Catastrophe Mantle
"Because I might encounter a rather troublesome opponent, I need to become stronger. You are the strongest I know, so I'm planning to spar with you to see if I can improve."
Sure enough, Saitama became somewhat interested after hearing the word "formidable foe".
"How strong is this formidable opponent?"
Higashino Makoto recalled the setting of the Nine Luminaries World Devourer and gave a general answer.
"Very powerful, probably capable of destroying the world. Hmm, according to the Hero Association's algorithm, it should be considered a god-level monster?"
"Oh! Really? Do you need my help?"
Seeing Saitama's enthusiasm, Higashino Makoto poured the mutton into the pot.
"I'll definitely invite you to come sometime. By the way, after we finish eating, let's have a little sparring match."
Saitama, of course, wouldn't refuse a fan who brought him hot pot ingredients.
"Sure! But I'm very strong."
"I know, but I'm also very strong, though I'm probably no match for you."
Saitama picked up a beer, opened it, and took a big gulp.
"Ah--that feels great."
Higashino Makoto opened a bottle of beer and clinked glasses with him.
The crisp sound of glass colliding echoed in the quiet room.
Higashino Makoto looked at him.
There's a sense of anticipation, like finally encountering someone who might be a match for you.
"Oh, and remember to go easy on me. After all, I don't really like fighting."
"Why?"
"Because I'm afraid of the pain."
Saitama's lips curled up slightly, even more so than when he saw the hot pot ingredients.
"Are you afraid of pain?"
"I'm terrified, absolutely terrified. And is there anyone who isn't afraid?"
"So how did you become stronger?"
"I'm just lucky, that's all."
Saitama stared at him for a long time.
"You're a very interesting person."
"I know."
The two continued eating hot pot.
Beef, mutton, fish balls, shrimp paste, tofu, mushrooms, cabbage, and glass noodles were all added to the pot one by one, and then scooped out and eaten one by one.
As the sun sank below the horizon, it dyed the ruins of the no-man's-land in Z-City a dark red.
Higashino Makoto and Saitama walked out of the apartment, one after the other, their footsteps rustling on the gravel path.
Saitama was still wearing that yellow bodysuit, his white cape fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and looked like he had just woken up.
"Let's do it here."
Higashino Makoto stopped and stood in a relatively open space.
The surrounding area consisted of abandoned buildings, with vines climbing all over the walls.
He turned around to face Saitama.
Are you sure you want to do it?
"It's just a friendly spar. Don't worry, I'm very strong, you won't kill me with One Punch Man."
Saitama nodded.
"Alright, you go first."
Higashino Makoto took a deep breath.
He didn't rush to make a move; his little world quietly unfolded.
This time, it's not about covering the outside world, but rather transferring a part of one's existence into a smaller world.
Blurring.
By placing one's body in the gap between the microcosm and reality, physical attacks pass right through it.
This is a skill he has possessed since a very young age.
It's just that his previous fighting style involved long-range, wide-area attacks, so he had almost never used it before.
He opened his eyes, and Saitama's image was reflected in his golden pupils.
Saitama's eyebrows twitched.
Aren't you going to start?
Higashino Makoto did not answer, but raised his right hand.
"The Great Catastrophe - The Catastrophe Mantle"
The crimson and black magic surged from his palm, not condensing into a torrent of energy and shooting out all at once as before, but instead enveloping him.
Magic flowed like liquid from his arms, spreading to his shoulders, chest, waist, and legs.
A thin, enamel-like reddish-black film enveloped his entire body.
A long spear materialized from his palm.
The spear is red and black, with dark red patterns flowing across its surface.
He gripped the spear in his hand and swung it lightly. The spear tip sliced through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
Catastrophe Mantle.
Using the magic of the "Great Catastrophe" as raw material, it is compressed, shaped, and solidified to form a close-fitting suit of armor.
Although there was a second phase, Higashino Makoto did not continue.
Let's test the strength of the first phase first.
Higashino Makoto's figure disappeared from the spot.
Speed, extremely fast speed.
Ordinary people simply cannot perceive Higashino Makoto with the naked eye.
Although he considers himself a mage, he does possess a melee Battle Mage class, a mental mage tank class, and the massive attribute bonuses from the Limit Breaker.
With the Trinity transformation, he is almost equivalent to a level 100 warrior!
Although it is far inferior to the mage class, it relies on the Catastrophe Mantle for defense.
At least when he sparred with melee-type guardians, he wasn't at a disadvantage.
Using the Authority of the "door," he created a very short passage between the small world and reality, instantly appearing behind Saitama.
The spear thrust out, its tip aimed straight for Saitama's nape.
The speed was astonishing; the air was torn apart, producing a sharp, explosive sound.
Saitama didn't turn around. He just tilted his head slightly, the tip of the gun grazing his ear.
Higashino Makoto didn't stop.
The spear swept horizontally, its blade slicing towards Saitama's side.
Saitama took a step back, the blade of the gun grazing the fabric of his yellow bodysuit without touching his skin.
Higashino Makoto continued his attack.
Thrust, sweep, chop, thrust --
The spear in his hand transformed into a red and black whirlwind, each attack aimed at Saitama's vital points.
But Saitama was faster; although he looked a bit disheveled, he dodged every attack.
He was incredibly fast.
I hate numbers!
Higashino Makoto silently complained to himself.
Higashino Makoto, who owns Garden, has an advantage against monsters with mechanics, but he can also rely on mechanics against monsters with high numerical values.
But everything has its limits.
Saitama, however, clearly exceeded that limit.
Saitama then began to fight back, but he was clearly not serious.
After all, Higashino Makoto's own health points had not decreased.
No, doing it this way won't allow you to test your abilities at all!
"Forget it, let's go straight to stage two."
Magic began to flow.
The second layer of Catastrophe Mantle began to form.
The inner layer is close-fitting, while the outer layer is suspended, with a gap of a few millimeters between the two layers.
The Catastrophe Mantle begins to change.
Several tentacles extended from his back, waist, and shoulders.
The tentacles are reddish-black with dark red veins flowing across their surface; each one is as thick as a baby's arm.
They danced in the air like snakes.
The spear continued its attack, while tentacles simultaneously wrapped around Saitama from all directions.
Saitama didn't completely dodge this time.
One tentacle wrapped around his wrist, and another around his ankle.
His movements paused for a moment.
The spear thrust forward, its tip striking his chest.
Saitama looked down at his chest, then looked up at Higashino Makoto.
"That hurts a bit. You're really strong, maybe even a little stronger Boros."
"Perhaps."
He didn't know whether to be happy or frustrated by the assessment that he was even slightly better than Boros.
Boros is a cosmic overlord, a powerful being capable of flattening the earth's surface.
"Then be serious."
Higashino Makoto retracted his tentacles and spear, took a few steps back, and looked at Saitama with his golden eyes.
"Everyone says I'm very strong, so don't worry about me being killed with One Punch Man."
Based on its own mechanisms, it would take at least three punches to win.
Saitama looked at him for two seconds.
After all, the opponent is indeed very strong.
Perhaps it can't match Boros in speed and strength, but for some reason, its attacks hurt more than Boros's.