In the narrow alley across from Saitama's small house, a young man in his early twenties leaned against a wall in silence. His cap was pulled low, hiding part of his face. His eyes shone with arrogant confidence, as if the whole world was just a game he planned to win.
This young man… was the player known as "Golden Sun."
He had been watching this house in Z-City for some time without getting bored. From the information the Tower System allowed his old family to pass down to the new generation, he knew that the cyborg called Genos had already become an S-Class hero at this point in the timeline, and that he often stayed in this house.
That was exactly what Golden Sun was waiting for.
"Genos… your genius S-Class hero, huh?"
"Fine. I'll make him the first step on my path."
Golden Sun did not rely only on physical strength. The tool he chose from the system was very different from what normal players picked.
Thanks to the information he got from his family, he had already formed a clear plan. He chose a high-level artificial intelligence, a hidden system that connected him to machines and data, able to hack electronic systems and read enemy weaknesses. He also had a special ability: shooting laser beams from his eyes.
He could only use this power three times a day, but for him, that was more than enough.
"All I need… is for the AI to paralyze his metal body for a few seconds."
"Then, one focused shot is enough to erase this 'Genos' hero from existence."
In his mind, he clearly saw the scene he had dreamed of for so long:
Genos, the symbol of mechanical power in the Hero Association, collapsing in front of him with no chance to fight back.
Heroes staring in shock.
And history recording: "Golden Sun, the man who defeated an S-Class hero."
A small smile appeared on his lips as he remembered one of the most humiliating days he had experienced in this world.
Back then, when he failed to get S-Class in the Hero Association exam, he was only given A-Class.
Just A-Class.
Lower than the rank his family's predecessor achieved in this world before.
To him, that was a shame.
"A-Class… what a joke."
"I'm from a veteran family in the Tower of Multiple Worlds… and my result is worse than the previous generation?"
He clenched his fists.
"Fine. If the Hero Association refuses to give me S-Class, there is still the other camp."
"The Monster Association will not reject someone who can defeat an S-Class hero."
But before that, he had tried another path.
Using his AI, he managed to find the home of the number two S-Class hero, Tatsumaki herself, and went there to ask—no, to beg—her to take him as her disciple or at least give him a special recommendation.
It wasn't only because she was strong…
She was also his favorite heroine in this world.
Who wouldn't want a cute loli teacher like her?
But the result?
She didn't even look at him.
With almost no words, she used her psychic power to send him flying through the sky like a useless bug, and even threatened to crush him if he ever showed his face in front of her again.
He remembered that moment very clearly. His teeth ground together in anger—but deep in his heart, he held a twisted fantasy:
"One day, that proud look of hers will break."
"I'll defeat an S-Class hero in front of everyone…"
"Then she'll regret it, that arrogant loli—she'll admit my value. Maybe she'll beg, maybe she'll ask me to stand by her side."
This thought filled him with a sick kind of excitement.
While he was lost in these fantasies, something at the house door caught his attention.
Someone was standing there, knocking calmly.
Golden Sun focused his gaze—and froze for a second.
That man's face… was not unfamiliar.
He had seen him before.
"… Emperor."
The player who had become the strongest man on Earth in this world.
The 7th S-Class hero.
The name that echoed through all Hero Association reports, the man whose existence had twisted the original flow of events compared to the data passed down to Golden Sun's family.
"So… you finally show yourself."
"But what are you doing here?"
A sting of unease hit him, mixed with curiosity and jealousy.
"How did he do it?"
"How did he reach S-Class and steal the title of strongest so fast?"
"Is he like me… from one of the old families? Or did he get some crazy luck in this world?"
He watched the Emperor walk into the house calmly, as if he owned the place, while Genos opened the door and bowed with respect.
Golden Sun bit down on his teeth.
"It doesn't matter… my goal doesn't change."
"Now I'm sure Genos is here. All I have to do is wait for the right moment."
"Whether the Emperor is here or not… when the chance appears, I'll strike."
But before he could sink further into his plans, he suddenly felt a strange pressure in the air.
A cold shiver went down his back, even though there was no wind.
He slowly lifted his head.
The sky above looked normal, just a few clouds…
But then he felt it.
That sharp, heavy psychic aura…
A crushing power he already knew very well.
Tatsumaki.
"Damn it… why is she here too…?"
From his hiding place in the shadows, he saw Tatsumaki moving through the sky above the house. Her green hair floated around her, and her long black dress shook with an invisible force.
She moved forward, raising her hand, clearly ready to flatten the entire house and everything around it with a single psychic strike.
But then… she suddenly stopped.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Tatsumaki's gaze dropped from the sky, scanning the alley like a hunting hawk, until it locked directly onto him.
Onto Golden Sun.
The one hiding in the shadows… who now knew very well that he had been discovered.
She flew toward him immediately.
"You. I told you not to show your face in front of me again," Tatsumaki said coldly. "What are you doing here?"
"I… I…" Golden Sun stuttered.
He knew his AI tool was designed only to handle Genos's systems. It was useless against someone like her. Even with his laser eyes, he had no chance at all.
Tatsumaki quickly wrapped him in her psychic grip, ready to unleash her anger on him—
But then she suddenly paused, sensing something.
She hid herself in the air in an instant, dragging him along.
'So you're also the sneaky type, huh…?' Golden Sun thought bitterly.
He looked into the distance as well… and saw the house door opening.
The Emperor.
Genos.
And that bald C-Class hero.
All three of them stepped out and started walking away, heading somewhere outside the city.
"No… if Genos leaves now, I might lose my chance to get him," Golden Sun thought, panicking.
Tatsumaki stared at the three figures ahead and decided to delay her revenge for now. She needed to see what this group was planning.
"You're coming with me. I'll deal with you later," she said.
With a single thought, Tatsumaki flew forward using her psychic power, carrying Golden Sun along as she followed the trio from a close distance.
When Genos, the Emperor, and Saitama finally reached the outskirts of Z-City, Genos suddenly stopped and stepped back, putting some distance between himself and the other two.
The Emperor and Saitama now stood facing each other.
' No way… is the Emperor planning to fight that low-ranked hero?' Golden Sun thought in disbelief.
Tatsumaki didn't know who Saitama was, but she was sure he didn't look strong enough to make the Emperor, who had refused to fight her earlier, accept a one-on-one battle.
But what happened next made every jaw drop.
They saw Saitama step forward and throw a punch that looked completely normal at first glance.
At the same time, they noticed a purple aura appear around the Emperor's body as he raised his right hand, as if trying to block Saitama's fist.
Then—
BOOM!!
RUMBLE!!
First, they heard a deep explosion from the direction of the two men.
In the next instant, the tall mountain standing proudly behind the Emperor turned into dust.
At almost the same moment, the sound of thunder rolled across the clear sky, even though the weather was sunny.
Any lonely cloud in the distance was blown away…
Leaving not even a trace behind.