Sol withdrew his pressure, and the creature lurking in the underground chamber finally caught its breath, gasping heavily. Inside the mascot suit, Phoenix Man was already drenched in cold sweat. He forced a strained smile.
"Mr. Sol truly lives up to his reputation. Gyoro Gyoro is already waiting for you."
"Lead the way," Sol replied, his tone indifferent.
They moved through a maze of winding tunnels before arriving at a vast underground cavern. At its center lounged a bizarre monster with stubby limbs, a bloated body, and a massive single eyeball for a head, resting lazily on a beanbag.
The giant eye rotated and locked onto Sol. Its limbs twitched faintly, caught between unease and curiosity.
"Mr. Sol, welcome to the Monster Association," Gyoro Gyoro said, its voice carrying a trace of intrigue.
Sol stood with his hands in his pockets, calmly scanning the surroundings. "I am not here to join."
Phoenix Man stiffened, instantly dropping into a combat stance. "What? Then why are you here?"
"I am here to cooperate." Sol's gaze settled on Gyoro Gyoro. "On equal terms."
Silence filled the cavern.
Gyoro Gyoro's eye spun slowly, clearly thinking. After a moment, it let out a low chuckle. "Interesting. Then speak. What do you want?"
"I want access to the Monster Association's intelligence network and resources," Sol said without hesitation. "In return, I will assist you against the Hero Association."
Gyoro Gyoro paused. "Why us? With your strength, you could act alone."
A faint smile touched Sol's lips. "Because you are chaotic enough."
Phoenix Man shifted uneasily. "Gyoro Gyoro, this…"
A small hand lifted, silencing him.
"Very well," Gyoro Gyoro said. "But there is one condition. You must prove your worth."
"Prove my worth?"
Sol slowly raised his right arm. Dark red energy seeped from his skin, thickening the air across the cavern. Gyoro Gyoro's eye shrank violently, its limbs twitching uncontrollably under the pressure.
Then—
A single punch.
The impact slammed into the ground with devastating force. A shockwave tore through the cavern, shaking the entire structure as debris rained down. When the dust settled, a deep crater had formed, stretching precisely to the feet of both Gyoro Gyoro and Phoenix Man. Its surface was unnaturally smooth, like polished glass.
Sol lowered his fist as the red patterns on his skin faded. "Is that enough?"
Phoenix Man instinctively stepped back, his costume trembling. Sweat soaked through every layer.
Gyoro Gyoro's eye spun rapidly, its voice now laced with excitement. "More than enough. Asura truly lives up to his reputation."
Sol slipped his hands back into his pockets. "Then let us continue."
"Please," Gyoro Gyoro said, its tone noticeably more respectful.
"I want the method of monsterization," Sol said, staring directly into the massive eye. "Not crude mutations. I want a perfected process that preserves sanity."
Gyoro Gyoro trembled with excitement. "Mr. Sol… would you consider becoming my experimental subject? With your potential, you could become the ultimate monster."
Sol narrowed his crimson eyes slightly. "Do not get ahead of yourself. I have conditions."
"Speak."
"First, the experiment happens under my supervision. Second, I can terminate it whenever I choose."
Gyoro Gyoro nodded eagerly. "Of course. Though… the process may be painful."
Sol waved it off. "Pain is irrelevant."
Nearby, Phoenix Man shifted nervously. "Gyoro Gyoro, this feels too dangerous…"
"Silence," Gyoro Gyoro snapped, then turned back to Sol. "Shall we begin preparations?"
"The sooner, the better."
At once, several lower-ranked monsters were ordered to move equipment into place. Sol remained still, observing everything with a critical eye. His gaze swept across the crude machinery, and he frowned slightly.
"This is all?"
"These are only preliminary tools," Gyoro Gyoro explained. "The actual transformation requires specialized compounds and energy infusion."
Sol nodded. "Show me your results first."
After a brief hesitation, Gyoro Gyoro summoned a sealed metal container. "This is my most successful sample so far."
The container opened, revealing a monster cell suspended in green liquid. The tissue writhed faintly, its surface marked with strange, shifting patterns.
Sol leaned closer, studying it. "Interesting. But still incomplete."
"That is exactly why I need someone like you," Gyoro Gyoro replied eagerly. "Ordinary humans cannot endure the energy required for true monsterization."
Sol turned his attention back to the equipment. "Explain the procedure."
"We begin by collecting your cells." A mechanical arm extended, holding a syringe. "Then we develop a tailored formula based on your genetic structure."
The needle touched Sol's skin.
It shattered instantly.
Gyoro Gyoro froze.
"My skin is harder than diamond," Sol said casually. He pricked his fingertip and let a single drop of blood fall. "Use this."
The moment the blood landed in the dish, the container shook violently. Cracks spread across the glass like a web. Gyoro Gyoro hurriedly activated stabilizers.
"Incredible… the energy output…"
Behind the scenes, Psykos, controlling Gyoro Gyoro, focused intently.
"Phoenix Man," she said, "take Mr. Sol on a tour. Cultivating new monster cells will take time."
Phoenix Man wiped his face and forced a respectful posture. "This way, Mr. Sol."
Sol followed him through damp, shadowy corridors. Whispers echoed from unseen corners. He could feel countless eyes watching him, many filled with hostility.
Phoenix Man pushed open a rusted iron door. "This is our training area."
Inside, a massive underground arena stretched out before them. Monsters of all shapes clashed violently, tearing into one another. Blood and severed limbs littered the ground.
Sol glanced once, unimpressed.
"That is it?"
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