Gouketsu's massive body suddenly stiffened. His one remaining eye stared at Allen in disbelief, the cold, emotionless gaze sending a chill down his spine.
"Mr. Allen? What do you mean by this?"
Allen didn't answer, merely looking at him calmly, the blue and red intertwined patterns beneath his skin slowly shifting, emanating a suffocating pressure.
The air around them seemed to solidify, and the shadows of the abandoned factory appeared to deepen.
"What did I do wrong?" Gouketsu's voice held a subtle tremor as he instinctively took half a step back, his massive foot crushing a concrete brick. "I came here to assist you on Gyoro Gyoro's orders!"
Allen's gaze remained icy, his crimson eyes particularly terrifying in the shadows of the abandoned factory.
He slowly raised his right hand, the blue and red patterns beneath his skin glowing faintly, and an invisible pressure enveloped Gouketsu.
"I'm giving you two choices." Allen's voice was frighteningly calm, each word like an ice pick piercing Gouketsu's heart. "Drink my blood, gain power, but from now on be controlled by me, or..."
He paused, and the air around them seemed to freeze: "Die here."
Gouketsu's four eyes suddenly contracted, and his massive body involuntarily began to tremble.
He could feel the terrifying aura emanating from Allen, a pressure far exceeding that of the Monster King Orochi, making him instinctively want to prostrate himself.
"Wh-why?" Gouketsu stammered, "I mean you no harm, I came to help you..."
Allen took a step forward, and the ground silently caved in: "I don't need disobedient pawns. Gyoro Gyoro's arrangements are irrelevant to me."
Gouketsu's mind raced.
He knew he was no match for Allen; the scene of him effortlessly defeating numerous S-Class Heroes in the stadium was still vivid in his memory, but he was also unwilling to lose his freedom just like that.
"If I choose to drink your blood—" Gouketsu asked cautiously, "What changes will there be?"
The corner of Allen's mouth curved slightly, revealing a smile devoid of warmth: "You will become stronger, far beyond your current state, but your will shall be linked to mine, forever unable to betray me."
He extended his hand, and a drop of dark red blood seeped from his fingertip. The blood hovered in the air, emitting an eerie glow and a heart-pounding energy fluctuation.
Gouketsu stared at the blood, his heart in a fierce struggle.
As a former martial artist, he yearned to become stronger, but as a Monster executive, he was unwilling to lose his freedom.
However, facing Allen's unfathomable strength, he knew that refusal meant death.
Finally, Gouketsu lowered his head, his massive body bending slightly: "I choose to drink your blood."
Allen nodded, and the drop of blood slowly flew towards Gouketsu.
The moment the blood touched Gouketsu's lips, a vast surge of energy instantly flooded his body.
"Ah—!" Gouketsu let out a painful roar, his massive body trembling violently.
He felt every cell being torn apart and reassembled, an indescribable agony sweeping through him.
His eyes became even more crimson, and his muscles visibly expanded and contracted.
A few minutes later, the pain gradually subsided, and Gouketsu knelt on the ground, gasping for breath. He felt an unprecedented power surging within him, his vision became clearer, and his senses sharpened several times over.
"Stand up." Allen commanded calmly.
Gouketsu stood up involuntarily, as if his body no longer completely belonged to him.
He could feel Allen's will, like invisible threads, entwined in the depths of his consciousness.
"From now on, you will directly obey my orders." Allen turned to face the stadium, "As for Gyoro Gyoro, you know what to do."
Gouketsu respectfully bowed his head: "Yes, Mr. Allen."
"Now, return to the Monster Association." Allen instructed, "Monitor Gyoro Gyoro's every move, report to me at all times, and do not act without my command."
Gouketsu nodded in acknowledgment, feeling the surging new power within him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He turned and took heavy steps, quickly disappearing into the shadows of the abandoned factory.
Allen stood alone, his eyes slightly closed.
Through the newly established bloodline connection, he could vaguely sense Gouketsu's location and status. This was more direct and effective than cooperating with Gyoro Gyoro... Deep underground.
Psykos stood up from the sofa with a gloomy expression, pacing back and forth in front of the instrument-laden control panel.
The terrifying power Allen displayed in the stadium, crushing everyone, and his meaningful glance towards Gyoro Gyoro's hidden location at the end, flashed through her mind again.
"Why was the Hero Association able to ambush our division so precisely? Why did Allen refuse Gouketsu's assistance? Why is Gouketsu acting so strangely now?" Questions swirled in her mind, eventually intertwining into a chilling speculation.
"Could it be... him?" Psykos stopped, slamming her hands on the control panel, "Did Allen leak the attack plan? Did he deliberately lure the Hero Association into an ambush to weaken the Monster Association's power, while simultaneously drawing all attention to himself at the stadium? What exactly does he want? To completely control the Monster Association? Or..."
"To eliminate both the Hero Association and the Monster?"
Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.
Allen's displayed strength and cunning were too unfathomable, completely exceeding her initial expectations and desire for control.
"We can't wait any longer!" A ruthless glint flashed in Psykos's eyes, "We must find out! If he truly has ulterior motives..."
She immediately reconnected with Gyoro Gyoro, and the enormous eyeball glowed purple in the main control room of the cavern.
Short limbs rapidly operated the communication equipment, and commands were sent out through the Monster Association's unique channel.
"All executives participating in this operation, immediately gather in the main control room!" Gyoro Gyoro's voice echoed through the Monster Association's intricate tunnels via the loudspeaker, carrying an undeniable urgency and gravity, "There is an urgent matter to discuss regarding the newly arrived Monster executive, Mr. Allen."
As the message spread, powerful presences hidden throughout the headquarters began to move, converging towards the main control room.
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