In that case, I'll make hot pot with the special sale beef tonight to warm up! Come to think of it, I haven't seen Johnson for half a month. Maybe I should give him a call and invite him?"

At this moment, a sweet voice came through the ceiling speakers:

[Dear customers, today's limited quantity special sale items are sold out. The next limited quantity special sale will begin next Saturday. We welcome your next visit!]

"Ahhh, the limited quantity items are all sold out!?" Hearing the announcement, Saitama's face fell, then quickly relaxed as he muttered to himself, "Well, I guess that makes the decision easier — tonight I'll just have regular chicken breast hot pot..."

Ding Dong!

Before he could finish speaking, another announcement rang out:

[It is now 5:30 PM, today's limited time special sale has ended. Staff please close the sales channels, customers who have already selected items may proceed to the front counter for payment...]

"..."

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