Melissa stared at the text, and her heart began beating out of her chest.
— I am coming to take you. Be ready. —
Her breathing was so fast and heavy that she could feel it on her breasts, the entire world pressing on her from all sides.
Melissa gulped.
A few days ago, she had contacted Dr. Blessed after carefully thinking over his offer for weeks. But it had been the matter of the LA Villains Detention Center that had pushed her beyond the point of no return.
Dr. Blessed had told her during the I-Island incident.
He had warned her of the faults within the Quirk Amplification Device. He had promised that one day, Villains would come for her father, the moment they realized that the research around the device was incomplete.
Melissa had carried that warning and promise in her heart like a shadow, blackening her thoughts day after day.
However, never in her wildest imagination had she believed that those horrible shadows would truly gain form.
Villains indeed came, but not for her father first.
They went for Dr. Samuel Abraham, despite knowing America's Top Heroes' prowess. A Hero was dead now, and Dr. Sam had gone missing…
Dr. Blessed had admitted that he had gone after Dr. Sam to prevent other Villains from getting their hands on him. The same Villains who were behind Wolfram and the fire-guy who had stolen the Device, almost killing everyone in the process.
She had cut the call after confirming some details regarding the USA attack because she had lost her voice, bolting to see her dad.
After the incident, Top Heroes from all over the world had arrived at I-Island, increasing the security to new heights. If the island had been a fortress before, now it was beyond impenetrable. The sudden attack on the Detention Center to kidnap Dr. Sam had spooked the Shareholders, it seemed. Dr. David Shield was as much a prisoner as he was a prize. They would never let a Villain get their hands on him.
This fact hadn't calmed Melissa, though.
You couldn't reason with Villains, she knew.
How many lives would the Heroes at I-Island sacrifice to keep a man safe? One day or another, they would give up and throw her father into prison, opening the door for another LA-like attack.
They had made her life hell, too.
At first, Melissa had made her peace with the people forcing her to continue her graduate studies at I-Island. Her visits to her father had been limited, but she could still meet him, making sure he was doing okay.
Now?
Melissa stared at the tracking collars on her ankles.
Forget about meeting her father; it would be a miracle if the Heroes let her walk outside alone, constantly watching her every move.
Melissa understood that her presence gave the Villains insane leverage against her father. So, by kidnapping her, they could force her father to do things he would never do otherwise.
Still, understanding it was one thing.
To confine her within four walls and constantly monitor her like a wild animal, all in the name of protection, was another thing entirely.
As if that wasn't enough, she hadn't even started her college properly, yet they were already dictating what subjects she would be taking in her first year.
And things would only become worse as time passed, Melissa knew.
Her only hope was to call Uncle Might. However, even All Might's hands were tied when it came to the World Government. In the best case, he would take her away and keep her safe…
But Melissa didn't want to remain safe.
She wanted to have the power to protect herself!
She wanted… freedom.
And that's why Melissa had agreed to let Dr. Blessed take her away.
Her father would understand her decision, as he also knew what kind of state she lived in on the island. Also, unlike the world, they knew Dr. Blessed wasn't a Villain. If it hadn't been for him, then…
BOOM!!!
A sheet of whiteness blinded Melissa's eyes through the windows.
In the next moment, she saw a humongous mushroom cloud, black-red in color, taking shape on the horizon.
Blasting through the door and walls, the Heroes came barging in.
"Ms. Melissa!" one of the Heroes shouted, grabbing her wrists. "Let's go!"
Melissa held back a painful grunt as the rocky fingers of the Hero bruised her wrists.
Surrounded by a dozen Heroes, she ran out of the flat and looked up. Hundreds of Heroes were heading toward the blast area like a swarm of flies.
"No need to worry," Rock Man, the Hero grabbing her wrist, said. "No Villain can win against so many Heroes. Your father will be safe…"
Melissa bit her lip.
Suddenly, from the darkness ahead, a figure stepped out, wearing a white lab coat and a black, clownish mask on his face.
"ATTACK!" Rock Man shouted. "DR. BLESSED's HERE!!"
Not only the dozen Heroes surrounding Melissa, but scores from those rushing toward the mini nuclear blast-like explosion also changed direction, lunging for Dr. Blessed.
Brutal attacks—physical, mental, and elemental—hurled across space and landed on the Villain.
In the next moment, the Villain's entire body crumpled like paper.
Flames surged midair next to Melissa, and Dr. Blessed walked out, holding his hat with his left hand.
His right hand, making a mist, went straight for Rock Man's face.
Rock Man's entire face was made of tiny rocks. That didn't prevent his teeth from flying out, though, Dr. Blessed's punch sending him flying.
"Don't know how to handle a lady?" the Villain asked humorously. "And you call yourself a Hero?!"
On the other side, Rock Man stood up, spitting out blood. "Haha…" he let out a bloody laugh. "You made a mistake… Even teleportation won't save you today…"
All Heroes surrounded Dr. Blessed, following an unsaid command.
From beyond Rock Man, even more Heroes were rushing toward them, along with hundreds of drones.
"Haha…" Dr. Blessed laughed. "Hahaha…"
All Heroes narrowed their eyes at him, knowing well that Rock Man had said it was true. Teleportation had its own limits, and Dr. Blessed's way of teleportation wasn't nearly as fast as some Heroes here.
As if replying to their thoughts, the Villain threw his arm around Melissa's shoulders.
"Miracles happen when you least expect them," Dr. Blessed said, bowing with his right hand on his chest. "Praise be to Mr. Fool."
Then, he and Melissa melted into the surroundings, as if a god had pictured over them…
… leaving behind a stunned group of Heroes, a chill running down their spines.
********************
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