Within the large, white-square tiled combat experimentation room, Boros underwent a complete transformation at a rapid pace.
His body began by swelling with new muscle, the expanding mass contorting his frame as it demanded space. This growth triggered spiked plates to burst forth across his shoulders and spine in jagged succession. Simultaneously, his skin darkened to a deep navy blue, the surface now marked with pulsing light-blue patterns. Beneath his chest, a massive yellow eye blinked open, its movements synchronized with his original eyes — now glowing yellowish-green. While his hair had spiked up, turning a darker shade of pink.
Still a superb display. Genus thought.
A sudden eruption of energy cracked through the air, followed by a violent burst of violet light and pressure, which illuminated the space. Boros' silhouette and a bright yellow eye were the only features Genus could make out.
Even from the distance between the center most point of the chamber and the secure room, the vibrations hammered through the walls.
Boros' power output soared higher, bringing about massive pillar-like bolts of energy that connected to the ceiling above and launched toward the secure room.
How did this happen? Before the pillar-like bolts of energy could reach them, it was as if an invisible hand swatted them away.
To the left, Caspian stood motionless.
Genus frowned. Could it have been him? Has his strength climbed to an even higher pinnacle of evolution? It seems I will need to upgrade the slowdown features further.
Alarms blared through the combat experimentation room. Then a segmented wall panel slammed shut over the elevator doors. At once, a meter-thick transparent barrier materialized, encasing the secure room in protective shielding.
Seconds after, the room's lights shut off, plunging the area into darkness, which caused a red emergency light to activate along with one final blare of the alarm.
With this enhanced version of the combat experimentation room, I was uncertain as to what being, aside from Caspian, could send the room into 'Lockdown Mode' in such an eased manner.
The light from Boros' 'Released Form' faded right as his voice boomed. "You two will be the first to witness my ultimate form!"
¤ ¤ ¤
After leaving from Dr. Genus' Caspian and Boros went their separate ways. As Caspian wanted to swing by a certain store in W-City, the store where he had purchased the bug costume from his first date with Mosquito Girl. Here, there were a couple of items which were required for the events that would take place over the next couple of days.
Once he left the store, he grabbed some takeout and then hurried back to his apartment, where he now sat, and occasionally glanced over to the corner of his living room.
"You owe me one."
No response arrived.
He looked away toward the night sky and muttered. "There are too many people to keep track of.
With the Monster Association getting handled a day before they kidnap Waganma, I cannot predict how things will change. After all, so many characters experience pivotal moments in their development during this arc and now…
Forget it. I can only focus on those closest to me and my own goals."
His attention turned toward the hallway.
"Master—" Genos' voice cut off as he noticed the figure in the room's corner. "Did Charanko come to challenge you?"
"No, he got expelled from Bang's dojo and made his way here."
"I see. He must have been exhausted and passed out."
"Yeah…" Caspian pointed toward the kitchen. "…in the fridge, there's some takeout I bought for you."
"I'll save it for later. Thank you." Genos walked over and sat at the opposite end of the table.
"Master, I've completed my willpower training. What is my next goal?"
He had trouble believing his ears. "When? How can you be sure? Why didn't you mention this back at Doctor Kuseno's?"
Genos spent the next several minutes detailing his experience against the Gravitic Maiden and then how Tatsumaki's powers had a lessened effect on him.
Caspian descended into contemplation.
The 'Tsukuyomi,' Genos' willpower reaching such a level… What else is going on with this world?
Am I to accept this as is?
What am I missing? Mumen Rider shouldn't have been in the hospital so soon. Then, there are these new monsters appearing from thin air: Overlord Sparrow, Faultless Marionette, that large Mysterious Being that appeared outside my apartment, and now Gravitic Maiden. Something is off.
Genos knocked on the table. "Master. You there?"
"Sure. Genos, first I should mention the 'Tsukuyomi.' They are a psychic research organization and should be made extinct.
This is a future training goal of yours now that you've gained a strong willpower.
I will speak with Tatsumaki and if she agrees, the two of you could work together."
Genos' brows furrowed. "I can work better alone."
I see they still don't get along. But this strengthened willpower of his is great. He's not blindly following what I say to an absurd degree now.
"Alright, even if you wish to work by yourself. This won't be a goal you complete alone. I will be there to support you alongside Doctor Kuseno, of course. As well as plenty of others.
Still, looking past an individual's outward appearance and attitude can be beneficial to growing as an individual."
"I must write this down!" Genos whipped out his notebook.
He smiled. Some things never change, at least.
"Your next task, Genos, will be to head to C-City tomorrow."
Genos looked up from his intense note taking and asked, "For?"
"I lied. Your next task is to pack up our most important things." Caspian stood and wandered over to the balcony. "Next, I need you to contact…"
After listing off those who needed to be contacted, he continued. "It's best we all meet at Doctor Kuseno's Laboratory first thing in the morning. There is a lot of information I need to inform everyone of.
Irreversible changes to the world start tomorrow."
Genos followed and stepped out onto the balcony. "I will complete these tasks without fail, Master. Is there a reason we're moving out?"
"Z-City Ghost Town may no longer be on the map tomorrow."
"Huh, what happened?" Charanko's voice rang out. "I need to head out and teach that Garo—"
Caspian shook his head, vanished, and reappeared behind Charanko, who had stumbled toward the hallway. And then bopped the back of his head.
"You're lucky I'm here to save you."
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