052 BLACK AND VIOLET
Green left soon after confirming Damen was stable and informing him about his meeting with the Savior of the fortress, whoever that was? while Zairgid wandered off to charm the nurses.
Alone now, Damen checked the infirmary drawers. "Thank goodness… you're still here." He retrieved his phone.
A new notification flashed:
"Congratulations, you have reached Rank E Meta."
Damen blinked. "Rank E? I've… actually reached Rank E?"
He knew he had acquired enough stats to qualify, but seeing it confirmed—becoming an official Rank E Meta—was different. It was a real, tangible milestone.
-----
Damen returned to the training center for a final check-up before heading back to school. The familiar hum of machinery and the scent of ozone from the simulation room greeted him.
He stepped into the chamber and activated his fusion skill—Momentum Collapse.
In a blur of movement, Damen dashed, spun, and unleashed a perfectly executed sequence: a Flash Dash, followed by a spinning kick, ending with the kinetic crush.
The target dummy imploded precisely on impact.
Lieutenant Kalmer watched from the observation deck, his eyes widening in surprise and delight.
"Your fusion skill is adapting to your body… perfectly. Too perfectly," Kalmer said, shaking his head. "Even I didn't expect such results. Look at this—from the readings, your skill has ranked up to Rank F without an upgrade chip. How is this even possible?"
Damen paused, a thought crossing his mind. "Lieutenant… before I return to Melrose City, can you do me a favor? I need to upgrade my meta skills."
"Upgrade your meta skills? Last time we checked, you were already Rank F," Kalmer replied, raising an eyebrow.
"I believe I've ranked up to Rank E," Damen said with a confident smile.
Kalmer looked skeptical. "Impossible. Let's test first. Nobody improves that fast."
Damen stepped into the testing apparatus, and the machines whirred to life. Data streamed across the screens. Scores and stats climbed in real-time.
The results confirmed it: Rank E.
Kalmer exhaled, impressed. "You're… remarkable. Truly a marvel. When you finish high school, you must come back here. We need people like you."
Damen nodded. "About the skill upgrades?"
Kalmer grinned. "I'll have the necessary upgrade chips ready. You just wait."
Damen allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "Thank you very much."
-----
Damen was escorted deep into Fortress Myronee, through a maze of corridors and multiple security checkpoints guarded by soldiers in heavy armor.
Every door that opened felt like stepping deeper into the heart of the fortress.
The room he finally entered was vast and radiant, its high ceiling crowned with crystal chandeliers that scattered soft light across the marble floor. The walls were lined with enormous portraits — warriors, captains, and heroes who had once defended the fortress. Their painted eyes seemed to follow him as he walked.
A portrait in particular drew his attention — a man and a woman standing side by side, cloaked in dark hues, powerful yet strangely familiar.
"Who are these two Superheroes?" Damen frowned, unable to place why he recognized them.
"I see you've found our greatest heroes," a calm voice said behind him. "I suppose you haven't met them before… at least not in their Superhero attire."
Damen turned around quickly. A tall man in a commander's uniform stood at the entrance, a faint smile on his weathered face.
"I was just… looking," Damen replied cautiously.
"It's alright," the man said, stepping closer. "Feel free. I'm Lord Nicaesa, Commander of Fortress Myronee."
Damen's eyes widened. The Lord Nicaesa — the savior of the fortress, the man whose exploits were legend. He instinctively bowed.
"It's an honor, sir."
Nicaesa chuckled softly. "No need for formality, young man. You can call me Nicaesa—or even Uncle Nic, if you prefer."
"Uncle Nicaesa?" Damen repeated, puzzled.
"Yes," Nicaesa said with a grin. "Your father was like a brother to me. So, I suppose that makes me your uncle, doesn't it?"
"My father…?" Damen frowned. "I don't understand."
Nicaesa' expression softened. "There's much you don't know, Damen. You see, superheroes rarely get to live normal lives. Too many enemies, too many risks. To protect our loved ones, we take on new identities and live among ordinary people. Hidden in plain sight."
Damen's heart pounded. "And what does that have to do with my parents?"
Nicaesa turned toward the portraits. "Everything," he said quietly. "Your parents… were the heroes known as Black and Violet."
Damen stared at the two figures on the wall, his breath catching in his throat. For the first time, he saw not just heroes—but echoes of his own face reflected in theirs.
"Do you mean Black and Violet are my parents?" Damen asked, stunned.
All his life, he'd believed his parents had died as heroes—brave defenders of the city. But Black and Violet weren't just heroes. They were legends.
A sudden unease twisted inside him.
"If my parents were such legends, then why was my life so miserable?"
"Yes," Lord Nicaesa replied gently. "They are your parents. You never knew because we kept it from you. They didn't want you growing up under the weight of their name, not until you were ready. That's why you were placed in your relatives' care."
Damen's blood burned. "Those people are not my relatives," he snapped, almost spitting the words.
Lord Nicaesa winced. "I'm sorry. If I had known how they treated you, I would have taken you in myself. But I've been stationed here, fighting the Annunakians. News from the other side comes rarely. Your uncle... he received a generous stipend from the city every month. His reports said you were well cared for. We thought you were living a peaceful life."
Damen's fists clenched. "That bastard Ralph," he growled. "He'll pay for this."
He turned back toward Lord Nicaesa, his voice trembling with equal parts anger and confusion. "Uncle Nicaesa... why tell me all this now?"
"I've read your report," Lord Nicaesa said, studying Damen with a sharp gaze. "You've only recently awakened your meta abilities, yet you've already reached Rank E. That kind of growth is... unprecedented. I'm curious—how did you manage it?"
Damen felt his throat tighten. His palms began to sweat.
"Does he suspect me?" he thought.
"Did he somehow find out about the mining app? If he did… I'm in deep trouble."