The day after the meeting, a gentle autumn wind blew through Edra, carrying with it the golden and red leaves that dotted the streets of the metropolis. The trees, once lush and green, now donned a multicolored coat, heralding the season of harvests and evenings by the fireside. Elves and humans, wrapped in warm fabrics, strolled through the alleys, their conversations mingling with the melody of crunching leaves under their feet. What more beautiful image could one find to symbolize the beauty of the city and its people?
In a park not far from downtown, children played together in a playground consisting of a swing set, a slide, and a sandbox. A little further away, a building stood out from the others with its academic architecture, a circular symbol adorning its roof: a depiction of an elf and a human performing magical spells. As music sounded from this school, signaling the end of classes, youngsters and adults, dressed in blue and white school uniforms, left the building's vestibule.
Back at the park, the illustrious presence of Rahman emerged from the sky, brandishing a heroic and proud smile. When they saw him, their eyes lit up like stars, and the joyful smiles of the children beamed across their faces.
"Look! It's Rahman!" a child shouted.
The children, radiating happiness, rushed toward Rahman in a chorus of joy. As for him, Rahman opened his arms wide to welcome them with a joyful and delighted laugh.
"Come here, you little rascals, haha!"
The youngsters, filled with glee, jumped into the arms of Edra's superhero, whose comforting presence offered a sense of happiness and warmth.
"You're so strong, Mr. Rahman!"
"Yeah! You fight the bad guys with so much style!"
"And you're so handsome!"
"Ahah," Rahman laughed, "you flatter me! But thank you for the compliment! I'm sure you'll be just as handsome as me when you grow up."
Then, a child's gaze met Rahman's, and he asked:
"Mr. Rahman, can you make us fly?"
"You want to fly? Haha! Of course, I can make you fly, I just hope you're not afraid of heights!"
"Nah, I'm not scared of anything!" the child declared.
"Very well, then, prepare to join the skies!"
Rahman then lifted the three children with his arms and began his ascent into the air, reaching the height of the orange-colored trees. All the citizens admired the scene with ecstasy, as the children screamed in euphoria.
"So, not feeling airsick?"
"This is so rad!"
"And so cool!"
"I'll take that as a no, ahah! Want to go higher?"
"Oh yes! Higher!"
"You're brave ones, I see! Let's do it!"
Rahman now floated so high, at least 100 meters up, level with the surrounding buildings. From this vantage point, the three children were treated to a panoramic view of the city, stretching out endlessly beneath the clouds.
"It's beautiful!" exclaimed one child.
"Isn't it? Ahah!" Rahman replied.
While Rahman was giving the children a heartwarming experience, a sudden explosion shattered the serene atmosphere. The angelic being turned his gaze towards the city center, where an intense scarlet light emanated. He immediately realized that a critical situation was unfolding there, calling for his superhero skills. However, he tried to maintain his stoic facade to avoid alarming the children further.
"Alright, kids, I'll take you back to the ground. Duty calls!"
Rahman swiftly descended to the park's playground and let the children go.
"Defeat the villains, sir!" one child cried out.
Rahman responded with a smile and a thumbs-up.
"That's what superheroes are for! Count on me, ahah!"
In the heart of downtown, an apocalyptic scene unfolded as demons and archdemons wreaked havoc in the streets, spreading their destructive energy everywhere. Their glowing red eyes pierced the darkness, contrasting starkly with their coal-black skin, giving them a terrifying aura.
Amidst this turmoil, terrified citizens sought refuge in local stores or the comforting cocoon of their homes. Safety seemed to exist only behind closed doors, shielded from this demonic devastation.
Yet, among this tide of terror, one figure stood out. A woman, looking lost, stood in the middle of the debris-strewn street where cars were trapped, powerless against the demonic onslaught. Her short brown hair fluttered in the breeze, and dressed in a fitted office outfit, she looked utterly vulnerable in this urban nightmare. Clutching a pile of folders in her shaking hands, she stood alone, desperately seeking an escape from the chaos around her.
"Leave me alone!" she sobbed.
"That's not likely, for we will consume you!"
"And we'll become transcendent archdemons like our Messiah Abaguo!"
The two demons sped toward the woman, who had fallen to her knees, pleading desperately for her life.
"Help!" she cried.
Just as the demons closed in on the young woman, ready to consume her soul, they were suddenly pulled back by an unseen force that forced them to retreat.
"What the-?!"
"It's over for you, archdemons!" declared Rahman.
When the two demons turned around, they found Rahman, who was wearing a proud smile. Like a master of the universe, he held out his hand towards them. In the palm of his hand was an extraordinary object—a miniature black hole with immense cosmic attraction. Around Rahman, small debris like pebbles and shards of glass were sucked into this celestial body, irresistibly drawn to its unfathomable power.
"Why am I being pulled towards him?! Damn it!"
"Ever heard of gravity?" he joked.
The ridiculed demon growled angrily, shooting Rahman a fierce look. In a desperate act, he stretched his hand toward the woman and shouted, "I don't care! I'll still kill her!"
He sent a stream of demonic energy toward her, but it was absorbed by the unstoppable pull of Rahman's black hole.
"The party's over! Time for you to go back to Hell!"
Suddenly, the black hole evaporated spectacularly, revealing a pristine sphere that lit up the entire street. With a breathtaking gesture, Rahman unleashed a powerful surge of angelic energy at the demons, reducing them to impalpable dust in an instant.
The angelic energy, borne by Rahman's heavenly breath, manifested as a captivating celestial sound. Like a choir of divine harmonies, it resonated with transcendent intensity, filling the air with a heavenly melody of both strength and purity.
"Thank you, Rahman! Without you, I would have died..."
Rahman walked over to her, offering a hand, his face illuminated with a heroic, proud smile.
"I'm a superhero and an angelic human—that's why I'm here to rescue you!"
The woman jumped into the superhero's arms, tears streaming down her face.
"It's okay," he comforted, stroking her hair. "You're safe and sound now!"
"Thank you for being here for us! Thank you a thousand times over! Thank you for everything you do!"
As she continued to express her gratitude, the residents emerged from their homes, rushing joyfully toward Rahman, cheering their beloved superhero. Everyone conveyed deep gratitude for the heroic deed he had just accomplished. A broad smile spread across Rahman's face, overwhelmed by an indescribable surge of happiness.
"Alright everyone, I'll leave it to the proper authorities to handle things from here! Take care!"
Rahman levitated into the air, cheered on by the crowd he had just saved. From above, he spotted fire trucks and police cars getting ready to come to the scene and ensure everyone's safety.
"One good deed done! Ha!"
Soaring over the city, Rahman came face to face with a downtown building adorned with screens, as were the surrounding edifices. The heart of Delforde bustled with vehicular traffic and the daily routines of its citizens. Amidst a commercial broadcast, a television anchor suddenly appeared, displaying a somber and saddened expression. The elf was blonde, wearing a white shirt, and in her hands, she held the day's news.
"Breaking news. Last night, during a fierce battle, the Lost Ones and Marshal Anabito, an angelic human from the Kingdom of Rymis, defeated the archdemon Abaguo. Abaguo and the entity residing within Gwendoline engaged in a cataclysmic showdown, causing planetary-scale earthquakes. Countless Haradisian inhabitants lost their lives, only to be resurrected by a mysterious magic emanating from the entity in Gwendoline…"
Rahman listened intently, but a cold shiver ran down his spine as he anticipated the anchor's next words.
"No... don't tell me..."
"Citizens of Edra..."
Tears streamed down her face as she continued her announcement.
"It is with heavy heart that I inform you that Marshal Anabito has left us last night... leaving behind his family legacy, the Adaken, and his status as an angelic human."
The elf's words unleashed a tidal wave of sorrow and despair within Rahman. Despite his celebrated status as a beloved superhero, he could not escape his own humanity. Even with his distinction as an angelic human, which granted him immense power and a pivotal role, at his core, he was but a human with a tender heart.
The ambient sounds around him suddenly seemed to dissolve, as if muffled by his sudden realization. This awareness dragged him into the depths of profound sadness.
"No... not you, Marshal... You can't die... not you."
Although he usually managed to maintain a confident and kind smile, Rahman could not hide the overwhelming sadness that consumed him, manifesting in tears that streaked his face.
"You were the worthiest among us... We revered you so much..."