"Silver Fang… what an unexpected lead," Psykos murmured, a thin smile forming on her lips. Beside her, Gyoro Gyoro hovered silently, its six tentacles swaying in restless motion.
"Still, speculation is not proof."
She rose from her seat and walked deeper into the laboratory. If Silver Fang truly was the armored monster, she needed certainty before making a move.
Through Gyoro Gyoro, she issued an order to the Monster Association.
"Phoenix Man is to monitor the area around Silver Fang's dojo. Observe only. Do not engage."
Her voice echoed through the underground chambers.
"Understood, Lord Gyoro Gyoro," Phoenix Man replied without hesitation.
Satisfied, Psykos returned her attention to the database. The life and history of the S-Class hero Silver Fang, Bang, unfolded across the screen in meticulous detail.
"If it really is Silver Fang," she murmured, tapping her fingers lightly against the desk, "what are the chances he would defect?"
A small detail caught her attention.
Six months ago, Bang's top disciple, Garou, had turned on the dojo, defeating every student before disappearing. According to Sourface, the martial arts tournament associated with the dojo was held twice a year, and Garou had been the twenty-first champion before his fall.
Now only two disciples remained.
One of them was Sol Mirek, who had joined the dojo recently.
Psykos narrowed her eyes.
Why would Garou betray his master so suddenly? If Bang had truly become a monster, perhaps Garou discovered something he was not meant to know.
"All the inconsistencies converge here," Psykos whispered. The pieces aligned too cleanly to ignore.
In her mind, the conclusion felt inevitable.
Silver Fang was the armored monster.
Sol Mirek returned to his rented apartment.
He peeled off his clothes and tossed them carelessly onto the sofa before stepping into the bathroom. Hot water streamed over his body, easing the tension from his muscles.
"Not bad for one night," he muttered, studying his reflection in the mirror afterward.
The Asura Mode progress had reached twenty-one percent. Steel Armor and Asura Mode combined gave him a dense, coiled strength beneath the surface, restrained but ready.
He dried himself, changed into clean pajamas, and fell onto the bed. Tomorrow would require careful acting. Investigations, after all, demanded effort.
Sunlight filtered through the curtains the next morning.
Sol squinted at the brightness and checked the time on his phone. 9:30 AM.
"I overslept."
He stretched, joints cracking softly, and felt the familiar surge of power running through his limbs. Every movement carried weight and control.
After washing up, he retrieved the small notebook Bang had given him.
The yellowed pages were filled with the principles of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. Each line reflected discipline and refinement.
When he turned to the final page, he paused.
It was not Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
Instead, it detailed a far more aggressive technique.
Exploding Heart Release Fist.
Sol traced the handwriting slowly. Unlike the flowing redirection of Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, this technique focused on overwhelming force, condensing power into a single devastating release.
The core principle described concentrating strength at one point and unleashing it in a violent burst.
He closed the notebook, thoughtful.
This technique complemented Asura Mode perfectly. Even a brief reading had sparked new ideas in his mind.
Why had Bang left only one page?
A test.
Sol smiled faintly.
Bang was not handing him a finished weapon. He was challenging him to create his own.
"Senpai really knows how to push a student," Sol muttered, amused.
He stored the notebook carefully. Work came first.
Sol contacted the Hero Association.
"Good morning, Mr. Sol Mirek. Any updates?" the operator asked.
"I'll patrol Z-City today. If the armored monster appears, I can respond immediately."
"Do you require a partner?"
"Not necessary. I prefer moving alone."
With his current status, coordinating S-Class heroes would be complicated. An A-Class or B-Class partner would only complicate matters further.
He stepped into the hallway and nearly walked into Genos, who was hanging laundry neatly along the railing.
"Good morning, Senpai," Genos said, bowing slightly.
"Morning, Genos. Training already?"
"Yes. A hero must remain prepared at all times."
Sol studied him for a moment, then smiled lightly. "I'm patrolling Z-City. Want to join me?"
Genos' eyes brightened. "It would be an honor."
They walked through the city side by side. Despite Tanktop Master's encounter the previous night, daily life continued as if nothing had happened.
The Association had chosen silence.
Sol kept his hands in his pockets. "Did you hear about last night? A Dragon-level monster attacked an S-Class hero here in Z-City."
Genos' expression sharpened. "I was in charging mode and received no alert. Which hero?"
Sol gestured toward the damaged gym in the distance. "Tanktop Master. An armored monster, black and red."
Genos accessed his internal database instantly.
"No record exists. This appears to be a newly emerged Dragon-level threat."
Sol nodded. "Exactly. So avoid patrolling alone at night for now. Let us handle it."
He placed a hand on Genos' shoulder, his tone casual but firm.
He did not want Genos interfering when he transformed again. A clash between them would be inconvenient, and Sol had no interest in crushing someone who still believed in justice so stubbornly.
Genos gave a determined nod. "Understood, Senpai."