Inside the museum, the atmosphere was solemn and grand, and the crowds flowed like a tide. Display cases held glittering golden crowns, stone tablets carved with mysterious symbols, and all kinds of strangely shaped bronze vessels and terracotta figures.
Saitama wasn't very interested in most of the exhibits. He walked quickly, only wanting to finish and go eat. Genos, however, stopped at every exhibit for a long time, using his advanced electronic eyes to scan and record, analyzing the patterns and materials, occasionally falling into thought.
"Sensei, look at this pattern, it seems to contain the structure of some kind of energy circuit…" Genos said, pointing to a stone tablet.
"Oh, yeah, yeah," Saitama replied absentmindedly, but his eyes kept drifting to the exit signs as he calculated the route to the sushi place.
They arrived at a separate exhibition hall. In the center stood a stone statue about human height. It was carved vividly—wearing ancient armor, holding a stone axe, and bearing a stern, imposing expression, like a loyal guardian from antiquity. According to the placard, this was a "Guardian Stone Man" discovered at the entrance to the main burial chamber of an ancient tomb. It was believed to be a burial companion of the high priest of the Kitalia Kingdom, with significant religious and artistic value. Many visitors gathered around it, taking photos.
Saitama glanced at the statue and commented, "Oh, this stone guy's carved pretty well." Then he tried to keep moving.
But Genos stopped. His electronic eyes flickered slightly as he focused on the stone man. "Sensei, wait. I'm detecting… a faint non-natural energy reaction inside this statue. It's extremely weak, but it definitely exists."
"Probably just the lighting," Saitama said, unconcerned.
Just then, the museum lights seemed to flicker slightly. The visitors didn't notice, but Genos sharply caught the anomaly—and at the same time, he detected a brief peak in the statue's internal energy reaction!
Then, the mutation erupted!
The stone statue suddenly lit up with two eerie red glows where its pupils should be! At the same time, a dull "kacha kacha" grinding sound came from inside its stone body, like rocks scraping together!
Wooooom—!
An invisible energy wave spread outward, centered on the stone man.
"Ah!" "It moved! The stone man moved!" Terrified screams rang out from the tourists nearby.
The stone statue moved—stiffly, but decisively! It raised the arm gripping the stone axe and swung hard!
Rumble—!
A reinforced glass display case beside it—showcasing a golden goblet—was smashed to pieces with a single blow! The goblet rolled onto the ground.
"Stop it!" Museum security rushed over. They carried stun batons and riot shields, trying to surround the stone man. But its stone body was impervious—batons striking it didn't even leave a white mark. With a backhanded horizontal sweep of its axe, the guards were sent flying—guards and shields together—crashing into the wall and falling unconscious.
The stone man seemed to be running on a preset destruction program. With heavy, thudding steps, it began attacking the surrounding display cases and facilities indiscriminately. With every swing of its axe, priceless relics shattered into fragments.
Visitors fled in terror, and the exhibition hall descended into total chaos.
Genos immediately entered combat mode, energy gathering in his mechanical arms. "Sensei! Please step back! There's something wrong with this statue—leave it to me!"
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]