"Bang!"
The supermarket's glass doors were shoved open as Sol Mirek and Saitama staggered inside, both breathing hard.
"Did… did we make it?" Saitama asked, eyes wide and unfocused.
The cashier glanced at her watch. "You've got half an hour before closing. You're just in time."
They exchanged a look and immediately sprinted toward the fresh food section. The shelves were almost empty. Only two boxes of discounted beef remained.
"Yes!" Saitama cheered. "There are still two left!"
Both of them reached out at the same time, each grabbing one box.
"Sol, hotpot tonight?" Saitama asked, grinning. "We can finally use that new induction cooker."
"Sounds good," Sol replied with an easy smile. "Perfect excuse to test it."
Genos stood nearby, his mechanical eyes flickering with uncertainty. "Master, Sol… aren't we going to talk about what happened at the House of Evolution?"
"Oh, that?" Saitama scratched his head. "Wasn't it already taken care of?"
Genos hesitated. "I thought we might do a post-battle review. To analyze my mistakes."
Sol placed the beef into the basket, walked over, and rested a hand on Genos's shoulder. "You did well."
His tone was calm and sincere. "You didn't hesitate to step forward against a powerful enemy. That alone proves your resolve as a hero."
Genos's optics dimmed for a moment. "Sol…"
"There is one thing to keep in mind," Sol continued, picking up a bag of cabbage and setting it into the cart. "Don't go all out before you understand your opponent's strength."
Genos immediately pulled out his small notebook. "Understood. Gather data first."
"Exactly," Sol said with a short laugh. "Like learning a boss's attack pattern before committing."
He glanced at Saitama. "And if it's something you can't handle, call him. Or me."
"Yes," Genos replied firmly.
Back home, the three gathered around the induction cooker as steam and aroma filled the room.
"Genos," Sol said between bites of beef, "come with me to the Hero Association tomorrow. I'll help you register."
Genos straightened. "Is this because official heroes carry responsibility that pushes them to grow stronger?"
"No," Sol replied, tossing cabbage into the pot. "It's because heroes get paid. Which means more meat."
Genos paused, processors briefly stalling. Why did they always come back to food?
"I understand," he said solemnly. "I will work harder to earn money for grilled meat."
"Wasn't I supposed to train with Bang tomorrow?" Sol muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "I'll take a day off."
Saitama said nothing, cheeks puffed out as he shoveled beef into his mouth.
"Discounted beef really is unbeatable."
Sol shook his head, amused, and added more vegetables. "Slow down. No one's stealing it."
Later that night, Sol waved from the doorway. "I'm heading out. See you."
Back in his rented room, he wasted no time opening the system panel.
He confirmed the evolution of Asura Mode.
[Asura Mode evolution in progress. Current completion: 10%. Further evolution locked until this stage is complete.]
Instantly, searing heat erupted from within him. His blood felt like it was boiling. Dark red patterns crawled across his skin, spreading like living embers.
"Gah…!"
The pain dropped him to his knees. Sweat soaked through his clothes, yet beneath the agony, power surged through every fiber of his body. His muscles tightened, reshaping themselves with brutal efficiency.
He forced his head up and caught his reflection in the mirror. Blood-red eyes stared back at him. The patterns etched into his skin pulsed faintly.
Worse than the pain was the urge. A violent, murderous impulse gnawed at his reason.
"No," Sol growled, biting down hard. The taste of iron filled his mouth, grounding him. "Stay focused."
He activated his psychokinesis. What had once been green now flowed dark red, thick and heavy, like liquid blood.
Staggering into the bathroom, he turned on the cold water and let it pour over his head. The shock dragged his thoughts back into alignment.
He sank into the bathtub, muscles swelling as his bones cracked and adjusted. The evolution continued, relentless.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Sol," Saitama called from outside, "we're out of eggs. Grab some tomorrow."
"I got it," Sol answered through clenched teeth.
The voice cut through the haze like a lifeline. His friends were anchors, reminders of what he refused to lose.
He wanted ultimate power, not emptiness. Strength without humanity meant nothing.
Minutes stretched on. Eventually, the heat subsided. The red faded from his eyes. The patterns receded beneath his skin.
Sol rose unsteadily and faced the mirror. He looked exhausted, but alive.
The pain had been brutal, yet the result was undeniable. Power roared quietly beneath the surface.
Ten percent was enough to push him into Dragon-level territory, not the flawed kind. This strength was balanced. Complete.
"I've got everything I need now," Sol said, breathless with exhilaration.
Against Asura Kabuto, he would not even need psychokinesis. His body alone would be enough.
He opened the system panel again, this time accessing the newly unlocked shop.
The rules were simple. Any opponent he had defeated could have their abilities exchanged directly with transmigration points, bypassing evolution conditions entirely.
Sol's grin widened.
He selected Asura Kabuto and examined Steel Armor.
[Ability: Steel Armor. Cost: 800 transmigration points.]
[Effect: Massive enhancement to physical parameters, primarily defense. Upon full evolution, the body is covered in biological armor that can be concealed. Concealment reduces defensive output by 70%.]
After defeating Asura Kabuto, his points had risen from 714 to 1084. Even after this purchase, he would still have enough left for future transmigrations.
"That settles it."
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Patreon = _Zeph