Jared stood in front of Mrs. Vang's desk at Villain Co., his massive frame looming as he eagerly awaited the results of his rank evaluation. Mrs. Vang, her sleek attire immaculate as always, tapped on her keyboard with the air of someone entirely too busy for the conversation at hand. Finally, she printed a receipt, tore it from the machine, and handed it to him without looking up.
"Rank #576," she said curtly.
Jared frowned, glancing at the receipt in confusion. "Five-seventy-six? How is that possible? I've been training non-stop, I've taken down CockMan, and I even made the news! Why am I still so low?"
Mrs. Vang sighed, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms. "Because, Jared, the rankings aren't just about power or isolated fights. It's about making an impression. The CEO, Grunmalan, personally watches for villains who show innovation, leadership, or—frankly—something flashy enough to make headlines. You're still under the radar."
Jared's curiosity was piqued. "Grunmalan? The CEO? What's he like?"
Before Mrs. Vang could respond, a blur of motion interrupted the conversation. Out of nowhere, Jared was struck from behind with a tremendous force. He crashed into the counter, splintering the wood and scattering debris everywhere. Mrs. Vang narrowly avoided being caught in the chaos, leaping aside with surprising grace.
The room fell silent as the villains standing by turned their attention to the attacker. It was Super Light, his smug grin and glowing afterimages unmistakable. He dusted off his shoulders theatrically, looking down at Jared with disdain.
"Is this your future #1 villain?" Super Light scoffed, loud enough for the entire room to hear. "What a fuckin joke."
Several nearby villains, angered by the blatant attack, stepped forward to confront him. One by one, they lunged at Super Light, but he was a blur of motion. Each villain was dispatched with humiliating ease, their attacks countered before they even began. Super Light stood amidst their groaning bodies, his expression unchanged.
Jared groaned as he pushed himself out of the shattered counter. He emerged from the debris, his red eyes faintly glowing as he locked onto Super Light. With a roar, he launched himself forward, using the aerodynamic momentum from the counter's wreckage to fling himself straight at his rival.
Super Light smirked, his form blurring as he darted to Jared's side. Before Jared could react, Super Light caught him by both legs mid-air, spun him like a ragdoll, and hurled him through the massive glass window at the side of the skyscraper.
The world tilted as Jared was flung into open air, glass shards sparkling around him. The wind roared in his ears as he fell, and above him, he caught a glimpse of Super Light casually leaping out of the building to follow.
Back in the office, Mrs. Vang reached the edge of the shattered window, her heart pounding as she peered down. From her vantage point, she saw Super Light zipping along the side of the skyscraper, his afterimages distorting reality with his sheer speed, while Jared tumbled uncontrollably. Her face tightened with concern, but there was nothing she could do.
Jared plummeted through the air, his mind racing. Super Light's voice echoed around him, his taunts like stabs to Jared's pride.
"Hey, how's the view from up here, Jared? Bet you've never moved this fast in your life!" Super Light laughed, running down the side of the building with infuriating ease. He darted closer to Jared, grinning as he hovered just out of reach. "You call yourself a contender? You're just a warm-up act! Remember when you called me a douchebag? I'll make you eat thoose words idiot!"
He shouted sarcastically with a hint of revenge.
Jared clenched his fists, frustration boiling over. His body twisted in mid-air as he tried to steady himself. "You're all talk!" he snarled. "Come here and fight me for real!"
"Oh, I'm right here," Super Light sneered, darting to Jared's side and delivering a mocking pat to his shoulder before zipping away again. "But I don't think you can keep up."
That was when it happened. Jared's vision narrowed, the taunting blurs of Super Light sharpening into stark clarity. His red eyes flared brighter than ever, their glow cutting through the wind. His body surged with energy, and suddenly, his descent slowed. Jared's instincts kicked in, and he spun in the air, propelling himself upward with a burst of speed that defied gravity.
Super Light's smug grin faltered as Jared closed the gap between them with terrifying swiftness. "What the—?!"
Jared slammed into him, the force sending both of them careening away from the skyscraper. The air cracked with the sound of their impact, a sonic boom ripping through the city. They collided mid-air, exchanging blows at impossible speeds. Jared's punches were relentless, each one landing with enough force to rattle Super Light to his core.
"You think you're the only one who's fast?" Jared growled, his voice a low rumble as he drove a knee into Super Light's stomach.
Super Light coughed, the wind knocked out of him, but he retaliated with a sharp elbow to Jared's ribs, using the momentum to create distance between them. "You've got some tricks, I'll admit," he panted, glaring at Jared. "But you're not on my level."
Jared didn't respond. Instead, he closed the gap again, moving so fast that the air around him seemed to warp. Their battle raged as they fell, their movements a blur of red and white streaks against the city skyline. Every punch, kick, and dodge sent shockwaves through the air, shattering windows and rattling nearby buildings.
As they neared the ground, Super Light smirked, his confidence returning. "This is where we part ways, rookie!" He twisted in mid-air, kicking off Jared's chest with enough force to send him hurtling toward the asphalt below.
But Jared wasn't done. He shifted his body mid-fall, using the momentum to flip and land on his feet. The ground beneath him cracked from the impact, sending debris flying. Super Light landed gracefully a few yards away, brushing dust off his suit as he flashed Jared a cocky grin.
"Well, that was fun," Super Light said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll admit, you're fast. Almost as fast as me. But almost doesn't cut it."
Jared's red eyes burned as he straightened, his chest heaving with exertion. "Keep running your mouth," he said, his voice cold. "I'll shut it for you soon enough."
Before Jared could react, Super Light darted forward, landing a quick kick to his face. The blow was light, more of a taunt than an attack, and Super Light chuckled, his afterimages flickering ominously. "Keep up, I'm too fast!" With that, he blurred into motion, zipping away into the distance.
Jared's fists tightened, his body vibrating with suppressed energy. He crouched low, the glow of his red eyes intensifying. "Heh, finally." he muttered, before vanishing and appearing through the highway.
The chase just begun, or you can say...was on.