The sky above District 9 was choked with smoke, the air thick with the scent of burning metal and panic.
Sirens wailed in the distance as civilians fled in every direction, their screams swallowed by the roar of collapsing buildings.
At the heart of the destruction stood Hothead, an S-rank villain whose body burned like molten rock, his laughter booming as he hurled fireballs into the streets.
Around him, his goons—armed with stolen tech and Triggers of their own—looted storefronts and took hostages.
The Top Five Heroes had already engaged Hothead directly, their combined might turning the battlefield into a storm of water, steel, and brute force.
Which left Arthur and Flamestar with one job:
Evacuate the civilians.
---
Arthur moved swiftly, his blue trench coat flaring behind him as he guided a group of survivors through the wreckage, "Listen up, each one of you are going to follow behind me. Understood."
No one recognized him—not as the boy who killed Empire Gold, not as the prisoner from Ironhold. To them, he was just another Hero coming to help everyone to safety.
Flamestar, was the beacon of hope to the hostages, kept her voice steady, "This way! Stay close!"
Together they managed to ushered four groups of people to safety when-
*WHOOSH!*
A blast of compressed air slammed into them from behind, sending both Heroes crashing through the windows of a corner store.
Glass shattered, shelves toppled, and for a moment, the world spun.
Arthur groaned, pushing himself up only to see Hothead's right-hand man, a wiry figure with wind manipulation around his palms, the man had strong smirk.
"Heh. I was expecting a challenge but you are piece of cake." He said out loud.
Flamestar wiped blood from her lip, her eyes narrowing, "Do it now!"
The man's grin faltered as Arthur stood, completely unharmed.
Then—
Mistake number one.
He looked directly into Arthur's left eye.
Red flashed.
The man's Trigger was unresponsive.
"Wha—?!"
*FWOOM!*
Flamestar's palms ignited, her fire twisting into the shape of a blazing star before it firing it towards him, sending him skidding across the pavement, unconscious.
Arthur exhaled, "Nice shot."
Flamestar smirked, "Nice teamwork."
Then—
More goons arrived.
Flamestar step forward, "There might be quite a number of guys here-"
Arthur dash forward and using destroyed car as a launch pad before leaping into the air. He landed in middle where he entered his fighting stance.
A pillar of fire appeared behind, "You are full of surprises today huh?" Asked Flamestar as she appeared behind him with her back against his.
Arthur's knight appeared besides him, "Trust me, you are only seeing a fraction of my capabilities."
"Well, this is your debut. You better keep me impressed." A flame like aura started to surround Flamestar.
---
The fight was chaos.
Arthur moved with fast paced strike using expertise brawling combat, his blue-eyed knight materializing in bursts of spectral flame and would assist Arthur whenever he required it.
Flamestar's blast stars of fire towards her opponent, acting as the trio range.
But then—
A scream.
Arthur's head snapped toward an apartment complex, where a little girl—not older than six—was being chased by one of Hothead's goons.
"Flamestar—!"
"Go!" she shouted, already turning to cover him.
Arthur dashed forward towards the screaming child.
"YOU MINE!" One goons shot a wave of ice shards towards him, only for Flamestar to intercept the attack and blast the ice user.
Arthur didn't bother to turn, his knight would have protect him either way. But he was grateful she had his back.
---
The apartment hallway was dark, the girl's terrified sobs echoing off the walls. The goon laughed, his Trigger-enhanced muscles bulging as he reached for her.
"C'mere, brat—"
*CRACK.*
Arthur's armored knight fist slammed him into the wall.
The man gasped, his Trigger already disabled by Arthur's glare.
"You—!"
Arthur didn't let him finish.
His knight's fists rained down, each blow precise, each strike measured. Not enough to kill.
Just enough to hurt.
By the time Arthur was done, the man was a bruised, groaning heap on the floor, "Going after kids huh. I know one cell perfect for you."
The little girl was curled into a ball, trembling.
Arthur knelt, his voice softer than he thought possible, "Hey… it's okay."
She peeked up at him, tears streaking her face. "I-I want my mom…"
Arthur hesitated. Then, slowly, he held out his hand, "You'll see her. Every single day from now."
She stared at his fingers—then, tentatively, took them.
---
By the time Arthur led the girl outside, the battle was over.
Hothead lay defeated, encased in Wateredge's liquid prison, while the other Heroes rounded up the remaining criminals.
Flamestar jogged over, relief flashing in her eyes when she saw the girl clinging onto Arthur leg, "Well-done for your first day."
Arthur nodded.
She studied him for a long moment—then smiled, "You're ready."
"For what?"
"To meet your new family."