As Nicholas and Selena stepped inside, the soft glow from the monitor screens illuminated the dark space. They caught sight of the girls huddled together tightly in the corner, clutching onto each other in fear.

"Calm down, it’s alright... We’re from the hero association" Selena said with a reassuring smile, "This hero—" she turned to look at Nicholas for a second, his gaze was elsewhere wandering through the room.

He was completely covered in blood, his clothes torn apart and stained red from head to toe.

And to make matters worse—

’He’s not wearing the X Glasses!’ Selena resisted the urge to facepalm before turning back toward the girls with a warm smile, "Let’s get you guys out of here"

She soon noticed.

Their eyes drifted past her and landed on Nicholas instead.

Blood covered his body, his torn coat hanging loosely over his frame while those bright blue eyes stared calmly back at them.

Somehow, instead of terrifying them... it only made him look even more alluring.

Selena felt the urge to smack all of them back to their senses.

She turned toward Nicholas furiously and whispered through gritted teeth—

"Go put on your glasses and stop carrying your pervert energy everywhere you go!"

"Maybe you should try being more attractive before calling attractive people perverts." Nicholas replied back calmly.

Selena angrily nudged him with her elbows, Selena forced a smile toward the girls while whispering through gritted teeth, "Go wear your fucking glasses!"

Nicholas let out a sigh before leaving the room to get the glasses.

Selena on the other hand approached the girls, who all shifted away from her as though scared.

"You don’t have to worry anymore, we’ve dealt with the gang, they won’t have to bother you guys anymore. The association will take you into custody and send out information, so your parents can come get you. Is that alright?" She asked with a gentle smile.

The girls glanced at each other then glanced back at Selena, "T-thank you" one of the girls managed to say before bursting into tears.

Selena’s gaze softened, she noticed the bruises and marks on their fragile skin, and she bit hard on her lips, "Don’t worry, the hero association will do everything to make sure this doesn’t happen again" Selena reassured, her hands curling into a tight fist. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Without wasting any more time she untied the girls from the poles that they were tied to.

Nicholas on the other hand returned just on time, but as he did he noticed one of the girls that had been untied, Nicholas watched her carefully.

Maybe it was instinct. Maybe curiosity, but she didn’t look particularly dangerous.

Either way, his gaze stayed fixed on her as she approached the armoury.

The girl paused for a bit, as though admiring the weapons.

"Hey don’t stand there, come help me" Selena called his attention, distracting him from keeping his gaze from the girl.

In that split second, he felt the shift in the air.

He rapidly turned his gaze back to the girl.

He noticed the purple hue in her eyes, and the small dark fog hanging above her head, and even for a moment it was as though he heard another voice.

"Here’s a present from me, heroes..."

Nicholas took a step, but it was too late as she held the gun and fired point blank at Selena.

BANG!

****

Meanwhile in the hero Association building, Eric stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, staring out through the ceiling-to-floor window, his gaze locked in the distance.

Detached from the space around him and lost in his own thoughts.

His senses quickly sharpened as the door to his office pulled open ever so slightly. His sharp gaze instantly snapped toward the door.

"Sir Eric, you’ve been too tense lately" Dana said as she didn’t fail to catch his sharp glare that lasted only a few seconds. She entered carrying a tray, the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the office.

Eric let out a chuckle, "I’m sorry about that. When you know too much, you have to be careful, as you’ll also have many enemies"

Dana shook her head slightly, "Is this about the council?"

"Well, as usual you’re very sharp Dana... The council has been trying to get me out of the office, possibly trying to pull in someone that will bend to their bidding.." Eric let out a sigh of resignation, "It’s sad to know that many of our heroes are all falling into their games. The hero society is losing the ideals that kept it so long. This is what old man Ronald was trying to avoid. But he’s way too old to be dealing with the council now"

"You should relax too, or you’ll age quickly as well" Dana said, gently placing the cup of coffee on his table.

Eric turned to Dana flashing a bright smile and flexing his muscles, "You forget, I’m the Mightman! And I will always remain in my youth"

"You’re 52 sir, you’re no youth" Dana said with a gentle chuckle.

Eric’s shoulders slumped instantly, "Tch, y’all are so mean these days" he grunted, taking a seat and taking a sip from the broiling coffee.

"But I don’t lie, I was surprised that the newbie even won you in a battle" Dana added.

Eric gently dropped the cup, letting out a chuckle, ""His abilities are impressive. Even I didn’t expect that. But I cut down my abilities to about 10% if I went all out from the start, he wouldn’t have any chance to activate his ability. It would be instant death."

"Still as cocky as you were back then" Dana said rolling her eyes, "But you’d be surprised that the Nicholas boy has so many things up his sleeves"

"I will agree with you, but he’s still new to the world of supers... There’s still a lot he needs to learn."

Dana could only sigh in resignation, ’With the type of confidence that boy walks with. I’m afraid I can’t even deduce the extent of his abilities’

"I believe you’re not here to talk about Nicholas" Eric said, throwing Dana a stern gaze.

"I’m sorry sir, my bad.. I came with the week’s reports"

"What’s the report about?" Eric sank into his office seat, taking another sip from the coffee.

"The analysis contains a detailed research on all the missions accomplished by heroes throughout the week and the appearances of impures. And the team found traces linking all of these events together"

Eric paused, raising a brow, "You mean all the events that happened this week were linked together."

"More accurately, it was linked to a lab" Dana said.

"A lab? That’s a first"

"Yes sir," Dana replied, a sharp frown forming on her face.

"And what exactly were doing in this lab"

Dana, paused allowing the silence to stretch as she placed the papers in front of Eric, Eric took a glance at the paper and his eyes widened, the cup falling from his hands and shattering.

"This...."