Genos's core, which had just ignited with a golden flame, quickly dimmed, reverting to an orange-red.
The excessive energy drain, coupled with the immense mental shock he received, left him half-kneeling on the ground, unable to rise.
His most powerful attack, one that touched the realm of "Resonance," was insignificant to his enemy.
This feeling of powerlessness was more destructive to his fighting spirit than any physical attack.
"It was... just shedding its skin..."
Bomb's voice was hoarse, and his clenched fists trembled slightly from the exertion.
As a Martial Arts Grandmaster, he had faced countless powerful enemies in his life, but never before had he felt such despair, unable to see even a glimmer of hope for victory.
The opponent's defense had already exceeded the scope of what "Martial Arts" could handle.
Bang's situation was even more perilous.
He remained on Elder Centipede's back, and the owner of this "platform" beneath him was exuding an unprecedentedly tyrannical aura.
That even more hideous and twisted human face was now observing the tiny golden robot on the ground with interest, as if appreciating an amusing toy.
"Hehehe... a very entertaining sideshow."
Elder Centipede's laughter echoed throughout the ruins of Z-City.
"Human potential is indeed commendable. However, how can the light of a firefly contend with the brilliance of the full moon?"
Before he finished speaking, his body began to undergo astonishing changes!
"Crack! Crack! Crrrack—!"
A grating sound of bones and carapace rubbing together rang out.
On both sides of Elder Centipede's previously relatively smooth carapace, cracks suddenly appeared.
Immediately after, countless blade-like carapaces, gleaming with a metallic cold light, burst open from the cracks!
"No!" Bomb's pupils constricted, and he roared upwards, "A-Bang! Get down now!"
However, it was already too late.
"Die!"
Elder Centipede let out an earth-shattering roar.
"Secret Art · Myriad Slashes, Thousand Rips, Hellish Journey!"
His mountain-like body, with extraordinary flexibility, suddenly began to roll at high speed in place!
The earth was easily plowed open, and swathes of trees were instantly leveled and pulverized!
Bang, caught at the edge of the storm, pushed Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist to its pinnacle, weaving through the gaps between countless blades, but was constantly forced to retreat.
On the other side, Bomb, relying on the ferocity of Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist, continuously shattered the giant rocks that were being flung up, but his burly body was already covered in wounds.
If this continued, both of them would be exhausted to death.
The two brothers exchanged glances across the destructive blade storm, both seeing the same resolute will in each other's eyes.
It was time.
It was time... to unleash that combined Secret Art, one they themselves couldn't fully control, one they hadn't used in decades!
"Brother!"
Bang roared, his figure suddenly spun, no longer dodging, but instead using the wind pressure of a slashing attack to charge towards Bomb like a cannonball!
"Come on!"
Bomb understood instantly, thrusting both palms forward, unleashing a massive vacuum wave that forcibly tore open a gap in the attacks in front of him.
Now!
Bang's figure ghosted through the gap, landing steadily beside Bomb.
Back to back, facing the converging attacks from all directions, their breathing synchronized perfectly at this moment.
"It's been a long time since we used this, A-Bang." Bomb's voice was deep and powerful.
"Indeed, brother."
Bang's eyes were sharp, "Let this monster witness the Martial Arts · Pinnacle of us brothers!"
The instant his words fell, two distinctly different auras surged skyward from the two Martial Arts Grandmasters!
Around Bang, the airflow became as gentle as flowing water; this was the subtlety and inclusiveness of "Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist."
Beneath Bomb's feet, the earth cracked, and the air shrieked as it was sliced by his aura; this was the ferocity and sharpness of "Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist."
One soft, one hard, two completely opposing styles, guided by the two grandmasters' tacit understanding, began to attract and fuse!
"Hah—!!!"
They both stepped forward simultaneously, slowly pushing their palms out.
The supple "ki" and the fierce "ki" converged in front of their palms, forming a visible energy vortex.
At the center of the vortex, space began to twist, groaning under the strain!
"Taste this, monster!"
"Water Stream Whirlwind..."
The two brothers spoke in unison, suddenly thrusting the energy, fused with their life's work, forward!
"Booming Air-Rending Fist!!!"
An invisible impact violently erupted!
Wherever this impact passed, countless blades couldn't even offer a moment's resistance, and were directly shattered into a sky full of dust, like dry rot being swept away!
And this destructive impact ultimately slammed fiercely into Elder Centipede's colossal body!
"Thump—"
An extremely dull, colossal thud exploded over the entire Z-City ruins!
Elder Centipede's rapidly spinning massive body suddenly stiffened.
The entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence.
Did it succeed!?
A glimmer of hope ignited simultaneously in Bomb and Bang's eyes.
However, in the next second, this glimmer of hope was completely shattered by reality.
The area struck by the "Booming Air-Rending Fist," a massive carapace hundreds of meters long, did not explode as expected.
Instead, countless spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surface of Elder Centipede's carapace.
"Crunch... crunch..."
The crisp sound of cracking was particularly grating on the battlefield.
Immediately after, that large section of cracked carapace peeled off in one piece, like a cicada's exuvia!
And beneath the shattered old shell was a perfectly intact, new carapace, its luster even deeper and darker than before!
Another... molting!
Their ultimate Secret Art, on which they had staked everything, resulted in nothing more than... knocking off a layer of its shell!
"This... how is this possible..."
Bomb murmured, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Hehehe... hehehehe..."
Elder Centipede's spine-chilling laughter rang out again, filled with endless mockery.
"So that's it, is this your final trump card? Truly... you've disappointed me greatly."
"You can't even make me feel a hint of pain, you pinnacle of human Martial Arts."
His hideous giant face slowly turned, locking onto Bang and Bomb nearby, killing intent boiling.
"Game over."
His massive head lifted high, aimed at the two who could no longer resist.
Destruction was imminent.
However, in Bang's eyes, flames reignited at this moment.
It wasn't the fire of hope, but the resolute determination to burn his life to its last ember.
He tore off his clothes, took a deep breath, and mobilized all his physical strength.
His breathing technique had silently activated at some point, and his body was slightly hunched, assuming an unprecedented final stance.
He knew he could no longer save Garou, nor could he save Z-City.
But at least, as a Martial Artist and even more so as a hero, he would fight to the very last moment!
Even if this strike would turn him to dust on the spot, he would leave a true... scar on this monster!