RICHARD GRAYSON
I gasped sharply and opened my eyes. I was on a hospital bed, and the monitor beside me was beeping steadily. The last thing I remembered was my face being buried in the ground. If I had been a little arrogant, I would have lost my life. Such a menace, I thought.
---
Two Nights Ago
I was ushered into a room specially prepared for me by the members of the Heroes League. Golden Wings, one of the incredible forces, had brought me there. The Incredible Forces were a group of supes consisting of nine members, each with unique super abilities that made them terrifyingly powerful. Golden Wings, on the other hand, was a female supe who believed her powers were granted by the Sun God. She was adorable, but that didn't make her one of the strongest. She carried a demeanor that portrayed beauty, elegance, and straightforwardness—and she liked me.
"You'll be fine here," she said with a big, bright smile.
I replied with a smile of my own, though it was a bit weak. I slowly walked into the room, pulling my luggage behind me.
"So…" I called just as she was about to leave. "Tomorrow, I face the world's greatest heroes. How do I approach them?" I asked with confidence, even though I could feel the terror brewing within me.
"Richard—you faced me. You can face them too," she assured me. I nodded weakly, turned, and she left.
I stood admiring the beauty of the room. It wasn't spacious, but the furniture made up for it. A large white wardrobe stood against one wall, and a very big bed dominated the space. The bed was clothed in a white bedspread with two neatly arranged white pillows. In a small, empty corner, there was a table with an office chair, a MacBook, and a router sitting on top of it. Opposite the bed was a large smart television. The room was indeed beautiful, but I would only see it for a day. I kicked the door shut nonchalantly with my leg and dived onto the bed, leaving my luggage to its fate.
I brought out my phone to check the time. It was seven minutes past ten o'clock at night. I knew it was way past my bedtime, but my excitement just wouldn't let me sleep. The thought of seeing the world's greatest heroes live, talking to them, gave me chills. I was excited, afraid, and anxious all at once.
I turned to face the ceiling with a smile on my face. Rolling over, my hand accidentally hit something. I winced slightly and sat up to see what it was. A small fridge. There's a fridge? I thought. I leaned over and opened it. It was stocked with various snacks, most of which were dietary supplements. I let out a light chuckle. The League of Super Seven is going to be fun!
---
Yesterday morning,
I was so excited to meet the team. I wore my tight blue superhero costume, sprayed myself with body spray, used mouth spray, and laced up my boots, holding my eye mask in my hands. I stopped when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Walking closer, I examined my reflection. I was stunning. My hair was perfectly styled, and my jawline was sharp and obvious. I smirked. I'm going to blow their minds, I thought.
I walked out of my room and shut the door behind me. The walk to the Incredible Forces' main hall felt like navigating a catacomb. Eventually, I found my way, thanks to an employee.
I pushed open the gigantic doors of the room, and the creaking sound alerted everyone inside. I needed to put on my best to impress these people. I relaxed my arms and raised my head, meeting the curious gazes that seemed to pierce my soul.
I froze in place. The room had a U-shaped table with a 1-4-4 arrangement: the God of Magic sat at one end, with four supes seated on either side.
"You may shut the door," Archood, the archer, said in a friendly tone. Slowly, trembling, I turned to shut the door. A soft thud followed.
"You're welcome," Eldon, the God of Magic, said. I was still facing the door, feeling like an idiot as my heart ached. When I turned back, I saw her.
She sat apart from the others, perched on a barstool, her arms resting on a tall table as she ate ice cream. She was dressed in all black, with a scarf that covered the lower half of her face, leaving only her captivating eyes visible. Her dark, smooth hair looked impossibly perfect, as though it could never become rough or dirty. I couldn't help but admire her. She was magnetic.
"Richard?!" Eldon's voice jolted me out of my trance. I stood straight, facing the God of Magic. He didn't look disappointed, but his curious gaze shifted between me and the girl I had been admiring.
"You placed an application to join the Super Seven, correct?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied confidently.
"You know what the Super Seven is, don't you?" he asked.
I took my time to think about the question. It was a difficult one to answer. Finally, I sighed and said, "Not as much as you do, but I know a fair deal about them." My gaze dropped to my feet.
"You're smart, but we need more than just brains. We need actual talent," he said, standing. His immaculate white outfit glistened in the light, with a golden belt strapped around his waist and a golden collar accentuating his regal appearance. His black hair was slick and dashing, and his white cape flowed behind him like something out of ancient Asian army tales. The golden "M" on his chest likely stood for Magic.
He walked toward me and stopped at a distance, his gaze unwavering.
"What are your powers again?" he asked. I trembled nervously, letting out a shaky sigh before raising my arms high. The lights in the building flickered off as electricity surged through my palms.
"That's enough," he said. I lowered my arms, and the lights returned to normal.
"That's something," I heard Zoom mutter from where he sat. Zoom, the speedster, was the fastest man alive. His unimaginable feat of reversing the Earth's rotation by running in the opposite direction was legendary. Despite his comment, I felt deflated.
Eldon placed a comforting arm around my shoulders and guided me to an adjacent living room. We sank into a plush armchair.
"You're talented, and it's a good thing you're using your powers for good. I'm proud of you," he said. "But there's nothing we can do right now. You'll join the Heroes League Academy, and if you pass their final exams, you'll be eligible to join the Super Seven."
"That's six years from now!" I protested.
"Unless…" I interrupted, proposing, "If I beat someone in this room, would you reconsider?"
Eldon chuckled. "You couldn't touch the weakest among us."
"Then it's settled," I declared. "I'll fight her." I pointed to the ice-cream girl.
The room fell silent, and Eldon looked surprised but intrigued.
---
With that, I respectfully left the room, leaving them to ponder my decision. I spent the rest of the afternoon on top of the Heroes League building, letting the wind smack my face as I watched birds fly freely. My thoughts drifted to the duel. I just need to win, right? I sighed deeply, my ears pricking at the sound of footsteps behind me. The ice cream girl approached and sat down beside me.
"Are you sure about fighting me?" Her tone carried curiosity, not doubt.
"If I don't, there's no Super Seven for me," I replied, my mood souring.
She studied me silently as I continued. "Last year, during the siege, my parents tried to get my younger sister and me to safety. My father managed to get us out of town, thinking if we left, we'd be safe. But there was a wild explosion, and our car veered off course. The blast was followed by a wave of dark antimatter that burned my entire family to dust. I was the only survivor."
A tear escaped my eye, and I quickly wiped it away with the back of my hand.
"If I don't fight evil—if I don't avenge my family—I can't live with myself," I said, forcing a small smile.
Her expression softened for a moment. Then she stood up, her face returning to its composed state. "See you on the battlefield," she said before walking away.
Her voice was firm yet soothing, filled with authority. I realized I never got her name, but I was glad we talked.
---
Later That Evening
I stood facing my opponent. Excitement and nervousness coursed through me. The battleground was a vast expanse of snow-covered nothingness, remnants of a blizzard blanketing the ground. My feet were buried in the snow, and the icy chill seemed to seep into my soul.
I did a few warm-ups and adjusted my eye mask. Checking my costume for errors and finding none, I declared myself ready.
"This is actually fun," I said nervously, chuckling. She smiled faintly, her beauty amplified against the white backdrop. She was even more stunning than Golden Wings.
"Yeah, it's been a while since I came here," she replied casually.
"So, uh… how does this work?" I asked, trying to mask my unease.
"Simple. Run around as much as you want and try to make this as fun as possible," she said calmly, taking a superhero stance. Her arms crossed behind her, her posture exuding grace and authority. Her royal blue irises began to glow faintly, and her aura shifted. It became threatening, as if the very air around her was bowing to her power.
"O—kay…" I stammered.
Taking a deep breath, I sped off. In a split second, I was running laps around her, creating a large tornado. End this quickly, I thought.
Suddenly, I felt her hand grab my collar from behind. With a powerful swing, she flung me into the air. Before I could react, her foot connected with my ribs, sending me crashing into the ground. The impact barely registered before she landed on me with both feet, pressing me further into the earth.
She flipped backward, grabbed my arm mid-motion, and hurled me into the air again. I couldn't gain control. As I tried to recover, air pressure slammed me down once more.
I managed to get to my knees, only to be met with a punch to the jaw. The velocity of her strike sent me flying into a snowbank. I touched my jaw, expecting it to be shattered, but it was perfectly fine.
Before I could stand, she appeared behind me. Another punch sent me skidding across the frozen landscape until I collided with a mountain. The force buried me deep within its layers. Moments later, she dropkicked me from the other side of the mountain, her power seeming infinite.
---
Despite the punishment, my body felt intact. She was healing me, ensuring the fight continued. Her earlier words echoed in my mind: Make it fun.
"Is that so?" I muttered.
Electricity surged through me as I launched myself into the air, changing the atmosphere. Lightning rained down from above, but she evaded every strike with her incredible speed. I condensed the lightning into a single beam and aimed it at her. She remained a step ahead, darting around in circles, hand in her pockets and making poses while evading.
Determined, I flipped backward, landing with a pose that released a massive shockwave. The force halted her movement momentarily. She smiled—a genuine, impressed smile.
Raising my hand, I summoned the lightning stored in the clouds, channeling it into my palm. Slamming my hand into the ground, I unleashed a cataclysmic wave of energy. The destruction was immense, but she remained unscathed. Her piercing gaze locked onto mine, and she mouthed a single word: Magnificent.
---
It was then that I realized who she was. She wasn't just powerful—she was divine. She was none other than the goddess Elsa.
I charged at her, refusing to back down. Punches rained from my fists, but she dodged them effortlessly. My final swing missed, and she retaliated with a punch that sent me flying.
Before I hit the ground, she caught me mid-air, throwing me higher. I ascended into the sky, barely able to see her following gracefully.
As I looked up, the world above turned crimson red. A deafening noise filled the air, followed by a world-erasing sound. A giant beam of light sizzled toward me, but it dissipated just before impact.
When the scene cleared, she descended with unmatched elegance. Her presence was radiant, her beauty divine, her power supreme. She caught up with me a mere two hundred feet away from a disastrous landing, her palm glowing as she softly touched my chest.
Her voice, calm yet commanding, flowed like the sea: "God's Palm."
The rumble that followed was deafening. The last thing I saw was a flash of white light as I landed on the hard soil just before unconsciousness enveloped me.
---
I couldn't help but replay the fragments of memories that kept flashing in my head. Fuck! I cursed under my breath.
The door creaked open, and I strained to see who it was. A middle-aged lady walked into the room, accompanied by a younger woman wearing a dark shade. Both of them were dressed in black. Slowly, I sat up, nursing my aching muscles. The older lady approached me with a big, bright smile, but I already knew where this conversation was headed.
She gracefully took a seat, and the younger woman handed her a tablet. She scrolled through it while I sat back, watching her operate the device in silence.
"Is anyone gonna say anything?" I questioned, breaking the obvious quiet.
"Well, yeah... technically. Hold on a second!" the younger woman replied, her voice casual. I relaxed, rolling my eyes in annoyance.
"I know I didn't get into the Super Seven; no need to rub it in my face," I blurted out, turning away to think about how to start a solo heroic journey.
"You know, the Incredible Forces are such great heroes. They have so many battles to fight that they couldn't spare the time to reevaluate you," the younger woman said, her voice tinged with optimism. I turned back to face them, still lying in my position.
"What are you implying?" I asked, curiosity creeping into my voice.
"You will join the Super Seven!" she declared, extending an arm toward me.
I looked around, rolling my eyes. "I'm expecting a 'but'," I said flatly.
"But... you'll have to attend Heroes League Academy," the middle-aged woman interjected, adjusting her seat to get a better look at me.
A scoff escaped my lips as I strained to sit up. My mind raced. Nobody was there. Literally nobody. Nobody saw me get beaten by a goddess. Nobody saw me try to fight back and fail. Absolutely nobody saw me stare death in the face when she fired a goddamned Omega Beam at me.
"No," I declined, surprising both women.
"I will not join the Super Seven if it's not as clean as expected. I won't join if I don't get the heroes' exclusive treatment," I declared firmly.
"The person you fought, according to the God of Magic, said you were quite astounding but need to be kept under observation," the older woman said matter-of-factly.
"The person--," I let out an angry scoff. "The person is a fucking goddess!" I yelled. The women shrugged, their disbelief evident.
"We're under orders. It's a do-or-die kind of thing," the older woman said nonchalantly, dropping an envelope on the blanket covering me. She showed me the tablet, displaying my place in the Super Seven—my rank, my superpowers, and my code name.
I leaned back, exhaling deeply. The women left the room, and I let out a worried sigh.
---
One Year Ago
"Get Annie to safety!" My father's distressed cry rang out as I scrambled to escape.
The sky was crimson red, and the atmosphere reflected its ominous hue. We could barely see anyone, making it hard to navigate. Somehow, we managed to find our way out.
"The fight only stretches into the city. Once we're out, we're safe," my father said with conviction. He grabbed my mother's hand, offering a weary smile before rushing us toward the rickety wagon we were using.
"The heroes are handling the fight. They're ensuring the casualties aren't fatal," he assured us as we rode down a zigzagging road littered with debris.
A loud bang echoed in the sky, followed by what sounded like the breaking of the sound barrier. I caught a glimpse of the God of Magic streaking through the stained clouds.
We drove past a signboard that read, Goodbye to Groove Cove. Relief began to wash over us. Then, an explosion erupted in front of us, veering the car off course and tossing us into the woods.
The impact left us battered and bruised. My father, bleeding but determined, pulled us from the wreckage and led us to a clearing. He reached into his pocket, retrieving a necklace with a small ornament—a family picture encased inside.
He placed it in my hand, closing my fingers around it.
"Take Annie, protect her, and—"
Another explosion ripped through the air, sending me flying over a hundred feet. Right before my eyes, my entire family was incinerated, reduced to ashes by a dark matter wave. The force hurled me across the landscape before slamming me into an unfamiliar place.
---
A tear escaped my eye as I rubbed the ornament with my thumb. Thinking about them now was the best I could do.
"Lost in thought, I see," a soothing voice said, jolting me. I quickly wiped away my tears.
"If you're here to whine about how weak I am, just get on with it," I replied nonchalantly, my gaze fixed on the envelope.
"I'm sorry you had to fight me. But, after all, it was your choice," Elsa said, placing her soft hand over mine.
"Yeah, you could say that," I muttered, trying to hide the blush creeping onto my face.
"Richard," she said, and I wondered how she knew my name. Then I remembered—she's a goddess. Of course, she knew.
"The opportunity you have is golden. I personally spoke on your behalf," she revealed.
"And why's that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Because you're special, and you don't even realize it," Elsa said with a cocky smile.
"And that's why I want to personally keep an eye on you," she added. Her soft voice echoed in my head as she stood to leave.
"Does that mean I'll be training with you, the goddess?" I asked, excitement lacing my words.
"No. It means I'll watch you grow stronger. Who knows? Maybe strong enough to defeat me," she teased, walking toward the door. She paused and glanced over her shoulder.
"Richard," she called, her tone commanding. "Don't let me down."
Her side-eye was deadly. She shut the door behind her almost immediately.
---
Finally letting go of my ego, I grabbed the envelope. Breaking the seal, I pulled out its contents.
It read:
"Dear Richard Grayson,
You have been selected as the newest candidate for the Super Seven under the condition that you attend Heroes League Academy for evaluation by the higher-ups. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. However, we rejoice that this empty slot has been filled by a veteran like you. We hope you give your ultimate best to save the world and become a superhero.
Sincerely,
Eldon Hyerwall
---
A slight chuckle escaped my lips. I leaned back, letting sleep envelop me.
The life I'd always dreamed of was finally coming to pass. I couldn't think of a better way to end the day than to smile and reflect on everything that had played out.
Elsa, just how powerful are you?
The thought lingered as sleep claimed me.