Sol Mirek followed the direction Asura Kabuto indicated and gave a small nod.
"Alright, lead the way."
Asura Kabuto grinned, exposing rows of sharp teeth. "Heh, you've got nerve."
He turned and strode deeper into the passage, casually tossing Dr. Genus aside like discarded luggage. The scientist hit the ground hard, barely managing to crawl away.
Genos lowered his voice. "Senior, this could be a trap."
Sol waved him off. "It doesn't matter. We're fighting either way."
The three of them followed Asura through the dim corridor until they reached a vast cubic chamber.
The arena was constructed from seamless white panels, an enclosed space devoid of decoration. Its emptiness created a subtle sense of pressure, as if the air itself weighed more inside.
"Spacious, right?" Asura spread his arms theatrically. "This is the largest room in the base. All experimental subjects fight here."
He smiled darkly. "We determine their combat value. If there are no objections, let's begin."
"Teacher, Senior, allow me," Genos said as flames ignited beneath his feet.
He launched forward.
"Machine Gun Blow!"
Genos leapt into the air, arms retracting before unleashing a rapid barrage of punches. His fists hammered against Asura Kabuto in a relentless storm.
The impact echoed through the chamber.
It achieved nothing.
Asura stood unmoved, a crooked smile forming. "Fool."
His counterattack came without warning.
One punch.
Genos was hurled backward like scrap metal, flying dozens of meters before Sol stepped in and caught him effortlessly.
"Genos, you alright?" Sol asked, faint exasperation in his tone as sparks flickered across Genos's frame.
"I was careless. I will handle him," Genos insisted, forcing himself upright, red light flashing in his eyes.
"You don't need to rush," Saitama said casually.
"Please let me try again."
Genos's arms reconfigured, gathering intense thermal energy.
"Incineration Cannon!"
A blazing pillar of white fire roared across the arena. The temperature spiked instantly, warping the air as the beam struck Asura head on.
The explosion shook the chamber.
When the smoke cleared, Asura Kabuto remained standing. His forearm carapace was blackened, but intact.
"Better," he admitted, brushing ash from his arm. "But that only warmed me up."
Genos's optics flickered rapidly. "The Incineration Cannon was ineffective."
At the arena entrance, Dr. Genus dragged himself forward despite his injuries. His eyes burned with obsession.
Since the age of fifteen, he had devoted his life to artificial evolution. Now, before him stood two anomalies, one who had reached abnormal strength through unknown means, and another who embodied artificial perfection.
Pain meant nothing compared to this moment.
"The ultimate creation of the House of Evolution, Asura Kabuto," he whispered.
"Show me what humanity becomes when confronted with its own ambition."
Asura rolled his shoulders, bone grinding against bone.
"So, who dies first?"
He beckoned to Sol. "You. Come on."
Genos attempted to rise again.
Sol placed a hand on his shoulder. "Some fights are better handled by seniors."
He stepped forward, eyes sharpening, playful ease fading into focus.
Asura's excitement intensified. "I can feel it. You're strong."
Sol removed his upper garment.
His Demon Back activated instantly.
White mist rose from his body, and beneath it a faint crimson aura flickered. His psychokinesis shifted hue, deepening into red as his physical output surged.
The synchronization between body and mind improved drastically. The gap narrowed, granting him finer control and greater defensive efficiency. A thin telekinetic barrier enveloped him seamlessly.
Asura tilted his head. "Interesting."
He lunged.
Sol sidestepped smoothly, driving a telekinetically reinforced punch into Asura's abdomen.
The impact cracked the beetle's carapace.
At the moment of contact, Sol triggered his Super Evolution ability, analyzing Asura Kabuto's structure.
A translucent interface formed in his mind.
Available abilities to evolve: Asura Mode, Steel Armor, Enhanced Senses, Accelerated Reaction.
Sol chose Asura Mode without hesitation. It was the core of Asura's power.
Ability: Asura Mode
Evolution condition: Defeat Asura Kabuto
Effect: Massive increase in physical attributes and overall combat capacity. Stamina becomes virtually inexhaustible for extended battles. Risk of entering an instinct driven berserk state. Rational suppression reduces output by half.
Sol dismissed the information instantly.
Asura growled, annoyed. "Why are you zoning out?"
He swung again with crushing force.
Sol raised his psychokinetic barrier and blocked the blow cleanly. His stance shifted into Smashing Fist, crimson energy swirling around his arms.
"That's better," Asura laughed wildly. "Now let's enjoy this properly."
The two charged at each other again.