Deep beneath the Hero Association Headquarters, within the "High-Fidelity Environmental Simulation Pod" that far surpassed conventional training areas, a silent transformation was unfolding.
There were no windows here, only an boundless virtual space constructed jointly by holographic projections and force field generators.
Currently, the space was set as a vast and desolate desert, with a scorching sun overhead and heatwaves distorting the air.
Flint Marko, codenamed Sandman, the Hero Association's first and currently only S-Class Hero, stood at the center of this virtual desert.
He had his eyes closed, his bronze skin shimmering with a metallic luster under the simulated sunlight, and a thin layer of sand dust, like a living entity, slowly flowed around his body.
Compared to when he first joined the Hero Association, his demeanor had undergone a subtle change.
The weariness and gloom brought on by life's pressures had not completely vanished, but they were now overshadowed by a settled confidence stemming from his own power.
His daughter's condition had been effectively brought under control with the intervention of the Hero Association's top medical resources, and this peace of mind translated into his almost absolute loyalty to the Hero Association and Kingpin, as well as a pure motivation to pursue greater strength.
"Training program initiated: Advanced Sand Particle Form Control — 'Crystallization' Adaptability Drill," the system's neutral electronic voice echoed through the space.
In an instant, the virtual environment underwent a sudden change.
The previously hot desert abruptly whipped up a fierce sandstorm, with countless grains of sand, carried by the gale at over two hundred kilometers per hour, shooting towards Flint in the center like countless tiny bullets.
This was not merely a physical impact; it also contained simulated high-frequency energy vibrations, capable of tearing apart ordinary alloys in an instant.
Flint suddenly opened his eyes, with no trace of panic.
He did not choose to completely turn his body into sand to evade damage, as he had in the past, nor did he stir up larger sand waves to counter the attack.
He took a deep breath, sinking his consciousness into the core within his body that resonated with the sand particles.
The knowledge points from the "Advanced Sand Control Tutorial" provided by the system, far surpassing his own explorations, emerged like instinct.
He no longer merely viewed sand particles as an extension of his body and a weapon, but began to try to understand and reconstruct their intrinsic structure.
"Condense!"
A low shout, not propagated through the air, but directly acting upon the sand particles around him.
A miracle occurred.
The originally loose sand particles, which had swayed with the airflow, instantly flashed with an extremely subtle yet incredibly dense crystalline lattice-like sheen upon contact with the simulated attack!
"Bang bang bang bang — !"
Dense impact sounds were like rain hitting banana leaves, but the anticipated scene of sand particles being easily scattered and his body riddled with holes did not appear.
All the sand particles carrying immense kinetic energy struck the crystallized sand shield, emitting a crisp sound similar to metal clashing!
Most of the sand particles were directly repelled, and the few that managed to embed themselves in the surface were instantly enveloped and assimilated by the flowing sand particles, which in turn reinforced the defensive layer.
Energy shockwaves followed one after another, attempting to disintegrate the structure of the sand particles from within.
However, that crystallized structure displayed astonishing energy conductivity and dispersion capabilities; the shockwaves were like water encountering a porous reef, rapidly dispersed and absorbed, failing to cause any effective impact on Flint's core.
The sandstorm lasted for a full ten minutes.
When the wind and waves subsided and the virtual environment reset, Flint still stood steadily in place.
The sand dust around him slowly calmed, and the crystalline lattice sheen quietly faded.
He raised his hand, looking at a small pinch of sand particles in his palm that, under his control, had taken on a regular polyhedral shape and reflected tiny star-like glints under the light, and a smile of accomplishment, slightly earnest, appeared on his face.
"[Advanced Training 'Crystallization Defense' completed.
Energy consumption: 17%.
Defense efficiency increase: approximately 380%.
Stability assessment: Good.]" The system provided cold assessment data.
But behind this data lay a qualitative leap.
From loose to condensed, from easily scattered to being able to withstand high-intensity physical and energy impacts, Flint's defensive capabilities were now incomparable.
This was just the beginning.
The next training module was "Crystallization Attack — Sand Crystal Pierce."
The virtual targets in the distance simulated different levels of defense with special force fields, ranging from concrete walls to composite armor.
Flint's gaze sharpened, and he swung his arm.
No longer a sky-filling sandstorm, but dozens of sand spears, solidified as if corporeal, with their tips gleaming with crystal light, shot out like bolts from a ballista, accompanied by piercing shrieks, accurately blasting towards the targets!
"Boom! Whoosh — !"
The concrete target was instantly pierced through, leaving smooth-edged holes.
Although the composite armor target was not completely penetrated, deep indentations were formed upon impact, and its surface was covered with radial cracks.
The crystallized sand spears did not completely disperse after impact; instead, they embedded themselves within the armor like diamond shards, continuously causing structural damage.
"Attack penetration increased: 215%.
Energy concentration: Excellent." The system's evaluation remained concise.
After the training, Flint did not leave immediately.
He went to the Hero Association's Equipment Research Department's custom workshop and found Leo Fitz scratching his head over a pile of strange parts.
"Hey, Flint! Perfect timing!" Fitz's eyes lit up when he saw him, and he picked up a uniquely shaped metal armlet, resembling countless tiny hourglasses.
"Try this!
It's a 'Sand Core Resonance Stabilizer' designed based on your ability data and those 'Crystallization' parameters!
Theoretically, it can help you complete sand particle form transformations faster, reduce energy loss, and should provide good stability enhancement, especially in underwater or extreme temperature environments!"
Flint took the armlet; it was cool to the touch, yet he could faintly feel a subtle energy field within it that resonated with his own sand core.
He didn't say much, only nodded solemnly: "Thank you, Mr. Fitz."
"Don't mention it! The stronger you are, the more credit our Equipment Research Department gets!" Fitz chuckled, then buried himself back in his pile of parts.
This was the strength of the Hero Association.
It was not just the knowledge provided by the system, but also the comprehensive support and enhancement provided by the entire logistics system, centered around its core heroes.
A few days later, a real test arrived.
A sudden tiger-level monster, an "Acidic Mud Monster," was born in the ruins of a chemical plant in the New York port area.
Its spewed strong acid mucus could quickly corrode metal and concrete, and its body possessed extremely strong physical resistance and regenerative capabilities.
The energy barrier constructed by Iron Wall, who arrived first at the scene, sizzled under the acid corrosion, its light rapidly dimming.
Swift Shadow's speed was also greatly reduced within the viscous acid domain.
Conventional firepower attacks had little effect.
Just as the situation was precarious, Flint arrived.
He did not rush into the acid domain rashly, but stood at a safe distance, his arms outstretched.
A large amount of sand gathered from under his feet and from the surrounding environment, forming a constantly thickening and reinforcing sand wall in front of him.
When the mud monster once again spewed a huge torrent of acid, a sharp gleam flashed in Flint's eyes.
"Crystallization · Barrier!"
The side of the sand wall facing the acid instantly became covered with a thick, hardened layer shimmering with countless tiny crystals!
"Hiss — !"
The acid, capable of melting steel, struck the crystallized sand wall, emitting a teeth-grinding corrosive sound, and white mist billowed.
However, the anticipated rapid melting did not occur.
The crystallized layer, at the cost of its own slow consumption, stubbornly resisted the acid's erosion, buying precious breathing and evacuation time for Iron Wall and Swift Shadow behind it.
Immediately after, Flint manipulated the sand particles, forming dozens of huge, crystal-tipped sand tentacles that, like giant drills, fiercely stabbed into the mud monster's massive body from different directions!
This time, the sand particles were no longer loosely enveloping; instead, in their sharp, crystallized form, they forcibly broke through the mud monster's surface resistance layer, penetrated deep inside, and then... violently churned!
The mud monster let out a painful hiss, like bubbling mud, its body violently twisting, and its regeneration speed noticeably slowed.
"Now!" Flint roared.
Iron Wall and Swift Shadow seized the opportunity; one fully reinforced the containment, while the other, at maximum speed, injected a special solidifying agent into the wounds torn open by the sand tentacles.
The battle ended ten minutes later.
The Acidic Mud Monster was successfully solidified and contained.
The scene was a mess, but the Hero Association heroes suffered zero casualties.
Logistics Department troops quickly entered the scene to begin processing the acid-contaminated area.
Iron Wall walked up to Flint and clapped him heartily on the shoulder (though there was no real sensation when patting his sand-transformed body), sincerely praising him: "Brother, you're truly a mobile fortress and a battering ram now!"
Flint just smiled, looking at his hand, which had returned to its original state, feeling the sand power within him that was even more obedient and powerful.
On the top floor of Fisk Tower, Kingpin watched the entire battle through surveillance.
He pulled up Flint's ability evaluation report, and the data had been updated:
"[Hero: Sandman (Flint Marko)]"
"[Rank: S]"
"[Ability Assessment: Sand Particle Control (Sub-trait awakened: Local Crystallization)]"
"[Defense Rating: S]"
"[Attack Rating: A+ (Approaching S-)]"
"[Growth Potential: High]"
"[Loyalty: MAX]"
"[System Prompt: Core Hero 'Sandman' has completed phased strengthening, combat power significantly increased, now capable of independent action and serving as a core pillar of a team.
Recommended deployment as a core combat force for high-level (ghost-level and above) threats.]"
Kingpin closed the report, his gaze once again falling upon the increasingly dense light points on the global anomaly map.
Sandman's growth was clear evidence of the success of the Hero Association's systematic training model.
In the coming storm, which might sweep across the globe, every powerful combat force was an indispensable cornerstone for maintaining order.
Flint Marko, this father who once struggled for his daughter's medical expenses, had now become the most steadfast S-Rank pillar of the Hero Association, silently supporting the sky that was still temporarily guarded by the Hero Association.