The sun was like a gigantic reactor, running hydrogen-to-helium fusion every moment of every day. Endless waves of heat poured outward from its core—power that could nurture everything, and also destroy everything.
On the sun's surface, a man in a white skintight suit was taking a "shower" while holding an "anatomical skeleton model" in his hands.
"The sun's surface is over 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit and it still can't burn you to death?"
That man in the white skintight suit was the hero of justice—Freeman Jovian. Right now, he was calmly waiting for the skeleton in his hands to finally die.
But to Jovian's surprise, that skeleton was still hanging on, stubbornly resisting the sun's scorching heat. Regeneration and destruction—two opposing forces—were grinding against each other, tempering the skeleton in Jovian's grip.
"Then let's crank it up!"
After realizing the sun's surface still wasn't enough to kill the undying monster Zombieman, Jovian grabbed Zombieman by the throat and dove straight into the sun's core!
There…
Was a death zone reaching fifteen million degrees. No living thing could enter the sun's core unscathed—Jovian included!
Even Jovian's skin was continuously melting under that endless inferno, but compared to him, the undying monster in his hand was doing far worse…
At fifteen million degrees, Zombieman's recovery finally couldn't keep up. His bones began to melt bit by bit!
"Farewell, undying monster—Zombieman!"
Jovian didn't stop until every last cell of Zombieman was erased and the system notification chimed inside his mind. Even then, Jovian still didn't leave the sun's core…
He crossed his legs and floated there, repeatedly experiencing near-death, rebirth, near-death, rebirth…
Again and again, squeezing the one-eyed alien gene in his cells until it triggered—each brush with death forcing his power higher!
That continued for a full two weeks…
When Jovian opened his eyes again, the power inside him had undergone a complete transformation.
Energy Level: Strong Exploding Star (Quasi-Star)
Jovian shot out of the sun's core. The charred flesh on his body instantly began to regenerate under Zombieman's power. By the time he fully cleared the sun's surface, his body had already healed completely.
"The sun's boost has hit its limit for me!"
Jovian looked down at his naked body and frowned.
"Time to go back and get a brand-new suit!"
With that thought, he became a beam of light and flew toward Earth.
During the two weeks Jovian was gone, the Hero Association had fallen into chaos…
"S-Class hero Zombieman and S-Class hero Jovian—have you still not found them?"
"Half a month! Two S-Class heroes vanish for no reason in half a month, and you idiots still have nothing to show for it?!"
A white-haired Hero Association executive with a big nose was raging at everyone in the room.
"Mr. Sitch, you can't blame us! We've done everything we can, but we just can't find them!"
One of the scolded executives protested helplessly.
"Useless! If it were that easy to find them, why would I need you?!"
Sitch was speechless at his subordinates' incompetence. "Can't find them" was always the excuse—like two top heroes could just disappear off the face of Earth!
"But—"
The executives wore nothing but frustration.
"What are you all yelling about?"
Right as the executives were at a loss, a sharp, slightly vicious voice—oddly youthful, like a kid's—rang directly inside their minds.
"Tatsumaki!"
A group of executives looked up at the petite woman who dropped in from above, their eyes full of resignation.
This pint-sized powerhouse was the current S-Class Rank 2 hero, Tatsumaki—the Tornado of Terror. She was the Hero Association's ace. Unfortunately, she was also the type who did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Unless it was an emergency, the Association couldn't command her at all.
"Our Hero Association has two S-Class heroes we can't reach for unknown reasons…"
Sitch forced the words out.
"You managed to lose two S-Class heroes? You people are unbelievable."
"Whatever. I've been bored lately. I'll help you look."
Tatsumaki crossed her arms and spoke with pure arrogance.
In their minds, the executives couldn't help muttering, You're bored because you literally never do anything.
"Hmph."
"What's with that look?"
Tatsumaki narrowed her eyes at them.
"Uh…"
"Here are the files on the two heroes. Please take a look!"
Knowing better than to provoke her, the executives immediately handed over the profiles on Jovian and Zombieman.
"This is…"
Tatsumaki stared at Jovian's photo—those eyes that seemed to sneer at everything—and frowned. She didn't know why, but the instant she saw him, she felt annoyed. Maybe because she sensed a hint of the same kind of presence in his gaze—opposites attract, but the same type clashes.
Elsewhere…
Naked and very obviously aroused, Jovian had already arrived at Dr. Genus's base.
"Long time no—holy shit…"
"What happened to you?"
"Don't tell me you were out at the grocery store and a god-level monster showed up to start a zero-dollar shopping spree?"
Dr. Genus stared at the nude Jovian. With his 250 IQ brain, he had arrived at what he considered the most reasonable explanation.
"I went to the sun and took a shower."
Jovian answered bluntly.
"A shower… on the sun?!"
Dr. Genus was stunned. So this was what the truly strong did—bathe on the sun. He'd learned something new, and also learned exactly why trying it would get him killed.
"Make me a brand-new combat suit. Only one requirement: it needs to be identical to my previous suit."
Jovian stated his request.
"Easy."
Dr. Genus gave a small nod. His fingers flew across the keyboard, and in under a minute, a 3D model of a suit appeared on his screen—identical to Jovian's old one.
"Well?"
Dr. Genus turned around and asked.
"Hmm…"
"Make the gloves red this time."
After thinking it over, Jovian said.
"Got it."
With a few clicks, Dr. Genus changed the gloves' color instantly.
"How about now?"
Dr. Genus asked again.
"That's the one."
Jovian nodded lightly at the finalized design.
"Done."
Dr. Genus hit Enter.
A minute later, a small worker droid delivered a flawless combat suit…
"Praise the power of technology!"
Jovian took the suit Dr. Genus had made for him and put it on.
"Jovian, that liquid you gave me is insane. It solved problems I never even dared to imagine—but it still needs a little tuning. The complete product will be ready in a week at the earliest."
Dr. Genus spoke while Jovian was getting dressed.
"I trust you. Show me the results in a week."
Jovian waved him off. He wasn't interested in the process—only the outcome.
"Straight to the point. I like it."
With Jovian's answer, Dr. Genus finally relaxed and returned to his work.
"Mhm."
Jovian patted Dr. Genus on the shoulder. After changing, he didn't intend to keep bothering him, and he left the House of Evolution's hidden base directly.
"Where to now? Where do I go to find members of the Monster Association?"
After leaving the House of Evolution, Jovian started thinking about where he should search for the Monster Association.
"Hey! You little punk—ignoring the Hero Association for days like this… are you trying to start a rebellion?"
Just as Jovian was about to continue his hunt, a sharp female voice reached his ears.
"Little punk?"
Jovian raised his head and looked up at the sky.
A girl in a long green dress with a hair bun that looked like octopus tentacles was staring down at him from high above.
"What are you even talking about, you octopus-head brat?"
"Stop getting in the way of grown-up work. Go play in the dirt."
Jovian recognized who it was, but he still mocked her with a blank face.
"…"
"Good. You've pissed me off."
The green-haired girl's expression turned cold, like a volcano about to erupt, forcing down her rage as she stared at Jovian.
"Brats who don't listen need a spanking."
Jovian rolled his shoulders and flexed his fingers, testing his grip—like a parent about to teach a misbehaving kid a lesson the hard way, so she'd remember what consequences felt like.
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