Tanktop Master climbed out of the rubble, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"This guy is stronger than last time!"
High above the battlefield, Tatsumaki floated in the air. Her green curls swayed violently as she glared down at the armored figure.
"Hmph. This bastard will not last much longer."
She thrust both hands downward.
The metal structures of the entire factory screamed as they twisted. Steel beams tore free from walls and ceilings, bending under her psychic force. Countless steel bars shot forward like giant pythons, coiling toward Sol Mirek from every direction.
Sol quickly retreated. Dark red patterns on his armor lit up as blood colored psychokinesis surged outward, forming a barrier that intercepted the incoming steel.
Crack, crack, crack!
The sound of twisting metal echoed through the factory. Sol was forced back several steps as sparks burst from the friction between his armor and the crushing steel.
The pressure was overwhelming.
So this is Tatsumaki's power.
Even with his evolved psychokinesis, confronting the S-Class hero ranked second head on was extremely difficult.
Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, Flash Step!
Bang seized the moment Sol was restrained.
His body blurred forward, splitting into several afterimages as he attacked from multiple angles. The old martial arts master moved with frightening precision.
How dare this monster attack his disciple?
Bang's fists struck the weak points of the armor joints one after another. Each blow landed with a dull thud.
Sol was pushed back continuously under the relentless assault. Thin cracks began to appear along the surface of the armor.
He was secretly alarmed.
Teacher Bang really is incredible.
Even the Ashura armor struggled to fully withstand the power behind those strikes.
Sol quickly adjusted his stance and suddenly released a burst of psychokinesis, forcing Bang to retreat a few steps.
I have to use my full strength now.
Sol slowly activated several abilities at once.
Demon Back.
Ghost Brain.
And the still rational Ashura Mode.
If he held back any longer, he might not get another chance.
He took a deep breath. The muscles beneath his armor began to swell unnaturally. Dark red patterns spread across the armor like living veins.
His eyes turned completely blood red.
A suffocating pressure filled the air.
"Be careful!" Bang immediately warned the others.
"His aura has changed!"
Tatsumaki remained floating above them, her green hair whipping around her face.
"Hmph. So you are finally getting serious?"
Metal Bat tightened his grip on his baseball bat, clearly annoyed.
"This guy was fighting us seriously and still was not using his full power?"
Tanktop Master stepped forward defensively, muscles tightening to their limit.
"Everyone stay sharp. I have a bad feeling about this."
Sol slowly raised his right arm. A faint white mist leaked from the seams of his armor, mixed with thick, blood like psychokinetic energy.
"Now," he said hoarsely, "the real fight begins."
Since he could not rely on martial arts techniques, Sol decided to trust his Combat Intuition. He would fight using the most primitive and instinctive methods possible.
His body suddenly vanished from where he stood.
Only a dark red afterimage remained.
"So fast!"
Metal Bat's pupils shrank as he instinctively raised his bat.
Bang!
A heavy impact exploded through the factory.
Metal Bat was sent flying and smashed into the factory wall. The concrete shattered around him.
He coughed up blood, but a grin spread across his face.
"Interesting. Now this is more like it!"
"Do not be careless," Bang said calmly as he entered the stance of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, the martial art he created himself. ([One-Punch Man Wiki][1])
He could already tell that the armored monster's strength and speed had risen sharply. The opponent had clearly activated some kind of special transformation.
Above them, Tatsumaki scoffed.
"No matter how fast you are, you cannot escape my psychokinesis."
She slammed her hands together again.
The factory's metal structures twisted violently as more steel bars shot toward Sol like a storm of iron serpents.
This time Sol did not dodge.
The dark red patterns across his armor glowed brightly as thick, blood colored psychokinesis formed a defensive barrier.
The steel bars crashed against it, sending sparks flying everywhere.
At that exact moment, Tanktop Master attacked from the side.
His muscles bulged as he charged forward.
"Tanktop Tackle!"
The impact launched Sol across the factory floor.
But Sol did not take the hit for free.
As Tanktop Master slammed into him, Sol drove his elbow forward with brutal force.
Tanktop Master was blasted away and crashed into a pile of rubble.
Smashing Fist, Piercing Fang!
Bang appeared behind Sol like a ghost.
Sol sensed the sharp attack from behind and tried to defend, but he was still airborne. His body could not react in time.
Bang's fingertips struck like blades.
They pierced directly into Sol's abdomen.
Bang!
The impact sent Sol flying backward. The armor across his stomach cracked violently, nearly shattering completely.
Sol grunted and flipped backward using the momentum, landing on his feet.
Bang slowly withdrew his fingers. His brows furrowed.
This monster's defense...
He had used his full strength with that strike, yet the armor still had not broken.
Tatsumaki's hair whipped around as she sneered.
"No matter how tough your turtle shell is, it cannot withstand my power."
She thrust both hands downward again.
A terrifying gravitational pressure descended instantly.
The ground beneath Sol cracked and sank. His knees trembled under the crushing force.
Dark red patterns across his armor flared again as viscous psychokinetic energy formed another barrier to resist the pressure.
Crack, crack, crack!
Steel bars twisted and shrieked as they slammed against the barrier. Sparks erupted everywhere as Sol was pushed back several steps.
Metal Bat seized the opportunity.
He rushed forward, swinging his bat toward Sol's head with full force.
"Bastard, take this!"
"And me!"
Tanktop Master had already climbed out of the rubble and charged forward again.
At that moment Bang's calm voice echoed beside Sol.
"Where is my disciple?"
Sol's heart trembled for a split second when he heard the question.
But he quickly steadied himself.
Using the pressure from Tatsumaki's psychokinesis, Sol slid backward and widened the distance. The dark red patterns on his armor flickered violently.
He lowered his voice and let out a hoarse laugh.
"Defeat me first."
"In that case," Bang said coldly, "do not blame this old man for showing no mercy."
Veins bulged across his aged face as his stance sharpened.
Before Sol could react, a sharp pain exploded in his chest.
Bang's fist had already struck.
Bang!
Sol was blasted dozens of meters away.
His body smashed through three concrete walls before finally stopping. Dust and debris filled the air.
He slowly rose to one knee.
Cracks spread across the chest of his armor as dark red energy seeped through the gaps.
Above him, Tatsumaki floated silently in the air, her hair moving without wind.
"Old man, stop stealing my prey."
She clapped her hands together again.
The ground beneath Sol collapsed instantly. Broken concrete and building debris surged toward him like a tidal wave.
Sol struggled to stand.
Dark red energy mixed with blood seeped from the seams of his armor and dripped onto the floor.
He looked around.
The four S-Class heroes had completely surrounded him.
Suddenly, Sol burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
The dark red energy leaking from his armor ignited like flames.
"Goodbye."
He pulled up the system panel and activated the World Travel function.
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