Knox gathered the members of his team near the massive vault door. Without much ceremony, he stepped onto the newly constructed elevator with them, and together they descended into the dark, hollow pit below. The faint hum of machinery echoed in the silence as they reached the bottom, surrounded by smooth iron walls that reflected dim light.
"Alright," Knox said, his voice breaking the stillness, "let's dig."
Max, Isaiah, Jonathan, Alex, and Mary joined the rest of the crew. The five of them raised their hands, powers activating in unison. Metal groaned and screeched as sparks ignited in the air. Circuit boards, wires, and scarp tech flew to life, merging an reshaping as the group carved outward to create the vast interior of the base.
Hours passed, the walls of dirt giving away to metallic structure but by bit. Knox paced impatiently as the sound of digging echoed endlessly. Finally, he stopped and sighed. "This is taking way too long."
He snatched the blueprints from Max and scanned them. His brow furrowed as he realized the scope-six football fields worth of space. A smirk spread across his face. "Alright, everyone out. I'll handle this."
The other quickly cleared the area, stepping back to watch. Knox shot into the air once more, his figure disappearing into the darkness.
"Is he doing it again?" Alex muttered, watching skeptically.
Isaiah shrugged. "Better step back."
From above, Knox plummeted like a missile, his body spinning violently. He slammed into the ground with a thunderous boom, sending shockwaves through the earth. The spinning force turned him into a human drill, carving massive tunnels outward in all directions. Dust and dirt exploded in his wake as he tunneled through the earth, rapidly creating space.
Three minutes later, Knox shot back up, hovering in the air, surrounded by a cloud of debris. Those who hadn't seen the display before stood in stunned silence, jaws slack.
Knox landed smoothly, brushing dirt off his shoulders. "Max, that big enough for you?"
Max stared into the massive, cavernous space, his voice breathless. "It'll do."
The team quickly returned to the pit, now more like a vast underground hall. Max, Isaiah, Jonathan, Alex, and Mary all stepped to the center of the chamber. Each raised their hands, their powers activating in sync.
Meet the Builders:
Maximus: Broad-shouldered, dark hair with sharp features. Calm and steady under pressure. His power allows him to instantly forge metal and technology, creating structures at incredible speed.
Isaiah: Rugged with fiery red hair, green eyes, and an easy smirk. His power is slower but meticulous, molding metal and tech with precision over time.
Jonathan: Tall and lean, with black hair tied into loose ponytail. A quiet genius with knee intellect. His ability focuses on advanced circuity and technology integration.
Alex: Stocky and strong, with short blond hair and a bold attitude. His powers manipulate heavy machinery and raw metal with brute force.
Mary: Petite with silver hair and a serious demeanor. Her power revolves around energy channels, wiring the base for power and connectivity.
The underground space transformed before Knox's eyes. Metal surged across the walls and ceiling, circuit boards fusing with wires and plating. Platforms, walkways, and infrastructure appeared from thin air. Knox noticed the materials were running out fast.
Without a word, he shot out of the cavern and flew at blinding speed across the city. Scarp yards, warehouses, and abandoned tech districts became his targets as he gathered materials-iron, copper, wires, and panels-dropping them off in massive piles before disappearing again.
"Enough!" Max shouted after several runs, sweat beading on his forehead.
A brilliant light erupted from the center of the cavern. A massive beam surged upward, bathing the space in blinding radiance. When it faded, Knox landed next to Max on the elevator platform. The base was complete.
The elevator descended once more, this time into the newly built underground fortress. The platform stopped at a solid iron door embedded into the wall. A small scanner glowed on its side.
Max gestured to the scanner. "Place your hand here. It'll register you. Soon we'll set restrictions so only those authorized can open it."
Knox pressed his palm to the scanner. A soft beep sounded, and the iron door split apart, revealing the hidden base beyond.
Knox stepped inside and froze. His lips curled into a grin as his eyes swept over the massive underground structure.
The floor was covered in polished steel with a gleaming red carpet that stretched forward to a raised platform. Hovering above the platform was a holographic projection of Earth, spinning lazily in midair. Around the base, doorways led to labeled rooms.
Medical Bay
Training Grounds
Armory
Cafeteria
Briefing Room
Decorative banners lined the walls, and overhead, a blue, glowing crystal sat in a massive chandelier-like structure, cables snaking out from it like veins.
"What's that?" Knox asked, pointing at the crystal.
Max grinned. "A gift from my system. It's an infinite power source. It keeps the entire base running."
Knox whistled. "Impressive."
To his right a massive statue-of himself, of course. The bronze figure depicted him in his suit, one hand on his hips, the other stretched upward in triumph.
Knox smirked at the sight. "Don't think I needed a statue, but I like it."
Max continued. "The base has three floors. The first is common area-medical, training, cafeteria, and the like. The second is for meetings and operations. The third floor..." He glanced at Knox. "That's for your personal quarters, training facilities, and anything else you requested."
Knox grinned. "Max, you've outdone yourself."
Max rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, there's still more to add. Vehicles, tech upgrades..."
Knox's eyes lit up. "Yeah, about that. I want vehicles. And a training room. Specifically, one that can increase gravity."
Kaelina's voice chimed in his head. "Like in Dragon Ball?"
Knox smirked. "Exactly."
Max nodded. "We can make it work. We'll need time, but if we have the materials, it's doable."
The team began exploring the base as Max led Knox on a full tour. Once the tour ended, Knox flew up above the group, addressing them all.
"Our base of operations is complete!" he declared, his voice echoing through the vast space. "From here, we'll rise. Soon, we'll be known throughout the world. Feared. Respected. Our name will make other's hearts quake!"
The team erupted into cheers as Knox landed next to Max. "We'll need uniforms," Knox said. "Something that makes us stand out."
Max nodded. "We'll work on it. The design team will get started in the Architect's Forge."
" Architect's Forge, huh? Knox smirked. "Not bad."
Knox eventually made his way to the third floor, entering his personal quarters. The room was spacious, with a massive bed, sleek furniture, and an oversized chandelier glowing faintly overhead. He walked to the center of the room and pressed the logo on his chest, causing his suit to retract seamlessly.
Falling onto his bed, he stared up at the ceiling.
Kaelina's voice was soft. "You're getting closer every day."
Knox's lips curled into a confident smile as his eyes narrowed. "Soon... I will be known."
Hey guys I'm going to write the next big opponent and if you have any ideas for power please comment it down.