Above the now-vanished Z-City, a single coin appeared out of nowhere and dropped onto the ruined ground, producing a crisp sound that echoed sharply through the silence.
Without warning, scattered points of light began to appear, gathering together as they ford a human figure piece by piece. From head to toe, Lucien's body reconstructed itself until he stood whole once again.
The mont Lucien appeared, a terrifying surge of energy erupted uncontrollably from his body. The entire Earth trembled violently, as both the sky and the land quaked under the pressure.
A monstrous hurricane burst outward from Z-City, tearing through everything in its path. The ground shattered, mountains crumbled, and the planet itself seed to groan as if it were being ripped apart.
Golden-white energy surged around Lucien, gradually shifting into a liquid-like state, flowing like molten rcury across his body. Lightning crackled through the air, splitting the sky, while entire mountain ranges vanished under the overwhelming force.
Lucien slowly opened his eyes, still slightly dazed.
The most striking change was imdiate. His athyst eyes flickered, then transford completely into a flowing golden-white hue. His black hair and dark brows followed, turning the sa radiant color as streams of light moved across them like living energy.
It felt as if invisible shackles had been shattered.
His very existence had evolved.
The difference was no longer just strength. It was the gap between a human and sothing far beyond.
Lucien raised his hands, staring at the flowing energy coating his skin. It no longer burned like before. Instead, it moved smoothly, like a living current under his control.
Inside his body, his Ki had undergone a complete transformation. Compared to before his death, it was at least ten tis stronger, denser, and far more refined.
It was not just power that had changed.
His body and spirit had both stepped into an entirely new realm.
Lucien closed his eyes, trying to stabilize the overwhelming energy surging through him. It resisted his control, like a beast that had just been unleashed.
At the sa ti, he could still sense the presence of the Soul Fruit within him.
His gamble had paid off.
A familiar interface appeared before him.
"Near-death ability has reached maximum activation, exceeding personal potential, entering temporary cooldown."
"Life shackles broken."
"Life has evolved, currently in Phase One."
The "Near-death ability" was still listed, but it had dimd, indicating it was temporarily unusable.
Lucien opened his eyes again. His golden-white pupils flowed like liquid light, completely pure, without a single flaw.
"Life shackles broken... so I've evolved?"
He clenched his fists.
The surrounding air twisted violently, space itself trembling under the pressure.
If life shackles were limits placed on existence, then he had just shattered them. He had stepped beyond the boundaries of what he once was.
He was still human.
But at the sa ti, he was no longer human.
And this was only Phase One.
A faint smile ford on Lucien's lips.
"If this continues..."
The thought of further evolution stirred sothing dangerous within him.
Even though he had lost a Revival Coin and his near-death ability was now inactive, he did not feel any regret.
What he gained far outweighed what he lost.
His Ki had not only increased in quantity but had also undergone a complete qualitative change. A single strand of his current Ki could rival hundreds of what he once possessed.
More importantly, his perception had sharpened drastically.
The world itself looked different now.
Clearer.
Sharper.
As if he had stepped from a blurred image into perfect clarity.
While Lucien was still adjusting to his new state, a sudden pressure descended from the sky.
Two blazing cots streaked across the atmosphere, crashing toward the North Pole.
At that sa mont, Mars collapsed and exploded into fragnts.
Lucien turned his gaze upward.
Without hesitation, his body transford into a streak of golden-white light and vanished.
A deafening explosion followed.
A massive shockwave spread across the North Pole, erasing everything in its path. The land rose and split apart, magma surged upward, and the entire region turned into a blazing inferno.
"Cough... cough..."
Nana lay on the shattered ground, her body covered in blood and dust. Her Solar Armor was cracked like broken glass, barely holding together as it slowly repaired itself. For a brief mont, her exposed skin was visible before the armor sealed again.
Her axe lay nearby, shattered but also regenerating.
Her breathing was uneven.
The one-minute peak of her ultimate state had ended.
Her strength was already beginning to fade.
Across from her stood Saitama.
His upper body was bare, his gloves long gone, and traces of blood stained his mouth. Despite his appearance, his expression remained calm.
He was still the sa.
Unshaken.
Even at her peak, Nana had failed to defeat him. At best, she had managed to injure him slightly.
The gap between them remained overwhelming.
Nana forced herself to stand, gripping her axe as it returned to her hand. Her face was pale, her expression uncertain.
She knew the truth.
She had lost.
If she could not win at her strongest, there was no chance now.
Retreat was the only option.
But before she could act, a voice interrupted.
"You're actually still alive."
Lucien descended from the sky, his golden-white form radiating overwhelming pressure.
Nana's eyes widened in disbelief.
It was not just that he survived.
He had changed.
Completely.
If not for his face, she would not have recognized him.
His eyes, hair, even his aura, everything was different.
More dangerous.
More terrifying.
Saitama blinked, staring at Lucien.
"... you look different."
He tilted his head slightly.
"You got stronger too."
Lucien glanced at him briefly.
"We can talk later. I'll handle this."
His Ki surged uncontrollably, eager for release.
Fighting was the fastest way to stabilize it.
Saitama shook his head.
"No. I just started."
Lucien raised two fingers, golden-white energy flowing across them.
"Twenty tons. You decide what to eat."
Saitama hesitated, glancing at Nana before replying.
"Thirty tons."
"Deal."
"Alright."
Saitama nodded, though a hint of regret crossed his face.
He should have asked for more.
Nana's expression darkened as she watched the exchange.
They were treating her like she no longer mattered.
Her decision was already made.
"You're full of surprises," she said coldly, tightening her grip on her weapon. "Looks like this mission has failed."
She was abandoning the hunt.
Because standing before her now was not just one monster.
But two.
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