The battlefield was ablaze. Flames licked the sky. Bodies of superheroes littered central plaza. Some were alive, others were dead.
Ice clung to buildings, stopping them from collapsing. Trees held bodies high in the air, protecting them from the flames that climbed to meet them. Low class heroes rushed through fires, trying to save anyone they could.
One man standing in the middle of it all laughed.
"Ultimateman!" He screamed.
The super villain Arsonist stood in front of the burning skyscraper, surrounded by the fallen heroes. His red goggles scanned the Super Squad's broken headquarters. His deep red spandex suit molded to his skin, black vest covered the symbol on his chest. A black hood pulled over a faceless mask. The metal brace on his left forearm blinking, scanning. He brushed his cargo pants, letting ash fall.
"Not very heroic of you to send your friends first." Arsonist muttered. "Coward."
The flames from his powers burned the street. The smell of melted asphalt thick in the air. His enjoyment from burning everything, was the only solution he had to mask his pain.
He raised his left hand, a small sun formed. Then he threw the fireball into the headquarters. The explosion sent debris in every direction. The crowd in the distance screamed in fear, yet they were not his target.
"The next one will be aimed the medical wing!" Arsonist screamed unhinged. "Where your precious Blue Zipper sleeps!"
His bracer's alarms rang.
[Warning! Warning!]
"So, you'd even burn the wounded now?" Ulitmateman said casually descending slowly from above, the flames reflected on the golden U on his chest. "Just how far have you fallen?"
"I'll fall to hell!" Arsonist eyes grew wide behind his goggles. "If it means I can take you with me."
Ultimateman grit his teeth. "You cannot win, not against me. Don't be a fool."
Arsonist laughed. Flames danced in the palm of his hands. His tech goggles flashed red. "You think this is about winning?"
"Then why! Why did you ally with Variable?" Ultimateman growled.
"Variable promised me vengeance!" Arsonist threw his hands to the sky, reaching. "Vengeance I long for!"
"And when does it end?" Ultimateman's face grew sour. "You murdered Jet, put Blue Zipper into a coma, now you come here? Look around you! This is not you, I know the more you use your powers-"
"This isn't about my powers!" Arsonist's fist burned in anger. "This is about my family, the dumb fucking code!"
He blasted the ground launching himself toward Ultimateman. Landing a punch on his cheek. It was ineffective. Ultimateman tried to grab him, but he blasted fire into his face.
"You did not let me fight Calamity!"
Using his fire to skate across the sky Arsonist came down with an elbow to back of Ultimateman's head.
"Gah!" The superhero spat in pain.
"You denied me!" Arsonist rage grew.
Ultimateman retaliated. Surging forward with fury.
Arsonist dodged his punch, grabbed his arm and kicked him in the face. For a second that kick lingered. Until an eruption of fire thrusted from Arsonist's foot. Blasting the man toward civilians, crashing into the crowd.
The fires on Ultimateman spread to the asphalt around him, licking all oxygen it could. Traveling. seeking.
One old woman caught some of it on the sleeve of her coat. The fire spread, her panic manifesting into a scream.
Arsonist stared at her. For half a second he did nothing.
Then-
He raised hand snapping his fingers.
Snap!
The fire vanished.
Arsonist's eyes met Ultimateman. He levitated closer. His lower body an engulfed in his fire.
Ultimateman got up grunting. He did not speak. Only grit his teeth as he flew forward meeting Arsonist in the sky. An elbow hit Ultimateman's jaw, but he grabbed Arsonist by the head and slammed him into the ground.
"Do you think this what your mother and sister wanted?" Ultimateman yelled. "What would they think, seeing what you've become?"
"And where are they!" Arsonist roared with half his face buried. "Tell me! Where are they!"
Ulitmateman looked away in shame.
Arsonist's flames grew hotter around his body. "Six feet under because of the Super Squad!"
Ultimateman let go. His guilt ruined his perfect posture as he backed away.
Arsonist slammed his fists into the ground screaming. The screams turned into laughter as Arsonist got up.
"Oh, how righteous you must feel after defeating Calamity," More flames caressed his body. "Tell me, do you dream of them too?"
"…Firefight you-" Ultimateman can't even look at him.
"No!" Arsonist screamed back, pounding his chest. "You do not get to call me by that name!"
"…Arsonist, stand down and come quietly. You need help, please..."
Arsonist blasted a cyclone of flames engulfing the area. Wild and uncontrolled, now putting innocent lives at risk.
Ultimateman flew through it like nothing, grabbing Arsonist by his vest.
"Stop this! You used to be a hero," Ultimateman's voice broke, now it is low and hurting. "You were like a brother to me."
"…I'm a villain!" Arsonist build up more flames. His body glowed. "Thanks to you!"
The fire blast launched Ultimateman into the headquarter's crumbled building.
"Hahaha!" Arsonist laughed as he wobbled. His body started giving out. He was reaching his limit. "Even now, you try to reason!"
An inferno engulfed the city plaza. Civilians fled from the heat.
"Ultimateman!" Arsonist's voice turned more erratic. "How far can I go, before you break the code!"
Ultimateman burst from the building in blinding speed.
"You hear them too, don't you?" His laugh cracked. "You have to!" Flames surged higher. "When you're gone, I'll have silence."
Before Ultimateman connected his punch. Arsonist blasted him back.
He summoned fire to chase him, but a sound caught his attention.
Honk! Honk!
A truck burst through the chaos, uncontrolled and wild. One little girl was its target.
"Mommy!" She stood frozen with fear.
Fire burst beneath his boots.
Arsonist landed hard. Pushing the girl out of the way.
A flash of light-
Bam!
****
Arsonist landed with a thud as he rolled from the impact.
He laid there for a second, hearing a faint sound of music mixed with insects in the distance. The air was cool on his bare fingers.
"What the?" He said trying to get up, wobbling. "Was I just hit by a truck?"
He looked around. He was in a garden. The night was dark, the only light came from a palace, far in the distance.
"Where- "
Then dizziness hit him.
His vision blurred. He stumbled. Trying to stay awake. Exhaustion hit him all at once.
"No, no no no, don't fall asleep- "
Arsonist fell. Hitting the ground. The only thing that came to him that night were nightmares.