The chaos had subsided, leaving behind a tense stillness broken only by the sounds of emergency responders. The flashing red and blue lights of police cars and ambulances bathed the shattered interior of the bank in an eerie, flickering glow. Officers moved methodically, securing the subdued robbers in cuffs and leading them out one by one, their boots crunching over broken glass. Paramedics weaved through the hostages, checking for injuries and offering calm reassurances where they could.

  Near the back of the room, an elderly man sat propped against a stretcher, his breathing shallow but steady. A paramedic crouched beside him, carefully adjusting his oxygen mask as his trembling hand clutched his inhaler. His face was pale, etched with exhaustion, but he nodded faintly to the medic’s questions.

  Nearby, officers gathered the hostages into small groups, beginning the slow and meticulous process of piecing together what had happened. Notebooks and recorders were passed back and forth as each person recounted their experience.

  One officer approached a middle-aged woman with a bandage on her arm, his tone calm but firm. “Ma’am, can you tell me what you saw?”

  The woman glanced nervously around the room before shaking her head. “It all happened so fast,” she said, her voice trembling. “One moment, they were shouting at us, and the next... he was there. That man in the armor.”

  The officer’s pen hovered over his notebook. “The man in armor? Can you describe him?”

  She hesitated, her brow furrowing as she searched for the words. “He wasn’t like the other heroes you see on the news,” she said slowly. “No bright colors, no... no logo or anything. Just metal. His suit looked—” she paused, her hands gesturing vaguely, “—it looked rough, like it wasn’t built to impress. But he moved like he knew what he was doing. Like he’d done this before.”

  The officer nodded, scribbling notes as he glanced toward another group. “Thank you, ma’am. Please let one of the paramedics know if you need anything.”

  He stepped away, moving toward a younger couple sitting against a wall. The man was cradling his wife’s hand, his eyes darting nervously between the shattered skylight and the officers. The woman had tear tracks streaked down her face, but she seemed steadier now, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

  “Did you get a good look at him?” the officer asked, crouching to their level.

  The man shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not really. The smoke was everywhere. But... he wasn’t like the heroes you see on TV. He didn’t say much—didn’t shout or try to show off. He just... got the job done.”

  The woman nodded, her voice steadier. “He saved us. That’s what matters.”

  The officer jotted down their responses, but his frown deepened. He looked over his shoulder toward another group—a mother and her young daughter standing near the center of the room. The little girl’s wide eyes were locked on the shattered skylight, her small hand clutching her mother’s dress as though letting go would break the fragile safety she’d found.

  The officer approached them slowly, his tone soft. “Ma’am, can you tell me what happened?”

  The mother hesitated, her hand brushing her daughter’s hair as she gathered her thoughts. “We thought... we thought it was over,” she said, her voice wavering. “They had us trapped, and no one could stop them. And then... he came.”

  “Who came?” the officer prompted gently.

  The mother glanced down at her daughter, but before she could respond, the little girl burst forward, her voice trembling but passionate. “He saved us!” she cried, her words rushing out all at once. “The man in armor! He came down from the sky and stopped them all by himself!”

  The officer blinked, startled by her sudden outburst. “The man in armor?” he asked, crouching slightly to meet her eye level.

  Her mother reached out, trying to pull her back gently. “Sweetheart, let me—”

  “No!” the girl insisted, her voice rising. “He was like a hero! He fought them all and didn’t even get hurt! He made sure everyone was safe!”

  The officer exchanged a glance with his colleague, who had been quietly observing nearby. He turned back to the girl, his tone careful. “Can you tell me what he looked like?”

  The girl’s eyes sparkled with determination as she recounted the details. “He had metal armor, and it looked really strong. He had a cape, and his helmet glowed a little. He didn’t talk much, but he didn’t have to. He just... he just saved us.”

  The mother placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, her voice calm but firm. “She’s right. He saved us. If he hadn’t shown up...” Her voice broke slightly, and she swallowed hard. “I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

  The officers exchanged uneasy glances. One of them pulled out a tablet, scrolling through a list of registered heroes. “We don’t have anyone like that in the system,” he said quietly, his brow furrowing. “No one matches this description.”

  The first officer looked back at the mother and daughter, his expression softening. “Whoever he was,” he said gently, “it sounds like he did something very brave.”

  The little girl’s gaze remained fixed on the shattered skylight, her chest tightening as she whispered, “He’s a hero. My hero.”

  The officers didn’t respond, their attention shifting back to their duties. The mother pulled her daughter into a protective hug, her whispered reassurances muffled by the hum of activity around them.

  As paramedics continued their work and the subdued robbers were led out in handcuffs, the girl’s words lingered in the air—a quiet testament to the mystery of the armored figure who had vanished through the back door.

  “This is Becky Bill, reporting live from the aftermath of today’s daring bank robbery in downtown Victorian City,” the reporter announced, her polished voice cutting through the hum of the scene behind her. She stood at the edge of the police barricade, her sharp blue blazer immaculate despite the chaos surrounding her. Behind her, paramedics worked diligently to assist shaken hostages, officers escorted handcuffed robbers to waiting vehicles, and shattered glass glittered under the flashing lights of emergency vehicles.

  “For those just joining us,” she continued, turning slightly to gesture toward the scene, “this morning’s events began with a coordinated attack on the Victorian City National Bank. The perpetrators, a highly organized group of armed criminals, stormed the building, taking hostages and engaging in a tense standoff with law enforcement.”

  She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle before continuing. “Outside, a team of C-Class heroes led by Captain Leonardo worked alongside the police to secure the perimeter and suppress the robbers’ firepower. Thanks to their combined efforts, the immediate threat to civilians was contained.”

  Becky’s expression shifted subtly, her tone growing sharper. “But the real story, unfolding inside the bank, remains shrouded in mystery. Eyewitness accounts describe a lone individual—a figure clad in metallic armor—descending through the bank’s skylight and single-handedly subduing the robbers. Who is this armored savior? And why has no one, including the Hero League, been able to identify him?”

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  She turned toward a group of heroes standing a few feet away, their bright costumes standing in stark contrast to the grim backdrop of the bank. Captain Leonardo stood at the forefront, his blue and white uniform pristine despite the morning’s events. His broad shoulders and calm demeanor exuded confidence, but there was a subtle tension in his stance.

  “Captain Leonardo,” Becky began, approaching him with her microphone poised. “First, let me commend you and your team for your quick response today. Can you walk us through what happened outside the bank?”

  Leonardo nodded, his tone measured. “Thank you, Ms. Bill. When we arrived on the scene, the robbers had fortified themselves behind makeshift barricades and were heavily armed. We coordinated with law enforcement to secure the perimeter and ensure the safety of bystanders. My team split into two units to suppress the robbers’ firepower while maintaining a clear line of defense.”

  “And your team’s performance?” Becky pressed, tilting the microphone closer. “Do you believe today’s events highlight the importance of the Hero League in addressing these types of crises?”

  Leonardo nodded firmly. “Absolutely. Our team’s training and collaboration with law enforcement ensured there were no civilian casualties. That’s always our priority.”

  Becky smiled politely before transitioning seamlessly. “Now, Captain, let’s address what’s on everyone’s mind—the events that occurred inside the bank. Reports suggest that a mysterious armored individual played a significant role in resolving the situation. Can you confirm these accounts?”

  Leonardo hesitated, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. “I’ve heard the same reports,” he said cautiously, his words carefully chosen. “But I want to emphasize that our focus was on the external threat. We prioritized securing the perimeter and protecting civilians.”

  “So, to clarify,” Becky said, her tone sharp, “you’re saying this individual is not associated with the Hero League?”

  Leonardo crossed his arms, his gaze steady but guarded. “That’s correct. The Hero League maintains a comprehensive registry of all licensed heroes, from D-Class to S-Class. No one matching this description is on that list.”

  Becky raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Captain, do you have any theories about who this individual might be?”

  Leonardo exhaled, glancing briefly at his teammates before responding. “Whoever they are, they acted independently. That makes them a vigilante.”

  The word lingered in the air, heavy with implication. Becky’s eyes narrowed slightly. “A vigilante? Given the accounts from hostages, it seems their actions saved lives. Do you believe they helped or hindered today’s operation?”

  Leonardo’s posture stiffened slightly, but his tone remained even. “Their actions likely prevented further harm inside the bank. However, operating outside the League’s jurisdiction creates unnecessary risks. If they want to help, they should register and follow the established protocols like everyone else.”

  “An interesting perspective,” Becky remarked, her tone neutral but probing. She turned back to the camera, her practiced smile reappearing. “As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: this armored figure has captured the public’s imagination. Coincidentally, this individual may also be linked up with the underground railroad hijack incident—or the theme park accident—similar reports have resurfaced that an individual covered in armor had saved the day on those occasions.”

  Her smile faded slightly, and her tone grew more somber. “And this incident raises another troubling question. Reports from law enforcement suggest that the robbers were unusually organized—working in coordinated teams with advanced tactics and equipment. In recent months, we’ve seen an alarming trend of not just villains but common criminals employing more sophisticated methods. As this threat evolves, can our current systems keep up? Or will individuals like this armored figure continue to step into the gap?”

  Becky turned back to Leonardo, her expression sharp. “Captain, do you believe this incident reflects a growing challenge in maintaining public safety?”

  Leonardo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Crime is always evolving,” he said carefully. “But the Hero League is committed to adapting and staying ahead of these threats.”

  Becky nodded, her gaze unwavering. “Thank you, Captain Leonardo, for your time. This is Becky Bill, reporting live from Victoria City National Bank. Back to you in the studio.”

  As the live feed cut, Becky lowered her microphone and turned briskly to her crew. “Make sure we have every angle covered,” she instructed. “Get statements from the police, follow up on the hostages, and find out everything we can about this armored figure.”

  Nearby, Captain Leonardo exchanged a glance with one of his teammates. “She’s going to milk this story for all it’s worth,” the teammate muttered, crossing their arms.

  “Can you blame her?” Leonardo replied, his tone low. “It’s not every day someone like that shows up.”

  “Still, it’s making us look bad,” another teammate added. “He’s all anyone’s talking about.”

  Leonardo’s gaze drifted back toward the shattered bank. “Whoever he is, he’s not one of us. And that’s going to make a lot of people anxious.”

  The clouds stretched across the pale blue sky, their soft forms drifting lazily under the warmth of the afternoon sun. High above, the armored man soared, twin streams of vapor trailing behind him as his boots’ propulsion units hummed steadily. The sound was swallowed by the vast expanse, the clouds wrapping him in concealment as he moved with deliberate precision.

  Within the helmet, his visor emitted a faint glow, displaying a digital overlay of his altitude, speed, and surroundings. He navigated through the cover of the clouds with ease, yet his thoughts were far from his flight path.

  The events at the bank replayed in his mind, not as memories, but as a series of analyzed moments. He scrutinized every choice, every action, breaking them down into their simplest components. The robbers were organized, their tactics precise. What if they had taken more hostages? What if they’d rigged traps at the exits? The possibilities spiraled into contingencies, each accompanied by a list of potential solutions.

  His jaw tightened as he replayed his own decisions. The smoke bombs had been effective, but they had obscured too much of his vision, even with his enhanced optics. The adhesive traps worked, but they had left him vulnerable during deployment. And the disruptor—it had barely covered the radius he’d calculated.

  “Too many risks,” he murmured, his voice low. “Smoke distribution needs refinement. Adhesive delivery should be modular—target multiple assailants at once. And the disruptor...” He paused, his mind spinning through upgrades. “Stronger range, better coverage. I wasted time checking for threats when I should’ve neutralized them immediately.”

  His critique was relentless, not born of regret, but of a need to improve. Every misstep, every inefficiency, was a gap to be closed.

  But amid the swirling analysis, a memory broke through. A moment of stillness, unbidden yet vivid. The little girl. Her wide, tear-filled eyes, her trembling voice, and the way her small hand had brushed against his gauntlet. She hadn’t said much—not directly to him—but her expression had spoken volumes.

  She reminded him of someone. Not just in how she looked, but in the courage she had shown, standing up in the face of fear. Her awe, her innocence—it struck a chord deep within him, one he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in years.

  “She doesn’t even know who I am,” he muttered, his voice softer now. The anonymity that protected him had also created distance—a gap that could never fully be bridged. And yet, the way she’d looked at him, as though he was the embodiment of everything she believed a hero should be... it lingered.

  He shook the thought away, his focus returning to the present. A soft ping drew his attention to his wrist display. The numbers on the timer ticked steadily downward, their glow faint against the bright daylight.

  His eyes narrowed. “Not much time left,” he muttered, the calm of his thoughts giving way to urgency. He adjusted his trajectory, leaning forward as the propulsion units flared brighter. The clouds parted slightly, revealing the sprawling city below—bustling streets, gleaming rooftops, and clusters of movement far below him.

  The man’s pace quickened, the hum of his flight growing louder as he cut through the sky. He wasn’t rushing toward danger this time. This time, it was something simpler—an appointment he couldn’t afford to miss.

  The contrast tugged at him—a life lived between the extraordinary and the mundane. One moment, he was dismantling a team of criminals with military precision; the next, he was racing to keep a schedule. It was a balance he had grown accustomed to, but it never felt any less surreal.

  The clouds thinned further as he sped ahead, his cape rippling behind him in the afternoon breeze. The cityscape blurred beneath him, a mosaic of shapes and colors that grew smaller as he climbed higher. His visor flickered briefly, recalibrating as he pushed his speed to its limit.

  The timer continued its steady countdown, a reminder ticking in the corner of his display. He leaned into the motion, the sunlight glinting off his armor as he disappeared into the endless expanse of the day.