"Allow me to pass through for a moment."
Black Sperm's mind whirled as Boros strode past Orochi and Platinum Sperm, delivering myriad strikes to both. Neither capable of reacting in time; both hurtled away like discarded rag dolls.
The stone walls around him trembled from Orochi's impact.
It was never meant for protection...
When he shed his armor less than a minute ago, the unleashed power stunned everyone — including Black Sperm himself. All watched as Boros' form twisted into something new: swollen muscle mass sheathed in navy-blue flesh, a large yellow eye blinking under his chest, and spiked hair thrusting upward toward the dome-like ceiling.
"Unacceptable!" Orochi bellowed.
The colossal Monster King surged to Boros' front, unleashing not just a torrent of various martial art techniques, but also all the dragon heads extending from his back. Resulting in a storm of attacks arriving from every angle.
And yet…
Fiery violet energy erupted around Boros as he roared with laughter. No matter what Orochi threw at him, he met every one of his strikes with flawless precision.
Even with Orochi's martial arts, he's getting gradually overwhelmed by Boros' physical prowess. But this isn't over. Black Sperm observed from above.
Platinum Sperm re-engaged, forming a sudden alliance with Orochi. A blink after, the arena became an array of intricate geometric light patterns as Platinum Sperm and Boros clashed midair — Orochi's dragon heads striking from below in perfect sync with Platinum Sperm's attacks. The shockwaves sent monsters scrambling from their spectating chambers, while weaker ones vaporized from the residual energy alone.
"'Platinum Rings!'"
Fifty meters in the air, Boros plummeted toward the arena floor after getting struck by Platinum Sperm's whirling fists and tentacle. Orochi flashed underneath and drove a knee strike upward. In the same breath, Platinum Sperm somersaulted into a dropping axe kick to complete the pincer attack.
How will he handle this?
Boros straightened himself, curled his knees up, and snapped them down; accelerating his descent. Platinum Sperm's axe kick arrived from above, but Boros caught his ankle and slammed him straight into Orochi's waiting knee. The force sent Orochi lurching forward right as Boros' follow-up punch detonated the Monster King's whole upper body.
Neither could fight back.
Boros maintained his crushing grip on Platinum Sperm's ankle while his other hand snatched the writhing tentacle crown. He then pressed one knee into Platinum Sperm's spine, aiming him toward the arena floor, milliseconds before they impacted against it; resulting in a shockwave rippling outward at the same time Orochi's destroyed form crashed into a wall.
A monster like him shouldn't exist…
Black Sperm's fight-or-flight instincts spiked when he observed Platinum Sperm, helplessly, get torn in half by a grinning Boros.
No hesitation. No second thoughts. Black Sperm turned and fled with every ounce of his strength.
¤ ¤ ¤
"You!"
Caspian emerged from a hyperspace gate outside Dr. Kuseno's lab, carrying an unconscious Psykos. Wavygyaza stood inexplicably by the entrance, finger pointed at him. Unfazed, he strode forward. True to form, she didn't attack - just fidgeted nervously as he approached with the resting turquoise-haired Esper. When he reached her, he pushed his luck further, patting the blonde idol's head to calm her.
"Follow. It's time."
"Time for what?" Wavygyaza called as he stepped through the metal doors.
"For all to be clear."
His goal for coming here was to pick up Tatsumaki, Mosquito Girl, and Wavygyaza.
"You're the Caspian who's caused me nothing but trouble, right?" she asked, trailing behind.
"Right…"
Mosquito Girl rushed over as he entered the main lab. "Caspian!"
"I haven't been gone long." He gave a quick scan of the room.
Genos lay at the far end of the room on the incline operating table. To his right, Doctor Kuseno operated multiple robotic arms as he worked on the cyborg. Aided to Caspian's surprise by Tatsumaki.
"Master! Have you come to visit?"
"I'm afraid not today." Caspian shook his head. "But it's nice to see your upgrades taking a familiar shape."
Doctor Kuseno remained too engrossed in his work to notice anything around him.
"That's fine too, master. I folded your hero outfit and placed it on the box beside Carmin."
Sure enough, to his left against the alloy wall, were stacks of box filled with their supplies. On top of one rested his red gloves and boots, his cape, and his yellow jumpsuit. Right next to their mosquito companion.
He touched his thumb and index finger together, sending his outfit away.
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
"…"
Mosquito Girl gestured toward Wavygyaza, who stood behind him. "She waited outside to greet you isn—"
"I wasn't!" Wavygyaza interjected. "I just didn't want to be near—"
"Near who?" Tatsumaki flickered before them.
Wavygyaza jumped back at the number one Esper's arrival.
"Sorry about tossing you three away earlier. Psykos here overreacted."
Tatsumaki crossed her arms with an upturned chin. "Hmph. Don't do it again, Caspian. I can defend myself."
"I'm sure it's your fault she overreacted," Wavygyaza muttered.
Mosquito Girl tilted her head and asked the idol, "Why are you hiding behind him?"
"Don't misinterpret my position relevant to his!"
Caspian smiled, hoping these moments would continue past today.
¤ ¤ ¤
Finally made it out.
Black Sperm surfaced in Z-City's Ghost Town, every crumbling block identical. Just needed to flee this cursed city and—
"Haha! You made it out too, friend."
Boros. Why had he followed? These hundred cells had done nothing wrong!
The navy-blue monster loomed over him. "You'll join the New Dark Matter Thieves."
Black Sperm could only nod.
"Excellent!" Boros grabbed the tail-like protrusion atop his head and leaped onto the rooftop of a tall building.
Silence stretched.
What now?
"One more contender remains," Boros declared, focused on the distant portion of the abandoned neighborhood.
Before Black Sperm could wonder, the earth quaked. Buildings shook. And from the city's heart, a gargantuan, drill-shaped head tore free from the ground — its mountainous constitution rising skyward like a challenge to heaven itself.
To believe a centipede greater than Elder Centipede existed… and it had been beneath us the whole time.
"Insolent, tiny creatures! Hear me!"