"That's enough for today," Allen's voice returned to normal. After roughly figuring out how strong his full power was, he prepared to stop. After all, he didn't have the ability to evolve right now, so fighting was pointless.
Tatsumaki floated in the air, her green curly hair fluttering violently: "Trying to escape? Not so easy!"
Allen chuckled: "Miss Tatsumaki, are you sure you want to continue fighting?"
He pointed into the distance: "Your companions have already reached their limit."
Tatsumaki turned her head and saw that Metal Bat and Tanktop Master were both panting heavily. Although Bang could still maintain a fighting stance, fine beads of sweat were already seeping from his forehead.
"Hmph! I can handle you by myself!" Tatsumaki shouted defiantly.
Allen shook his head: "Perhaps, but the cost would be great."
He raised his hand, and dark red energy seeped from the Armored Monster's armor seams: "Besides, are you really sure you want to continue investigating me?"
"Allen is currently in our hands. If you are willing to let me leave, I can return Allen to you."
The corner of Allen's mouth under the armor curved slightly. The armor's surface flowed like mercury, gradually revealing a slender female silhouette. The black and red armor slowly receded, replaced by long silver-white hair and a delicate, youthful face.
This was intentional on Allen's part. With Muzan's perfect mimicry, he could transform into a child, or even a young girl. He needed to show his face to clear himself of suspicion; otherwise, if he disappeared every time the Armored Monster appeared, it would become indefensible over time.
"This is my sincerity. What do you think?"
Tatsumaki's green curly hair fluttered violently. She narrowed her eyes, staring at the Armored Monster who had suddenly transformed into a young girl: "Who do you think this trick can fool?"
Allen (in girl form) gently brushed aside her silver-white long hair, revealing an innocent smile: "I'm not lying, this is my true form. Allen is indeed in my hands. If you let me go, I can guarantee his safety."
Bang's brows furrowed, and his Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist stance remained unwavering: "Who exactly are you? Why did you abduct Allen?"
"Well… I am Psykos of the Monster Association, and also the leader of the Monster. As for why I abducted Allen…" Allen tilted his head, deliberately feigning thought: "I just felt he had a lot of potential and wanted to nurture him a bit, that's all."
Metal Bat slammed his bat heavily on the ground: "Enough talk! Hand over the Rookie!"
Tanktop Master walked forward, clutching his faintly aching chest: "There's no way we're letting you go."
Allen sighed, a regretful expression on his girl-like face: "Then there's nothing else I can do."
Her body was once again covered by black and red armor: "It seems we'll just have to fight."
A flicker of impatience crossed Tatsumaki's green eyes: "Enough!"
She slammed her hands downwards, and terrifying pressure instantly descended.
But Allen was prepared. Dark red patterns on his armor glowed brightly, and viscous, blood-like Psychokinesis formed a barrier. The two Psychokinesis forces collided fiercely in the air, distorting the surrounding atmosphere.
"Miss Tatsumaki's Psychokinesis is indeed formidable," Allen's voice came from beneath the armor: "However… goodbye."
He suddenly withdrew his defense, using Tatsumaki's Psychokinesis impact to retreat, while dark red energy seeped from the armor's seams, forming a portal to the Infinity Castle behind him.
"See you next time, everyone," Allen's figure gradually disappeared into the portal.
"Stop!" Tatsumaki tried to pursue but was stopped by Bang.
"Don't chase," Bang shook his head.
"That gate has closed, and…" He looked into the distance: "We need to find Allen first."
Metal Bat irritably ran his hand through his hair: "Damn it! Where did they take the Rookie?"
Tanktop Master mused: "That Monster said Allen was in her hands, but during the battle, we never found any trace of Allen. Who knows if it's true or false."
...Meanwhile, Allen arrived in a dark alley, still clutching a pen and paper he had 'borrowed' from the supermarket, on which he was scribbling:
[Allen has been injected with Monster cells. How will you choose? (Smiling face)]
He needed a suitable reason to unleash more of his abilities. After finishing, Allen clutched the paper in his hand, took a deep breath, and slammed his right fist into his abdomen.
His Super Regeneration ability was forcibly suppressed. The punch landed squarely on him, and intense pain instantly swept through his body.
"Cough—" He spat out a mouthful of blood. Allen lay on the damp ground, his trembling fingers clutching the note tightly.
"This should be enough." Since his communicator was destroyed, he took out his phone to send an emergency distress signal to the Hero Association, then lay on the ground, entering a state of suspended animation.
When he woke up tomorrow, all suspicion and trouble would vanish… Just as the four were searching for Allen, their communicators suddenly rang: "Everyone, this is headquarters. We just received a distress signal from Mr. Allen, located in an alley in the eastern district of Z-City!"
"Let's go!" Tanktop Master was the first to react.
"Hope the Rookie hasn't lost any limbs," Metal Bat had already shouldered his bat, ready to depart.
Tatsumaki's green curly hair fluttered violently: "Hmph, that idiotic Rookie!" She soared directly into the air, flying towards the signal source.
Although Bang was old, his speed was not slow at all: "Follow!"
The four quickly arrived at the dark alley. Under the moonlight, Allen lay pale in a pool of blood, his right hand clenched into a fist, with a note faintly visible between his fingers.
"Allen!" Bang was the first to rush forward, carefully checking his injuries.
"He suffered a severe blow to the abdomen, and his ribs seem to be broken."
Tatsumaki floated in the air, gently lifting Allen with her Psychokinesis: "Take him back to the Association for treatment first."
"Wait!" Metal Bat stopped Tatsumaki: "He seems to have something in his hand."
Metal Bat knelt down and carefully pried open Allen's tightly clenched fingers, retrieving the blood-soaked note.
"Wait!" Tatsumaki suddenly interjected, her green curly hair fluttering violently: "Let me see!"
She snatched the note, and after a quick scan of its contents, her face instantly turned ashen. The note crookedly read: [Allen has been injected with Monster cells. How will you choose? (Smiling face)]
"What does it say?" Tanktop Master leaned closer.
Tatsumaki's fingers trembled slightly, a flicker of panic in her green eyes. She suddenly crumpled the note into a ball, and a flash of dark green Psychokinesis light passed, instantly turning the note to dust.
"Nothing important," Tatsumaki feigned composure, turning her face away: "Just a provocation from that Monster."
Bang keenly noticed Tatsumaki's abnormality, but seeing the dying Allen, he decided to prioritize his injuries: "Send him to the hospital first."
Metal Bat looked at Tatsumaki suspiciously: "Hey, you're not hiding something, are you?"
"Enough talk!" Tatsumaki's curly hair moved without wind, her voice rising due to a guilty conscience.
"The most important thing now is to save him!"
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