"The Seventh Shelter is under attack too! The defense forces have already been overwhelmed!"
"The Central Medical Station is requesting emergency backup! Monsters are emerging from underground!"
Sitch shot to his feet immediately.
"What?! Dispatch nearby heroes now! Move!"
The large screen inside the command center instantly switched to live footage from multiple shelters.
Countless small black creatures poured out from cracks in the walls and floors like liquid shadows. They did not directly attack civilians, instead twisting into grotesque forms while releasing sharp, horrifying shrieks that threw entire shelters into panic.
The defending heroes and soldiers managed to blast many of them apart, but the creatures simply reformed moments later.
Tatsumaki's psychic aura exploded violently around her.
"That bastard... I'll deal with him myself!"
"Wait." Bang stopped her again. "This is obviously a diversion. Black Sperm's clones are extremely difficult to eliminate completely. He's trying to exhaust us little by little. Our strongest fighters must stay here and protect headquarters."
"So we're just supposed to let civilians panic?" Tatsumaki snapped angrily.
"Nearby A-Class and B-Class heroes will handle the shelters," Sitch ordered decisively. "All S-Class heroes remain stationed at headquarters. Drive Knight, continue analyzing Black Sperm's movement patterns and locate any hidden gathering points."
Muzan stood quietly in the corner of the command center, silently observing everything while transmitting information through the mental link.
"Lord Sol, the Association's attention has been completely diverted toward the shelters. The executives are nervous, but none of them have left the command center."
Sol's voice responded immediately.
"Good. Tell Kokushibo and Akaza to prepare. Next comes a direct feint against headquarters itself. I want Sitch and the others to genuinely feel threatened, enough to consider evacuating the Association."
"Understood."
A faint crimson glow flashed across Muzan's eyes before disappearing.
Deep beneath the ruins of Z-City, Sol appeared inside a massive underground cavern.
Gouketsu and Elder Centipede rested inside enormous pools filled with bubbling green recovery fluid, prepared remotely by Psykos and delivered through Gyoro Gyoro's abilities.
Most of Gouketsu's injuries had already healed. At this point, he was practically relaxing inside the pool.
The moment he saw Sol appear, he immediately stood up.
"Lord Sol."
"No need for formalities, just keep recovering." Sol casually waved him off before glancing toward Elder Centipede's heavily damaged shell. "You have ten minutes to regain combat capability. You'll both be needed soon."
"Yes."
Gouketsu answered firmly before stepping out of the recovery fluid without another word.
Elder Centipede let out a low rumble in acknowledgment.
Sol walked toward the center of the cavern and activated his psychic resonance.
"Psykos, report the status of the executives."
Psykos' respectful voice echoed through the psychic connection.
"Gums, Overgrown Rover, and Fuhrer Ugly are waiting at their designated locations. Hellfire Flame and Gale Wind are leading the remaining forces while hidden at seven preset positions around A-City's outskirts. Nyan, Phoenix Man, Homeless Emperor, and the others are all prepared to move at your command."
"Have them remain on standby," Sol ordered. "Tell Hellfire Flame and Gale Wind that once the signal is given, they are to launch a direct frontal assault. Their priority is drawing the attention of every S-Class hero."
"Understood."
Sol slowly closed his eyes, extending his senses outward once again.
God's presence had already vanished, but the brief trace he sensed earlier was enough to confirm both its existence and its nature.
Now he simply needed to throw more fuel into the fire.
Enough chaos to shake the entire world.
Enough destruction to force that hidden being to reveal itself once more.
And the Hero Association, along with its corrupt executives, would become the perfect catalyst.
Ten minutes later, Elder Centipede rose from the recovery fluid. His injuries were not fully healed yet, but he was battle-ready.
Sol opened his eyes.
A cold gleam flickered within his crimson pupils.
"Begin."
His voice echoed throughout the cavern.
At that moment, rustling sounds spread through the surrounding shadows.
Several Black Sperm clones crawled from narrow cracks in the walls before merging into a rough humanoid shape.
"Lord Sol~ The shelters are complete chaos right now~" Black Sperm laughed. "Those heroes are running around everywhere, it's hilarious~"
"Well done," Sol replied with an amused smile. "Now work alongside Gouketsu and the others. Send thirty percent of your clones to create disturbances around headquarters. Focus on harassment only, avoid direct confrontation."
"Understood~ Scaring people is what I do best~"
Sol then turned toward Gouketsu.
"You'll lead the main force against the headquarters' front gate. Elder Centipede will support from underground, but neither of you will break through the defensive line. This operation is meant to apply pressure, not cause real destruction."
Gouketsu slowly clenched his massive fists.
"I'll make the Association understand what real pressure feels like."
"Remember," Sol added, "the moment Tatsumaki or that bald guy gets serious, retreat immediately. Your objective is to stall them, not die fighting."
Once the arrangements were complete, Sol faded back into the darkness.
He still needed to move toward the ideal observation point near Hero Association headquarters.
Meanwhile, inside the Association command center, Sitch listened carefully as reports continued arriving one after another.
"The disturbance at the Third Shelter has ended. All Black Sperm clones retreated."
"The Seventh Shelter situation is identical. The enemy appears focused solely on causing panic."
"The Central Medical Station has resumed normal operations."
Sitch frowned deeply.
"What exactly is Sol trying to accomplish? These attacks feel meaningless."
Bang stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Sol never acts without purpose. These attacks could be probing our defenses, or perhaps serving another objective entirely."
Even Bang could no longer fully understand what Sol was planning.
If Sol truly wanted the Association executives dead, he could have personally led the assault already. With Tatsumaki and Bang involved, defecting outright would have been possible.
But Sol still had not appeared personally. Instead, he continued moving pieces from the shadows while allowing the Monster Association to handle the visible chaos.
Even Bang no longer understood what Sol truly wanted.
Drive Knight suddenly interrupted the silence.
"High energy signatures detected fifty kilometers ahead. They are rapidly approaching." His mechanical eyes flashed repeatedly. "Confirmed readings match Gouketsu and Elder Centipede."
Tatsumaki floated impatiently in the air.
"Then let's just go crush them already. Sitting around here is getting annoying."
Bang shook his head.
"This could easily be another trap. Sol knows all of our fighting habits."
Suddenly, alarms blared once more throughout headquarters.
"Massive monster energy signatures detected approaching headquarters!"
"Direction confirmed, main gate!"
"Simultaneously detecting large underground tremors!"
"Energy signature confirmed, Elder Centipede!"
Sitch slammed both hands against the table as he stood.
"All units enter Level One combat readiness immediately! All S-Class heroes proceed to the main gate and prepare for defense!"