Ryu Takahashi stood amidst the ruins, his mind buzzing with the thrill of battle. Around him, onlookers stared in stunned silence, unable to process the incredible power he had just unleashed.
He glanced at his trembling fists, still pulsing with energy. Is this the power of Saitama-sensei? Just how strong am I now?
The wrecked streets and crumbling buildings around him were clear evidence of the fierce confrontation that had taken place. It all seemed surreal, as if Iron Overlord had crumbled with barely a touch.
"Was Iron Overlord really this weak?" he murmured, half-amused. "One punch and he's gone?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Was this man really just that strong?
Suddenly, a familiar electronic tone echoed in his head:
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating the villain "Iron Overlord" Obadiah! System upgrade in progress: new feature unlocked—"Cycle Check-in Mission"!]
[Cycle Check-in Mission: Embark on Saitama's path to power. Daily training includes 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run. Every 15 days, unlock an additional 5% of Saitama's power. Current strength: 0%, goal: 10%.]
Hearing this, Ryu grinned, recalling his teacher's deadpan expression as he revealed the path to ultimate strength. Don't worry, sensei. I'll make this world's villains tremble at your power!
Not far off, Iron Man Tony Stark observed the mysterious man who had so effortlessly wiped out Iron Overlord. The intensity of his power was almost overwhelming, causing Tony to hesitate.
Who is this guy? And what kind of strength does he possess that his bare fists could reduce hardened steel to dust?
Gritting his teeth, Tony took a step forward, his voice tinged with curiosity and caution.
"Sir, are you... with S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
The crowd's surprise grew as they saw Tony Stark, the renowned Iron Man, speaking with evident respect and maybe even a hint of fear. But Ryu seemed indifferent, hardly noticing Tony until he repeated the question.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? What's that? Some kind of police department?"
Tony's brows furrowed. Does he really not know? Could he be... an alien?
"Sir, are you from another planet?" Tony asked, carefully watching Ryu 's reaction.
Ryu snorted. "Alien? This is getting ridiculous, Mr. Stark. I'm just a regular guy—well, maybe a regular guy without a home now."
Tony could hardly believe his ears. If that's ordinary, then what does that make the rest of us?
Before Tony could reply, the hum of a jet overhead drew everyone's attention. The aircraft landed, and out stepped a tall, imposing man in a black suit, wearing an eye patch—none other than Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Hello, mysterious stranger," Fury greeted, his voice calm but his gaze sharp. "I'm Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. Care to join us for a discussion? The city needs to be restored, and you standing here isn't exactly helping with that."
Ryu looked at the jet and then at Tony, who seemed as unsure as he was.
"Is this S.H.I.E.L.D.?" he asked, gesturing toward the jet. "Looks pretty fancy."
Iron Man and Fury exchanged uneasy glances, but Fury quickly replied, "Ah, it's just a jet. I'm an ordinary guy, not like Tony here with his suit. This big guy just gets me around faster."
Ryu chuckled, realizing that, as always, the fist was indeed the final word in any negotiation. Seeing the respect and caution in their eyes, he felt the weight of his new strength.
"All right," he agreed, glancing at Fury. "But one thing—my place got destroyed in that battle. Will S.H.I.E.L.D. be footing the bill?"
Tony stifled a laugh, knowing that Ryu wasn't technically from around here and had no actual home to lose, but Fury quickly responded, "Of course, but we can arrange something far more fitting for someone of your... talents."
With a nod, Ryu strode toward the jet. "Good. Let's go. No need to disrupt the city more than we have."
"Tony, you're coming with us," Fury said, turning to Iron Man as they followed Ryu into the jet.
Tony hesitated. "Do I have to? I don't even know what he is or if he's safe to be around."
Fury lowered his voice. "I understand. But I've already checked—there's no record of him in any database. If he's an alien or from another dimension, we need him on our side, not against us."
Tony glanced at the man in question, still bewildered by the ease with which he had defeated Iron Overlord. Could he really be an ally?
"Fine, I'm in," Tony said, his tone cautious but willing to trust Fury's judgment.
As they boarded the jet, Fury muttered to Tony, "Besides, if he's really on our side… well, he's someone worth having as an ally, don't you think?"