Seeing that A2 could actually pass through the wall, 2B and Tifa couldn't help but show their shock. Then, they both turned their gaze to Loren.
"Boss, how… how did she do that?"
"This is the power of nanotechnology," Loren replied. "A2's body is composed of countless nanoparticles. Each particle contains a CPU and a power source, all of which can be freely controlled by A2 herself."
"She can instantly coalesce into a single entity or separate into individual particles," he continued. "This means A2 can freely manipulate her own density, allowing the nanoparticles to slip through the gaps between molecules—effectively achieving matter penetration."
"Of course," he added, "because of the strong intermolecular forces, slipping through those gaps isn't easy. It requires a tremendous amount of energy. Normally, I wouldn't recommend A2 do this—but since we're testing combat capabilities, it makes sense to try out every ability."
"It can change its density at will and pass through molecular gaps? That's way too overpowered!" Tifa's eyes widened in shock.
Then, 2B suddenly spoke up, her voice laced with unexpected curiosity. "Boss, I just heard Sister A2 say she can experience the true joy of being a woman. Is that true?"
At those words, Loren felt a sinking sensation in his gut. He wanted to shake his head and deny it—but 2B had already caught his expression.
"Boss, you can't lie to me. Is it true? Can Sister A2 really be just like a real human woman?"
Seeing how determined 2B was to get an answer, Loren couldn't bring himself to lie. He gave a silent nod and began to explain.
"It's not that she's a real woman. It's more like… a human-like sensation simulated using artificially synthesized hormones. There's still a significant difference between that and an actual human being."
"How big a difference?" 2B pressed.
"The highest similarity we've managed to simulate so far is 90%," Loren replied with a faint smile. "We still have a long way to go before reaching 100%."
He'd assumed that would be enough to temper 2B's enthusiasm.
Instead, her eyes lit up the moment she heard "90%."
"Boss, I want to level up! I want to become like Sister A2—I want to experience the true joy of being a woman too!"
"Me too, Boss!" Tifa chimed in, her gaze filled with longing as she looked at Loren.
After all, even if it wasn't 100% accurate, 90% was already far better than feeling nothing at all.
Seeing their eagerness, Loren didn't have the heart to disappoint them. He nodded immediately.
"Don't worry—even if you hadn't asked, I was already planning to upgrade you. It's just that constructing your new bodies will take some time. You'll have to be patient."
"No problem!" 2B and Tifa said in unison, beaming. They were more than willing to take another step toward becoming human—especially if it didn't come at the cost of their combat capabilities.
While they continued their excited discussion behind the glass partition, A2 had already approached Bruce Banner.
The moment she stepped into the cage, Bruce—who had been sitting with his eyes half-closed—opened them fully and fixed his gaze on her.
He'd been imprisoned here ever since that mysterious silver-haired woman knocked him unconscious on Central Street.
At first, he'd been furious and resistant, even attempting to escape by transforming into the Hulk.
But every time he tried, a cloud of green gas would flood the cage, suppressing the transformation before it could complete.
Once he caught a whiff of it, his body immediately went numb, as if he'd been electrocuted, leaving him unable to move.
He couldn't even perform basic actions, let alone escape.
After several attempts, he gradually gave up on the idea and stopped trying to force his way out.
From that point on, the silver-haired woman who had defeated him before began visiting regularly, deliberately provoking him until he transformed into the Hulk.
Over the past month or so, he'd lost count of how many times she'd come—he'd grown numb to it all.
At first, he thought she was there to kill him. But as her visits increased in frequency, he realized that was exactly what she was trying to do.
Eventually, he understood: she was merely using him as a toy to pass the time.
Whenever she grew bored, she'd come to fight him. Once she'd had her fill, she'd release a green poison gas that plunged him into a coma.
It was as if he were nothing more than a training dummy.
Thus, he came to hate that silver-haired woman with every fiber of his being.
When someone suddenly entered the room, he instinctively assumed it was her again.
But upon closer inspection, he saw that the woman standing before him was entirely different.
Confusion flickered across his face.
"Hulk—is that it? I've heard you're strong. Come and fight me!"
"If you beat me, you can leave this place. But if you lose, you'll have to give me a vial of blood."
A2 regarded Bruce Banner with a cold, unwavering expression, her tone absolute.
Bruce frowned, eyeing her with clear displeasure.
"Why should I believe you? Everyone here is crazy. I have no interest in playing your games. Get your boss out here—I want to see him."
"You are not qualified to meet my boss," A2 replied, "until you defeat me."
As she spoke, she raised her hand and gave a slight wave.
Instantly, an exquisitely crafted black Embroidered Spring Blade rapidly coalesced from nano-Adamantium alloy.
Thanks to her nanotechnology, A2 could reshape her form into any weapon—and the Embroidered Spring Blade was merely one of many.
She favored Chinese cold weapons simply because her boss did.
Seeing A2 draw her weapon without another word, Bruce knew talking was pointless.
He let out a thunderous roar, and his body began swelling at a visible rate.
In an instant, he transformed into a three-meter-tall green giant.
When A2 saw Bruce successfully become the Hulk, a flicker of surprise crossed her face.
"No wonder 2B uses you as a whetstone—you really are quite intimidating!"
Ignoring her comment, the Hulk lunged at A2 the moment he appeared, like a wild beast stripped of reason.
Yet A2 stood perfectly still as he charged.
The Hulk grinned maliciously, already picturing her flying from the force of his punch.
But to his shock, the A2 before him suddenly seemed like an illusion—his fist passed straight through her.
Before he could react, A2 had already phased through his body and reappeared behind him.
In a flash, the Embroidered Spring Blade slashed like lightning.
A deep, bone-revealing gash split open across his back, and he grimaced in pain.
Throughout it all, A2 never turned around.
With a flick of her wrist, she let the blood coating her blade drip into a glass test tube she'd prepared in advance.
The entire sequence lasted less than five seconds—Loren's assignment was complete.
Outside the cage, the three onlookers stood stunned.
"Amazing!!"
While A2 and the Hulk were still locked in combat inside t
he cage, dozens of kilometers away from Morgan Manor—at Osborn Tower—a one-armed man was sneaking into a laboratory.
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