Chapter 235 – Floor 42: Part 2

  A sleek, high-tech commander center was abuzz with activity in the heart of the League of Heroes HQ. The walls were adorned with displays of past battles and real-time threat assessments. A massive round table occupies the center, surrounded by plush, futurist chairs.

  The soft hum of machinery provided a backdrop as the room buzzed with the urgency of the recent Villain attack.

  There were dozens of Heroes present, most from the ‘A’ Class, but there were a number of ‘B’ Class that had shown exceptional skill and bravery during the conflict.

  Lumina was late when she walked through the doors, nodding her head to the few League support personnel she knew before taking her place at the table near the front of the room. Credit for stopping Titaness and Ironclad had naturally fallen on her despite her protests that Mathew had done most of the work.

  But very few people would believe that a Class ‘C’ Hero had been able to be much use. They had given him a promotion to ‘B,’ but the reward was more for appeasing her than it was for Mathew’s ability. No one but Elena had seen what happened, and the Junior Assistant had been forced to retreat before things had really gotten crazy.

  As soon as Lumina sat down, Blaze stood up from the table to address the room.

  Lumina had to admit Blaze was an eye-catching figure. He embodied the charisma of a Hero, approaching the role that was part model and part celebrity. Standing tall, he had a lean, athletic build with tanned skin.

  One of the first things Lumina noticed about him was his impeccable grooming and his attention to style. Even during the middle of an emergency, where they had just been through the wringer and needed to debrief, Blaze had found time to shower, shave and comb his hair just right.

  Even his costume was perfectly clean, a sleek suit in bright red and gold that mimicked flames. It shimmered brightly, almost sparkling in the light. Combined with his bright red hair, obviously dyed, he looked like fire personified.

  Blaze may have lacked the extensive combat experience of many other Class ‘S’ Heroes, but he was still powerful enough to have earned his rank. Lumina just wished he wasn’t so full of himself.

  “People, we’re in a crisis.” Blaze said gravely. His voice was smooth and commanding, tinged with a hint of self-importance. He seemed to glow as the room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward him.

  Lumina couldn’t help but roll her eyes internally. She used to look up to Blaze, and thought that he was a hero to imitate. But after seeing what Mathew had been capable of, how he not only managed to defeat powerful Villains and save people but also didn’t care about the accolades, Lumina’s opinion of Blaze changed.

  “We’ve had attacks all across the city. A dozen heroes are dead, hundreds more injured. Worse than all that, the public has lost faith in us to keep them safe!” Blaze said patiently, slamming his hand on the table dramatically.

  “They even breached our HQ and freed one of their compatriots. Shade, the Class ‘A’ Villain that Lumina brought in yesterday, has been taken right out from under our noses. I want answers, and I want them now! Vigil, you’re up.” Blaze said, gesturing to the Hero to his right to speak.

  Vigil, a Class ‘A,’ was the unofficial second in command of the New York Branch of the League of Heroes, just under Blaze. He wore a black suit that covered him from head to toe, giving him a stealthy look. It had subtle patterns and accents that resembled smoke.

  Vigil’s face was obscured by a mask that covered every inch of skin, revealing only a pair of bright blue eyes that scanned the room. His voice was deep and easily carried to every corner of the room.

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  “What we know for sure is this: we underestimated the capabilities of the so-called ‘League of Villains.’ We thought they were a disorganized collection of rogues who gathered together for self-preservation and to share intel. We were wrong.” Vigil began his explanation.

  Standing from the table, he walked to a screen nearby and tapped it with his gloved hand. A series of images appeared, and Lumina recognized Titaness, Ironclad, and Obsidian among them.

  “They aren’t a collection of rabble, intent on making profit from thefts or killing for sadistic pleasure. They are organized, and they are global. We have reports from nearly every major city across the planet, and this was a coordinated attack with a single goal.”

  “And that would be?” Class ‘A’ Hero, Steel Courage asked. Wearing a suit of metal armour that reminded Lumina of a Knight from the Middle Ages, he had his arms crossed as he examined the pictures on the screen.

  “We believe they have a force behind them, a ‘Patron’ that has offered them something valuable enough to gather them together under a single banner. This Patron has the ability to enhance their abilities and augment their physical attributes.” Vigil stated.

  The Heroes in the room began to whisper amongst themselves, shocked by such a statement. The idea that someone could make them stronger, grant them new abilities or enhance the ones that they had was a powerful motivator.

  How could the Villains receive this power and not Heroes?

  “Is this Patron someone we can track? Do we have any leads regarding their identity?” Blaze asked, his handsome face creased with a frown.

  “Not yet, but we need to consider the implications. If they are receiving enhancements, they could outmatch us in combat. We have already found it difficult to compete with Villains of the same Class without superior numbers. If their ranks swell, even our Class ‘A’ Heroes will not be match.” Vigil replied gravely.

  “They are willing to sacrifice anything to win. Endangering the safety of the public and destroying property. It’s difficult to compete when we are fighting with one hand tied behind our back.” Steel Courage responded.

  A tense silence filled the room as the weight of his words hung in the air. Lumina glanced around, noticing the concern etched on her fellow Heroes’ faces. Villains, on average, were stronger in combat. The League had taken steps to help Heroes by providing additional training and developing tactics, but it was hard to overcome the fact that when Villains fought, they did so with reckless abandon.

  They knew the consequences of getting caught, and no one fought harder than someone backed into a corner.

  “Then we will need to continue to rely on our greater coordination and teamwork. I refuse to believe that any Villain organization can equal the League! We have the experience, the training and the heart!” Blaze assured them, his charisma on full.

  ‘Until they rip that heart out of you.’ Lumina thought, remembering the infuriated Titaness. She had no doubt that if the Villain had reached her, there would have been nothing left but a blood smear on the pavement.

  “As of right now, all Heroes will be placed in Teams. Patrols will be assigned, and I expect everyone to give it their all. Study the new wanted posters that Vigil will give you all; I want to start seeing them in cells by tonight.” Blaze ordered.

  He was about to continue when a League Executive cleared their throat behind him as if to remind him of something. Blaze paused for a moment before speaking.

  “There will also be ‘incentives’ for any Villain you bring in. Ranks, Class promotions, even financial incentives. I know that no one in this room is doing this for the money or fame, but I want you all to know that your hard work will be recognized.” Blaze stated.

  “What about Obsidian?” Lumina asked, finally speaking up when it was clear that the meeting was coming to an end. She felt the focus of the room turn to her, and she had to fight the reflex to fidget under the scrutiny.

  Blaze turned to look at Vigil, who tapped the screen a couple of times to bring up Obsidian’s profile.

  “Obsidian, Formerly Class ‘A,’ her League ranking has been readjusted to Class ‘S.’ We believe that she has received significant assistance from her Patron. Her power had previously been assessed to include Geokinesis. This new ability to trap the powers of others and seal them within the stones she creates is troubling.” Vigil explained to the room as he scrolled through the information provided by Lumina in her report to the League.

  “Her Patron was able to give her that ability?” Someone amongst the Class ‘B’ heroes asked, but Lumina couldn’t see who had spoken from where she was sitting.

  “It appears so, unless she has been hiding her true powers.” Vigil confirmed.

  “If you see Obsidian or any of the Class ‘A’ Villains, do not engage them directly. Communicate directly with Vigil or me, and we will assist you. We don’t want to lose anyone else to these rogues.” Blaze ordered, flashing a white-toothed smile at the crowd.

  A few days ago, even Lumina would have been affected by that smile. Now, for some reason, Blaze didn’t have any effect on her at all. Instead, she kept picturing how Mathew would handle this situation if he were here.

  ‘He’d probably have told them all they were wasting their time and to stay out of the way.’ Lumina mused.

  “Alright everyone, good luck and good hunting.”