Saved by the King

Everyone in the stage was frozen with shock, those heavy barrages that can seemingly destroy a mountain, done by a rank 8 golden core formation, it's pure power can be seen by all.

Even King Behemoth, who was just spectating this whole time, praised the battle prowess Douglas shown in the bout, but as of right now he was concerned of the state of the bald man that Douglas attacked.

He can only helplessly watch as Douglas attacked the weak innocent bald man, to think a rank 8 golden core formation personally killed a body enhancer, the citizens will surely gossip about it.

But when he saw the completely fine state of the bald man, he was in utter shock. There was never an instance that a low-rank body enhancer being completely fine after an all-out attack of a spirit formation, much more of a powerful golden core formation.

Not just Behemoth, all the Sect master, crowd and even Revant, Maria and Mittle froze in shock upon the unharmed state of Saitama. All of the people present felt the tremendous power attacks of Douglas he unleashed. Even the Sect master turned serious upon watching the skill Douglas used.

The Skill Douglas used was the Beast Sect technique called 'Infernal Drill Execution' which has a rank of heaven-step tier 4 skill. Tier 4 skills are rare enough and the sects usually only have 2-3 of them, it also displays the obviousness of its power by its importance of the sects, Tier 4 skills are considered as treasures and are greatly monumental to them. One can say that having a Tier 4 skill, even a human-step tier 4 skill can turn one into a great expert. It's battle prowess is nothing to scoff at. There are 3 steps of skills, Human-step, Earth-step, and Heaven-step, with each step being more powerful than the previous one, so having a heaven-step tier 4 skill warrants the power of the holder.

Douglas, the attacker, upon seeing the fine state of Saitama took a step back in fear. "Im-Impossible! th-this.. there is no way for you to remain unharmed!" Douglas said in a panic.

He knew how powerful the 'Infernal Drill Execution' was, he once obliterated a member of the Accursed Bloody Cult with the same cultivation as his using the said skill.

"What do you mean impossible? Can't you see the result in front of you right now? Are you blind?" Bob sneered and started to deride Douglas. "You said that he wasn't qualified to make the decision, how about now?"

Douglas' face went green upon hearing the insult. "No! this is not possible. Yes! That's right, he has a protective treasure in him right now. That's it, that is surely it." Douglas started declaring, one can notice that he was just deluding himself right now.

Hearing that, Bob sneered and muttered. "You can't live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? In a delusional state. Don't be shameless and just accept the truth, this is the kind of person you deemed as unworthy to be involved in my decisions."

Not willing to back down, Douglas continued in his antics, insisting that Saitama has a protective treasure on him. "You don't believe me? In that attack, I hit him in the chest where you can hide the protective treasure, how about I attack him specifically in the head, exploding his brains out?"

Hearing that, Saitama was intrigued as he looked at Bob, "Are people here this unreasonable?" He asked with a deadpan expression on his face.

Bob can only smile wryly as he heard Saitama's question. "Oh master, it's more than you'll ever imagine. These kinds of people are very much plenty in every cultivations. People here are more proud than you think."

Saitama revealed an interested expression hearing that.

With Saitama and Bob, again casually chatting with themselves, resulted in Douglas being enraged even more further.

He once again brandished his claws and said in a murderous voice. "Relying on a protective treasure, it is better to aim at your head instead! 'Clawed Guillotine!'" Douglas once again shouted and used a skill to attack.

Douglas disappeared in his spot and was replaced by disintegrated stage, appearing in front of Saitama he sliced his claw neck level towards Saitama, intending to behead him.

"Man, what's wrong with this guy? Did he become a monster, he keeps bothering me." Saitama muttered as he followed Douglas light speed movement clearly.

King Behemoth instantly moved towards the stage but realizing he cannot stop the situation from happening, he yelled with all his might. "STOP!"

Then a deafening explosion emerged, more than the previous one.

Everyone looked at the stage and saw a very shocking scene.

Both figures in a standstill, both of the figure's arm was at the side of their heads as if both of them threw a punch but dodged it.

But that was not the most shocking, behind Saitama nothing can be seen and only Douglas claws connected at Saitama's neck but is not harmed, as if the claws were just gently placed there contrary to its initial ferocious strike.

Douglas, on the other hand, has a blank expression on his face. Saitama apparently punched but it struck beside Douglas' head as if he dodged Saitama's strike.

Yet the result of each strike is like heaven and earth, it is enormously and drastically different.

While Douglas' strike looks like his claws were gently placed on Saitama's neck.

Saitama, on the other hand, is one cannot comprehend how a body enhancer can have a power like that.

Behind Douglas, in a cone shape, a major part of the stage was obliterated into dust.

Saitama's punch obliterated a few kilometers radius of the stage all towards the end of it. Saitama timed the force so as it doesn't reach to the audience. In the disastrous path of his punch, no living being resides.

When one witnessed the destructive power of the punch, one can only feel cold chills running through their spines

"Whaaa-- I almost connected the punch. Good thing the King intervened in the nick of time." Saitama's nonchalant voice sounded out in the eerily silent atmosphere.

Saitama withdrew his hand and held his chest, breathing in relief.

Yet, Douglas was still standing there in a trance, his face blank. But if one looks closely, one can discover that his currently opened eyes are now all white, apparently, Douglas fainted while standing.

The King immediately went to Douglas and sent some stream of healing energy in his body, forcing the latter to wake up.

Then with a smile, the King turned towards the crowd, laughed loudly and said. "So my subject, what do you think of the performance? This act is solely for entertaining you, spicing the opening event for the 'Macta's Strongest Youth'. What do you think? Exciting right? Let us conclude this as the closing event for the annual discipleship! The week after this, the 'Macta's Strongest Youth' will officially start. Let me formally announce to you all the end of the 'Annual Discipleship'. There is only a single requirement to join the competition and that is one must be below 20. Disperse."

The King skillfully finds a reason to label the conflict of the stage as a scripted performance the King prepared for the audience and then divert their attention to the next event to bring them out of their stupor. Fortunately, the King strategy worked and eventually the crowd dispersed.

Before the King also leaves, he sent a mental message to all the sect masters. 'In the Palace Conference Room. NOW!'

Although a mental message, all the sects masters can feel the undisguised fury and irritation in his voice. The 8 of them shivered and can only accept helplessly. Then the 8 sect masters followed the King to the palace.

...

Saitama then started to walk towards the Hero Sect place, followed by Revant and Bob.

Every disciple of the Hero Sect has mixed feelings in the sight.

Some are nervous, excited, happy and restless when they saw Bob, the rank 9 golden core formation approaching them.

Adel, who was still in stupor upon seeing the overwhelming might of Saitama only woke up when he saw a figure standing before him.

It was Saitama.

"Se-senior Sa-Saitama?" Adel eventually woke up from his stupor and stuttered upon seeing Saitama.

Saitama smiled lightly, patted Adel's shoulder and said, "So, When can we join?"