Starting with one punch, I'll stop being human.

His figure finally transformed into a blurry black line, frantically weaving through this golden world, leaving a long trail behind him.

However, no matter how far he ran or how long he ran, the scenery around him did not change in the slightest.

The waterfall at the far end of the horizon showed no sign of approaching, and the entire golden ocean truly exemplified the meaning of boundless expanse.

Infinite emptiness is also hell.

A feeling called fear spread through Sonic's heart.

As a top assassin who brought an end to the era of ninja villages, he had experienced countless life-or-death missions and faced all kinds of vicious enemies, but he had never felt so helpless and insignificant as he did now.

Here, everything he depends on for survival—

Speeds far exceeding human limits, unparalleled assassination skills, and meticulously honed killing techniques...

Everything has lost its meaning.

Even more frightening is that time itself loses its meaning here.

Sonic had no idea how long he had been floating in this golden ocean.

Or a whole week?

The extreme silence was enough to drive any normal person insane, and the hunger and thirst assaulted his will wave after wave like torture.

Sonic is a battle-hardened ninja with superhuman endurance.

But he is still a human being, and he needs to eat and drink.

His physical strength was rapidly waning, and his spirit began to wither due to endless loneliness and despair.

In the end, Sonic gave up struggling and lay quietly on the golden sea like a soulless corpse.

Waiting for despair to completely engulf you.

He recalled his past, the bloody and brutal training in the ninja village, and all the efforts and sacrifices he had made in pursuit of ultimate speed.

Is it possible that his life, the path of ninjutsu he pursued, will end in this godforsaken place in such an absurd and humiliating way?

Really not reconciled!

He hasn’t even taken revenge on that despicable bald man who humiliated him!

The thought of that bald man, and the humiliation he suffered that he would never forget, made Sonic feel a dull ache in a certain vital part of his body.

He shuddered involuntarily and suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes.

At that very moment, he saw it.

Not far away, a figure had appeared there at some point and was quietly floating above the golden sea.

His face was impeccably handsome, he was dressed casually, and his deep eyes were looking at him with great interest, as if he were admiring something interesting.

Who else could it be but the bastard who knocked him out?!

Enemies are extremely jealous when they meet!

"...It's you!!"

In an instant, all the resentment towards the bald man transformed into a raging inferno, which was precisely transferred to this bald man's accomplice!

"Damn it! You're the one who locked me up here! Where am I?"

Sonic roared.

Hansen did not fly into a rage because of Sonic's insults, but calmly chuckled and said, "This is the gap between mind and illusion, the end of reality and imagination."

"It's my world too."

—A superpowered being? This kind of bizarre power... it's really unfair!

Despite his outwardly irritable demeanor, Sonic remained remarkably calm, a chill running down his spine as he realized the man opposite him was definitely one of the most formidable enemies he could ever face!

However, he still didn't reveal his true thoughts. Veins bulged on his forehead as he angrily questioned, "...What exactly do you want?!"

Han Sen did not answer his question. Instead, he looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"Impressive willpower. He's managed to stay in this place for so long without breaking down. No wonder he ended the era of the ninja village... Sonic the Hedgehog."

"What...!!"

Chapter 239 Scored twice

Upon hearing this, Sonic's pupils suddenly contracted to the most dangerous pinpoints!

—This guy has investigated me thoroughly!

Sonic's lips curled into a pure and innocent smile.

—I was too careless!

—For an assassin of my caliber, such close proximity is tantamount to a death sentence for you!

—It's my period!! Right now!!

The moment Hansen raised his hand, as if he wanted to say something, Sonic moved!

He poured all his remaining strength into his legs!

The golden ocean of energy beneath their feet was thus forced to rise and fall, rippling out a circle of intense and dense waves!

He was like a black cannonball launched from a gun, transforming into a bolt of lightning that was difficult to catch with the naked eye, carrying the strongest killing intent of his life, and shooting towards Han Sen's unsuspecting throat!

Speed ​​is his strongest weapon!

It was also his last moment of pride!

Sonic's ninja sword, which he had acquired at some unknown time, gleamed with a deadly cold light under the golden glow, and the blade was less than ten centimeters away from its target!

However, the expected bloody scene of a sharp blade piercing flesh and blood splattering did not occur.

Because of the rapid advance into what seemed like a slowed-down spacetime, he only saw Han Sen slowly raising his fist.

Seeing the angle at which the opponent's fist was raised, and instantly calculating his own movement trajectory...

Sonic instinctively tensed up.

That speed...that position!!

This visual effect is so frustrating!

At that moment, he seemed to see the bald man's figure superimposed on Han Sen in front of him, and he saw the biggest stain on his life being remade in high definition!

"Do not--!"

The desperate scream couldn't even escape his throat completely.

A dull thud, like a watermelon shattering, sounded exceptionally loud and clear in this silent, golden world.

Sonic's expression shifted from ferocious confidence to horrified astonishment, then to twisted, extreme pain, and finally to a blank, utterly despondent state.

He felt his soul being forcefully blasted out of the top of his head with that muffled thud.

The next moment, the ninja who couldn't get up covered his private parts, like a shrimp that had been cooked in an instant, and slowly knelt down in front of Han Sen with his body bent over.

"Uh...ah...ho..."

His mouth opened and closed unconsciously, but he couldn't make any complete sound, only gasps from the excruciating pain.

The same area suffered two equally devastating blows!

Sonic felt that his life had become completely bleak.

Han Sen, somewhat disdainfully, channeled a golden fountain of divine power to wash his fist before looking down at Sonic, who was curled up on the ground, convulsing. He spoke in a tone full of concern (but actually a sarcastic remark):

"You bastard, did you awaken some weird passive talent that allows you to catch punches with your balls 100% accuracy?"

Sonic: "..."

Upon hearing this, he nearly choked and fainted.

—What kind of innate talent is that?!

With all his might, mixed with blood and tears, Sonic managed to squeeze out a single word through gritted teeth.

"Give you two choices."

Han Sen didn't give him a chance to continue speaking, and instead held up two long, slender fingers, saying indifferently.

"Either die here now, or work for me."

Remembering that the guy in the original timeline didn't reject power beyond human capabilities, but was unable to become a Dragon-level monster because of his germaphobia and dislike of eating strange cells of unknown origin, Han Sen couldn't help but smile with a benevolent smile typical of capitalists.

"Choose the former, and I can grant your wish immediately, freeing you from your suffering. Choose the latter, and I can give you... the power you've always dreamed of, even beyond your wildest imagination, Sonic!"

"You won't get your hands on... um? Power?"

Sonic's pride made him instinctively want to refuse, but the message revealed in Hansen's words was like an invisible hand, firmly gripping his nerves on the verge of collapse.

Whether it's seeking revenge against that bald guy or pursuing a higher level of ninja way, he needs greater power!

Hansen's gaze seemed to pierce through people's hearts, seeing right through Sonic's soul. His voice was like the whisper of a demon bewitching mortals, full of deadly allure.

"Sonic, there are limits to human ability!"

"The harder you try, the more you'll find that the gap in talent is like an insurmountable chasm, which is despairing."

"For example, no matter how unwilling you are, you have to admit that no matter how much you train, your speed can never truly surpass that of your so-called best friend—'Flash of the Light'!!"

"After all, sound can't outrun light!"

Sonic: "..."

—No, the speed of sound and flashes of light are just descriptive terms, you idiot! Don't try to pull any physics laws out of me!

—And...who's that narcissistic jerk's best friend?!

But... Han Sen's words were like a sharp dagger that precisely broke through the defense.

"If I gave you the chance to become something other than human in exchange for superhuman powers, what would you choose, Sonic?"

"Ah this..."

Sonic's mind was a bit confused, and he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"Very well, if you don't say anything, I'll take that as your agreement."

Hansen gave Sonic no time to back down or think, and snapped his fingers crisply.

"From today onwards, you are my employee. After the three-month probation period, I will fulfill my promise."

"No, wait a minute...!!"

Sonic felt a blur before his eyes, and the boundless golden ocean around him vanished instantly.

The next second, he found himself in a completely unfamiliar place!

The blinding sunlight, the fresh air, and... birdsong?

Sonic looked around blankly.

He found himself standing on a neatly trimmed lawn.

Not far away, there is a huge villa decorated in an extremely luxurious manner, and next to the villa, there is a shimmering blue swimming pool.

Under the parasols by the pool, there was a long table piled high with all sorts of incredibly delicious-looking food.

The aroma of roasted meat and the sweetness of fruit mingled together, intensely stimulating his already ravenous stomach.

"Gulu..."

Sonic's stomach immediately emitted a deafening protest.

He stared blankly at the heavenly scene before him, and then recalled the golden, despairing hell he had just witnessed. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether this was reality or an illusion.

However, the almost doubled pain in his groin area constantly reminded him of what had just happened...

Definitely not a dream!

Chapter 240 Pochi's Happy Life, Sylph's Return

Sonic staggered to the long table, staring wide-eyed at the food.

He reached out with trembling hands, picked up a sizzling, oily Orleans-style drumstick, and stuffed it into his mouth without a second thought.