"I…"
Dr. Genus's body trembled uncontrollably. His heart felt ice-cold. His greatest masterpiece had been beaten with a single punch?! That was… beyond ridiculous. It was unbelievable.
"I hope you can understand why I'm doing this. Otherwise…"
The white-clad brute sighed helplessly. At the same time, he clenched his fist—saying nothing, and yet saying everything.
"I agr—"
Genus let out a bitter laugh. He was confused. If this man had such overwhelmingly crushing combat power, why would he even need help from a mere mortal like him? Genus didn't think he had anything to offer.
Bzzzz…
Right before Genus could finish, the half-shattered remains on the ground—Carnage Kabuto—twitched.
"Hm?"
The white-clad brute's ear flicked as he looked toward the wreckage.
Boom!
With a violent burst of wind, Carnage Kabuto—limbs regenerated—turned into a gust and fled to the farthest corner from the white-clad brute.
"Didn't… kill him?" the white-clad brute muttered, a little troubled as he watched Carnage Kabuto survive.
From that alone, he could tell he still had a big gap compared to a certain bald guy.
"Of course my masterpiece couldn't die that easily!"
Seeing Carnage Kabuto still alive, Genus's miserable expression finally cracked into the faintest smile.
"You bastard…"
"You almost killed me just now!"
As Genus was quietly celebrating, Carnage Kabuto shouted, shaken to the core.
"If it weren't for my insect instincts—if I hadn't foreseen the future and chosen to run in advance—I really would've died!"
Carnage Kabuto pressed a hand to his chest, still rattled.
"So you dodged it?" The white-clad brute gave Carnage Kabuto a new look.
Being able to avoid that punch despite the massive difference between them—Carnage Kabuto had some skill.
"I didn't dodge it!"
Carnage Kabuto's face twisted, purple turning sickly as he spoke.
"The problem is, even after I foresaw my death, I still couldn't avoid it!"
"I just shifted my vital organs right before your hit landed—so I barely survived!"
"Bastard! Tell me—why are you this strong?!"
Carnage Kabuto stared at the white-clad brute, unable to comprehend it.
Boom!
Before the question could even settle, the white-clad brute was already in front of him. In the next second, Carnage Kabuto's vision filled with a sky of afterimage fists.
"Asura Mode!"
Facing that endless barrage, Carnage Kabuto instantly changed forms and entered absolute slaughter mode—an overclocked state that squeezed his cells dry and boosted every stat at once.
But it wasn't without a cost.
Once he entered Asura Mode, he would keep pouring out power nonstop for a full week—until he burned himself empty.
Splat!
And then Carnage Kabuto exploded into a storm of green sludge, spraying through the air.
Under the white-clad brute's hundred-punch rush, even Asura Mode left nothing behind—not a single scrap.
"Ah…"
Genus—now covered in splatter—couldn't force out a single word.
"Even Asura Mode…"
His body shook. In his eyes, the white-clad man standing in front of him wasn't human at all.
He was a true god walking the world.
"High-grade genes detected…"
Standing over the puddle, the white-clad brute heard the system's prompt in his ear.
"If I absorb Carnage Kabuto's cells, I should gain two abilities—crisis precognition, and a cell energy release state like Asura Mode. But Asura Mode's weakness is way too obvious…"
He thought quickly.
"System can optimize cellular processing. Asura Mode will become a controllable cell-energy release mode."
The system delivered its answer.
"Good. Absorb the cellular abilities."
Hearing that the system could refine the genes, Jovian agreed to record Carnage Kabuto's genetics.
Even if this cell-energy release method would eventually be replaced once he obtained Boros's version, he could use it for now.
And who knew—maybe it would give him a pleasant surprise when he fought Boros.
Boom!
The instant Jovian absorbed the optimized genes, his senses sharpened dramatically.
Now, with a single glance at an enemy, he could roughly feel the gap between their strength and his.
And whenever danger approached, his body would react instinctively.
Yes—compared to the energy-release mode, Carnage Kabuto's insect instincts were the ability Jovian wanted most.
"I agree to work with you!"
Genus stepped up to Jovian. Now he was completely convinced—mind and soul.
"Mm."
Jovian nodded lightly.
"Then let's swap contact info. Also, I've got something I want you to study for me."
Jovian pulled out his phone.
"Oh—sure!"
Seeing Jovian casually produce a phone, Genus immediately fished his own out of his pocket.
The two added each other.
"Um… please allow me to ask something."
Genus couldn't hold back his curiosity.
"Hm?"
"Go ahead."
Jovian raised an eyebrow. He didn't know what Genus wanted to ask, but if they were partners, he could tolerate a question.
"Please tell me… why are you so powerful?"
Genus asked the same thing Carnage Kabuto had asked—also the question gnawing at his own mind.
"Born that way."
Jovian answered without even thinking.
"Born that way?!"
Genus's eyes widened.
"Yep."
Jovian spoke plainly, with no intention of hiding anything.
"Anything else?"
"If not, I'm leaving."
"Oh, and the gorilla outside—if you repair him, he should still be usable."
"As for this base, you'd better relocate. The Hero Association has probably already pinned down this location. If you don't abandon it, sooner or later—probably pretty soon—new heroes will come to wipe you out."
"I don't care, but dealing with them is always annoying."
Jovian gave Genus a calm warning.
"I know. Once I build a new base, I'll let you know."
Genus—standing there in a daze—licked his dry lips and nodded.
"Good. When the new base is ready, I'll hand you something. I need you to improve it for me."
After getting Genus's agreement, Jovian slowly floated up—then smashed through the ceiling, opening yet another hole in an already ruined facility.
"…"
Genus stared up at the two holes above, a bitter expression hanging on his face.
As for Jovian—he was in a good mood.
He was going to build the strongest organization of scientists across the multiverse, and have them help him forge the ultimate Viltrumite army.
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