"Kismet saw your face?!"
On the Bellum Company's secret island, Thierry was staring at Hiraya in shock. They were inside the main house with the rest of the Generals.
"One of them broke my mask with a headbutt. I used Railgun to destroy the satellites broadcasting the fights."
"So that's why the feed was cut."
Said Scarlett.
"Then only Kismet saw it...Do you think they will recognise you?"
Leonid asked with concern in his voice. After all, it's not hard to figure out his identity after knowing hers.
"Belinha will recognise me. We've done business before using my dummy company."
"Shit....So, when do you nuke them?"
"Leo!"
"Come on, Scarlett! It's the only solution!"
"We are not dropping a nuke on the Cook Islands!"
Scarlett looked towards Phobos.
"Right?"
"........"
"Sir Thierry?!"
"I'm weighing our options here!"
"We are not going to do anything."
Hiraya spoke up.
"Sinvula said he will handle it and I'm going to give him a chance to do so."
"Are you sure? I mean, Sinvula doesn't have any attachment to his public persona, unlike you. Do you think he will handle it?"
Hiraya nodded at Thierry's question.
"Amadi has never broken a promise to me."
Kismet's Base, Cook Islands. Members of Kismet were training under the blazing summer sun without a single complaint. The twins were having a spar with them switching between weapons every 10 seconds. Mikel was fighting against Belinha in a battle of lasers. Belinha had compressed her flames into a laser to fight him. As for the main support, Bojana—
*BAM!*
She dove desperately to the side to evade an attack from Impactor. She sank into the earth.
"Harden."
The ground hardened, preventing her from escaping. She looked up and Impactor was above her, clenching his fist. She slammed her hand on the ground and sank into the earth just as Impactor swung his fist. A devastating force ripped open the earth exposing her. Impactor kicked the air and dived at her. A pillar of mud erected with her in the centre. Impactor kicked through the pillar and crashed into the ground on the other side. He turned around and the pillar had transformed into a tentacle monster.
"Wait, she can do that?!"
Impactor leapt back to evade a tentacle. A smaller tentacle split away and stabbed at him.
"Harden."
The tentacle monster dried up and turned into an earth sculpture.
"Don't forget, Celso isn't your only opponent."
Batu walked up to the sculpture and shattered it with a punch. Bojana was exposed, breathing heavily.
"Bojana, you're still mainly on the defensive."
Belinha walked over to them while dragging a beaten-up Mikel.
"You have great mastery of your ability, but your reluctance to hurt others is your greatest weakness. Although I know you'll fight if needed, that initial hesitation can cost the lives of you and your comrades."
"I'm sorry."
Bojana spoke with a dejected tone. Belinha sighed, seeing her reaction.
(When it comes to talent, Bojana is definitely up there, but she doesn't have the drive Mikel and Mira have. Kira is a problem for a different reason, but he's still more proactive than her. In order to beat the Calamities, we all need to be at the top of our game.)
She thought to herself.
"Being a leader is quite stressful, isn't it? Especially, when your subordinates aren't worthy of their positions."
"?!"
Belinha's body flinched as a new voice entered her ears. She recognised this voice. It was a voice she hated so much that it instantly gave her migraines. This voice, which would sound melodious to others, was like an electric drill in her ears. She slowly turned around to reluctantly look upon the owner.
"Why are you here, Takeō?"
There was a tall and imposing man of Asian descent. His black hair flowed to his shoulders and his face was one made for magazines. He dressed in a stylish suit that lived up to his good looks. With a smug smirk, he stared Belinha down.
"Why am I here? Is there a reason why I can't be? Isn't this place property of the GHF?"
He pointed at himself.
"Then who more than me has the right to be here?"
Belinha didn't even try to hide her frown as she looked at him.
"Cut the crap. No one other than Kismet is allowed to be here. That's the orders of the Board of Heroes. No one is exempt from this rule, not even Sin Sentinel himself."
"Why are you mentioning a ghost who hasn't shown himself for nearly a decade?"
The man called Takeō approached Belinha.
"Besides, I always do my own thing."
Belinha clenched her fists and glared at Takeō.
"Now, now."
Batu came up and stood between them.
"Let's all calm down. We're all Heroes here."
"Always the peacemaker, Batu."
Takeō chuckled.
"Whatever, I came here to check on my juniors."
"Bullshit."
Takeō smiled grew.
"Wow, you're so aggressive today, Belinha. You're normally so meek. Did becoming a leader change you?"
He brought his face closer to Belinha's.
"Or is the stress getting to you? Can't handle the pressure Daddy and Mommy put you under?"
Belinha opened her mouth. Before she could speak, she was pulled back and an explosive noise reached her ears. She looked and Impactor was standing in front of her with dust clouds around him. When they faded, Takeō was dozens of meters away with a frown on his face. There were chunks of crumbled earth between them.
"Do you know who you just attacked, Rookie?"
Takeō spoke with a calm yet chilling voice.
"Unfortunately, thanks to the info Belinha tortured into my brain, I do."
Impactor cracked his knuckles with rage burning in his eyes.
"I don't care if you're the #3-ranked hero or God himself. I don't like how you're talking to my Leader."
"Oh, I commend your loyalty."
Takeō started walking towards him.
"But your stupidity will be your downfall."
Impactor started walking towards him too.
"Bitch, you ain't got the facilities."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Batu and Belinha came between the two of them.
"I'll give you two one warning, move or I'll burn you to death along with him."
"Try it, Motherfucker, and watch Belinha and Batu go up in the rankings because #3 died to a Rookie."
Impactor and Takeō didn't stop and continued to approach each other. In the back, Mikel and the others were observing the situation. Mikel frowned and spoke.
"Mira, Kira, don't even think about it."
Mira and Kira's eyes were locked on Kōma's every move. They were ready to pounce.
"I understand you, but keep it...."
Mikel's words trailed off as his eyes locked with Takeō's.
(This guy.... He's already prepared to take out the twins even though they're so far away.)
"Mikel, he came here to fight."
Bojana whispered.
"...Yeah. I just realised."
Meanwhile, Takeō stopped just before Batu, who blocked him.
"Don't do it, Takeō. It won't end well for anybody."
Takeō looked past him and at Impactor, who was being blocked by Belinha. When his eyes locked with his, he showed a sinister grin. In response, the island started to tremble.
"Damn it, Takeō!"
Batu screamed as the shaking reached devastating levels. Waves several meters tall appeared in the ocean, boulders cracked apart, and trees collapsed by the dozen. The island was covered with a sudden scorching heat that removed all moisture from the air. All this happened while the smile on Takeō's face grew wilder.
"The Pillars of the future, Kismet. Let's see if you have a future beyond today."
Long cracks appeared across the island with intense heat seeping from underground.
"This goddamn brat!"
Belinha roared while glaring at Takeō. Impactor shot past her with his eyes locked on his target. Takeō welcomed him with a grin.
"Sayonara, Rookie."
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"?!"
Takeō's body froze as a voice came from behind him. Impactor stopped before reaching him. He slowly turned around, and an enraged expression covered his face.
"Amadi!"
Amadi stood there with his hands in his pockets as he looked at Takeō. He stomped the ground and the shaking ceased. The ocean calmed, the heat subsided, and the cracks were repaired. It was as if nothing had happened moments before. The rage on Takeō's face became more intense. Amadi showed no reaction.
"Takeō, what the fuck are you doing?"
Amadi spoke with a flat tone, making it hard to gauge his emotions.
"I'm doing as I please. It has nothing to do with you."
Takeō's voice was coated with hatred. The members of Kismet only watched on as the two faced each other. They were both their enemies, but there was a strange atmosphere forming with Amadi's appearance.
"It has nothing to do with me?"
Takeō blinked and Amadi was standing in front of him, locking eyes.
"Do you know why I'm in your face like this, Takeō?"
Amadi brought his face closer to Takeō's.
"It's so that you can get a good look at who the fuck you're talking to."
"I know clearly who—"
"Nah, you don't. Because if you did, you would be on your knees."
A godly pressure fell on top of Takeō and forced him to fall to one knee. He looked up at Amadi, who looked down on him with an icy gaze.
"Yes, just like this."
"Amad—"
Amadi stepped in Takeō's face, cutting him off. His foot planted Takeō's head in the sand.
"Don't sully the name my mother gave me with your voice."
Amadi casually kept Takeō's head planted despite him desperately trying to escape.
"Tell me, Takeō. What was the play here? Were you planning on killing Kismet to prove to the GHF that only you can kill me?"
Amadi lifted his foot off Takeō's face. He sat up with a red face.
"Amadi, you son—"
Amadi forced his head back in the sand.
"If that was indeed your plan, then you've made your hatred of me severely cloud your judgment."
He removed his foot once more and stooped down. He looked Takeō in the eyes as he sat up in rage.
"We're not peers. We are not rivals. We are not equals. The only reason you still breathe to this day is because I will it."
Takeō's dirtied face reflected in Amadi's black, soulless eyes.
"Your hope, your dreams, your ambition, your past, your present, and future; they all continue to exist merely because of my whim and the goodness of my heart."
He stood up and looked at Kismet.
"Kismet is my business; they are my prey, my enjoyment. So, you were fucking with my business."
He looked back down at Takeō.
"I've sunk islands for less."
Takeō got up and continued to glare at Amadi, who was dismissive.
"Fuck off, Takeō, or your mother begging me to spare your life will be in vain."
Takeō stepped to him with bloodshot eyes. Amadi remained deadpan. After nearly a minute, Takeō walked past him.
"I will kill you one day and take my rightful position."
"Your rightful position is in the dirt. Fuck with Kismet again and I'll put you there with the others."
Takeō said nothing more and blasted off the island with a burst of flames. Amadi didn't look at him and faced Kismet. Once he was gone, a smile appeared on his face.
"Sorry about the family drama. That brat still has a grudge from when we were kids."
"Family drama?"
Impactor and the Rookies look around in confusion. Belinha spoke up.
"The Volcanic Emperor, Takeō. His real name is Takeō Albrecht."
This news made the Rookies' jaws drop. Amadi pointed at himself with his thumb.
"In other words, he's my cousin."