章節 129: The Super Who Walked The Path Of Pure Evil

"Is that her?" Someone asked.

"Yeah. That's the one that destroyed the school."

"What's going to happen to her now?"

"The same thing that happens to all Supers."

Ruby ignored the hushed voices around her. It had happened earlier that day. Her ability to hear had shot through the roof. Everywhere she went, a loud rumbling echoed from the people. Their heartbeats had nearly driven her mad. So much so that she hadn't been able to control herself when she punched a wall out of frustration. Now, here she was, marching through the rubble of the school.

All the students and teachers stared at her, keeping their distance. Despite being less than twelve years old, she had torn through an entire floor and nearly collapsed the building. It was a miracle no one had been hurt. Dozens of men in suits all stood near the entrance of the school, along with a large black armored truck. She walked toward them casually with her bag slung over her shoulder.

One of the men in the suits nodded at her. "Jill Laision-"

"I go by Ruby." She explained, flipping her hair. It had changed red around the time the crazy strength kicked in but now reverted back to its black color.

"Right..." The man opened the door and motioned for her to enter. "If you want to say goodbye, now's your chance."

"Say goodbye?" She hummed and glanced back at the crowd of students and teachers. She didn't really know any of them, but she did listen as they talked about her.

"Who knew we had an actual Super in our class?" One of the teachers said, gritting his teeth. "I always knew there was something weird about her."

"Looks like we won't ever have to worry about seeing her again." Another one chuckled. "The Hero Branch is going to take her back to one of their buildings and figure out what to do with her. All Supers are either required to join up with it or be put to work in other ways, and there's no way someone like her will be selected for their Hero Program. My guess is she'll be thrown in a prison or something."

"Good riddance."

"Ms. Laision?" One of the suits questioned her.

Slowly, she turned around to look at all of the students and teachers. They instantly went silent when they saw the look in her eyes. Her hair and iris had changed once again, lighting up with a bright red glow. "Hey!" She announced loudly. "I have something I want to say!" She closed her eyes, feeling her emotions gradually calm down. Everyone stared at her, all with wide eyes, as they waited for her to do something. "...Fuck all of you!" She stomped her foot down, shaking the ground a bit and causing a mini-earthquake that knocked all the men around her down. "Seriously! Screw you all! This place sucked! God, I'm so glad I'm a Super! You guys are so boring!" She pointed up to the sky and struck a pose. "Get a good look at me! One day, I'll go down in history as the greatest villain on Earth!"

"V- Villain?"

"I knew she was evil..."

"I hope they throw her in the darkest prison!"

She turned away from the crowd and smirked, placing her hands on her hips. "Having fun down there?" Ruby snapped her head up when she heard the voice. Someone rested on the roof of the car, looking down at her. An older girl in her early teens who wore a swimsuit. Just like her, the strange girl also had colored hair, though the girl's was a bright blue. Water flowed in the air around her, twisting around. "So, you say you're a villain?" Before Ruby could even think about moving, she suddenly felt the cold wave of water hit her as tendrils of liquid wrapped around her, dropping her to the floor. "That means I'll have to capture you." The girl announced, sliding off of the car.

"Another Super?"

"That isn't just any Super. That's Mermaid. She's the granddaughter of the great Sini."

"The war hero?"

Mermaid looked down at Ruby with a sly grin on her face as she glared down at the red-haired child. "Crime doesn't pay, kid."

"Let me out so I can beat you up!" Ruby demanded, thrashing around.

Mermaid let out a snicker and turned away the water flowing over her and formed a fish tail which slapped Ruby's face. "Fat chance. You need to behave. We came to pick you up because you leveled this building. Be a good girl and go along with the Branch. My father and the great Full Monarch created them to help keep humans safe and arrogant Supers like you in check."

"The great Full Monarch?" Ruby spat out. "Yeah, right."

Slowly, Mermaid lifted her up and forced her into the back of the armored vehicle. That was the first time Jill Laision met River Sini.

Super is a term that refers to a being with powers. Many no longer consider them to be humans, and for years, they were feared thanks to the great threat known as Lucifer, a monster that nearly brought all of mankind to utter destruction. Despite that, humanity was forced to rely on Supers in order to survive. The war hero known as Full Monarch, with the help of Mr. Sini, created the fledgling organization known as the Hero Branch.

He believed the world didn't just need heroes. They needed superheroes.

All Supers are now currently required to sign up with the Hero Branch, which is run by the humans that hold the most influential power. Here a Super will be given three choices. First, if they are strong enough and willing to obey the Branch, they will be assigned as an official superhero! If they aren't as useful or don't wish to become a Super, the Branch will instead allow the Super to work for the Branch, using their supernatural powers for the betterment of mankind. This can include working as a Hero Branch doctor or researcher or being used to monitor their prisons. Lastly, though, if a Super refuses to become a hero or serve the Branch, they are given a different label. They are called villains.

This system and structure would later be abolished and destroyed by the Victorian and Old Dog after the battle with the Emperor; however, that has yet to happen in this era.

During this time period, the future of what would be heroes and villains was just starting to begin.

"Wake up!"

Ruby felt a powerful slap ripple across her face. Besides her father, there weren't many people who could hurt her, so it made her sober up instantly. Her memories of the past faded, and she suddenly remembered what she had just gone through.

She had been on her father's back when the ocean had come to life. No doubt the work of some villain or something that was out to get him. She had been pulled over, and since she never bothered to learn how to swim, she had almost drowned. Talk about a seriously lame way to go out! It was likely due to almost dying of water that she found herself thinking back to the first time she met her friend River Sini.

"Are you awake or what?" A voice growled out.

Slowly, she looked up, finding a young man standing in front of her. He was around her age—nineteen or twenty, somewhere in that range. He was dressed in a wetsuit that didn't let her see much of his form, but he had his helmet and mask off, showing a rather handsome face. His blonde hair was tied back into a ponytail, and he had stunning blue eyes that looked her up and down.

That was when she noticed the state she was in. "Pervert." She said flatly, causing him to flinch back and avert his gaze. She was dripping wet and regretted not taking her jacket back from that one guy. She was tied up with some rope and placed in the corner of a metal room. The way everything moved back and forth, rocking, told her that she was on some sort of boat. The room she was in had several pipes, and steam gushed out. She wasn't really a boat kind of girl; she liked trains more, but she guessed the ship was big, suitable for the sea. "Can you untie me?" She asked casually.

"You're rather calm for someone that's been kidnapped." The man said, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, that's because I'm not normal?"

"You a Super?"

Her black hair shimmered and lit up with a red glow, and she flexed a bit, snapping all the ropes off of her. The man jumped back, his eyes going wide as she shrugged. "Nah. I just work out a lot." She cracked her knuckles and patted down her shirt. "Now, how badly should I break your jaw for trying to drown me-"

"Wasn't me."

"What?"

"This isn't my boat." The man sighed and shook his head. "Just my luck. Of course, a freaking Super would end up here. Listen, just find your way up to the top and jump ship. We aren't far from a city dock, and if you're a Super with above human stats, you should be able to swim to it just fine."

"You're just letting me go?"

"I told you! I'm not the one who tied you up." The blonde hissed. "Now leave before you ruin my plan!"

"Plan?"

"Leave!"

"You're really rude." She threw her arms behind her head and rolled her eyes. "Besides, I can't swim, so your plan won't work."

"Why do you sound proud of that fact?" She poked her tongue out at him, and he slowly reached up, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I should have left you knocked out, but no, Max, you have to be a good person. I am going to punch my therapist next time I see him. Okay, change of plans. Follow me. There are some lifeboats up top. I'll take you to one, and then you will leave this ship. Okay?"

"Sure."

He grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her toward a door. She didn't really fight him all that much, but even without giving any effort, a normal human shouldn't have been able to budge her. This guy was also a Super, although he didn't seem to be in a costume. That either meant he wasn't working for the Branch, or he was a villain like her. Lucky for her, though, he didn't seem to realize the fact she wasn't wearing a costume, which should have been concerning to most people.

The halls of the boat were empty. She didn't hear any crew or much sound at all. The ship was a big one, the kind that would carry large cargo, and she knew enough to know that it should have had a large crew on board. Part of her was expecting to see corpses or something. Whoever this man was, he clearly didn't belong here and had forced his way onto the ship, yet there weren't any bodies to be seen.

Eventually, they reached a set of stairs that led up, and she felt the cold wind smack her in the face as they stepped up onto the deck of the ship. The sun had gone down, casting everything in a dark glow lit only by the moon. Large metal crates were scattered about all over the deck of the ship, all tied down. Once again, she expected to see dozens of guards, but there wasn't a single person. This boat just moved on its own.

"Okay, dumbass, listen up." The boy snapped his fingers in front of her face as he walked her over to where a lifeboat hung. He pointed out across the sea, and she followed his gaze, finding a large city sitting across from them. One by the name of Oleander. It was kind of a shithole filled with a lot of crime and gangs. The Hero Branch hadn't been able to clear it all out yet. "Get in the boat, and I'll lower you down. All you have to do is paddle out until you're near the dock, got that?"

"That's Oleander city."

"And?"

She looked back at the crates. "Oleander's docks are owned by the Prince Gang. Oleander is used mainly as a hub for the underground market and to sell illegal things back and forth." The boat they were on was currently heading to the city, so even if she did paddle, it'd beat her there. It'd be much faster to just stay on the big ship. Besides that, though, there was something else she wanted to know. "I wonder what this guy is smuggling."

"Hey-" The boy grabbed at her, but she dodged past his grip and made her way over to the metal box. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He hissed out.

She ignored the boy, stabbed her hand into the metal, and pulled back. It tore to bits like wet paper, and the blonde diver was forced to duck as she carelessly chucked the shards of metal behind her. She was expecting to see money, or jewels, or any other kind of goods. What she wasn't expecting to see was the scared faces of dozens of kids who all looked back at her. Her smile instantly faded, and the boy behind her stared at them all with shocked eyes, just as taken aback as she was.

All of the kids were shivering and looked extremely pale. Who knew how long they had been shoved into the boxes? They were all young as well. The oldest was maybe sixteen. They all wore dirty, stained clothes, and most looked sick. They were likely kids that had been kidnapped off of the street. Homeless children who didn't have any family that would go looking for them. It wasn't the only box either. There were at least twenty more, and as her enhanced hearing went off, she heard more whimpers and cries. There must have been a little over one hundred kids on the ship in total.

"That's what this bastard was hauling?" The blonde man asked, covering his mouth. "I'm glad I came to kill that son of a bitch now!"

Slowly, she turned to look back at the blonde man. "Who are you? And whose ship is this?" She asked, doing her best to remain calm.

The man winced and sighed. "Max. My name is Max. That's all you're getting. As for who this boat belongs to... Water Prince."

Quietly, she nodded her head. "A- Are you going to save us?" One of the kids asked. "Please help us-"

"Hell no!" Her voice silenced them all, even Max, who stared at her with wide eyes. She pointed a thumb back at herself and gave a grin. "I am the amazing and evil Ruby Admiral! I am the world's greatest villain! The top of the top! If you look up the word evil, it'll show a picture of me! Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not some goodie little two-shoes wannabe hero! I'm not here to save you. Water, what's his face? It is just in my way. He's simply competition."

"S- So you won't save us?"

"Not for free." She rubbed her chin and smirked. "Maybe if you were to bribe me, I could help."

"You're a monster." Max glared at her, but she ignored the blonde's look.

One of the kids, the only sixteen-year-old present, walked toward her. He stumbled, barely able to keep himself upright, and his clothes were a torn mess. Slowly, though, he reached into his pocket, pulling something out, which he handed to her. "Please..." he croaked, stumbling into her arms as she caught him. "That's all I have. S—Save them. Please."

She looked down at the single quarter he had offered up. "Not even a dollar." She frowned.

"Are you seriously a bad guy?" Max hissed at her as she gently placed the boy on the floor.

"Yep."

"I wouldn't have saved you if I knew." He growled, and for a moment, his hair stood up, and his eyes seemed to glow. "You're just as bad as Water Prince! I hate you all. All villains must die-"

It was always a sound that would leave her ears ringing. The sound of something moving so fast it created a loud explosion as it moved past the sound barrier. Max had no time to react as a powerful force suddenly slammed into the side of his head. He was hit so hard and so fast he was sent flying, slamming right through the railing and falling down into the waters below. She tried to turn when she heard another crack, but all she saw was red as a thin beam of water smashed directly into her eye, shoving her back and slamming her into another box.

It seems all their yelling had gotten the ire of the captain.

The reason this boat was empty was simple. He didn't need a crew. It didn't just sail; it was carried on a thin wave of water that supported the ship, giving it a smooth ride. Water Prince walked forward slowly, running his fingers through his beard. If you were to look up the picture of a pirate, he'd likely be one of the first ones you saw. His hair was filled with grays, and he wore a long black cloak that struggled to stay connected over his large form. He had a massive beer belly and had a sword at his side. He wore an eyepatch, had a wooden peg for a foot, and a hook on one of his hands. Lastly, completing the look was a large red bird that clicked its beak and looked around.

"I knew there was a rat crawling around." Water Prince grumbled and took a swig from the large jug of rum he had with him. He kicked out with his wooden peg, smashing it into the stomach of the teen. "Lil bastard, trying to escape your cell again?"

"N- No, sir-"

The teen screamed out as the captain stomped on his wrist, snapping it. "I have half a mind to pop that little head of yours. In fact..." A smile crept its way onto his face as rum dripped down his beard. He raised his wooden foot up, placing it over the boy's head, and slammed it down as hard as he could.

It never reached.

Instead, it landed down on another foot that moved its way in front of his peg. His eyes now met the cold red eyes that stared back up at him as Ruby was back on her feet. She didn't even look that hurt. His attack had only managed to leave her with a mild bruise around her right eye. He gritted his teeth and struggled to force his foot down, but a loud snap echoed out as she brought her foot up and shattered his wooden leg. He stumbled back on one foot, his eyes widening.

"You little bitch! That was a gift from my husband!" Water swirled in the air around him, taking the form of bullets. "Do you know who I am?"

"Don't care." Ruby Admiral quickly stepped past the teen. "Sorry, but I claimed these kids. They're part of the Ruby force and are now my loyal minions. I'm going to have to punish you for harming what belongs to me."

The Prince Gang. A group made up of four powerful elemental users. Fire Prince, Earth Prince, Air Prince, and Water Prince. They had taken the name as a way to mock the Four Lords. They themselves weren't too special but were considered high-class villains due to their skill. It was thought that only a true Lord could actually beat them. The bullets of water fired, and red splashed down onto the deck of the ship. Blood dripped down Water Prince's beard, and his face contorted into pain as he collapsed to his knees, staring down at his gut.

There was a small hole that went all the way through him and out his back, rupturing several of his organs. His own attack bounced off of Ruby's skin, who walked toward him steadily. He flinched and whimpered, but she stepped past him and made her way over to the wall of the ship, ripping out the blood-soaked quarter she had flicked at him out of the wall.

"Stand." That was her simple command. One that could not be disobeyed.

Water Prince screamed at her, letting out one last blood-curdling howl as the water around the ship exploded and came to life. He was almost as skilled as Mermaid. Almost... She took aim and flicked her coin.

Neither of the attacks reached each other. Before the coin could pierce him and before his water could bounce off of her, something appeared between them both. The golden blur…

Once again, the sound barrier exploded as suddenly Full Monarch appeared on the deck of the ship faster than anyone could move. "Jill! Thank God! I've been at the bottom of the ocean, searching for you for hours now! I'm so glad you're okay!" He caught the coin, and his other arm casually slapped the water beam away. That was when Full Monarch noticed who she was fighting. "What's going on?"

"For someone that hears all and sees all, you sure are slow." Ruby snorted. "Out of my way, Dad! This is bad guy on bad guy action!"

Full Monarch stared at Water Prince, whose eyes were filled with horror as he was forced to face the number one Super on planet Earth. Slowly, Full Monarch shook his head and brought a hand up. "No. I'll handle it. This is my job, after all." He stared at the villain quietly. "Please just give up-"

Water Prince screamed again, striking out with a whip of water. Full Monarch just let out a sigh and blasted through it, launching a golden light forward. It stabbed into the chest of Water Prince and wrapped around the man's heart.

Just as he did with every villain he faced, Full Monarch gave them a choice: to turn their power off and to stop fighting. And just as they always did, the villain refused to yield, as if some part of their consciousness couldn't submit to the Lord before it.

Water Prince stumbled forward, his body filling with dozens of cracks and breaking down, starting from the center of his chest. The gold ate away at him, ripping into him, and he crashed forward into the awaiting arms of Full Monarch, who held the villain as his body came undone, and he was reduced to less than ash.

"Why do they always pick death?" He asked quietly. "Is there something in them that makes the choice for them? Do they hate and despise me so much they'd rather die than allow me to save them? Is it the only way they can get back at me?"

"Dad?" He turned slightly when he heard the voice and found his daughter looking back at him.

"Right. Sorry. Are you okay?" He allowed the ash to slip out of his arms, letting it flow freely in the wind.

"I'm fine, but you should call someone about them." She said, pointing toward the teens who were staring at the two of them in utter shock.

"Oh yeah! Thanks for reminding me!" Full Monarch forced a smile on his face and pointed a thumb at himself. "Have no fear! I'll save you all-" They weren't given a moment to rest, though, as a second later, a loud, hellish bird scream filled the air.

The red bird that had been on Water Prince's shoulder came down. It had flown off when she fired the coin at it, but now it was back, and it lifted itself into the air and began to grow rapidly, forcing itself to change and evolve!

In the past, a previous Lord of Life, some claimed it was even the first Lord, created a species of bird. One that was able to bond with a Super and evolve alongside that person, gaining their power and claiming it as their own. This species had sadly mostly gone extinct, and no other Lord of Life had figured out how to recreate them. The red bird grew, its wings expanding out and its talons growing razor-sharp. It reached nearly twenty feet in terms of height and soared above the boat, glaring down at the ship. Its talons quickly came down to land in the ocean below as it stood on the water in front of the ship. The liquid bubbled and flowed, coming to life as the creature tapped into the power its master had owned.

Ruby raised her arms up, ready for a fight to break out. But before the creature could even launch its first attack, it felt something touch its leg. Slowly, the bird looked down, meeting Max's eyes, who glared at the beast from beneath the ocean's waves. Lightning gushed out of his fingertips, and the clouds above roared as a bolt of energy fired down, smashing into the bird's head.

The water exploded into a cloud of steam, and Ruby watched on with wide eyes as the bird slumped down and was dragged into the water by Max. "Who the heck was that guy?" She shook her head and looked back at her dad, who was still staring at the water with an even more shocked look than her. "Daddy?"

He blinked a couple of times, silently taking the scene in. "I'll call the Hero Branch..."

Later that night, the ship found itself being swarmed by dozens of heroes and Hero Branch members. A young teen would wake up to find that he was in the care of some of the greatest healers in the world. He would also find a familiar quarter had been placed back in his pocket. One that was heavily dented and still a bit stained with the blood of Water Prince.

But... Just why was Water Prince taking a bunch of street kids to Oleander?

In the back alley of the city, Fire Prince looked around at the scene around him with narrowed eyes. Earth Prince and Wind Prince stood before him. Despite being a gang, they didn't typically see one another and instead focused on their own mini-groups. They also all dressed in their own form of costume as a way to mock the heroes.

Earth Prince was the largest amongst them, standing at twelve feet in height. He wore a large black fur coat and four long spider-looking limbs stabbed out of his back. Wind Prince, on the other hand, was actually a girl. She had long, flowing silver hair and didn't bother with clothes, instead using her power to distort and twist the air into a thick layer of fog as a means to cover herself up. Finally, that left just Fire Prince. Unlike the others, his power was a transformational type. One that gave him rocky skin and a straight-up volcano for a head that could spew lava. In terms of fire-based powers, he was matched only by the Lord of the Sun.

"Where in the ten hells is Water Prince?" Fire Prince grumbled.

"He shows up last all the time," Wind Prince giggled and extended her body with her ability, stretching it out. "Do you think he has more people than us?"

They were in a large alleyway located somewhere behind a group of warehouses. Oleander City was often used as a place for trading and swapping goods. That said, it was the first time any of them had found themselves dealing in people. Beneath Wind Prince, she had formed a glass cage out of solid air that held ten rich-looking kids she had swiped from some Nobles in Rose City. She was able to do this since Full Monarch had strangely been busy this day and not able to show up in time. Earth Prince, on the other hand, had dozens of webs tied around several random kids he had grabbed and dashed off with when some villains had been engaging a hero in battle. Lastly, that left Fire Prince; he had forged a cage made out of coal, which held several homeless men. He was the only one that targeted adults.

"I think a better question we should be asking is how long you're going to make us all wait out here." Earth Prince always spoke in a low hiss. His head was hidden behind a spider-looking mask that twitched and squirmed as if it were alive. "We did what you asked us to do. Now, will you allow us to do our typical business once more?"

In the very center, standing before the three Prince Gang members, a lone figure stood. One cloaked in pure black armor with a long flowing cape and a pair of jagged horns stabbing out of their helmet. The only color that came from their form was a powerful blue light that almost looked like living fire that gushed out of the spot where their eyes should have been.

A single villain...

It took one person to force the four Princes down to their knees.

The figure in black stepped forward slowly, their blue eyes staring past the three cages. The eyes roamed over the kids before settling on the unconscious men that rested in Fire Prince's cage. "Why did you kidnap adults?" A hollow voice rang out, echoing through the alleyway. One that held a great power behind it.

Fire Prince glared down at the villain in black. "You came to us. You beat us all. You destroyed our soldiers. You ordered us to collect you people. You even gave them a point system. Adults were worth one while kids were worth ten. You were practically begging for us to kidnap a bunch of kids. Sadly, for you, I have my morals." He spat out a glob of hot magma. "If you have something against that, you'll have to kill me."

"I see." The figure turned away, not bothering to look at the three power Supers. Then he gave a simple order as if he were directing a dog. "Hell Hound, kill."

Faster than anyone could move, Wind Prince's head was torn off her body as a mace ripped through her. Standing behind her corpse, a large figure in jagged red armor made to look like a wolf stalked forward. Hell Hound twirled her mace and lazily blocked the spider legs that stabbed her way from Earth Prince. As soon as her weapon touched him, his extra limbs shattered and broke away, causing him to gasp in shock. He tried to turn his power back on but didn't have time. Hell Hound smashed her mace down, slamming it directly into his head and caving his skull in.

The cage and web around the kids faded away, causing their unconscious bodies to fall to the ground below, all mostly unharmed. Fire Prince raised his own arms up, ready to fight, but Hell Hound simply turned away from him and instead stalked to her master's side. The cage he stood on shook, and he was forced to jump off as a large blue hand forged out of energy appeared beneath the cage, lifting it up. It wrapped its fingers around the coal, shattering it, and gently took the unconscious man into the center of its palm.

"We'll stay in touch." The man in the black armor threw his cloak back, revealing a white sword that he held. He grasped it with one hand and pointed it up to the sky. "I expect you to come when I call upon you."

Fire Prince narrowed his eyes once more. "Who are you? You've shown up from out of nowhere. Just what the hell's your name?"

"The Emperor." The blade hummed and glowed. "Take me home, Avalon."

And with that, the Emperor vanished with a quiet pop.

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章節 130: A Boy Named Max

"Are you ready to give up your evil ways and be a superhero yet!" Mermaid demanded.

"Never!" Ruby Admiral announced. "Also! Get off me! You're heavy!"

"Are you calling me fat!"

"Yes! You're really fat!"

"R- Really?" Mermaid asked, sounding a bit hurt.

Ruby quickly shook her head. "No! I lied! You look good as always!" The raven-haired girl said quickly. "You got the super sexy hero body going on for sure!" She said, rubbing Mermaid's stomach and letting her bisexual fantasies run wild.

Mermaid simply smacked her over the head. "See. You took back your insult. A bad guy wouldn't do that. Face it, sister, you were born to be a hero."

"No fair! You cheated!"

Ruby Admiral squirmed a bit on the ground. She was flat on her stomach, tied up with thick ropes of water. Mermaid sat on the villain's back and reached down, pinching one of Ruby's ears and tugging on it. "You're an adult now, Jill. You shouldn't be playing silly games like that. Come on and just say you'll be a hero, already! We can get matching costumes, and I'll let you even be my sidekick."

Ruby's hair ignited with a red glow, along with her eyes, which clashed with Mermaid's glowing blue hair and eyes. "I would rather die." The red-haired girl said flatly. "Ow!" She let out a yelp when Mermaid reached down and grabbed her other ear and began to tug on it.

They got several odd looks from the other people in the building. After the incident with Water, what's his face, her father had called the Hero Branch, who had come to check the boat out. The workers had been busy trying to find out where they should place many of the kids. Most of the children had been taken from the streets of various cities and didn't have a home, and many had to be sent to a specialized hospital to help them recover. Some had even turned out to be Supers, which made it all the more of a headache trying to help them. The boy who had given her the coin she had used as a makeshift projectile in her duel with the Prince guy turned out to be one of those humans that gain powers during a stressful event. The boy could phase through stuff now and would likely be shipped off to some Hero Branch lab and either be turned into a hero or be used in some other way.

She didn't get to make sure any of them were okay either because her father had flown off, carrying her over to Rose City to meet with the head of the Hero Branch to discuss something. That was where she was now, face down, as her friend River tried to 'convince' her to become a hero. They were down in the lobby of the Hero Branch building, which was bustling around with dozens of agents going in and out of the many elevators.

"She's as lively as ever." Off to the side, Full Monarch had been watching his daughter and her friend wrestle, but he turned when he heard the voice addressed to him. "How have you been, Jackson?" Legend, a member of the Enforcers, held his hand out toward the Lord of the Sun and Cosmos. He was a short, dark-skinned man who wore what looked almost like ancient robes over his frail form. Despite his appearance, he was considered to be one of the strongest non-Lord Supers on the newly built hero team known as the Enforcers.

Full Monarch let out a strong, hardy laugh as he grabbed the hand of his teammate. "Ah Legend! It's good to see you! Oh, but could you just call me Full Monarch? I'm in costume after all!"

"Yeah, but everyone knows who you are." Legend snorted. "You're the soldier that defeated Lucifer. Hard to believe that was nearly fifty years ago now. My grandfather also fought in that war, and I was born a few years after it ended, you know." His smile faded as he looked toward Ruby and Mermaid. "So, how is she?"

"What do you mean?" Full Monarch raised an eyebrow, though he was bad at lying and obviously knew what Legend was asking him.

"Don't give me that. You know what I mean. How has it been raising her?" Legend questioned.

"Oh." For a moment, the hero's ever-present smile vanished. He had to reach up and use his fingers to put it back on his face, and he grinned once more. It was part of his brand deal. He was required by sponsors to always have a smile present on his face whenever he was in a city. "It has been interesting being a father! It is something new I didn't think I would get to experience!" He announced with fake joy.

"Have you actually been raising her? I hear you've been all over the world." Most heroes were placed in a single city that they guarded, determined by the Hero Branch. Not Full Monarch though. The entire planet was under his protection. That meant when something went wrong anywhere, it was ultimately his fault for not stopping it. At least that's what the Hero Branch would tell him when he didn't arrive on scene quick enough.

"We don't have enough heroes that can protect the smaller places like towns or villages." Full Monarch explained, giving a shrug. "Someone needs to be there for them. Still, I try to take time off every now and then for Jill. She likes reading, so I try to find new books to bring back when I can. I don't think she likes any of the ones I get her though."

Legend nodded his head, but the small frown that was on his lips didn't leave. "How long has it been now? Seven years? That's it, right? It was seven years ago that we got the call about her. I remember it because it was around the time you decided to fully go through with your little plan. You and Sini created the Hero Branch around that point. All Supers felt it. A strange nervous sensation in the back of their head. A new Super had been found. That girl over there. It was like a new species of predator had been discovered. They tried keeping her in all sorts of places, yet she kept breaking out. Then a year later, we all found out why. Turns out she was your kid."

"I was shocked as well when I learned that fact." Full Monarch said quietly. Currently his daughter had managed to flip Mermaid over and was now stomping the water-themed hero into the ground, stepping on her. "I had been in the middle of trying to stop an island from sinking when Sini called me and informed me of the fact that there was a child that matched my genetic code in one of their labs."

"None of us ever expected you to be the kind of person that would have a kid." Legend smirked. "You were always so focused on other stuff ever since you took down Lucifer. I was a young boy during that time. Now here I am with my second kid on the way. He won't ever be as strong as your kid, though, will he? Not even my first son will amount to anything when compared to your kind." His smirking slowly faded, and the man turned away, lightly punching Full Monarch in the shoulder. "Even amongst Supers, you Lords are freaks..."

Full Monarch stood there quietly as Legend walked toward the exit and left the building, likely going back to his own city. A low buzz came from his belt, and the Lord looked down to find that his pager had gone off. "Jill." He called out.

"It's Ruby Admiral!"

"I'm going up stairs, please don't do anything too crazy."

"No promises." Ruby shrugged and finally stepped off of Mermaid. Her father shot her a look, so she gave him her best innocent smile. "I'll behave, daddy!"

Finally, after some time of studying her, Full Monarch stepped into the elevator and made sure his cape wasn't caught in it as it began to go up. No one had stepped in after him, so he had it all to himself. Cheesy elevator music rang through his ears, and he stared at his reflection in the metal of the doors. He brought his fingers up to his mouth and did his best to tilt them up, trying to smile. It was important to try and practice smiling. Humans were just now starting to get used to the way things had been before the war with Lucifer. Thanks to Mr. Sini and Avalon, Sini Corp was able to recreate large cities that held the world's population in them. It had taken a little over fifty years, but humans were back to being on top. Many still feared the Supers, though.

He still had so much work to do.

"You can't be serious?" A voice yelled out as the doors opened. "I get that you two care for their kind, but this is starting to get to be too much! You're bending over backwards for them!"

Full Monarch stepped out of the elevator and looked around. Mr. Sini had lots of buildings that had been made just for him. Rose, though, took the cake. It was a stone tower, one that had been standing since before even the war with Lucifer. The first floor was layered with dozens of statues of previous Lords that had fallen in combat, but most people didn't know about it as Sini had covered that floor up and lowered the Tower further into the ground, creating a new floor that had served as the lobby where he and his daughter had been moments ago. Sini had forced the tower to operate with his technology. Besides being a Lord of the Sea, Sini's powers had further evolved, and he had become a Mental-based Super that was focused on travel basics such as elevators and the like.

This ability is what allowed them to create so many cities so quickly for humanity. It helped that Avalon was also by their side and managed to gather up dozens of other Metal-based users.

The top of the tower was where Sini's office resided. The man was the head of the Hero Branch, and his office showed it. Dozens of desks were scattered all about, filled to the brim with paperwork. Maps of various cities lined the walls, and dozens of TVs all playing different news channels hung up. It was a mess. In the very back, still trying to get through some of his work, Sini rested. In front of his desk, Harrison Avalon stood, glaring down at the Lord, whom he had once called his mentor.

Sini had aged a lot. His hair was filled with grays, and his beard was always messy. The man had been old enough to have a son during the time of the great war with Lucifer. Sini had always been the oldest of the current Lords, and an extra fifty years meant that the man was now in his early one hundreds. Supers tend to stay youthful for longer than normal humans, staying in their prime until they turn seventy or eighty. Lords went above that, not only living for longer but staying youthful. Because of this, even though Sini was so old now, he still held some of his power and muscles. He certainly didn't look like an old man who would croak over dead at any second.

Avalon's eyes turned to glare at Full Monarch, who stepped out of the elevator, when the scientist heard it open up. "Jackson-"

"It's Full Monarch."

"Whatever!" Harrison hissed. He pointed at the number one hero, then at Sini. "Can you try to talk some sense into him? His plan is utterly stupid! He wants to step down as the head of the Hero Branch and put all the humans in charge of it with no Supers on it at all!" Avalon was also well into his seventies yet didn't look a day over thirty, with slick-backed brown hair neatly combed. Avalon was just a normal Super, yet had seemingly been blessed with slower aging. "This entire plan is doomed to fail!"

Full Monarch nodded. "I'm the one who suggested it."

"Why!"

"Humanity suffered enough." Sini sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. "Lucifer managed to wipe out nearly forty percent of the human population with his army of Supers. The world still hasn't fully recovered from that point. Right when things were looking up, a new threat showed up and ruined it all."

"There was no way any of us could have foreseen something like the Beast showing up." Avalon said through gritted teeth.

"Expect it or not, the thing showed up. Even after beating him, he still managed to take an entire city out with him. Then a few years later he showed up once again." Sini shook his head and nearly snapped his pen. "Supers have caused enough issues for mankind. Over and over, it seems like Supers and humans always end up at each other's throats, and over and over again, Supers nearly wipe the human race out. We need to show them that it'll be different this time. I trust humanity. I trust that if they are in charge of the Hero Branch, it will finally allow them to stand on equal footing with the Supers. It's their turn."

"That's bullshit." Avalon turned to stare down Full Monarch. "So long as someone like him is alive, there is no way humanity would ever come close to standing on equal footing. Every human and every Super in the world could team up, and I doubt we'd win. He could destroy the planet a hundred times over, and no one could stop him. You don't want the humans to be equal to us. You just want them to think that they are, so they won't realize just how dangerous this guy really is."

"Avalon-"

The scientist walked toward the elevator, ignoring his mentor. He shoulder bumped Full Monarch, who didn't budge. "I saw Nier recently." The scientist said quietly.

Full Monarch's eyes flashed with surprise. "You did?"

"Yeah... He had some pretty neat things to say regarding Supers." Avalon stared down at Full Monarch's hand, which wrapped itself around the scientist's arm in a death grip. "You're starting to hurt me." The man winced.

"What did he say?" Full Monarch demanded. "I… I haven't seen Nier in years. Not since he…" Both Sini and Full Monarch looked down for a moment as horrible memories resurfaced.

"I don't have to tell you shit. It was just a personal talk he and I had." The Super forced himself free from the Lord's hold and began to head for the elevator once more. Avalon turned back to look at Sini once he reached the elevator. "You're so scared that if things don't change, Supers could wipe out humans, but I think there is something you're not considering. No matter how many times it happens, no matter what Super it is, somehow the humans keep on living. Calamity after Calamity, no matter how many of their numbers are wiped out. Ask yourself this. Who are really the freaks?"

Sini never had a chance to answer, as a second later the elevator door closed shut. The Lord of the Sea just let out another sigh. "Sorry about that. He doesn't agree with some of the plans we've set up. A few Supers don't like the idea of us handing the keys to our kingdom over to beings they view as lesser than us."

"I noticed." Full Monarch took a seat in front of the desk and folded his arms. "Avalon is right, though. In a way, some of this has hindered Supers. I don't fully agree with everything you've done. Whenever a Super is found, their only option is to either join the Hero Branch and be used either as a superhero or a worker or be labeled a villain. There's got to be a better way."

"Don't get cold feet on me this deep into these plans." Sini said sternly. "Since we've taken over, the only Calamity level threat that has appeared has been the Beast, and now we've figured out how to fight and beat it. There hasn't been another Lucifer in years."

"Yes, but Nier-"

"Nier wasn't cut out for this. He's already lost too much and couldn't stand to lose more." Sini cut his friend off. "I gave him and Wano the same out. Neither of them wanted to be superheroes or use their power for the betterment of mankind. I allowed them to go into hiding and lay low so long as they didn't use their powers. Even after what Nier did… I couldn't bring myself to take him in."

"About that..." Full Monarch looked down at the ground and shook his head. "I think... I think Wano might be dead."

"What!" Sini stared at his friend in shock. "What do you mean he's dead?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure my daughter saw the next Lord of the Sky and Weather."

Sini felt a chill go through his spine. He looked down at a picture that rested on his desk. One of the Full force. Jackson, Nier, himself, and Wano all stared at the camera with a happy smile on their faces. They all looked so young and innocent. Jackson was barely twelve when the picture had been taken.

"My God." Sini felt his shoulders slump. "It's moving too fast."

Meanwhile, back downstairs, Mermaid had managed to flip herself back over and had Ruby in a chokehold, forcing her arm into the Super's throat. "Say uncle!"

"I- I choose death!" Ruby gasped with an increasingly blue face.

"So be it."

Before Mermaid could land the finishing blow, the elevator door opened. The man that stepped out instantly caught her eye, and she dropped Ruby to the floor. "Is that Harrison Avalon?"

"Who?" Ruby asked, looking up. A man with messy brown hair wearing a dirty lab coat with a pissed-off scowl on his face was the only person she saw stepping out. "That lame ass? Is he important or something?"

Mermaid kicked her friend in the side, shooting the girl a dirty look. "He's one of the Supers that fought in the war alongside my grandfather and your dad. He isn't a Lord, but he's still a war hero. Instead of becoming a superhero like my dad, he followed in my grampa's footsteps and works for Sini Corp helping bring humanity forward. In only a few short years, they were able to reach beyond our planet and would have turned Earth into a spacefaring colony if not for the Beast."

"Cool." Ruby said flatly.

"I hate you."

"No, you don't." Ruby jumped back up to her feet right as Avalon walked past them, heading for the exit. "Yo, Avalon dude! Sup." She said, waving her hand. Avalon stopped in his tracks and shot a look toward her and Mermaid. Mermaid was dressed up in her hero costume, which was made to look similar to a bathing suit. Like Ruby, her hair and eyes changed color when she was using her powers, so she never needed a mask. Avalon studied the young woman before looking Ruby over, noticing the lack of a costume.

"You're Full Monarch's sidekick, aren't you?" The man mumbled.

"I'm not his sidekick!" Ruby huffed.

"Yeah! She's my sidekick!" Mermaid announced.

Avalon shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "I saw your father earlier, but I wasn't really thinking straight. I didn't bother asking why he came here, but if you're here, I'm sure it must be something important, right?"

"I guess?" Ruby lazily shrugged her shoulders and threw her arms back behind her head. "I took down a big shot bad guy all by myself. Bastard stepped up on my turf and had to be taught a lesson."

"Weren't you on his boat..." Mermaid asked flatly.

"There was this other boy also." Ruby hummed. "He was kind of a jerk but sort of cute. Had lightning powers or something-"

"Lightning powers?" Avalon cut her off and suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. "Did he tell you his name?"

Ruby blinked a couple of times, taken aback by the man's suddenly urgent look. His eyes were wide, and he stared down at her. "Yeah, I think so. He said his name was Max or something. Why?"

"Damn it." Avalon cursed and turned away, marching toward the exit. "Of course he'd turn up now."

Mermaid shot a look toward Ruby. "What was that about?"

"No clue... Wanna follow him?"

"I'm down."

***

Max groaned and spat up some water as he woke up slowly.

"Take it easy, kid. Your lungs are recovering thanks to my power, but your body is still a little messed up. I guess a villain on the level of a Prince is still too much for you."

"It- It wasn't the villain-" He barfed up more salt water and sand, feeling sick. "I got sneak attacked and thrown into the water. I used my power to take out his bird in one shot, but I'm still not fully immune to lightning yet and nearly fried myself."

"Your body hasn't adjusted to the power of a Lord yet, I guess." The voice hummed. "I'm not too shocked. When I became a Lord, it took a bit of time for my own body to get ahold of all that power, and I ended up messing myself up a bunch as well. Things like this happen."

Max sat up fully, looking around. He expected to be in some back alleyway near Oleander or on the beach, but instead he found himself in an even stranger location. It was an endless field of white. Not snow, just pure color. The sky and the floor were just pure white with no color. He didn't see any walls, the strange field stretching on as far as the eye could see. The ground was soft and a little bouncy. Almost like when he would use his powers to make solid clouds that he could fly on. He still hadn't fully figured out how to fly freely like his father, Wano, could.

Next to him crouched down was an older man. One with messy blonde hair and a bit of a beard that was growing in. The man had tired-looking red eyes and wore a dirty suit that was filled with tears and cuts. On the tip of the man's finger was what looked almost like a fly, but as Max looked at it closer, he realized that it was actually some small drone-like robot in the shape of a bug.

Max rubbed his head, easing the unconscious feeling away. "Mr. Nier, where are we?" He finally asked.

"I was hoping you could answer that." Nier, Lord of the Land and Life, said letting out a soft chuckle. "I felt your life force fading and rushed over to try and save you. There was so much energy spilling out of you, and then the next thing I knew we ended up here."

Max looked around some more at the endless field of white, trying to find any sign of something, but all he saw was nothing. "How long have I been out for?" He demanded, standing up.

Nier shrugged his shoulders. "A few hours. Assuming time works the same as in here as it does out in the real world."

"Why wouldn't it?"

"Your father didn't just have control over the weather, you know." Nier flicked the bug off of his finger. "Just as the Lord of the Sea contains a deep creature within, the weather is often a tricky and mysterious thing. Humans conquered it and can predict it, and so that somehow led to the creation of a future sight-based power, which your father discovered. As far as I know, he was the first Lord of the Sky to have such an ability. He never really figured out how to use it, though. It's possible that yet again the power could have evolved and changed within you."

"Seriously? That's something that can happen."

Nier nodded his head. "I think it's best to view it this way. Being a Lord doesn't mean you're a Super. A Super is someone who is no longer human and has gained supernatural powers. A Lord is someone who is no longer Super and has gone even further beyond the limits of humanity and started to step into the realm of Gods. I've noticed each Lord has shown powers that the previous couldn't. No other Lord of the Sun has come anywhere close to my little brother Jackson's level of power. I believe that the Lords are something else but can also be a Super. Sini is the best example of this. He gained a Mental based power. In other words, I think the reason Lord powers evolve and change is because current Lords all awaken other powers previous Lords didn't by also becoming a Super. Just as humans can become Supers, Lords can as well."

"So, wherever the hell we're at, it's because I've gained some new ability by nearly dying, right?" Max placed his hand down on the ground, pushing it in deeper. "If my dad had a power based on time, maybe I gained something that goes along with that and can make a new space or something? I know some powers can create pocket realms. If that's the case, I should be able to cancel this."

"Give it a try." Nier encouraged.

Max closed his eyes and felt the spark of energy that was his core of power. It came surging out, and he felt his skin grow warm as lightning danced across his flesh. His hair stood up, and he could feel clouds begin to swirl around him. A blank, endless landscape was all around them. One in which he had somehow created. He was the master of his own power, though. Most of the Lords constantly used their battle mode, but not him. He didn't like it. He was the one in control.

Just him. It was the only way for him to ignore the voice. The one in his head that was constantly barking orders at him.

With a pull, he forced it all back in, drawing in the energy that had escaped him. The white field around them shook and crumbled. Cracks appeared along the floor and in the sky, and then the next thing he knew, he was dropping. He crashed down face first into the sandy floor of the beach as water splashed against him. Nier landed on his feet and let out a low whistle.

"Good job, kid."

"Thanks, teacher." Max winced and pushed himself up. "It's not enough, though. I need to keep training and get stronger. Or else I won't be able to catch up to 'his' level." He growled.

Nier held his hand out to the younger man and smiled. "Let's go grab a bite to eat. You've earned it."

Max slowly reached up and took the hand, letting himself be pulled up. He followed after his teacher as they headed for Oleander's docks. The moon was up in the sky, but there was bound to be a restaurant or two that was still open. He was lucky to have someone like Nier. The man had been there for him when he lost his father. The Hero Branch had been so busy they didn't even notice what had happened to his father. They wouldn't have been able to do anything about it, though, even if they knew. There was only one person who would stop that monster...

It was going to be him.

"So, how did the mission go?" Nier asked slyly.

"It was just as you said, teacher." Max nodded. "Water Prince was shipping something to this city. I wasn't the one who beat him, though. Some other girl did it." He sighed.

"There was another Super on the same level as you?"

"If you can even say we're on the same level." Max said bitterly. He glanced down at his hand, watching as the sparks of lightning danced across it. "I think she was stronger than me. A lot stronger than me. She had hair that lit up like a Lord, too."

Nier nodded his head and let out a hum. "The Lords' hair changes when they enter their battle mode. They aren't the only Supers who can change their form, though. The Thaddeus clan are all born with an ability that allows them to transform. Most children of Lords also seem to have the ability to change and evolve their power. The important thing is that you made it out alive and got stronger. People like us are able to endlessly grow and evolve. Now that you possess the power of Wano, it is only a matter of time before you reach his level as well."

"Then I can kill that damn bastard that stole my father from me." Max hissed out, his lightning crackling around him wildly.

Nier looked up at the moon above as they walked. "The Emperor."

"Huh?"

"That's the name of the villain that stole the life of your father away." The man explained. He reached into his pocket and tossed something over to Max, who caught it. The boy looked down at it, finding it was a flip phone that had the picture of a familiar-looking villain on it. One with glowing, fiery blue eyes cloaked in black armor. The villain was looking up at three other villains. The other Princes. "I was able to get this picture thanks to one of Avalon's drones." Nier stated, holding his finger up once again and allowing the little robotic bug to land on it. "That villain is calling himself the Emperor. He's a powerful threat, but so far, the Hero Branch hasn't realized he exists. He'd have to be strong to take on a Lord."

"I already know that." Max gritted his teeth and glared down at the tiny picture of the man in black armor. "I was there the night this bastard killed my dad. To take down my father, this guy must be on the same level as the Beast or something."

Nier took the phone back, flipping it closed, and placed it back in his pocket. "I no longer work with the Branch. Like your father, they threw me out when I didn't want to play ball with them. For the past year and a half, I've been training you and sending you out to fight these villains in order for the Lord's power within you to evolve. As it stands right now, you're still not as strong as Wano was, and until you are, I'm afraid fighting this villain would only result in your death. Luckily for you, I already have your next target in mind."

"Who is it?" Max asked, punching his fist into his open palm. "I'll do whatever it takes to get stronger. No matter what, I have to reach that villain and beat him with my own two hands!"

"The Emperor has seemingly killed off most of Oleander's villains but left one alive. Fire Prince." Nier turned to look back at Max and gave a sly smile. "You lost to Water Prince, and Fire Prince is even stronger. Do you think you can handle it?"

"I will!"

"Then hunt him down. Beat him. Evolve. Grow. Become the Lord of the Sky." Nier announced. "Reach the same level as your father. Only then will I allow you to face the Emperor."

Only then would Max truly be useful… After all, now that Wano was dead, Nier found himself forced to wait.

He'd have to make sure this Lord grew properly. He'd sharpen his weapon until it was ready.