C3 One Punch to Kill

"One punch, instant kill?"

Saitama's eyes bulged in astonishment as he stared at the motionless Crab Monster. He had seen firsthand just how formidable this creature was—a casual swing of its pincers could effortlessly smash concrete, and its shell was so tough that bullets couldn't penetrate it. Yet, it hadn't withstood a single punch from this slender, good-looking young man.

"You've got to be a superpowered individual, right?"

At that time, before the wealthy Akhil had founded the Hero Association, heroes were commonly referred to as superpowered. Saitama assumed Jiang Yi must be one of them, because who else but a superpowered could achieve such a feat?

Cello Everett just smiled, shaking his head gently. "No, I'm merely an ordinary human being."

"Human?" Saitama's eyes rounded in disbelief. "How could a human have such strength?"

Instead of answering, Cello Everett posed a question with a smile, "Why not?"

Tyson's punch packed a force of 450 kilograms, nearly half a ton. Bolt could sprint a hundred meters in 9.49 seconds. Eduardo withstood 1,484 kilograms and emerged without a scratch. Humans have never been a frail species!

Cello Everett, having pushed his body to the human limit, understood this more than anyone.

Host: Cello Everett.

Physique: 1

Strength: 1,000 kilograms

Speed: 20 meters per second

Durability: 1,500 kilograms

Armed with such formidable power, Cello Everett had no reason to fear an ordinary Wolf Level monster like the Crab Monster.

Regrettably, this power represented the pinnacle of human potential.

Or, to put it another way, the limiter, the gene lock.

Call it what you will!

The truth is, not just humans, but every living being has its own unique gene lock. Due to species variance, each gene lock has a different threshold. Once you hit that genetic ceiling, the only way to further amplify your strength is to change your species. This could be seen with the Rhinoceros Beetle from the House of Evolution, the so-called 'World's Strongest' Biceps Brachii King, or the Monster Association's monster cells...

All these are variations on the same theme: the transformation from human to monster.

Saitama, however, is the sole exception. He alone has shattered the human limiter.

Inhabiting a mere mortal's frame, he stood shoulder to shoulder with the gods as the mightiest among men!

Cello Everett's visit to Z City was motivated by a significant reason: the chance to acquire Saitama's extraordinary abilities. As luck would have it, he encountered Saitama almost immediately upon his arrival.

Cello mused internally, 'Now, all I need to do is cultivate a good relationship with Saitama and gradually make him my pupil.'

"Mr. Everett, please take me on as your disciple!"

Suddenly, with a thud, Saitama dropped to his knees, startling Cello.

He hadn't anticipated Saitama's request to become his student.

To mentor the world's strongest being?

The idea was certainly thrilling.

Yet, after some contemplation, Cello shook his head.

"Saitama, you don't need a teacher."

The thought of having Saitama as a disciple was undeniably impressive.

But Cello knew he had nothing to teach him.

His expertise was in exploiting advantages, not in teaching.

"No, if you refuse, I will not stand," Saitama declared, teeth clenched, steadfast in his kneel.

"Why put yourself through this?" Cello couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and sympathy.

Saitama had the potential to be the world's strongest on his own efforts.

So why insist on having a mentor?

"Before this, I was aimless, jobless, and clueless about my direction in life," Saitama explained.

"It wasn't until I saw you, Mr. Everett, that I remembered."

"As a child, I didn't dream of being a salaryman; I dreamed of being a hero who could vanquish villains with a single punch!"

"A hero just like you, Mr. Everett!"