Chapter 7 - The Unexpected Superhero

In the early morning, sunlight streamed brightly across the high school yard, casting a warm and comfortable glow over everything.

"Harry, I bought this comic with Xu Mo's work from Junior Jump. It looks like it's got a superhero theme," Peter Parker said, holding up the comic magazine to Harry, who was seated nearby.

Harry, deep in thought about how to ask Mary Jane out, was momentarily distracted by Peter's enthusiasm. He glanced at the cover, where a bald figure dominated the page, and his lips curled into a smirk. "Bald?"

"I don't know why. I haven't read it yet," Peter admitted, scratching his head in confusion.

Peter knew that most superhero comics these days followed a similar formula, often resembling Captain America in both style and substance. This comic, with its bald protagonist, was clearly something different.

"After you read it, show it to me. I asked the butler to get a copy for me at home," Harry said, his curiosity piqued.

Peter nodded eagerly and began to leaf through the comic. As he turned the pages, he was initially impressed by the striking artwork. The protagonist, clad in red gloves and a beige costume with a flowing white cape, stood in a desolate, smoke-filled ruin, facing off against a vaguely monstrous figure.

"Wow, this is amazing! Xu Mo must have had someone else draw this," Peter exclaimed, marveling at the high quality of the illustrations.

The comic's opening scenes depicted a ruined city, hinting at a dramatic backstory. The bald hero was labeled with the title "Execution of Justice," suggesting he was a powerful superhero.

Peter eagerly continued reading, only to be shocked when he saw the protagonist's face. Instead of a detailed illustration, it was represented by simplistic lines and a circle—barely resembling a human face. "What is this? Eyebrows? Two eyes and a circle? Can a person really look like this?!"

Peter's face fell as he realized that the earlier high-quality pages might have been drawn by someone else. The current art seemed rudimentary and poorly executed.

Despite his initial disappointment, Peter kept turning the pages. The plot shifted to an epic battle scene with the Vaccine Man transforming into a massive, monstrous entity. The scene was intense, and Peter felt a surge of anticipation about how the bald hero would handle such a formidable foe.

Just as Peter reached the climactic moment, his eyes widened in disbelief. The bald hero, Saitama, delivered a single punch that obliterated the Vaccine Man with startling ease. The punch was depicted on a single page, and the villain was dispatched in an instant.

"Oh my God, what is this?" Peter exclaimed, his shock drawing attention. "Is this some kind of joke? Is this a serious comic?"

Peter's reaction startled those around him. His usual reserved demeanor was replaced by an outburst of incredulity that caught the attention of nearby students.

"What's going on?" one of them asked, looking at the comic in Peter's hand with curiosity.

Peter, ignoring the curious stares, continued to devour the comic, his excitement building as he read on. The following chapters introduced new characters and continued the unconventional storytelling that kept him hooked.

When Peter reached the end of the fourth chapter, he was left eagerly anticipating the next installment. The plot and artwork had captivated him, despite the initial roughness.

"Peter," a voice broke through his focus. He looked up to see Harry staring intently at him, surrounded by curious classmates.

Harry grabbed the comic from Peter's hands and announced, "Peter, your comic has been requisitioned."

The surrounding students' eyes widened, intrigued by the comic that had so thoroughly engrossed Peter.

Peter stood frozen, his shock evident. This was a reaction happening everywhere across the United States, as Xu Mo's comic was beginning to make waves, and Peter had just witnessed its debut impact firsthand.