The team led Nobubaki to the carnival grounds, where they wasted no time putting him to work. He helped set up the stages, hang the banners, and arrange the stalls, all the while keeping his eyes and ears open for any sign of the heroes. As the sun dipped below the horizon and night fell, the city transformed. The once-bustling preparations gave way to a vibrant celebration, with lights twinkling like stars across the sky and colorful floats parading through the streets. Music and laughter filled the air, masking the darker purpose that had brought Nobubaki here.
As the festivities reached their peak, Nobubaki's heart pounded in his chest. He scanned the crowds, searching for any sign of the heroes he despised. His fingers brushed against the hilt of the dagger concealed beneath his jacket, the cold metal a stark reminder of what he intended to do. And then, he saw them—the G-Brothers.
They stood out even in the sea of revelers, their presence commanding attention. The two brothers, known for their synchronized combat abilities and flashy, coordinated attacks, were the darlings of Meloria City. They moved through the crowd with an air of superiority, waving casually to their adoring fans. The sight of them made Nobubaki's blood boil.
The time had come.
With a steady hand, Nobubaki pulled the dagger from its sheath, the blade glinting under the festival lights. His heart pounded as he weaved through the crowd, keeping his gaze locked on the G-Brothers. He was close now, so close that he could see the smug smiles on their faces, the way they basked in the crowd's adoration. The dagger felt heavy in his hand, a tool of justice ready to strike.
But just as he prepared to make his move, the brothers abruptly turned away, their attention drawn elsewhere. Nobubaki hesitated for a split second, confused by their sudden departure, but then quickly recovered and followed them. He slipped through the crowd, staying just far enough behind to avoid detection but close enough to keep them in sight.
The G-Brothers led him through the maze of festival booths and stalls, away from the main thoroughfare and into a quieter, less populated area. The sounds of the carnival faded as they moved deeper into the shadows, the festive atmosphere giving way to an eerie silence. Nobubaki's pulse quickened. This was his chance—if he could catch them alone, away from the eyes of the public, he could finally carry out his plan.
Nobubaki trailed the G-Brothers through the twisting streets, his heart pounding with anticipation. The lively sounds of the carnival gradually faded as they ventured deeper into the quieter parts of the city. Finally, they reached their destination—the grand Hero Museum, a massive structure dedicated to celebrating the legacy and triumphs of the world's most revered heroes.
The brothers slipped inside through a side entrance, and Nobubaki followed, careful to stay out of sight. The museum was closed to the public at this hour, making the dimly lit corridors even more eerie. The walls were lined with exhibits showcasing the history of Meloria City's greatest heroes, their achievements immortalized in glass cases and framed photographs. But tonight, this place of honor and pride would serve as the backdrop for something far darker.
Nobubaki ducked behind a display of old hero costumes, watching as the G-Brothers moved toward the center of the museum. They seemed familiar with the layout, navigating the maze of exhibits with ease until they arrived at the Hall of Legacy, a vast room filled with statues of the most legendary heroes in history.
The brothers stopped in front of the largest statue, a towering figure representing the city's greatest hero, Light Ray. Nobubaki watched from his hiding spot, straining to hear their conversation. Ginta, the elder brother, placed a hand on the base of the statue and whispered something to Goro, who nodded in agreement.
The G-Brothers stood tensely in front of the towering statue, their eyes fixed on the darkness of the hallway. Nobubaki, still hidden in the shadows, watched with bated breath as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the empty corridors. The tension in the air was palpable, and every second felt like an eternity.
Finally, the figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man with an imposing presence. Atomion, one of the city's most feared and powerful heroes, now appeared before them. But tonight, he was dressed differently. Gone was the vibrant hero suit that symbolized justice and protection. Instead, he wore a crisp black suit, a sinister contrast to his usual persona. His eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating malice as he stepped into the dim light.
Goro and Ginta Fujiwara exchanged a quick glance before Goro, the more hot-headed of the two, stepped forward. "Atomion," he began, his voice trembling with anger, "this has gone too far. We've done a lot of things in the name of power, but what you're planning... it's madness. We can't let this continue. You have to stop, now and forever."
Ginta nodded in agreement, his usual bravado replaced with a grim determination. "This city has its problems, but what you're planning will destroy everything. We were supposed to be heroes, Atomion, not monsters."
Atomion's lips curled into a twisted smile as he took in their words. "You misunderstand, brothers. This isn't about destroying the city; it's about rebuilding it in our image. The weak and the foolish have had their time. Now it's our turn to rule, to shape this world as we see fit."
Before the brothers could respond, a sudden movement caught Nobubaki's eye. In the corner of the room, a suit of samurai armor, long displayed as part of the museum's collection, began to stir. The armor, once worn by a revered hero who had fallen in battle years ago, now moved with a life of its own. Its head turned toward Atomion, and in one swift motion, it reached behind its back and pulled out an old, worn shotgun.
The sound of the gun cocking was deafening in the silence, and before anyone could react, the armor fired a shot directly at Atomion. The blast echoed through the chamber, the force of it sending shockwaves through the air.
Atomion staggered back, a surprised grunt escaping his lips as the bullet hit him square in the chest. But instead of collapsing, he began to laugh—a deep, chilling sound that reverberated off the walls.
"You think a relic like that can stop me?" Atomion taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "You're even more naive than I thought."
The armor stood still, the shotgun now pointed downward, as if recognizing the futility of its action. The brothers exchanged panicked glances, realizing that they were in over their heads.
Nobubaki's mind raced. This was beyond anything he had prepared for. Atomion was clearly more powerful than he had anticipated, and now even the G-Brothers, who had seemed so formidable, were reduced to fearful silence.
Atomion's laughter died down, replaced by a look of utter disdain. "I've given you everything—power, influence, the means to rise above the rest. And this is how you repay me? By conspiring against me? By bringing in some pathetic old relic to do your dirty work?"
Goro stepped back, his confidence wavering. "We didn't sign up for this. We wanted power, but not at the cost of innocent lives."
Atomion's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, he was upon Goro, gripping his throat with one hand and lifting him off the ground. "Innocence," Atomion spat, "is a luxury for the weak. Power demands sacrifice. If you're not willing to make it, then you're nothing but dead weight."
But as Nobubaki stood there, paralyzed by fear and indecision, a thought began to form in his mind. Atomion might be powerful, but he wasn't invincible. There had to be a way to stop him—something that no one had thought of yet. And if the G-Brothers were going to survive this, Nobubaki might just have to be the one to figure it out.
For now, though, he stayed hidden, waiting for the right moment to act—if it ever came.
As Nobubaki watched the scene unfold, memories of Atomion's reign of terror surged back, fueling his rage. Atomion had been the orchestrator behind countless tragedies, his unchecked power causing widespread suffering. Each memory intensified Nobubaki's anger, turning his fear into a burning resolve. He had come here to seek justice, and now, seeing the brothers in peril only strengthened his resolve to act.
The samurai armor, having taken its shot, was now still, but a voice suddenly erupted from it—a voice that sent a chill down Nobubaki's spine. It was a voice Atomion recognized. Atomion's expression shifted to one of recognition and amusement. "So, you've finally decided to show yourself," Atomion said, a hint of mockery in his tone.
Before anyone could react, Atomion began to shimmer and distort. In an instant, his form split into multiple copies, each one bearing the same sinister grin and black suit. The copies moved with a fluid grace, their numbers multiplying with every heartbeat. It was as if Atomion had become a legion of himself, each one equally powerful and menacing.
The G-Brothers, though initially stunned, quickly sprang into action. Goro, with his gravity manipulation, forced objects to crash down upon the copies, sending heavy debris hurtling through the air. Ginta, on the other hand, used his gravity powers to lift the copies off the ground, making them float helplessly. The two brothers fought in tandem, their powers creating a chaotic battlefield of crushing weight and floating figures.
Despite their efforts, Atomion's duplicates were relentless. They moved with precision, their control over the battlefield seeming almost effortless. The real Atomion, still watching from a distance, seemed to relish the chaos he had created. His laugh echoed through the museum, a chilling soundtrack to the conflict.
Nobubaki, from his hidden vantage point, felt his courage falter. The sheer scale of the confrontation, the power displayed by the G-Brothers, and the multiplicity of Atomion's forms overwhelmed him. His heart raced, and his breath came in shallow gasps. He had anticipated danger, but not on this scale. The gravity of the situation—the very real threat of Atomion's wrath—had left him paralyzed.
Suddenly, in the midst of the fray, one of Atomion's copies spotted Nobubaki. The duplicate's eyes locked onto him, and with a swift, calculated move, it advanced toward his hiding spot. Nobubaki's breath caught in his throat as the copy's presence loomed closer.
The fight between the G-Brothers and Atomion's copies raged on. Goro's gravity manipulation slammed a copy into the floor with tremendous force, while Ginta's control sent another floating helplessly through the air. Yet the relentless assault from the remaining copies made it clear that victory was not assured.
The Atomion duplicate that had spotted Nobubaki reached him, its face an unreadable mask of menace. "Wrong place at the wrong time"it said, its voice a chilling monotone. The words barely registered to Nobubaki, who could only stare in wide-eyed fear as the copy reached out, its hand extending toward him.
Nobubaki's instincts screamed at him to move, but his legs felt like lead. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, but panic clouded his thoughts. The copy's hand hovered inches from him, and he could feel the oppressive weight of Atomion's power even at this distance.
Just as the hand was about to make contact, a sudden burst of energy from Ginta sent the duplicate flying away. Nobubaki watched in a daze as the copy was hurled across the room, crashing into a display case. The distraction allowed Nobubaki a moment of reprieve, but it also left him feeling even more exposed.
As he cowered, his thoughts were a chaotic whirl of fear and frustration. He wasn't ready for this—he had come with a plan, but now it was falling apart. He needed to do something, anything, to help. But as he watched the battle unfold around him, he realized just how unprepared he was for the scale of the conflict before him.
The museum, once a place of history and tribute, had become a battleground of desperation and destruction. Nobubaki could only hope that somehow, amidst the chaos, a solution would present itself. For now, though, he was trapped in a state of fear, his resolve wavering as he witnessed the overwhelming power of Atomion and his copies.