"Is this the place?"
As Yami arrived in the heart of City Q, he gazed ahead.
In the center stood a stone pillar, and perched on top of it was a figure dressed head-to-toe in a dog costume.
"Is that the Watchdog Man you were talking about, Yami?" asked Goddess Hephaestus, her curiosity piqued.
From the moment the four of them had entered City Q, they had easily located the Watchdog Man. After all, in this massive city, his presence stood out the most. However, his peculiar behavior was rather unsettling.
Even the ever-optimistic Goddess Hestia found it hard to wrap her head around this strange individual.
"Is he part of a canine race?" Hestia asked. "But even then, lying down all the time—what kind of habit is that?"
"And he's clearly wearing a costume," Artemis chimed in, agreeing with Hestia. "The people of this world are really... strange."
Goddess Artemis, the goddess of the moon, couldn't help but feel relieved. She thought back to the warriors of Amazon Lily from the world of pirates. At least they weren't as eccentric as the Watchdog Man before her. She wasn't sure what she would have done otherwise.
Then again, Boa Hancock also had her... unique traits.
"He's probably not part of the canine race. There must be something else going on with him," Yami speculated.
Based on what he knew from the original story, the Watchdog Man was less a human being and more like a human raised by dogs.
He silently guarded City Q, never following orders from the Heroes Association. In essence, he treated the city as his territory, eliminating any monsters or villains that appeared within its borders.
But once those threats left City Q, he lost interest.
His behavior was the very definition of territorial instinct.
"Yami, are you planning to challenge him now?" asked Hephaestus.
"That's right. There's not much in this world that interests me, but there are several powerful heroes here. I want to challenge them, one by one, to see if I can push myself to the next level."
Yami spoke without hesitation.
Hephaestus, well aware of her child's ambitions, nodded in understanding.
She knew Yami's strength. Even at a low level, he could fight and defeat high-level monsters—a feat that was almost unheard of. However, this exceptional strength came with its own challenge.
The stronger he became, the harder it was to continue advancing. It was a common problem in Orario, where many adventurers hit a wall, unable to progress no matter how hard they tried.
And Yami's case was even more extreme.
To continue his growth, he had to face stronger opponents—those that would push him to his limits.
"Be careful, Yami," Hephaestus said, offering her quiet support. She didn't want to dampen his spirits, but her few words carried all her concern.
Yami understood her meaning. A bright smile spread across his face as he nodded back to her.
"Don't worry, Hephaestus, I won't disappoint you," Yami assured her. "Now, I'll make my move."
With that, Yami left the group and began walking towards the Watchdog Man.
Amidst the bustling crowds, many citizens stopped to look at the Watchdog Man, a symbol of pride for City Q.
Thanks to his efforts, the city had become a haven of peace. He was a beloved figure, admired by many.
However, the Watchdog Man himself paid no attention to the crowd. Even as countless people and cameras focused on him, he simply lay there, his head swiveling slightly as if he were constantly scanning for threats.
His diligence allowed him to detect any strange presences immediately and neutralize them.
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently.
The cheerful atmosphere of the street vanished in an instant, replaced by an eerie silence.
One by one, people collapsed, trembling before passing out, their bodies lying limp on the ground. Even the Watchdog Man, an S-Class hero, reacted instantly to the powerful shockwave. He jumped up from his stone perch, his body tensing as he scanned the area.
'Such intense pressure—could this be the work of that guy?' he wondered.
"It's troublesome with all these people around. Give me a moment," Yami said calmly, noticing the Watchdog Man's alert stance while staring at him.
Though he could've attacked right away, Yami refrained. The unconscious civilians lying all around would surely be caught in the crossfire if the battle started now. He had no desire to harm the innocent.
The Watchdog Man looked perplexed, unsure of Yami's intentions.
But in the next instant, Yami raised his hand slightly, and the unconscious bodies of the civilians vanished one by one. In mere moments, the entire area was cleared of people.
The scene left the Watchdog Man even more on edge.
"Don't worry, I have no interest in hurting bystanders," Yami said, his voice steady. "I sent them away so they won't interfere in our fight. No one will be harmed."
He then cracked his knuckles and took a step forward.
"Now, let's begin! I want to see just how strong you S-Class heroes really are!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yami's figure disappeared.
It wasn't teleportation—his movement was purely physical, driven by his sheer speed. Even at less than full power, it was more than enough to leave an ordinary person unable to react.
Yami planned to test the Watchdog Man, to see if he was truly as formidable as the stories said—an undefeated hero with unrivaled strength.
'Whoosh!'
A gust of wind followed Yami's disappearance. Alarm bells rang in the Watchdog Man's mind. His nose twitched, and before he could think, he leaped to the side on all fours.
Boom!
A deafening roar filled the air as Yami's kick landed where the Watchdog Man had been. The ground buckled under the force, and a crater formed instantly, cracks spreading out like a web.
The entire city seemed to shake from the impact.
But Yami's attack missed its target. The Watchdog Man had managed to evade it, his instincts keeping him one step ahead.