Amateurs watched the spectacle; experts saw the workings.
Apart from A and Hundred-Ton King, who were trapped in Time Stop, everyone present who could move within it saw clearly: the instant One-Punch Superwoman struck Ultimate Lifeform, Ultimate Lifeform had already encased its entire body in a carapace.
The Ironclad Beetle, also known as the Demon Iron Beetle, was a super monster only one centimeter long, yet it could survive being run over by a car. Scientists had discovered that it could withstand 39,000 times its own weight!
And this was Ultimate Lifeform's strongest defensive ability: Ultimate · Immortal Demon Iron Armor!
In this form, Ultimate Lifeform was confident it could withstand Witch's thousand-kilometer Meteor strike.
Yet One-Punch Superwoman merely raised her hand and calmly uttered, "One-Cent Punch."
Before her words had finished ringing out, Ultimate Lifeform melted like cream, armor and all.
Time Stop ended.
Laughing Band abruptly froze in place. The music vanished, and the entire Hero Association Headquarters fell so quiet that a pin dropping would have been audible.
Only the pounding of the Monsters' hearts remained, thump after thump.
We've already lost someone, just like that.
If I'd been the one to attack just now, I'd probably be dead already.
That was what everyone present was thinking.
The Black-Rank Monster Insect God was drenched in sweat and involuntarily backed into a corner, muttering in distress, "I absorbed the S-class Artificial Human and evolved into my final form, so why? Why does it feel like I have absolutely no chance of winning?!"
"Whew..."
Hundred-Ton King took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward.
Apart from S7 Superman, who had been excluded for being an alien, Hero Monthly's Top Five Physical Fighters in the City World were One-Punch Superwoman, Hundred-Ton King, Red Giant, Demon Trainer, and Popeye.
Everyone had