Inside the spaceship, Sol stood before the glowing energy core, his armor radiating a dark red light.
He drew in a breath, his right fist tightening as power gathered. Energy surged wildly through the seams of his armor.
"I need to destroy this core completely," he said under his breath.
"If not, that cannon will just recharge."
Just as he prepared to strike, a suffocating pressure rose behind him.
Sol turned sharply, his pupils shrinking.
From the throne at the far end of the chamber, a tall figure slowly stood.
The one-eyed alien wore heavy, spiked armor. His blue skin shimmered with flowing energy patterns, and the sheer weight of his presence pressed down on the entire room.
"I've finally found you," the alien said, his voice deep and steady.
"There's remarkable energy in you."
He took a step forward.
"Are you this planet's champion? That would make things more interesting."
"To defeat Gloribas, you've earned my attention."
Sol said nothing, but his body tensed under the armor.
The power in front of him was on a completely different level. Far beyond Melzargard. Far beyond Gloribas.
"Before we begin," the alien continued, "tell me your name."
"I am Boros, leader of the Dark Matter, ruler of the universe."
Sol shifted into stance, dark red energy leaking from his armor.
"Sol Mirek. A hero."
"Sol…" Boros repeated, a faint smile forming.
"I once conquered the stars, but it became dull. No one could challenge me. Nothing could satisfy me."
He stepped closer, descending from the throne.
"A seer once told me that somewhere, far away, there existed someone who could fight me properly."
"Twenty years have passed since then."
He stopped in front of Sol.
"My crew doubted it. Said it was just an excuse to avoid conflict."
"But now that I see you, I know it was true."
His eye gleamed.
"Give me something worth remembering."
Sol exhaled slowly. Every muscle in his body tightened.
The pressure from Boros weighed heavily, but instead of fear, it stirred excitement.
"Alright," Sol said, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Try not to disappoint me."
Boros's eye lit up.
"Good. Let's begin."
He vanished.
Sol's instincts screamed. He raised his arms just in time.
Bang!
The impact sent him flying across the chamber, slamming into the metal wall and leaving a deep dent.
"So fast…" Sol muttered as he pushed himself free.
Crimson patterns spread across his armor.
Asura Mode activated.
Boros remained where he stood, watching.
"That was just a warm-up," he said. "Now we start properly."
Sol didn't respond. He launched forward like a cannonball.
The two collided instantly.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Their movements blurred as they clashed across the chamber. Each strike distorted the metal floor beneath them.
Boros's punches came down with overwhelming force. Sol redirected much of it using Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, slipping through the attacks and searching for openings.
Bang!
Sol drove an elbow into Boros's ribs.
Boros didn't move.
"Not bad," he said, grinning. "But still lacking."
His counterattack came instantly.
Sol took the hit head-on.
Bang!
Cracks spread across his armor, but he held his ground.
"Same goes for you," Sol replied, steadying himself.
He stepped back, gathering power.
"Exploding Heart Release Fist."
Boom!
The punch slammed into Boros's chest, shaking the entire chamber. For the first time, Boros was pushed back slightly. Fine cracks appeared across his skin.
Boros's eye widened, then brightened.
"Now this is getting interesting."
Energy flared across his body, flooding the chamber with a violent aura.
"Let's see how far you can go."
He raised his hand. Purple energy condensed instantly.
A beam shot forward.
Sol twisted aside. The blast grazed his armor and tore through the wall behind him, leaving a massive hole.
He used the momentum to charge in again.
Bang!
His fist met Boros's palm.
The collision exploded outward, sending shockwaves across the room. Equipment shattered and panels tore free from the walls.
Sol slid back several steps.
Boros barely moved.
"Good," Boros said. "I'm starting to enjoy this."
He disappeared again.
In the next instant, he was already in front of Sol.
His fist came down with a sonic boom.
Sol crossed his arms to block, but the force launched him backward into the wall again, crushing the metal inward.
Blood rose to Sol's mouth, but his body recovered almost immediately.
Boros noticed.
"You regenerate too?" he said, intrigued.
Sol didn't answer.
The red patterns across his armor intensified.
He stepped forward and drove his foot into the ground, cracking it apart as he launched himself at Boros again.
His attacks came faster, heavier, relentless.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The chamber rang with constant impacts.
At first, Boros handled everything with ease. But as Sol's pressure increased, even he had to respond more seriously.
Their battle escalated rapidly.
Metal tore apart beneath them. The chamber couldn't contain the force.
The fight burst out of the spaceship.
High above City A, the two clashed in midair. Each collision created thunderous shockwaves that scattered clouds and echoed across the sky.
Below, both heroes and invaders paused, looking up.
Genos's eyes adjusted rapidly, tracking the fight.
"Is that Sol Senpai? What is that armor…?"
Tatsumaki hovered nearby, her green hair whipping in the wind. Her gaze locked onto the sky, tension visible in her expression.
"…That armor. Isn't that Asura…"