In the outdoor stadium, Mr. Oomoto's introductions continued.
"Making the fifth appearance is the hero who has been active in the hero world for a long time, saving countless citizens, and possessing numerous fans—Tatsumaki, the Tornado of Terror!"
"Tatsumaki! Tatsumaki! Tatsumaki!" The audience's cheers were louder than they had been for anyone else.
"Hmph, why do I have to attend this boring debut ceremony?" The tsundere loli descended from the sky, still wearing her signature wind-blown, skin-tight black dress.
Though small in stature, her aura was unmatched.
"Eh, can such a little girl really be an S-Class Hero?" Lightning Max was fearless in his ignorance.
Tanktop Black Hole quickly clapped a hand over his mouth: "Shhh! Don't talk nonsense, you'll get killed! I saw it with my own eyes once, that person is impossibly strong."
He couldn't help but shiver as he spoke.
Mumen Rider and the others exchanged nervous glances.
"The sixth to appear was originally the one and only, known to all, the strongest hero, Blast. But, unfortunately, Blast-san is busy with urgent matters and will be absent from this debut ceremony. Therefore, the next, and final, hero to appear is our megastar, the nation's husband, the newly crowned Martial Arts Tournament Champion, the Founder of the Hero Association, and the Chairman of the Hero Association—Aomori!"
When Mr. Oomoto was halfway through his announcement, every audience member in the stands had already risen to their feet, welcoming their most beloved hero with their most enthusiastic applause, cheers, and screams…
"Aomori! Aomori! Aomori!"
Flowers rained down, cannons fired confetti, and as everyone on the field craned their necks in anticipation, Aomori, seemingly riding on auspicious clouds and stepping on burgeoning lotuses, slowly descended from the clear blue sky.
He was clad in custom-made silver armor that shone brilliantly in the sunlight. The long red cape billowing behind him in the wind made him look like a God of War descending from the celestial court.
"Oh my God, God, come out and see your wife! Oh, no. Wife, you come out and see God!"
"Is that a miracle? Mom, I'm starting to believe in a new god."
"That's my Aomori stepping on multi-colored auspicious clouds to marry me..."
The audience seats instantly turned into a cemetery of exaggerated swoons.
The media had already raised their long lenses and short microphones, focusing madly on Aomori and frantically snapping photos.
Among the ranks of heroes, many began to doubt reality, but more were filled with awe toward Aomori and optimism for the Hero Association's future.
"Heh heh, that Aomori kid has this kind of ability, too. Unbelievable," even the venerable Bang was greatly surprised.
"Flashy nonsense. Aomori has learned bad habits from you," the strength-supremacist Atomic Samurai despised such gimmicks the most.
"Psychic powers? What a show-off," Tatsumaki saw through Aomori's trick instantly, rolled her eyes, and snorted disdainfully.
She was right; Aomori was using psychic power to lift himself, creating the illusion of walking on air. As for the auspicious clouds and lotuses, they were merely high-tech projections.
The trick was simple, yet the effect was astonishingly good. In any case, his status had been elevated infinitely.
Starting today, he decided to limit his public appearances and gradually recede into the background to cultivate an air of mystery. This would prevent the Monster Association or other enemies from thoroughly grasping his true strength.
The unknown is the most terrifying thing.
This would force them to act more cautiously, giving Aomori's side a chance to develop.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Aomori walked step by step toward Mr. Oomoto and took the microphone from his hand.
He extended his right hand and slowly gestured downward, causing the cheers to gradually cease.
Holding the microphone, Aomori addressed the heroes below:
"The mission of the Hero Association is to fight evil, protect the citizens, and maintain peace. With Monsters becoming increasingly rampant, a hero must not only possess a righteous heart but also the ability to hunt down Monsters. This place is called the 'Hero's Starting Ground.' It is where we will use proper training to transform your burning passion into professional competence, allowing you to mature from novice heroes who know nothing into professional heroes.
"Reality is not a drama. In the process of fighting evil, hero sacrifices are unavoidable. However, I do not want unnecessary sacrifices to occur frequently. This month of training will teach you how to become stronger and more professional, preventing future tragedies.
"Every hero gathered here today is a pillar of society. I look forward to the day you grow into towering trees, supporting the Hero Association and all of humanity. Therefore, let us work hard, fight together, and begin your hero journey here at the Hero's Starting Ground!"
"Work hard! Fight on!" The heroes were filled with passion.
Subsequently, Aomori invited Tatsumaki and the others to join him on the viewing platform.
Then, Mr. Oomoto began announcing the next segment: "A debut ceremony, of course, requires our heroes to showcase their strength. Next, nine ring platforms will rise onto the field. On each platform, one staff member, wearing an exoskeleton infantry armor kindly donated by the Purple Shield company, will serve as the defender. Heroes interested in demonstrating their abilities may choose any platform to challenge. The winner stays, the loser steps down."
He held up two fingers and said, "Two hours later, the person last standing on each platform will be the winner of this arena competition. Not only will they receive generous rewards, but they will also earn the chance to challenge a certain S-Class Hero on the viewing platform. If their final performance is exceptional, they may even be promoted to S-Class Hero!"
"Many friends may not know the significance of the S-Class Heroes, so I will briefly explain. S-Class Heroes, a title proposed by Chairman Aomori, stands for Super Hero. They are heroes whose strength far surpasses that of ordinary people. They receive high salaries and possess privileges equivalent to the Hero Association's departmental heads, such as management authority, decision-making power, and appointment/dismissal power. The S-Class Heroes will be the face and the foundation of the Hero Association."
"S-Class Hero, huh?" Mr. Oomoto's simple words clearly outlined the special status of the S-Class Heroes.
To become an S-Class Hero would mean becoming a globally celebrated person among people.
"I still have a long way to go to become a hero on the level of Sensei," Iaian had a clear understanding of himself, but that didn't mean he lacked ambition. "However, this opportunity to compete with many masters is definitely not to be missed."
Some individuals immediately set their sights on the S-Class Hero position.
The mysterious Drive Knight, Mysterious Mask who shielded his true face, Tanktop Master who wanted to set an example for his subordinates, Bomb's top disciple Zeburou who sought to compete through martial arts, Suiryu who finally resolved to become stronger, and the harmless-looking Child Emperor with his small backpack.
All of them were highly confident in their abilities and thus raised their goals.
Watching the nine, one-meter-high, square ring platforms rise onto the field, many heroes began rolling up their sleeves, eager to display their skills.
Meanwhile, the nine ordinary staff members, now clad in the exoskeleton infantry armor, awaited the start of the competition.
On the viewing platform, Aomori smiled, turned to Bang beside him, and said, "Bang-sensei, you should pay close attention later. Something unexpectedly interesting will happen."
"Oh? Then I should concentrate," Bang replied with his usual cheerful smile.
————
You can read the ahead chapter on Patr-eon if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]