Rural Area of Chicago — Urban Border Zone — Tuesday, April 16, 2013 — 5:42 PM
The creature was the size of a military truck, yet it moved with the grace of a feline. Its four elongated limbs tore into the ground with each step. Its tail, thick at the base and split at the tip like a bundle of living sensors, slowly rose, scanning the air as if it were "sniffing" the city from afar.
It crouched. Its entire body lowered, muscles tightening beneath its living carapace. The field went silent for a second... until the creature surged forward.
With a single leap, it crossed the first thirty meters in less than a second, shredding an entire row of cornfields with one swing of its tail. The barn exploded into fragments. The farmer ran, but before he could even look back, the creature had already vanished from his view — and from most security cameras in the area.
Further ahead, on a nearby road, cars began to brake sharply. Traffic came to a standstill as the creature crossed the lane, ignoring everything around it yet still leaving a trail of destruction. A fuel truck was partially crushed by the impact of one of its limbs. The driver crawled out through the shattered door.
From the Channel 6 news chopper above Chicago, a reporter and cameraman observed through the lenses of an advanced drone already surveying the area. The cameraman's eyes widened as the creature abruptly stopped in the middle of a clearing.
It seemed... to be listening.
Its tail rose again, the tips vibrating like high-frequency sensors. A sharp hum filled the air for a few seconds — imperceptible to humans, but picked up by the chopper's equipment. The creature turned its head in a mechanical motion, aiming its eyeless face directly toward the city, as if it had finally locked onto its target.
And in that instant, terror took shape.
The first sirens began to wail on the edge of the urban perimeter. Police cruisers and automated containment drones were activated. The GDA was already en route. But the city didn't know — not yet — that this wasn't just another monster.
This was something new. Something... from somewhere else.
Northern Perimeter of Chicago — 5:45 PM
The GDA military helicopter cut through the sky at a steady pace, its rotors drowning out every other sound. Inside, three young heroes prepared for what, up to now, seemed like just another containment mission.
Reflex tightened the straps of her tactical vest, eyes fixed on the tablet screen in her hand. Drone footage showed the creature standing at the forest's edge, near the road that led to the suburbs.
"It's... listening."
Her voice came out low, almost to herself.
Across the cabin, Vortex stared out the side window, eyes wide and hands fidgeting. He took deep breaths in rhythmic cycles, trying to keep his anxiety in check.
"I've never seen anything like this..." he murmured. "This... this isn't like the training sessions."
Atlas, seated opposite them, rolled his shoulders as if warming up for a fight. A slight smile played on his lips, but his eyes betrayed that he, too, felt the weight of the mission.
"Here comes the fun," he said, confident. "But let's be honest... that thing probably isn't as big up close."
Reflex shot him an annoyed glance.
"You want to measure a monster by its height or by how many people it can kill?"
The communicator on the dashboard came to life. Mirage's voice came through, firm as she coordinated the drones around the containment zone.
"Landing authorized. Stay alert. You are the first response team. Contain until reinforcements arrive. I repeat: contain."
The helicopter descended swiftly. As the doors opened, cold wind slapped their faces. Reflex was the first to leap out, activating the duplication module on her suit. Two copies materialized at her sides, mimicking her movements.
Vortex jumped next, hands already spinning, spirals of air forming around him like a shield.
Atlas was the last to drop, landing with enough force to crack the concrete of an old road beneath them. He crossed his arms with a cocky grin.
"Ready for the show."
They moved in formation to the edge of the forest.
And that's when they saw the creature.
None of them spoke.
It looked even bigger in person. Its body emitted a dense, dark mist, and even standing still, its movements radiated raw power — something that shouldn't exist.
Reflex swallowed hard. Vortex took a step back instinctively. Atlas leaned slightly forward into a combat stance, but his smile had vanished.
"That's her..." Atlas muttered.
"Her who?" Reflex asked.
"I saw one of these things. In the lab where I grew up... in Russia. But that one was smaller. Way smaller."
The creature lifted its head. And stared directly at them.
The air grew heavy.
Its tail rose again... and the creature lunged.
With a deep roar that vibrated through the ground, it charged the young heroes with brutal speed, tearing trenches into the earth with its front limbs. Reflex and her copies scattered instinctively, creating multiple targets. Vortex concentrated air around the group, trying to raise a containment barrier. Atlas was already airborne, shooting toward the creature like a missile.
But it didn't move like a normal animal.
In the next instant, the creature swerved sharply, as if predicting Atlas's trajectory, and twisted its body violently. The sensory tail struck the ground just inches from one of Reflex's copies — then slashed through the space where Vortex's whirlwind had been.
The impact flung Vortex into the air, but he spun midair and softened his landing with a reverse vortex. Still, he slammed into a tree and dropped to his knees, breathless.
Reflex charged in from behind, trying to find a rhythm in the creature's movement — but there was none. Every step was erratic, as if it danced to an alien logic. When it struck, Reflex only survived because she triggered her newly unlocked ability: reflex swap — switching places with a clone three meters away at the last second.
The cost was high. The destroyed clone caused a feedback surge, and the original fell to her knees moments later, pale and sweating.
"I can't... predict it…" she whispered.
Above, Atlas fired a laser blast directly at the creature's back. The beam hit solid, but ricocheted, leaving only a charred streak across its hide.
His eyes widened.
"My skin isn't even that tough..." he murmured, noticing that the creature's claws had torn through his reinforced suit — and the superficial wound beneath it proved the real danger.
Still flying, he joined Reflex and Vortex in a combined attack. The strategy was to use Reflex's new ability: an active clone would serve as a reflection shield, absorbing an attack and sending it back at full force.
The creature charged — and Reflex, staggering, shouted:
"Now!"
The clone leapt in front of the beast just as its paw came down hard. There was a flash and a heavy sound — the reflected energy hurled the creature several meters to the side, opening a clearing on impact.
For a moment, silence.
The three exchanged looks of relief.
But it didn't last.
The creature rose again with a fiercer roar, its tail whipping through the air like a serpent before lashing directly at Reflex.
She tried to jump, but exhaustion caught up — the tail slammed into her foot, and she was sent flying, rolling until she crashed against a tree. A sharp scream pierced the air.
"Damn it! Reflex!" Vortex shouted, running toward her, but the creature didn't give him a chance.
It twisted its body and hurled an uprooted tree with its claws straight at the news chopper.
The tree grazed the rotor — just enough to destabilize the flight. The helicopter began to spin, losing altitude.
Atlas rocketed forward and caught the aircraft's base before it crashed. With effort, he stabilized it and landed it safely a few meters away, leaving the crew unharmed.
"They're safe. Whew."
He paused... and looked at the hovering drone.
"Hey, is that thing still recording?"
One of the reporters, voice trembling, replied.
"I-It's still recording. Thank you, Atlas."
Atlas ran a hand through his hair.
"Perfect."
Meanwhile, the creature lunged at Vortex, who barely managed to raise a wall of wind. The attack was held back, but the force was insane — he was thrown like a rag doll, hitting a rock and losing his breath.
That's when two reinforcements arrived.
From one side of the road, a black GDA SUV skidded to a halt. Kiana jumped from the passenger seat, already wearing her Silver uniform, weapon in hand. She ran straight to where Vortex was trying to get up, helping him to his feet.
"What's the situation?" she asked, eyes scanning his injuries.
Panting, Vortex looked at her.
"Bad. Our comms went dead the moment the creature roared."
From above, another figure appeared — fast and low. Kai, eyes glowing blue, floated precisely above the tallest tree, surveying everything.
And then he saw her.
Silver.
Part of her face hidden behind a mask. The almost-white hair. The way she moved. The voice that showed concern for her teammate...
It was impossible not to recognize her.
Kiana?
It was too much of a coincidence for her to have left at the exact same time under the same urgency. There was no more doubt.
On the other side, Atlas landed slowly, making sure the news drone got a good angle.
"You got all that? Good. Now I can get back to the show."
He launched toward the creature again, his grin renewed, just as the night began to swallow the skies over Chicago.
The creature didn't even look tired.
Its black, pupil-less eyes locked onto Vortex, as if it were seeing him again—or maybe recognizing him as a disposable threat.
Vortex was still partially leaning on Kiana's arm, panting, when the creature leapt toward him. It was a massive leap, the deformed body breaking the ground like a living cannonball. Its tail vibrated, whistling through the air with murderous intent.
"Strong blast, now!" shouted Silver, already aiming her weapon.
Vortex nodded with narrowed eyes. He drew in the air around them with force, concentrating all his energy into a single whirlwind—a spear of wind that hummed as if slicing through dimensions.
The moment he released the blast, Silver jumped. Midair, she channeled the wind synergy coming from Vortex into her weapon, which became wrapped in a flickering blue aura, almost alive. She twisted her body in the air, and at the exact moment of contact, unleashed a horizontal strike loaded with their combined power.
The blow hit the creature's back directly.
But it had no effect.
The monster didn't even flinch. A superficial scratch—nothing more. And then, it turned its head... straight at Silver.
She barely had time to land.
With a swift motion, the creature lunged, trying to bite her with multiple fangs, its mouth opening like a living trap. The world slowed for a second.
Silver saw it all, but her body wouldn't move in time.
Then, a dull thud. And the monster's jaw was violently knocked aside.
A blur, fast and precise, came from above—landing a punch straight into the creature's head, spinning it and breaking the rhythm of its attack.
It was Kai.
Or rather... Grey.
His white hair flowed freely with the impact. His eyes glowed blue. The dark suit with silver accents highlighted his silhouette midair as he landed gently between the creature and Silver.
"You okay?" he asked without turning his face.
Kiana stared in surprise—and stayed silent. That voice. That presence. That arrival. Everything... just like Kai.
The creature growled, but before it could react, a lightning strike crossed the sky.
Atlas had returned.
He came down like a rocket, hitting the opposite side of the creature with a flying kick, followed by a blast from his laser eyes. Grey charged from the other side, syncing his movements. He used his Viltrumite strength with precision, accelerating with the internal boost of the Blue, dodging, striking, and repositioning without wasting energy.
It was like watching an aerial dance.
Atlas attacked with brutality and arrogance. Grey with calm and calculation.
But no matter how many hits they landed, the creature endured. Its skin was thick like organic steel. Its muscles, rigid as fractured stone. No strike could pierce through.
In one exchange, the creature spun its blade-like tail and hit both at once.
Atlas was hurled into a tree, snapping the trunk on impact.
Grey tumbled across the ground, leaving a trail of dust, but quickly stood back up, breathing heavily, eyes still glowing, facing the advancing monster.
And just before the finishing blow—
A colossal pink hand appeared in the air and struck the beast with force, using its own momentum against it. The creature was dragged for meters, its body slamming into the ground and opening a crater.
A voice came from above.
"Need a hand?"
Atom Eve.
Floating with her arms raised, her pink-and-red suit glowing against the dark sky, eyes focused, her energy aura pulsing like a living star.
Silver, Vortex, and Reflex—still on the ground with a twisted ankle—watched the heroine with relief and awe.
Grey simply took a deep breath, as if knowing the fight was far from over.
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Dust still rose from where the creature had been thrown by Eve's energy blast. The nearby trees trembled, and the young heroes caught their breath. Silver stood up fully, supporting Vortex. Reflex, sitting further back, bit her lips hard as she tried to manage the pain in her ankle.
Grey remained standing, staring at the impact zone ahead, his eyes not as bright but still alert to every movement.
Eve slowly descended to the others' level, launching small pink spheres that orbited around her like sentinels.
"Everyone okay?" she asked.
Before anyone could answer, the creature let out a roar. A deep, guttural sound that echoed through the ground like a hollow thunder.
"It wasn't enough..." Grey muttered.
"Then let's go again," Eve replied firmly, taking position beside him.
Grey glanced toward her, and a slight smile appeared at her words.
That spark of life and that unwavering will to save the world—it radiated from her.
Meanwhile, further back, Atlas stood up with effort. The cut on his chest still bled, though under control. His suit was partially torn. And his expression... wasn't pain.
It was frustration.
He looked up at the sky, watching the ruined drones—pieces falling slowly like the fragments of a canceled spectacle.
"Damn it," he growled.
With a burst of flight, he pulled away from the group, hovering higher than everyone else.
"Look at this," he said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. "Our attacks did nothing. That thing doesn't even look tired."
"Then we keep trying," Eve shot back, her fists already glowing with pink energy.
"Keep trying?"—Atlas's voice was irritatingly rational. "If we stay here, we're all gonna die. One by one. You saw what it did to Vortex, to Reflex… it almost crushed Silver a minute ago."
Kiana narrowed her eyes behind the mask. Reflex grunted. Vortex looked down.
"If we fall back now, we regroup, come back with reinforcements. Someone actually strong. Omni-Man, or whoever… Then we win. Sacrificing everyone here isn't worth the risk."
Grey looked up at Atlas, trying to understand his point.
Eve crossed her arms, floating up to his level.
"And if it heads for the city?" she asked coldly.
Atlas hesitated. "They evacuate. Do what they have to. Lives can be saved if the heroes stay alive. If we die here, who's going to protect anyone after?"
Down below, Vortex clenched his fists. "You're thinking in numbers, Atlas. But there are people out there. Families in that city."
Reflex shouted, despite the pain, "Just admit it! You're bailing because the cameras went down!"
Atlas didn't respond. He turned in the air, giving them his back.
But he didn't leave. He just hovered, watching from above.
Grey lowered his head, breathing deeply.
His jaw clenched.
He's not wrong... but what a shitty way to think.
Silver turned to Grey.
She wanted to ask. Wanted to confirm the feeling in her chest—that growing certainty that he was Kai. But something more urgent loomed now.
The creature began to rise once more.
And this time... it looked angry.
The ground trembled with the creature's unsteady steps. Its movements were heavier now—not from exhaustion, but from rage. The massive body twisted like a mollusk clad in armor, its eyes shifting in opposite directions, sniffing for instinct, heat… fear.
Grey stepped forward in front of the others, his eyes subtly glowing blue. Each breath came heavy. He had no more illusions—his physical strength wasn't enough. He wasn't like the adult Viltrumites. And even if he were… that thing wasn't an ordinary creature.
It charged again—and hit all of them at once.
Reflex was thrown even without moving, the impact of air knocking her down like a dry leaf. Vortex tried to defend himself with a wall of wind, but the blow's force was too brutal—he flew spinning like a ragdoll and slammed into a tree, groaning as he dropped to his knees, breathless.
Eve launched a light orb, but it was intercepted by the creature's tail and sent flying backwards, skidding along the ground until she hit a rock.
Up above, Atlas hesitated. His eyes flickered. He saw the destruction—but didn't move. The blood dripping from the cut on his chest seemed to remind him that he was mortal too.
And Silver…
Silver tried to run, but her leg gave out. The earlier hit had done more damage than she had admitted. Her body fell under the weight of exhaustion.
The creature's shadow loomed over her.
"Silver!" shouted Reflex, crawling on the ground.
"No!" screamed Vortex, trying to lift his arm, but lacking the strength.
The creature's massive paw rose, distorting the air around it with its sheer weight.
And in that second suspended in time… Kiana opened her eyes.
She didn't feel anger. Or fear. Just acceptance.
So this is how it ends?
The light in the sky felt cold. The ground, far away. The sound, muffled. She didn't see anyone's eyes. She simply closed her own.
But someone was watching.
On the other side, Kai… Grey… saw everything.
His wounded body was still trying to react. But it was too late. He was too far.
Eve beside him—unconscious.
Atlas… frozen.
Reflex, helpless.
Vortex, defeated.
That scene—that instant—pierced something deep inside him.
Again… it's happening again…
The memory of the child. The accident.
The guilt and regret of not having done everything he could that time.
Not again.
The paw came down.
The impact shook the forest like an explosion. The ground caved beneath the creature, cracks spreading through the roots. A hollow, sharp sound followed, and then a wave of dust and shattered rock.
And then… silence.
Nothing but the muffled sound of gravel rolling over leaves.
Reflex screamed, but her voice vanished in the chaos.
Vortex stumbled forward, trying to reach the scene, but tripped over his own feet.
"Silver…!"
There was no answer.
Just dust. And a crater where she had been.
The air grew heavy, suffocating, as if the world were holding its breath.
Impending tragedy...
But not everything is as it seems.
In that fraction of a second...
Before the paw hit the ground...
Between the end of Kiana...
And the despair in Kai…
He did what he swore he would never do again.
The void pulsed.
And exploded.
Grey's eyes lit up like two blue stars, flickering with invisible electricity. The world around him slowed down. Once again, his actions defied his own beliefs.
He stopped everything.
It was a fold. A suspension. A tear in common reality, born purely from the urge not to lose again.
If I were him, this would be the moment I'd scream Muryō Kusho.
He flew.
Confident—not because he knew it would work, but because, this time, the outcome didn't matter. What mattered was that he tried.
Faster than before. Faster than should be possible.
In one instant, he was beside the creature.
In two, his arms were around Silver.
And in the third, he pulled her away.
And then… he was back.
The creature's paw slammed the ground—but not her.
Dust rose in a mushroom-shaped cloud. Stones cracked. Reflex and Vortex's screams echoed across the clearing.
As the dust began to settle…
A silhouette emerged at the edge of the clearing.
Reflex blinked, unable to believe it.
Vortex took a shaky step forward.
Silver… was alive.
Standing... was Grey. His eyes now dimmed, his body trembling. Still holding her in his arms.
He clutched her tightly, his fingers reluctant to let go—as if his body couldn't believe he had made it.
She looked at him, confused.
"What… happened?"
Vortex gasped. Reflex widened her eyes.
Grey remained silent.
He was breathing with difficulty. Muscles shaking.
Then, he took a step forward.
Another.
He stopped between them and the creature.
Fists clenched. Forehead drenched in sweat. Every fiber of his body straining to keep moving.
If I'm going to regret something… this time it's going to be for something I did…
He raised his gaze.
The creature roared again.
And Grey, even while gasping for breath, smiled faintly.
"…not for what I didn't do."
From above, Atlas still hovered in the air.
He had seen everything—or so he thought.
His eyes scanned the battlefield with precision, trying to understand what had just happened.
Grey… he had been far. On the other side. Wounded. And suddenly… he was there. With Silver in his arms, between Vortex and Reflex.
No gap. No transition. No logic.
How…?
The thought came before the reaction.
I was watching. I didn't blink, not even once. I didn't see him move.
His eyes tried to reprocess every frame, every instant.
She should've been hit… Was that teleportation? It makes no sense.
Then Eve arrived, flying in.
Blood dripped from a small cut on her forehead, but she didn't seem to notice. With eyes narrowed from the pain, she landed beside Grey, both of them panting, covered in dirt and scratches. The air reeked of smoke and wet earth.
She turned, assessing the situation. Reflex had propped herself up against a rock, still with her injured foot. Vortex stood, trembling, like a candle flickering in the wind. Silver was breathing slowly, lying where Grey had left her.
"And now?" Eve asked, without taking her eyes off the creature.
Grey swallowed hard. His body ached. His muscles screamed for rest. But his mind didn't. His mind was sharp.
He could see every opportunity to strike the creature, but he knew it was too resilient.
"Do you guys remember the Guardians' fight against the sea monster?" he murmured, his voice hoarse.
Vortex scoffed, still catching his breath.
"You're not seriously suggesting we get swallowed like Omni-Man, right? This thing has teeth… You'd be dead before you even hit the stomach."
"No, not that. Tough on the outside, but maybe not so much inside."
He closed his eyes for a second. He knew what needed to be done.
"When I give the signal, attack together at the same spot. I'll use everything I've got."
Then, he took flight.
With legs wobbling from exhaustion and uneven breath, Grey rose a few meters off the ground. Up high, he paused for a second, floating, his eyes now glowing a deeper blue. It was as if every cell in his body screamed it couldn't take any more. But he forced it anyway.
He focused the Blue into his left hand. And pulled his arm back, as if protecting something.
"Mugen," he whispered, generating an invisible wave as another Blue thrust launched him like an arrow. In a blink, he was midair, heading toward the creature.
The beast saw him. Tried to react. But not fast enough.
Grey struck like lightning, both feet slamming into the creature's skull with brutal force.
The sharp sound of the impact echoed like thunder.
He spun midair, using his flight and another Blue activation, never ceasing to channel energy in his left hand, repositioning himself to land another blow to the side of the monster's head, knocking its skull off-axis. A hit not strong enough to injure—but enough to disorient... or further enrage it.
Then, he hit the ground. Panting. Trembling. Sweating.
But there, standing under the monster, he saw the opening.
The muscles on the creature's left side began to tense.
But he was ready. And then came the strike.
He flew in the opposite direction, dodging by a hair's breadth and landed on the monster's back, which had its left torso exposed.
He raised his left arm toward the beast. His open hand trembled.
Now…
All of the void energy was channeled.
Slow.
Dense.
Powerful.
It was like holding a star silently imploding between his fingers.
Grey's eyes glowed with intense blue light. And his voice rose, heavy with the weight of someone who had gone past his limit—and still chose to go further.
"BLUE VOID!"
The sphere formed with a spiraling vortex of energy. It spun, vibrated, and roared in complete silence.
The strongest Blue technique he had ever used. Stronger than the Rock Cliff incident, when the void had responded on its own.
The force was brutal.
A hole opened in the creature's chest. Its ribs folded. The flesh, twisted and bubbling under the heat of the technique.
"NOW!" Grey shouted with everything left in his lungs.
And in that moment…
Vortex launched a focused gust of wind, slicing a path down to the fractured bones.
Eve soared high, forming a massive pink energy drill that spun so fast the air around it trembled. She dove like a comet, driving the drill into the wound.
Silver followed right after, channeling the remaining winds around her weapon and striking directly into the weak point, making the creature roar.
Its scream was guttural, distorted. It staggered, but was still alive.
And its roar wasn't that of something dying.
But then…
Atlas.
Up above, he watched.
Gritting his teeth.
"…Tch. That kid actually pulled it off."
He descended like a red bolt.
His eyes lit up.
And in the moment he stood before the hole in the creature's chest, while the others were still recovering from their combined attack, Atlas unleashed all the power of his lasers in a single burst.
The beam tore through the air.
Hit the creature's heart.
And stopped it.
The monster let out one final, muffled sound before falling backwards, its weight making the forest quake.
Silence.
Pure.
And sharp.
Atlas straightened, his eyes returning to normal. He wiped the corner of his mouth and muttered,
"It's done."
The field began to breathe again.
The silence that followed felt strange. Almost offensive.
The kind of silence that comes when the noise of life vanishes—or when death has just passed nearby.
The creature lay there, not moving a muscle. A defeated colossus, burned, torn, leaking a dark fluid that stained the grass and dirt.
Grey collapsed to his knees, his glowing eyes finally dimmed.
His heavy breathing sounded louder than any explosion. He was sweating so much that his mask clung to his face. His hands trembled from exhaustion. Staying conscious felt like a greater battle than the one against the creature.
Kiana, still dazed, approached him cautiously. Her eyes were fixed on him, as if the truth was about to reveal itself at any moment.
"You're... okay?" Kiana asked, her voice nearly breaking.
Grey didn't answer. He just nodded weakly, too drained to say anything else.
But she noticed...
His eyes aren't blue anymore.
Reflex staggered to a fallen log and sat down, rubbing her twisted ankle, not bothering to hide her exhaustion.
"If anyone says this was just another mission, I swear I'll throw my badge in Mirage's face," she muttered.
Vortex, leaning against a tree, laughed. A weak, broken laugh—but sincere.
"Welcome to the GDA. Anyone got an energy drink? Or maybe a new lung?"
Eve slowly descended to the ground. The pink light of her suit still flickered in places, but her face showed clear signs of fatigue.
"You all did well. Even scared. Even without certainty." She paused, looking at each of them. "This wasn't just any victory. You made a difference today."
Atlas, despite having fought, was still fine. Not a hint of fatigue. He wiped the dried blood from his chest and face with a torn piece of his shirt but didn't say anything.
His eyes met Grey's for a brief moment. No words were exchanged. Just a short nod. Recognition? Envy? Maybe both.
From above, the searchlights of a GDA helicopter lit up the clearing. More containment vehicles arrived. Drones. Medical teams.
The post-combat operation had begun.
Drones flew over the clearing, medics jumped out with stretchers and medical kits, surrounding the young fighters for evaluation. But Grey took a few steps back.
The feeling of the void... it was there. Silent. Warm. And hungry.
His head throbbed. His temples pulsed like his skull was about to split. The pain was intense, nearly unbearable. The world around him wavered between the muffled voices of the medics and the buzzing that filled his ears.
He knew that battle had come at a cost.
Beyond the consequences of his actions, something else was bothering him.
The fact that with the GDA's arrival… Nolan might come too.
Damn it. I need to get out of here.
So, taking a deep breath, he turned toward Eve. She was standing near a tree, still catching her breath.
"Hey, Atom-Eve," he called out, his voice quieter than usual. "I need a favor."
She approached, frowning when she saw him panting and trembling.
"You need medical attention. They're almost here. Just stay put, they'll help you."
Grey shook his head with a strained half-smile.
"I can't stay here. Help me. Like... when I saved you from that building fire, remember?"
She hesitated. Glanced at the approaching lights down the trail, then back at his face.
The memory was clear. She owed him.
With a small nod, she placed her hand on his shoulder and said,
"Alright... But tell me where."
"There's a park in the north district. With a gazebo. Drop me there."
Eve snapped her fingers. A pink flash enveloped them briefly, and in the next second, the two of them were soaring through the sky, leaving the GDA containment zone behind.
Kiana watched silently as the two disappeared into the sky. Her chest swelled with relief for being alive, but also something harder to face. Something that clenched inside her without permission.
Jealousy.
Her gaze remained locked on that pink glow fading among the clouds. Her thoughts returned to the moment she thought she was going to die—the exact moment the creature lunged to crush her—and then, in a blink, she was in his arms. Grey. Alive.
But it wasn't just the rescue.
The way he held her. How he pulled her away from the impact zone seconds before it collapsed. His eyes, his voice, his movements. The little coincidences that now screamed inside her.
It's Kai. I'm sure of it now. It can only be him.
Even with the different hair color, even with the suit... she knew.
Slowly, she looked away, swallowing the unsettling feeling she couldn't yet name. But deep down… there was gratitude. And a longing to understand all of it.
High above, Eve kept a steady flight despite the extra weight. Grey kept his eyes closed, breathing with difficulty, trying to suppress the pain.
"You're even worse off than you look, huh?" she said, trying to sound light.
"Just drop me at the park... I'll handle the rest," he murmured.
She didn't press further. She just sped up, her heart heavier than she'd like to admit.
And below them, Chicago carried on with its routine. Bright. Alive.
Completely unaware of what had nearly destroyed it that night.
Meanwhile — London, England — Bakerloo Line Underground
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 — 5:45 PM Chicago Time — 11:45 PM in London
The smoke still hadn't cleared.
The Bakerloo Line carriages, completely mangled, lay overturned at the bottom of the tunnel like crushed toys. The emergency lights blinked intermittently, bathing the wreckage in flashing tones of red and white. Everything smelled of burnt metal, oil, ozone... and acid.
The concrete had been corroded in multiple spots, opening jagged craters in the ground. Part of the platform looked melted. And at the center of it all, moving with the wet sound of pulsing muscle, it advanced.
The creature was a nightmare without a name.
It had purple, feral eyes—but it could sense everything, didn't seem to need them. Every vibration, every breath, every sound bouncing off the tunnel walls painted for it an invisible, complete, and detailed map.
Its hind legs, long and arched like those of an armored locust, sank deep into the concrete, propelling that bloated, deformed body forward with monstrous precision. The front legs—shorter and thicker—spat a jet of acidic fluid at one of the station's columns, making it collapse with a muffled rumble.
It could smell panic. And hunger.
That was when a violet flash split through the tunnel ceiling.
The creature jerked abruptly, its body coiling like a muscle ready to snap.
But from the sky, he had already fallen.
Cosmic.
Floating, cloaked in a pulsating aura of dark energy with glowing points like living constellations. His arms were already forming a circle in front of his chest, building a sphere of gravitational force, its rings spinning faster and faster.
"You're not getting out of here," Cosmic murmured.
The creature lunged.
Fast. Nearly instantaneous.
But the sphere pulsed, and the ground shook. The impact of the creature against the field sent a shockwave that rattled the rails for dozens of meters. It recoiled, roaring, as violet sparks crackled around it. For a few seconds, it stood still—contained.
Cosmic descended a few meters. His eyes were glowing intensely.
"Its core… it's pulsing. If it ruptures, it'll take this whole tunnel with it."
He began gathering energy around him, pulling floating debris into orbit as makeshift shields.
But the monster began to move again—more aggressively now.
Without warning, the creature launched itself again, this time burrowing beneath the field, clawing through the concrete to strike from below.
Before Cosmic could react, a shadow streaked overhead.
And then—a thunderous crash.
The tunnel wall exploded inward, and from the vacuum of dust emerged a figure cloaked in raw speed and brute force.
Omni-Man.
No announcement. No hesitation.
His fist struck the creature's flank with surgical precision, crushing one of its hind legs and hurling the beast sideways into the opposite wall, which crumbled from the impact.
"Am I late?" Nolan asked, landing beside Cosmic.
Cosmic nodded without taking his eyes off the creature. "Two minutes past ideal. But just in time to save my arm."
Nolan watched as the thing started to rise again.
"Its strength… it's comparable to one of the Roknath Kaiju," he noted clinically, referencing another planet.
"Didn't think you knew that planet. Well… similar, yeah, but this one spits acid—careful," said Cosmic.
"Then let's make sure it doesn't open its mouth."
They attacked together.
Cosmic summoned a gravitational dome around the creature, while Nolan circled it with lateral strikes, never aiming for the core. Each blow was measured with exacting precision—he knew a collapsed wall could mean civilian casualties.
Even so, the battle was savage.
The creature spat acid in multiple jets, created shockwaves with its movements, and adapted its attack patterns as the fight went on.
At one point, it feigned stillness—almost catching Cosmic in a tail strike.
But Nolan came from above, ripping the tail off in a burst of purple blood and placing himself between the threat and his ally.
"Thanks," murmured Cosmic.
"Focus. The field's fluctuating."
Cosmic nodded, then began compressing the creature, slowly restricting its movement. Nolan used every second to apply pressure—breaking bones, crushing joints that only existed thanks to its mutational design.
Finally, the monster roared in agony.
Cosmic funneled all his energy into one final pulse, and Nolan struck directly at the creature's chest—not to kill, but to collapse its internal structure all at once.
A flash of light swept through the tunnel.
And silence came right after.
Minutes later, both of them hovered above the city, watching the repairs begin.
Nolan wiped the blood from his shoulder. Cosmic adjusted the orbitals around his wrist.
Neither spoke for a moment.
"No casualties," Cosmic murmured.
Nolan nodded.
"But that was one of the strongest creatures I've ever faced."
"And it wasn't the worst one."
Cosmic looked toward Chicago.
So did Nolan.
"…The Young Team?"
"They just finished. Not long after us. The Guardians are still wrapping up in Mexico."
Nolan didn't respond.
But for a brief instant… his eyes narrowed slightly.
Meanwhile — Mexico Border — Desert Region
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 — 5:53 PM Chicago Time — 4:53 PM in Mexico
The golden light of dusk spilled across the desert horizon like hot oil over dry stone. In the sky, the last streaks of cloud were beginning to fade, revealing the lingering trails of creatures that had fallen like meteors.
The ground still sizzled. Amidst the cracked earth were shallow craters, and inside some of them... horrors stirred.
Fourteen.
Some creatures had beast-like forms, like fleshless wolves. Others resembled metallic scorpions or centipedes with human eyes. One walked with its claws turned skyward, as if it were upside down. None were alike. None seemed rational.
And they were moving.
"Visual contact confirmed," said Immortal, floating beside War Woman. His expression was grim. "How many can you see?"
"All of them. And they're scattered. This won't be easy," she replied, adjusting the grip on her sword.
Red Rush appeared just behind them, still wiping blood from his face—remnants from a previous engagement.
"We should divide and conquer. Fast. If they reach the nearby towns…"
"We can't let them," Green Ghost cut in, turning translucent for a moment. "I'll take the western flank. I need someone with me."
"Martian Man goes with you," Immortal grunted, not taking his eyes off the field. "Darkwing, Aquarus, you two cover the eastern perimeter. Nothing gets in or out."
Aquarus raised his trident, grumbling something unintelligible in his native tongue. Darkwing simply nodded, vanishing into the shadows of a dune.
"And the three of us will go straight through the middle," War Woman finished, pointing at herself, Immortal, and Red Rush. "We'll cut their line in half."
Without another word, the Guardians scattered.
Red Rush struck first.
His body moved like a crimson streak weaving between the creatures. In less than two seconds, five were already blind or missing limbs. But they didn't fall. Even shredded, they kept moving forward, driven by something that wasn't life—it was hunger.
War Woman descended like a lightning bolt onto one of the largest, her sword slicing the monster from top to bottom. A purple gush of corrosive fluid burst from the wound and splashed against her shield, vaporizing the metal. She retreated, surprised.
"They spit acid!"
Immortal roared, tearing through the air with his fists. A downward strike crushed the skull of a six-legged creature. But another was already leaping at him before the first body even hit the ground.
"They have strategy?" he muttered, twisting midair and punching the new threat mid-flight.
All around them, the desert resembled a battlefield between dimensions. The sands were stained with purple blood. Screams and roars were drowned only by the clash of fists and the crack of bones.
Green Ghost and Martian Man faced a creature that split into multiple smaller bodies, each regenerating rapidly.
"Slicing won't help—it reforms!" Martian Man shouted.
"Then we disintegrate it!" Green Ghost replied, channeling energy into green light that burned like acid against the fragments.
Above, Darkwing launched containment projectiles, trying to keep two creatures occupied. His movements were calculated, but even he could feel the pressure.
"We're no longer outnumbering them," he muttered, activating a new set of energy mines.
The battle stretched on, already lasting more than thirty minutes.
And for a moment, everything seemed to get worse.
War Woman took a glancing hit, her armor dented and the side of her face bloodied.
Red Rush stumbled after being ambushed by a creature invisible to radar—barely dodging by pure instinct.
Immortal had one arm crushed by twin jaws before tearing it free with his other hand.
That's when the GDA's internal comm system crackled to life.
"Central to Guardians: Young Team—Chicago—has confirmed neutralization of the primary creature."
Everyone heard it. Even the creatures seemed to hesitate.
Red Rush froze for a second, sweaty, his suit torn. He blinked.
"…Sorry, what?"
War Woman spun her sword and decapitated a creature approaching from behind.
"They took one of these down on their own?" Green Ghost asked over the radio, clearly surprised.
"No. What they fought was stronger than these individually. Young Team, plus two others offering support."
Darkwing appeared behind Red Rush.
"…Maybe we should've brought them with us," he muttered with a dry smirk. "And Omni-Man? That purple weirdo fighting in London?"
"They're done too."
Red Rush wiped blood from his face, exhaling with dry humor.
"Great. Now, besides almost dying, we get to be embarrassed too."
Immortal growled, his fist crushing the skull of the last creature in sight.
"If everyone finished before us… we've got a lot of catching up to do."
Chicago Sky, Illinois
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 — 6:52 PM
During the flight, neither of them said much, though Eve held back a few questions—there was still a lingering doubt, despite the different hair and eye color, that Grey might be the boy she had met in the past.
The sky over Chicago stretched out clear, as if it hadn't witnessed what had taken place hours earlier. Eve maintained a steady pace, occasionally glancing at the young hero beside her, lost in his own thoughts. The mask covered his face, but she could tell by his eyes, the tension in his shoulders, the way he clenched his fists, that he was holding in more than just physical pain.
"Can you get home from here on your own?" she asked as she gently landed in an empty park.
"I can."
"You should rest. Or at least talk to someone." She hesitated. "Some of us still care."
"Which is exactly why I should stay away."
Eve looked down for a moment. "Alright. I… know how that feels."
Grey started to walk away, but paused for a second. "Thanks for the ride."
She gave a faint smile. "Least I could do. Next time, try not to pass out mid-air."
He shook his head. "I'll try."
Eve waited until he vanished between the trees before taking off again... but something told her she should've stayed.
Beneath the shadows of the park, Kai removed his mask.
His face was pale. The edges of his eyes were red, still pulsing with the void's effects. He took a deep breath, twisted the ring, and his hair returned to its usual brown color.
He changed clothes right there, taking advantage of the darkness between the trees. He packed everything into the backpack he had hidden earlier.
He was alone. No creatures, no screams, no blasts of energy. The world seemed to have gone back to normal… or was faking it well.
He walked through the nearby blocks until he reached his street.
He opened the front door slowly, careful not to make a sound. Everything seemed calm. No footsteps. No voices. Apparently, Debbie and Mark were still upstairs.
Kai headed straight for the bathroom. He turned the shower to hot and let the water run down without rush. The blood from minor cuts slipped down the drain. The heat eased his muscles—but not the throbbing headache that kept building.
He dressed slowly, almost mechanically.
He walked down the stairs, towel still around his neck as he dried his hair, and made his way toward the kitchen. He planned to pretend nothing had happened.
But before he could get past the living room…
His vision darkened.
Kai staggered—one step, then another.
He managed to collapse onto the couch just in time, before his legs gave out completely.
And then, just like that, he passed out.
The void had come to collect its price.
Grayson House — Living Room
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 — 7:36 PM
A few minutes later, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. Mark came rushing down the stairs with a towel draped over his shoulders, hair still damp. Debbie was in the kitchen, finishing up the rice when she called out.
"Mark, can you help me set the table? Dinner's almost ready."
"Sure!" he answered, drying his hands on his pajama pants.
But just before reaching the kitchen, Mark stopped by the couch.
"…Kai?"
Debbie appeared in the kitchen doorway, drying her hands with a cloth. She followed her son's gaze and saw Kai lying on the couch, face turned into the cushions, shoulders slumped as if he'd simply collapsed there.
"How long has he been there?" Mark asked, curious.
"Hmm… I've been here about twenty minutes, didn't even see him come in," Debbie said, frowning. "I didn't hear the door…"
Mark stepped closer and gave his brother a light nudge. "Kai?"
Nothing.
"He's out cold," he murmured. "Not even flinching."
"Wasn't today the day for that club of his at school?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, he must've trained a lot."
Debbie stared at him a bit longer, thoughtful. "Let him rest. We'll take him to his room after dinner."
Just then, the doorknob turned. A dry click, followed by a gust of cold wind blowing in.
Nolan stepped in still wearing his hero suit. His cape was torn at the tip, his chest marked with soot, and his gloves slightly stained with dried blood.
"I'm home," he said with a calm but firm voice.
Mark's eyes widened. "Dad! Were you fighting a monster?"
Nolan nodded. "Didn't you watch the news today?"
Mark shrugged.
He glanced briefly toward the couch, seeing Kai still lying there, then headed to the kitchen.
Mark followed him, full of excitement. "So? How was it? Did you fight a giant monster again?"
Nolan quickly washed his hands at the sink, removing the worst of the grime, and poured himself a glass of water.
"Almost by myself. Cosmic got there before me. It was a tough fight, but we managed to contain the creature without casualties."
"Whoa… What did it look like?"
"Huge. Bloated. Spit acid everywhere. And it moved by sound. Like it was designed to hunt in the dark."
Debbie served the plates in silence, listening carefully to every word.
Nolan pulled out a chair.
"And Kai?"
Mark glanced again toward the living room. "Oh… Kai's out on the couch. He was there when I came down."
Nolan raised an eyebrow as he looked back. "For how long?"
"About twenty minutes, maybe? He probably passed out—he had that boxing club today."
Debbie finished setting the table and spoke casually.
"After dinner, can you carry him to bed? Sleeping on the couch like that's gonna mess up his neck."
Nolan nodded. "Of course."
She smiled faintly and sat at the table with them.
And in that seemingly ordinary home, on what seemed like just another night, while three of the Graysons quietly shared a meal—
—the fourth remained immersed in the shadows of the void, unmoving on the couch.
What looked like mere exhaustion was, in truth, a collapse.
His body burned from the inside, his head throbbed, and the void energy drained him in silence. His breathing was slow, heavy—
—as if even the act of existing was too much to bear.
Oakwood Highschool Academy
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 — Morning
That morning, Kai didn't show up at school. Since the night before, he had remained unconscious in his bed, right where Nolan had left him after dinner. The fever had gone down, but his body was still fighting to recover from the overwhelming strain. Mark, in his usual distracted manner, left the house without even noticing his brother was still asleep.
Meanwhile, Oakwood's hallways were buzzing.
Clips of the Young Team fighting the creature had started circulating on students' phones. Groups gathered to watch, speaking loudly about how one of the year's biggest threats had been taken down by a bunch of teenagers.
"Reflex, Vortex, Silver, and Atlas — they saved Chicago without the Guardians!"
"Dude, even Omni-Man was called to London!"
"The Guardians fought several smaller ones, and Omni-Man and Cosmic took down that other giant creature. They say they contained the monster without casualties."
"No way."
"I'm serious! That thing crushed a train!"
On the giant monitors in the main hall, the GDA was broadcasting edited clips from battles around the world. Footage of the Guardians in Mexico, Omni-Man's bursts of light over London, and a blue silhouette dragging a girl from a crater in Chicago had the entire school on edge. Even though Grey's identity hadn't been revealed, the rumor was already spreading.
And in the middle of it all, Liam, 34th in the ranking, was fuming.
"I'm so done with all this Grey crap."
He punched his locker, drawing attention.
"Last time, that Grey guy beat the hell out of David . If it weren't for him, that Kai kid would've learned his lesson already—but something always happens. Now that he's joined the boxing club, I'll find a way to challenge him so he can't run."
One of the boys next to him turned with a smirk.
"There's a thousand bucks for anyone who takes him down. You heard that, right?"
"Yeah, it was Chris. That kid's been hovering around Kiana. Now we've got money and revenge." Liam grinned. "Two great reasons to break that little bastard."
Across the courtyard, Kiana seemed different. Quiet. Eyes lost in the horizon.
Kai didn't show up.
His absence only confirmed what she already feared to believe.
It's him.
The moment she was nearly crushed still played on a loop in her head. In the blink of an eye, she had been one breath away from being hit. In the next… she was somewhere else, safe, in his arms. Far from the strike in an instant. She hadn't even seen the movement—it had just happened.
She hated the way her heart reacted when she thought of him. It wasn't fair.
A voice cut through her thoughts like a stone dropped into still water.
"left training quickly yesterday—same time as Kai... pretty suspicious, huh?" Cassie appeared with a teasing smile, her eyes full of mischief.
"Shut up. It's not like that. There's nothing going on between us," Kiana replied without even turning, eyes still fixed on the void ahead.
Cassie gave a short laugh and flopped onto the bench beside her. Samuel followed a moment later, sitting on Kiana's other side, surrounding her with a calm energy without asking permission.
"You two left together with a flimsy excuse… but knowing Kai, there's probably nothing there, right?" Samuel's tone was casual, but curious, like he was poking just to see what would move.
Kiana finally turned her gaze, frowning. "I wonder if he's okay."
Cassie shrugged, resting her elbows on her knees with a laid-back air.
"Maybe he just overslept."
Abandoned Industrial Zone – Warehouse 4
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 — 5:20 PM
The rusty metal gate creaked as it opened, revealing the dim warehouse inside. Outside, only dust and cracked concrete. Inside, the muffled sound of dry voices and bills being counted.
Ty walked beside Brian, saying nothing. His boots clicked against the floor stained with oil and smoke. The air was thick. Armed men stood watch from strategic points: shadows behind forklifts, rifles resting on old drums. No one smiled. No one waved.
At the center, a makeshift table of rusted metal. On top of it, stacks of money piled up like uneven towers. Each group stepped forward one at a time, handed over their share, and retreated in silence.
Behind the table, observing everything with dark, unreadable eyes, sat the man behind it all.
Tomás Salamanca.
Mexican. Well-trimmed beard. Dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled to the elbows. No tattoos — just a golden watch that looked far too old to shine that brightly. His accent was thick, but his posture… that spoke for itself. He didn't need to raise his voice. The tension around him did it for him.
At his sides stood two trusted men: a blond American in dark sunglasses, and a bald brute with a scarred jaw. Neither said a word. They just watched.
"The profit this week was… disappointing," Salamanca said, flipping through a wad of bills with his fingertips, as if touching something dirty. His voice was low, firm, almost serene. Which only made it more chilling.
The dealers from the previous group swallowed hard.
"The heroes. They're messing up everything. The GDA seized half the shipment at the border. That's why we're meeting in broad daylight now," one of the men explained, trying to sound reasonable.
"Every week there's a new excuse," Salamanca cut in, without even looking up.
"But it's not our fault! They're everywhere!" another added quickly.
Brian, watching from a distance, scoffed in agreement and started nodding.
"They're right, man. It's been hell lately. Just like that Gre—"
An elbow slammed into his ribs. Ty didn't need to say a word. His stare was enough. Brian immediately shut up.
Salamanca finally looked up. His eyes settled on the two teens. Silence. No gesture. No words.
Ty understood.
He stepped forward and, with slow, deliberate motion, placed a thick envelope in front of the cartel. The full amount. No cuts. No excuses. He stepped back just as calmly, head down, hands in his pockets.
Salamanca kept his eyes on him for a few seconds… then gave a slight nod. Barely noticeable — but it said everything. One of the men beside him pulled a small stack of cash from a drawer and slid it toward Ty.
No smiles. No gratitude.
Just paid.
As Ty and Brian left the warehouse and stepped back into the sunlight, silence still clung to them. The sun hit the stacked metal drums directly, and the heat made the air shimmer faintly.
They weren't alone.
Russell was leaning against a dark car across the street. Sunglasses, a half-lit cigarette, and that smug look he always wore.
"You managed to deliver the full amount…" he said, raising an eyebrow. "Let me guess — came from that delivery system between students, right?"
Ty didn't answer. Didn't confirm. Didn't deny.
It hadn't come from that. He'd pulled out of the scheme after his gang got taken down by Grey — but he didn't say that either.
Russell chuckled, flicking the cigarette to the ground.
"You know… it's genius. The world's always on red alert, heroes everywhere, and you guys use… teenagers. Students." He stepped closer, voice low, confident. "Heroes overlook what seems too small. Kids don't get noticed… until it's too late."
He stopped in front of Ty and held out a small contact card. Thick black paper, matte finish, with a silver-embossed symbol at the center.
"How about we work together?" Russell offered. "Introduce me to whoever's behind the system… and I guarantee we both profit. I've got routes. Contacts. And ambitions that go way beyond anything you guys could even dream of."
Ty took the card, still silent. His eyes revealed no emotion.
"Try to set up a meeting," Russell added as he turned back to his car. "This could be the smartest move of your life."
The engine growled, and in seconds, he vanished down the industrial streets.
Ty stood there for a moment, staring at the card in his hand.
And for the first time in a long while… he smiled.
"I think it's time I reconnect with Scott," he muttered, turning slightly to Brian.
Interlude — Above All
GDA Training Base – April 17th, 2013, 4:12 PM
Atlas sat alone in the corner of the training field. Despite the session being nearly over, there wasn't a drop of sweat on him. Not even the sound of his breath. The environment was wide, metallic, silent — only the occasional clank of a machine echoed in the background.
He held his phone as if it were the most important thing in the world, staring at the screen with a mix of awe and frustration.
"Thirty thousand followers," Atlas muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Lucky the camera caught my good side... almost completely."
A smile crept up, somewhere between pride and vanity.
He scrolled through the video where he'd been tagged, his thumb brushing the screen.
"Too bad it didn't catch the ending… when I finished off the creature."
But it wasn't the end of the fight that haunted his mind.
It was the moment before it.
Grey.
Atlas recalled the instant when Kiana was nearly crushed — and how, in a blink, she disappeared and reappeared in his arms. He hadn't seen the move. No one had.
Then came that blue sphere…
The distortion in the air.
The hole carved into the creature's hide, as if its flesh had been swallowed by another dimension.
He closed his eyes for a second.
That image had been chasing him ever since.
He shoved the phone into his pocket with barely restrained anger. His teeth clenched. And he walked back to the center of the arena.
He struck the air hard. Then again. And again.
Jaw tight. Body tense now.
High above, in the metallic stands, a figure watched him.
Mirage stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the railing, a faint smile on her lips.
"Look at that," Mirage said, her voice echoing softly through the space. "Looks like he finally decided to take training seriously."
Across from her, Reflex sat with an improvised ice wrap around her ankle and a face that could kill. She rolled her eyes.
"Yeah… or maybe he's just getting ready to leave us hanging again on the next mission... when there's no camera to film it," she snapped.
Mirage glanced sideways at her but said nothing. She didn't know the full story — the comms had been down, jammed by the creature, and from what little the footage showed, Atlas had been helping.
Reflex groaned as she stood, still limping slightly. She slung her bag over her shoulder and began descending the steps slowly.
"I'm done for today. No way I'm training on a busted foot. Even Silver already took off."
That's when Vortex appeared, water bottle in hand, looking more upbeat.
"I'm wrapping up too," Vortex said, catching up with Reflex. "Need a hand getting to the dorm?"
Reflex hesitated.
"I don't need—"
"What, you'd rather hobble down like a grandma? Come on, let me be a gentleman at least once."
She snorted but gave in.
"If you try to hit on me, I'll deck you with the other leg."
"Threat accepted," Vortex replied with a grin. "But only if I get to choose where I land."
She gave a faint smirk, almost hiding it. Side by side, the two vanished down the hallway.
Down below, Atlas's fists kept slicing through the air.
Punch. Punch. Breath. Fury.
He didn't say it out loud, but he knew.
His strength and speed were close to mine.
I'm supposed to be the strongest being alive. That's what I was made for.
But Omni-Man's already stronger… and now him too?
Grey is a problem.
And I won't be left behind.
Interlude — Part II: Priorities
Becky's House – April 17th, 2013, 5:24 PM
On the second floor of a quiet suburban house, the sound of pencil scratching paper was the only noise in Becky's room.
She sat hunched over her desk, eyes locked on a science book like she was trying to burn a hole through the formulas. Stacks of notes, colorful flashcards, and post-its with terms and exam dates cluttered every corner of the table.
The soft click of the door opening was followed by the warm scent of freshly cooked food.
"I made lasagna," Janet said, leaning on the doorframe. She balanced a foil-covered plate in one hand, her expression calm, but firm.
"Can I have my phone back now?" Becky asked bluntly, not lifting her eyes from the page.
Janet raised an eyebrow. "You bombed your last tests. You're grounded, Becky. No phone until the term ends. That was the deal."
Becky huffed and turned in her chair. "Mom… it was on the news! The Young Team fought a giant creature in Chicago! Maybe I needed to be there!"
Janet walked to the bed, placing the plate on the bedside table before folding her arms.
"And they called. Yesterday. And today."
Becky's eyes widened. "And you didn't tell me?!"
"I did. I told you to study. Priorities, remember? That was your promise when you begged to stay in this school."
Becky glared at the book like it was the villain in her life.
"I don't care how urgent it was. Your grades come first. Being a hero doesn't excuse you from responsibility."
A heavy silence lingered in the air.
"Good luck on that biology review." Janet gave a faint smile before quietly closing the door behind her.
Becky let out a long, frustrated sigh and flopped her head back against the chair.
"Perfect timing…" she muttered, burying her face in her hands.