Hearing the sound, everyone looked up. Hundreds of crimson lights flashed, and countless shells poured out from the muzzles of the alien warship, raining down on the platform like a doomsday meteor shower.
"It's a carpet bombing!" Zombieman's face went pale. He urgently shouted, "Everyone, be careful!"
Kaito's eyes narrowed. The Emperor Engine, silent in his chest for a moment, was about to roar again. Golden-red aura surged beneath his feet like boiling magma—he was just about to unleash his *Fear Domain*, ready to shield everyone from destruction.
But before he could act, a sharp, tsundere-like voice cut through the chaos:
"Hmph! Don't you dare steal the spotlight, King! Trash like this doesn't even need you!"
It was Tornado.
Just as the storm of cannon fire closed in, her petite figure floated high above the heroes. Hovering mid-air, her skirt fluttered without wind, emerald eyes gleaming arrogantly, she raised her slender hands like a maestro about to conduct a symphony.
*BOOM!*
An invisible psychokinetic field burst outward, instantly freezing every shell in mid-air. Hundreds of massive bombs, each the size of a truck, hung eerily less than a hundred meters above the platform. The etched markings on their steel surfaces were so close, the heroes could read them.
"Here—have them back!"
A mischievous grin curved Tornado's lips. She snapped her fingers.
*WHOOSH!*
All the shells reversed direction in an instant, propelled by her psychic force. They shot back toward the spaceship faster than they had arrived.
*BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!*
The underside of the massive ship erupted into fiery explosions, its weapon batteries annihilated by their own firepower. Dazzling fireballs bloomed one after another until only scorched ruins remained.
"Phew~." Tornado floated back to the platform, dusting her hands as if nothing had happened. "Done."
Her faintly flushed cheeks and quickened breathing betrayed the strain that magnificent display had cost her.
Kaito's gaze softened. Of course he understood—she didn't want him hogging the glory. She wanted to prove herself.
He walked over without hesitation and—
*Pat.*
A firm head pat.
"Well done," Kaito said with rare warmth. "As expected of S-Class Rank 2. Your psychokinesis is growing stronger and stronger."
"U-ugh..."
Tornado froze. Her face turned crimson, emerald eyes shimmering as if misted over. His palm was broad and warm, the gentle weight of it making her whole body shiver like a current was running through her.
This strange, unfamiliar warmth—it almost made her want to lean in like a kitten.
"Wh-what!" she yelped, snapping back to her senses. Her eyes darted toward the other S-Class heroes watching the scene.
"W-who asked for your praise, idiot!"
She slapped his hand away, floating back into the air like a startled rabbit. Her small hands fussed at her curly green hair as she struggled to hide her flushed cheeks.
"T-this lady only thought those cannons were an eyesore! I wasn't helping you in particular!"
To cover her embarrassment, she suddenly swept her hand outward, wrapping every hero on the platform in her psychic field.
"Hold on tight! We're storming that ship!"
Before anyone could react, the entire group shot into the sky, streaking toward the alien craft like a blazing green meteor.
Kaito, held aloft by her power, couldn't help but smile faintly as he watched Tornado's stubborn little figure fly ahead.
That tsundere loli... really is cute.
But then his gaze sharpened as the massive warship loomed closer.
*Boros.*
He'd leave that monster to Saitama. But Geryuganshoop—the self-proclaimed "Universe's Greatest Psychic"? That was worth a try.
He wanted to see just how many intimidation points he could squeeze out of an alien psychic.
---
Meanwhile, deep inside the ship—
Saitama wandered through a twisting metal corridor, scratching his bald head.
"Ah... lost again..." he muttered with a sigh.
Then, suddenly brightening, he called out: "Hey! I can't find the way out! Can somebody tell me where to go?"
A nearby wall lit up, revealing the furious face of Geryuganshoop. Its tentacles wriggled with rage.
"Stupid Earthling! Do you think I would—wait... you said... you're lost?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Saitama nodded earnestly. "This ship's like a maze. I'm dizzy just walking around."
The alien's tentacles quivered with excitement. "Hahaha! Fool! Since you beg so pathetically, I'll mercifully guide you!"
And so it did—completely oblivious to the fact that it was helping its enemy.
Saitama listened carefully, nodding along, a triumphant smile tugging at his lips. Then, when no one was looking, he gave a subtle thumbs-up.
Through his mech clone, Kaito caught it all. He almost laughed out loud.
This bald demon king—he usually looked clueless and harmless, but at critical moments, his acting skills were downright terrifying.
Under Geryuganshoop's "enthusiastic" guidance, Saitama and Kaito's mech clone went the exact opposite way the alien intended... and somehow arrived at the control room with zero effort.
"This is it!" Saitama declared, standing before a massive alloy door, rubbing his hands together like a kid about to open a present.
Then he reached out, casually grabbed the doorknob, and gave it the gentlest tug.
*BOOM!!!*
The door—built to withstand a nuclear blast—ripped open like tissue paper.
From the crack, a shiny bald head popped through.
"Excuse me~."
"You—you...!!" Geryuganshoop's tentacles writhed violently in rage. The alien monsters in the control room were already collapsing in terror at the sight.
A moment later, Saitama pried the gate completely free with ease, tossed it aside like scrap, and strolled in as if he were entering a convenience store.
Trailing behind him, Kaito's mech clone stepped through the doorway, his eyes cool and sharp, scanning the room.