: Super Fighting Tournament

"Huh? You signed me up for tomorrow's Super Fighting Tournament?"

Boros looked at Chalanco, who had come to visit, in the living room and asked him in confusion.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Chalan Ke lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes with her hands, her voice trembling noticeably:

"Ever since the incident with the hungry wolf, the senior disciples in the dojo have been leaving one after another, and there are rumors that our Flowing Water Rock Smashing Fist has completely declined."

"I...I'm also a disappointment. I haven't been able to turn the situation around, nor have I been able to bring honor to the dojo..."

He took a deep breath, raised his head, and a look of guilt flashed in his eyes:

"I'm sorry, Senior Brother, I was too impulsive and took it upon myself to register in your name. If you really don't want to go, I'll withdraw the application right now..."

"Why are you so nervous, Chalan Ke? It's not a big deal! I've got nothing else to do anyway, so I might as well go and take a look and observe the various schools and styles of martial arts these days."

Boros smiled and comforted Chalanco.

"You might not know this, but I won the championship in my first freestyle fighting match in 1974. In 1980, I defeated the Japanese heavy hitter Rairyu, and then for three consecutive years, I defeated all the karate masters to win the world freestyle fighting championship. I was known as the karate nemesis and nicknamed 'Devil Boros.' You think I'd get my legs broken?"

"Huh?" Chalan Ke asked blankly.

Although he didn't know what his senior brother was saying, he quickly replied:

"How could that be? How could I have thought that Senior Brother would have his legs broken? If you, Senior Brother, were willing to go on stage, winning the championship would be an absolute breeze."

Seeing Chalanco's reaction, Boros, feeling awkward, coughed and said:

"Don't worry, Chayolaria, I'll be competing tomorrow anyway."

"That's great! Senior Brother!"

Upon hearing this, Chalan Ke jumped up excitedly, his eyes shining as if he could already see the dawn of victory.

"With you here, the fame of the Flowing Rock Smashing Fist will once again resound throughout the entire fighting world, and all those who doubt us will have to shut up!..."

Boros ignored the gesticulating Chalanco and instead got up and slowly walked to the window.

"Mixed Martial Arts Tournament? Suiryu, God-level 108th Rank Bakuzan? And Haokei who beats Suiryu like a child."

His gaze was fixed on the distant scene outside the window, a hint of interest on his face.

"Heh, I wonder how those Monster Association executives who were scared out of their wits by me are doing now! So, if that so-called hero knew I was going to participate, would he still dare to show up at the event to recruit monsters?"

"I'm really looking forward to your appearance... Hero!"

………………

Meanwhile, in the dimly lit council hall of the Monster Association, Gyoro Gyoro's large eyes swept over his subordinates who were reporting below. After the reports finished, he slightly shifted his body and asked in a deep voice:

"How's the matter I instructed you to secretly control the higher-ups of the Fighting Association and deliver that special invitation to 'Azure Sky Overlord Fist' going? Has he accepted the invitation?"

The strange man below quickly replied, "Leader, we were just about to send him an invitation, but we discovered that he doesn't need an invitation at all; he's already registered for the competition himself."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Da Jiong's eyes, then he smiled and said:

"Is that so? That saves us a lot of trouble. Pass down the order to keep a close watch on the fighting arena tomorrow. Once it is confirmed that 'Azure Sky Overlord Fist' has indeed appeared in City C, launch a full-scale attack on other areas immediately as planned."

"Also, tell Gouketsu not to go to the fighting arena to join in the fun. Just send a few insignificant characters there as a token gesture. The monsters sent to K City should all be cannon fodder."

"Yes, leader!" the strange subordinates answered in unison.

"And what about the detailed biographical information about the person I asked you to investigate who killed the Azure Heaven Fist in the shelter? Have you found it?"

"We've found out, Boss, and as you instructed, we've either controlled or bribed that person's friends and family. They're just waiting for your command to immediately launch a public outcry... and send them to the Hero Headquarters Association to protest."

"Hehe, well done, you can go now."

"Yes!" the eccentric subordinates answered in unison.

"Heavenly Overlord Fist? You think you're so great? What good is being great if you're still bound by countless rules as a human? Heh, just wait and see how I orchestrate everything, sow discord among the factions, and force you into becoming a monster..."

At the other end, a hero practicing his fist alone deep inside the cave suddenly stopped mid-air with his powerful punches, which were capable of splitting mountains and shattering rocks, and the violent airflow instantly subsided.

He slowly withdrew his fists, his sharp eyes fixed on the strange man delivering the message, his tall figure exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

He snorted coldly, a hint of contempt in his eyes:

"Tell me not to go to the fighting arena? What, is Big Eyes afraid I'll get killed by that alien?"

Before he finished speaking, his tall frame suddenly leaned forward, like a dark, imposing mountain pressing down on the strange messenger. He stared intently into the man's eyes, his voice filled with arrogance: "Who do you think I am? Huh?...

"Me, a dignified...hero, should I avoid his sharp edge?"

The strange messenger trembled under the oppressive aura, almost collapsing to his knees, and hurriedly waved his hands to explain:

"Lord Hero, spare my life! I was just delivering a message, please don't kill me..."

The hero stared at him coldly for a long while before slowly straightening up, shaking his hand and saying impatiently:

"Hmph, I know. Go back and tell Big Eyes that I'll definitely be at the meeting tomorrow! But don't worry, I'll come back if things really don't look good."

"If that cowardly black elf can escape unscathed, then if I, Hero, truly wish to leave unscathed, that alien will be no match for me. Get lost."

Watching the strange messenger tumble and crawl, disappearing in a sorry state from the horizon.

The hero's massive body suddenly sprang up, and in the next instant, a muffled whooshing sound tore through the air, each punch and kick carrying a violent force.

This tyrannical force continued to spread outwards, causing the rocks within a radius of tens of meters to tremble. Many boulders even shattered under the invisible shockwaves, stirring up clouds of dust.

Feeling the surging fighting spirit within him, the hero slowly withdrew his fist, his gaze fixed intently on the distant fighting arena, and he sneered:

"Heavenly Overlord Fist? Heh, that's a pretty intimidating name. I wonder if I'll still be able to act so domineering when I run into you, Grandpa Hero, tomorrow? I'm really looking forward to it..."

The two, heading in opposite directions, both eagerly anticipate tomorrow...

........................

The next day, as dawn broke and a gentle breeze blew, Boros was preparing to leave for the arena when he saw Saitama sitting in the living room, leisurely watching television. He stopped and casually remarked:

"Hey bald guy, there might be a lot of weirdos out there today. Go out and wander around if you're free. And while you're at it, see if you can find any giant bugs thousands of meters long. If you can blow one up, you might just get promoted to S-rank!"

Upon hearing this, Saitama turned around and, as expected, showed a hint of interest.

"Really? Pineapple head? You can get promoted to S-rank by slaying a giant bug? So you went out so early today just to fight monsters too?"

Just kidding! Even if you kill Elder Centipede, the credit might go to someone else. That's just the will of the universe, hehe.

Boros thought to himself, but said it without showing any emotion;

"Of course it's true! I have other things to do today, I have to participate in a martial arts competition, so I can't get away. This credit goes to you!"

Saitama asked with some surprise, "A martial arts competition? You mean the one that old man taught you? Will I encounter many strong opponents in the competition?"

Boros shook his head.

"There are no strong contenders here, just insignificant nobodys. I participated for other reasons, you wouldn't understand even if I explained..."

He paused, a slight smile appearing on his face, and continued:

"Anyway, I've already told you. Your chance to be promoted to S-rank might be today. It all depends on whether you can seize it!"

"When we go out together, three S-class heroes carrying a B-class guy like you, you completely lower our overall prestige!"

Saitama waved his hand casually, with an indifferent expression on his face:

I don't really care about these rankings.

Boros scoffed, ignoring Saitama's hypocrisy, turned and pushed open the door, his figure quickly disappearing into the morning light.

Only after confirming that Boros was completely gone did Saitama hurriedly stand up, quickly walk into the bedroom, and begin to put on his iconic bright yellow Superman suit, muttering to himself as he tightened the belt:

"A giant worm several kilometers long... S-rank... We must find it and destroy it first today! Let's go!"

…………

Boros arrived at the fighting arena and found it already packed with people.

"Wow, so many people..."

Boros pulled down his mask, lowered the brim of his baseball cap, sighed, and stepped into the relatively quiet contestant-only passage.

At the registration desk at the end of the passage, a sweet-looking girl in a uniform was listlessly sorting out registration forms.

Hearing footsteps, she immediately put on a professional, sweet smile, looked up, and asked:

"Welcome to the martial arts tournament preliminaries. May I ask what your style is?"

"Water Flow Rock Shattering Fist".

The little girl's eyes and the pen in her hand flew across the form as she made notes.

"Okay, style confirmed. What is your registered name? We need to record it on the sign-in sheet."

Boros whispered, "Boros."

"Boros?!"

The little girl's pen clattered onto the registration form. She looked up, and the professional, sweet smile that had been on her lips vanished instantly, replaced by extreme excitement and fervor.

She stared at Boros, then suddenly screamed, her voice rising eight octaves:

"Is...is it Boros, the Heavenly Fist Master? My god, you actually showed up at the preliminaries? Is it really Lord Boros?"

"Yes, that's me."

Boros's eardrums went numb from the sudden scream, and he instinctively took a half step back.

"Oh my god! I can't believe I actually met a real person in real life! I'm going to faint!"

The little girl cupped her face in her hands, her whole body trembling violently.

Before Boros could react, the little girl had completely forgotten about the registration process.

She jumped up from her chair in excitement, gripping the edge of the table tightly with both hands, half her body leaning out of the chair, her cheeks flushed red, and she shouted incoherently:

"Incredible! Lord Boros, could I have your autograph? And may I touch your pectoral muscles? I'm so lucky today!"

Seeing the young girl's posture of "I won't sit down and work again until you let me touch your chest muscles," Boros broke out in a cold sweat, suppressing his embarrassment as he compromised:

"Forget about the pectoral muscles, those are private areas. I can sign your autograph, but could you please register it for me a little faster?"

"Ahhh! Long live Lord Boros!" The little girl was practically fainting with happiness.

"Lord Boros, I'm your biggest fan! I've been a fan since your very first appearance! I think you're so handsome, so cool, and that you have a gentle heart hidden beneath that cool exterior—you're practically a real-life domineering CEO! I love you so much, you're my god!"

Hey, hey, I'm telling you, but why are you touching me like that? I'm going to report you for sexual harassment!!

Boros's lips twitched as he stood in front of the two "salty hands" that were trying to break through the defenses and strike at vital points.

"Ahem, thank you for your kindness." A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he maintained his defensive stance and spoke rapidly:

"But the match is about to start, I have to go on the field right away, goodbye!"

After saying that, he didn't give the other person any chance to speak. He grabbed the competition certificate on the table and ran away as if fleeing a disaster, quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.

"Lord Boros—! Please give me a way to contact you! I can do it anytime—!"

Behind him, the little girl holding the autograph book was still not giving up. Her eyes turned into huge hearts, and she let out a piercing scream at the fleeing figure.

Boros staggered.

"Damn, how can you be so unreserved...do you have to be so raunchy? We're from an entire race, you know!"