The operation to eliminate the House of Evolution was underway. Heroes were converging on a small town closest to the lab's location.
Zombie Man and Genos were rushing toward the rendezvous point. However, upon hearing that only one other S-Class hero was dispatched, Zombie Man's brows immediately furrowed.
"Just one S-Class hero?"
"We need at least one more. Otherwise, we're looking at potential casualties," he advised the Association.
Genos, curious, asked, "Is the House of Evolution really that dangerous? It takes multiple S-Class heroes to bring them down?"
Zombie Man gave a stiff, half-smile.
"To be honest with you… I am a product of the House of Evolution."
Genos was visibly surprised.
Remembering Zombie Man's unkillable abilities, Genos immediately gained a better understanding of the lab's terrifying potential.
"I escaped ten years ago. Who knows what monsters they've developed since… But before I left, they had already completed a horrifyingly powerful being."
"Asura Kabuto."
Zombie Man's expression darkened as memories resurfaced.
"Asura Kabuto's power is immense. And he has no moral boundaries whatsoever. If he's unleashed, we're looking at a dragon-level disaster."
He sighed. "After ten years, there's bound to be even more terrifying creations. Just me and Tank-Top Master? This fight could drag on far too long."
But Genos responded calmly and with confidence, "I'll fight too."
He was determined to measure the true strength of this so-called monstrous Asura Kabuto.
Just as they reached the town near the lab, Zombie Man received a transmission from the Hero Association.
"A monster—Mosquito Girl—has appeared near the town. She's currently engaging heroes. Strength: demon-level. Likely a product of the House of Evolution."
Zombie Man tensed. He and Genos immediately diverted course toward the town.
Upon arrival, they saw the three disciples of Atomic Samurai—Iaian, Okamaitachi, and Bushidrill—locked in combat with a monstrous woman in the air.
"Mosquito Girl?"
A striking woman with mosquito features, she zipped through the air with incredible agility.
Despite the trio's skill, her mobility rendered them helpless—they couldn't even touch her.
"Pathetic swordsmen!" Mosquito Girl taunted from above.
But before she could finish laughing, a sharp jet-sound pierced the air.
Shh—
Her arm was torn clean off.
Genos landed, steam hissing from his boots. He casually tossed her severed limb aside.
"Lucky shot. Next time, it's your head."
Mosquito Girl's expression twisted in rage.
"You'll pay for that!"
She raised an arm.
"Come, my pets! Feed me your harvest!"
The sky darkened as a storm of mosquitoes swarmed from the mountains, completely engulfing her.
"Whoa—that's a lot…" muttered Bushidrill, unsettled.
Zombie Man drew two massive pistols from his coat. With special rounds loaded, he fired at the swarm above.
BOOM!
The sound was closer to a cannon than a gun.
The recoil shattered his arms on the spot, but he didn't even flinch. He'd grow them back anyway.
The explosion opened a gap in the swarm—but it closed almost immediately.
"Not enough coverage," he muttered, looking toward Genos.
Genos was already prepared.
"Incineration Cannon!"
A column of flame erupted from his arms, engulfing the entire mosquito swarm in fire. Within seconds, the entire swarm turned to ash.
"Convenient of her to gather them all in one place," Genos scoffed.
But before he finished speaking, a red blur shot past him.
Shing—
Both of his arms flew into the air.
"Next time, it's your head," Mosquito Girl snarled gleefully.
Her body had changed—her limbs longer, her features sharper, her wings buzzing violently. Her form now fully crimson.
She moved so fast that all anyone saw was a trail of red flashes.
"Her speed's multiplied!" Iaian shouted, sweat beading on his brow.
The three swordsmen huddled back-to-back, barely managing to fend off her assault. Retaliation was impossible. They could only turtle up and pray.
Compared to them, Zombie Man and Genos were taking the brunt of the damage.
Each red flash carved away pieces of them. For Zombie Man, it was nothing—a few seconds later, the damage would regenerate.
Even Mosquito Girl paused in disbelief. "This man… can't be killed?"
She turned her attention to Genos.
Every strike left visible damage. Within moments, Genos was down on one knee, unable even to defend himself.
"I… I can't even fight back…"
The realization crushed Genos. He wasn't even facing Asura Kabuto—just Mosquito Girl—and yet he was being completely overpowered.
"We'll have to retreat!"
Zombie Man picked up what remained of Genos' torso.
He could handle this, but Genos couldn't survive much longer.
Iaiand his brothers nodded gravely.
Their match-up against Mosquito Girl was terrible—they simply couldn't reach her.
But just as they turned to retreat—
RUMBLE.
The earth shook.
"What the hell—?!"
They stopped in place, bracing themselves.
Mosquito Girl glanced toward the direction of the lab.
"…What's happening over there?"
Before she could process it—
A sword slash, wrapped in black lightning, fell from the sky.
SHING!
Mosquito Girl didn't even have time to scream.
She was erased in an instant—vaporized by the immense force.
A new abyss was carved into the land, tens of meters wide, reaching dangerously close to the group of heroes.
They stared at the rift—so close, they could feel the killing intent still lingering in the air.
Iaian, Okamaitachi, and Bushidrill collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. That sword intent… it nearly split their souls in half.
Zombie Man and Genos looked toward the source of the slash.
The end of the abyss.
Where the House of Evolution once stood.
"…What just happened there?" they whispered in awe.
Read advance chapters on: patre on.com/Bored_Mortal