Inside the abandoned factory in City Z, time seemed frozen.
Tornado's psychokinetic force hung motionless in the air. Metal Bat's swing stopped just inches from Sol. Tanktop Master's fist hovered in front of his face, while Silver Fang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist remained suspended mid-strike.
Then space fractured like glass.
A figure clad in black-red armor emerged from the distortion. Behind Sol, the faint outline of the Infinity Castle flickered for a brief moment before vanishing. Several dark silhouettes shot outward in all directions, disappearing like arrows loosed from a bow.
Time resumed.
A deafening impact followed.
Tornado's attack slammed down. Metal Bat's strike connected. Tanktop Master's punch and Silver Fang's technique landed at the same time. The explosion of force sent smoke and debris surging through the factory, collapsing the entire structure.
"Did we get him?" Metal Bat asked, breathing heavily as he stepped back.
Tornado hovered above, her green curls whipping in the air. "Some of them escaped. I felt it."
"I'm still here."
As the dust settled, Sol stood exactly where he had been, completely unharmed. His armor showed no damage at all. His scarlet gaze swept across the group before a quiet chuckle escaped him.
"Everyone, long time no see."
Tanktop Master frowned. "What are you talking about? You were just..."
He stopped mid-sentence. Something felt off. Sol's presence had changed, becoming far more difficult to grasp.
Silver Fang stepped forward, lowering his stance. "Stay alert. He's stronger than before."
Sol ignored their caution and glanced toward the direction the shadows had fled.
"They move fast," he said casually.
Tornado narrowed her eyes. "What were those things?"
"Just pets," Sol replied, almost lazily. "More importantly, shouldn't we continue?"
Metal Bat rested his weapon on his shoulder. "Finally talking sense. Come on!"
The fight resumed instantly.
This time, Sol moved with ease. He activated every form available to him, except for Asura Mode, which preserved his sanity, and the Markings that drained life. Everything else surged to full output.
Metal Bat charged first.
Sol sidestepped effortlessly and countered with a single punch. The blow sent Metal Bat flying several meters back. Blood touched the corner of his mouth, but his grin only widened.
"He's stronger than before," Metal Bat muttered, gripping his bat tighter. "Good."
Tanktop Master rushed in from the side, muscles straining as he locked Sol in a crushing hold.
"Got you!"
"Too simple."
Dark-red energy leaked from Sol's armor, erupting outward and blasting Tanktop Master away. In the same motion, Sol drove his elbow forward, sending him crashing through multiple walls.
Silver Fang moved immediately.
His Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist flowed like a relentless tide, forcing Sol back step by step. Fine cracks spread across Sol's armor under the pressure.
Sol noticed, but remained calm.
The damage vanished within seconds as his regeneration restored the armor. He exhaled quietly, almost impressed.
So this is your level, old man.
"Persistent," Sol said, shifting his approach. He stopped meeting the attacks head-on and began weaving through them instead.
Above, Tornado raised both hands.
"Don't even think about running."
The remains of the factory twisted violently. Steel beams tore free and coiled toward Sol like massive serpents.
Sol halted and raised a barrier of dark-red psychic force. The steel slammed against it, locking him in place.
Metal Bat seized the opening.
"Take this!"
The impact rang out like a bell. Sol staggered slightly, a dent forming in his armor.
"It worked!" Metal Bat shouted.
But the dent began repairing itself immediately.
Sol glanced at him with mild amusement. "So your strength grows with your fighting spirit. That explains a lot."
"Shut up!" Metal Bat charged again.
The battle reached a deadlock.
Even with his increased strength, facing four S-Class heroes at once pushed Sol to his limits. Tornado's pressure in particular made every movement heavier.
Still, Sol's greatest gain from the Demon Slayer world was not power, but regeneration.
His attack strength had improved, but his real advantage lay in endurance. Now that he was a demon, the Markings no longer threatened his life. Immortality removed their greatest drawback.
Side effects no longer mattered.
He inhaled slowly.
Then he pushed further.
Crimson patterns spread across his skin beneath the armor, glowing like embers. The energy within him surged violently, distorting the air around him.
A vacuum began to form.
Silver Fang's expression sharpened. "Be careful. His aura has changed. The air itself is being displaced. Stay alert."
Tornado scoffed. "Last struggle."
She pressed down with both hands.
An overwhelming force descended. The ground shattered and sank under the pressure. Sol's legs trembled slightly.
But he did not fall.
He lifted his head.
Dark-red energy seeped from his armor, merging with the glow of the Markings to form a dense, unstable field.
His right fist tightened.
Energy gathered, compressing to a single point. This strike combined the flow of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist with the explosive force of the Exploding Heart Release Fist, enhanced by his full-body output.
Then he moved.
The air collapsed inward, producing a thunderous shockwave. The force spread outward in a wide arc, obliterating the incoming steel and sending Tornado flying backward.
"What?" she exclaimed, stunned.
Metal Bat rushed in again.
"Don't look down on me!"
Sol did not dodge.
He caught the bat with his left hand, stopping it instantly. His right hand shifted into a claw, aiming straight for Metal Bat's throat.
Before it could land, Silver Fang stepped in.
"Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, Energy Dissipation."
His movements flowed like water, redirecting the force and neutralizing Sol's attack completely.
A flicker of surprise crossed Sol's eyes, then faded.
"Impressive," he said quietly.
He pulled back and created distance.
There was no frustration in his expression, only quiet amusement.
Fighting someone who could nullify his techniques was rare.
But this was not the time to push too far.
Sol had no intention of becoming the Hero Association's enemy, not yet. His goal was far more subtle.
Infiltration.
Control.
^_________^
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