Above the clouds, the battle between Tatsumaki and the newly reborn Orochi had just begun.
Having evolved high-density armor, Orochi now possessed the means to protect himself against a full-throttle Tatsumaki. The battle was no longer the one-sided stomp it had been initially.
"That turtle shell of yours is getting harder and harder," Tatsumaki remarked, clicking her tongue as Orochi slipped through her psychokinetic bind once again.
Flying at high speeds around her, Orochi laughed maniacally. "Do you see it now? Unlike you ignorant humans, I, who possess the power of infinite evolution, am destined to be the Lord of the World!"
"Noisy!" Tatsumaki snapped. With a backhand swipe, a surge of psychic power erupted, swatting Orochi hundreds of meters away.
Cracks spiderwebbed across his armor, and traces of blood seeped out. However, such damage wasn't enough to critically wound him. Within seconds, he had fully recovered and flown back, his laughter echoing. "It's useless. You can no longer threaten me. Now, it's my turn! I shall return every bit of humiliation you caused me!"
In an instant, he moved like a flash of light, appearing before Tatsumaki. His powerful arms hammered against her psychic shield like a pile driver, sending ripples across its surface.
Tch, she calls mine a turtle shell, but hers is even more ridiculous! Orochi thought bitterly.
Tatsumaki wasn't about to let him keep pounding away. Her telekinesis manifested as a giant hand, seizing Orochi in a crushing grip and halting his movements.
"I told you, your telekinesis is useless against me!" Orochi strained, and his halted arms began to move again, slowly, but with steady, terrifying force.
"And another thing," Orochi sneered, "whenever you use your power to attack me, the shield protecting you weakens." His right hand suddenly accelerated, piercing through the once rock-solid barrier and striking Tatsumaki for the first time, sending her tumbling back.
I... I actually got hit in the face?! Feeling the stinging heat on her cheek, Tatsumaki's mind felt like a volcanic eruption. Her rage soared, yet her thoughts became preternaturally calm.
She redeployed her shield, blocking Orochi's follow-up strike. As she calculated a way to deal with him, she couldn't help but remember the words that "annoying guy" had said to her while holding her in his arms during the Title Match:
"True, your psychokinesis is powerful enough to easily crush weaker foes. But there is always someone better out there. When you meet a truly formidable enemy, your overly simplistic attack methods will become your weakness. If you don't want to be defeated, you must develop new skills. Or is it that you lack the talent to do so?"
At the time, she had replied: "Who says I can't? It's just not necessary, okay? There's nobody in this world stronger than me. And I don't need to prove anything to you."
But looking at things now, Aomori had been right.
Fine then, I'll let you see my new skill! Tatsumaki would never admit that she had secretly practiced this a few times because of his words.
Returning to the present, Orochi was still frantically attacking her shield. To increase his output, he grew two extra pairs of arms, all of them hammering at the barrier.
Tatsumaki's eyes narrowed. She condensed her power once more to pin Orochi in place.
"How many times do I have to tell you? That trick won't—"
This time, she didn't try to wring him like a wet towel. She dropped her own shield, reached out, and touched Orochi's head directly, funneling every last drop of her telekinetic energy into his skull.
"Let's see if your brain can contain my power!"
"No! Stop! Stop it!" Orochi felt his head being stirred by her power, threatening to split open. He begged for mercy.
Tatsumaki turned a deaf ear, increasing the output instead.
"Evolve! Yes, I must evolve... a brain hard enough to withstand this!" Orochi screamed in panic.
"You think I'll give you the chance? Explode!" Tatsumaki gritted her teeth, her power pouring in like a tidal wave.
Just then, a blood-red moon appeared in the sky. Tatsumaki felt a strange vibration ripple through the air. Her telekinesis suddenly went haywire, a piercing pain shot through her head, and blood sprayed from her nose.
Her body went limp, and she began to fall.
Before losing consciousness, she caught a glimpse of Orochi's head bursting like a watermelon. A small, satisfied smile touched her lips. Mission accomplished... the rest is up to you, you jerk, Aomori.
However, she didn't see a streak of light rushing toward Orochi's headless torso.
The soul of No. 17 was flying toward Orochi. His face twisted in a struggle, but it soon smoothed over into a look of fanatical devotion. "God! I willingly offer my life to you... I only pray for your return!"
He merged into Orochi's body. In less than two seconds, a perfectly intact head grew back, wearing the same fanatical smile as 17.
Orochi raised his hands toward the crimson moon. "I hereby sacrifice myself! Reappear now, O God!"
The red light from the moon intensified, striking Orochi. His bones, flesh, and soul were converted into pure red light, forming a massive pillar of radiance. It pierced the heavens, extending past Earth to reach the moon, while the base slammed deep into the earth.
This heaven-reaching pillar of light drew everyone's attention.
"What is that?" Saitama, Garou, and Flashy Flash looked at the sky simultaneously. All of them realized something monumental was happening. "Let's go check it out.
"Woof." Rover looked at the red light, whimpering as he crawled behind Puri-Puri Prisoner in fear.
Mumen Rider frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
"Hahahaha!" Psykos suddenly woke up, bowing toward the red moon. "Our God is finally descending!"
Fubuki gasped, her heart full of worry. "Onee-chan, Sensei... both of you must be safe."
"Safe? Wishful thinking!" Psykos laughed. "Didn't you want to know what I saw back then? You'll have your answer soon."
"Whatever happens, I believe in them." Fubuki stood up, crossing her arms as she looked down at Psykos. "And remember, you are our prisoner. You'd better stay quiet, or I'll give you something to cry about!"
Seeing Fubuki's serious expression, Psykos knew she wasn't joking and shut her mouth. She knew Fubuki wouldn't actually kill her, but there were things far worse than death.
Enjoy your attitude while it lasts. Soon I'll be the master here, and then I'll show you! Psykos comforted herself with "mental victory" and continued to watch the sky.
It wasn't just Z-City; the entire world observed the pillar of light.
In Q-City, Watchdog Man, who had single-handedly cleared the local Monster Association branch, looked at the sky. His deadpan face showed a trace of gravity. After a moment of hesitation, he didn't move, choosing instead to stay at his post.
In J-City, Ditto, who had successfully converted many monsters, gazed at the light. It immediately transformed into a Pidgeot and flew toward Z-City.
In A-City, Mewtwo, receiving the news while in the middle of an experiment, gave a cold snort and vanished.
In the ozone layer, Rayquaza let out a roar, coiling its body and descending toward the surface.
In a secret base, the buck-toothed Dr. Bofoi smiled. "The day has finally come. All units, deploy!"
Tens of thousands of mass-produced robots ignited their thrusters and soared into the sky.
"Something feels off." Aomori frowned, flying toward the light pillar with Absol.
On the way, he met Darkrai, who was carrying Tatsumaki. He gathered a few details from it.
"Didn't make it in time?" Aomori sighed, taking Tatsumaki from Darkrai. He found her suffering from mental exhaustion but otherwise unharmed. Holy Light wouldn't help much here; she just needed to rest.
Aomori summoned Pidgeot and placed Tatsumaki on its back. "Go find Fubuki and help get everyone out of Z-City."
Pidgeot nodded and took off, disappearing into the distance.
Aomori turned to Darkrai and Absol. "Let's go. Let's see what this 'God' is up to."
They arrived at the light pillar and looked up at the blood moon. Upon the moon, a giant the size of the lunar body itself slowly stood up. It lowered its head, its hollow face seeming to lock eyes with Aomori.
A strange, ancient voice echoed in Aomori's mind: "I have been watching you for a long time, Aomori. Or perhaps, I should call you... Omohara Aomori."
"!" Waves of shock crashed through Aomori. Even Imu in the One Piece world had known he was an outsider, but hadn't known his full name.
How did this God know his surname from his past life?
Suppressing his shock, Aomori replied calmly, "My name is just Aomori. Nothing more."
Simultaneously, he signaled Darkrai and Absol. Both pets understood and launched an attack on the red light pillar. However, their attacks passed right through it.
"...Heh, no need to hide it. As I said, I have watched you since the moment you arrived in this world. To my eyes, your existence is like a lamp in the darkness, utterly conspicuous."
"Well, I know I'm pretty outstanding." Aomori brushed him off, condensing a sphere of lightning and dark energy. He hurled it at the pillar, but it too passed through harmlessly.
"It is useless. You cannot touch this bridge. This is a 'Rule'." On the moon, God began to step onto the bridge made of red light. "I am destined to descend upon this land and become the true God of the world."
Rule? That again... Aomori thought while speaking: "Then why waste your breath on me? Why give me the chance to get stronger?"
"This is a gesture of goodwill, to you, and the power behind you." God spoke with hidden meaning. "The true world is vast. I doubt you are bound to the people and events here. Once you achieve your goal, you will leave this world without a second thought, won't you?"
"..." Aomori remained silent.
"There is no doubt," God affirmed. "So, cooperate with me. I will give you the power you seek. You only need to help me deal with these stubborn humans."
"No thanks. I don't trust you. Getting stronger is as easy as breathing for me. Why would I cut a deal with the devil?" Aomori smiled. "I'd much rather try to pull you off that pedestal and stomp you into the dirt. That sounds much more fun."
"...You will regret this." God fell silent and continued walking, soon reaching the outer atmosphere.
Its massive form was now clearly visible to Aomori. He could even see the spiral patterns on its face. God reached out, touching a transparent film. The film, once airtight, now had a gap where the light pillar pierced it.
God raised a fist and struck the gap. A crack appeared in the film.
Is that the seal? If he breaks that, he'll truly descend to Earth. Aomori observed God's movements, his mind racing for a solution. This can't go on. What are the 'Rules'? How can I stop him?
After a moment of dead-end thinking, Aomori looked at Absol. "It's up to you now."
Whether it was Future Sight or the Luck-Luck Fruit, they were the keys to breaking this deadlock. Absol nodded and began to use Future Sight.
"Don't even think about it!" God, previously focused on the seal, suddenly looked at Absol. A weird power shot toward it.
"I was expecting that." Aomori and Darkrai worked together, erecting a thick psychic shield around Absol to block the eerie force.
"Is that so?"
Dozens of rays shot out from the light pillar toward Absol. But at that exact moment, the ground trembled, causing the light pillar to shake. All the rays missed, whistling past Absol.
A second later, Absol looked up and shared the future it had seen with Aomori.
"So that's what the 'Rules' mean." Aomori's eyes lit up, and his smile returned. "But... it looks like I won't even need to step in."
He looked up and saw more than a dozen figures appear in the sky.
Among them was a one-eyed man resembling Boros, a beast-man with shaggy hair, and a beautiful woman in armor. Standing in the center was the most mysterious existence among the S-Class, Blast.
His face was solemn, his cape fluttering in the wind. His booming voice echoed through the clouds:
"God! As long as we are here, don't you dare set foot on Earth!"
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NOTE: This fic has been completely translated. If you want to read the whole story head over to my p-atre-on: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]