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Venerable readers, this is a good read.
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In a Portal About to Open
"Woah! I look like Broly!! I didn't even die but was just given a chance to be reborn in another world just like that with the warning I might encounter someone I know." A seven-foot-ten figure spoke to himself, his voice resonating in the void around him.
The figure, muscular and towering, with wild hair cascading down his back, flexed his newfound power. The dark expanse around him began to shimmer with ethereal lights as the portal started to materialize.
"Haha… I will simply kill whoever it is and rule the world! With this much power, no law or hammer of justice can bring me down! From this day onwards, I am Broly!" Broly declared as a portal to Metropolis opened in front of him, swirling with vibrant colours and cosmic energy.
Gotham
The bustling cityscape of Gotham lay spread out beneath a clear sky, the sun casting a golden hue over the towering skyscrapers. People moved about in a flurry of activity, cars honking and engines revving as the city thrived in its typical fast-paced rhythm.
"That mage academy was hell to go through," muttered a six-foot-two woman clad in dark armour. Her long black hair reached her waist, and her orange skin stood out against the backdrop of the city. She watched the bustling metropolis through the eyes of an unsuspecting civilian whom she used to view her surroundings before exposing herself to the world.
The civilian in question, an Asian man in his twenties with dark hair, walked briskly on his way to work, a suit and tie neatly in place. Suddenly, his subconscious was taken over in an instant, his eyes turning black momentarily before continuing on his path.
The streets, filled with busy pedestrians and the hum of daily life, seemed oblivious to the supernatural occurrence. The man quickly made his way back to his apartment, locking his doors and windows with practised efficiency before drawing intricate patterns on the floor and chanting mysterious words.
Soon after, a black fog emerged from the man's mouth, swirling and coalescing into a form that materialized before him. His consciousness returned, and he found himself face-to-face with a much taller, imposing woman with orange skin and dark armour.
"Who are you?" the man asked, both aroused and scared at the sight before him.
The woman ignored his question, moving to his desktop computer and turning it on, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she began to work.
"In a city like Gotham, crazy stuff just happens like it's normal," the man said with a resigned sigh as he picked up the phone to call his workplace.
"Be careful what you say on the phone," the woman in armour warned, her eyes never leaving the screen.
"I'm not stupid, lady. If you could take over my mind, you could probably do much worse," the man answered, settling on his couch.
"Uh, Steve, it's Colonel here. Can you do me a favour? Cover for me at work, you know the usual… Gotham psychos," Colonel said but received a glare from his visitor.
"Uhm… tell HR I'm lucky to be alive. What? Does HR want video proof? We live in Gotham, for goodness sake! That's video proof enough, Steve!" Colonel said and ended the call.
"I have already read through your mind and found nothing interesting," the woman began as she continued scrolling through webpages, sifting through various news outlets and articles online.
"Story of my life," Colonel said, grabbing a cold beer from his fridge, deciding to enjoy these moments, not knowing what plans his visitor had for him.
"You can call me Black Fire," the woman said without turning her head from the computer.
"Black Fire? I've never heard of that name before. Are you new around here?" Colonel asked, handing Black Fire a cold glass of beer.
"Thanks," Black Fire said, glancing at Colonel before accepting the cold glass.
"So, when do you plan on killing me? Obviously, you don't need anyone knowing you were here, right?" Colonel asked dryly, causing Black Fire's eyes to widen as she looked at him differently.
'What does he know? Is he one of the teachers at the academy here to give me another exam?' Black Fire thought, recalling the life-and-death experiences at the mage academy she was transferred to from Earth.
"I thought I wouldn't be able to change your stoic expression before I died. I guess I won," Colonel said with a smile.
"…You're weird, Colonel," Black Fire said after a long pause, chuckling a bit.
"I even got you to laugh. You mind making it quick because of that?" Colonel teased with a smile, causing Black Fire to ease her walls and break out laughing.
"Woah. I actually got a goth chick to laugh. I really can die happy," Colonel said, but then Black Fire started crying.
"Aww… I mean…" Colonel scratched his head and sighed. "There, there," he said, making a bold move as he stepped closer to the orange-skinned woman and patted her on the shoulder.
Black Fire hugged the man suddenly, causing him to save his beer quickly. She hugged him tightly, her strength making it hard for him to breathe.
"You don't know what I've been through these last few years… The trials, the exams, the betrayals…" Black Fire shared uncontrollably but soon let go of Colonel, wiping her tears.
"And you shouldn't talk like that… you deserve to live too!" the teary-eyed Black Fire said, her hands on Colonel's shoulders.
"…" Colonel half-smiled, looking at the floor and letting out a sigh.
"I guess you already know everything about me from my mind," Colonel said, not taking his eyes off the ground.
Black Fire nodded and touched his temple with her right index finger. A light flashed through Colonel's head for a second, and he looked at her with widened eyes.
"You really are not from here," Colonel said, removing Black Fire's hands from his shoulder. "You've been through so much! You're just like me, except for the upgrades, of course. Let's find that bastard and kill him!" Colonel said firmly, his eyes glistening with a fire he thought would never be lit again since childhood.
"Hmph. Easier said than done," Black Fire said, towering over Colonel.
"Thanks for sharing, Black Fire," Colonel said.
"I know. I once felt like you after all," Black Fire said with a half-smile.
"You've really brightened up my life in this cursed city. Let me see what I can do to help," Colonel said, taking over the search through the web for information to help their cause.
And just like that, two broken souls united in similar pain and suffering to help each other. Although one was willing to do more, they both had each other's backs. With the ability to view and share memories, trust was created without promise and an unexpected alliance.
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