"Huff!"
The sound of air being torn apart rang out.
Seeing the monster's claws coming, Ben smiled coldly and chose to ignore it.
The monster was trying to play tricks, but wasn't he also using a trick of his own?
His fist was already clenched tight.
Seizing the opportunity, he aimed at the monster's weak point and threw a punch.
Fist Bone Impact!
At the same moment Ben's punch landed, the monster's claws struck his body.
Thump!
The monster's strength was terrifying.
Ben was sent flying instantly.
At the same time, his Fist Bone Impact accurately struck the monster's weak point.
It was a "life-for-a-life" tactic!
The reason he did this was because the monster's skin was too thick—even his current strength couldn't easily penetrate it.
Crack!
When his punch connected with the monster's neck, an explosion occurred.
Flesh and blood flew everywhere!
"Aow!"
The monster let out a miserable howl.
A massive pit had been blasted into its neck, and blood gushed out uncontrollably.
Even though Ben's strike wasn't at full power, its destructive force was still shocking.
Yet, even after hitting a weak spot, the monster remained standing.
A Fierce Battle
"Little Chen!!"
Guild Leader Melody Song's eyes widened as she saw Chen Ye being sent flying by the monster's claws.
She was about to rush forward, but Regiment Commander Clarke quickly grabbed her.
"Don't be reckless, Guild Leader Melody Song! You won't make a difference!"
Muscle Man suddenly pointed forward. "Look… that kid is fine!"
Yes.
Ben's current defensive power surpassed even his offensive strength.
His Armed Color Haki provided a substantial defense boost.
So, while the monster's claws sent him flying, they didn't actually break his defense.
Ben stood up, looking at the monster's miserable state with a grin.
His body only felt slightly shaken, but he had suffered no real injuries.
Meanwhile, the monster, having taken a fatal blow, was rapidly losing vitality.
This was a massive victory for Ben!
Unstoppable Power
Boom!
The ground trembled as Ben stomped down.
Using the recoil, he launched himself like a lightning bolt towards the monster once more.
His movements were fluid, full of energy, resembling a dragon or a tiger—completely unharmed.
At the defense line, onlookers were horrified!
This young man had just endured a full-force attack from the monster—yet he was fine?!
Muscle Man had taken a similar hit earlier and was now coughing up blood, seriously injured.
It was important to note that Muscle Man's innate ability was Mutant Juggernaut, granting him incredible durability.
Yet, Ben was still standing strong!
A Mystery Unfolds
"Melody Song, what exactly is your future son-in-law's innate ability?" Muscle Man asked in disbelief.
"How does he have no weaknesses?"
Most transcendents focused on a single attribute due to limited spiritual energy points.
Yet, Ben displayed insane strength, speed, and defense.
"Paramecia-type · Riki Riki Fruit," Melody Song replied instinctively.
"Riki Riki Fruit?"
Muscle Man nodded in understanding.
"No wonder his strength is off the charts. But… he isn't just focusing on strength. His speed and defense are just as insane. What's his total stat count?"
Regiment Commander Clarke analyzed, "He must have acquired other transcendent skills to boost his speed. As for defense… I believe it's Armed Color Haki. Given the extent of his coverage, I'd say he's at least at the Proficient level."
"This kid is a monster at such a young age!" Muscle Man sighed.
Then, the fifth-order powerhouse who had been silent all along spoke.
"His overall strength has already reached the sixth-order standard."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The Monster's Desperation
By now, Ben had completely gained the upper hand.
The massive wound on the monster's neck was bleeding out rapidly.
With each drop of blood lost, its vitality waned.
Even with its insane defense, it was nearing its limit.
Ben, on the other hand, showed no signs of slowing down.
It seemed like he could fight for ten more days without tiring.
Seeing this, the monster made an unexpected decision.
Instead of fighting to the death, it turned and ran—heading straight for the space-time rift!
Ben hesitated for a moment.
Then, he chose not to pursue.
This monster's thick armor meant that even if he caught up, he'd need a long time to finish it off.
The bigger priority was protecting the defense line.
If he left his position, weaker monsters might break through and invade Botham City.
His family was there.
He couldn't let that happen.
Holding the Line
Ben took a deep breath and threw a powerful punch.
Bang!
Fist Wind Impact!
A massive hurricane of energy shredded through the incoming monsters, turning them into mincemeat.
He didn't stop.
More punches followed.
More monsters exploded into pieces.
At this moment, Ben truly embodied the phrase:
"One man stands in the way, ten thousand cannot pass!"
He stood there, his stance unwavering.
Despite the overwhelming number of enemies, not a single monster could breach his defense.
And every moment was captured live on television.
The reporter lady watching him from the helicopters was overcome with emotion.
"I think my prayers have been answered. He is the miracle!!"
Reinforcements Arrive
Half an hour later, several transport planes appeared on the horizon.
Reinforcements had arrived!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Rocket fire rained down, obliterating the remaining monsters.
Then, the cabin of a transport plane opened mid-air.
A figure leaped out from 100 meters above the ground.
It was a middle-aged woman in her thirties, dressed in tight-fitting combat gear.
She wore a strange VR-like device over her eyes.
After landing smoothly, she wasted no time.
She pressed her fingers against the device—
And a terrifying red laser beam shot from her eyes!
Everything in its path—trees, mountains, monsters—was sliced apart instantly.
Ben recognized this ability immediately.
Optic Blast!
This was the signature power of the mutant Scott Summers—Cyclops.
But her version was far stronger.
In just a few breaths, tens of thousands of monsters were obliterated.
This was the seventh-order powerhouse the government had sent!
Ben couldn't help but feel shocked.
Even with his incredible defense, he doubted he could withstand her attack.
She was on a completely different level.
The Aftermath
With reinforcements in control, Guild Leader Melody Song finally relaxed.
She rushed to Ben.
"Little Chen!" she called, eyes full of concern.
"Are you alright?"
Ben smiled.
"Thank you for your concern, Guild Leader Melody Song. I'm perfectly fine."
Indeed, apart from torn clothes, he was completely unscathed.
"Good!" Melody Song nodded. "Let's go back to my place to rest for a bit."
Before they could leave, a reporter suddenly rushed up to them.
Holding a microphone, she blocked their path.
"Guild Leader Melody Song, can I interview this hero?"
(End of Chapter)
That should do the trick! Let me know if you need any further adjustments.
For more chapters
patreon.com/Liamlivingstone