“Thank you for your purchase.”
Saki grinned, her cobalt blue eyes twinkling with excitement as she clutched the bag of goodies from the local bookstore. Inside was the latest Hero Chronicles magazine and a limited-edition Crimson Blaze figurine, her most treasured find yet.
This week’s feature was on Crimson Blaze’s mentorship of Cometz, a rising star team among Japan’s new generation of heroes. As their biggest fan, Saki couldn’t resist. Getting her hands on the magazine before it sold out was a mission in itself.
Her heart soared as she walked down the neon-lit streets of Shinjuku’s Villain Town, a place as chaotic as its name suggested. The setting sun bathed the bustling markets and graffiti-covered walls in an eerie glow. Some of the street art reflected the local creativity, but much of it was bitter protests and insults against heroes and law enforcement.
Saki sighed in disappointment. She understood the resentment—the unfair treatment, the stigma of living in a villain town and being branded as criminals for just existing—but it saddened her that these people couldn’t see the greatness of the heroes she idolised.
Turning onto the fourth street in Block C, she noticed a growing commotion. People were gathered, murmuring as they pointed toward Block E, where a plume of black smoke rose ominously into the sky.
“What’s that?” someone muttered.
“Probably another supervillain attack.”
“I should head home. The Special Forces don’t care who they round up in chaos like this.”
“Right. No one wants to be mistaken for a criminal.”
The crowd quickly thinned as cautious residents hurried away, leaving only a handful of onlookers and Saki, her curiosity piqued. She pulled out her phone and opened the Virtual Zap news app.
“Breaking news!” announced the anchor. “The supervillain Dr. Yamagata has resurfaced in Villain Town Shinjuku with a new weapon: a 60-metre-tall robot armed with rocket launchers and laser cannons. Authorities are currently evacuating Block E whilst awaiting the arrival of superheroes. Citizens are advised to seek immediate refuge.”
Saki’s grip tightened on her phone.
Dr. Yamagata again… What is he up to this time?
Her phone vibrated, cutting into her thoughts.
“Hello?”
“Blue, it’s Armstrong,” his gruff voice cut through the static. “We’re in trouble. Half the team’s still laid up from last night, and Yamagata’s bots are ripping the block apart. I know that you don’t do night missions but you’re our only shot. Can you make it?”
Saki glanced at her watch.
Barely six. Training starts at seven... If I go, I’ll cut it close.
Her fingers lingered on her phone, the edges digging into her palm.
This was not just another call. If I don’t show up, people might—
She exhaled sharply. There was no time to think, there were lives at risk. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“Thank you, Blue,” Armstrong said, his voice softening. “We’ll hold it until you get here.”
As the line went dead, Saki felt the weight of his words settle on her. This was not just another mission, it was a lifeline.
She let out a heavy sigh, her mind still debating on her sudden decision while she slipped into a nearby train station. At a coin locker, she retrieved her vigilante kit: a black tactical outfit and her collapsible metal staff. In the restroom, she quickly changed into her gear—a tight black shirt under a bullet-resistant military jacket, black cargo pants, gloves, and combat boots. Once suited up, she slipped on her mask and hailed a cab.
As Saki approached the border of Blocks D and E, the air grew heavier, thick with the tang of scorched metal and gasoline. Distant explosions shook the pavement beneath the car, each tremor rattling her nerves. Flames licked at the jagged skyline, casting distorted shadows over the chaos ahead—half-crumbled buildings, overturned vehicles, and the faint, desperate screams of those trapped inside the inferno.
“This is as far as I can take you,” said the cab driver, glancing nervously at the chaos ahead.
“Thank you, sir. Please head back to safety.”
Saki took a deep breath, clearing her mind and steadying her heart as she overcame a flicker of doubt.
Let’s do this!
Saki exited the cab and sprinted toward the centre of Block E.
***
The streets were a battlefield, strewn with wreckage and echoing with the cacophony of screams, gunfire, and mechanical destruction.
At the heart of the chaos, vigilantes fought desperately against a horde of humanoid robots. Some struggled to maintain their footing as exhaustion weighed them down, their movements sluggish compared to the relentless onslaught.
“When's the backup arriving?” shouted Longshot, shooting another electric arrow as sweat dripped down his face.
“She’s on her way,” replied Armstrong, smashing a bot with his hammer.
His massive arms swung the weapon left and right, crushing the metallic structures of the enemies.
“She?” Longshot glanced at his leader, doubt flashing in his eyes.
“Yes, she. Don’t worry, if there’s anyone who can handle this, it’s Blue.”
A deafening crash ripped through the battlefield, halting the relentless sound of clashing metal and gunfire. Heads snapped toward the source, a single, slender figure standing atop a crumpled bot, her combat boots crushing its shattered frame. For a heartbeat, the battlefield held its breath as the girl straightened, the faint metallic groan of the broken robot beneath her being the only sound that could be heard. Then, like a storm unleashed, she sprang into action.
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