"Final exams are almost here. I'm so nervous!"
"Yeah. I wonder which hero I'll bond with this time…"
"If I could resonate with Tatsumaki, I'd be set for life!"
"Tatsumaki? Honestly, any S-Class hero would do!"
"You sure about that? What about KING, ranked seventh?"
"…Anyone except that fraud King."
"Haha, King isn't so bad. At least his aura can scare people."
"You're dreaming. Spouting off S-Class names like they're common as cabbages. I'd be thrilled just to bond with an A-Class hero!"
"We're just joking around. No need to take it so seriously."
…
The murmurs around him gradually brought Vincent Fox back to full awareness, and he looked utterly dazed.
What were they talking about?
Tatsumaki? S-Class heroes?
One Punch Man?
What did any of that have to do with exams?
More to the point…
Vincent Fox was certain he'd gone to sleep at home. So why was he lying in a classroom?
All around him were wide-eyed high school students in uniforms.
He himself was wearing one too.
What on earth was happening?
He'd already graduated university and been working for two years. How had he suddenly returned to high school?
"Did I transmigrate…?"
Vincent murmured to himself.
That was the only explanation that made sense.
As he drew that conclusion, a sudden jolt of agony seared through his skull, as if something had been force-fed into his brain.
He groaned and collapsed onto the desk. Memories poured into his mind, blending with his own.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain eased and Vincent Fox sat up.
"So it's true… I've really transmigrated."
Drawing on the memories now in his head, Vincent realized he'd entered another world.
This world was strikingly similar to old Earth same technology, same internet, same smartphones.
Only here, humanity faced a deadly threat.
Beyond towering city walls lurked powerful monsters that preyed on humans.
And from that danger, real heroes had emerged.
Without those heroes, humanity would have gone extinct long ago.
But these warriors didn't cultivate power by training.
They gained strength in Forbidden Zones.
Forbidden Zones: strange realms scattered across the globe.
Some were extremely dangerous zombie zones, haunted domains…
Others were remarkably safe.
The students were discussing the safest one: the One Punch Man zone.
Every adult who turned eighteen got one chance to enter a Forbidden Zone and attempt a hero resonance.
Succeed, and you inherited that hero's base abilities.
Take Tatsumaki, the Tremor Psychic.
If someone fully bonded with her, they'd gain her telekinesis. They'd become elite candidates for top universities and future defenders of humanity.
Step by step, they could grow into heroes equal to her.
That was why the One Punch Man zone was called the "Sanctuary of Heroes."
The government had even made it part of the national college entrance exam its single most important subject.
Because threats beyond the walls were real, and humanity needed saviors.
…
Moments later, a middle-aged woman teacher entered the classroom.
At her arrival, the chatter died instantly.
She swept her gaze over the students and said, "Everyone, today's lesson is my last before your exam."
"I sincerely hope you all earn excellent results in the upcoming Sanctuary evaluation."
"May your futures be bright."
"All right, time is short. There's no new material today. Instead, we'll review key points for the Sanctuary exam."
"The Sanctuary evaluation, also called the Rookie Assessment, is familiar to you all. I'm sure you've waited for this day."
"You're all eighteen, correct?"
Seeing no objections, she continued, "Before entering the Sanctuary, each of you must choose your target hero. You get only one chance."
"Succeed, and your destiny may change forever. Fail, and you'll lose this rare opportunity and may remain ordinary for life."
"My advice: pick the hero that suits you best."
"Every resonance carries a risk of failure. The higher a hero's rank, the steeper the odds."
"S-Class heroes in particular have brutal failure rates."
"Resonance is essentially the hero testing whether you deserve their power. S-Class heroes are proud to the core. Most people can't meet their standards."
"Since the Sanctuary first appeared, only a handful have earned S-Class favor."
"That's why I advise against choosing one. It's just too difficult."
"Instead, look to A-Class heroes. Many have great power and potential, with much higher success rates."
"Even some B-Class heroes are worth considering. Take Fubuki of the Blizzard Group ranked first in B-Class. Her abilities are impressive."
"As for C-Class heroes… well, if you choose one, you're either incredibly brave or simply out of your mind."
That drew a burst of laughter from the class.
C-Class heroes were universally dismissed as trash barely stronger than ordinary people.
It was common sense.
Only a fool would seriously target one.
The teacher went on, "Yes, C-Class resonance rates exceed ninety percent. But squandering your only chance for a tiny boost in power is foolish."
"There was once a fellow who chose Mumen Rider, the top C-Class hero. He actually succeeded. Years later, he's selling bootleg adult comics and got arrested recently."
Pfft.
Another round of laughter rippled through the room.
Vincent Fox laughed too but it was a cold, knowing laugh.
These people had no clue about C-Class heroes.
As someone from another world, Vincent knew the hidden truth about C-Class heroes.
Hidden among them was a living god.
Saitama.
Anyone who'd read or watched One Punch Man knew how monstrously strong he was.
In his past life, Vincent had been a Saitama fan manga, anime, every detail.
Saitama was the unchallenged protagonist, the one who'd broken his limiter, nicknamed the Bald Caped Demon King.
Yes, S-Class heroes were powerful.
Tatsumaki could control matter and call down meteors like a god.
Yet in front of Saitama, she was a mosquito.
If Saitama ever got serious, one punch would wipe her out.
So why was Saitama ranked C-Class?
A bureaucratic fluke he bombed the written exam.
Everyone here treated C-Class heroes as garbage, which just proved how little they understood this world's true rules.
Now Vincent was the only one who knew the secret.
His target hero?
Already decided.
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PS: New book, seeking all the support I can get! Power stones, reviews, collections everything helps!