Perhaps if I could break through another Limiter, this situation would change.
My strength would be greater then, my recovery faster, and my endurance would certainly be greatly extended. At the very least, I wouldn't be limited to just one minute of Sky-Rending Air-Splitting Fist; I might even be able to use it as a regular ability.
Returning home.
A few minutes later, the bathroom was filled with steam.
Qingshui, shirtless and revealing his lean, muscular physique, listened to the news broadcast while letting the fine water droplets from the showerhead wash away the sweat from his body.
"Based on last month's Z-City meteor event and the L-City Deep Sea Tribe invasion, in the latest Hero Association S-Class Hero rankings, Black Lightning, formerly ranked twelfth among S-Class heroes, has overtaken Superalloy Darkshine and Pig God to rise to tenth place.
The former second-ranked A-Class hero, Genos, has successfully been promoted to S-Class, ranking nineteenth. And outside of the S-Class, we've noticed a new C-Class hero, Caped Baldy, rapidly rising, currently reaching B-Class..."
On the broadcast, a standard female alto voice was formulaically reciting the latest hero ranking news updated today.
"Today is again the day for the monthly Hero Association rankings update. It's already top ten S-Class, that's quite fast. As for Genos, even though he increased the energy output limit of his Scorching Core and his strength is several times greater than in his original timeline, he's only now reached S-Class because he no longer has the House of Evolution's contributions. It's a mixed bag, I suppose."
Drying himself off, Qingshui put on a bathrobe, wiped his hair, and went to his workroom.
In the center of a cluster of instruments, two brand-new energy cores were placed in a glass cabinet, emitting a faint blue light.
The Thunderlight Core and the Dragon Roar Core had completed the final stage of their production under the control of the Artificial Intelligence while he was training.
Qingshui opened the glass cabinet, retrieved the two energy cores, walked over to the towering Black Samurai Armor, opened the built-in chest plate, and installed the two energy cores.
On the computer screen connected to the Black Samurai Armor via a data cable, a large batch of parameter data was immediately updated, checking the status of these two energy cores.
Everything was normal and met expectations.
After checking this data, Qingshui opened his email and began reviewing the revenue of his subsidiary companies, as well as the report on recent research achievements sent by Geno.
Geno was very smart. After learning that Qingshui's strength had surpassed that of Asura Rhino Beetle, he changed his research direction.
Even if he created a monster like Asura Rhino Beetle, which was a high-level Dragon-level monster, he couldn't control it smoothly, and its help to Qingshui would be limited. So, he switched paths and focused on designing things that could help Qingshui in other ways.
Most of them had little use for Qingshui, but he still kept those technologies.
Because the Sand Village could use them.
However, the technological achievement Geno sent today was of considerable value to Qingshui, potentially solving a current problem he was facing.
[Hyper-Energy Gelatinous Nutrition Capsule]
Geno had received some of Qingshui's technical data to help him better research things of value to him. This Hyper-Energy Gelatinous Nutrition Capsule was created by combining Caitlin's high-sugar energy bars and the Military Ration Pill technology from the Naruto World, along with Geno's own unique, absurdly logical, yet surprisingly effective research capabilities as a scientist from a comedy anime.
Just one thumb-sized high-energy nutrition pill contained enough energy to sustain Armored Gorilla, a fairly strong Demon-level monster, for half a month without eating. It wouldn't cause malnutrition or negative effects on the intestines; instead, it was easily digestible, promoted absorption, and improved blood circulation...
In short, this high-energy nutrition capsule did indeed contain a large amount of energy.
This perfectly matched Qingshui's requirements.
If he needed to quickly recover and replenish his energy after prolonged use of Sky-Rending Air-Splitting Fist and Dragon Fang Cross Strike, this item would be perfect.
But the prerequisite was that his body could quickly consume and absorb it.
Since Geno hadn't sent a sample, only the preparation process, Qingshui couldn't test it quickly. Fortunately, Qingshui had all the necessary equipment and raw materials, so he produced the finished product the next day.
"This thing..."
Qingshui looked at the crystal-clear, smooth, jade-like blue pills in the glass bottle, examining them closely.
He finally understood the principle behind Geno's invention.
It was actually a derivative technology from the one Geno used in his original timeline to create Zombieman.
In the original timeline, after Geno's Asura Rhino Beetle was absurdly punched to death by Saitama, he felt his research was meaningless and decided to quit being a villainous scientist. Instead, he returned home to sell takoyaki, and the octopus legs of the takoyaki could regenerate indefinitely.
This technology originated from Zombieman.
According to the House of Evolution research report that Geno gave to Qingshui, Zombieman's birth was an accident. His cellular vitality was so powerful that it could absorb and assimilate all organic matter and energy, storing it for its own regeneration.
This was somewhat similar to Hashirama Cells, but its regenerative ability was stronger, and its dominance was no less. All creatures that Geno transplanted Zombieman's cells into could not withstand it. Even cloning could only produce a mass of uncontrollably growing flesh.
Infinite Octopus was the result of Geno's attempt to replicate that experiment, but he couldn't create another life form like Zombieman; it was a degenerated version.
Although it still possessed powerful regenerative abilities, it couldn't directly devour organic matter and energy from the outside like Zombieman. It needed to be supplemented artificially through instruments.
The absorption and storage of this immense energy was done by a synthetic protein invented by Geno through his research on Zombieman's genes. It had extremely high energy storage efficiency, and when it needed to be released, it could be decomposed by a special protease to release the energy.
The capsule contained the powder of this protein, with a small compartment for the special protease.
Because of the immense energy contained within, ordinary humans couldn't withstand it. Even Armored Gorilla, a monster that ranked in the middle among Demon-level monsters, would get a nosebleed from being too potent after taking one pill and wouldn't be able to eat for half a month...
With his current physical strength, he could definitely withstand it; in fact, the more potent, the better.
He just wasn't sure about the absorption speed.
With that thought, Qingshui took the jar of high-energy capsules to his private training gym.
He put on the high-pressure Magic Tool training suit, activated the reverse field, picked up the training equipment, and started exercising with grunts and heavy breaths.
With his current physical condition, he needed these items to increase the training intensity to boost his energy consumption and achieve some training effect. This was also why he was able to break through the fourth Limiter so quickly.
Without a sufficiently powerful and high-pressure training load, the restorative abilities of Medical Ninjutsu and Reverse Life Triple wouldn't have such a significant effect on physical improvement.
It was a pity that as he approached the fifth Limiter, his progress had become minimal, but it was still quite effective for exhausting his stamina.
Several hours later.
Qingshui removed the inverted force field, changed out of his training gear, and took a few shallow breaths. He took a high-energy capsule from a glass jar and put it in his mouth.
It dissolved instantly upon entering his mouth. After swallowing, a warm current quickly rose from his abdomen, nourishing his cells through his circulatory system and replenishing his energy.
"One isn't quite enough."
Qingshui felt his stamina rapidly recovering, so he put two more capsules into his mouth.
"Hmm, the effect is indeed very good. Combined with the medicinal tea I concocted myself, it can be used for recovery during training, and in combat, it's sufficient as an excellent supplementary measure to increase sustained output during full-power bursts."
Qingshui was quite satisfied with the effects of the high-energy capsules.
It seemed there was a side effect, though he wasn't sure if it was good or bad.
Qingshui lowered his head, twisted his belt, and adjusted the trajectory of his firearm, which had been shifted due to the heat and chambering of a round.
Ah, well, with my cultivation and willpower, I have enough self-control for this.
Just as Qingshui finished making a new batch of high-energy capsules and stored them in the card slots on his Black Samurai Armor, another call came from the Hero Association.
The Hero Association usually contacted him when disasters occurred in City D or its surrounding areas that A-Class Heroes couldn't quickly resolve.
"Moshi moshi, where's the monster? Demon-level or Dragon-level?"
Qingshui signaled Watos to connect the call and inquired.
If it was a disaster of Demon-level or below, he could simply send a Shadow Clone, which would be enough to resolve it.
Only Dragon-level threats required his physical presence.
However, this time, Qingshui had misjudged.
"Mr. Black Lightning, this isn't an incident of a troublesome monster attack. Rather, something far more terrifying is about to happen, which is why we are urgently summoning all S-Class Heroes to the Association headquarters."
Sitch's heavy voice came through the communicator to Qingshui's ears.
"I understand. I'll be there immediately."
Qingshui hung up the phone and looked up at the sky.
At this point in time...
The Deep Sea King invasion incident had long since ended. For the Hero Association to convene a meeting of all S-Class Heroes at their headquarters in City A at this time...
Was Boros about to arrive?
He wondered how he would fare against Boros in his current state.
He believed his current output matrix, composed of three energy cores, could unleash Dragon-level or higher destructive power in a short burst. He could also use the Sky-Rending Air-Splitting Fist to supplement during his Hollow Body state, but that would only reach the peak of Dragon-level. Against Boros, if he could barely stall for time, he might have a chance, but winning was highly unlikely.
This was a truly terrifying existence with planet-busting potential. In the prophecy, the person on Earth who could contend with him was definitely not Saitama, because that wouldn't even be considered a contest.
Before Garou had transformed into a Monster and become a God-level disaster, the person in the prophecy was most likely Blast. Given his age, it made sense, as the prophecy was from twenty years ago.
Blast had been active as a hero over a decade ago, saving the Tatsumaki sisters and fighting against divine servants alongside the uncorrupted King of Ninjas, indicating he already possessed the strength to contend with divine pawns at that time.
Ah, whatever. No point thinking about it too much. If the sky falls, Saitama, that tall guy, will catch it. No matter what, my strength is more than enough for self-preservation.
He reined in his thoughts, reached out, and opened a Teleportation Halo, heading to City A.
A few minutes later, at the Hero Association headquarters building.
The elevator doors opened, and Qingshui emerged, clad in his Black Samurai Armor.
A middle-aged man in a blue samurai outfit with a red cape over it looked like he had been waiting for a long time, sizing up Qingshui.
S-Class Rank 4, Atomic Samurai.
"You must be Mr. Black Lightning. Haragiri mentioned you at the last Sword Saint Association exchange meeting, saying you're also a top-tier swordsman."
Atomic Samurai, with a toothpick in his mouth, said to Qingshui.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Divine Wind. If you have time, perhaps we could spar and exchange sword techniques."
Qingshui extended his hand to Atomic Samurai, smiling politely.
Divine Wind was Atomic Samurai's real name.
In the One-Punch Man world, Atomic Samurai and the head of the Sword Saint Association, Nichirin, were likely the two individuals with the highest level of swordsmanship in this world.
Unless it was a being like Black Sperm or Natural Water, who were immune to physical attacks, Atomic Samurai's attack power would be sufficient to threaten peak Dragon-level monsters.
Even when drawing the Nichirin Blade, which only Sword Saint-level masters could wield, Atomic Samurai possessed the combat power to easily crush peak Dragon-level monsters.
Even if the draw time was shorter than the ten-second limit of his ultimate firepower state, Atomic Samurai likely possessed Dragon-level or higher attack power in that life-risking state.
In other words, Atomic Samurai's swordsmanship realm had the potential to touch the threshold of the Dragon-level or higher, but his body couldn't meet that standard. Limited by his physical strength, his strongest attack was the Atomic Slash. Therefore, he could only rely on the power of the Nichirin Blade and risk his life to unleash attacks of that caliber.
For such a master of swordsmanship, Qingshui naturally wished to exchange techniques with him to positively influence his own swordsmanship.
"Haha, certainly. By the way, where's your sword? I don't see it."
"It's here."
Qingshui reached out and summoned the Black Steel Longsword.
"Whoa, I can't even tell how you produced that sword. Is that your ability?"
"Yes, it's one of my abilities."
"Hmm, a very potent ability, this sword..."
Atomic Samurai's eyes were fixed on the Black Steel Longsword in Qingshui's hand.
As a top-tier swordmaster, Atomic Samurai could discern the quality of a sword, and he felt a connection to this equally top-tier blade.
"Ah, I forged it myself. It took quite a bit of effort."
Qingshui openly displayed the Black Steel Longsword before Atomic Samurai.
The sword's material and craftsmanship were already top-notch. Furthermore, after being nurtured with Sage Art Chakra for a long time through his continuous use, it had become a superior Magic Tool, its power having ascended another level compared to when it was first created.
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