---
The ship groaned as it shifted through the vacuum of space, its metal bulkheads reverberating under the strain of constant damage. Saitama could feel it—an ominous tension rippling through *The Argentum*. With the oxygen system restored, they had bought themselves some time, but the impostors were regrouping for their final assault.
Magmate flickered beside him, the lava creature's molten surface glowing brighter in the ship's dim light. Its presence was a comfort in the face of mounting danger, but even with its power, Saitama knew they were far from safe.
---
[New Mission Unlocked: Defeat the Shadowmaster.]
[Warning: The remaining impostors have converged under the command of the Shadowmaster. This is their strongest form yet. Proceed with caution.]
---
Saitama's expression hardened. "Shadowmaster, huh? Guess they're pulling out all the stops."
Magmate growled in agreement, its molten body rippling with heat. The ship's layout appeared in Saitama's vision, marking the location of the Shadowmaster—deep within the reactor room. It was clear that the final showdown would be nothing short of catastrophic.
He took a step forward, ready for what lay ahead, when a sudden chill swept over the corridor. The temperature dropped sharply, and the lights overhead began to flicker erratically. Saitama instinctively raised his guard.
"Something's wrong," he muttered, scanning the surroundings.
From the shadows of the hallway, three figures emerged. Saitama immediately recognized them—_Nova_, _Zephyr_, and _Nix_, their forms cloaked in darkness, eyes glowing with malevolent intent. These impostors had undergone a transformation; their bodies were wreathed in black mist, their strength enhanced by the Shadowmaster's influence.
---
[Warning: Impostors have entered Shadow Form. Their attacks are faster and deadlier. New skills available.]
---
Saitama's system pulsed, updating his abilities once again.
---
[Skill Acquisition: Solar Flare — Harness the energy of the sun to create a blinding flash, temporarily incapacitating enemies.]
[Skill Enhancement: Inferno Strike (Lv. 2) — Strike with twice the force, now causing a chain reaction of fiery explosions.]
---
Saitama smiled grimly. "This'll be fun."
Nova moved first, her hands crackling with dark energy as she launched a barrage of shadow bolts toward Saitama and Magmate. The projectiles screamed through the air, leaving a trail of black smoke in their wake. But Saitama was ready.
With a quick leap, he dodged the attack, and Magmate raised its molten arms, forming a fiery shield that incinerated the incoming bolts. The two impostors regrouped, their glowing eyes locked on their target.
"Magmate," Saitama said, his voice calm despite the chaos, "let's show them what we've got."
---
Without warning, Saitama activated **Solar Flare**. A brilliant flash of light exploded from his body, illuminating the entire corridor with the intensity of a supernova. The shadow-cloaked impostors recoiled, their forms flickering as the light disrupted their abilities.
Seizing the moment, Saitama charged forward with **Inferno Strike**, his fist blazing with raw power. He aimed directly at Nova, the strongest of the three. His punch connected with a thunderous boom, and the force of the blow sent her flying into the nearest wall, flames erupting on impact.
Nova screamed as the fiery explosion engulfed her, her shadow form disintegrating under the immense heat. Zephyr and Nix, still blinded by the light, stumbled back in confusion, their defenses shattered.
Magmate roared and unleashed a torrent of molten lava, sending waves of searing fire toward the remaining impostors. Zephyr barely managed to avoid the attack, but Nix wasn't so lucky. The molten lava crashed into him, his shadow form melting away as he was consumed by the flames.
---
Saitama didn't pause. He lunged toward Zephyr, his fist glowing with the power of **Inferno Strike (Lv. 2)**. Zephyr, now desperate, summoned a vortex of wind in a last-ditch attempt to escape. But it was too late.
Saitama's fiery punch connected, and the air around them exploded in a chain reaction of fiery blasts. Zephyr let out a strangled cry as the explosions ripped through his body, his shadow form collapsing into nothingness.
---
The corridor was silent once more. The impostors had been defeated, but Saitama could feel the tension still hanging in the air. This was only a prelude to the real battle. The Shadowmaster was still out there, lurking deep within the reactor room, waiting for them.
Saitama turned to Magmate, who was watching him with molten eyes. "Let's end this."
Magmate gave a low growl of agreement, its fiery body surging with renewed energy. Together, they moved toward the reactor room, their steps echoing in the hollow corridors of *The Argentum*.
---
As they approached the reactor room, the system gave another warning:
---
[Warning: The Shadowmaster controls this domain. All incoming light is absorbed. Vision is impaired.]
[New Skill Acquired: Magmate Fusion — The host can fuse with Magmate, gaining enhanced fire-based attacks and immunity to shadow abilities.]
---
Saitama's eyes widened at the new skill. Fusing with Magmate? It sounded dangerous but also powerful. He could feel Magmate's excitement building beside him—the creature was eager to unleash its full potential.
Taking a deep breath, Saitama made the decision.
---
"Magmate," he called, "let's do this."
Magmate roared in response, its molten body swirling around Saitama. The fusion process was instantaneous. In a blinding flash of heat and light, Saitama felt Magmate's power coursing through his veins, his body enveloped in a fiery aura. His skin glowed with a molten sheen, and his fists crackled with the force of a supernova.
The reactor room doors opened with a loud hiss, revealing a massive, swirling vortex of shadows at its center. The Shadowmaster hovered above it, its form barely visible, cloaked in a swirling black mist.
"You've come," the Shadowmaster hissed, its voice echoing through the chamber. "But you're too late. This ship will be ours, and you'll burn in the void."
Saitama stepped forward, his voice calm but filled with resolve. "Not today."
The final battle had begun.
---