"Alright. It seems King really does have some strength."
After releasing the hypnosis of Aizen's Eidolon, Aizen spoke calmly.
To everyone else, only five or six minutes had passed.
Aizen had stood still the entire time.
No explosions. No clash. No spectacle.
Tony, Gareth Ironblade, and Child Emperor stared in confusion.
"What did you even do?"
"Was that… some kind of psychic duel?"
"Who won?!"
Aiden Cross explained:
"Eidolon controls the five senses. Without you noticing, Aizen already 'fought' King."
Only Aiden Cross had remained unaffected.
Aizen adjusted his glasses.
"Inside the illusion, I struck King thousands of times. Every slash was lethal."
"But he never moved. Never dodged. Never showed fear."
"Either he disdains defending against my attacks… or he saw through Eidolon."
"I was mistaken. King truly possesses S-Class strength."
King, meanwhile, was dying inside.
I didn't react because I didn't even know anything happened…
Child Emperor beamed. "As expected of King!"
Tony grumbled. "That was the least entertaining fight I've ever not seen."
Child Emperor puffed up. "King's opening move alone can make Dragon-level threats wet themselves. If he used his ultimate here, New York would be gone."
Tony shut up.
Then he brightened.
"Fine. If we can't see it—let's simulate it."
He called in a delivery via JARVIS and produced a sleek VR combat helmet.
"Virtual combat. Full simulation. No real injuries. Unlimited fighting as long as your mind holds up."
Aiden Cross took the helmet, inspected it once—
[Detected virtual simulation technology. Extract to Hero Training Room?]
"Yes."
The entire Hero Training Room trembled.
In an instant, everyone felt it:
Their bodies had become data constructs inside the space.
Death here would not affect reality.
As administrator, Aiden Cross could now simulate any enemy, equipment, bloodline, battlefield.
Tony stared.
"…You just casually did what would take me 15 years."
Aiden Cross snapped his fingers.
"Good. Since most of you are here, let's play a little game."
"A game?"
"Hero War."
He smiled.
"You'll fight each other in virtual combat. I'll analyze your weaknesses."
"Outstanding performers will receive energy points, equipment, and bloodline rewards."
Silence.
Then—
Eyes lit up across the room.
Rewards from Aiden Cross were never low-tier.
Heroes across headquarters were summoned back.
Positions spread out across the massive simulation field.
A grand, chaotic—
Heroic War
—was about to begin.
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