Tatsumaki woke up in her hospital bed, bandages wrapped tightly around her wounds.
"Sister, you're alright! I was so worried!"
Fubuki yowled, clutching Tatsumaki's arm.
"Ugh… What happened?" Tatsumaki groggily asked, rubbing at her eyes.
"You were fighting that ninja, and he injured you pretty badly," Fubuki explained. "But it's alright, he is in custody now."
"Glad to know. Now, if you excuse—" Tatsumaki was cut off with a painful gasp as she tried to get up.
"You're not well yet. You need to rest," Fubuki urged.
"No, I need to go to an important hero conference," Tatsumaki insisted. "Now let go of me, little sister."
"But Tatsumaki, your injuries—" Fubuki started, tears streaming down her face but stopped as Tatsumaki looked at her.
"I promise I will be okay," Tatsumaki reassured her. "I am Rank 2 for a reason."
"Alright… just be careful," Fubuki sighed with a smile.
"Of course," Tatsumaki said and flew away to the Hero Association building.
Within moments, Tatsumaki arrived to see all the S-Class heroes gathered—except for Blast and Metal Knight, as usual.
"You're late, Tatsumaki," Sitch, the high-ranking executive, grumbled. "Take a seat."
Tatsumaki nodded and took a seat beside Silverfang, Rank 3.
"You had a pretty tough fight with the wannabe ninja, huh?" Metal Bat, Rank 15, snickered. "And here I thought you were invincible."
"Shut up. The job is done, and that's all that matters," Tatsumaki shot back, glaring daggers at the cocky teen.
"Enough!" Sitch yelled, slamming the table. "We are here to discuss the arrival of our new S-Class hero… and the new impending threats that are upon us."
Immediately, everyone fell silent.
"And who is this new hero, may I ask?" Genos asked, staring intensely at Sitch with his golden eyes.
"May I introduce… Lord Vader! S-Class Rank 1!" Sitch bellowed.
A chilling temperature filled the room as the doors creaked open, revealing a tall, armored figure clad in black. His heavy breathing echoed throughout the chamber.
"Is it just me, or does it feel kinda cold?" Child Emperor murmured, shivering as the dark figure took a seat beside him.
"S-Class Rank 1? And how is this newcomer stronger than Tornado?" Atomic Samurai asked, eyeing Vader with distrust.
"You would do well not to underestimate my powers," Vader threatened, his voice deep and commanding.
"Oh yeah? Let's put that to the test then, Vader," Atomic Samurai challenged, standing up.
Vader rose to his feet, his imposing frame towering over Atomic Samurai.
"You think you are—" Atomic Samurai choked, suddenly feeling an invisible force constricting his throat. He collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.
"Be careful not to choke on your own arrogance, Samurai," Vader intoned darkly, his hand clenched before releasing him.
Atomic Samurai gasped as air rushed back into his lungs. He glared up at Vader, standing defiantly.
"You think this makes you S-Class Rank 1? Then you're more foolish than I thought."
"Perhaps this will help you see things more clearly," Vader replied, raising his right hand and unleashing a powerful surge of force lightning.
Atomic Samurai barely had time to react before he was blasted into a nearby wall.
"Ouch," Metal Bat muttered, stopping as Vader turned his head toward him.
"Perhaps you would like to be the second demonstration?" Vader asked coolly.
"Heh… no thanks," Metal Bat chuckled. "Welcome to the club."
Vader turned back to Atomic Samurai.
"I accept your talents… S-Class Rank 1," Atomic Samurai finally admitted, rubbing his sore arm.
"Good. And you, Tornado?" Vader asked, swiftly towering over Tatsumaki's petite frame.
Tatsumaki glared up at him defiantly before finally muttering, "Yes..."
Vader stared at her for a moment before nodding and taking his seat.
"Now that you've all stopped arguing, we can move on to the main issue," Sitch interrupted, displaying a holographic image with his remote.
"The Monster Association is rising. Just hours ago, A-City was attacked by Elder Centipede. We sent heroes to deal with it, but they were met with resistance from… drones."
The screen flickered, showing unconscious heroes and buildings crumbling under a swarm of drones.
"Drones? Never seen them before," Superalloy Darkshine commented.
"Not just A-City. J-City was attacked by Do-S, and half the heroes sent—along with civilians—have been brainwashed."
The holographic image shifted to show an army of mind-controlled civilians and heroes bowing before a whip-wielding woman.
"This is serious," Flashy Flash murmured.
"Yes. Which is why you will all be split into groups to handle these threats," Sitch explained, glancing at Pig God, who continued eating his hamburger.
The assignments were given, and soon, Sitch called Tatsumaki's name.
"Tatsumaki will be paired with… Caped Baldy."
A moment of silence. Then—
"WHAT?!" Tatsumaki exploded in fury. "After all the work I've done, I get paired up with that bald idiot?! He only cares about his sales! Baldy! Octopus! Egghead! Cueball!"
"That is quite enough!" Sitch yelled, slamming the table. "You need to learn to work with others."
"I prefer working alone. And especially not with some B-Class baldy," Tatsumaki huffed.
"Would you rather work with our new member, then?" Sitch challenged, gesturing at Vader.
Tatsumaki glanced at the dark figure before sighing. "Fine. But if Baldy screws this up, I'm switching to Vader."
"Very well," Sitch sighed. "Your mission is to eliminate the Dragon-level threat, Cyn."
Tatsumaki huffed, crossing her arms. "I'll be off then," she muttered, before shooting into the sky toward the dragon-level threat.
Okay, Baldy, where are you? she thought irritably, scanning the area. Her sharp eyes landed on a particular bald-headed man facing off against a grotesque, eldritch-like monster.
"You're pretty strong," Saitama admitted, his tone casual. "I might actually have to get serious now."
The creature—Cyn—let out a low, amused chuckle. "Giggle. And how exactly do you plan to do that, human?" she sneered, her golden tentacles whipping forward, firing beams of searing energy.
Saitama effortlessly sidestepped the attacks, his expression mildly bored. The beams struck the ground behind him, exploding on impact and leaving deep craters in their wake.
"Got you now, squirmy worm!" Cyn cackled, one of her massive tentacles coiling around him. "Time for you to take a trip—straight into my mouth!"
Tatsumaki tensed, preparing to swoop down and intervene, when—
Flick.
A single, lazy flick from Saitama's finger detonated the tentacle gripping him, sending gore splattering in all directions.
Cyn recoiled, hissing. "Angry. You are a strange human..." she growled before unleashing a massive, blindingly bright energy beam directly at Saitama.
The blast engulfed him completely, incinerating everything in its path.
Cyn's many camera-like eyes blinked in triumphant glee. "Hee-hee! You should be dead now! Now I can—"
She froze.
Saitama stood there, completely unscathed.
"How…?" Cyn stuttered, her voice cracking in disbelief.
"Eh, this is getting boring," Saitama muttered. Then, in a single, effortless motion, he punched her straight in the chest.
The impact obliterated Cyn's entire body, reducing it to nothing but a charred, pulsating heart that wriggled frantically on the ground.
"I'll be back!" the heart screeched before scuttling into a nearby sewer.
Tatsumaki exhaled, shaking her head. "Target neutralized. Now we can all—"
She was cut off as a deep rumbling shook the battlefield.
From the rubble, a monstrous centipede-like amalgamation rose, its segmented form towering like a skyscraper. Thousands of drones swarmed around it like a sentient storm of steel and energy.
A sharp, familiar voice echoed from atop the creature.
"Miss me?"
Tatsumaki's gaze snapped upward, and her scowl deepened. Speed-o'-Sound Sonic stood atop the writhing mass, smirking.
"Cyn helped me break free," he said, twirling his katana. "And together, we will destroy you."
Sonic's eyes narrowed as he pointed his blade at her. "I'll take the esper. You handle the bald fool."
The centipede's core flared with an eerie glow as its drones swarmed downward in a massive wave.
"All drones—attack the Caped Baldy and fulfill the exponential end," a cold, mechanical voice commanded.
The horde descended upon Saitama, clawing, biting, and tearing at him from all angles.
Saitama yawned. Then, he slowly clenched his fist.
"Serious Series: Serious Punch."
The moment he swung, a massive shockwave erupted, disintegrating every drone in an instant. The battlefield trembled under the sheer force of the attack.
Tatsumaki barely had time to smirk before Sonic reappeared in front of her, his katana a mere inch from her throat.
"No one can help you now," he taunted.
Then—WHAM!
A loud slap sent him flying, embedding him deep into a nearby building.
Tatsumaki blinked. Saitama stood beside her, his hand still raised from the slap.
"You good?" he asked, pulling her to her feet.
"I'm fine," she huffed, brushing herself off. "Focus on the real threat."
A deafening screech rang out.
The Absolute Solver—an unholy fusion of machine and monstrosity—rose before them, its gargantuan form blotting out the sky.
Tatsumaki's eyes widened. "RUN, YOU STUPID BALDY!" she screamed as the Absolute Solver fired an apocalyptic energy blast.
Instinctively, she threw up a psychic barrier. The blast struck, pressing against her shield with immense force.
Cracks began to spiderweb through it.
"I… I can't hold it much longer!" she grunted, sweat beading on her forehead.
Saitama sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Guess I gotta step in."
He pulled back his fist.
"Serious Series: Serious Punch."
The impact sent a colossal shockwave tearing through the battlefield. The Absolute Solver let out a mechanical wail, its form violently disintegrating into scrap and molten metal.
Tatsumaki recoiled as pieces of goo-covered debris rained down.
"Ugh! Disgusting!" she gagged. "Did you have to do that?!"
Saitama shrugged. "What else could I do?"
Tatsumaki exhaled sharply, glancing at him. "You never cease to surprise me..." she murmured. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at him under the sunlight.
Oh my… he actually looks kinda handsome.
She quickly shook the thought away.
Saitama raised an eyebrow. "Uh… you hot or something? Your face is kinda red."
"I-I'm fine!" Tatsumaki stammered, her blush deepening.
Saitama cracked his neck. "Well, let's get you home. Long day and all."
Before she could protest, he scooped her up effortlessly.
"Hey! Put me down!" she barked, squirming. "I'm not a kid!"
"You are to me," he replied flatly.
Tatsumaki pouted, crossing her arms. "Hmph! Have it your way, Baldy," she muttered, burying her face against his chest.
Saitama smirked slightly as he carried her off.
Meanwhile
A certain Hero Hunter stood among the wreckage, surrounded by the groaning bodies of fallen heroes. Garou cracked his neck and exhaled sharply.
"Finally won," he muttered, turning to leave.
Then—he heard it.
A slow, mechanical breath. Deep. Resonant.
Garou turned around, his sharp gaze locking onto the dark, imposing figure before him. A black-cloaked warrior stood still, his gleaming helmet reflecting the city's dim light.
Darth Vader.
Garou's eyes narrowed. "Oh, it's you again. You stopped me from crushing those Tank Top muscle-heads the other day. Big mistake." He scoffed. "So what now? You a hero or something?"
Vader took a step forward, his presence alone radiating suffocating pressure. "S-Class, Rank 1. Darth Vader," he intoned, his voice distorted and cold. "And today is your end."
Without warning, Vader swung his cybernetic arm forward, his punch crashing into Garou's chest like a battering ram.
BOOM!
Garou rocketed backward, slamming into the concrete with a sickening crack. Blood dripped from his mouth as he wiped it away, glaring at the Sith Lord.
"Alright then, 'hero,'" Garou spat, eyes burning with renewed determination.
He launched himself forward.
"Fist of Flowing Water: Crushing Rock!"
Garou's strikes blurred into a relentless barrage—each hit flowing seamlessly into the next like a raging river. The sheer speed and force of his blows could crumble mountains.
But before his fists could connect, Vader raised his hand.
An invisible force shimmered around him, absorbing the brunt of the attack. Garou's punches stopped inches from Vader's body, held back by an unseen wall.
What the hell?!
With a hiss, Vader ignited his crimson lightsaber.
Garou smirked. "Oh? You're using your little glowstick now?" He lunged, weaving past the humming blade—only to twist away at the last second as Vader swung in a precise, horizontal arc.
The red energy blade carved through the air, narrowly missing Garou's head.
Garou clicked his tongue. "Okay. Maybe I should take you seriously."
He feinted left, then aimed a devastating punch straight at Vader's mask.
But Vader moved faster.
His black-gloved hand shot out, gripping Garou's wrist with an iron grip. Before Garou could react, Vader twisted it sharply.
A sharp pop rang out as pain shot up Garou's arm.
"Nrgh—!" Garou recoiled in pain but retaliated instantly, slamming a powerful kick into Vader's chest. The Sith Lord staggered back slightly but remained standing.
Vader exhaled slowly. "You underestimate the power of the Dark Side."
Garou scoffed. "Oh yeah? What 'dark side'—"
His words died in his throat.
Literally.
An unseen force clamped around his neck. His vision blurred as he clawed at his throat, gasping for air.
Vader slowly curled his fingers in the air, intensifying the pressure.
"Now die."
Garou's body trembled, his vision darkening. His feet barely touched the ground as he was lifted higher.
Damn it... Is this really how I go out?
No.
With sheer willpower, Garou forced out a raspy chuckle. "Tch… What a joke," he choked. "Using cheap tricks like this… You got no skill!"
Vader narrowed his eyes.
Then—he released his grip.
Garou crashed onto the ground, coughing violently.
But before he could catch his breath, a storm of crackling blue lightning surged from Vader's fingertips.
"AGHHH!"
Garou's body convulsed as the Sith Lord's Force Lightning tore through him, sending him sprawling backward. His skin burned, his muscles screamed, but his mind only sharpened.
Vader took a step forward, raising his blade for the final strike.
"Goodbye, Hero Hunter."
But Garou grinned through the pain.
"You fell for it."
In an instant, he shot up like a striking serpent and drove his elbow into Vader's mask.
CRACK!
Vader let out a distorted howl as his helmet fractured, revealing part of his scarred face beneath.
Garou winced. "Damn, you're ugly."
His eyes gleamed with battle lust. "Time to end this."
"Fist of Flowing Water: Crushing Water!"
Blows rained down on Vader's body like a relentless storm. Garou's fists and kicks shattered armor plates, dented cybernetics, and ruptured wiring. Sparks flew from Vader's suit as his mechanical systems began to fail.
"Enough!" Vader roared.
Summoning all of his remaining strength, he swung his fist.
The punch connected with Garou's face like a meteor, sending him skidding across the battlefield.
Vader staggered, breathing heavily. "It is I who will finish this."
With a sharp motion, he raised both hands.
The ground trembled. Rocks, debris, and shattered concrete spiraled into the air, forming a violent cyclone of destruction around him.
"Feel the wrath of the Dark Side!"
The storm of debris struck Garou like a barrage of missiles, each impact rattling his bones.
"Ugh—!" Garou snarled, shielding himself. His vision blurred as Vader raised his palm.
The earth beneath Garou's feet shattered.
The ground collapsed, swallowing him into a pit of rubble and ruin.
Vader exhaled deeply. He stared down at the mound of crushed stone.
"The Hero Hunter is no more," he declared.
A moment later, a metallic figure landed nearby.
"I have arrived," Genos announced. His glowing eyes scanned the area. "Where is the Hero Hunter?"
Vader pointed at the debris. "Dead and buried."
Genos' mechanical gaze flickered. "Are you sure that's the end of him?"
Before Vader could answer—
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted from the rubble as Garou burst free, his body crackling with new energy. His eyes gleamed with raw, unhinged power.
Vader took a slow step back. "Impossible..."
Garou wiped the blood from his mouth and sneered. "You thought that was enough to stop me?"
With one swift motion, he drove a fist straight into Vader's chest—
CRUNCH!
Vader's breathing panel shattered completely. His mechanical wheezing became labored, erratic.
He fell to one knee.
"S-Class Rank 1, huh?" Garou muttered, looking down at him. "You're stronger than Tornado. But you're nowhere near Blast."
With a final sneer, Garou grabbed Vader's broken body—
And hurled him into the sky.
Vader's form vanished beyond the clouds.
Garou rolled his shoulders, turning to face the only opponent left.
"Now that he's gone… That leaves only you."
His piercing gaze locked onto Genos.
The Demon Cyborg clenched his fists, servos whirring. "I will not fall as he did."
Garou grinned. "Good. Then let's keep this fight going."