My Monster Evolution in One Punch Man

Right now, Hansen had a little over seven thousand Origin Points left.

After thinking it through, he realized it was still too early for his core ability, "Overgrowth," to level up again. The points he had weren't enough to make a meaningful difference if saved. Instead of letting them sit idly, it was far better to use them to strengthen his existing abilities, raising their performance to a higher level.

[Origin Points consumed ×6300, "Shadow Battle Armor" upgraded! Lv1 → Lv7!]

[Origin Points consumed ×630, "Rapid Regeneration" upgraded! Lv1 → Lv7!]

His status panel instantly refreshed, displaying the new information.

===

[Non-Human System]

Host: Hansen

Current Race: Monster (Unknown Insect Mutation)

Disaster Level: Demon (Peak)

Abilities:

Innate Abilities: 3

Shadow Battle Armor (SR) Lv7 Monsterization (SR) LvMax (Evolvable!) Rapid Regeneration (R) Lv7

[Ability Slots: 9/15]

Trillion-Level Division (UR) Lv2 Fusion Combination (UR) Lv2 Overgrowth (SSR) Lv8 Beastly Body (SSR) Lv4 Scorching Blast (SSR) Lv2 Beast Instinct (SSR) Lv2 Swift Wind (SSR) Lv2 Cell Mimicry (SSR) Lv2 Cell Explosion (SR) Lv1

[Origin Points: 201]

===

The generous "investment" from the wealthy Psykos had now been fully transformed into solid combat power. Closing the system panel, Hansen casually stretched, resting an arm behind his head as he leaned back in his seat. For now, there was nothing to do but enjoy the journey.

…

"Dear passengers, attention please~~"

"You are now on G10086, which will soon be arriving at M City High-Speed Rail Station. Please gather your belongings in advance and prepare to disembark."

"Thank you for traveling with G10086. We wish you a pleasant journey~~!"

The voice of the broadcast echoed through the cabin as the train began to slow down, pulling smoothly into the station.

Hansen opened his eyes, stood, and stretched out his body. His tall, lean frame carried a sharp explosive power, restrained so completely by his perfected transformation abilities that not a trace of energy leaked out. There was no hint of imbalance, no unwanted overflow from his strength.

Following the relatively thin crowd out of the train station, Hansen stepped into the sight of a thriving modern metropolis.

As one of the major cities neighboring A City, M City was far more prosperous than the increasingly bleak and empty Z City. Skyscrapers pierced the skyline, heavy traffic crowded the roads, and the bustling streets overflowed with pedestrians. The air buzzed with the unique liveliness and chaos of a large urban center.

If not for the memory of emerging from the Monster Association's dark underground just moments ago, Hansen might have believed he had entered an ordinary and peaceful world. However, the faint wail of police sirens echoing from distant intersections, combined with the steady stream of news reports on monster incidents, clearly reminded him that peace here was only an illusion.

"M City, huh? Now that I think about it, isn't this the city where that so-called 'strongest man on the surface' lives?"

Hansen wandered down the busy street, his steps unhurried as his thoughts drifted.

"It's unfortunate my Non-Human System can only copy extraordinary powers from non-human beings. If it worked on humans, I could've stolen some of King's red-tier abilities, like 'Strongest Bald Summoner (UR)' or maybe even 'World's No.1 Luck (UR).' That would've been convenient."

As he mused to himself, a rich and savory aroma wafted into his nose, pulling his mind back to the present. Glancing up, he realized he had strolled into a bustling food street without even noticing. At the corner stood a ramen shop, its entrance packed with customers, the fragrance of broth and noodles spilling out into the air.

"Emperor's Ramen House?"

He read the sign aloud, raising a brow. The name did sound rather imposing.

Although his monster body no longer required food for sustenance, the familiar smell of freshly cooked dishes stirred something deeply nostalgic in him. A reminder that he had once lived as a normal human.

Grumble!

Right on cue, his stomach let out a growl, despite not truly needing to eat.

Hansen rubbed his chin and chuckled lightly. "Why not? Since I'm pretending to be human, I should play the part properly. Three meals a day are part of the act. I doubt Lady Psykos would want me exposed as a monster over something this trivial. Besides, that could even risk drawing attention to the Monster Association."

…

"Achoo!"

Inside a luxurious apartment on the twenty-second floor in central M City, a tall blond man sneezed suddenly. He was deeply absorbed in a galgame, controller in one hand and a drink with a straw in the other. When he lifted his head, the dim light revealed a stern face scarred by three jagged marks across his left eye.

Cold, commanding, intimidating. This was none other than the man known as the "Strongest on the Surface," S-Class Rank 7 Hero, King.

His presence at that moment was sharp and overwhelming, as though he could crush anyone who dared stand before him. Yet King simply muttered to himself with a serious look,

"Strange… it feels like some shady person is watching me again."

A pause, then he blinked.

"Wait, I'm just an ordinary guy. I don't actually have those terrifying senses that anime protagonists do. Yeah, better not overthink it."

Shaking his head, he refocused on his screen. "Forget it, I should get back to this new game, Summer of Love: Rhapsody Edition."

The heavy aura faded instantly, replaced by the goofy demeanor of a shut-in gamer. With a foolish grin plastered across his face, he whispered, "My beloved Ayaka wife, here I come, eheh heh~"

…

Hours later, the screen showed a blushing anime heroine, her robe slipping off her shoulders as she gazed at him with bashful eyes. King leaned back against the floor with a satisfied sigh, though his smile still carried a trace of longing.

"Perfect. Finally cleared Ayaka's route. The classic big-sister type girlfriend really is unbeatable~~"

He chuckled to himself as he scrolled through the character list. "Now then… who's next? Miyuki looks promising… Angelica-sensei too…"

Gurgle…

A sudden rumble from his stomach interrupted his planning. King blinked, then glanced at the window where the sky had already dimmed.

"Evening already? Time flies when I'm gaming. Half the day's gone just like that."

He saved the game with practiced ease, set down the controller, and rubbed his stomach. Rising to his feet, he muttered, "Forget it, dinner first. I can continue conquering routes later tonight."

His eyes lit up. "Oh, Ayaka's specialty is ramen. Perfect. I'll have ramen tonight in her honor!"

Pulling on his familiar light-blue hoodie, he grabbed a black cap embroidered with golden letters spelling "King." With the hood drawn over, he stepped out into the city streets in high spirits.

Before long, he stood before a sleek and stylish ramen shop. The glowing sign read: Emperor's Ramen House.

"Emperor's Ramen House, huh? I heard this place has been climbing M City's gourmet rankings pretty quickly. Lots of food vloggers have already recommended it."

He then frowned slightly. "But wait… the name 'Emperor'… don't tell me it's supposed to be based on my hero title? Ugh, just thinking about it makes me cringe."

With a small sigh, he tugged the cap lower over his eyes. "Well, whatever. I'll eat here today."