Chapter 511 509: Comparison!The next morning.

Fenric slept deeply, and by the time he woke, the sunlight was already spilling through the curtains. It was past nine.

He stretched lazily, washed up, and called the hotel service to bring up a luxurious breakfast. After a slow, unhurried meal, he finally left for the Hero Association Testing Center.

…

Meanwhile, outside the testing site in City Z, the line had already grown into a human sea.

Among the countless examinees stood a rather eye-catching pair of "master and disciple."

The master was a bald man with an expression as flat as his shiny head.

The disciple beside him was a tall cyborg with metallic limbs gleaming under the sun—clearly, not entirely human.

Yes, they were Saitama and his self-proclaimed apprentice, Genos.

Around them, candidates murmured and chatted, unaware that standing among them was the man who could destroy reality with a single punch—and his mechanical student who could level cities.

…

Not far away, Pineapple fidgeted impatiently at the gate, glancing at the endless line of candidates.

"Hey, Mohican, are you sure we didn't get the address wrong? It's almost noon and that guy 'Mundo' still isn't here!"

Mohican crossed his arms, equally anxious.

"Impossible! This is the only testing site in all of City Z. Where else could he go?"

Still, his tone carried doubt.

Pineapple sighed. "We've been waiting three hours already!"

Just then, his eyes widened. "Wait—look! There he is!"

Mohican turned and spotted Fenric strolling leisurely down the street, completely unhurried. Relief and irritation crossed his face at the same time.

"That guy... really knows how to test people's patience."

But the moment Fenric approached, Mohican's expression transformed into a bright, polite smile.

"Mundo-san! You're finally here!"

Fenric smiled casually. "Sorry. I live a bit far away, and traffic was terrible."

"No problem, no problem!" Mohican said quickly, pretending nothing was wrong. "Let's get you registered right away."

…

The Hero Association Testing Center was a massive, circular complex that resembled a sports arena.

Crowds packed the front entrance—candidates, reporters, and association staff all bustling about.

With Mohican and Pineapple leading the way, Fenric passed through security and entered the hall.

"Wait here," Mohican said. "I'll go handle your registration paperwork."

Fenric nodded and began to observe the surroundings.

The interior was enormous, divided into different testing zones:

reaction drills, power output meters, sprint tracks, vertical jumps—every kind of physical and mental test imaginable.

The air buzzed with noise and excitement as candidates tried to show off their skills.

Fenric scanned the area once, then lost interest almost immediately.

This is all basic-level testing. I just want to see how they'll rank me.

He expected, at minimum, an S-class evaluation.

What he didn't know was how high within S-class he could actually go.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, something caught his eye.

A bald young man walked past him.

Now, there were plenty of bald candidates here. But this one—this one was different.

His build was lean, his presence simple—too simple. His plain expression and unassuming walk made him look almost ordinary.

Yet Fenric's instincts screamed otherwise.

That bald head... can't be mistaken.

The Bald Demon King himself—Saitama.

Fenric's lips curved slightly.

"So it really is him… the One Punch Man himself."

He recalled the anime's timeline.

"This must be the 55th Hero Evaluation—the same one where Saitama first takes the test. So this is when it all begins."

Trailing behind Saitama was a young man with silver hair and cybernetic limbs—Genos, his disciple.

A powerful fighter in his own right, dubbed the "Demon Cyborg."

Strong as Genos was, Fenric knew he couldn't compare to monsters of Fenric's level. The true terror stood beside him—the man who broke the Limiter itself.

"..."

Fenric's expression grew thoughtful.

I wonder… if I used my full-strength Armament Haki, could I withstand Saitama's 'Serious Punch'?

He smirked faintly at the absurdity of the thought.

…

"Teacher, it's my turn next!" Genos said, his mechanical eyes flashing.

The room was noisy, but Fenric's senses were sharp enough to pick up their voices clearly.

"Ah, okay. Go get 'em, Genos," Saitama replied in his usual flat, lifeless tone.

As his disciple walked off, Saitama's face relaxed into his signature blank stare—completely devoid of emotion.

Power had stripped him of the simple human feelings of excitement or fear. Only monotony remained.

Just then, Mohican returned with a broad grin.

"Mundo-san! Everything's ready. I've submitted your documents. You'll be in the next testing group."

Fenric nodded—then froze slightly when he saw the test roster.

He and Saitama were in the same batch.

For the first time in a while, Fenric's calm cracked slightly.

"You've got to be kidding me…"

He was confident in his strength—confident enough to crush most beings in the Samsara world.

But Saitama? That was a walking natural disaster wearing a discount tracksuit.

Even gods wouldn't dare fight that man head-on.

…

Soon, it was their turn.

Each test group had six participants.

Fenric and Saitama stood among four other muscular men, their arms like tree trunks.

The four strongmen glanced at Fenric and Saitama's relatively lean physiques and snorted mockingly.

"Heh. Those two look like they came here to embarrass themselves."

Mohican and Pineapple stood at the sidelines, cheering nervously.

"Mundo-san, do your best!" Pineapple called out.

Fenric chuckled lightly and turned his gaze toward Saitama.

The bald man yawned, scratching his head lazily.

Well, Fenric thought, since fate threw us together… let's see how wide the gap really is between me and the Bald Devil.

The examiner walked over, clipboard in hand.

"All participants, prepare! First test—agility! You'll perform continuous side jumps for thirty seconds!"

Fenric was first in line.

"Ready!" the examiner announced.

Fenric inhaled softly, centering himself.

"Begin!"

The examiner pressed the timer.

BOOM!

A deafening crack split the air as Fenric's feet struck the floor.

In that instant, his figure became a blur. His body flickered back and forth faster than the naked eye could follow, leaving streaks of afterimages in the air.

The marble tiles beneath him cracked like spiderwebs.

"!!!"

Gasps erupted across the testing hall.

"..."

Even Saitama's expression changed slightly—his dull eyes flickering with faint surprise.