Heros with no superpowers - chapter 3
The chapter started with Mark and his many clones cleaning the usual spot where the team gathered.
Nearby, Knighthood and Psychie were sparring while Road Ranger was helping Wilson organize equipment.
Knighthood was clearly going easy, but suddenly he charged forward, aiming low toward Psychie's leg. She reacted instantly, gracefully jumping over him, stepping on his helmet mid-air, then flipping behind him and kicking the back of his head. She landed smoothly and formed a psychic dagger, placing it against his helmet.
"C'mon, my knight, is that all you got?" she teased.
The dagger immediately cracked and shattered against his armor.
Knighthood chuckled.
"Show me what you can do, my queen. I'm pretty sure the Japanese martial arts of yours do more than what you usually use."
She laughed, then her expression became serious. She poured more power into her body, and suddenly the air around her turned red — the same color as her psychic energy.
Slowly, a spiritual manifestation formed behind her — a glowing figure resembling a goddess.
Knighthood tilted his head slightly, fascinated.
"So that's how Japanese spiritual martial arts look like?"
She smirked.
"Hey, I thought I already told you — we choose the form."
The spiritual manifestation raised a folding fan, then brought it down in a powerful strike toward Knighthood. The ground cracked slightly under the pressure, but Knighthood stood his ground completely unmoved. In a sudden dash, he closed the distance and gently took Psychie down to the ground, ending the spar.
"You should teach me some of that spirituality stuff at some point," he said while helping her up. "Seems like a fun martial art."
Right then, Mark walked toward them.
"Hey guys, I was just doom scrolling on Facebook—"
Wilson immediately interrupted from across the room.
"Who still uses Facebook?"
One of Mark's clones walked up and pinched Wilson.
"I do."
Mark continued talking like nothing happened.
"I saw someone putting their house up for sale while I was scrolling. Seems like he's selling it because he can't afford his daughter's medicine pills."
The group went quiet for a moment. They all had families to support, people to protect, and responsibilities — but they also knew when something mattered.
Psychie looked at Knighthood.
"I mean… if it's that bad, I can talk to my family about it."
Knighthood placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to deal with them if you don't like them. Mark, give us the location. We're going."
He then looked at the others.
"Stay here with Wilson, Road Ranger."
They nodded. Soon after, Knighthood, Psychie, and Mark left for New Yasin Central Hospital.
Back at the base, Wilson sat down next to Road Ranger.
"So… how were you recruited?" Wilson asked.
Road Ranger shrugged slightly.
"Just like you, actually. I opened a pathway and suddenly found myself in the middle of the team formation meeting. I tried to escape… but hey, now I'm basically a founder."
Road Ranger then looked at Wilson.
"What about your incident?"
Wilson's expression darkened a little.
"See… I wasn't in my right mind when it happened. Typical teenager stuff. I got really mad one day… then my hair flared out, and I… I stabbed my parents."
He looked down at his hands.
"I regret every second of it. Knowing it all happened because of one bad grade… if only I—"
Road Ranger interrupted him gently.
"Stay in the present. You're in a family now."
In New Yasin, Knighthood, Psychie, and Mark stepped out into a city that felt… different.
Posters, murals, and screens all showed one face.
Flameboy.
Everywhere they looked, his image was there — saving people, smiling, standing tall. He truly lived up to the expectations of a 10/10 hero.
Mark whistled.
"Man really branded the whole city."
Psychie smirked.
"Or maybe the city chose him."
They continued walking until they reached New Yasin Central Hospital.
But when they entered, they paused.
They weren't the only ones.
The room was already full — neighbors, locals, people from the community. Some brought money, others food, others just their presence. The father stood in the middle of it all, overwhelmed as people supported him.
Knighthood stepped inside, his head nearly hitting the doorframe due to his height.
The moment he entered, the room went silent.
Shock.
Then whispers.
They gently woke the girl, telling her that heroes had come to see her. She slowly opened her eyes, and when she saw Knighthood and Psychie, tears immediately filled them.
She started crying.
"…Is this like those wish things…?" she whispered. "Does this mean I'm going to die?"
Knighthood sat down beside her calmly.
"No," he said.
"No organization sent us. We heard about you… and decided to come ourselves."
He looked around the room at all the people gathered.
"Seems like the world has many heroes that don't need powers."
Psychie nodded softly, crossing her arms as she looked at the neighbors.
"Yeah… real ones."
The father couldn't hold it anymore. Tears streamed down his face — not from sadness, but from overwhelming relief and joy. His daughter hadn't smiled like this in so long.
Then—
The door opened.
Everyone turned.
It was Flameboy.
The entire room lit up. The girl's eyes widened instantly. Even the neighbors stepped back in awe.
The face of New Yasin.
The 19-year-old hero everyone admired.
Mark raised a hand.
"Yo."
Flameboy gave a small nod toward Knighthood — brief, respectful — before walking forward. He shook the father's hand and greeted everyone with his usual energy.
"Wassup."
Then he turned to the father.
"I already talked to the hospital," he said casually. "Everything's paid for. She's gonna be fine."
The room erupted with emotion — relief, gratitude, disbelief.
The girl looked at him with shining eyes.
"Can you… turn into Flameboy?" she asked softly.
Flameboy hesitated slightly, glancing around.
"…I might burn the place."
Knighthood stepped forward and activated his power.
Perseveration.
The space around them became stable, preserved — unaffected by outside damage.
Flameboy looked at him for a second.
Then smiled.
"Alright," he said, raising his hands.
"It's showtime."
Flames ignited across his body — controlled, bright, alive. Not destructive, but powerful. The room glowed with warmth as the real Flameboy stood there in full form.
The girl laughed through her tears.
And for a moment, everything felt… okay.
After some time, Knighthood, Psychie, and Mark quietly stepped out of the hospital.
They didn't need to stay.
The job was already done.
As they walked away, Psychie glanced back once.
"Guess people don't always need us to step into everything," she said.
Knighthood nodded.
"Yeah," he replied.
"Sometimes… the world handles itself just fine."
Outside, near a construction site in Skid Row, the city buzzed lazily around the chaos. Dijla — LA's tribute to Knighthood's beginnings — looked ordinary enough, but the air felt heavy with tension.
Knighthood, Psychie, and Mark were walking, enjoying the brief calm after helping the girl in the hospital.
Suddenly, metal constructs floated into the air, twisting unnaturally, reflecting the sunset across their polished surfaces. Psychie's eyes narrowed.
"I think it's… Metallic Man again," she muttered.
"Should I stab him?"
Knighthood stopped her with a gentle hand.
"I'll just handle it. Go home, babe."
She nodded reluctantly and left, disappearing into the nearby street as Knighthood squared off against the villain.
With the crowd gathering, Metallic Man began his dramatic display. Iron parts in the construction zone crushed together, forming a menacing metallic suit that enveloped him entirely. He manipulated two massive iron pillars, sinking them into the ground, and suspended himself between them with thick chains.
The nearby spectators — gamblers, vigilantes, even fellow villains — all settled into their makeshift seats, ready to bet on the battle.
Metallic Man's voice boomed, echoing off the buildings:
"KNIGHTHOOD! IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO DIE!"
The Fight Begins
He extended his power, manipulating Knighthood's armor, attempting to float him upwards and crush him. But Knighthood, physically superior and unfazed, broke free with sheer force, letting himself get hit just enough to charge his counter claymore technique. Every blow Knighthood took converted momentum into light energy, canceling the incoming attacks.
Iron projectiles flew in every direction, but Knighthood's precision punched them down, dismantling the surrounding metal, and finally forced Metallic Man out of his armor.
The crowd groaned. Metallic Man's humiliation was complete. Spectators whispered cruelly, "Go home… you've lost all your bets."
He grunted angrily. "People of Los Angeles do nothing but gamble! This is Villain vs. Hero — go home!"
Knighthood, smiling gently, didn't even activate Perseveration. He patted Metallic Man on the back.
"Go home, try again next time," Knighthood said.
"You just need new techniques. I noticed… your skin is built for what you're doing. You don't feel the weight of the iron, right? That's biological. Try to build around it."
With a cheerful thumbs-up, Knighthood left.
The police arrived, ready to take Metallic Man away. His anger simmered, his insecurities bubbling over.
"I am Metallic Man," he muttered under his breath.
"I should not be here. I should never be here."
The officers patted his back.
"You'll get used to it," one said.
Suddenly, a figure leapt in front of the police car. The officers slammed the brakes.
A skinny, older man stepped forward, acting completely casual.
"I don't know, sons… you look like you need candy," he said with a crooked smile.
Before anyone could react, he forced a glowing purple crystal to Metallic Man's throat.
Purple veins began to creep across Metallic Man's skin. His eyes flared.
Something inside him snapped.
He was no longer just frustrated. He had become… Villnazied.
The chapter ended on that chilling note, the purple glow reflecting off the metallic armor and his face twisted with a new, dangerous resolve.
(And if you wonder new Yasin based on New York and yes psychie did fly them from New York to skid row she's fast flier)