I still remember those days, before the world lost all meaning for me. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was six years old. The masks I had to wear back then felt so heavy, and it frustrated me because neither my parents nor my siblings had to wear them—only me. That's why there were times I felt different, like I didn't belong to that family.
But then I met that bastard, and he changed me for the better. We liked crayons and comics, and we always joked that girls were dirty and mean. I saw him like a brother; we spent every day together.
At that age, the world didn't seem as harsh as it does now. Back then, I truly believed I could be happy in this world.
Then it happened—that day—I saw just how cruel this world could be to the weak.
"HUUAAH!"
Screams filled the town square as a massacre unfolded inside it.
Crack.
We ran from the horrifying sounds of bodies being torn apart—until we could run no more. We saw him face to face: the man who brought so much destruction to the town. He wore a mask made from old rags.
"I... I... hear it,"
the man spoke in a hoarse voice.
"I hear their heartbeats... Those heartbeats this society fights to protect... It's because of them... I... lost everything."
***
That memory has haunted me for ten years. But right now, I'm reliving it.
The scene unfolding before my eyes was identical to that time.
The people, who had been moving slowly just moments ago, were now running desperately, trying to get as far away from the monster as possible. The superhumans left ordinary people far behind; thanks to their speed, they covered ten blocks in less than four seconds. But even that didn't guarantee their safety.
As for me, I was frozen, watching the huge cloud of smoke rising above the buildings in the residential area. Although not as tall as those in the human district, they were still considerably large.
Boom!
The distant explosions stunned me. At this point, I felt like I was about to faint from fear.
BOOM!
The sound of destruction grew louder, closer. The serpent was heading straight toward me, moving fast.
I... have to get off the street.
"...!"
My legs... wouldn't move.
No... no, please... not again.
Crash!
It was too late. It was here. I couldn't see it, but the trembling all around me was proof enough.
CRRAAAASSSH!!!
It was exactly the same as that time—everything was being destroyed, people dying around me, and I couldn't do a thing. I couldn't even move. But unlike back then, now there was no one to help me escape.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
Until finally it appeared, crashing through a building and turning it to rubble.
It's over. This is the end. I'm going to die.
But before that huge serpent could fall on me, something shoved me hard from the side. The impact knocked me off the path, but the pain was immediate; I felt something inside me break. Ribs, no doubt.
I fell onto the pavement, gasping, my eyes still locked on the beast. I saw it effortlessly crush the exact spot where I had been just a second before.
Boom!
That whole block was pulverized under its weight.
Crash!
And after nearly killing me, it just kept moving forward as if I'd never been there, dragging a trail of chaos and destruction through the city streets.
"Ha... ha... ha... haha."
I was barely alive, but the adrenaline rushing through me sparked a deep laugh, muffled by my mask.
I had to enjoy this moment, because when my body calms down, I'll feel all the pain from the fall. In fact, I was already feeling pressure in my chest.
"...ouch."
"...!"
Wait, did that "pressure" just speak?
When I looked down at my chest, I was completely shocked—there was a person on top of me, a woman to be exact. Her black hair cast a shadow over her face despite being so short, and her eyes were also black but had a special glow that made them stand out. She was beautiful in every sense of the word, but what caught my attention was that she didn't have a mask—or rather, she didn't need one.
"...Eru' valdriz."
She spoke in a strange language, something I had never heard before.
Hey, what are you saying?
"...!"
When I tried to speak, my holographic screen didn't project; my mask must have broken from the blow.
The woman leaned toward me, looked into my eyes, and that glow in hers disappeared.
"..."
She stared silently, making slight grimaces now and then, her gaze turning cold, as if what she saw was worthless.
"You're not who I'm looking for."
...huh?
Then she stood up and walked away.
"..."
What the hell just happened?
FUUUUSSSHH
Suddenly, five lights streaked across the city sky like shooting stars.
This world has become total chaos. Every day brings a new apocalyptic threat endangering humanity's existence. Not even the superhumans, with all their power, can face every danger lurking on our planet.
That's why humanity was forced to reach a new level—one that until now had only existed in the oldest myths of our history.
***
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
The monstrous serpent continued its attack, determined to destroy everything in its path.
Flash.
A flash of light caught its attention—a bright, intense white glow emanating from one of the nearby buildings.
The serpent paused for a moment, its eyes fixed on that source of energy.
Without hesitation, it began to prepare to leap, ready to crush whatever was causing that dazzling light.
Chzaaaam!!!
But before it could get closer, a powerful beam struck it right on the head.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
The serpent screamed.
But it wasn't a threatening roar—it was a pure cry of pain.
The monster fell, but quickly got back up to face the origin of the sudden attack.
Suddenly, five figures dropped from the sky and confronted the beast.
In this world, when humanity faces a catastrophe beyond the strength of the superhumans, the last hope always falls on the heroes.
"Keep your distance."
The group's leader spoke, dressed entirely in a luxurious white armor that made him look imposing.
"Don't tell me you're scared?"
Teased his companion, a blue-haired woman with an arrogant glare.
"Can we hurry? I want to get out of here."
Suddenly, both were interrupted by a tall man wearing elegant gray robes trimmed with gold.
"You really are lazy."
"What did you just call me?"
"Enough talking."
Before the two heroes could start a fight, the leader raised his voice, gaining the group's attention.
"Lana."
He called to one of his teammates.
"Yes, what do you need?"
Answered a short woman with black hair, dressed in a white robe similar to that of another teammate.
"What's this thing's attribute?"
"G-give me a second."
She replied with a slight stutter, then closed her eyes and clenched her fists.
Flash.
A glowing aura ran through her body up to her head; then she opened her eyes shining with a golden light.
"It has two attributes: poison and fire affinity."
"Shit."
Some members immediately expressed their discontent at this news. A monster with two attributes is usually hard to fight—but not impossible.
"Looks like we're not finishing anytime soon, huh?"
"Stop complaining already."
"Enough, Luck, Niha, calm down, both of you!"
Once again, the leader restored order and began to devise a plan.
"We must coordinate our attacks. Its skin shows not a single scratch, even after it leveled seven kilometers of city. Don't land more than two hits in a row without immediately stepping back. Get away before it catches you. Lana, cover Luck and Niha. You two attack—aim for its blind spot. I'll take care of its tail."
His gaze swept over every team member as he assigned tasks, until it landed on the last member: a masked man dressed completely in black, wearing a trench coat full of strange objects. When he exchanged glances with the leader, mutual trust was evident, and the masked man understood his role in this fight.
"Axel."
The leader called him.
"Surprise it."
With that order, Axel shot off at hypersonic speed toward the monster, wielding only two small scythes. He made more than a hundred slashes in less than a second—slashes that didn't pierce the skin but only angered the serpent even more.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
The serpent responded by whipping its tail, trying to hit the masked man—but it was useless.
In front of the heroes, the gigantic serpent generated a whirlwind that destroyed everything around it.
"Haha, that guy's really motivated."
Joked Luck as he pulled his hands out of his robe. On each hand, he wore fingerless gloves with elegant designs.
"Five hits will be enough."
Then he ran toward the serpent without a trace of doubt.
Boom.
When he got in front of it, he struck its stomach, which didn't even seem to feel it.
"One."
Pum!!
He didn't stop—immediately continued with a hit twice as strong as the first.
"Two."
PUM!!
"Three."
PUUMM!!!
"Four."
PUUUMM!!!!
Each blow came with double the strength of the previous one, which made the serpent notice him and try to charge—but something stopped it.
"I got this."
Another serpent of the same size appeared out of nowhere, its skin glowing bright blue, but otherwise identical.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
The blue serpent lunged at its opponent.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
Both serpents wrapped their bodies around each other, trying to bring the other down. But the blue serpent mounted the monster and bit its neck.
BOOM!!
The force was enough to knock the monster down, smashing its head against the ground in front of the gray-caped hero, who readied his next strike.
"Hehe, perfect."
The hero laughed.
"FIVE!"
PUUUUUUMMMMM!!!!!!!!!
The hero shouted as he unleashed a powerful blow with double the force of the previous ones.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
The serpent let out a howl of pain, but as it writhed, it noticed thin lines extending from the blue serpent to a nearby building where a woman moved her hands like a puppeteer. Despite not being very intelligent, the serpent understood what was happening and stopped writhing, raised its tail, and with all its strength swung it toward the heroine.
FUUUUSSSHH!!!
Its massive tail sliced through the air heading straight for the building.
"...!"
The attack moved too fast for the heroine to react, but before it hit, a white-armored knight stepped in.
BOOOM!!!
The blow shook the building but didn't hit the heroine, as the leader of the heroes blocked the attack.
SSSHHHRRAAAAKKKHHH!!!
Angered, the serpent twisted violently, breaking free from the hold that restrained it.
BLUAAARGH!
Now free, the monster vomited a torrent of greenish substance spreading throughout the block.
FWOOOSH!
Suddenly, a spark ignited the poison the serpent spewed—and all the poison spilled across the block.
"That's just great."
The blue-haired heroine said, frustrated.
"Everyone, regroup with Lara!"
The leader ordered, alarmed by the situation.
In the distance, the heroine in the white robe brought her hands together and summoned circles of light inscribed with strange symbols.
"I'M READY!"
The heroine shouted, and all the heroes gathered behind her, seeking her protection.
FWOOOSH!
The monster chased the heroes and fired a burst of flame at them, but before it could hit, a barrier of light stopped the fire.
As the flames halted, the serpent only glared angrily at the superhumans who caused it so much trouble, while the heroes prepared to continue the battle.
***
Everything was chaos. While the heroes fought the monster, people ran looking for safe places, screaming for help and crying over the loss of their loved ones. But that only applied to the superhumans. The tired and wounded humans couldn't move a muscle, nor scream, much less cry. No one would hear them with their masks muffling all sound.
Tap… tap.
And I, I just walked, witnessing all this pain and destruction. I wanted to leave, far away from the screams. If I could, I definitely would. I was bleeding—the blow from that woman who saved me had shattered my ribs and part of my abdomen. I was dying in pain, but I still had enough strength to move, though I didn't know where I should go now.
"Ac… aaa… hua."
Then I heard some faint whimpers, so low it sounded like whoever it was was choking.
I followed the noise, which led me to the rubble of a building. There I saw her: a little girl writhing on the ground, clutching her neck with her hands. Just by looking at her, I knew what was happening—she was a human without a mask. The poor thing was dying from the toxic air. I thought about seeking help, but with my holographic mask, it would be hard to get anyone's attention. Besides, in my current state, the girl would die before I could find someone.
"Ac… uuacc… aaaa."
The girl kept making noises while crying. Then I realized I didn't need to find help; I just had to find a mask. But in the superhuman zone, where humans were a minority, the chances of finding a working mask amidst all this destruction were almost nil. The only one here was mine.
"....."
I didn't have to think much anymore. I just walked to the girl and placed my mask on her.
Click.
After adjusting it, she started breathing.
It was the second time in my entire life I was outside without a mask. The first time was because of some foolishness, and the second… well, I was doing something good for someone who needed help. I liked that feeling.
I'm not sure how long I walked. I was dizzy and briefly lost consciousness while carrying the girl on my back. She had fainted but was still breathing. Also, I don't think much time had passed without a mask, so I doubt she caught anything serious. I kept walking until we reached a crowd of people—it was some kind of shelter, full of ambulances and tents to tend to the wounded.
I walked through the crowd until I found a doctor who took the girl and laid her on a stretcher. He examined her with some strange devices and then said,
"She's going to be okay."
Those words made me smile.
Knowing the girl would be fine, I moved away from the crowd. I didn't want to be surrounded by so many people; I already knew what was about to happen—I was going to die. My lungs burned so much I wanted to scream, but I felt nothing: no movement in my legs, no breeze on my face. That's why I moved away—I didn't want to die surrounded by people and be left lying on the ground like a dirty rag.
I came here seeking a beautiful view, and I wanted to leave the same way. So I walked aimlessly, searching for a good image before dying, forcing myself not to close my eyes because I knew that if I did, I wouldn't open them again.