Each of the phantom clones moved with terrifying speed, nearly matching Shinji himself, and he still wasn't taking the fight seriously. Because Genos didn't regard the illusions as actual threats, he failed to respond defensively in ti and was soon surrounded on all sides.
Neither Shinji nor his clones used weapons. They engaged him using only taijutsu, striking from every angle.
In a blur of motion, Genos was overwheld by a relentless barrage of punches and kicks. Though Shinji had dialed back his full strength considerably, the sheer volu and precision of the attacks still caused several of Genos's cybernetic components to break off and scatter.
Desperately maneuvering through the onslaught, Genos spotted a narrow opening. Without hesitation, he shifted his footing, locked his arms together, and triggered a hidden chanism in his fra. Dozens of compact cannon barrels unfolded from within his limbs and shoulders, locking onto Shinji and the phantom clones.
"Incinerate!"
With that roar, Genos unleashed a massive Incineration Cannon at full output. The explosion soared high into the air, blasting upward with a radius so wide and dense it seed impossible for anything within it to survive. A normal opponent would've been incinerated on the spot.
But Shinji had already vanished.
Utilizing the Flying Thunder God Technique, he had teleported behind Genos in an instant, using a previously embedded kunai that had gone unnoticed on the battlefield. It lay buried in the ground, just behind the cyborg.
"It's over."
The words ca from right behind him, quiet and calm.
Genos barely had ti to register them before he felt an overwhelming force slam into his back. Shinji's Rasengan had already been ford, spinning fiercely in his hand as he charged at Genos mid-blast. Still bracing from his own cannon's recoil, Genos couldn't react in ti.
The mont the Rasengan connected, Genos was launched through the air like a missile, his body crashing into a distant cliff with a tallic crunch that echoed through the valley. Chunks of stone rained down around him as he slid to the base of the rock wall, motionless for a few seconds.
Even so, Genos was far from finished.
Though smoke billowed from his back and damaged parts sparked violently, he groaned and began to rise. With visible effort, he pushed himself upright, swaying slightly, barely able to stand.
"You're still standing?" Shinji asked, raising an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Genos to remain conscious after that hit.
"I won't give up… not until I physically can't fight anymore!" Genos replied, voice strained but resolute.
This was a rare chance to spar one-on-one with his teacher, and he wasn't about to waste it. Not just for the sake of growth, but to understand his own shortcomings, sothing that only true combat could reveal. That kind of insight couldn't be gained in simulations or theory.
"I see."
Shinji gave a subtle nod. He had accomplished what he set out to do. The Phantom Body Flicker Technique had perford exactly as he intended. Now it was ti to finish the match.
Without hesitation, Shinji summoned his full-body Susanoo.
Unlike the last ti, when he'd activated the form gradually to adjust to its power, this ti he went straight into its complete state. The blue chakra colossus erupted into form in an instant, towering above them like a god of war.
The sa giant that had once cleaved a teor in two now stood over Genos, radiating imnse pressure. Genos's eyes widened, awe and apprehension flashing across his face. Was his teacher finally getting serious?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, a powerful gust of wind swept over him, followed by a strange sound, like the very fabric of space tearing open.
Boom!!
A thunderous explosion erupted behind him. Genos spun around instinctively, and what he saw made his breath catch.
The mountain peak behind Genos had been cleanly severed. Jagged stone, dust, and shattered rock scattered into the air, while golden strands, his own hair, fluttered gently to the ground.
"!!"
Genos stood frozen, too stunned to move. He hadn't even realized his teacher had already launched an attack. The strike was so fast, so precise, that only its aftermath revealed it had occurred at all.
And now, even if he wanted to continue, he couldn't. Not because he lacked willpower, but because the truth was undeniable, had Shinji not angled the slash upward at the last second, Genos would've been obliterated along with the mountain.
"Let's go. I think you've gained enough combat experience for today," Shinji said casually, dismissing his Susanoo and turning toward him.
"...Yeah," Genos replied, his voice hollow. He remained where he stood, completely still.
His mind was reeling. He couldn't even begin to fathom the kind of power he had just witnessed. Was this what people ant when they spoke of supernatural abilities? Could sothing like that even be approached with machines and firepower?
...
As usual, Shinji made his way to Psykos's underground hideout. The two had maintained their strange alliance ever since their initial collaboration.
"Has Fubuki been trying to approach you again since last ti?" Psykos asked without looking up, her tone casual but eyes sharp.
"No," Shinji replied, shaking his head. "Now that you ntion it, she hasn't co by in a while."
"That's for the best," Psykos muttered. "But don't let your guard down. That woman's probably already cooking up another shady sche."
She had never once trusted Fubuki, and it showed in every word she spoke about her.
"Yeah. I'll keep an eye on her," Shinji replied.
He knew full well that Fubuki had been acting more restrained lately. At worst, she was still a bit clingy, but nothing that crossed any real lines. Still, he had no intention of saying that out loud.
Especially not in front of Psykos.
Things were tense enough between those two that even a neutral comnt could stir up trouble. The last thing he wanted was to get caught in the middle of their cold war.
"Also..." Psykos hesitated slightly, then continued, "There's been so unrest within the Monster Association."
"What happened?" Shinji asked imdiately. "Is it because of the teor incident?"
"Exactly. Because you managed to stop the teor, and because Elder Centipede was exposed early, a number of monsters are growing uneasy. The Association's original strategy was to stay hidden and strike when the Hero Association was caught off guard."
She gave him a sharp look. "But with Elder Centipede's existence now revealed, the whole plan is at risk. Our operations are attracting attention too early. So monsters are beginning to question our leadership."
If the teor had wiped out Z-City and the surrounding region as intended, it would've perfectly aligned with the Monster Association's overarching plan. The ensuing chaos would have crippled the Hero Association's operations, weakening public trust and clearing the way for a larger assault.
But Shinji had eliminated the teor effortlessly. The entire incident, orchestrated solely by Psykos to serve her personal ambitions, ended up benefiting no one else in the organization.
Although most monsters didn't know Psykos's real motives, the failed deploynt of Elder Centipede had already stirred discontent. Her grip on the association, never absolute to begin with, was now visibly weakening.
So executives had always harbored doubts, and not all of them were completely loyal.
Take Black Sperm, a Dragon-level monster whose raw power made him one of the strongest mbers. His allegiance was always conditional, driven more by convenience than conviction.
"So your position at the top's starting to wobble a little, huh?" Shinji asked, watching her carefully.
"Yeah," Psykos admitted with a nod. "But even before this, I didn't have full control over the whole association."
"Well, since this started because you helped before, it's only fair I help you handle it now."
Shinji owed her a debt, one he wasn't going to ignore.
"...And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" Psykos narrowed her eyes, clearly intrigued.
"Isn't the Monster Association still missing a 'Monster King'?" he asked with a slight smile.
"You're finally willing to beco that king?"
Psykos's voice imdiately rose in excitent, her anticipation obvious.
"Sothing like that," Shinji replied, his tone deliberately vague. "Though not exactly."
...
Not long after, Shinji followed Gyoro-Gyoro into the massive underground arena the Monster Association used for high-level etings and declarations.
Every executive and core monster had gathered. They stood in layered rings, watching the center from elevated platforms. The tension was palpable.
Gyoro-Gyoro addressed them, his voice echoing throughout the arena. "This eting has been called to deliver a critical announcent."
He paused for effect, then continued. "Our king... has arrived."
Shinji stood silently behind Gyoro-Gyoro, concealed from the monsters' view. Then he raised his right hand and ford a single hand seal.
"Summoning Technique..."
A swirling vortex of chakra erupted at his feet. The space twisted violently as a monstrous figure began to erge.
"Demonic Statue of the Outer Path!"
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