Enigma and the number one hero locked eyes, tension crackling in the air between them. Nova, struggling for breath, tried to catch a glimpse of the hero, but her vision blurred as Enigma's iron grip tightened around her throat, cutting off both air and clarity.
"Don't you think that's enough?" the number one hero said, his voice calm but laced with authority, his face set in a serious expression. His stance was ready, prepared for combat should it come to that.
Without a word, Enigma released Nova. Her body crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. As she lay there, struggling to regain her breath, Enigma raised his arm, his hand opening a swirling portal of darkness. With one last glance, he stepped through it and disappeared.
The number one hero wasted no time, rushing to Nova's side. He knelt beside her, pressing his hand gently against her chest, searching for the faint rhythm of her heartbeat. Relief flooded through him as he felt it, weak, but steady. Nova was still alive.
The entire arena fell into stunned silence, every spectator, every fighter, even the judge was left speechless at the sudden arrival of the one they called "Number One." Whispers of disbelief rippled through the crowd. They had all known he was on a mission, traveling to the nearest solar system, two lightyears away. A journey of such distance, completed in mere seconds, defied all understanding.
They had always known he was powerful, but this? This was beyond anything they could have imagined. His strength had been legendary before, but now it bordered on the impossible. In that moment, no one in the arena could truly comprehend the scale of what they had just witnessed.
"Someone, call the healers!" the number one hero shouted, his voice booming across the battlefield. His eyes swept the area frantically, searching for any sign of help. There was only one healer present, a lone figure standing amidst the chaos. Without wasting a moment, the hero bent down and gently scooped up Nova's unconscious body. Her breathing was faint, and her wounds were grave.
Carrying her with care, he strode over to the healer, urgency in every step. "Here," he said, his voice firm yet filled with concern. "Make sure she makes a full recovery." He handed Nova over to the healer's waiting arms, his gaze lingering for just a moment before he turned and walked back toward the center of the arena.
Standing in the middle of the battlefield, his eyes lifted to the sky. Through the clouds, beyond the atmosphere, his sharp gaze focused on the ship he had sworn to protect. In the vastness of space, he could see it, under attack by another, far more advanced spaceship. The danger was clear, and time was running out.
Without hesitation, the hero crouched, muscles coiling in preparation. In an instant, he leaped skyward, launching himself with such force that he vanished from sight before anyone could even blink. One moment, he was standing on Earth, and the next, he was gone, rocketing through the atmosphere, leaving nothing but a gust of wind in his wake as he disappeared into the endless reaches of outer space.
With that, the tournament concluded, and Enigma emerged as the true victor. Many fighters, including Marc, were left disappointed with their performance. As the crowd rose from their seats and began to leave, discussions about the tournament filled the air. Some of the famous heroes stayed behind to meet their fans and supporters, but the majority had come to see Nova. Many were eager to watch her fight or meet her in person. However, due to the severe injuries she sustained that required hospitalization, fans didn't get the chance to interact with her. Though disappointed, they still appreciated witnessing her fighting prowess. Despite this, not everyone left unhappy, as they still had the opportunity to meet other well-known heroes.
Hours after the tournament, Marc wandered through the city streets, heading toward the Hero Association building with the head of War Machine clutched in his hand. As he neared the towering structure, he spotted a figure standing just outside, obscured by the deep shadow cast by the building, making it difficult to identify from a distance.
The figure appeared to be waiting for someone, though the head Marc carried didn't seem to notice anything unusual. As Marc got closer, he finally recognized the person standing in the shadows. "John?" he called out, realizing it was his friend.
John glanced over at Marc, noticing his battered appearance. Marc's face was still bandaged from his fight with Enigma, and his body showed signs of the rough battle.
"Yo," John called out as he walked up to greet him. "Still recovering from that fight, huh?"
Marc chuckled as he returned John's greeting. "Yeah," he said, pausing to grin, "but at least I managed to land a hit on my opponent."
"Oh, I see how it is," John responded, laughing along with him. Marc joined in, and soon both were laughing together.
The head, watching the exchange, looked at them in confusion. "You two are so weird," he remarked.
Marc was the first to respond, "Do robots not have a sense of humor?" John quickly added with a smirk, "They probably forgot to install that feature when they built him."
Both Marc and John were teasing the severed head, poking fun at it. "Hey!" the head shouted, annoyed. "I'm perfectly capable of understanding humor! You two just have a sense of humor that's beyond me!" Despite his protest, Marc and John burst into laughter again.
After a few moments, they finally stopped. John glanced up at the towering Hero Association building, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm thinking about joining the Hero Association," he said.
Marc looked at him and shrugged. "If you want to join, no one's going to stop you." He paused for a moment, then added, "But there are pros and cons."
John turned to Marc, curious. "What are the pros?" he asked.
Marc grinned. "Well, you get paid, you have access to all kinds of resources, and you get to go on missions."
"And the cons?" John asked, waiting for a response.
"The money you earn is based on your rank," Marc explained. "If you're the lowest rank, you won't get paid. Missions are also rank-based, only the top heroes get to take on the dangerous ones. And most heroes have to reveal their true faces that they have been hiding from the public."
John paused, thinking it over carefully. After a few moments, he made up his mind. "Alright, I think I'll join the Hero Association and make it to the top tier," he said, excitement and a touch of arrogance in his voice.
Marc chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "You really think you're going to be one of the top heroes?" he asked, clearly doubting John's bold claim.
"Of course," John replied confidently. He had seen Nova, the number two hero, in action and even fought her. He was convinced he could outsmart and overpower her.
"Alright, let's see," Marc said as he walked toward the Hero Association building, with John following close behind.
As they disappeared into the building, the sun began to set. On a rooftop nearby, a figure stood watching. The man wore a long black coat with purple accents, the brim of his hat casting a shadow over his face, revealing only a sinister smile.
His gaze was fixed on John. He knew exactly what John had done.