"It's the Hero Association!" Psykos said sharply. "They've found the Monster Association's entrance!"
The screen displayed a fully armed Hero squad breaking through the underground defenses with precision. At the front was Drive Knight, leading several A-Class heroes.
"Did they trace it back to my call with Saitama?" Sol's eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smirk forming. "Looks like they're finally doing something right."
He turned toward Psykos. "Activate Level One defense. Evacuate all non-combatants."
Psykos moved immediately, her hands flying across the controls. Alarms rang throughout the base. Lower-level monsters scattered in panic, while executives began assembling in the central control room.
"Should I step in?" Psykos asked, her tone carrying clear interest.
Sol shook his head. "No. Keep working." He started walking out. "I'll handle this. Might as well see what this new power can do."
Inside the tunnel, Drive Knight's squad advanced in a steady formation. Their gear was specialized, cutting through traps with ease.
"Detecting a high-energy signal," Drive Knight reported, his mechanical eye flickering. "Directly ahead is, "
He stopped.
A figure had already appeared before them.
Sol stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking at them like he had been waiting.
"Just this group?" he asked, sounding unimpressed.
Drive Knight immediately shifted into combat mode. "Target confirmed. All units, stay sharp."
The A-Class heroes spread out, forming a loose encirclement. One of them sneered. "Sol, you're surrounded. Give it up."
Sol tilted his head slightly, amused. "Surrounded?" He took a step forward.
The entire tunnel shook.
"Are you sure about that?"
A crushing pressure filled the space. The A-Class heroes stiffened, their faces turning pale. Even Drive Knight's systems let out a faint mechanical hum.
"This level of pressure…" Drive Knight's eye flickered rapidly. "It exceeds recorded data."
Sol moved.
One moment he was standing still, the next he was already in front of one of the heroes. A casual strike sent the man crashing into the wall.
"Too slow," Sol said, his voice echoing through the tunnel. "Did they send you here to die?"
Drive Knight reacted instantly, firing multiple high-energy beams from his arm. Sol didn't move. He let the attacks hit him directly.
Nothing happened.
Not even his clothes were damaged.
"Impossible," Drive Knight said, his voice tightening. "These weapons were designed specifically to counter you."
Sol raised his hand. A dark red sphere condensed in his palm.
"Designed for me?" he said lightly. "You don't understand anything about my power."
He flicked his wrist.
The sphere shot forward. Drive Knight deployed a barrier, but it shattered instantly. The explosion sent the entire squad flying back.
When the dust settled, Sol was still standing in the same spot, completely untouched.
"Go back," he said. "If the Association wants to catch me, they should send someone worth my time."
Drive Knight struggled to stand, his body heavily damaged.
"Retreat. Immediately."
The remaining heroes pulled back without hesitation.
Sol watched them leave, his expression shifting slightly.
"That was too small," he muttered. "This wasn't a real operation."
He paused, then contacted Muzan through their link.
"Anything unusual on their side?"
Muzan's reply came quickly. "Sitch and several senior officials have left headquarters. Their destination is unknown."
Sol's eyes sharpened.
"So that's it. A distraction."
He let out a quiet breath, then smiled faintly.
It didn't matter anymore.
The Monster Cells were complete. There was no reason to keep waiting.
Back in the central control room, the atmosphere grew heavy as Sol stepped inside. The pressure he released made every executive present tense.
Gyoro Gyoro's massive eye shifted uneasily. Black Sperm's countless smaller forms fell silent. Ugly President stiffened, and even Gouketsu lowered his head slightly.
"The time has come," Sol said.
His tone was steady, but it carried weight.
"The Hero Association is rotten. We're going to clean it out."
Gyoro Gyoro's small limbs trembled. "Lord Sol… are you declaring full-scale war?"
"Yes."
Sol's gaze swept across the room.
"Gather all combat forces. We're launching a direct assault on the Hero Association headquarters."
Black Sperm's many voices began whispering among themselves before merging into one. "So we're finally moving? This is getting interesting."
Gouketsu stepped forward without hesitation. "Give the order, Lord Sol. I'll lead the charge myself and break through their front gate."
Ugly President grinned widely, his teeth exposed. "Finally, a proper fight. I'll tear those fake heroes apart."
Sol raised his hand slightly, silencing them.
"This isn't random destruction," he said. "Our target is the corrupt leadership. Innocent civilians and heroes who still follow their principles are not to be harmed."
The room fell quiet.
Several executives exchanged looks.
Black Sperm's larger forms glanced at each other, clearly displeased but unwilling to speak. Ugly President's grin twitched, his expression tightening as he swallowed whatever he wanted to say.
Gums simply drooled, its massive mouth opening and closing without understanding, guided only by instinct.
"If anyone has something to say, speak," Sol added. "I'll consider it."
A brief pause followed.
Then Gouketsu stepped forward again.
His single eye gleamed.
"Your will is absolute," he said firmly. "We will eliminate corruption and reshape the order of this world. I will follow you without hesitation."
"I will also ensure discipline among our forces and direct all efforts toward the Association's leadership and their combat units."
His declaration broke the tension.