Evolving Infinitely From An E-Class Hero-Chapter 58: The Strongest Earth Has To Offer

I was about to blast into the heavens when an awfully familiar voice stopped me dead in my tracks.

"What a fight!..."

The voice was thick, brave, deep and unhurried. It echoed through the seaport like a booming call of reckoning.

It wasn’t a shout, yet it carried effortlessly over the wreckage and whistling breeze.

I shot up in search of the origin of the familiar voice, snapping my head in every direction instinctively. But no, I couldn’t find the source.

"I’m glad I got a front row seat for this one! You really live up to reputation!"

My eyes narrowed as I scanned the area. "Who said that?" I demanded.

"You’re literally a cold blooded killer!" The voice continued, dripping with a subtle element of amusement. "And you didn’t even use the full extent of your powers to do it!"

"Killed that Calamity Creature with one successful swing!"

Before I could react, I felt a strong presence behind me.

Whoosh!

I spun around, my instinct kicking in and thats when I saw the origin of the voice — I saw Him.

The white suit with intricate golden lines engraved into elegant patterns throughout the seams of his superhero outfit.

He descended like a god from the heavens, the sky above him seemed to form a cerulean frame around him and for a brief moment, I suddenly forgot how to breathe.

Tech Armor and I stared at him as he descended commanding awe with the weight of a certain divinity wrapped in mortal form.

Broad shoulders bore a flowing cape that shimmered like a gaping galaxy glittering with radiant stars, dark blue with constellations glittering faintly, as though the stars had chosen to follow him.

His suit clung to a sculpted frame— every muscle chiseled sharply, defined and impossibly perfect as though forged by God himself.

Gold streaks traced along his arms and chest like living veins of light, they all gathered together into the emblem plastered across his chest.

And his eyes, damn.

Piercing eyes, sharp and unwavering, a tempest held behind calm blue.

The sunlight washed over his chestnut hair, tousled just enough to look effortless, as if the wind itself wouldn’t dare to scatter it. He lowered still and gentle, arms folded and expression stern with his eyebrows furrowed.

It was him.

The number one.

The Golden Guardian, S-Class, Rank 1.

I was speechless beyond recognition, I couldn’t even let out a subtle gasp.

Tap.

His feet finally landed on the floor.

"I’ve heard a lot about you...", he said.

"Bionic... isn’t it?"

"Huh!!!!"

A gasped finally escaped my mouth.

He scoffed and took a couple steps towards me, "I didn’t think you were real... I had my doubts when the ISA briefed all the S-Class heroes about you..."

I shaked my head slightly to get the feeling back into my brain, it wasn’t a good impression to be physically mesmerized by an S-Class hero I’m hoping to surpass one day.

"You have my permission to speak... No need to be shy"

Shit! He already caught on.

"So tell me..."

He took another lackluster step, I could tell he wasn’t in anyway afraid or cautious about me at all.

"How on earth does an E-Class Hero with a low rank — as low as rank 50... Possess the output of that of an S-Class hero... Or maybe even stronger than that..."

I cleared my throat and straightened my stance.

"I don’t think I can help you with that information..."

"Jordan Smith..."

I said with a ting of confidence in my voice as I read the content of his information I instinctively requested for and watched it display across my peripheral POV.

For some reason, he didn’t react the way I expected him to. His expression remained the same even after I mentioned his name.

Then suddenly, his eyebrow arched.

"What? You think you had me there?..."

"Don’t flatter yourself... I’m not like some punny hero who keeps their true identity a secret... I prefer to show my FULL power too"

He said mockingly, clearly channeling his words and towards my ego.

Tti-ring.

[Information Received]

[Subject: Jordan Smith]

[Alias: Golden Guardian]

[S-Class Hero – Rank 1]

[Proceeding with narration...]

[Jordan Smith, son of Dr. Elias Smith who was a world renowned astrophysicist behind Project Pulsar, the world’s first attempt at manipulating stellar alignments from Earth.]

[His childhood was filled with scientific jargon, press conferences, and an absent father who spent more time with stars than with his own son.]

[On the night Project Pulsar reached its peak, a rare event where three ancient pulsars aligned for the first time in recorded cosmic history—something went wrong. Or perhaps... something went right in the eyes of destiny.]

[Jordan, curious and rebellious, had snuck into the observation chamber unaware that the machine was reaching a critical threshold.]

[The pulses hit.]

[Enlightenment Event Triggered]

[Subject: Jordan Smith | Status: Mutating]

[Cause: Pulsar Alignment – Golden Radiation Surge]

[Result: Core Cellular Reconstruction]

[His body didn’t disintegrate.]

[It adapted.]

[His cells responded to the golden radiation, rewriting themselves at a quantum level. What should have been death became transcendence.]

[Core Talents Detected:]

– Super Strength – Limits unknown. Estimated: planetary level+

– Invulnerability – Body density exceeds vibranium-titanium alloys. Regeneration speed: instant under sunlight.

– Energy Manipulation – Golden radiation acts as both fuel and weapon. Constructs, beams, barriers—he shapes light with his eyes.

[Popular Ability Registered: The Fist of Gold]

The Fist Of Gold.

A condensed strike of cosmic radiation, capable of punching through dimensional walls and vaporizing entities composed of antimatter. One blow from this fist turned a Voidborn Leviathan into stardust.

And unlike others, he didn’t do it for recognition, glory, or wealth. He stood on the frontlines because no one else could.

He was ranked S-Class instantly. And in just three months, he climbed to Rank 1—a spot he’s held uncontested for five straight years and up till date.

Civilians call him "Golden Guardian."

Villains call him "The Final Horizon."

But to those who’ve stood beside him?

He’s the guy who carries the weight of the world without ever asking for help or be it a bit more simplified — The Strongest.

This guy was something else, something more than I have ever interacted with. It all seemed to be a fairytale even when he showed up the day of my second enlightenment event.

He didn’t ask for this power.

He didn’t dream of being a hero.

But he became one.

The seaport fell into another heavy silence as we both stared into eachothers eyes.

He tilted his head with an inquisitive look materializing on his face.

"Although, I can’t shake the feeling that we may have crossed paths before... But, it doesn’t matter..." He said and shrugged his shoulders slightly, realizing a dry smile.

"You’re right, we have crossed paths before..." I said, narrowing my eyes like I was monitoring every inch of his appearance.

"Really..."

[Ongoing Call:...]

[Boomerang Man:... ]

["... Huh!"]

["Ren, I think you should bow or something!!!!!!!"]

"Tell me, where have we met before?" Golden Guardian folded his arms across his chest and tilted his head even further.

"Snake King rampaging through Sector D, skinny kid with the dorky helmet and the skateboard... Bought time for the civilians holding up in the shelter before Snake King... "

"Killed you..." He said, stealing the words right out of my mouth.

"So... What happened to you?..."

"How does an E-Class Hero turn to a speeding golden bullet in less than a freaking year... "

I smirked a little and diverted my gaze to the ground as a montage of images scrolled through my head, driving me down memory lane.

"You wouldn’t believe it, even if I told you..."

I said softly, returning my focus back to him.

"But the question I really want to get the answer to is... Just how strong are you?... Bionic"

"Erm, I haven’t approved of that name but alright... Whatever you want to call me..."

"Yeah... Just how strong are you, I would really love to find out. Because if I’m being quite frank, you baffle me."

He unfolded his arm and took another step towards me. His eyes were unfazedly locked onto mine.

"Well, if you must know... I really don’t know how strong I am. All this is still new to me, although I’ve done a good job at adapting to it well..." I said while looking at the golden armor that made up my gauntlet and the rest of my forearm.

"Really?"

"Yes... Long story short, my talents have no limit and I can evolve infinitely depending on what ever adversity I face... "

"I’m supposed to be a worthy vessel for this..."

I placed a hand against my chest, right ontop the Forever Core.

"I’m supposed to save the universe..."

"I’m supposed to be the strongest earth has to offer..."

Upon uttering my last sentence, Golden Guardian jerked back suddenly and immediately raised a concerned eyebrow.

His whole facial expression had instantly changed and the slight, proud smirk on his face disappeared.

"The strongest earth has to offer huh?..." He repeated my words back to me.

"Yes... Is there a problem?"

He furrowed his eyebrows aggressively and pierced his gaze right through my soul.

"I am the strongest earth has to offer..." He said, his words spaced out clearly.

Just then—

Tti-ring.

[Compass Needle Activated]

"Huh!".