The days had become routine, yet fulfilling. I had found a sense of peace being with Yuki and the team. There was something comforting about knowing that I wasn't alone, that I had a place where I was accepted, even with all my history and the darkness that followed me. Yuki and I had grown closer, and I even began to teach the newbies the basics of combat—passing on what I had learned during my time with the Interitus and the trials I had faced before. A small gesture, but it felt right.
Today, however, was different. The mission we were about to embark on had a unique weight to it. We were heading to Japan—Yuki's homeland, my father's birthplace, a country that was at the forefront of modern technology and power. I could already feel the buzz of anticipation as we packed our gear and prepared for takeoff.
Zeff came to brief us on the situation once we were all gathered. A dangerous group, once based in Europe, had made their way to Japan and started wreaking havoc. The local heroes were overwhelmed, and the government had requested our assistance. The gravity of the situation hit me immediately. This was no ordinary villain; these were the kind of enemies that could reshape nations, tear down everything we'd fought to protect.
The Hero Association's airport was filled with bustling activity, with emergency flights to disaster zones being launched every minute. We got on board the aircraft, ready to help, ready to make a difference. The ocean stretched before us as we soared across Asia, but then, just as I was mentally preparing myself for the battle ahead, the unthinkable happened.
A sudden jolt rocked the plane, and before anyone could comprehend what was happening, we felt the aircraft shudder violently. Someone was standing on the wing—an unknown figure, effortlessly walking on the surface of the aircraft. A single touch from this person caused the plane to lose power and plummet from the sky.
Panic spread through the team. Everyone was screaming, but I forced myself to remain calm. I had to act quickly. I sprinted toward the cockpit. When I entered, I found the pilots already dead. Without hesitation, I pushed the lifeless bodies aside and took control of the plane. I fought with everything I had to restore power, heart racing with the knowledge that we had mere moments to survive.
Miraculously, I managed to get the plane back on track and landed it safely. But the danger wasn't over. The villains, including the one who had attacked us, were waiting for us outside the aircraft. As they approached, Yuki moved swiftly, her powers freezing them in place. It was then that we discovered the identity of our attacker—a notorious villain from our own country, known as Steel. He was one of the most dangerous individuals on our list, but we couldn't understand how he had made it all the way to Japan.
As we interrogated him, he merely laughed, a sinister grin plastered on his face. We had no time to ponder the mystery. With the help of Japanese authorities, we transported Steel to their highest-security prison. As we stepped off the plane and onto the tarmac, we were met with a warm, appreciative welcome from Japan's heroes and citizens. But before we could take a breath, the real chaos began.
At the Hero Association headquarters, we were quickly briefed on the situation. A new group of villains had surfaced—Autokrator. They were ruthless, and their goal was clear: to destroy everything in their path. The team suited up and prepared for battle. As we arrived in the devastated city, the air was thick with panic and fear. People ran in every direction, some already fallen, their lives claimed by the very villains we had come to stop.
Among the chaos, we spotted a man in a hoodie. As soon as he saw us, his face lit up with an almost manic joy. "THEY ARE HERE!" he shouted, as if waiting for our arrival. The moment those words left his mouth, an aircraft appeared above us, dropping a massive bomb directly into our midst.
Without thinking, I rushed into the air, catching the bomb and redirecting it toward the enemy aircraft. It exploded midair, sending a shockwave through the area. Yuki immediately used her powers to cool me down, keeping me safe from the explosion's heat. But the battle was far from over.
The enemies swarmed in, attacking us in disorganized waves. Zeff ordered the others to hold their ground while Yuki, I, and he formed the frontline. Our powers worked in sync, and together we obliterated 75% of the enemy forces. As the remaining villains began to retreat, we could hear them calling for their leader—Thoas—to come forward.
Exhausted but determined, we stood our ground. And then, he appeared.
Thoas, the leader of the Autokrator, was a terrifying figure. He was no ordinary villain; his presence alone seemed to distort the air around him. Without warning, he charged at us, his speed incomprehensible. In a flash, he appeared right in front of Zeff and sent him flying into a nearby building. Zeff crashed to the ground, unconscious, leaving me and Yuki vulnerable.
The fight was now personal. I clenched my fists, trying to steel myself for the battle. But before I could prepare, Thoas locked eyes with me. In the blink of an eye, he was on me, his hands outstretched, his voice calm and eerie.
"Come with me," he said, his tone almost gentle. "You can be special here. You don't have to fight."
My fury flared as I glared at him, every inch of my body trembling with the need to resist. "I will never follow you," I spat.
I grabbed his hand, intent on using my power to hurt him, to force him to feel the pain I had endured. But it didn't work. My power failed against him. It was as if his strength nullified mine. His eyes narrowed with anger, and before I could react, he slapped me hard enough to send me crashing into the wall.
Pain exploded across my body. Blood filled my mouth, and I coughed violently. I tried to push through, to stand and fight, but the world around me began to spin. My vision blurred, and my body refused to obey. I felt my strength slip away, and despite my efforts, everything went dark.
When I woke, everything felt wrong. The pain was unbearable, and my body refused to move. I heard voices around me—Yuki's voice, frantic and concerned. She was calling my name, but it felt like I was miles away from her. Slowly, everything came back to me. The battle, the slap, Thoas—he had taken me down with ease.
But I wasn't defeated. I couldn't be. Not like this.
The battle wasn't over. Not yet.