Chapter 106: Why Do You Get to Be the Monster King?
As for the matter of the ranking changes, King and Saitama, the protagonists, didn't care at all.
At this moment, all their attention was focused on the game console in front of them.
King consistently operated with one hand, even letting his other four fingers rest, using only his index finger to constantly flick across the console.
His other hand would occasionally pick up a cola or potato chips, looking completely calm and relaxed, as if he weren't playing a tense and exciting Fighting Game.
On the other hand, Saitama was going all out, his eyes intensely focused on the screen, gripping the controller tightly for fear of missing a single detail.
"Left punch high damage! Right punch high damage! Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, B, A! Didn't see that coming, King! This is the latest combo I specifically looked up online and practiced. Watch me insta-kill you with one set!"
On the screen, the character Saitama was controlling, following a series of rhythmic button presses, launched a Rising Dragon Punch wreathed in flames toward the Little Loli controlled by King.
The power of this strike was extremely fierce; if it hit directly, the health bar of the Little Loli King was controlling would be emptied instantly, and he would lose the match.
However, facing this certain-kill strike, King didn't dodge backward as Saitama expected, but chose to stand still.
Ho ho! Have you finally chosen to give up!
Watching the flaming Rising Dragon Punch get closer and closer, Saitama couldn't help but smile, a flicker of the joy of victory finally flashing in his eyes.
Could it be that after playing hundreds of Fighting Games, I'm finally going to win once! Am I finally going to defeat King!
And in the very next moment, at the instant the two game characters collided, King's index finger turned into an afterimage, tapping rapidly on the console's surface, pressing over a dozen different buttons in quick succession.
This wave of continuous clicks was smooth as flowing water, as if his body had practiced it countless times. King even used his other hand to grab a cola while pulling off the combo, not fighting seriously at all.
In the next second, the Little Loli King controlled struck a blocking pose; at the same time, her ultimate move's energy bar was depleted, and a light shield appeared on her body.
Something miraculous happened: the flaming Rising Dragon Punch ultimate move unleashed by Saitama's character actually reflected back onto himself after touching the light shield, emptying his health bar on the spot.
"Damn it! Why did I lose again! I don't believe it, again!"
Saitama let out a painful roar, his smooth, braised-egg-like head turning slightly red with anger as he started a second round with a face full of defiance.
King glanced at the already frustrated Saitama, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, and then he spread his hands:
"How about this, Saitama: I'll let you hit me however you want, and when I'm down to my last drop of health, I'll fight you with just one finger. What do you think?"
Saitama: "..."
The Bald Demon King, who prided himself on having no emotions, felt the emotion of humiliation spreading through his mind for the first time.
Let me beat you down to one drop of health, and then you insta-kill me with one finger? Are you kidding me!
"Fine, don't say I'm bullying you. You're definitely losing this time, King!"
Watching the struggling Saitama, King took a sip of cola, feeling a bit helpless.
Because the Bald Demon King's home had been bombed into ruins by a certain Ninja who had lost his 'manhood license,' he had nowhere to live for the time being.
The Hero Association promised to help Saitama rebuild his house for free and pledged to reconnect the previous water and electricity lines.
This was undoubtedly good news for Saitama; he was used to living in that place and didn't really want to move.
Besides, what Saitama missed the most would always be the free water and electricity!
Genos stood behind the two of them, watching the leisurely King and the serious Saitama, his pen scratching away as he took notes in his notebook.
[Facing Mr. Saitama's 358th challenge, the leisureliness shown by Teacher King precisely proves that this is a vital part of the gambit between powerhouses. Only by firmly believing one is invincible, only by confirming one can take on all difficulties and win no matter how perilous the conditions, is the mindset of a true powerhouse.]
...Meanwhile, as King and Saitama were in the middle of their passionate gaming battle, undercurrents were already surging beneath City Z.
Countless orderly pipes spread deep underground, eventually leading to a massive cavern.
Inside the cavern, hundreds of powerful Monsters sat in their respective seats, their eyes all fixed on the high platform in the center.
On the high platform, a fat, one-eyed Monster about four or five meters tall, with a pink body, stood giving a speech.
"I presume you have all seen the earth-shattering battle between King, the strongest man on earth, and the alien leader. His strength far exceeds our imagination; it is a power beyond human comprehension. However!"
Stopping abruptly, Gyoro-Gyoro pointed dozens of arms from all over its body toward the massive creature on its right:
"As long as our Monster King Orochi is here, whether it's the strongest man on earth, King, the Queen of ESPers, Tatsumaki, or the recently famous One-Punch Man, they will all have to bow down!"
Beside Gyoro-Gyoro, the hideous Monster King Orochi stood by the edge of the platform, dozens of snake-like tentacles on his body thrashing about, his eyes full of tyranny and indifference as he scanned all the Monsters present.
Sensing the formidable power of Monster King Orochi, the vast majority of the Monsters present bowed their heads deeply.
Just then, a discordant voice drifted into the ears of everyone present.
"Oi, oi, oi, why do you get to be the Monster King?"
(T/N: Will there also be face-slapping among the monsters?)