Chapter 18: Blast.

More chapters on P@treon.com/Rentakun.

Check out the new fic, Marvel: Greatest Hero.

It's on this same account.

---

Time seemed to slow as I stood face-to-face with the massive serpent. Its gaze bore into me, exerting a crushing psychic pressure that felt almost unbearable. The Godsnake defied the natural order—a creature of primal instinct possessing powers reserved for the intelligent. But the Abandoned World was filled with such anomalies. I had no time for distractions; memories of the past would have to wait. The Godsnake's strike would be lightning-fast, and even a momentary lapse in focus could mean my end, its towering fangs sinking into my flesh.

Each second felt like an eternity as I waited for the inevitable attack, my senses heightened to the extreme. My body was on the brink of exploding with anticipation when suddenly, the snake convulsed violently, thrashing through miles of forest as its enormous body was torn in two. The force of the creature's death throes leveled everything in its path, and I leaped from my tree just in time to avoid being crushed.

I landed lightly and observed the cause of the snake's demise. My annoyance was mild but palpable. If these were the extent of its injuries, the creature might have recovered eventually. But recovery was no longer an option. I watched as a familiar figure swiftly dispatched the Godsnake's head, sealing its fate. I approached the spot where the figure stood, shaking off the last traces of combat.

"Hey, Blast," I called out, recognizing the man clad in his distinctive hero suit, flicking the blood off his gloves with practiced ease. "Long time, no see. How's the family?"

"They're doing well," Blast replied with his usual calm demeanor. "My son's becoming more like me every day. I came here because I needed to talk to you."

Blast wasn't one to waste words unless something was important to him. I listened as he continued. "I recently fought a large insectile Mysterious Being. I killed it, but the battle upset my wife. She gave me an ultimatum: retire from hero work unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Large insectile creature," I echoed. "That sounds like Elder Centipede. The timeline's a bit off, though, and you didn't kill it in the original timeline."

Blast shrugged, glancing at the fallen Godsnake. Understanding dawned on me. His visit wasn't just to announce his retirement—it was his final hurrah. He was likely savoring his last moments fighting in the Abandoned World.

"Did you see Tornado?" I asked, recalling the prodigious hero.

Blast snorted. "I figured you'd ask. I saved the girl a few years ago, gave her a few pointers. Haven't seen her since. It'd be awkward to meet now." Despite his indifferent words, I detected a hint of pride in his voice. Tornado had become one of the strongest heroes, a testament to the training he had imparted.

"Where's your dog?" Blast asked suddenly, shifting the subject.

"He's with the rest of his pack," I answered, smiling at the memory of the monstrous hounds. After a brief farewell, they had adopted my former foe, turning him into one of their own. It had been four months since, and I had wandered the Abandoned World alone ever since. Maybe it was time to return to the Supercontinent. I hadn't seen other humans in so long.

"As long as he doesn't follow you to the Supercontinent," Blast said, his tone indifferent. "One of those creatures could cause serious problems outside its environment."

I couldn't disagree. Even most of the S-Class heroes wouldn't survive long here. Tornado might, and Silver Fang had a chance, but the others? Flashy Flash, Darkshine, Atomic Samurai, even Metal Knight—I wouldn't bet on them. The monsters were one thing; the environment was another. The Abandoned World had weather that rivaled the Grand Line, superbugs that could make even me feel sick, and a host of other dangers—psychic rocks, self-replicating robotic bees, sentient emotions that possessed dead bodies, and even humanoid magic-wielding goats. Adaptability was key here, or you'd end up like those unfortunate Stymphalians.

"Want to have a fight?" I asked suddenly, turning to Blast. We had sparred before, and though I had inflicted wounds, I had never won.

**Blast**

**Near Future Number One Hero**

**Species**: Human

**Health**: 46,419,145/46,419,145

**Mana**: 0/0

**STR**: 18,091,562

**VIT**: 19,452,777

**DEX**: 16,917,564

**INT**: 305,651

**WIS**: 502,122

**LUK**: 78,451

**Martial Arts Style**: Human's Explosive Potential

Despite years of training, Blast's stats were still higher than mine. Even this brief breakdown from *Observe* didn't do justice to his immense skill. He moved like lightning, and like me, he had even stronger forms. But I had grown stronger too, exploring the wonders of the Abandoned World. If I wanted to be the strongest, this was an obstacle I had to overcome.

"So you can lose again?" Blast said, his tone indifferent, though I could see a flicker of interest in his eyes. He loved a challenge, and while I had yet to defeat him, I had proven a worthy adversary. I could almost hear his thoughts without telepathy. *My wife would hate it if I fought, but she gave me permission to be here, so she must know I'd get into some fights. This is an avoidable battle, but it's also my last outing for a long time. She wouldn't be too upset if I got into a relatively safe fight with an old acquaintance.*

He needed one last push.

"Tiger King Mode," I said, feeling my heart explode as microscopic scarlet fibers invaded my cells, stimulating them to their absolute limit. My blood surged through my veins, so hot it evaporated through my pores, giving my skin a bloody sheen before disappearing into steam. This mode was a dozen times harder to maintain than Wolf King Mode, but Blast deserved nothing less. Every cell in my body was pushed past its natural limit, thousands of calories burning away in the furnace that was my flesh.

I stepped forward, catching the look of surprise on Blast's face as it shifted to one of exasperation, barely concealing his anticipation.