In the heart of the mountains, amidst a lush and verdant forest, stood an old building covered in tracks of creeping moss.
"This is it, the House of Evolution base."
Hidden within the dense thickets nearby, eight heroes from Class A were concealed, observing the state of the facility. Behind them stood their two instructors: Aomori and Superalloy Darkshine.
After three days of preparation, they were itching to bring the House of Evolution down.
"Everyone clear on the operation plan? Do I need to repeat it?" Zombieman asked, noting the excited looks on his companions' faces.
"No need, no need! Let's just get started. I'm tired of waiting," Suiryu said, cracking his knuckles. Tanktop Master and the others shook their heads in agreement.
"Very well." Zombieman checked his watch. "It is exactly 8:00 AM. Commencing operation now!"
As the seconds ticked by, everyone kept their eyes glued to their watches. The moment it struck 8:00, before Zombieman could even speak, Suiryu and Zeburou, each wearing a small backpack, bolted forward like arrows released from a bow.
They crossed the two hundred meters in a flash. Reaching the main gates without slowing down, they unleashed their signature moves in succession.
"Void Shaking Tiger Fist!"
"Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist!"
The steel gates instantly shattered into pieces, and alarms began to blare incessantly. The two shared a glance and walked straight inside. Spotting a surveillance camera above the entrance, Suiryu gave it a friendly middle finger.
"What happened?" Dr. Genus asked from within the base, hearing the alarms.
"Two intruders! They are pushing deep into the facility." Strangely, the person answering looked identical to Dr. Genus, though their attire differed.
The former wore a black shirt, while the latter wore a numbered lab coat. In fact, there were many of them. The man in the black shirt was the true Dr. Genus; the others were merely his clones.
A genius since childhood, Genus felt he was surrounded by "inferior humans" incapable of equal communication. Thus, he sought to create a world populated only by "New Humans" like himself. At seventy, after decades of solitary toil, he developed a rejuvenation technology, successfully restoring his youth (a feat King Piccolo would surely applaud).
He then used his own cells to create hundreds of clones. Somehow, these clones were incapable of defying his orders; they would die for him if commanded. It was a true "self-made" fortune. With these tireless assistants, Dr. Genus's New Human Project officially commenced, leading to the establishment of the House of Evolution.
"Only two? Are they looking for a death wish?" Dr. Genus smiled disdainfully. "Send Beast King and Armored Gorilla to deal with them. Clean this up quickly; I'm about to have breakfast and don't want to lose my appetite."
"Understood!" Clone No. 9527 took the order and switched channels. "Beast King, Armored Gorilla, deploy. Terminate the intruders!"
"Wait, capture them alive," Dr. Genus added, changing his mind after seeing the intruders' impressive performance on the monitors. "It's rare to have such high-quality experimental materials delivered to our door."
"Beast King, Armored Gorilla, do you copy? Capture them alive."
"Huh? Sorry, but you know I can't always hold back. If I don't rip them into a hundred pieces, I won't be satisfied," a savage voice growled.
"I... will... try," a mechanical voice replied.
The transmission cut off. No. 9527 grumbled, "That Beast King is becoming more lawless by the day."
"It's fine. Let him be. He is, after all, the second-ranked combatant in the House of Evolution. I'll grant him some leeway."
As he spoke, Genus felt a slight vibration. Simultaneously, every monitor in the room went black. Lightbulbs exploded in sequence, showering the floor with glass shards.
"What's going on? An EMP bomb?" Genus frowned. "It seems they came prepared. No matter. Beast King is more than enough to handle them."
His expression suddenly shifted to one of sheer terror. "Wait! All power supply has been cut... which means the restraints on that guy have failed. That... that monster is going to break free!"
…
Meanwhile.
Having successfully entered the House of Evolution, the two, Suiryu and Zeburou, navigated through traps in the walls and floors with rapid precision. Along the way, they pulled small boxes from their backpacks and slapped them onto the walls.
"Stairs going up here."
"Good. We'll come back for those in a bit."
After pushing forward a short distance, they doubled back to the stairs and ascended to the second floor. The layout was similar to the first, a long corridor, but with many more rooms lining the sides.
"Hehe, let's see the power of the bombs made by that 'Little Director' guy," Suiryu said, pulling out a remote and pressing it without hesitation. He shouted, "Art is an explosion!"
The bombs on the walls detonated. A powerful electromagnetic pulse rippled through the facility instantly. Electronic components everywhere sizzled and died.
"Wait, the explosion was that small?" Suiryu asked, looking confused.
Zeburou looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Didn't you listen to the briefing? These are EMP bombs. They are designed to target electrical systems."
Besides, if they were traditional high explosives, would they really be standing just one floor above the blast site?
"Well, whatever. Mission accomplished, I guess."
"Probably."
These devices were reportedly "boredom projects" created by Child Emperor, the Director of the Hero Association's R&D Department. Individually they were weak, but dozens used in tandem were enough to paralyze the base's power, communications, and computer systems, both above and below ground.
"Does that mean we can do whatever we want now?" Suiryu flicked his long hair, a mischievous smirk on his face.
"Should be. Though it looks like the hosts don't want us wandering around," Zeburou noted, turning toward a door at the end of the corridor.
A massive silhouette appeared, its head nearly touching the ceiling. In the darkness, its glowing green eyes were unmistakable.
"Only one? Not enough to go around, is it?"
"No, there are several others on the other side. It seems we're surrounded."
"Hahaha! Leave the big guy to me."
"Suit yourself."
…
Outside the base, Zombieman and the others waited anxiously for the signal. Suddenly, Drive Knight's body twitched. "The EMP bombs have been detonated."
"Excellent. Everyone, move out!"
Tanktop Master and the others stepped out from cover, rushing toward the shattered entrance. Zombieman looked at Drive Knight. "How are you? Can you still move?"
"I can. I was far enough away that the interference was minimal. However, do not count on me as a primary combatant for now."
"Then stay outside and guard the perimeter. Make sure no one escapes."
"Understood."
Zombieman wasted no more words, sprinting to join the vanguard. Behind them, Aomori and Darkshine followed the group. As Aomori passed Drive Knight, he flashed the cyborg a wide, knowing grin.
"..." Drive Knight offered no reaction.
As the main force entered the base, Zombieman commanded, "Fan out! Find the entrance to the underground facility."
As a man who knew Dr. Genus intimately, Zombieman was certain the surface building was merely a decoy. The true House of Evolution had always been hidden underground.
The heroes dispersed to search. Aomori activated his Mind's Eye. Unsurprisingly, he located the entrance immediately, but he also spotted a beetle-like monster. To his surprise, the monster seemed to sense the gaze of the Mind's Eye and looked up to stare back.
Carnage Kabuto?
As expected of the first monster to sense Saitama's true strength, its "insect instinct" was terrifyingly sharp. If it were drawn to the surface by Aomori's gaze, it might accidentally do Zombieman's team a huge favor by clearing a path.
Fortunately, Zombieman and his crew were efficient. They found the entrance before Carnage Kabuto could arrive.
"Good! Let's get in there. Before they realize we're here, we'll push through and arrest Dr. Genus!"
"Right!"
Actually, they probably already know. But it doesn't matter; I won't tell them. On the second floor... is Suiryu going to face Beast King alone?
Beast King had received a treatment few Dragon-level monsters ever did. He was ended by Saitama's Consecutive Normal Punches. Considering the Great Orochi was taken out by a single Normal Punch, this suggested Beast King was no pushover.
I hope Suiryu stays safe.
Offering a silent prayer, Aomori, the ever-diligent instructor, maintained his professional facade, pretending to know nothing as he followed the group into the subterranean base.
…
On the second floor, Suiryu faced the House of Evolution's second-in-command: Beast King.
In the faint light filtering through the windows, the man and the beast appraised one another. Beast King was a bipedal, humanoid lion, bearing some resemblance to Leomon but with a much more ferocious and terrifying visage. He wore a black sweater, a leopard-skin loincloth, and a belt with a lion-head buckle. Like Suiryu, he wore heavy metal bracers on his biceps.
"So, you're the intruder? You look pathetically weak."
"Don't think being big makes you special. Lions belong in cages. I killed three big guys like you just last week." Suiryu was no amateur in trash talk; as a man who flirted with ten girls a day, he could out-argue a hundred lions.
"Heh... it seems you don't know the extent of my power. I am Beast King, the second-ranked genetically modified human in the House of Evolution!" His long mane billowed without wind like a demon's tentacles. As a top-tier predator, his fierce aura radiated outward, causing lesser creatures like Frog Man and Slurg to tremble in silence.
"Interesting... now this is interesting!" Sensing a formidable opponent, Suiryu felt a thrill unlike any before. This kind of evenly matched fight was exactly what he craved. "Remember my name: the man who defeats you is Suiryu, and I am a Hero."
"A Hero? Defeat me? Don't make me laugh! Witness the power of the Beast King!" Beast King extended ten long, razor-sharp claws and swung them violently. The claws tore through the air, creating crisscrossing blades of kinetic energy.
"Lion Slash!"
Suiryu's pupils dilated. Recognizing the lethality of the strike, he didn't dare block. He flipped backward, narrowly dodging the attack. The wall behind him was sliced through, leaving gaps through which the outside scenery was visible.
That one strike cut through the whole building? A direct hit wouldn't just mean a week in the hospital.
A few strands of black hair drifted through the air. Touching the back of his head, Suiryu realized he hadn't dodged completely; if he had been a fraction slower, his head would have been severed. A wave of fear washed over him, and he instinctively compared Beast King to Garou. He realized that compared to the despair he felt then, this fear was insignificant.
I'm not the person I was then. This time, I'm going to win!
"Why the long face? Scared by my Lion Slash?" Beast King laughed at the sky. "What a joke of a hero. You're just all show."
"I used to think being a hero was a child's game too. But now, I am a Hero. I'll make you take those words back."
"Oh? You still have confidence after seeing my Lion Slash?"
"You are indeed strong. So, for what comes next, I'm going to use my strongest form." Suiryu set down his backpack and pulled out a small white ceramic jar. He popped the cork, and a mellow, pungent aroma wafted to Beast King's nose.
"Is that... alcohol?"
"Yep. High-proof white liquor." Suiryu tilted the jar back and chugged the entire contents in one go.
"Burp." As he set the jar down, Suiryu's face was already flushed red. His body swayed slightly, and he let out a drunken hiccup.
"Hahaha! Do you want to be drunk when you die?"
"The one dying is you." Suiryu smashed the jar on the floor and dropped into a strange, swaying stance. "Drunken Fist Suiryu. Let's begin!"
"Drunken Fist? What kind of nonsense is that?!" Beast King's patience snapped. "I'm done playing. Turn into a pile of minced meat! Lion Slash!"
Beast King swung his claws again, sending multiple shockwaves toward the swaying Suiryu. This time, Suiryu dodged with an impossible, staggering movement, his body twisting in a way that defied logic.
"Tch! Lucky break. I'll shred you next time!"
Beast King closed the distance, unleashing a barrage of Lion Slashes. The surrounding architecture was torn to ribbons, yet Suiryu constantly slipped through the gaps of his fingers.
"Impossible!"
Sensing a slight hesitation in Beast King's movement, Suiryu seized the opening. He lunged forward, rolling through the space between the beast's legs to reach his back. His muscles bulged, his arm bracers shattered, and his shirt exploded as he unleashed an all-out combo.
"Drunken Fist: Void Shaking Tiger Fist!"
"Drunken Fist: Void Ascending Phoenix Fist!"
"Drunken Fist: Void Sky Dragon Fist!"
A three-punch combo, each strike heavier than the last. Beast King was sent flying, crashing through several walls until he was blasted right out of the building.
Despite his reinforced biology, taking three full-strength hits caused severe internal damage. Beast King vomited a large amount of blood uncontrollably. Suiryu didn't let up; he leapt from the building, descending like a meteor with a devastating stomp.
BOOM!
As the dust settled, Suiryu stood in a deep crater, while Beast King lay crumpled a distance away.
"He dodged it?" Suiryu panted. High-intensity movement was causing his blood to flow rapidly, and the alcohol was being metabolized quickly. Drunken Fist was a secret technique created by his master, Suicho, which used alcohol to unlock one's latent potential. If he fell out of the drunken state, he feared he couldn't beat the Great Lion.
He jumped out of the crater and began to slowly accumulate power. The next strike will be the last.
Coincidentally, Beast King had the same thought. Being heavily wounded by a human felt like a stain on his pride that could only be washed away with blood.
"Suiryu, was it? I admit you're a strong human. Now, witness my full power! HAAAH!"
The power hidden within his body was fully released. Beast King's physique swelled in size, his clothes shredded completely, and his mane stood on end. He stared at Suiryu with eyes devoid of emotion.
As Suiryu's heart hammered in his chest, Beast King's figure suddenly vanished. A second later, he appeared directly in front of Suiryu. His claws blurred into an invisible frenzy, and the space around them seemed to tear as air blades rained down like a meteor shower.
"Lion Slash: Meteor Shower!"
Facing the overwhelming, lethal barrage, Suiryu gritted his teeth. The ground beneath him shattered as he released his long-held power.
"Drunken Fist: Stunning the World!"
RUMBLE!
The air blades tore through the ground toward the base, causing the massive building to fracture and collapse into ruins.
"That's just ridiculous." Zeburou had seen the danger early and escaped the building just in time, carrying a captive Frog Man. Following the path of the shockwaves, he found the lifeless Beast King and a blood-stained, exhausted Suiryu.
"You're strong." Zeburou's opinion of the usually lazy Suiryu had completely changed.
"Heh... of course. And that guy? He shouldn't be dead yet." Suiryu was merely drained. For that last hit, he used the "Stunning the World" technique from the Hero Three Powers taught by Bang to boost his speed, bypass the terrifying attack, and land a final blow with all his might.
Although Beast King had coughed up a lot of blood, Suiryu assumed such a creature's vitality wouldn't fail so easily.
"No," Zeburou said. "He's dead."
"Eh? Am I really that strong?" Suiryu looked at his own fist, finding it hard to believe. "Well... whatever. Dead is dead."
They didn't notice that the shadow of a nearby tree flickered for a moment.