Chương 149: Chapter 141: The Dimensional Tether

Several hours after the second invasion had been violently quelled. The atmosphere inside the highly-secured briefing room of the Hero Association Headquarters in A-City was thick with an oppressive, suffocating dread. The sprawling, circular obsidian table was fully occupied. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, casting long, sharp shadows across the faces of humanity's greatest defenders. Sitch stood at the head of the table. His tie loosened, a sheen of cold sweat covering his forehead.

Beside him stood Sekingar, his single organic eye narrowed in deep, strategic contemplation. Around the table, sat twelve members of the S-Class, alongside the A-Class Rank 1 idol.

"First and foremost," Sitch began, his voice trembling slightly before he cleared his throat to project authority.

"On behalf of the Hero Association, I must express our profound gratitude. You successfully suppressed a coordinated, multi-city extinction-level event. I also wish to formally acknowledge the assistance of Silver Fang and Superalloy Darkshine. Though they have officially retired from our ranks, their actions in D-City and M-City today saved countless lives."

"They still possess the true beauty of heroes in their hearts!" Puri-Puri Prisoner declared passionately, wiping a dramatic tear from his eye.

"Their tanktops remain strong, even in retirement," Tanktop Master nodded solemnly, his arms crossed over his massive chest. Sitch leaned heavily on the table.

"However... we are not here to celebrate. We are here to discuss the terrifying reality that these extradimensional eldritch monsters have returned after nearly three months of absolute silence. And more concerningly, they have adapted."

"They were undeniably more repulsive," Amai Mask scoffed, inspecting his pristine fingernails with a look of absolute disgust.

"But they were also significantly denser. Their carapaces required far more physical exertion to shatter. It was a chore."

"Only if your technique is fundamentally flawed and sluggish, idol," Flashy Flash retorted coldly, not even bothering to look at Amai Mask.

"My blade encountered resistance, yes, but speed eclipses armor."

"Keep your arrogant delusions to yourself, ninja," Amai Mask's eyes narrowed into lethal slits.

"Can we focus, please?" Zombieman sighed, exhaling a long plume of gray smoke from his cigarette. The undead hero looked exhausted, his trench coat still torn from the cosmic beams.

"These things aren't just beasts from another dimension. Based on how their cosmic beams bypass physical regeneration... I am beginning to suspect they originate from a higher plane of existence altogether."

"I agree with the undead," Atomic Samurai grunted, a toothpick resting casually between his teeth.

"When I cut them, the feedback through my katana felt... unnatural. As if they were rejecting the very laws of physics in our world."

"I don't care what plane of existence they come from!" Metal Bat slammed his weapon onto the table, leaning forward aggressively.

"Just point me to the boss! I had to cancel a zoo trip with Zenko for this garbage, and I'm itching to smash the main guy's skull in!" Crunch. Munch. Gulp. Pig God simply continued to aggressively devour a massive pile of cheeseburgers, entirely unfazed by the apocalyptic discussion.

"They broke easily enough in Q-City," Watchdog Man stated in a profoundly bored, deadpan voice, resting his chin on his fluffy paws. THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP. The legendary King Engine began to roar through the briefing room. Everyone turned to look at the scarred man. King sat with his arms crossed, his face an intimidating mask of battle-hardened fury. We're all going to die! King screamed internally, sweating bullets. If Saitama-shi doesn't come back, humanity is doomed!

"King is right to be furious," Sitch misinterpreted the heartbeat, nodding grimly.

"We survived the second wave. But there will undeniably be a third. It could happen in the next three months. It could be next week. It could be tomorrow. Or it could be in the next hour. We must remain absolutely vigilant."

"To stop the waves, we must find the source," Sekingar stated, pressing a button on his console.

"The progenitor. The entity Demon Cyborg identified as 'Void-Gorgon', which vanished nearly three months ago alongside Caped Baldy." Sitch looked around the room.

"And we may finally have a lead. During the attack on B-City, an advanced version of these multi-limbed monsters appeared. It possessed higher intelligence and regenerative capabilities. A 'commander' of the eldritch army. Demon Cyborg and Metal Knight engaged it." All eyes turned to Genos. The cyborg sat rigidly, his black sclera locked onto the center of the table.

"That is correct," Genos confirmed, his synthetic voice echoing with absolute seriousness.

"We successfully managed to capture the creature alive." A murmur of surprise rippled through the S-Class.

"You captured one of those monstrosities?" Tatsumaki scoffed, floating cross-legged a few inches above her chair. Her green aura flared slightly.

"Why didn't you just squash it, toaster?"

"Because, Tornado, mindless destruction yields zero intelligence," Sekingar answered for him. He typed a command, and the massive holographic monitor in the center of the obsidian table flared to life.

"Our science team, lead by Metal Knight, are currently in the middle of examining the specimen to reveal the creatures' background." The monitor displayed a live feed from the maximum-security underground laboratories beneath the Headquarters. Inside a heavily reinforced, completely sterile containment chamber, the advanced multi-limbed eldritch horror was suspended mid-air. It was trapped within a glowing, high-tech energy cube of Metal Knight's design.

The creature shrieked silently, thrashing against the cube while its half-destroyed body agonizedly, slowly regenerated dark cosmic particles. Outside the containment cube, dozens of automated surgical lasers and scanning drones hovered around the beast, performing a highly advanced, non-lethal autopsy. Standing behind the reinforced glass of the observation deck was the massive, hulking battle robot of Dr. Bofoi.

"Everyone, listen closely," Metal Knight's cold, synthesized voice echoed through the briefing room speakers.

"The one that Demon Cyborg and I captured is different than the others. It has the ability to regenerate, but gets slower everytime it received devastating damages. We are currently extracting the preliminary data." Child Emperor leaned forward, pulling a lollipop from his mouth, his young eyes sharp with genius intellect.

"Dr. Bofoi, what is the cellular structure of the advanced variant? Does it differ from the initial spawns we fought three months ago?"

"There is no cellular structure, Child Emperor," Metal Knight replied clinically.

"From my experiments thus far, I can confirm these multi-limbed monsters lack the physiology of any known living being. They do not possess DNA. They do not possess organs." Metal Knight pulled up a secondary screen, displaying a complex chemical readout.

"We briefly experimented on the tissue samples from the first invasion before they spontaneously disintegrated. Comparing that data to our live captive... reveals a terrifying truth. These are not mere 'cosmic dolls'. They are made of the exact same cosmic particles... but the particles have changed. They have evolved." The room went dead silent.

"Evolved?" Zombieman repeated, his eyes narrowing.

"Precisely," Metal Knight confirmed.

"This explains why the army was significantly stronger today. The 'commander' Demon Cyborg and I captured here is an even more advanced, highly evolved variant. Which means, mathematically, during the next invasion, there is a 98. 7% probability that multiple 'commanders' will deploy simultaneously." Sitch and Sekingar paled visibly. A single commander had required the combined efforts of Demon Cyborg, Sonic, and Metal Knight to subdue. An army of them would mean the end of the world.

"If the spawns are evolving..." Child Emperor muttered, his mind racing as he tapped his chin rapidly.

"Then the evolution must be stemming from the source. The progenitor!"

"Correct," Metal Knight theorized.

"The evolved particles suggest that whatever happened to Void-Gorgon after its encounter with Caped Baldy did not kill it. The 'main body' still exists outside our dimension. It is actively evolving, and therefore, forcing its entire spawn network to evolve alongside it."

"So the big boss is just sitting in another dimension, leveling up?" Metal Bat growled, gripping his bat.

"Then we need to find its exact location and drag it back here to smash it!"

"Metal Bat is right," Atomic Samurai agreed, his hand resting on his hilt.

"We must locate the main body to prevent further invasions." HISS. The heavy, reinforced doors of the briefing room suddenly slid open.

"And we need to do that now." Sitch, Sekingar, and the thirteen heroes in the room turned around in surprise. Standing in the doorway, his single red optic glowing menacingly from within his sleek, black metallic faceplate, was S-Class Rank 9.

"Drive Knight?!" Sitch gasped.

"Where have you been all this time?" Tanktop Master asked.

"You were completely absent during the multi-city battles today." Drive Knight walked smoothly into the room, his footsteps completely silent.

"While all of you were busy engaging the physical symptoms of the invasion, I have been investigating the underlying disease," Drive Knight stated coldly.

"For the past three months, since the first invasion, I have been exclusively researching the dimensional anomalies. I wanted to see if these extradimensional entities left behind any residual radiation or useful spatial energies." Drive Knight stepped up to the table. He interfaced his wrist-mounted computer with the central projector.

"But what I found is horrifying." The holographic monitor shifted. It displayed a massive, rotating 3D model of the Earth, extending outward into the surrounding solar system. Scattered across the globe, and floating in the cold vacuum of space, were thousands of microscopic, jagged, glowing red lines.

"My scanners have detected invisible dimensional 'cracks' residing between the atoms of our reality," Drive Knight explained, his voice entirely devoid of emotion.

"They are localized not just within the supercontinent, but across the entire planet, and extending into our immediate orbit." Drive Knight zoomed the hologram in on Z-City, and then on the cities attacked today.

"During the second invasion several hours ago, the spatial pressure spiked. The 'cracks' widened by exactly 12%." Drive Knight looked around the table.

"If these multi-limbed eldritch creatures continue to breach our world, the dimensional cracks will eventually become visible to the naked eye."

"And what happens when they do?" Amai Mask demanded, a hint of genuine unease in his voice. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Reality will undergo a catastrophic, localized collapse," Drive Knight stated bluntly.

"Our universe will shatter. It will be entirely destroyed, and we will simply disappear." A wave of absolute, blood-curdling terror washed over Sitch, Sekingar, and the heroes. This wasn't just about protecting cities anymore. The very fabric of their existence was actively unraveling.

"That is insane!" Puri-Puri Prisoner said, terrified.

"Our world... Everyone... will be erased from existence!"

"We need to do something about the 'leader' of these creatures! RIGHT NOW!" Sitch said in panic.

"I have a critical update," Metal Knight's voice suddenly broke the terrified silence. On the monitor, the automated surgical lasers pulled away from the captive monster.

"My science team has just completed the preliminary internal autopsy of the captive's core," Metal Knight reported, his synthetic voice carrying a rare note of genuine scientific shock.

"The creature possesses a highly volatile, residual 'warp energy' binding its cosmic forms together."

"Warp energy?" Genos asked, stepping forward, his core pulsing.

"Yes. This energy does not originate from the creature itself. It is acting like a dimensional tether," Metal Knight confirmed.

"It is constantly, rhythmically pinging back to the 'Main Body'. It is communicating with the Progenitor." Child Emperor's eyes widened to the size of saucers. He slammed his hands onto the table.

"A tether!" Child Emperor gasped in absolute realization.

"Dr. Bofoi! If we can extract and map the frequency of this warp energy, we could theoretically calculate the exact dimensional coordinates of the Progenitor!"

"But Void-Gorgon wasn't present during the invasion today," Zombieman noted, his eyes narrowing.

"Which means..."

"The eldritch Progenitor is actively residing outside of our dimension," Drive Knight finished the thought.

"It is outside our universe."

"If the 'main body' exists entirely outside of our universe," Atomic Samurai mused, his brow furrowing.

"Does that mean... there are other universes out there?"

"The Multiverse Theory. It is the only logical conclusion," Drive Knight agreed, his red optic glowing brightly.

"If Void-Gorgon is traversing between realities, it is highly probable that these multi-limbed eldritch monsters are currently invading other universes as well." Sitch gripped the edges of the obsidian table, his knuckles turning white. His face was completely drained of color.

"This is not Disaster Level: Dragon anymore," Sitch whispered, his voice trembling with the absolute, crushing weight of his realization.

"Not even Above Dragon." Sitch looked up, meeting the eyes of the greatest heroes on Earth.

"This is now confirmed to be Disaster Level: God." The silence that followed was absolute.

"We have to prevent our universe from being destroyed," Sekingar stated, his voice hard as steel.

"We now possess the means to locate the exact whereabouts of Void-Gorgon."

"However, we cannot simply fire a missile through a dimensional tear," Drive Knight interjected coldly.

"We need someone to directly interface with the extracted warp energy and actively track the coordinates in real-time."

"We need someone to literally step outside our dimension. To cross the multiverse," Child Emperor realized, his young voice trembling slightly.

"And... there is absolutely no guarantee they will be able to return easily. The spatial pressure could tear a biological body apart." The S-Class heroes exchanged heavy, uncertain glances. It was a suicide mission into the absolute unknown. Genos, who had been standing perfectly silent, staring at the holographic image of the warp energy tether, took a single, heavy step forward.

"I'll do it." Sitch, Sekingar, Drive Knight, and all the other heroes snapped their heads toward the cyborg. Genos stood tall, his metallic body reflecting the harsh lights of the briefing room. He looked at Sitch with absolute, unyielding resolve.

"I volunteer to interface with the energy and track the coordinates," Genos declared.

"Are you an idiot, toaster?!" Tatsumaki suddenly shouted, floating directly into Genos's face, her green aura flaring with genuine, hidden anxiety.

"You're talking about jumping into a dimensional void! You'll be turned into scrap iron!"

"Demon Cyborg, it's incredibly dangerous!" Child Emperor pleaded, running around the table.

"We don't know what that warp energy will do to your core! It could completely overload your reactor!" Genos looked down at the boy genius, and then at the Esper.

"My cybernetic brain can process raw spatial data exponentially faster than standard Hero Association mainframes," Genos explained, his voice calm, rational, and entirely devoid of fear.

"A biological brain would be shattered by the multidimensional input. My chassis can be shielded." Genos turned his gaze back to Sitch, his mechanical eyes narrowing into sharp, deadly slits.

"Furthermore, I faced the Progenitor itself three months ago, right before my Sensei arrived. I possess Void-Gorgon's original spatial data recorded in my hard drive. I can match the frequency." Genos clenched his metallic fists.

"I am the only one suitable for this operation. I can do this. I have to." Sitch, Sekingar, and all the heroes in the room stared at the Demon Cyborg. They saw the absolute, terrifying determination burning within his glowing core. It wasn't just a sense of duty to the universe. Genos wanted to find Void-Gorgon. Because if he found Void-Gorgon... He would find Saitama. The S-Class heroes remained silent, sensing the immovable, desperate loyalty of the cyborg.

Flashy Flash looked at the face of the determined cyborg. He is clearly looking for him, isn't he? Flash thought, as he remembered his encounter with the Caped Baldy during the battle in the Monster Association hideout under Z-City. He was one of the few people who aware of Saitama's true strength. Tatsumaki clicked her tongue, floating back to her chair, looking away with a frustrated pout. Child Emperor bit his lip, gripping his lollipop stick tightly. It seemed like there was absolutely no other way.

Sitch and Sekingar shared a long, heavy look. The fate of the universe, and the multiverse, was hanging by a thread. Sekingar nodded slowly. Sitch took a deep breath, looking back at Genos.

"Very well, Demon Cyborg," Sitch agreed, his voice echoing with finality.

"The operation is a go."

Several hours later, miles away from the suffocating, bureaucratic tension of the Hero Association Headquarters, the air was thick with the scent of ozone, scorched metal, and synthetic oil. Deep within the subterranean confines of Dr. Kuseno's Hidden Laboratory, a symphony of high-tech machinery, hydraulic presses, and automated welding lasers echoed through the expansive cavern. Genos was suspended in the center of the room within a massive, circular diagnostic cradle.

Heavy robotic arms moved with surgical precision, meticulously stripping away his heavily damaged battle plating. Sparks rained down onto the sterile white floor as the automated lasers fused entirely new, experimental alloys directly into his cybernetic endoskeleton. Standing at the base of the control console, monitoring a dozen rapidly scrolling holographic screens, was Dr. Kuseno. The elderly scientist looked incredibly exhausted.

Deep, dark bags hung beneath his eyes, and his usually neat mushroom-shaped hair was slightly disheveled. He wiped a streak of grease from his cheek with a heavy rag, looking up at the young cyborg he viewed as a son. Genos had just finished explaining the entirety of the S-Class briefing. He had detailed Metal Knight's horrifying discovery of the dimensional "warp energy", Drive Knight's apocalyptic findings regarding the cracking of their universe.

And, most importantly, his own unyielding volunteer mission to interface with the captured entity's tether. Dr. Kuseno let out a long, heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world.

"Genos..." Dr. Kuseno began, his voice trembling slightly with profound, fatherly worry. He stepped away from the console, walking up to the edge of the diagnostic cradle.

"I have built you to withstand the fires of Hell itself. I have upgraded you to fight dragons and titans. But what you are asking me to prepare you for... this is entirely beyond the realm of terrestrial science." Genos looked down at the doctor, his golden optical sensors glowing steadily in the dimly lit lab.

"The Hero Association requires a cybernetic mind to process the spatial coordinates, Doctor. I am the only one capable."

"It is not the processing power that worries me!" Dr. Kuseno snapped, a rare flash of genuine anger breaking through his gentle demeanor. He gripped the metal railing of the cradle tightly.

"You are talking about intentionally siphoning and interfacing with unfiltered, extradimensional warp energy! This isn't electricity or plasma, Genos. It is the raw, chaotic fabric of a higher plane of existence!" Dr. Kuseno looked into the cyborg's eyes, his expression pleading.

"The spatial pressure alone could completely melt your core. The dimensional turbulence will try to tear your chassis apart, atom by atom. If your reactor reaches critical mass while you are caught in the void between universes... you will not just die. You will be erased from reality." Genos fell silent. The automated robotic arms continued to work around him, slotting heavy, dense pieces of pitch-black armor over his reinforced chest cavity.

"I am aware of the risks, Doctor," Genos finally spoke, his synthetic voice dropping to a low, solemn register.

"Then why must you throw yourself into the abyss?!" Dr. Kuseno implored, his voice cracking.

"Let Metal Knight send a drone! Let the Association find another way!" Genos clenched his partially assembled metallic fists. The orange heat of his core flared brightly, casting a warm, fierce glow across the laboratory walls.

"Because I failed to save him," Genos stated, his voice thick with a raw, agonizing guilt that defied his mechanical nature. Dr. Kuseno paused, his eyes widening slightly.

"Three months ago, in Z-City..." Genos continued, staring at his newly forged, pitch-black metal hands.

"When Saitama-sensei's Normal Punch connected with the Progenitor, the sheer force of the impact compressed the monster's biology against the fabric of space itself. I watched the local dimensional plane literally crack open." Genos lowered his head, the orange glow of his core flickering with the heavy burden of his memories.

"I was entirely useless, Doctor. Before Sensei arrived, the monster's tendril had instantly severed my left arm. I had been sent crashing through three consecutive office buildings. When Sensei stepped forward to fight, my chassis integrity was at thirty percent, my core stabilization was failing, and I was missing half of my torso." Genos clenched his metallic fists, his artificial joints groaning under the pressure.

"When the reality-tearing shockwave hit, I could not even reach out to pull him back. I was simply standing there in the rubble, using my single remaining robotic hand to shield Sensei's plastic grocery bag against my chest. I watched the ruined buildings and the violet sky dissolve into an absolute, blinding white. I watched him fall into the void, and I lacked the power to stop it." Genos slowly looked back up at the elderly scientist, his optical sensors burning with absolute, unshakeable resolve.

"I failed to save my Sensei once, Doctor," Genos declared, his voice ringing with absolute finality.

"I will not let this sole opportunity slip away. Even if the spatial pressure crushes my body... even if it costs me my life... I must track that tether. I have to find him." Dr. Kuseno stared at the young cyborg for a long, torturous minute. He saw the immovable determination in Genos's glowing eyes. He knew that no amount of logic, fear, or pleading could extinguish the loyalty Genos held for the bald hero. Dr. Kuseno closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"You and your reckless devotion," Dr. Kuseno whispered, a sad, fond smile touching his lips. He opened his eyes, his scientific brilliance completely overriding his fear.

"Very well, Genos. If you are going to plunge into the abyss... then I will ensure you are the sharpest blade in the dark." Dr. Kuseno turned back to his control console, his fingers flying across the holographic keyboards with blinding speed.

"I am completely overhauling your internal reactor," Dr. Kuseno announced, his voice taking on a sharp, commanding, professional tone.

"I am integrating a highly experimental 'Dimensional Container Device' directly into your chest cavity. It is designed to act as a localized vacuum. When you interface with the captured monster, the device will safely siphon and contain the warp energy, preventing it from directly touching your core."

"Understood," Genos nodded as the robotic arms moved faster, sealing his chest plate.

"Also, I am replacing your entire outer chassis with a hyper-dense, shock-absorbent composite alloy," Dr. Kuseno continued, typing furiously.

"It is significantly heavier, but it is the only material I have that might withstand the crushing gravitational pressure of crossing universes." For the next several hours, the laboratory became a blur of frantic, highly advanced mechanical surgery. Dr. Kuseno worked like a man possessed, pouring every ounce of his genius, his resources, and his love into fortifying the cyborg. Finally, the hydraulic presses hissed, releasing a cloud of white steam. The robotic arms retracted into the ceiling.

The diagnostic cradle slowly lowered Genos to the floor. The cyborg stepped out of the steam. His appearance was completely transformed, far more advanced and intimidating than any previous upgrade. The sleek, silver plating was gone. His new cybernetic limbs were forged from pitch-black metal, interlaced with intricate, futuristic designs.

Bright, glowing orange lines of internal heat pulsed rhythmically along his arms and chest, highlighting the immense, contained power of his upgraded core and the new Dimensional Container Device. Genos picked up the clothes Dr. Kuseno had laid out for him. A pair of durable dark jeans and a casual, sleeveless hooded jacket that perfectly accommodated his new, bulky black-and-orange shoulders. He pulled the hood up slightly, testing the mobility of his new chassis.

The power coursing through his artificial veins was astronomical.

"How do you feel?" Dr. Kuseno asked, wiping his brow with a towel.

"My energy output has increased by four hundred percent. The integration of the Container Device is flawless," Genos reported, clenching and unclenching his black metallic fists.

"Thank you, Dr. Kuseno." Despite the successful installation, the heavy worry had not left the doctor's eyes. He looked at Genos's new, futuristic frame, his heart aching with the terrifying knowledge of where the boy was about to go.

"Remember my advice, Genos," Dr. Kuseno warned sternly.

"Once you initiate the extraction, the energy will fight you. You must maintain absolute focus on the spatial coordinates. Do not let the void overwhelm your sensors."

"I will secure the coordinates," Genos promised. A heavy silence settled over the laboratory. Genos looked down at the floor, the bright orange lines on his arms pulsing softly.

"Doctor..." Genos began, his voice surprisingly hesitant.

"Yes?" Dr. Kuseno looked at him curiously. Genos looked up, his expression deeply solemn.

"If the dimensional pressure proves too great. If I fail to anchor myself, and I never return to this universe..." Genos bowed his head deeply.

"I plead with you. Please, do not let my primary mission die with me. Continue the search for the Rampaging Cyborg that destroyed my hometown. Avenge my family." The request hung in the air, heavy with the weight of four years of shared grief and relentless pursuit. Dr. Kuseno dropped his towel onto the console. He walked slowly across the sterile floor, stopping directly in front of the heavily armed cyborg. Genos raised his head, expecting a somber nod of agreement. Instead, Dr. Kuseno's eyes were fierce.

"No." Genos blinked, his optical sensors widening in sheer surprise.

"Doctor?"

"I will do no such thing," Dr. Kuseno stated, his voice ringing with absolute, unyielding authority. He reached out, placing a firm, warm hand on Genos's cold, black metallic shoulder.

"You will find that cyborg yourself, Genos," Dr. Kuseno declared, looking him dead in the eye." When you return." Genos stared at the elderly scientist, entirely taken aback by the fierce rejection of his dying wish.

"I did not spend the last ten hours rebuilding you just for you to give up before you even step through the door," Dr. Kuseno said, a gentle, immensely proud smile breaking through his stern facade.

"I believe in you, Genos. You are stronger than the void. You will survive this." Genos felt a strange, profound warmth in his chest that had absolutely nothing to do with his nuclear core. He looked at the hand resting on his shoulder, and the profound, fatherly trust in the doctor's eyes. Slowly, the tension left Genos's shoulders. The absolute, fatalistic dread that had haunted him for three months finally released its grip on his soul.

"Understood," Genos nodded firmly. Genos turned around, his heavy black boots clanking against the floor as he walked toward the exit of the laboratory, fully prepared to march into the Hero Association's maximum-security holding cell. As the heavy steel blast doors began to slide open, Dr. Kuseno called out to him one last time.

"Genos." The cyborg stopped. He turned back, looking over his shoulder at the brilliant scientist who had given him a second chance at life. Dr. Kuseno smiled warmly.

"Save the universe." His eyes shining with unshed tears.

"And bring him home." Genos's usual, stoic expression melted away. A rare, completely genuine, and deeply confident smile graced his organic face. Genos gave a firm, respectful nod.

"I will, Doctor."