My Monster Evolution in One Punch Man

The duty officer, whose hairstyle resembled that of a strongman, let out a heartfelt sigh.

"Wow… Lord King actually cleared over ten monsters just this morning! As expected of the strongest man on the surface from City M!"

He carefully set down his coffee cup, his eyes brimming with admiration.

"Even though he has the unmatched strength of the strongest, he still works tirelessly, fighting every day to safeguard peace. Truly, he is the role model of all heroes."

At his words, several colleagues quickly gathered around to examine the report, and soon the office was buzzing with voices of awe and agreement.

"My goodness! It's only morning, and Lord King has already taken down so many monsters?"

"Exactly. Lord King is incredible! With him protecting the city, the citizens of City M can live in true peace."

"One of my friends moved to City M just last month. He told me that ever since learning Lord King was stationed there, his sleep at night has become much more restful. The insomnia that plagued him for years disappeared without any medicine!"

For a while, the entire office was filled with nothing but praises for King, every voice competing to honor his supposed deeds.

…

That night.

Inside King's luxurious apartment, the morning's so-called "special training" had nearly drained him of all strength. He lay sprawled on his bed until evening before he managed to recover even slightly.

Hansen, however, had come prepared. He had carefully packed top-quality barbecue from the nearby food street, fresh deep-sea sashimi rich in protein, along with a selection of nutritious fruits and vegetables. His purpose was twofold: first, to ensure King could replenish himself after training, and second, to prevent the so-called strongest man on the surface from collapsing early under his "guidance."

In King's dimly lit room, the glow from the computer screen illuminated Hansen's sharp, youthful side profile. Without a trace of hesitation, he had taken over the S-class hero's personal computer, while the landlord himself was politely exiled to the living room, where he distracted himself with games.

After all, Hansen had been slacking for two whole days. At the very least, he needed to symbolically show some focus on the mission now.

His fingers moved quickly as he navigated into a hidden folder buried deep in the D drive, blandly labeled "Study Materials." With a researcher's curiosity and a critic's mindset, Hansen opened one of the subdirectories, uncovering a collection of carefully concealed video files.

An hour later, he finally leaned back, rubbing his tired eyes with a helpless smirk.

"Tsk tsk… the world really is going downhill. Morals are collapsing. And King's tastes… are quite niche."

Shaking his head, Hansen muttered under his breath before finally turning to serious work. He ran a quick search and began pulling up a string of recent news reports from City M.

"A brutal murder occurred in the northern business district. The victim's body was found charred black, suspected to be the result of extreme heat…"

"The serial assassination case has resurfaced. All victims displayed severe burn injuries. Police urge citizens to remain vigilant…"

"Several homeless people have been discovered dead under strange circumstances. Investigators reported clear signs of fire and scorching at the scenes…"

"And the…"

Hansen extracted the key details from the reports, his mind working rapidly as he compared them to the Monster Association's intelligence on the criminal known as 'Hellfire Flame.' The methods and ability traits matched almost perfectly, leaving little doubt they were the same culprit.

He plotted each case on an electronic map in chronological order. Red markers bloomed across the screen, forming clusters, and after a simple deduction one particular area stood out. At the very center of all the incidents lay a group of abandoned, unfinished buildings.

"Eight or nine out of ten, it's here…" Hansen rubbed his chin, a knowing gleam flashing in his eyes. "Just like Speed-o'-Sound Sonic. Always fond of hiding in abandoned ruins."

It wasn't that ninjas had some special attachment to deserted sites. The reason was more practical. With their twisted hallways, unstable floors, and countless obstacles, such places were ideal for vanishing from sight and perfect for any kind of strange ninja training.

Still, locating the target's general area was not the same as rushing straight into it. Hansen flicked a glance at the clock glowing in the corner of the computer screen, then leaned back, stretching his arms.

This week's activity funds had already been deposited into his account ahead of schedule. Who could say if reporting too early would even bring in another reward?

"Sigh~, it's rare for me to come out on a mission. I should enjoy the prosperity of the human world while I can. Why rush?"

With the conviction that "a monster who never slacks off isn't a true employee," Hansen decided to wait. He would keep observing until Hellfire Flame revealed himself. At least, that was the excuse he told himself while openly savoring what was essentially a paid vacation, idling away every hour until the deadline crept close.

…

Several days later.

Once again, the morning sunlight poured into King's apartment. To Hansen's mild surprise, King had actually clenched his teeth and forced himself through the Saitama-style training Hansen had offhandedly suggested.

Every day left him drained like a half-dead animal, yet his frail body was gradually, almost stubbornly, adapting to the punishment of high-intensity exercise. Perhaps it was raw survival instinct pushing him. Maybe he was teetering on the edge of breaking through human limits. Or perhaps he had simply overtrained so badly that his body was about to twist into something monstrous.

Having endured another round of brutal morning drills, King collapsed on the sofa, limp as a rag, staring emptily at the ceiling and wondering how life could possibly be this cruel.

Hansen strolled out of the guest room, steam rising from the cup of coffee in his hand. He looked at King's pitiful state and nodded with satisfaction.

"King, looks like the Strongest Man on Earth Training Plan is starting to show results. In less than a week, you can already endure the entire regimen."

King couldn't even lift his eyelids. A low groan slipped from his throat, the only protest he had the strength to make.

"By the way," Hansen went on casually, "I've been sending out resumes online these past few days. Looks like the Hero Association doesn't have any high-paying positions that suit me."

He sipped his coffee and added with a faint smile, "But another company in a different city invited me for an interview. If everything goes smoothly, I might not be back tomorrow."

"!!"

'What! This was incredible news!'

Like a man on his deathbed suddenly revived, like a barren tree sprouting blossoms after a hundred years, King shot up from the sofa with explosive energy, instantly reborn. The exhaustion etched on his face disappeared in a flash, replaced by unrestrained excitement and pure joy.

'Hansen is leaving? This monster is finally going away? Freedom!'

'My beloved games, my precious two-dimensional wives, my warm and peaceful bed! At last, I can return to the blissful life of a shut-in… right?'

Even though his heart was bursting with fireworks of celebration, King forced himself to keep up the calm demeanor of an S-Class hero.

Suppressing the wild grin that threatened to tear across his face, he steadied his voice and replied with a hint of reluctant regret.

"Is that so? What a pity. I was actually hoping to ask Hansen for more tips on muscle training." He sighed softly, then continued with forced sincerity. "But of course, work comes first. Hansen, I wish you the best of luck with your interview and a bright future ahead."

Moved by the heartfelt words, Hansen's eyes softened.

"King, you truly are my best friend! Hearing that puts my mind at ease. In that case…" He gave King's shoulder a firm pat and declared with solemn determination, "So I don't waste your blessing, and so I can continue guiding you in the Strongest Man on Earth Training Plan, no matter how the interview goes, I'll hurry back tomorrow!"

Across from him, King's smile froze in place.

The entire world around him dimmed to black and white.

'Ah… he's coming back? Is there really no escape left in this world? God, I know you exist, please help this peasant!'