"As a token of our gratitude, we offer you this honorable item, as a symbol of your triumph."
Zenith's voice resonated through the grand room, his tone solemn yet warm. Stretching his hand outward, golden medals materialized and draped themselves over the necks of the present demigods: Klaus, Shade, X, Ash, Trent, Quinn, Link, and Ace. All the gods stood tall, a radiant assembly of power and authority, their gazes fixed on the group who had fought valiantly to protect humanity. Zenith, at the forefront, wore a gentle smile.
"Congratulations once again, demigods," Zenith said. "If there is anything at all that any of you desire, do not hesitate to ask."
With those words, the ceremony concluded, and the demigods were dismissed. The group began their slow departure, their steps heavy with the weight of all that had transpired. X had left on his own, his usual ignorant demeanor intact. Ash lingered, awaiting further instruction from his father, leaving the others to walk back together.
Klaus, Shade, Ace, Link, and Quinn made their way to the transportation podium in silence. The atmosphere was thick with tension, unspoken emotions hanging heavily between them. Only ten days had passed since the Human Extinction Crisis, a span that felt both impossibly short and agonizingly long. Klaus, having just woken from his unconscious state, walked with a hollow, soulless expression that none of them could ignore.
"This doesn't really feel like we won, does it?" Ace finally said, breaking the oppressive silence.
"Yeah," Shade replied softly. "But we did everything we could. Even if we couldn't save everyone... we managed to save a lot."
"Right," Link added, though his voice carried the same weight of uncertainty.
Their eyes drifted toward Klaus, seeking a response, but his expression remained unchanged; absent, and distant. Klaus had been this way throughout the meeting, since the moment he awoke. As the demigods neared the transportation podium, a voice suddenly called out.
"Ace."
The group turned to see Blur, the god of Speed, standing a short distance away. Ace froze for a moment before stepping forward. Blur's presence carried a strange gravity, his expression unreadable.
"You did well," Blur began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "Your actions saved more humans than any other. Your speed, your dedication, you were extraordinary."
Ace noted the strain in his father's voice, the guilt that seemed to linger in his words. Yet, it didn't bother him. He had long since made peace with the circumstances of his upbringing.
Ace had never harbored resentment toward his father for abandoning him as a child, even before learning that Blur was a god. He didn't hate his mother either, but over time, he had come to understand that there might have been hidden complexities behind his father's departure, especially when considering his mother's behavior. She had never shared why his father left, and when she, too, eventually abandoned him, Ace chose not to dwell on bitterness. Instead, he moved forward, carrying no malice in his heart.
However, Blur's voice broke through the haze of the past. "I'm proud of you, my son," he said, his deep, soothing tone striking something profound within Ace.
Ace's eyes widened, the words washing over him with a weight he hadn't expected. For years, he had been alone, scraping by on his own. He had learned to survive without guidance or support, making ends meet however he could. School had long become a distant memory after his mother's departure, and genuine friendships were scarce. Yet Ace had endured.
He had cultivated an image of resilience, always smiling, always joking, ensuring those around him never saw him as vulnerable or in need of love. He gave freely, even when he received so little in return. But Blur's words felt different. They reached a part of him Ace rarely let anyone touch, a part that yearned for acknowledgment.
In those simple words, Ace heard something deeper: an unspoken recognition of his silent struggles, the battles he had fought in solitude, and the strength he had shown through it all. Blur's pride felt like it wasn't just for the hero Ace had become, it was for the boy who had survived and thrived despite everything.
A small, genuine smile broke across Ace's face as Blur extended his hand. It had been so long since Ace felt this kind of warmth, this kind of connection. Tentatively, he lifted his own hand, ready to meet his father's gesture. But that was when the unexpected happened.
In that moment of heightened emotion, Ace's unique ability, an ability he called Nitro due to its nature, activated unintentionally. This was the power to duplicate and amplify another's maximum speed upon contact, temporarily making it his own.
As their hands met, the ability triggered, syncing with Blur's divine speed in an instant without the awareness of either of them. The moment they shared was brief but heartfelt, a rare connection between father and son.
After exchanging a hug, a few more words, and heartfelt goodbyes, Ace stepped away, his emotions still a mix of joy and warmth as he returned to the other demigods.
Walking back, Ace noticed that only Link and Trent had stayed behind. "What about the others?" he asked as he reached them.
"Klaus and Shade went back together," Trent explained. "And Quinn seemed to have returned to Exalted City as well."
"What about you two?" Ace asked. "Got any plans?"
Link sighed before responding. "I've been here at Higher World for the last ten days," he said. "I'm already getting bored, so I'll probably head back to Earth for a while."
"I thought it was because you wanted to check on your mother?" Trent asked, looking puzzled.
Link shot him a sharp look, his digital mask portraying his annoyance. "Dude!" he exclaimed. "Can you not be that guy right now?"
"Apologies," Trent replied with a smile, Ace chuckling as well. "I didn't know you wanted to keep it private."
Link let out an exasperated sigh. "Whatever, man. Let's just go."
"What about you, Ace?" Trent asked after a moment.
"I guess I'll head back too," Ace confirmed. "And thanks to me not being stupidly famous, wiping my address online actually works."
"Was that aimed at me?" Link asked, raising a digital eyebrow. "Because I can still undo those changes anytime, you know."
Ace and Trent laughed at Link's words, and the three, soon enough, began their journey back to Exalted City and eventually to Main World.
Ace, Link, and Trent traveled back together, engrossed in their conversation. Upon arriving on Earth, they continued walking and talking, their banter keeping the mood light.
Eventually, Link decided to part ways, heading home to avoid drawing unwanted attention. His high profile made it difficult to remain unnoticed, unlike Ace, whose swift movements during his rescues kept his face largely unknown, and Trent, who had essentially no Earth records due to his nature.
After Link left, Trent chose to accompany Ace, whose home was nearby. The two chatted as they walked, their conversation carrying them to Ace's apartment building. After a bit, Trent said his goodbyes, and Ace entered the building.
Once alone, Ace found his thoughts drifting to memories of his father. A subtle sense of satisfaction filled him, leaving him reflective as he walked to his apartment instead of using his usual speed. The small crowd outside also provided a backdrop for his contemplation.
Walking inside his apartment, Ace microwaved some leftover food and turned on the television, planning to watch a movie while eating. The microwave beeped moments later, just as the movie started to draw him in, but rather than pausing, Ace chose to use his movement ability to grab the food and return quickly. But as he moved, something unexpected occurred.
The moment Ace took a step forward, the world around him began to distort. Reality itself felt like it was unraveling. Before he could process what was happening, darkness consumed his surroundings, and everything familiar vanished.
When the disorientation faded, Ace found himself standing in what could only be described as a wasteland. The evening had been replaced by impenetrable darkness, and his apartment was gone, replaced by ruins and devastation. Shattered buildings and broken roads stretched as far as he could see. Though it resembled Earth, it was far from the world he knew.
Confusion filled Ace's eyes as he tried to grasp the situation. The vividness of the experience made it feel too real to be a dream. He scanned the desolate environment, the eerie silence and hollow emptiness fueling his growing unease.
"What caused this?" Ace muttered to himself. "Where even am I?"
Ace began to wander, searching for any sign of life or explanation. Minutes passed with no success. The oppressive darkness made it difficult to see far, and the lack of answers deepened his anxiety. His heart pounded as he tried to make sense of it all.
Just as he considered using his speed to explore faster, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Who are you?"
Ace swiftly turned toward the source of the voice, his eyes landing on a strange girl. She sat on the ground, her white hair perfectly complementing the flowing dress she wore, enhancing her ethereal beauty. At a single glance, Ace could not help but think she was the perfect girl he had ever seen.
"How did you get here?" the girl asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Ace, however, was more focused on her condition than her question. She appeared as though she had fallen and was struggling to rise.
"Are you alright?" he asked, stepping closer and crouching beside her, his worry evident.
The girl hesitated before responding. "I-I'm fine," she said, her soothing voice easing some of Ace's concern.
Ace took a moment to scan the desolate surroundings, the devastation only amplifying his unease. "What is this place?" he asked urgently, fear creeping into his tone. "Do you know where we are?"
The girl remained silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful as she processed his question. "I'm... not sure myself," she admitted softly. "But you need to go back to wherever you came from."
Her urgency only deepened Ace's worry. Though the strangeness of the situation had already filled him with unease, her words added to his dread. "I don't see anyone else around," he said, trying to piece together the puzzle. "Is anyone even here?"
The girl's gaze remained fixed on him, her mind a swirl of newfound thoughts and emotions. After a moment, she finally spoke. "Nobody is alive," she said quietly. "There is nobody left but Him."
Ace's eyes widened in disbelief at her words, his mind struggling to process the implication. "I don't… understand," he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
But before he could say more, the girl's eyes suddenly widened. "He knows you're here," she whispered, fear flickering across her face.
She struggled to stand, her movements revealing just how weary she was. Ace quickly stood, stepping back to give her space. Once she managed to steady herself, she moved closer to him.
"However you managed to get here," she began, her voice firm despite her fragile state, "you need to return to where you came from."
"I don't know how," Ace replied, panic rising within him. "What's going on?"
Before either could say another word, a colossal force rippled through the area, its presence oppressive and overwhelming.
"He's coming," the girl muttered softly, her fear intensifying. "If He finds you, you'll be killed."
She paused for a brief moment, her thoughts racing, then turned her gaze back to Ace. Her expression shifted as she noticed the sheer terror etched across his face.
Ace stood frozen, his entire being overwhelmed by the force's oppressive nature. His breaths came in rapid gasps; a sensation he could barely recall the last time he experienced.
What Ace felt at that moment was beyond comprehension. The terrifying weight of the force defied words, and as it bore down on him, he could feel himself beginning to lose his grip on reality and his sense of self.
The girl noticed Ace's deteriorating state and knew she had to act quickly. "Look at me," she called firmly, her voice cutting through the chaos in Ace's mind as he teetered on the brink of madness. "You have to do what you did to get here. That's the only way you can survive."
But Ace was paralyzed, the overwhelming force still gripping his soul. His knees trembled, and his body shivered uncontrollably. He was on the verge of complete collapse, unable to muster the strength to act. The girl saw this and realized she had to help him.
Without hesitation, she reached out and clasped Ace's trembling hands in her own, her gaze locking with his. "You can do this," she said softly, her voice calm yet resolute as her deep, black iris met Ace's light brown ones. Her words broke through the fog in Ace's mind, and for the first time since he felt the tremendous force, he refocused on her.
"I... can do this," Ace repeated slowly, as if her words were the anchor he needed. "I can return home."
But even as she encouraged him, the girl's strength began to fail. Her fatigue became evident as she slumped forward, eventually collapsing onto Ace. He caught her instinctively, confusion flooding his mind, but one thing was clear; he couldn't stay here any longer.
A surge of clarity swept over Ace, and he suddenly understood what he had done to arrive in this place. Though it made no sense to him, he suddenly felt certain he knew how to return. Holding the unconscious girl in his arms, he hesitated for a moment. He couldn't bear to leave her behind in such a desolate, terrifying place.
Resolving to take her with him, Ace adjusted his hold on the girl and prepared to act. But as he readied himself, his fears surged back, more intense than before, and the force he had felt earlier grew closer. The oppressive sensation threatened to immobilize him again, but Ace refused to give in.
Summoning his courage, Ace activated his Accelerate ability, but moved backward this time, with the girl in his arms. As he did, the world around him began to distort once more, reality seeming to tear apart under the strain of his motion. The immense speed at which he moved caused him to lose his footing, and he slammed into what felt like a solid wall.
Ace gasped for air, his chest heaving as the oppressive fear finally caught up to him. He could barely comprehend what had just happened; his perception of reality had almost entirely unraveled. Dazed, he lay against the wall, the muffled sound of voices slowly breaking through his disoriented state.
"Ace!" someone called, their voice cutting through the haze.
Through blurred vision, Ace saw two figures approaching him. These figures were Klaus and Riley. They rushed toward Ace who had suddenly slammed onto a wall in his apartment, concern etched on their faces as they took in the scene. Ace had managed to make it home, and perhaps just in the nick of time.