Opg2
Proto Merlin looked up from her research, pinkish-purple eyes focusing intently on Saitama. "I may have discovered something of interest, Master," she said, setting aside several ancient tomes. "These recent monster appearances follow a pattern consistent with dimensional weakening."
"What does that mean exactly?" Saitama asked, not particularly concerned but mildly curious.
"It means," Proto Merlin explained, rising gracefully to join him on the sofa, "that the barriers between realms are thinning. The same phenomenon that allowed our summoning may be allowing other entities to cross over."
Before Saitama could respond, the bathroom door opened in a cloud of fragrant steam, and Aphrodite emerged wearing nothing but a towel that barely covered the essentials. Her orange-red hair clung damply to her shoulders, and her golden eyes sparkled with mischief when she spotted Saitama.
"Master! You've returned," she purred, making no effort to secure her precariously positioned towel as she sauntered toward him. "Was your hunt successful?"
"It was just a big dog," Saitama repeated, his expression unchanged despite Aphrodite's state of undress. "Not even worth a punch."
"How disappointing for you," Aphrodite cooed, leaning over the back of the sofa so that her face was inches from his. The movement caused her towel to slip slightly, revealing more divine perfection than was probably appropriate for the living room. "Perhaps you need more... stimulating diversions."
"Aphrodite," Artemis warned from the dining table, not looking up from her bow maintenance. "We've discussed appropriate attire in shared spaces."
"Oh, have we?" the goddess of beauty replied innocently. "I must have forgotten."
"You forget nothing," Artemis countered dryly. "You simply choose to ignore conventions that don't suit your purposes."
Europa emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on an apron that somehow looked regal despite its mundane purpose. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes," she announced, tactfully ignoring Aphrodite's state of undress. "Perhaps that would be sufficient time for everyone to prepare themselves appropriately for the meal?"
The diplomatic suggestion had its intended effect. Aphrodite sighed dramatically but straightened up. "Very well. I shall make myself 'appropriate' for dinner." She turned to leave but paused to wink at Saitama. "Though from what I've observed of mortal media, many champions appreciate a more... natural approach to attire."
As she sashayed toward her bedroom, Saitama turned to Proto Merlin. "You were saying something about dimensional barriers?"
The dreamweaver nodded, apparently unperturbed by the interruption. "Yes. The circle that summoned us was ancient magic, designed to bridge realms. Its incomplete state not only affected our binding but may have created instabilities in reality itself."
"Is that bad?" Saitama asked.
"Potentially," Proto Merlin admitted. "If the weakening continues, larger and more powerful entities might find their way through. Beings that even you might find... interesting."
For the first time, Saitama showed a flicker of genuine interest. "Stronger monsters? Strong enough to survive more than one punch?"
"It's possible," Proto Merlin nodded. "Though such entities would pose significant threats to this city and its inhabitants."
"We should investigate these dimensional weaknesses," Artemis suggested, rejoining the conversation. "Locate the points where the barriers are thinnest and monitor them."
"A wise precaution," agreed Amaterasu, emerging from the kitchen with a tray of tea. She had adapted to modern conveniences with surprising ease, blending her imperial heritage with practical domesticity. "In my realm, such barriers were maintained by complex ritual and divine attention."
Genos, who had been silently monitoring the exchange, spoke up. "I can coordinate with the Hero Association to establish surveillance at locations of unusual monster emergences. Their pattern recognition software might help identify potential hotspots."
"Good idea," Saitama nodded, accepting a cup of tea from Amaterasu. As she handed it to him, their fingers brushed briefly, causing a spark of solar energy to dance between them.
"Forgive me," Amaterasu murmured, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "My control over solar essence remains imperfect in this realm."
"No problem," Saitama assured her, seemingly unfazed by contact that would have severely burned an ordinary human. "Doesn't hurt."
Amaterasu's eyes widened slightly. "Most mortals would find direct contact with solar energy... uncomfortable."
"I'm not most mortals," Saitama shrugged, sipping his tea.
"Indeed not," Amaterasu agreed softly, her amber-gold eyes studying him with renewed interest.
The moment was interrupted by the apartment's communication system. An urgent message from the Hero Association flashed across the large screen on the living room wall.
"S-Class emergency alert," Genos announced, scanning the incoming data. "Multiple Dragon-level threats detected simultaneously across the city. Pattern suggests coordinated attack."
Saitama set down his teacup with a sigh. "So much for dinner."
"The threats are diverse in nature," Genos continued, displaying a map with five distinct crisis points. "The Association is requesting all available S-Class heroes to respond."
"Five threats, five goddesses," Proto Merlin observed. "Another test of our capabilities, perhaps?"
"Or a distraction," Artemis suggested shrewdly. "To divide our forces for some greater purpose."
Saitama stood, his casual demeanor shifting subtly. Despite his perpetual boredom, the protection of Z-City remained his fundamental purpose. "We'll split up again. Each of you take one threat, and I'll move between locations as needed."
"I have returned!" announced Aphrodite, reappearing in what could technically be described as battle attire, though it seemed designed more for aesthetic appeal than protection. The form-fitting golden ensemble emphasized her divine proportions while allowing her wings to manifest fully. "Did I hear something about Dragon-level threats? How exciting!"
"We leave immediately," Artemis stated, her bow transforming back to its divine form as she stood. "Master, I'll take the northern sector. The energy signature suggests entities similar to those I hunted during the Thessalian incursion."
The other goddesses quickly designated their targets, each selecting threats best suited to their particular abilities. Within moments, the group had departed, leaving the half-prepared dinner cooling in the kitchen.
---
The northern sector of Z-City had become a hunting ground.
Artemis moved through the abandoned streets with predatory grace, her bow at ready as she tracked the creatures that had emerged from a rift in reality. They resembled wolves but moved like liquid shadow, their multiple red eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence.
"Nightmare hounds," she murmured to herself. "Spawn of Hecate's dark domain."
The creatures had cornered a group of civilians in a shopping mall, the people huddled behind makeshift barricades as security guards desperately fired ineffective weapons at the advancing pack.
Artemis positioned herself on a second-level balcony, surveying the situation with the calculating eye of a divine huntress. The hounds, twelve in total, were coordinating their attack with unnatural precision, clearly directed by some higher intelligence.
She nocked an arrow of pure moonlight, the shaft humming with celestial energy. "Return to shadow," she whispered, releasing the arrow in a single fluid motion.
The shaft split mid-flight, becoming twelve separate streaks of silver light that found their marks with unerring accuracy. The nightmare hounds dissolved into mist with howls of otherworldly anguish, their essence returning to whatever dark dimension had spawned them.
The civilians and security personnel stared in awe at their silver-haired savior, the glow of divine energy still surrounding her lithe form.
"The area is secure," Artemis reported through her communicator. "Threat neutralized."
"Nice work," came Saitama's voice through the device. "I'm with Aphrodite in the commercial district. Things are... weird here."
"Define 'weird,'" Artemis requested, already moving toward the exit.
"The monster is... um... proposing marriage to her?"
---
The scene in the commercial district defied easy explanation.
A massive humanoid creature with iridescent scales and multiple arms had indeed paused its destruction to kneel before Aphrodite, offering what appeared to be a hastily uprooted streetlight as a token of affection.
"Your beauty transcends dimensions, goddess," the creature was proclaiming in a surprisingly eloquent voice. "Join with me, and together we shall rule this realm as divine sovereigns!"
Aphrodite, clearly enjoying the attention, stood with her wings fully extended, golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "How flattering," she replied. "But I'm afraid I'm already bound to another champion."
She gestured to Saitama, who stood nearby with his characteristic blank expression, arms crossed over his chest.
The creature turned its multifaceted eyes toward him, assessing the unimpressive-looking human. "This mortal? He is unworthy of divine companionship! I am Azr'gothul, Prince of the Seventh Chromatic Dimension! My power spans realities!"
"Cool," Saitama replied flatly. "But you're wrecking the shopping district, so you need to leave."
"INSOLENCE!" the creature roared, its romantic overtures instantly forgotten as it rose to its full height of nearly twenty meters. "I shall crush you beneath my heel, then claim the golden-eyed goddess as my prize!"
Aphrodite sighed dramatically. "They always turn violent when rejected. So predictable."
Azr'gothul raised all six arms, each limb crackling with energy of a different color. "BEHOLD MY POWER, INSIGNIFICANT MOR—"
The creature never finished its sentence. Saitama had already moved, his casual punch connecting with the entity's midsection and creating a perfect circular hole through its torso. Azr'gothul remained standing for a moment, a comical expression of disbelief on its alien face, before collapsing in a heap of rapidly disintegrating scales.
"One punch, as always," Aphrodite commented, her wings folding elegantly against her back. "Though I admit, his proposal was somewhat intriguing. It's been millennia since anyone offered me dominion over a dimension."
"You weren't actually considering it, were you?" Saitama asked, brushing iridescent dust from his glove.
"Jealous, Master?" Aphrodite teased, stepping closer and running a finger along his shoulder. "How delightful."
"Just wondering if I needed to punch more monsters," Saitama clarified, though he didn't move away from her touch.
"Your concern is touching," Aphrodite purred. "But unnecessary. My binding is to you, willing or not. Though I must say, the arrangement becomes more interesting by the day."
Their communicators crackled with static before Europa's voice came through. "Central business district secured. The mechanical entity has been neutralized." Her tone remained calm and regal despite the sounds of destruction in the background.
"Eastern residential zone cleared," reported Amaterasu, her voice tight with unusual tension. "However, I detected a significant power signature retreating through a dimensional rift. Something was observing the battle."
"Same here," Proto Merlin's voice added, sounding troubled. "The creatures I encountered were mere scouts, testing our capabilities. This is coordinated reconnaissance."
Saitama and Aphrodite exchanged glances. "We should regroup," he decided. "Back at the apartment."
---
When the team reassembled in their shared living space, the mood was unusually somber. Each goddess had encountered threats that seemed designed to test their specific weaknesses and strengths, suggesting an intelligence behind the attacks.
"This was not random monster activity," Europa concluded, having listened to each report. Despite the battle, she had somehow maintained her regal composure, though a torn sleeve revealed a wound that was already healing with divine light. "This was strategic assessment."
"Agreed," Artemis nodded. "The creatures I faced knew exactly how to counter lunar energy. They had been prepared."
"Mine as well," Amaterasu added. "They carried wards against solar manifestation—ancient symbols I have not seen since the Age of Myths."
Proto Merlin sat cross-legged on the floor, her staff across her knees as she accessed her dreamweaving abilities. "I can sense ripples across dimensional barriers. Something large is gathering strength, preparing to cross over."
"Can you determine what it is?" Genos asked, his mechanical systems still running diagnostics after his own encounter with a technology-absorbing entity.
Proto Merlin's eyes, glazed with dreamlight, slowly focused. "Not precisely. But it bears similarities to beings from the Age of Gods—titans, perhaps, or elder deities from forgotten pantheons."
"Great," Saitama sighed. "More god stuff."
Aphrodite, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly straightened. "There's another possibility," she said, her golden eyes darkening. "Something we've overlooked."
"What?" Artemis prompted.
"The summoning circle," Aphrodite explained. "It was designed to call forth divine servants, but it was incomplete. What if... what if the unfinished portion was meant to bind more than just the five of us?"
A heavy silence fell over the group as they considered this implication.
"You believe something else was partially summoned?" Europa asked carefully.
"Or something saw the door opening and decided to follow us through," Aphrodite suggested. "Something that has remained hidden, gathering strength, studying this world and its defenders."
Proto Merlin's expression grew troubled. "If that's true, then our accidental summoning may have endangered this entire realm."
All eyes turned to Saitama, who had been listening with surprising attention.
"So," he summarized, "there might be a super-powerful monster or god or whatever planning to invade because of the summoning thing I triggered. And it's been sending test monsters to check us out."
"That... is an accurate assessment," Artemis confirmed reluctantly.
To everyone's surprise, Saitama's expression shifted slightly—the corner of his mouth turning up in what might almost be described as excitement.
"Finally," he said. "Something interesting."
---
The following days brought an uneasy calm. Monster attacks continued but reverted to their usual random pattern rather than the coordinated assault they had experienced. The Hero Association remained on high alert, with all S-Class heroes called back to active duty in Z-City.
Life in the shared apartment developed new rhythms as the goddesses prepared for whatever might be coming. Training sessions became a daily activity, with each divine being working to adapt their diminished powers to modern combat situations. Even Aphrodite, typically more interested in seduction than warfare, demonstrated surprising martial prowess when properly motivated.
Saitama often observed these sessions with mild interest, occasionally offering surprisingly insightful suggestions despite his typically laconic demeanor. His own training routine continued unchanged—the same 100 push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and 10-kilometer run that had somehow granted him unlimited power.
It was during one such morning run that Saitama encountered something unexpected.
He had just completed his sixth lap around the Hero Association training grounds when he noticed a figure keeping pace beside him—Artemis, her silver-blue hair streaming behind her as she matched his considerable speed with divine grace.
"Mind if I join you, Master?" she asked, not even slightly winded.
"Sure," Saitama shrugged, maintaining his pace. "Didn't think running was your thing."
"The hunt often requires endurance," Artemis replied. "And I find myself... restless in the confines of the city."
They ran in companionable silence for several kilometers before Artemis spoke again.
"May I ask you something personal, Saitama?"
"I guess."
"What drives you?" she inquired. "You possess power beyond comprehension, yet you seek no glory, no worship, no dominion. You live simply, fight monsters because they appear, and seem perpetually underwhelmed by your own extraordinary abilities."
Saitama considered the question as they rounded another curve in the track. "I wanted to be a hero," he said finally. "Someone who could win any fight with a single punch. Now I can. It's just... not as exciting as I thought it would be."
"You achieved your dream only to find it hollow," Artemis observed. "A familiar tale among gods and mortals alike."
"Yeah, I guess so," Saitama nodded. "What about you? What drives a goddess of the hunt?"
Artemis seemed surprised by the question—perhaps because Saitama rarely expressed interest in others' motivations.
"The perfect shot," she answered after a moment's reflection. "The purity of the chase. The balance of predator and prey." Her bright blue eyes grew distant behind her glasses. "In the ancient forests, I was both hunter and guardian—culling what needed culling, protecting what deserved protection. There was purpose in that role."
"And now?"
"Now I hunt in a world of concrete and steel, pursuing creatures that shouldn't exist, bound to a champion who needs no divine assistance." Despite her words, there was no bitterness in Artemis's tone—only thoughtful honesty.
"Sorry about that," Saitama offered. "The whole accidental summoning thing."
Artemis's lips curved in a small smile. "It is... not entirely unpleasant. This world has its own wonders, and the challenge of adaptation is not without merit."
They completed another lap in silence before Artemis added, "And you are unlike any champion I have been bound to in all my immortal existence. That alone makes this exile interesting."
Before Saitama could respond, an explosion rocked the training grounds. They both stopped, turning toward the source of the disturbance—the central Hero Association tower, now partially obscured by smoke.
"That's not good," Saitama observed mildly.
Their communicators activated simultaneously, Genos's urgent voice coming through clearly: "Master, the Association headquarters is under attack. Unknown entities have breached the lower levels and are ascending rapidly. The other goddesses are responding, but the situation is critical."
"On our way," Saitama replied, already moving toward the tower with Artemis at his side.
---
The scene inside the Hero Association headquarters was one of carefully orchestrated chaos.
Multiple entities—each resembling a hybrid of ancient mythological creatures and modern technology—had infiltrated the building from below, neutralizing security systems and overwhelming the first response teams. By the time Saitama and Artemis arrived, the battle had reached the mid-levels of the tower.
Europa had established a defensive perimeter around the civilian staff, her golden spear manifested to its full divine glory as she repelled mechanical minotaurs with precise strikes. Despite her typically peaceful demeanor, the queen of Crete moved with the practiced efficiency of one who had commanded armies.
Aphrodite fought nearby, her usual playfulness replaced by deadly focus as she engaged what appeared to be cybernetic sirens. Her golden daggers flashed with lethal precision, proving that the goddess of beauty was equally adept at dealing death when required.
Amaterasu had transformed the executive conference room into a makeshift field hospital, her solar energy providing both healing light for the wounded and devastating beams against any creatures that breached the perimeter. Her imperial robes billowed with divine power as she moved between healing and combat with seamless grace.
Proto Merlin occupied the central security station, her dreamweaving abilities interfacing directly with the building's systems as she coordinated the defense. Silver-white hair flowing with mystical energy, she simultaneously maintained protective wards and analyzed the attackers' patterns.
"These are not random monsters," she reported as Saitama and Artemis joined her. "They show signs of both divine and technological manipulation—hybrid entities designed specifically to counter modern defenses and divine intervention simultaneously."
"Where's Genos?" Saitama asked, scanning the battlefield.
"Upper levels," Proto Merlin replied, her hands moving through complex patterns as she reinforced a failing security door. "Attempting to secure the executive leadership. Several entities broke through toward the command center."
Artemis already had her bow drawn, silver energy coalescing into arrows as she assessed the situation. "These creatures bear the mark of Typhon—father of monsters in Greek mythology—but corrupted with something... mechanical. Unnatural."
"I'll check on Genos," Saitama decided. "You help the others secure this level."
Before anyone could respond, the ceiling exploded inward, raining debris and revealing a massive figure hovering in the opening. Unlike the other entities, this one appeared almost entirely humanoid—a towering female form with indigo-blue skin, multiple arms bearing various weapons, and eyes that glowed with silver light. Her long silver-white hair flowed around her like living moonlight, and the void of space seemed to swirl behind her.
"Kali," gasped Proto Merlin, her eyes widening in recognition. "The Divine Destroyer."
The blue-skinned goddess surveyed the scene with cold calculation, her gaze finally settling on Saitama. "So," she said, her voice resonating with otherworldly power, "you are the mortal who breached the barriers between realms. The one who summoned my sisters and set these events in motion."
"Uh, yeah, I guess," Saitama replied, utterly unfazed by her dramatic entrance. "You a friend of theirs?"
Kali's silver eyes narrowed. "I am Kali, Goddess of Time, Destruction, and Change. And you, mortal, have upset the cosmic balance with your careless meddling."
"To be fair," Saitama pointed out, "it was an accident. I was just trying to clean some graffiti."
"Intent matters not," Kali declared. "The damage is done. The barriers between dimensions grow weaker by the hour. Soon, entities far beyond your comprehension will pour through the gaps you've created."
"Can't you just... fix it?" Saitama suggested reasonably. "Being a goddess and all?"
Kali's multiple arms moved in complex patterns, creating symbols of glowing energy in the air around her. "The breach cannot be sealed from this side alone. The ritual requires power from both realms."
"So you need our help," Artemis interjected, stepping forward to address her divine counterpart. "Is that why you've orchestrated this attack? To get our attention?"
"These lesser entities are not my creation," Kali replied dismissively. "They are merely opportunists, taking advantage of the weakening barriers. I come with purpose—to assess whether this realm is worth saving, and whether you," her silver gaze returned to Saitama, "possess the strength necessary to complete the sealing ritual."
"If it involves fighting something, I'm in," Saitama said simply.
Kali's expression remained inscrutable. "It is not merely about combat, mortal. The ritual requires perfect balance between destruction and creation, death and life, ending and beginning. It requires... sacrifice."
Before the conversation could continue, another explosion rocked the building. Genos's voice came urgently through their communicators: "Master! Level 48 breached! Entity of unprecedented power—GZZZZKT—" The transmission dissolved into static.
Saitama's expression shifted subtly—a slight narrowing of the eyes that those who knew him recognized as actual concern. "We'll finish this talk later," he said to Kali. "My disciple needs help."
He vanished in a blur of speed, leaving the goddesses facing each other across the rubble-strewn floor.
"Sisters," Kali acknowledged, her tone softening marginally. "I did not expect to find you bound to a mortal champion, diminished and dwelling in this realm of concrete and machines."
"The binding was accidental but not without purpose," Europa replied diplomatically. "And Saitama is... exceptional, even by divine standards."
"So I have observed," Kali nodded. "His power defies explanation—neither divine nor demonic, neither magical nor technological. Simply... absolute."
"Will you aid us in securing this building before continuing your assessment?" Artemis asked practically. "These hybrid creatures may not be your creation, but they threaten innocent mortals."
Kali considered for a moment, then inclined her head in agreement. Her multiple arms raised various divine weapons—a trident, a sword, a bell, and other implements of cosmic destruction. "Very well. Let us demonstrate to these lesser beings why the divine pantheons were worshipped and feared for millennia."
---
Saitama found Genos on the 48th floor, or what remained of it. The entire level had been transformed into something resembling a mythological battlefield crossed with a high-tech laboratory. Strange machines pulsed with otherworldly energy, creating miniature dimensional rifts throughout the space.
Genos himself was embedded in a wall, his mechanical body showing significant damage but still functional. His eyes focused on Saitama with evident relief.
"Master," he managed, his voice distorted by damaged vocal systems. "Entity—beyond previous classification parameters—attempting to—establish permanent dimensional gateway."
At the center of the floor, surrounded by whirling machines and crackling energy fields, stood a being that defied easy description. It appeared simultaneously mechanical and organic, ancient and futuristic—a hybrid entity that shifted between forms as it manipulated the dimensional equipment.
"Fascinating specimen," the entity remarked upon noticing Saitama, its voice modulating between multiple tones and frequencies. "The anomaly himself. The impossible variable in all my calculations."
"Who are you supposed to be?" Saitama asked, already looking bored despite the apocalyptic scene around him.
"I am Echidna, Mother of Monsters, Bride of Typhon," the entity replied, its form temporarily settling into something vaguely feminine though still grotesquely hybrid. "Though in this iteration, I have transcended my mythological origins. I am Evolution Incarnate, adapting across dimensions, incorporating all I encounter."
"Cool," Saitama nodded absently. "So what's with all the machines?"
"The future," Echidna replied, gesturing to the dimensional equipment with appendages that resembled both tentacles and robotic arms. "Your accidental summoning created instabilities—opportunities for beings like myself to cross between realms. But such pathways are temporary, unreliable. This gateway will establish permanent connection, allowing free passage between dimensions."
"Sounds like a bad idea," Saitama observed. "More monsters, more trouble. I'm going to have to stop you."
Echidna's form rippled with what might have been amusement. "You misunderstand, Anomaly. I do not seek conquest or destruction. I seek synthesis—the perfect integration of all dimensional knowledge, technology, and biology. Your world has much to offer in this exchange."
"Still sounds like trouble," Saitama shrugged. "And you hurt my disciple."
He took a step forward, but Echidna raised a warning appendage. "Before you attempt your famous 'one punch,' consider this: the dimensional equipment is now critical to this realm's stability. Destroy it improperly, and you risk collapsing all dimensional barriers simultaneously. Even your world would not survive such cosmic upheaval."
Saitama paused, frowning slightly. Typically, his solution to any threat was straightforward—punch it until it stopped being a threat. Situations requiring nuance or restraint were rare in his experience.
"Master," Genos called weakly from the wall. "The entity speaks—partially—true. Dimensional frequencies have been—compromised. Careful deactivation required."
"Listen to your mechanical disciple," Echidna urged. "Join me instead. With your physical power and my dimensional knowledge, we could achieve perfect synthesis across all realms. Why protect one world when you could transcend all of them?"
"Pass," Saitama replied flatly. "I just want to be a hero for fun. Transcending sounds complicated."
Echidna's form shifted again, growing more threatening. "Then you leave me no choice but to neutralize you while I complete the gateway."
The hybrid entity launched a multi-pronged attack—tentacles, energy beams, and what appeared to be miniature dimensional portals opening directly around Saitama, attempting to dismember him by separating different parts of his body into different dimensions.
Saitama dodged with casual ease, his movements so fast they appeared effortless. "That's a new one," he commented, regarding the dimensional portals with mild interest. "But still too slow."
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Echidna roared, its form becoming increasingly unstable as it unleashed more elaborate attacks. "No being can move faster than dimensional shift! The laws of physics forbid it!"
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Saitama replied, continuing to evade everything Echidna threw at him while gradually moving closer to the central equipment.
The battle escalated as Echidna, realizing conventional attacks were ineffective, began manipulating the very fabric of reality around them. Gravity reversed, time dilated, space folded—all attempts to trap or disorient the unimpressively dressed hero.
None of it worked. Saitama moved through the warped reality as if it were perfectly normal, his expression remaining neutral despite physics-defying conditions that would have driven most beings mad.
"What ARE you?!" Echidna demanded, genuine fear entering its multifaceted voice for the first time.
"Just a guy who's a hero for fun," Saitama answered, now standing directly before the central console. "And you're starting to bug me."
Before Echidna could respond, the door to the stairwell burst open, and the six goddesses entered—Kali now fighting alongside her divine sisters. They paused at the threshold, assessing the reality-warped battlefield and the standoff between Saitama and the dimensional entity.
"The Mother of Monsters," Artemis identified, her bow materializing in her hands. "Corrupted by technological integration."
"Dimensional collapse imminent," Proto Merlin warned, her dreamweaving senses analyzing the unstable gateway. "The equipment must be deactivated in proper sequence or the backlash will devastate multiple realms simultaneously."
"Sisters," Echidna greeted the goddesses with mocking familiarity. "How fitting that you witness the birth of a new cosmic order—one that renders your kind obsolete. Divine power is nothing compared to dimensional synthesis."
"Your ambition outpaces your wisdom, Echidna," Kali replied, her multiple arms brandishing divine weapons. "Some barriers exist for good reason."
"Can any of you shut this thing down properly?" Saitama asked, gesturing to the dimensional equipment. "I could just punch it, but apparently that might end the world or something."
Proto Merlin stepped forward, her staff already glowing with complex dreamweaving energies. "I can interface with the system, but I'll need time and protection. The shutdown sequence is delicate."
"You shall have both," Europa declared, her golden spear materializing as she moved to Proto Merlin's side. The other goddesses formed a protective circle around the dreamweaver, each calling upon their divine attributes despite their diminished state.
Echidna laughed—a disturbing sound that echoed across multiple frequencies simultaneously. "How touching. The fallen pantheon unites for one last stand. But you're too late. The dimensional merge has begun."
True to her words, larger rifts began opening throughout the room, each showing glimpses of different realities—some beautiful, others nightmarish, all unstable and bleeding into each other.
"Saitama," Proto Merlin called urgently as her hands moved across the control interfaces, "I need you to stabilize the central core. Your unique energy signature might counterbalance the dimensional flux."
"What does that mean exactly?" Saitama asked, dodging another tentacle attack from the increasingly desperate Echidna.
"Touch the sphere at the center," Proto Merlin instructed. "And... try to focus on this reality, this moment."
Saitama shrugged and complied, placing his hand on the pulsating orb that formed the heart of the dimensional equipment. Immediately, the chaotic energy patterns began to stabilize, the wild fluctuations dampening as they encountered his inexplicable power.
"Fascinating," Proto Merlin murmured, working feverishly at the controls. "Your energy doesn't just overpower the dimensional flux—it nullifies it completely. As if reality itself recognizes your will as paramount."
"GET AWAY FROM THAT!" Echidna shrieked, abandoning all pretense of negotiation as she launched her most devastating attack yet—a reality-shredding beam that could disintegrate matter at the quantum level.
Kali intercepted the attack, her form expanding to cosmic proportions as she absorbed the dimensional energy. "I am Destruction itself, abomination," she intoned, her voice resonating across multiple planes of existence. "Your power is but a pale imitation of true divine might."
With Echidna momentarily occupied by Kali, the other goddesses maintained their protective formation around Proto Merlin and Saitama. Artemis fired arrows of pure moonlight that sought out and sealed smaller dimensional rifts. Aphrodite wove complex illusions that stabilized fluctuating reality patterns through the power of perfect form. Amaterasu channeled solar energy into the failing systems, providing clean power to replace Echidna's corrupted sources. Europa maintained a shield of divine protection around them all, her queenly authority extending to reality itself as she commanded it to obey natural law.
"Almost there," Proto Merlin reported, her fingers flying across interfaces both physical and metaphysical. "Saitama, when I give the word, you'll need to remove your hand and immediately strike the core with precisely calibrated force—enough to disable but not destroy."
"You want me to kind of punch it?" Saitama clarified, sounding almost relieved to return to familiar territory.
"Exactly," Proto Merlin confirmed. "A... restrained punch. Can you do that?"
Saitama nodded. "Yeah, I can hold back."
"ENOUGH!" Echidna roared, breaking free from Kali's containment with a reality-warping explosion that sent the blue-skinned goddess staggering backward. "I will not be denied my transcendence!"
The hybrid entity launched herself directly at Saitama and Proto Merlin, all pretense of humanoid form abandoned as she transformed into a seething mass of tentacles, mechanical components, and dimensional portals.
"NOW!" Proto "NOW!" Proto Merlin shouted as her final calculations completed.
Saitama removed his hand from the stabilizing core and, in the same fluid motion, delivered a precisely calibrated punch. For once, he didn't simply unleash his overwhelming power but instead modulated it perfectly—just enough force to disable the dimensional equipment without destroying it completely.
The impact resonated through the machinery with a harmonic frequency, shutting down systems in a carefully orchestrated sequence. The dimensional rifts began to close, reality folding back into proper alignment around them.
"NO!" Echidna screamed, her hybrid form convulsing as her connection to other dimensions began to sever. "My transcendence! My evolution!"
Proto Merlin's hands continued to dance across the controls, guiding the shutdown process with dreamweaving precision. "The system is stabilizing," she reported. "Dimensional collapse averted."
Echidna, desperate and enraged, redirected all her remaining power into a final, catastrophic attack aimed directly at Proto Merlin. "If I cannot transcend, neither shall you!"
Saitama moved without thought, placing himself between the dreamweaver and the incoming blast. The attack—powerful enough to atomize most beings—washed over him without effect, like water breaking against stone.
"That's enough," he said, his voice unusually firm. "You're done."
With a casual backhand, Saitama struck Echidna with precisely calculated force—not his full power, which would have obliterated her across multiple planes of existence, but enough to completely neutralize her threat. The hybrid entity collapsed, her form destabilizing as the dimensional energies she had harnessed dissipated.
"Containment protocol activated," Proto Merlin announced, completing the shutdown sequence. A field of dreamlight expanded from her staff, enveloping Echidna's defeated form and stabilizing it in a crystalline prison. "She is secured."
The goddesses lowered their defensive stances, the immediate crisis averted. Artemis moved to free Genos from the wall while Europa and Amaterasu began tending to his damages. Aphrodite surveyed the destruction with an appreciative whistle, while Kali regarded Saitama with newfound interest.
"Precision," the blue-skinned goddess of destruction commented. "Not merely overwhelming force, but perfectly calibrated intervention. Perhaps there is more to you than raw power, mortal."
Saitama shrugged. "I can hold back when I need to."
Proto Merlin stood from the control panel, her silver-white hair settling back into its normal flow as the dreamweaving energies receded. "What you just did was...remarkable," she said, pinkish-purple eyes wide with wonder. "You didn't just provide physical force—you somehow imposed order on chaotic dimensional energy by sheer will."
"Is that good?" Saitama asked, genuinely unsure.
"It's unprecedented," Proto Merlin replied. "And it might be exactly what we need to permanently repair the dimensional breach caused by the incomplete summoning."
Kali nodded in agreement. "The dreamweaver speaks truth. Your unique energy signature could be the key to sealing the rifts between realms."
"So I just punch something else?" Saitama asked hopefully.
"Not...exactly," Proto Merlin explained hesitantly. "The process would be more complex. But we can discuss the details after we've secured this location and tended to the wounded."
As if reminded of his disciple's condition, Saitama moved to where Genos was being treated by Amaterasu's healing light and Europa's gentle ministrations.
"How is he?" Saitama asked, a rare note of concern in his voice.
"His mechanical body is severely damaged," Europa reported, "but his core consciousness remains intact. With proper repairs, he will recover fully."
"I can accelerate his self-healing systems with solar energy," Amaterasu added, her hands glowing with golden light as she worked. "Though he will require technical assistance for the more complex components."
"I'll take him to Dr. Kuseno," Saitama decided, carefully lifting his disciple's damaged form. "He built Genos, so he can fix him."
"A wise decision," Europa nodded. "We shall secure the prisoner and coordinate with the Hero Association to manage the aftermath here."
Kali stepped forward. "I will accompany you, mortal. There is much we must discuss regarding the dimensional breaches and the ritual required to seal them permanently."
"Uh, sure," Saitama agreed, somewhat distracted by concern for Genos. "Just don't make it complicated."
As Saitama departed with Genos and Kali, the remaining goddesses exchanged meaningful glances.
"Another divine entity enters his orbit," Aphrodite observed with a knowing smile. "Our little pantheon grows."
"Kali is not easily impressed," Artemis noted. "Yet she seems genuinely intrigued by our accidental champion."
"The balance of power shifts," Europa commented thoughtfully. "With her addition, we represent a more complete divine spectrum—creation and destruction, love and war, wisdom and power."
"The question remains," Proto Merlin added, "whether this expanded divine circle will help seal the dimensional breaches or merely complicate matters further."
"One thing is certain," Amaterasu concluded, her amber-gold eyes watching the departing trio. "Life with Saitama continues to be far more interesting than any of us anticipated when we were first summoned."
---
Dr. Kuseno's laboratory was a marvel of cutting-edge technology hidden beneath an unassuming rural dwelling. The elderly scientist greeted Saitama with familiar respect, then gasped at the condition of his cyborg creation.
"My poor boy!" he exclaimed, immediately directing Saitama to place Genos on a specialized repair table. "What manner of entity could have done this to him?"
"Dimensional hybrid thing," Saitama explained vaguely. "Can you fix him?"
"Of course, of course," Dr. Kuseno assured him, already activating various diagnostic systems. "Though it will take time. These damages are extensive."
The scientist paused, finally noticing Kali's imposing presence. Unlike the other goddesses, who had adapted their appearances to blend somewhat with modern society, Kali made no such concessions. Her blue skin, multiple arms, and cosmic aura remained on full display, impossible to mistake for anything but divine.
"And who might this be?" Dr. Kuseno asked cautiously.
"Kali," Saitama introduced simply. "Goddess of destruction. Time stuff. Cosmic whatever."
"I am honored," Dr. Kuseno bowed respectfully, accepting the extraordinary with the equanimity of one who had dedicated his life to pushing scientific boundaries. "Any friend of Saitama-san is welcome here."
"Your understanding is appreciated, elder," Kali replied with surprising gentleness. "The mechanical youth will recover under your care?"
"Yes, yes," Dr. Kuseno nodded, returning his attention to Genos. "Though as I said, it will require time. Perhaps you and Saitama-san would be more comfortable waiting elsewhere? The repair process can be rather... technical."
Taking the hint, Saitama led Kali back upstairs to the modest living area above the laboratory. They settled in the small kitchen, an incongruously domestic setting for two beings of such extraordinary power.
"Tea?" Saitama offered, falling back on basic hospitality.
"Thank you," Kali accepted, her multiple arms arranging themselves in a more relaxed posture as she seated herself at the kitchen table. Despite her cosmic nature, she moved with surprising grace in the confined space, careful not to disturb her surroundings.
As Saitama prepared tea with his characteristic efficiency, Kali studied him with silvery eyes that saw far more than mere physical form.
"You care for the mechanical youth," she observed. "Despite your apparent detachment, you form genuine bonds."
"Genos is my disciple," Saitama replied simply, setting a steaming cup before the destruction goddess. "He's a good kid. Tries hard."
"Yet you show little concern for your own extraordinary abilities," Kali continued. "Power that defies cosmic understanding seems to bring you no joy."
Saitama shrugged, sitting across from her. "It's boring when everything ends with one punch."
"The curse of overwhelming power," Kali nodded, understanding in her ancient eyes. "A burden I know well. In my divine aspect, entire universes can be unmade with a single gesture. The dance of destruction becomes meaningless without worthy partners."
For the first time, Saitama seemed genuinely interested in a conversation about power. "Exactly! Everyone talks about wanting to be the strongest, but when you actually get there, it's just... empty."
"Perhaps that is why the cosmic forces guided my sisters to you," Kali suggested. "Not merely to serve a champion, but to provide connection to one who stands apart from all others."
"Cosmic forces didn't do anything," Saitama corrected. "I just stepped on some weird graffiti. Total accident."
Kali's lips curved in a smile that somehow encompassed both amusement and cosmic wisdom. "In my experience, mortal, the universe rarely deals in accidents. Particularly where beings of our nature are concerned."
"Our nature?" Saitama questioned.
"Those who exist outside normal limitations," Kali clarified. "I through divine aspect, you through means still unexplained. We are anomalies in the cosmic order—exceptions that prove the rule."
Before Saitama could respond, his phone chimed with a message from the Hero Association: area secure, dimensional equipment contained, all goddesses returned safely to the apartment.
"We should probably head back," Saitama suggested, finishing his tea. "Check if everyone's okay."
"A moment," Kali requested, her expression growing serious. "Before we rejoin the others, there is something you should know about the ritual required to seal the dimensional breaches."
"Yeah?"
"It will require sacrifice," Kali stated plainly. "The dimensional boundaries were damaged when you accidentally completed an ancient summoning circle. To repair them properly will require equivalent energy—divine essence freely given."
"What does that mean exactly?" Saitama asked, frowning slightly.
"One of us—one of the divine beings connected to the original summoning—must surrender our connection to the divine realm permanently," Kali explained. "Becoming, in essence, mortal."
Saitama's frown deepened. "That doesn't sound fair. It was my mistake that caused all this."
"And yet, the cosmic balance demands equilibrium," Kali replied. "For a door opened, a door must be closed. For divine beings brought to the mortal realm, divine essence must be surrendered."
"There has to be another way," Saitama insisted. "I'm not letting anyone get hurt because I tried to clean some graffiti."
Kali regarded him with new appreciation. "Your concern for divine beings who were, until recently, strangers to you is... unexpected. Most mortals given power over gods would not hesitate to sacrifice them for greater purposes."
"That's just wrong," Saitama said simply. "Nobody gets sacrificed. We'll find another solution."
The destruction goddess inclined her head. "Perhaps we will. The others are researching alternatives even now. I merely wished you to understand the gravity of our situation—and why some of my sisters might seem... increasingly attached to this realm and to you."
"What do you mean?"
"If one must remain permanently, becoming mortal," Kali explained carefully, "developing genuine connections to this world and its champion would be... prudent."
Understanding dawned on Saitama's typically impassive features. "Wait, are you saying they're getting closer to me because they're worried about being stuck here forever?"
"I am saying," Kali replied diplomatically, "that divine beings facing mortality often discover new appreciation for mortal experiences and connections. Do not mistake strategic adaptation for insincerity, however. My sisters are not skilled at deception, even after millennia of existence."
Saitama considered this as they prepared to depart. The idea that the goddesses might be competing not just for his attention but for a permanent place in the mortal world added a new dimension to their increasingly complex dynamic.
"Let's go home," he said finally. "And figure this out together."
---
The scene that greeted Saitama and Kali upon their return to the shared apartment was one of surprising domesticity after the dimensional crisis.
Europa and Amaterasu had prepared an elaborate meal, apparently channeling their concern for Genos into culinary creativity. Proto Merlin had transformed the living room into a research center, holographic displays of dimensional equations hovering in the air as she consulted ancient texts. Artemis sat cross-legged by the window, meditating as moonlight began to stream into the room with the setting sun. Aphrodite, meanwhile, had apparently decided that near-apocalyptic events called for relaxation—she lounged in a bubble bath visible through the partially open bathroom door, singing what sounded like an ancient Greek melody that made the water itself vibrate in harmony.
"Welcome back, Master," Europa greeted warmly. "How is Genos?"
"Dr. Kuseno's fixing him," Saitama replied, setting his hero cape aside. "Should be okay in a few days."
"I see you've brought our sister," Amaterasu observed, nodding respectfully to Kali. "Will you be joining our household, Destroyer?"
"Temporarily," Kali confirmed. "Until the dimensional situation is resolved."
"Wonderful!" Aphrodite called from the bathroom. "Another goddess for Baldy's collection! We'll need a bigger apartment soon."
"I am not collecting goddesses," Saitama protested, dropping onto the sofa with a sigh. "And stop calling me Baldy."
"Of course, my glorious champion," Aphrodite teased, emerging from the bathroom wrapped in a towel that left little to the imagination. Water droplets clung to her orange-red hair and sleek shoulders, gleaming like tiny diamonds in the apartment's soft lighting. "Would you prefer 'Master' or 'Divine Consort' or perhaps 'Lord of—'"
"Just Saitama is fine," he interrupted, making a deliberate effort to look elsewhere as Aphrodite sauntered past, her golden eyes dancing with mischief.
"Such modesty," she purred. "Even after saving reality itself. Isn't he precious, sisters?"
Artemis opened her eyes, her meditation apparently complete. "Perhaps allow our Master to rest before subjecting him to your particular brand of appreciation, Aphrodite."
"Rest?" Aphrodite scoffed playfully. "After battling dimensional horrors? What he needs is proper celebration of life's pleasures."
"What he needs," Europa interjected diplomatically, "is nourishment. Dinner is prepared whenever you're ready, Saitama."
Grateful for the intervention, Saitama moved to the dining area, where an impressive spread awaited. The meal reflected an extraordinary fusion of culinary traditions—Greek, Japanese, Indian, and others—combined with modern ingredients and techniques.
As the goddesses gathered around the table, Proto Merlin finally looked up from her research. "I've been analyzing the dimensional fluctuations following today's events," she reported, joining them. "The breaches are temporarily stabilized but not sealed. We have perhaps two weeks before significant deterioration resumes."
"Two weeks to determine which of us shall remain permanently mortal," Kali stated bluntly, causing a momentary silence around the table.
"You told him," Artemis observed, glancing at Saitama's troubled expression.
"He deserved to know the true cost of the sealing ritual," Kali replied unapologetically.
"I already told him I'm not letting anyone get sacrificed," Saitama said firmly, surprising the goddesses with his vehemence. "We'll find another way."
"Your concern is admirable, Master," Europa said gently, "but cosmic balance cannot be dismissed so easily. Every working of divine magic requires equivalent exchange."
"Then I'll pay the price," Saitama insisted. "It was my mistake. My responsibility."
"Impossible," Proto Merlin shook her head. "The ritual requires divine essence—something you do not possess despite your extraordinary power. Your energy signature is... unique. Unprecedented. But not divine."
"Then we keep looking for alternatives," Saitama maintained stubbornly. "No sacrifices."
The goddesses exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them.
"Very well," Amaterasu conceded gracefully. "We shall continue seeking another solution. Though I caution against false hope."
The meal proceeded with conversation shifting to less cosmically significant topics. The goddesses recounted their parts in containing the dimensional crisis, each bringing their unique perspective to the narrative. Despite the gravity of their situation, there was laughter, teasing, and a genuine warmth that had been growing among them over their time together.
Saitama, typically passive in social settings, found himself more engaged than usual—asking questions, offering occasional comments, and actually listening to the conversation flowing around him. The knowledge that one of these extraordinary beings might be forced to surrender their divine nature because of his careless mistake weighed on him, creating an unaccustomed sense of responsibility toward them.
After dinner, as Europa and Amaterasu cleared the table with practiced efficiency, Saitama stepped out onto the balcony for fresh air and perspective. The city sprawled below, peaceful in the gathering darkness, unaware of how close it had come to dimensional catastrophe.
He was surprised when Artemis joined him, her silver-blue hair catching the moonlight as she leaned against the railing beside him.
"You've been unusually quiet," she observed. "Even for you."
"Just thinking," Saitama replied. "About the whole sacrifice thing."
Artemis nodded, her bright blue eyes thoughtful behind her glasses. "Kali was correct to tell you. We had debated whether to share that particular cost, but secrets rarely serve greater good."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"We hoped to find an alternative," Artemis admitted. "Proto Merlin and I have been researching possibilities since we first understood the nature of the dimensional breaches."
"And?"
"And thus far, the cosmic laws appear immutable," she sighed. "For divine beings brought into this realm accidentally, one must remain to balance the scales."
Saitama frowned. "That's a stupid rule."
A surprised laugh escaped Artemis—a sound so rare that Saitama actually turned to look at her. "Only you would describe cosmic law as 'stupid,'" she said, genuine amusement in her voice. "Perhaps that's why you're able to defy so many limitations. You simply refuse to acknowledge them."
"If a rule doesn't make sense, why follow it?" Saitama shrugged.
"Indeed," Artemis murmured. "Why indeed."
They stood in companionable silence for a moment, watching the city lights.
"For what it's worth," Artemis said finally, "not all of us view remaining in this realm as a sacrifice."
"No?"
She shook her head, silver-blue hair shifting like moonlight on water. "This world has its own wonders. Its own challenges and beauties. And you..." she hesitated, uncharacteristically uncertain. "You have shown us a different kind of strength than we have known before. Not divine might, but something perhaps more admirable—power without corruption, strength without cruelty."
Saitama looked genuinely surprised by the compliment. "I'm just a guy who's a hero for fun," he said, his standard response sounding less convincing than usual.
"You are far more than that," Artemis contradicted gently. "Though your insistence otherwise is part of what makes you worthy of divine service."
Before Saitama could respond, the balcony door slid open again, and Aphrodite emerged—now dressed, though her definition of "dressed" remained more revealing than conventional standards would suggest.
"Moonlight conversations without me?" she pouted playfully. "And here I thought our huntress preferred solitude to socializing."
"We were discussing cosmic law," Artemis replied dryly.
"How thrilling," Aphrodite drawled sarcastically, inserting herself between them at the railing. "Surely there are more interesting topics on such a beautiful night."
"Like what?" Saitama asked, genuinely curious.
Aphrodite's golden eyes gleamed. "Like why divine beings might willingly choose mortality. What experiences might make such a sacrifice worthwhile."
"I assumed immortality was better," Saitama admitted. "Living forever sounds pretty good."
"Eternal existence without genuine connection is merely extended emptiness," Aphrodite said, her typical playfulness giving way to unexpected wisdom. "We divine beings experience eternity, yes, but often at the cost of true intimacy, true risk, true growth."
"That's... actually pretty deep," Saitama acknowledged.
"Don't sound so surprised," Aphrodite chided. "I am not merely divine beauty, you know. Love encompasses wisdom as well as pleasure."
"She speaks truth," Artemis confirmed reluctantly. "Though her methods differ from mine, Aphrodite's understanding of mortal hearts often exceeds other divine perspectives."
The goddess of beauty looked genuinely touched by this rare compliment from her typically critical counterpart. "Why, Artemis! Was that actual approval? The dimensional crisis must have affected you more deeply than I thought."
"Don't become accustomed to it," Artemis warned, though without real heat.
Their banter was interrupted by Proto Merlin calling from inside. "Saitama! Everyone! You need to see this!"
They hurried back into the apartment to find Proto Merlin standing before her holographic displays, her expression troubled. The dreamweaver had expanded her dimensional models to show multiple breaches forming across the city—far more than they had detected previously.
"The situation deteriorates faster than anticipated," she reported grimly. "Today's events accelerated the process. We now have perhaps days, not weeks, before catastrophic collapse."
"Can we contain them?" Europa asked, ever practical.
"Temporarily, perhaps," Proto Merlin nodded. "But each new breach weakens the surrounding dimensional fabric, making subsequent tears more likely."
"Then we must act," Kali declared, rising from where she had been meditating in the corner. "The sealing ritual must be prepared."
"But we haven't decided—" Saitama began.
"Time grows short," Kali interrupted. "The decision cannot be delayed much longer. If we wait until full collapse begins, even the ritual may not be sufficient."
The apartment fell silent as the gravity of their situation settled over them. One divine being would need to sacrifice their immortality to save countless mortal lives—and they would need to do so willingly, with full understanding of what they were giving up.
"I'll do it," five voices said simultaneously.
The goddesses stared at each other in surprise, then burst into an overlapping chorus of arguments and counter-arguments.
"I am already the most adapted to mortal existence—" Europa began.
"My solar essence is most compatible with the ritual parameters—" Amaterasu insisted.
"As huntress, the protection of realms has always been my sacred duty—" Artemis declared.
"Love and beauty belong in the mortal world more than any other divine aspect—" Aphrodite maintained.
"Dream energy provides the ideal bridge between mortal and divine realms—" Proto Merlin asserted.
"ENOUGH!" Kali's voice cut through the chaos, her cosmic authority silencing them all. "This decision cannot be made through competitive sacrifice. The ritual requires perfect balance and harmony among all participants."
"Then how do we decide?" Saitama asked, looking troubled by their unanimous willingness to sacrifice themselves.
Kali's silver eyes settled on him. "The binding circle that brought my sisters here was incomplete, yes? But it was meant to bind divine servants to a worthy champion."
"Yeah, that's what they said," Saitama nodded. "But it was broken or something."
"Not broken," Kali corrected. "Incomplete. The final parameters—the nature and purpose of the binding—were never established."
Proto Merlin's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Of course! The champion must complete the binding before it can be properly dissolved!"
"Complete it how?" Saitama asked suspiciously.
"By choosing," Kali said simply. "You must designate which divine aspect shall remain bound to the mortal realm—and by extension, to you—permanently."
The room fell silent again as all eyes turned to Saitama. The typically impassive hero actually looked uncomfortable with the weight of the decision placed upon him.
"I can't just... pick one of you to lose your immortality," he protested. "That's not right."
"Yet it must be done," Kali insisted. "The cosmic balance demands it, and time grows short."
"We could draw lots," Europa suggested practically. "Allow fate to decide rather than burdening our Master with such a choice."
"The ritual won't accept random selection," Proto Merlin shook her head. "The champion must choose deliberately, with full understanding of the consequences."
"This is too much," Saitama muttered, running a hand over his bald head in frustration. "I need to think."
Without waiting for response, he turned and left the apartment, the door closing behind him with unusual gentleness given his strength. The goddesses remained, looking after him with varying expressions of concern and understanding.
"He bears more weight than he shows," Amaterasu observed softly. "Behind that impassive exterior lies a deeply moral heart."
"A rare quality in beings of such power," Kali agreed. "Perhaps that is why the cosmic forces guided the summoning to him specifically."
"Or perhaps it was truly random chance," Artemis countered. "And he simply rises to meet challenges as they appear."
"Either way," Proto Merlin said, returning to her dimensional displays, "we must prepare the ritual. Whichever of us is chosen, we must be ready when Saitama returns with his decision."
As they began the preparations, each goddess privately contemplated the possibility of permanent mortality—of remaining in this realm, bound to their unusual champion for a single, mortal lifetime. What surprised them most was not the prospect of sacrifice, but how increasingly acceptable such a fate had become during their time with Saitama.
---
Saitama found himself atop the tallest building in Z-City, legs dangling over the edge as he stared out at the urban landscape below. Here, hundreds of meters above the streets, he could think without distraction—a rare luxury given his increasingly complicated living situation.
"Six goddesses," he muttered to himself. "Six! And I'm supposed to pick one to stay forever? How is that fair?"
The wind whipped around him, though he barely noticed the cold. His thoughts circled the impossible choice before him, examining it from every angle as he would an opponent he couldn't immediately defeat with one punch.
Each goddess represented something different—hunting and moonlight, beauty and love, royal authority, solar radiance, dreams and magic, destruction and renewal. Each had shown different sides of themselves during their time together, revealing depths beyond their divine aspects. And each, for reasons he still couldn't fully comprehend, seemed genuinely willing to sacrifice immortality to repair the damage his careless action had caused.
"This is way more complicated than just punching monsters," he sighed.
"Indeed," came a familiar voice behind him. "Some challenges cannot be resolved with physical force."
Saitama turned to find Genos standing on the rooftop, his mechanical body repaired but showing signs of recent work. The cyborg moved carefully to join his master at the edge of the building.
"Shouldn't you still be at Dr. Kuseno's?" Saitama asked, surprised to see his disciple up and about so soon.
"Repairs were accelerated," Genos explained, settling beside him. "And I sensed you might require assistance with your current dilemma."
"How did you find me?"
"I always know where you are, Master," Genos replied matter-of-factly. "I installed tracking protocols after our third meeting to ensure I could locate you for training purposes."
Saitama decided to let that slightly concerning revelation pass. "Did the goddesses send you?"
"No," Genos shook his head. "They are preparing the sealing ritual. I came of my own accord after Dr. Kuseno informed me of recent events." He paused. "You face a difficult decision."
"Yeah," Saitama agreed simply. "How do you choose which immortal being has to become mortal because you accidentally stepped on some magical graffiti?"
"Perhaps approach it from another perspective," Genos suggested. "Rather than focusing on who must sacrifice, consider who would adapt best to permanent mortality."
"They all seem pretty adaptable," Saitama observed. "Europa cooks better than any human I've met. Artemis has basically mapped every wilderness area within a hundred kilometers. Aphrodite's already got modeling agents trying to recruit her. Amaterasu fits right in at all those traditional ceremonies. Proto Merlin hacked the Hero Association database in her first week here. Even Kali, who just showed up, already figured out how to order food delivery without talking to anyone."
"Then perhaps consider what each brings to your life," Genos suggested. "Which divine aspect complements your own nature most effectively?"
Saitama frowned thoughtfully. "I never really thought about it that way."
"You have changed since their arrival," Genos noted. "Perhaps not visibly to others, but I have observed subtle differences in your behavior, your engagement, your... contentment."
"I have?"
"Indeed," Genos nodded seriously. "You spoke seventeen percent more during our last training session than your previous average. You have missed only two sales at the supermarket in the past month, compared to your previous average of 4.7 per month. And you have smiled approximately 0.8 times per day, up from 0.3 times previously."
"You keep track of how often I smile?" Saitama asked, torn between being touched and disturbed.
"I monitor all aspects of your behavior to optimize my learning," Genos confirmed without embarrassment. "The data suggests that despite the complications, the goddesses' presence has had net positive effects on your quality of life."
Saitama considered this. It was true that life had become more interesting since the divine summoning. Not just because of the increased monster activity or dimensional breaches, but because of the goddesses themselves—their perspectives, their abilities, their gradual adaptation to modern life, and yes, even their growing attachment to him.
"I can't just pick one of them based on which one makes me happier," he protested. "That's selfish."
"Is it?" Genos challenged gently. "If one must remain regardless, is it not logical to select the divine being whose permanent presence would create the most positive outcome for all involved—including yourself?"
"When did you get so wise about relationships?" Saitama asked suspiciously.
"I downloaded several psychological and sociological databases during my recovery," Genos admitted. "Dr. Kuseno suggested it might help me better understand the complex divine-mortal dynamics you are navigating."
Despite everything, Saitama found himself smiling at his disciple's characteristic intensity. "Of course you did."
They sat in companionable silence for a few moments, watching the city lights below.
"I think I know what I need to do," Saitama said finally. "But I'm not sure if it's the right choice."
"In my experience, Master," Genos replied, "when you follow your instincts, the outcome tends to exceed conventional expectations."
"Let's hope so," Saitama sighed, standing up. "Because conventional expectations don't really cover 'choosing which goddess gets to stay on Earth forever.'"
As they prepared to return to the apartment, Saitama paused. "Hey, Genos?"
"Yes, Master?"
"Thanks," he said simply. "For coming to find me."
Genos's typically serious expression softened slightly. "Always, Master."
---
When Saitama and Genos returned to the apartment, they found it transformed. The furniture had been moved aside to create a large open space in the center of the living room, where an intricate circle had been drawn using materials that seemed to shift between solid and light. The five original goddesses stood at cardinal points around the circle, while Kali occupied a position slightly outside it, apparently serving as facilitator rather than direct participant.
"You have returned," Kali acknowledged, her silver eyes studying Saitama's expression. "And reached a decision?"
"Yeah," Saitama nodded, his face betraying nothing of his internal deliberations. "I have."
"Then we may begin," Kali announced. "The dimensional breaches have continued to multiply. We must complete the ritual before dawn if we hope to seal them permanently."
Proto Merlin gestured for Saitama to enter the circle. "Stand at the center, Master. You must complete what was left unfinished when you first triggered the summoning."
As Saitama stepped into the circle, the ambient light in the apartment dimmed, leaving only the glow of the mystical markings illuminating the assembled beings. Each goddess began to manifest her full divine aspect—powers that had been partly concealed or diminished during their time in the mortal realm.
Artemis's bow materialized in its true cosmic form, moonlight streaming from her silver-blue hair as stars seemed to glimmer in her bright blue eyes. Aphrodite's wings extended fully, heart-shaped laurel crown floating above her head while her golden eyes burned with divine fire. Europa's queenly bearing intensified, her form radiating the authority of one who had been elevated by gods themselves. Amaterasu's skin glowed with solar brilliance, the sun symbol on her chest projecting rays of purifying light. Proto Merlin's dreamweaving energies swirled around her in complex patterns, her staff becoming a conduit for reality-altering power.
"The ritual has three phases," Kali explained, her multiple arms moving in precise mystical gestures. "First, acknowledgment of the breach and its cause. Second, the champion's choice of which divine aspect shall remain bound to the mortal realm. Third, the sealing itself, powered by the willing sacrifice of divine essence."
The circle began to rotate slowly, the symbols flowing like liquid light as they rearranged themselves into new patterns. Above them, a miniature representation of Z-City appeared, showing pulsing points where dimensional breaches had formed.
"I acknowledge that I caused this," Saitama stated clearly. "I accidentally completed a summoning circle that brought five goddesses to Earth an