"Molecular level… pulverizing collapse…"
Tony stared at the point on the screen where the armor had caved in and shattered in an instant, sounding like he was muttering in a dream. "No explosive yield released… only pure, point-focused physical momentum… beyond the upper limit of the sensors? How… how is that even possible?"
"Supplementary analysis, sir," Jarvis said. "Reverse calculations based on the damaged building structures and the initial velocity and decay of the ejected fragments indicate that, at the moment of contact, the target experienced an absolute physical momentum that, conservatively estimated, exceeds the total output of the strongest known man-portable weapon. Momentum transfer efficiency at the point of impact… theoretical value approaches infinity. Computational model… cannot be constructed. Energy conversion form… unknown."
"Infinite… unknown…" Tony echoed under his breath, then slammed his palm onto the console, producing a dull thud. "Infinite my ass! If it were actually infinite, space around him would've already collapsed into a black hole! It has to be some kind of energy-conversion mode we don't understand yet! Or… maybe the rules at the dimensional level got broken."
His own guess shocked him so much he drew in a sharp breath.
"Sir, Project 'Peace Dove' has encountered major obstacles. The Supernormal Phenomena Control Bureau (SPC) has failed in its first attempt to make contact with the target (the bald man). Preliminary assessment suggests the target may not be constrained by any physical or energy rules within the current cognitive framework. Internal assessments within SPC for the target's threat level… are rising exponentially." Jarvis inserted a feed from the S.H.I.E.L.D. channel.
"Useless idiots!" Tony raked his fingers irritably through his hair. "Keep going! Keep going! I want those fragments fully analyzed! Material! Spectral data! Residual spatial distortion! Filter every last trace for me! And also…"
He suddenly switched the display to a detailed map of Brooklyn's underground pipeline network, the dense web of lines like a labyrinth.
"Put special surveillance on this area. Corvus Glaive… Proxima Midnight… and that damn mage. Tracking down the Mind Scepter's whereabouts is the only clue we can still grab onto right now! We can't let that baldy… ruin another major operation!"
His gaze locked onto the zone Jarvis had highlighted on the structural map: an ancient, deep and tangled network of old subway tunnels—exactly where the Mind Scepter's last signal had flickered out.
Back at the warehouse bench, Saitama drained the last mouthful of broth from his noodle cup with obvious satisfaction and let out a long, contented sigh.
"Ah… I feel alive again."
He glanced down at the tiny, stubborn lump of noodle that still hadn't softened at the bottom of the cup. He poked at it regretfully with his fork, then gave up on it. After wiping his mouth, he started tidying up.
The empty cheap cup and the mineral water bottle went into the nearby public trash can.
Now that he was full and hydrated, it was time to head home. The rent still wasn't covered, and he had to keep working tomorrow.
Saitama stood up, brushed off his pants, and fished out his old flip phone. The screen showed several push notifications from the Hero Association app. He tapped them open.
"Emergency notice! A high-energy-class threat has been detected in the Brooklyn district and has been successfully neutralized! Thank you to all citizens for your cooperation! Please evacuate the area in an orderly manner…"
Below the text was a blurry photo, apparently showing Black Dwarf wrecking the warehouse earlier, and another shot of a building that had been punched through by some massive force.
"Oh, that big rock guy." Saitama nodded in sudden realization. "So he was an Association mission target? No wonder he was so rock-hard to hit…"
He didn't spare a single thought for Black Dwarf's destructive power, only muttering, "Association mission… do they pay a bounty for that? Taking down a big guy like that should net a decent bonus, right?"
(End of Chapter)
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