Chapter 349: Chapter 50: An Insurmountable Gap
On the arena.
It was a complete one-sided beatdown—Flashy Flash overwhelming Gale Wind with absolute dominance. Whether it was speed or technique, the two weren’t even on the same level.
Gale Wind, who prided himself on his lightning-fast movements, simply couldn’t keep up with Flashy Flash.
"This is impossible."
"No way I’m losing to you in terms of speed?! That’s just not possible!!"
Gale Wind roared in disbelief and slashed at Flashy Flash with a burst of Wind Blade.
Flashy Flash tilted his head slightly, dodging the attack with ease. His gaze was icy as he stared at Gale Wind. "True strength is forged through countless battles. Not the kind you have. That’s not strength. Not really."
"Shut up!!"
Gale Wind bellowed in rage. His fists clenched, veins bulging beneath his skin, and suddenly, his hair began to grow, flowing backward. His eyes rolled back, and his skin turned scaly, marked by sinister black lines spreading across his body.
He had fully monsterized.
"ROAR!!"
With a bestial cry that tore through the air, Gale Wind’s aura exploded with violent intensity.
Even Flashy Flash’s expression grew serious.
"DIE!!"
Gale Wind transformed into a streak of black light and rocketed toward Flashy Flash with terrifying speed—twice as fast as before.
Clang!
Flashy Flash blocked the oncoming claws with the blade of his cherished katana, Shunsatsumaru, but the sheer force sent him flying across the arena.
Gale Wind, now fully a monster, immediately gave chase. He leapt high into the air and brought his razor-sharp claws slashing down like falling blades.
Whoosh!
"Wind Blade Kick!"
Flashy Flash launched a high-speed kick, sending a gleaming, blue crescent slicing through the air. It clashed with Gale Wind’s claws and shattered almost instantly—but it bought just enough time for him to shift his position and evade the incoming strike.
The claws slammed into the ground, gouging deep trenches into the steel-hard surface.
Then—flash!—a golden streak zipped by.
Flashy Flash reappeared beside the monsterized Gale Wind. His right leg gleamed with radiant golden light as he launched a precise kick.
"Flowing Shadow Kick."
Gale Wind crossed both arms and blocked the attack head-on.
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted from the impact, rippling across the arena.
Still no decisive blow.
Flashy Flash narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So it really won’t be that easy, huh..."
The transformed Gale Wind roared and kicked at Flashy Flash.
But Flashy Flash twisted back and leapt away.
Golden light clashed with black shadows. The two blurred figures raced across the arena, exchanging blow after blow.
This was the ultimate showdown between speedsters.
It was far more nerve-wracking than a brute strength brawl. In a match like this, a single mistake—one opening—could mean being sliced in half. Life or death decided in an instant.
All the S-Class heroes stared, unblinking, at the battle unfolding.
Across the world, audiences glued to their screens held their breath.
The moment of decision had arrived.
Monsterized Gale Wind and Flashy Flash crossed paths in the center of the arena—slash!
A brilliant golden arc of light burst forth.
Flashy Flash’s signature finishing move—Flash Slash!
With his eyes calmly shut, Flashy Flash slid Shunsatsumaru back into its sheath.
"This is all you amounted to?"
As the blade clicked into the scabbard, Gale Wind’s monster form was split cleanly in two. Black blood sprayed into the air.
Without sparing a glance, Flashy Flash turned and walked away from the stage.
[Third Match: Victory goes to Flashy Flash. The heroes take the win.]
Judge Ron announced with a smile.
But then—
"Wind Blade Kick!"
Out of nowhere, several blue blades came slicing through the air, cutting him into pieces.
Gasps echoed across the battlefield—from heroes and monsters alike.
Fubuki’s eyes widened, pupils contracting sharply.
"Ro—Ron..."
Tatsumaki placed a hand on her sister’s shoulder. "Calm down. Look closely."
"That’s an afterimage."
Only then did Fubuki realize—the shredded body in midair was dispersing like mist. She clutched her ample chest and let out a long breath.
A figure appeared elsewhere in the arena.
It was the silver-haired youth, a faint smile dancing on his handsome, eerie face. He turned his gaze toward a certain direction and said, "It’s been a while... you annoying speed freak."
Sonic stood there on the ground, scowling. "The name’s Sonic!"
"Call yourself whatever you like. I’m surprised you even recognized me."
Ron grinned.
Sonic’s hand gripped the hilt of the blade at his waist. His eyes locked onto Ron. "No matter what form you take, if I mark you as my prey, I’ll recognize you instantly. Especially someone I’ve sworn revenge on..."
"Today, I will defeat you!"
With that, his figure vanished.
Even Flashy Flash’s pupils trembled slightly.
So fast!
He’s from the ninja village too?!
Sonic reappeared behind Ron mid-air, his blade tracing a graceful, soundless arc toward Ron’s neck.
In that moment, all sound in the world seemed to vanish.
A bone-chilling silence.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring broke the stillness.
Sonic stared in disbelief.
Two fingers.
Ron had caught the blade with just two fingers.
The same blade that could slice through solid steel doors like butter—stopped with mere fingers?
Still facing away, Ron chuckled. "Surprised?"
"It’s because... you’re weak."
A slight twitch of his fingers—
CRACK!
The blade shattered instantly.
Before Sonic could even register what had happened, he was slammed into the ground like a meteor. Lying flat in a deep crater, bones fractured across a third of his body.
He gazed up blankly at the figure above.
Like an ant staring up at the heavens.
That power... was like that of a god.
So distant. So utterly unreachable.
His so-called ultimate techniques... hadn’t even gotten a chance to be used.
His long-cherished revenge... turned out to be nothing more than a joke.
Something deep inside Sonic cracked.
...
After that little interlude—
The fourth match began.
Natural Water vs. Genos.
Originally, this match was meant for Child Emperor, but he couldn’t hold back Genos’s insistence, and thus, the cyborg took the stage.
Right from the start, Genos—having endured humiliation for far too long—unleashed his full firepower without reservation.
Laser eyes. Gatling punches. Energy cannons.
He rained down attack after attack on Natural Water like there was no tomorrow.
Explosions rocked the entire arena, the intense heat evaporating every trace of moisture.
Natural Water found itself in the same dilemma that Atomic Samurai once faced. Though it was powerful, its abilities were an incredibly poor match for Genos.
Left with no choice, and under the telepathic advice of Big Eyes, Natural Water surrendered.
And with that—
The heroes led with three wins and one loss.