"Ok, I never refuse a challenge," replied Boros.
"Come with me," Genos said, leading Boros and Saitama to the wasteland where he had originally fought Saitama. They stood face-to-face, with Saitama standing off to the side, looking confused and uninterested in what was happening.
Genos bowed slightly, aware of the difference in their levels but more determined than ever to test his abilities against such a formidable warrior. Boros crossed his arms, his eye burning with a hint of impatience, but also curiosity.
"I won't hold back, Boros," Genos declared in his mechanical voice as the turbines in his arms began to hum. "This is the perfect chance to measure my new upgrades."
Boros smirked. "Just know, even when I hold back, I remain a threat."
A flash of determination crossed Genos' eyes. "That doesn't scare me."
The battle began in an instant. Genos launched forward, a trail of flames blazing behind him as his thrusters roared. His cybernetic arms transformed into heavy cannons, unleashing a barrage of energy projectiles immediately.
Boros dodged each shot with disconcerting ease, his movements impossibly fast and precise. Despite his fatigue from his earlier fight with Saitama, his agility remained nearly supernatural. Genos intensified his barrage, bombarding Boros with continuous blasts, but the alien warrior seemed to anticipate every attack.
"Too slow." Boros nearly teleported behind Genos in a flash of light and delivered a swift kick to the cyborg's back, sending him crashing through a massive rock, which shattered on impact.
Genos quickly recovered, his body partially damaged but functional. His reactive systems instantly compensated, and his eyes glowed a fierce yellow.
"Ultimate Incineration!" he shouted, releasing a colossal wave of blue and white flames that scorched the air around him.
Boros, though impressed, stood firm. Extending his hand, he channeled his regenerative energy for protection. The wave of fire engulfed him, but as the flames dissipated, he emerged unscathed.
"Not bad... but I know you can do better," Boros said, clenching his fists, his eye glowing with purple energy. He struck the ground with such force that a crater formed beneath him, and the earth trembled. A burst of energy sent Genos flying backward, slamming into the ground.
The cyborg slowly stood, sparks flying from his chest. But he wasn't ready to give up.
"Full system boost! Power increase to 120%!"
Genos' entire body began to vibrate, metal parts realigning, and internal motors spinning at full capacity. His speed and power surged all at once. He charged at such a speed that he became nearly invisible, suddenly reappearing in front of Boros with a flurry of devastating punches.
Boros blocked each strike with calculated ease, but he could feel the sheer determination behind every blow. Genos wasn't holding anything back. The clash of metal and energy created shockwaves that cracked the ground beneath them.
"This is good," Boros murmured. "But you need to aim higher, push even further!"
With measured force, Boros unleashed an energy-charged punch that sent Genos hurtling into the sky. The cyborg corrected his trajectory with his thrusters, but Boros was already waiting on the ground, prepared to strike again.
This time, however, Boros hesitated. He knew his own strength, and even while holding back, a direct hit could completely disable the cyborg. Instead, he restrained himself, catching Genos by the neck mid-air.
"That's enough for today," Boros announced, releasing Genos. "You have potential, but you still lack the raw power to compete with opponents like me."
Genos, exhausted despite his cybernetic enhancements, gently landed on the ground, his circuits still burning from the previous assaults. He clenched his fists, frustrated yet grateful for the experience.
"Thank you..." he finally said.
"Saitama, I'll see you later. I need to find a place to stay," Boros said, turning away and walking into the distance.
Left amidst the ruins, Genos stood still for a moment.
"I need more power," he whispered. "It's time to see Dr. Kuseno for an upgrade."
Standing up, Genos turned to Saitama. "I'm going to be out for a while. I need to improve."
"Ha, okay," replied Saitama with his usual nonchalant expression.
.............
Later that day…
After this fight, Boros attempted to adjust to life on Earth. He worked to suppress his immense power and learned to use human equipment. Thanks to Genos, he also became aware of the Hero Association, hero rankings, and threat levels.
"It's a good thing this town is deserted," Boros thought. "I can use the empty buildings to train without causing too much destruction."
Meanwhile, a few hours later, Dr. Kuseno finished repairing and upgrading Genos.
"That's it. You're good to go," Kuseno said, stepping back.
"Thank you, Doctor," Genos replied, rising from the operating table.
"If you want to continue improving, I've developed something that might interest you." The doctor walked to a nearby table and picked up a sleek helmet.
"This is the Virtual Grappling Simulator, or VGS," Kuseno explained. "It's a headset that simulates battles against monsters whose data you can upload. It allows you to train virtually, even against foes you've faced before."
Genos took the helmet, intrigued. "Thank you, Doctor. I'll start immediately."
He downloaded Boros' combat data into the headset and began training.
..............
Meanwhile, in City Z…
Boros roamed the abandoned City Z, growing increasingly bored. He occasionally encountered wolf- and tiger-level monsters but found them uninteresting. They were no match for his power and fell easily.
"Humm, what's that," Boros sensed a dragon-level monster nearby. Curious, he moved to confront it.
"It's a cockroach," Boros muttered as he approached.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked.
"I heard a powerful monster is roaming this town," replied the cockroach. "I came to recruit you into the Monster Association."
"The Monster Association?" Boros asked.
"Yes, we're planning a war against the Hero Association, and we need powerful monsters like you. Our cadres include several dragon-level threats, and our leader is the strongest monster on Earth."
Boros raised an eyebrow. "So, this Monster Association is essentially a gathering of the strongest creatures this planet has to offer?"
"Exactly," the cockroach said excitedly, assuming Boros shared their hatred for heroes.
"Very well then," Boros replied, a glimmer of interest in his eye. "Take me to your leader."