After being hit by a devastating punch, Sinvula's body flew through the air for several minutes before crashing into a building. The building shook before collapsing on top of him.
"What the hell was that?!"
People quickly gathered around to see the source of the commotion.
"Looks like two Superhumans are fighting?"
"Is it two Villains or is it a Hero hunting down a Villain?"
As those in the crowd started talking among themselves, a hand stuck out from under the rubble. The hand had on a white glove with a mark on the back.
"Wait, I know that mark!"
One of those close to the rubble was able to make out the mark.
"A red skull with black clouds behind it."
As those around them heard the woman describe the mark, a chill went down their spines, and their faces ashen. The mark on the glove started glowing. The glow grew brighter and quickly illuminated the night.
"Run!"
The crowd backed up before scattering.
"Iron Rain is coming!"
A bright light fell from the sky and hit the glove. The mark was projected into the sky for everyone to see.
"Oh, looks like Sinvula's distress call went off."
The Host, who was distances away, looked down on Impactor.
"Kid, it's better if you get going."
He bowed and vanished into thin air. Yet, his voice still lingered.
"I'm looking forward to see if you can shake things up enough to entertain me. Good luck."
The voice faded as Impactor slowly rose to his feet. Around him were dozens of people hiding in the dark, observing and recording everything that happened.
"We found them."
Elsewhere, people were racing towards Sinvula's signal. They arrived on bikes, cars, and some even fell from the sky.
They were dressed in modern punk-style clothing with no similarity between them other than the red and black scarves around their necks and the white gloves on their hands.
"Move the rubble and get them out."
A burly bald man stepped forward and ordered. The others started clearing the rubble using various abilities.
(The Boss is supposed to be in this area.....But that can't be.)
The bald man wore a nervous expression as he waited.
"Bastion!"
"Did you get them out?! Who is it?"
Bastion ran over with panic in his voice. His comrades froze in place while standing over the unconscious Sinvula.
"Boss...?"
Bastion couldn't believe his eyes. However, his shock didn't stop him from thinking logically. He stooped down and placed his fingers on Sinvula's wrist. After that, he brought his ear to Sinvula's nose.
"His pulse and breathing are stable."
He mumbled while checking his body. He noticed a fist print embedded in Sinvula's stomach. That's when a flash came from behind him.
"Whoa."
"The boss actually got rocked."
He looked up to see his comrades taking pictures and videos.
"I'm sending this to the group chat."
"Me too."
"Hey!"
Bastion stood up and glared at them.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Everybody looked down at the ground in shame. Bastion took out his phone.
"I'm the group leader, so I should be the one to post it first."
He stooped down again and pointed the camera at him and Sinvula. He made a peace sign while looking at the camera. He took the picture and stood up.
"Alright, my revenge for that video of me getting dumped he posted last month is completed."
He put away his phone, and a serious expression appeared on his face.
"Humiliating the Boss is Iron Rain's privilege and ours alone."
His eyes became bloodshot.
"Find out who did this and put them in the dirt!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Iron Rain members scattered, leaving Bastion alone with Sinvula. He looked down at him and frowned. The fist mark in his stomach had disappeared.
"You stink of alcohol..."
He sighed.
"If word of this gets out, he's gonna flip."
His phone started to vibrate. He took it out and frowned when he saw the caller ID.
"Kiara."
"What's this about the boss getting defeated by a no-name rookie hero?!"
A loud female voice came from the other side of the phone.
"No-name Rookie?"
"Yeah, it's all over social media! There are videos from all different angles! They even got videos in 4K!"
"......"
Bastion silently looked at the sky.
"Oh, we're so fucked."
Somewhere in the USA, there was an office building with a sign that said "Tipu". The building was a mere three stories, painted grey, and had an old-fashioned design. Nothing about it stood out. It was the same for the inside, as it was filled with office workers with deadpan expressions. In this dull, soulless place was an elevator with a cloud button. Once you press this button, the elevator stationed on the ground floor goes down. It travels down an elevator shaft to a subterranean space that was the size of a town. Inside the subterranean were several houses, stores, and even restaurants. At the centre of this town was a red building with black clouds painted all over it.
"Ugh..."
Sinvula woke up inside this building, staring at the ceiling, while his ears rang. He slowly sat up and held his head while grimacing.
"My head hurts like hell."
He looked around and noticed that he was in a white room with posters of rockstars and various football players on it.
"When did I get back to my room?....My memories are a bit foggy."
He got off his bed and touched his pockets.
"Where's my phone? Don't tell me I lost it."
He clicked his tongue and walked out of the room. He walked towards the stairs and looked down. He spotted Bastion sitting on a sofa, looking down at the ground.
"Yo."
Bastion's body flinched when Sinvula's voice entered his ear. He looked up to see him walking down the steps.
"What's up with you? Why do you look so dejected?"
"N-Nothing. I was just thinking to myself."
"Really?"
Bastion nodded.
"I see."
Sinvula vanished. Arms wrapped around Bastion's neck and held him in a chokehold.
"You think I wouldn't notice your voice cracked? You're definitely hiding something, something you don't want me to know."
Sinvula was grinning as he held Bastion in a chokehold.
(Good, he's messing around, that means he doesn't remember anything.)
Bastion thought while tapping on Sinvula's arms, telling him to free him.
"I'm not hiding anything."
"Bullshit! Come on, tell me! We're friends, aren't we?"
Sinvula's eyes widened.
"Wait, did you get dumped again?"
"No, I didn't! And why do you sound so happy about the idea of me getting dumped again?!"
"Because your misery is my pleasure, dear friend."
Sinvula released Bastion and patted him on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I can also buy you a cat to keep you company. How about a Maine Coon, a white fluffy one?"
Bastion gritted his teeth.
"I swear if I could kick your ass, I would."
"Everyone wishes they could, but I'm invincible!"
Sinvula burst out laughing. His laugh slowly died down, and his expression became darker by the second. He placed his hand on his head.
"Nah, it must've been a dream."
He smiled.
"Listen to this, I had a dream that some random Rookie Hero beat my ass and sent me flying. Pretty absurd, right?"
He looked at Bastion, who turned his head away from him.
"Bastion? It's a funny dream, right?"
Bastion stood up and walked out of the room.
"Huh? Bastion?"
Bastion walked back into the room holding a rabbit. He gave the rabbit to Sinvula.
"A gift? I love rabbits, but why so suddenly?"
Bastion placed his hands on Sinvula's shoulders and looked down at him.
"You love rabbits, right?"
"Y-Yeah."
"And you said you would never hurt one, right?"
"...I did."
"Okay."
Bastion took a phone out of his pocket.
"You had my phone?"
Bastion nodded before opening an app and loading a video.
"What the hell are...."
Sinvula stopped talking after seeing the title of the video.
"Mad Shaman getting dunked on by Rookie Hero."
"What?"
Sinvula's eyes became bloodshot.
"Boss, the rabbit!"
Sinvula looked down and a pair of cute pink eyes looked up at him. He took a deep breath.
"Play the video."
Bastion clicked on the video with his fingers trembling.
"Re-Impact!"
The video showed Sinvula being sent flying after being punched in the stomach. The video replayed the punch from several different angles before playing it in slow motion. It ended when he disappeared into the night sky.
"That motherfucker!"
Sinvula shouted with his body trembling and the veins in his neck standing out. The building started to shake as if it were experiencing an earthquake.
"Boss! Boss, the rabbit! For the love of God, remember the rabbit!"
Bastion desperately screamed out with tears in his eyes. The rumbling subsided after a while.
"I'm calm, I'm calm."
Sinvula took a deep breath. Bastion's face was stained with relief until he heard Sinvula click his tongue.
"I'M NOT CALM!"
The building shook vigorously while Bastion's screams rang out.
"What? Kiara went back to Portugal to find that bastard?"
After nearly half an hour of dancing on the borders of life and death, Bastion was able to calm down Sinvula. He was cleaning up the room that looked like a tornado had passed through it. In fact, that's actually what happened.
"Yeah. We got news that Impactor was still in Braga, and she used the Teleportation Array to go there with a squad."
Bastion flipped a couch on its right side and started dusting it off.
"Then I should go to Braga too. I can't have my subordinates cleaning up my mess. I have a reputation to maintain."
"I think you should let Kiara handle it."
"Why?"
"Just in case."
Sinvula frowned. Bastion noticed this and sighed.
"It's not that I think you would lose again. If you go, you'll definitely destroy the city, right?"
"Naturally. I need to make a statement."
"That's why you can't go. I like Braga; there are some historical sites I love to visit from time to time. I'd prefer the city not be flattened."
Bastion started vacuuming the room while Sinvula looked at him.
"...What if I lift those historical sites and move them to a different city?"
Bastion flashed a glare.
"I was kidding."
Sinvula sat on the sofa and crossed his legs.
"I'll listen to my #3. I'm a reasonable man."
"Good."
Bastion threw a broom at Sinvula.
"Then help clean up the mess you cause, Mr.Reasonable."
"I said I'm reasonable, not responsible."
"Shut up and get sweeping."
"....."
Sinvula silently stood up and started sweeping around him.
At the same time in Braga, Portugal—
"...What the hell just happened?"
A crowd gathered, looking on in shock at the scene before them. A man in a worn-out hoodie and a wrestling mask was standing in the middle of a sea of flames. Around him were people lying on the ground, all wearing red and black scarves and white gloves. A woman kneeled before him while glaring at him with a gaze filled with hatred.
"I can't believe I failed."