"Understood."
"System simulating."
"Opponents: John and General Kregg."
"Location: Uninhabited Planet."
Following Eden's command, everything before him blurred.
When his vision cleared, he was standing on a lifeless planet—ruins scattered across its surface, alien remains littering the barren ground. The place looked as though it had been devastated by Viltrumites only moments ago.
A faint hum rippled through the air.
The instant Eden materialized, two Viltrumites turned their gazes toward him—elite soldiers stationed to oversee this broken world.
"A young kid?" one of them muttered.
He was massive, muscles hard as steel, his short, graying hair giving away his age. A jagged scar cut diagonally across his face, blinding his right eye. His right arm was a gleaming prosthetic forged from cosmic alloy. This battle-worn veteran was John—a sadistic Viltrumite warrior who delighted in tormenting geniuses, crushing civilizations, and destroying those who dared defy Viltrum.
"Handle him quickly," said the man beside him.
This second Viltrumite exuded a sharp, commanding aura. An elegant figure with a red monocle over one eye—General Kregg, one of Viltrum's most respected generals. Both were elite warriors, second only to Regent Cui Ge, and on par with Nolan himself.
"Boom!"
At Kregg's word, John vanished into a blur and reappeared before Eden, his alloy arm swinging toward Eden's cheek.
"Good," Eden said, smiling faintly as he met the blow with his own fist.
Straightforward battles like this suited him perfectly.
"Boom!"
Their fists collided, and the very air trembled. The surface beneath their feet cracked, energy rippling outward like shockwaves.
"This kid's a Viltrumite!" John barked after that single exchange.
"His strength's no weaker than ours!"
"Such heavy power," Kregg muttered, studying Eden. "His raw strength… might even surpass Nolan's?"
Eden's arm tingled from the impact. He frowned slightly—unsure if John was stronger than Nolan or if that prosthetic arm simply packed more force. Either way, the numbing sensation was new to him.
"Kid," Kregg said, floating closer with his arms folded, his voice calm but filled with pride. "Since you're a Viltrumite, I'll give you a chance. Join the Viltrum Empire. Fight for our glory."
"I refuse," Eden replied instantly.
Kregg shook his head, smirking. "Then you'll die here."
"Nothing to pity," John growled behind him, lips curling in a cruel grin. "I love breaking young warriors."
"Whoosh!"
The two Viltrumites charged simultaneously—one from the left, one from the right—their punches slicing through the air with perfect coordination.
"Damn it!" Eden crossed his arms to block, but their combined force still sent him crashing backward. A metallic taste filled his mouth as blood surged up his throat.
"It's been a while since I felt this kind of pain."
A grin crept across Eden's face. It reminded him of the first time he'd fought Nolan in the simulator—raw, honest combat.
"Brat!" Kregg laughed. "You really are a born Viltrumite!"
He blurred and appeared behind Eden, preparing a sneak attack.
"How could I let you succeed that easily?" Eden spun to counter.
"Kid, did you forget about me?" John's voice came from behind. His alloy fist smashed into Eden's lower back.
"Damn it—a sneak attack!" Eden cursed as he was flung forward.
"You don't even have time to complain!" Kregg shouted, catching up in an instant and locking his arms around Eden from behind.
"Hmm?!" Eden struggled, his muscles straining, but Kregg's grip was steady—his battle experience keeping Eden restrained just long enough.
"Even if you wanted to join now, you've lost that chance," Kregg said coldly.
John floated closer, grinning like a demon. "Then let's make him regret it."
He swung his heavy metal fist again and again, smashing Eden's face.
"Pfft!" Blood splattered through the air.
After just a few hits, Eden's body was covered in crimson streaks.
"Kid! Look at me!" John roared, grabbing Eden by the collar. "See who's in control!"
"Die," Eden hissed, eyes flashing.
Twin beams of burning light erupted from his gaze—heat vision bursting forth and striking John square in the face.
"AHH! My eyes!"
John screamed, clutching his face. "You filthy brat! You implanted weapons in your eyes?!"
Eden smirked coldly.
"Laser eyes?" Kregg exclaimed behind him. "You modified your own eyes for combat? That's… insane!"
Eden didn't answer. He tore free from Kregg's grip in a single motion, then vanished from sight, appearing in front of the blinded John.
John sensed the killing intent and swung blindly, his prosthetic arm whistling through the air—but Eden had already sidestepped.
Eden's fist slammed into John's throat.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed as Eden crushed John's Adam's apple.
"Ahhh!" John's roar turned into a gurgle.
With another twist of his hand, Eden tore the wound open, finishing the veteran warrior instantly.
"Next," Eden said, his voice low, eyes glowing red, "it's your turn."
His body was drenched in blood—he couldn't tell whether it was his own or John's anymore.
"Damn it," Kregg muttered. "This kid's a lunatic."
For the first time in ages, the battle-hardened general felt fear claw up his spine.
When fear appears on the battlefield, the fight is already decided.
"Whoosh!"
Eden surged forward like lightning.
An hour later.
Eden stood amid the silence, one hand clutching his bleeding abdomen, the other gripping Kregg's lifeless body.
"End simulation," he ordered.
"Master," the system responded in a neutral tone, "shall I continue simulating two elite Viltrumites for you?"
"No," Eden said, shaking his head. "I want to relax a bit. Simulate Variant Mark and his beast-form father instead."
After nearly losing against the two Viltrumites, he needed a confidence boost—and beating up Mark a few times would do nicely.
Variant Beast-Man Mark: "Am I just a clown to you?!"
"Understood," replied the system cheerfully, starting a new simulation.
The next morning.
Eden groaned as he sat up. His body felt stiff, every muscle sore.
He had spent the entire night slaughtering Variant Mark five times in a row—each time paired with more brutal training against John and Kregg.
Although his strength was growing rapidly, the battles had pushed him to his limits. He had only narrowly won each match, relying heavily on his Kryptonian abilities every time.
"Still need to work harder," he murmured.
He glanced toward the bed beside his own—it was neatly made, untouched. William's bed.
That meant the kid hadn't come back last night.
"Hmm?" Eden raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. "So, he actually pulled it off? Did he win over that hot senior sister?"
But when Eden later arrived at the university, he found that wasn't the case.
William's senior sister, curvy and clearly flustered, told him that William had left the party early—and hadn't been seen since.
Eden sighed. "That's why I told him not to bother with pointless parties."
Now, it looked like he'd have to find that kid himself.
He closed his eyes, focusing. The world around him faded as he activated his enhanced senses—his hearing and vision extending outward, searching for any trace of William's heartbeat or presence.
The hunt began.
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