Facing the imposing Genos, Mosquito Woman crossed her arms and let out a contemptuous snort.
"A mere robot dares to spout such nonsense? Since I can't drain your blood, I'll just reduce you to scrap. Children—attack!"
At her command, a tidal wave of mosquitoes surged forward, instantly engulfing Genos from every direction.
Seeing him swallowed by the swarm, she beat her wings and prepared to leave.
In her eyes, those countless minions were more than enough to tear this human-shaped machine apart.
Genos's mechanical eyes whirred, human-like pupils contracting as data streamed in.
[Mosquitoes detected: 655,865 within visible range. Count beyond visual field unknown. Estimated output: 38% Burn Cannon sufficient.]
Their needle-like proboscises could pierce flesh with ease—but against steel, they snapped without leaving so much as a scratch.
Genos raised his arm.
The Burn Cannon detonated, a fierce crimson torrent engulfing the black swarm.
Sensing the sudden surge of energy, Mosquito Woman spun around in shock and leapt backward dozens of meters.
Flames bloomed in the air as Genos stared coldly at the humanoid monster, his golden hair blazing even brighter in the inferno.
Without a word, twin thruster pipes extended from behind his forearms and erupted with roaring jets.
Propelled like a blur, he appeared directly in front of her. A frigid gleam flashed in his mechanical eye as the muzzle in his palm locked on target.
The blue core in his chest pulsed violently—output climbing to 78%.
"Burn Cannon!"
Mosquito Woman's expression changed instantly. She raised her guard as her body was swallowed by orange light.
When the blast faded, her forelimbs were charred black, and the air stank of scorched flesh.
Pressing the advantage, Genos surged forward. Thrusters screamed, and the ground beneath him shattered like spiderweb glass.
Using the recoil, he flashed to her left, fist slicing through the air toward her face.
Her mosquito-honed instincts screamed danger. She slashed out with a blade-like forelimb.
In the next instant, Genos's joints twisted with a metallic roar, bending at impossible angles. He vanished—and reappeared behind her.
"Machine-Gun Combo!"
His arm joints reconfigured again. Fists blurred into layers of after-images, a storm of punches raining down.
Unable to evade, Mosquito Woman took dozens of direct hits. Fragments of chitin scattered through the air.
With a shrill cry, she shot skyward like a cannonball, vanishing into the dark cloud overhead.
"Trying to hide in your swarm? Foolish."
Genos snorted, clamping his palms together as both cannons began charging. His core's pulse skyrocketed.
"Super-Powered Burn Cannon!"
A colossal beam erupted, brighter and hotter than before, tearing through the sky and ripping apart the mosquito horde.
Buzzing turned into sizzling screams. Charred bodies fell like black hail, carpeting the streets below.
They crackled and crumbled beneath Genos's feet.
He scanned the battlefield—no life signs detected amid the scorched remains.
"Erased by the Super-Powered Burn Cannon…"
With no targets remaining, he began to lower his still-charged arm.
The next instant—
CLANG!
A metallic explosion rang beside his ear. His pupils shrank as warning signals flooded in.
What?! Her energy level—it's skyrocketed?!
Half of a mechanical arm spun through the air and slammed into the ground.
Genos stared at the severed limb, then slowly raised his gaze.
Standing before him was Mosquito Woman—yet not quite.
She was still her… but no longer human.
Her once-pale skin had turned deep crimson. Mosquito features dominated her form, the remnants of humanity fading away.
Analysis flooded his mind: her power had more than doubled. Speed and strength—vastly increased.
She severed my arm before I could complete my scan… This is bad.
He knew it instantly.
He was outclassed.
Escape was impossible—her speed far surpassed his. There was only one option left.
Fight to the death.
Resolve hardened within him as he raised his remaining arm, Burn Cannon charging once more.
Mosquito Woman glanced at her crimson skin and the overwhelming power coursing through her body. A satisfied smirk curled her lips.
Seeing the cyborg still resist, she laughed mockingly.
"Fool. You thought you destroyed my swarm, but they were nothing more than bait.
While you were exterminating city mosquitoes, I recalled those feeding in the suburbs—had them donate every drop they'd stolen—and completed my perfect evolution!
And you will be the first to die beneath this flawless body!"
Her words sent a chill through Genos. He pushed his core to its limit, preparing another Super-Powered Burn Cannon.
But—
A blur.
She licked her bladed forelimb.
She was already behind him.
His remaining arm fell in two.
Thrusters ignited in his knee as he launched a desperate kick toward her face.
Another flash.
Genos froze.
The leg he had attacked with was sliced into several pieces…