"What quick reflexes!"
"Is it purely a matter of nerve response? What an incredible talent!"
As Yami watched Watchdog Man dodge his attack, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
It was no wonder that Watchdog Man had never been defeated in the Heroes' Association. Even this display of talent alone was impressive.
However, it was only the beginning.
'This guy... is he even human? Or something else entirely?'
Watchdog Man crouched on all fours, his eyes filled with vigilance as he processed the situation. His thoughts raced, but he had no desire to speak.
In fact, Watchdog Man wasn't known for his ability to speak. Despite his human-level consciousness, he lacked the ability to communicate with words, and he couldn't write either—one of his more notable quirks.
"I'm coming again!" Yami called out, addressing the vigilant yet unmoving Watchdog Man as he prepared for another attack.
This time, however, Yami had no intention of holding back.
Even though this was just a sparring match, a certain level of power was needed to make it meaningful. He also wanted to test just how far he had progressed.
"Here I come!!!"
With those words, Yami charged at Watchdog Man once again.
The latter's fur bristled as his senses screamed of danger. His reflexes and instincts were all on high alert, warning him about the threat posed by the man before him.
But this time, Watchdog Man did not attempt to dodge.
As Yami threw his punch, Watchdog Man extended his right paw to meet it.
Fist and claw collided in midair. Yami felt no resistance from the strike; instead, a strange force absorbed and neutralized the power of his attack.
Yet the impact caused the surrounding air to vibrate violently, producing a deafening sound across the square.
"Hey, what's happening over there?"
"Looks like someone's fighting Watchdog Man! Could it be a monster?"
"No, it's a human. Even though it's hard to see clearly due to the speed, the figure is definitely humanoid!"
"If it's a human, why are they fighting Watchdog Man?"
"Who knows? Maybe it's some show-off trying to gain fame by challenging an S-Class hero?"
"Are you kidding? Watchdog Man, the one who's protected us, being used as a stepping stone for someone's fame? No way we'll stand for that!"
"Yeah, whoever this is, they need to be stopped!"
"Go, Watchdog Man!!!"
The crowd of onlookers, stirred by the commotion, began cheering loudly for Watchdog Man.
The noise was so overwhelming it could be heard far beyond the square. This even caught the attention of the three goddesses, who were observing the battle from afar. They exchanged surprised looks, turning to glance at the excitement happening nearby.
The growing crowd was buzzing with energy.
"Hey, should we cheer for Yami-kun too?" Goddess Hestia asked, concerned. "It feels a little unfair that no one is supporting him when so many people are backing Watchdog Man."
Hearing Hestia's words, Goddess Hephaestus chuckled.
"It's fine," she replied. "Yami isn't the type to care about things like that."
"Besides, this level of battle doesn't require us to cheer him on. He's not under any pressure. All we need to do is wait quietly."
Her voice carried absolute confidence in Yami's abilities.
Feeling the trust from the red-haired goddess, Yami's attacks grew even fiercer.
Shockwaves rippled from where Yami and Watchdog Man clashed, and the ground beneath them began to crack under the strain. Nearby, the glass windows of high-rise buildings started shattering under the force of their collision.
---
Meanwhile, at the Heroes' Association headquarters...
"We've received reports of strong energy fluctuations in Q City," an ordinary staff member announced, his face pale as he rushed to inform his superior.
The high-ranking officials at the headquarters immediately grew serious, quickly gathering around the main console.
The red warning screens flashing throughout the control room underscored the urgency of the situation.
"Is it really that bad?"
"Isn't Q City supposed to be under Watchdog Man's watch? Has he been notified?" one of the officials asked.
The staff member quickly explained, "According to the information from the front lines, this battle involves Watchdog Man and another human."
"A man, previously unknown, suddenly appeared, knocked out the civilians, and then mysteriously moved them to safety. Afterward, he engaged Watchdog Man in combat, and the fight is escalating."
Hearing this, the expressions of the senior staff turned grave.
"An unknown individual capable of going toe-to-toe with Watchdog Man? This is serious trouble."
Since its founding, the Heroes' Association has drawn countless powerful individuals into its ranks. Yet, despite the many lower-level heroes, there were only a handful of S-Class heroes—a crucial pillar in their fight against monsters.
Each S-Class hero was invaluable, their strength staggering.
Now, an unknown person had appeared, and he was able to hold his own against Watchdog Man, one of the S-Class heroes. This development was nothing short of a disaster.
The man's intentions were still unclear.
If he harbored any anti-human motives, things could get messy.
Anyone capable of fighting an S-Class hero was likely at least equivalent to a "Dragon-level" threat in terms of monster classification. Such a force, regardless of the city, was incredibly dangerous.
"What do we do now?" one of the staff members asked anxiously.
"Are there any other available S-Class heroes near Q City?"
"No, they're all too far away. But we do have 'Tatsumaki,' the second-ranked S-Class hero, who just returned not long ago," another staff member suggested.
"Tatsumaki, huh?" The senior official hesitated, but knowing what was at stake if Watchdog Man were to fall and Q City were to be overrun. His scalp tingled at the thought.
Q City was now a hub of major investment from various corporate conglomerates. Losing it would spell disaster for the association, even with the backing of the wealthy sponsors.
"Send Tatsumaki to Q City for backup immediately!" the official commanded.
"Yes, sir!!!"