It was already deep into the night.
On this battlefield deep in the mountains, only a faint moonlight spilled across the ground, casting a silvery-white hue. Visibility wasn't particularly high.
However, this wasn't much of a problem for the Navy and the Kingdom's forces, as most of them carried torches or flashlights.
But at this moment, as they saw the scene of a hundred or so people charging at them with faces uniformly brimming with smiles full of positive energy, the soldiers suddenly got goosebumps!
"What the hell is this?"
"Ah! Their faces..."
Panic began to spread. This indescribable sight made many instinctively take two steps back, and some even dropped their torches and flashlights in fright.
One by one, the torches and flashlights were extinguished, and the light suddenly dimmed.
This made the atmosphere even more terrifying, turning the scene into a full-blown horror movie.
Having just lost their light sources and not yet adapted to the darkness, the coalition soldiers could only see a mass of figures ahead and hear the increasingly close cries of "Oriyé!"
"What are you doing? Turn your flashlights back on!"
Colonel Carvin, stationed in the rear, was both furious and shocked, roaring at his men.
He had no idea what was happening, but his own troops giving up their light sources in the middle of battle... this was beyond idiotic!
"Yes, sir!"
As the soldiers turned their flashlights back on, one by one, large faces wearing deeply etched, unforgettable smiles loomed in front of them.
"Oriyé!"
From a nearby tree, a dark shadow leapt down, its massive, smiling face landing directly in front of a soldier.
"Oriyé!"
"Ahhhhhhh! Stay away from meeeee!"
"Why are you screaming so loudly?!"
Chaos.
Utter chaos.
"Damn it! We underestimated this Mountain Bandit King..."
"What kind of tactic is this? I've never seen anything like it!"
At this moment, Commander Park of the Kingdom's forces could no longer stay seated. Frustrated and overwhelmed, he attempted to issue commands.
Just moments ago, the mountain bandits were on the verge of defeat, but after chanting a couple of incomprehensible slogans in front of Sig, they suddenly charged back with reckless abandon!
What was most unnerving was that every single one of them wore the exact same smile, as if it had been stamped onto their faces, brimming with overflowing positive energy that seemed to explode outward!
"Did that Sig guy trick us somehow?!"
Colonel Carvin's face was ashen. His gaze cut through the chaotic battlefield, locking onto Sig in the distance.
"Huh? Sig doesn't have any guards around him at the moment?"
Colonel Carvin froze for a moment, then his expression shifted to one of surprise and delight.
"Commander Park, have your Kingdom forces hold the line with everything they've got!"
....
Meanwhile.
Sig stood blankly in place.
The sounds of battle in the distance and the repeated cries of "Oriyé!" felt as if they were coming from another world, sounding impossibly far away.
His mind was swirling with a few ultimate questions:
Who am I?
Where am I?
What's happening?
The moment he snapped back to his senses, Sig immediately opened the system interface. His pupils instantly contracted.
Character Card: KING
Compatibility: 67%!
Grade: S-Rank
Source: One Punch Man
Abilities:
Emperor's Engine — The sound produced by the powerful beating of the heart, known as the Emperor's Engine. It strongly triggers others' imaginations.
Emperor's Engine Inspiration Field — The Emperor's Engine can generate an inspiration field within a certain range, boosting the morale and combat capabilities of allies.
"Do I really have a new ability?"
Sig was both thrilled and slightly confused.
But 67% compatibility wasn't anything special as a number. Why did the hidden ability activate at this moment?
"Now that I think about it, I've relied on my cleverness, resourcefulness, bravery, and handsomeness to get through all the previous tough situations."
"This is the first time since my transmigration that I've been on a battlefield and used my abilities in a direct confrontation!"
At this realization, Sig suddenly snapped out of it.
If he had engaged in combat earlier, he might have discovered this hidden ability a long time ago.
Blame me—it's all my fault!
Sig felt a twinge of regret in his heart.
Blame me for being too clever, resourceful, brave, and handsome! I've breezed through all my challenges so far without ever needing to fight!
So, it was only now that he had uncovered something so important.
Amid his lingering joy, Sig carefully re-read the skill description.
His expression turned even more peculiar.
He finally realized the origin of this skill.
"Isn't this the stuff of legends about King in One Punch Man?"
According to the lore, under the influence of King's Emperor Engine Field, the combat power and morale of heroes would increase accordingly…
As this thought struck him, Sig couldn't help but feel his heart race.
This time, it wasn't due to fear or terror but sheer excitement!
Emperor Engine Inspiration Field? Isn't this basically an urban legend?
If this could come true, would the other, even more exaggerated legends also become reality in the future?
For instance, King's Secret Flow Technique Ultimate Skill: Infernal Unparalleled Explosive Heat Wave Cannon?
In the lore, King had saved the entire world countless times.
The numerous craters on the surface of the moon were supposedly created by King punching it like a sandbag!
King once traveled back in time to personally destroy meteor clusters before they hit Earth, enabling the birth of humanity!
He even threw a bomb powerful enough to destroy the entire solar system into a black hole, successfully safeguarding it.
"Logic tells me this is wishful thinking... but what if it happens?"
Sig's face flushed slightly, and his breathing quickened.
He had fully immersed himself in his wild fantasies, completely forgetting the environment around him.
Suddenly.
Sig felt a cold sensation on his neck, snapping him back to reality.
An icy, sharp blade was pressed against the back of his neck, and Colonel Carvin's voice, full of confidence, sounded behind him.
"Mountain Bandit King Sig, you are under arrest."
"Drop your weapons immediately and order your subordinates to surrender!"
With the corner of his eye, Sig glanced back and immediately felt a chill in his heart.
The other bandits had already charged to the frontline to fight. He was the only one left in the rear.
And now, at least a dozen Navy soldiers had surrounded him tightly, all pointing their rifles at him.
Oh no… am I done for?
As his heart pounded wildly, Sig remained as motionless as a statue on the surface. Not only did he not move, but his expression didn't waver in the slightest.
On the outside, he looked as though the surrounding Navy soldiers didn't even exist.
But the sound of the Emperor Engine gradually grew louder.
"Hey, hey! Order your men to surrender! The battle is over! Did you hear me?"
Colonel Carvin, who was holding Sig at sword-point, suddenly felt a strange sense of irritation.
Unknowingly, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his hand gripping the sword.
"What's going on? Haven't I already subdued Sig? This battle should be over now, right?"
Colonel Carvin couldn't help but roar in his heart, an inexplicable unease rising within him.
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