On the platform.
As the system announced the start, the atmosphere abruptly grew tense.
Yet the instant Krillin got a clear look at his opponent, the tension inside him involuntarily eased a little.
There was only one reason.
His opponent, just like him, had a gleaming bald head.
What was more, he wore a very tacky-looking yellow jumpsuit with a white cape, and the sleepy, dead-fish eyes on his face had nothing to do with the word "strong," no matter how Krillin looked at him.
Out of politeness, and a sense of kinship with a fellow bald man, Krillin smiled kindly and spoke first:
"Hello, my name is Krillin! I look forward to our match!"
"Oh, I'm Saitama. I'm a hero for fun."
Saitama answered expressionlessly, his tone as flat as if he were asking whether eggs were on sale at the supermarket today.
That lackadaisical attitude made Krillin drop his last trace of caution.
Meanwhile, a wave of discussion broke out among the Arena's billions of spectators.
"What is this? They're sending out a joke character for the opening match?"
"That guy called Krillin might not look tall, but the energy inside him is practically a little sun! The other one's no different from an ordinary person!"
"The result's already decided. One second? No, half a second, and that Saitama guy will be blasted to bits!"
Almost no one thought Saitama could win.
After all, on a stage that brought together all manner of monsters from the Heavens and Myriad Worlds, his appearance was simply too unremarkable.
"Well then..."
Saitama picked his nose, seemingly wanting to finish up early and go home.
"Here I come."
As soon as he finished speaking, he casually threw a punch forward.
An utterly ordinary punch.
There was no aura, no light, and even