"Hello everyone, I'm reporter Fumika Nanjou… Please take a look behind me at this bottomless crater. According to measurements, the diameter of the hole is thirteen kilometers, and its depth exceeds several dozen kilometers!"
"Don't doubt your eyes—this isn't special effects or a prank show. Just minutes ago, this area was still mountainous terrain. According to the Hero Association, this mountain concealed an evil organization known as the House of Evolution…"
In front of the camera, a voluptuous office lady reported steadily, though her voice couldn't maintain the usual composure.
After all, who could stay calm when faced with such a scene?
Due to Earth's curvature and elevation, the average person's line of sight only extends about four to five kilometers.
A chasm with a diameter of over ten kilometers is an endless void to the naked eye—
As if the land itself had been divided, with one side falling into darkness.
Just gazing into it left people with an inexplicable sense of emptiness and suffocating dread.
Around the massive abyss, Hero Association logistics personnel had been split into teams of ten to conduct tests.
"Tests," but even clad in the highest-grade protective suits, they dared not get too close.
Even though half a day had passed, the heat radiating from the abyss remained terrifying.
A normal person stepping within a hundred meters of the edge would likely be burned alive.
This residual heat came from the pure energy that had pierced into the earth—and would likely continue radiating for several months.
"I really can't imagine… that this was caused by a human."
The support staff had obviously heard some inside info.
Gossiping animatedly, their awe was apparent.
You'd think they'd witnessed it firsthand.
"This thing's already blowing up online…"
"The funniest part is some guy claiming it was divine punishment—a hell prepared by a god for mankind!"
"Lots of people are calling it 'Hell' now. Some are even planning group expeditions to explore it!"
"They're welcome to try. They'll get a taste of scalding hellfire real quick…"
One researcher was drenched in sweat, fed up with the heat.
Wearing a protective suit in these conditions felt like donning a leather jacket in a sauna.
At that moment, he spotted a clunky robot clanking its way toward the abyss and asked curiously,
"What's that?"
A senior team member glanced at it.
"That's an S-Class hero Metal Knight's recon drone. Probably headed down to investigate the bottom of the crater…"
"Not our concern. Get back to work."
At the Hero Association headquarters—
Inside the meeting room.
Commander Sekingar sat at the end of the table, delivering a report.
In front of him, six seats lined the opposite side—Four of which projected holograms of various corporate representatives.
"Destroyed? Completely destroyed!?"
"All that research from the House of Evolution! Genus' monster technology, biotech, anti-aging methods, immortality—gone!"
The representatives erupted in fury.
To them, who wiped out the House of Evolution or how didn't matter.
What they cared about were the spoils—
Specifically, Dr. Genus' research and eternal life technology.
Now, it was all for nothing!
"What the hell were those heroes doing!?"
"How could they let someone else beat them to it!?"
"Maybe we're spoiling them too much with perks!"
"Sekingar, you were in charge of this mission. You've failed. It's your dereliction of duty!"
Sekingar remained silent.
After venting, one of the representatives seemed to recall something.
"Sekingar, before the House of Evolution was destroyed… only that mysterious boy entered the facility, right?"
"According to analysis of the scene, yes. He was the only one to enter."
"S-Class hero Zombie Man went in later, but judging by the timeline, he wouldn't have made it inside in time…"
Sekingar paused.
If he was correct, Zombie Man was probably still regenerating at the bottom of that abyss.
The lingering energy around the chasm made it impossible for rescue teams to approach—
They could only wait for Zombie Man to crawl out on his own.
At that, the representatives exchanged glances.
"Is it possible that boy took all of Genus' research with him?"
"Sekingar, have you checked his background?"
Sekingar nearly laughed out loud.
The greed of capital knew no bounds.
Even after achieving unimaginable wealth and influence, they still craved immortality.
They wanted to hold onto everything—forever.
"A thirteen-kilometer-wide, dozens-of-kilometers-deep crater!"
"An area of dozens of kilometers flattened into wasteland by shockwaves!"
"Hundreds of kilometers of terrain altered—peaks leveled, valleys raised nearly a thousand meters!"
"All of this… was the result of one full-power strike from that mysterious boy."
"Do you representatives believe you could withstand something like that?"
As Sekingar spoke, holograms of photos and data lit up midair.
He made it clear—
Don't provoke this man.
Or he could swat you like flies with a single blow.
The representatives went silent.
No matter how much they desired the technology of eternal life, faced with a being like that—they had no choice but to suppress their ambitions.
Seeing this, Sekingar finally relaxed a bit.
He had once thought of recruiting Kuzeha into the Hero Association.
But now? That idea had faded.
With higher-ups like these…
It'd be a miracle not to piss the guy off, let alone win him over.
And Sekingar had no intention of ever seeing that terrifying attack rain down on the Association's HQ.
At Deep Snow Tower—a 38-story business complex, privately owned and operated by the Yukinoshita Conglomerate.
The 36th floor housed a single, massive room:
The Chairwoman's office.
Despite being called an office, the several-hundred-square-meter space was luxuriously appointed.
With meeting areas, lounge sections, and all the amenities of a penthouse suite.
Madam Yukinoshita, the chairwoman herself, sat across from a boy with a complex expression in her eyes.
Today, she'd intended to brief her daughter Yukinoshita Haruno on matters concerning the House of Evolution—both to affirm her role as heir and to prepare for any unexpected scenarios.
But she hadn't expected the House of Evolution to be annihilated right under their noses.
If she hadn't witnessed that abyss-opening sword strike and immediately ordered everyone into the underground shelter, everyone at the Snow Peak Resort would've been vaporized.
From the shelter, gazing up at the boy descending from the heavens.
Who had turned mountains into craters, flattened buildings with his presence.
Madam Yukinoshita had been utterly shaken.
She had seen many supernatural feats.
But never before had one made her feel… reverence.
A thought flashed in her mind: Was this boy… a god?
What surprised her even more was that this "god"… had ties to the Yukinoshita family!
"Mother, this is Kuzeha—Yukino's classmate," Haruno said, introducing him.
The look she gave Kuzeha was filled with awe.
Yes, awe!
Kuzeha's previous displays of power had shocked her, but were still within the realm of comprehension.
But what she had witnessed today…
This gentle boy, effortlessly poking a hole through the Earth itself, surpassed all reason.
Even the House of Evolution, which her mother had relied on, seemed like ants in the face of Kuzeha's might.
She now understood why Kuzeha had scoffed at the fox God of the Mountain.
That "deity" truly didn't deserve the title in his presence.
"Lord Kuzeha, greetings," Madam Yukinoshita said respectfully.
She didn't address him as a student, but as a lord.
Such is the weight of revealed strength.
No one dares challenge a man who can obliterate cities with ease.
But Kuzeha hadn't come just to exchange pleasantries.
"Madam Yukinoshita, I found something in the House of Evolution's data… rather interesting."
With a flick of his hand, he pulled a document from Imaginary Space.
It recorded the Yukinoshita Conglomerate's cooperation with the House of Evolution.
Madam Yukinoshita fell into silence upon reading it.
She knew, if this information were to fall into the hands of another conglomerate, or worse, the Hero Association, the Yukinoshita Conglomerate would be done for.
Even as a relatively powerless conglomerate, it would be torn apart from all sides.
Other giants would devour it whole.
Her long, graceful eyes fell upon Kuzeha.
After a moment, she gently adjusted her kimono and knelt beside him.
With elegant movements, she brewed him a pot of tea.
Then solemnly said: "Yukinoshita is no longer able to protect our legacy. I humbly ask Lord Kuzeha to take over the Conglomerate…"
Such calm decisiveness, even in crisis!
Truly worthy of a woman like Madam Yukinoshita.
Kuzeha raised his teacup and took a sip.
Slightly bitter, with a lingering sweetness.
Meanwhile, Seri Awashima arrived at the group's HQ.
The joint kendo tournament between the Yukinoshita and Yuuki Conglomerates was nearly ready.
And she had come to deliver a report.
Though billed as a charitable event to promote kendo,
The real purpose was to scout promising talent.
For newly awakened supernatural youths,
The conglomerates only needed to offer resources and top-tier instructors,
And most would eagerly join them.
Both conglomerates had strong kendo backgrounds, thus the collaborative tournament.
At the thought of kendo, Seri couldn't help recalling that night.The boy named Kuzeha, who had crushed her completely… using only sword intent.
She had passed out and didn't wake up until the next day.
And in the nights since,
That sword intent had only grown deeper in her mind.
A boy raised in an orphanage wielding such overwhelming swordsmanship.
It defied logic.
But it only made her more certain: Kuzeha was far beyond any so-called kendo master.
So, she made a decision—To recommend Kuzeha to Madam Yukinoshita.
To bring him into their Conglomerate.
He was exactly the powerhouse they needed.
With him overseeing the tournament,
Countless sword prodigies would flock to the Yukinoshita name.
"Kuzeha grew up in an orphanage… he must value material things…"
Seri was still pondering how to win him over as she knocked on the office door.
Knock, knock.
No response.
Just as she raised her hand to knock again, a voice called from inside.
"Come in."
Seri stepped in.
"Madam, I'm here to recommend—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Stunned by what she saw.
Madam Yukinoshita… was kneeling beside a boy, respectfully pouring him tea.
Her daughter Haruno peeled grapes and gently fed them to him.
And that boy, lounging casually on the sofa, was Kuzeha.
The very one she had come to recommend.
She hadn't even opened her mouth.
And he was already the master of the Yukinoshita household?
Seri's mind blanked out.
Her gaze met Kuzeha's.
A half-smile danced in his eyes.
In that moment,
She recalled the first time they met.
That same look.
Read advance chapters on: patre on.com/Bored_Mortal