Lila's eyes narrow, and she nods. "Impressive," she says, "but you're going to need more than that to survive here."
"Survive?" I laugh, letting the power surge through me. "I've got the power of a hundred suns and the charm to match."
"You're unranked," she says, her gaze sharp. "That means you're a wildcard. And in a city like this, wildcards are either eaten alive or they learn to play the game fast."
"What game?" I ask, intrigued.
"The power game," she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. "This city's got more superheroes and supervillains than you can shake a stick at. And they're all fighting for a piece of the pie."
"Pie?" I ask, cocking an eyebrow.
"Powers, territory, respect," she says, waving a hand. "You name it, someone's fighting for it."
"Sounds like my kind of party," I reply, the thrill of the unknown racing through me.
"It's not all fun and games," she warns, her expression turning serious. "Some of these guys play for keeps."
"So, what's the deal?" I ask, leaning in closer. "How do I climb the ranks?"
Lila's eyes flick to Bella, who's hovering silently beside me. "You've got a system AI," she says, her voice filled with surprise. "You're one of the chosen."
"Bella's more of a... personal assistant," I say, trying to play it cool.
"BT-124," she corrects me, her voice cold. "I am a system administrator, not a personal assistant."
Lila's gaze lingers on Bella, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. "Whatever," she says finally. "If you want to rank up, you need to make a name for yourself. And not just by tossing cars around."
I lean back, crossing my arms over my chest. "So, what do you suggest, Miss Know-It-All?"
Her smile turns predatory. "I suggest you find a battle, preferably one that doesn't involve the big leagues just yet. Show off your skills, get noticed."
"And how do I do that?" I ask, playing it cool despite the rush of excitement.
Lila leans back against the alley wall, the shadows playing across her features. "Big villains show up all the time, looking to make a statement," she says, her voice a low purr. "It's like clockwork. They want the drama, the chaos, the fear. It's what fuels them."
I whistle. "So, who's the latest big bad?" I ask, my eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of impending doom.
Her gaze follows mine. "Well, there's this one," she says, her eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement. "They call him the Hyperion. Some say he's a demon king from another dimension, with enough power to wipe out planets with a yawn."
"Sounds like a challenge," I say, my heart racing. "Where can I find him?"
"You can't just waltz in and demand a battle," Lila says, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You've got to wait for him to make his move."
"No I don't" I say, turning back to Lila with a grin.
Her eyes widen slightly, and for a moment, she looks like she's trying to figure out if I'm serious. "You're just going to go fight a demon king like that?"
"Yup" I say with a cocky grin, "Bella here can give me the edge I need." I gesture to her, and she crosses her arms over her chest, looking less than thrilled with the idea. But I can see the glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
Before she can protest, I grab Lila's shirt and shout, "Hold onto your panties, darling!" And with that, I teleport us both to the demon king's lair, leaving the shocked expressions of the street behind.
We land in a fiery world that reeks of sulfur, the sky a sickly green, and the ground a molten mess. The palace looms ahead, a twisted monstrosity of bone and metal, jutting out of the lava like a giant, rotten tooth. The demon king himself stands at the top, a towering figure with horns that curl like flames and a body that seems to pulse with dark energy.
"Hey, fuckface!" I call out, waving up at him. He looks down, his eyes narrowing into slits as he takes in the interruption. I can feel Lila's tension beside me, but she doesn't pull away. She's a pro at this, I can tell.
The demon king descends, his cloak billowing out behind him like a cloud of malevolence. He lands in front of us, his hooves cracking the ground. "You dare to summon me?" he booms, his voice shaking the very air.
"Summon you?" I laugh, "Nah, I just heard you were throwing a party and didn't want to miss out."
Lila's eyes widen, and I can see the question in them—what the hell is he playing at? But she's a quick learner, and she catches on fast. She cracks her knuckles and smirks. "Yeah, and we brought the snacks."
The demon king roars and charges, his fist swinging down like the hammer of doom. But I'm not just some pretty face with a smart mouth. I've got moves, and I dodge with a grace that would make a ballet dancer jealous.
As he recoils from his missed punch, I open the Multiverse Power Selection Matrix, scrolling through the list of abilities like I'm picking a movie on Netflix. I stop on the Hakaishin power—the ultimate destruction technique. "Perfect," I murmur.
I shoot a wink at Lila, and she nods, her own eyes alight with battle lust. She's already sizing up the king, looking for an opening. She's hot when she's focused, and the heat between us is palpable.
The demon king charges again, but this time, I'm ready. I channel the Hakaishin energy, my hand glowing with a deep purple light. "You know what this is?" I ask, my voice low and deadly. He snarls, and I can see the fear in his eyes.
"Too late," I murmur, and throw the ball of energy. It hits him square in the chest, and for a moment, it seems like nothing happens. Then, with a sound like the end of the world, he's gone. Erased from existence, leaving nothing but a smoking crater.
Lila stares at the spot where the king stood, her jaw hanging open. "Holy shit," she says, her voice a mix of awe and desire. "That was... incredible."