ERASERED'S LABORATORY – SECRET LOCATION
Fluorescent lights flickered. Glass tubes, machines, screens. A woman in a white coat, her hair tied back, typed on a holographic keyboard.
Erasered.
Her phone vibrated. She answered.
"Erasered."
Lion's voice, deep, authoritative.
"Release an artificial demon. Captain Man will be patrolling nearby soon. Send it toward City C."
"Understood."
She hung up. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.
A screen lit up. A cage. A beast.
Mbrogo. A blue-skinned troll, exposed bones, red eyes. Indestructible.
"But I'll test another one too."
Her fingers flew again.
A second screen. A second cage. A black beetle, massive, with razor-sharp mandibles.
"Send Mbrogo toward the Hero Tower." She smiled. "And the beetle near City A."
The cages opened.
The beasts roared.
---
CITY A – CAPTAIN MAN STATUE SQUARE
Mr. Gambete stood before the statue. Children surrounded him. He was giving his presentation.
"Here you are, children. The statue of the symbol of peace. Captain Man. This man is the image of the Association. The one who restored faith to all of humanity when we had all lost it."
The children applauded.
Mr. Gambete looked at the statue.
What a shitty life.
He sighed.
And to think I gave up everything to become a hero. I already saw myself as Captain Man. I sacrificed everything. I reached the top 5 of Class A. But I can't even move up to Class S because Lior decided not to move from his number 1 spot.
He laughed. A weary laugh.
He pulled a photo from his pocket. Him and his brother. Haruo.
I miss you so much. I should have stayed by your side.
He put the photo away.
What a stupid dream I had. I became a hero. But what did it bring me?
He looked at his yellow and red costume. His red briefs revealed his muscular legs.
BOOM.
An explosion rang out nearby.
---
THE STREET – THE BEETLE
Toy Boy was there. Exo-skeleton. Boxing gloves.
"Come on, take cover!"
People looked at him.
"Look, it's a hero! He's going to save us!"
Toy Boy turned toward the monster.
"It's me, Toy Boy, Class B hero! And I'm going to take care of this de…"
He saw the beetle. Black. Massive. Mandibles.
"…Ah."
The beetle spoke.
"Uh, runt. Get out of my way."
Toy Boy gritted his teeth. He attacked.
BAM.
The beetle slapped him. He jumped back, got up, dashed into its guard.
His fists struck. Reinforced by the exo-skeleton. Enormous power.
The beetle didn't move.
He struck. The beetle didn't move. He struck again. The beetle didn't move.
Again. Again. Again.
It was his ability. The one that had gotten him disqualified from boxing tournaments. The dash. A single dash into the opponent's guard.
He dashed. Entered its guard. BAM. Punch to the jaw.
The beetle stepped back.
Toy Boy spat blood.
"Haha! You didn't see that one coming, did you!"
The beetle looked at him.
"I must admit, you surprised me. You're very resilient for a human."
It wiped its jaw.
"But I must remind you of your weakness. No more games."
It extended its hand. An Ether beam formed.
SWOOSH.
BOOM.
The buildings next to them exploded.
"Do you understand now, pathetic hero? You'll never be on my level."
Toy Boy clenched his fists.
"It doesn't matter. If I became a hero, it wasn't to become strong. It was to protect others."
He spat blood.
"My idol once said: a hero must remain indestructible to protect the weak. He must be the last pillar."
He stood up.
"If I fall today, who will protect the residents? I don't have the right to give up."
He attacked.
The beetle's movements were insane. Hypersonic. It was everywhere. Toy Boy couldn't keep up.
---
CITY C – THE ROOFTOPS
Captain Man leaped from building to building. One followed him, hands in his pockets.
"One. I'm going to teach you the codes of a good hero."
"Mmh."
Captain Man sighed.
What can I even teach him, seriously? Yes, I'm his mentor, but only to keep an eye on him. He's a professional hero now. I can't leave him like this.
He stopped.
"One. Do you know how to use aura?"
One looked at him.
"What's aura?"
"A skill that every human should master. The materialization of Ether around oneself. Like steam."
One shrugged.
"Want to try?"
"Why not."
Captain Man smiled.
"Then it's simple. You're going to close your eyes and visualize a ball of energy around you."
One closed his eyes.
"And there."
BOOM.
One's aura was so dense it propelled Captain Man far away. Cracks appeared on the buildings. The aura kept expanding.
Captain Man flew back up.
"Damn! I didn't even finish explaining how to do it! What is that?!"
He shouted.
"HEY, ONE! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!"
The aura kept going.
"IF YOU STOP, YOU'LL GET A BIG BOWL OF RAMEN!"
The aura dissipated.
Captain Man shed a drop of sweat.
I dodged a bullet.
---
THE STREET – MR. GAMBETE
Mr. Gambete ran at full speed.
He passed a car. At the end of the street, he saw Toy Boy trying to land a punch on the beetle before collapsing.
He arrived quickly. Jumped, feet together, into the demon's ribs.
The impact sent the beetle through two buildings, tearing them from the ground, and made it collapse farther away.
Mr. Gambete helped Toy Boy up.
"Go rest. I'll take over."
Toy Boy wanted to protest.
"It's a Class S demon. It looks extremely powerful. It's beyond your reach. Take shelter."
"But…"
"Don't resist. Go. Whatever your ideals are, if you die today, no one will mourn you."
Toy Boy lowered his head.
"But if you survive, you still have a chance to become a great hero."
He walked away.
The beetle stood up. Its colors changed. Taller. Thinner. Green and purple.
"That really warmed up my legs."
Mr. Gambete took his guard.
"Just you and me."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…