Sol walked through the bustling commercial street before turning into a quiet alley.
After confirming that no one else was around, he stopped.
Black and dark red biological armor spread across his body, covering him completely in seconds.
"It's time to begin."
A faint smirk formed beneath the armor.
Sol leaped onto the rooftop of a nearby building and began moving swiftly through the night.
Tanktop Master's voice suddenly came through the communicator.
"No anomalies in the eastern residential district. How are things on your end?"
Sol pressed the communication button.
"Everything is normal in the eastern commercial district."
He switched the communicator off and turned his attention toward a distant abandoned factory.
That location had been carefully selected as the battlefield. It was far from residential areas and had enough open space for several S-Class heroes to fight without restraint.
A moment later, Sol descended from the sky.
Bang!
He landed heavily in the center of the factory's open yard, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Sol deliberately activated his communicator and created a loud noise, making sure nearby heroes would notice the disturbance.
Metal Bat's voice immediately came through the device.
"Hey! What's going on over there?"
Sol spoke in a rushed tone.
"I've located the Armored Monster and I'm in pursuit. Location is an abandoned factory in the eastern commercial district. Requesting backup!"
Zzzzt!
Sol crushed the communicator in his hand, leaving only harsh static in the channel.
Hearing the abrupt noise, Metal Bat immediately changed direction and rushed toward the abandoned factory.
"Hey! Rookie, hold on! I'm almost there!"
Tanktop Master also moved quickly toward the same location.
"Metal Bat, wait until we regroup before engaging!"
Bang's brows tightened as he immediately assumed the stance of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
"That boy Sol is too reckless."
High above the city, Tatsumaki floated in the night sky, her curly green hair whipping violently in the wind.
"Hmph. Rookies are always such a hassle."
She shot forward like a streak of green light, heading directly toward the factory.
Inside the abandoned building, Sol stood quietly in the center of the yard. His black and dark red armor reflected the moonlight with a cold metallic sheen.
He released a burst of Psychokinesis, causing violent vibrations that made the entire factory tremble.
Metal Bat was the first to arrive.
He rushed through the entrance and slammed his baseball bat against the ground.
"Hey! Armored bastard! What did you do to the rookie?"
Sol slowly turned around, his armor glinting under the moonlight.
"We meet again, S-Class heroes."
Metal Bat raised his bat and pointed it directly at him.
"Hey! I'm talking to you. Where's the rookie?"
A deep voice came from beneath Sol's faceplate.
"No need to look for him. I already dealt with him."
"You bastard!"
Metal Bat's pupils shrank as veins bulged across his forehead.
He charged forward, swinging his bat through the air with tremendous force.
"Die!"
Sol casually stepped aside, avoiding the attack before countering with a punch to Metal Bat's abdomen.
"Too slow."
Bang!
Metal Bat was sent flying several meters back. He landed on one knee while blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Damn it!"
At that moment, Tanktop Master and Bang arrived almost simultaneously.
Tanktop Master immediately took a fighting stance.
"It's you again."
Bang, however, scanned the surroundings.
"Where is Sol?"
The armored figure standing opposite them released a low, hoarse laugh.
"It seems you are very concerned about that rookie."
Tatsumaki descended from the sky moments later. Her sharp eyes swept across the factory, yet she found no trace of Sol.
Her green curls whipped violently around her face.
"Hey! Where's the rookie?"
Sol looked up at her.
"S-Class Rank 2 hero, Tatsumaki, the Tornado of Terror. I've finally met you."
Green energy flared around Tatsumaki's body.
"Enough talk. Where exactly is Sol?"
Sol slowly raised his arm.
"Defeat me, and I'll tell you."
Beneath the faceplate, his excitement grew.
If he did not act as a monster, he would never attract so many S-Class heroes at once.
This was the fastest way for him to grow stronger.
Tatsumaki's eyes flashed dangerously.
"A mere monster, daring to act arrogant in front of me."
She lifted one slender hand.
The rubble and scrap metal scattered across the factory suddenly rose into the air under the control of her Psychokinesis.
They shot toward Sol like a storm of bullets.
"Tatsumaki, be careful," Bang warned quickly.
"We still do not know Sol's location."
At the same time, he assumed the stance of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist.
Sol did not move.
A dark red glow spread across the surface of his armor.
Every piece of rubble and metal was repelled the moment it made contact with his body.
"What?"
Tatsumaki frowned slightly.
It was the first time she had seen a monster block her attack so easily.
Metal Bat seized the moment and rushed forward again.
His bat cut through the air with a sharp whistle as it swung toward Sol's head.
"Take this!"
Sol turned slightly and raised his armored arm to block.
Clang!
The sound of metal colliding echoed throughout the factory.
The bat bounced back violently, forcing Metal Bat to stumble several steps backward.
"This guy's shell is even harder than I thought!"
Metal Bat shook his numb arm.
Tanktop Master attacked from the opposite side.
"Tanktop Tackle!"
His powerful arms attempted to lock around Sol's body.
Sol anticipated the move. He shifted his stance, avoiding the grapple while striking Tanktop Master's chest with his right fist.
Bang!
Tanktop Master staggered back several steps.
"Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist!"
Bang seized the opening and struck from behind with lightning speed.
Sol sensed the incoming attack and immediately turned to defend.
Bang's fists flowed like water, continuous and relentless. Each strike targeted the armor's joints with perfect precision.
As expected of my teacher, Sol thought quietly.
If he used Energy Dissipation or any of his real martial arts techniques now, he would expose himself immediately.
Even with his combat intuition, Bang's attacks demanded his full focus.
"Bastard! Where are you looking?"
Tatsumaki's furious voice echoed from above.
A massive block of concrete descended rapidly toward Sol under the force of her Psychokinesis.
She had not even had the chance to lecture the rookie yet, but this monster had already attacked him.
How could Tatsumaki scold a severely injured rookie?
Her anger could only be directed at the monster in front of her.
Sol tried to retreat.
However, Bang suddenly grabbed his wrist.
The soft yet powerful force of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist clung to him like flowing water, preventing him from breaking free immediately.
The shadow above grew larger.
The concrete block was already descending toward him.
Boom!
At the instant the concrete struck, Sol unleashed a surge of Psychokinesis.
Dark red energy erupted outward like a volcanic explosion, shattering the massive concrete block into fine dust.
The shockwave forced Bang backward.
The ground beneath Sol's feet became scorched by the dark red energy.
"Bastard, take this!"
Metal Bat rushed in again, swinging his baseball bat in a rapid blur.
Sol raised his arm to block. The armored surface collided with the bat, producing bright sparks.
Tanktop Master attacked from the side.
His muscles swelled to their limit as his right fist slammed toward Sol's face.
"Tanktop Blow!"
Sol could not evade in time.
Bang!
The punch struck his face directly.
His head snapped backward from the impact.
At the same moment, Sol's right leg lashed forward like a whip.
It struck Tanktop Master squarely in the chest.
Tanktop Master was sent flying more than ten meters away before crashing through a distant concrete wall.
---