The weather had changed.
All across Ultra City, thick clouds blanketed the skies as a storm brewed overhead. The breeze from the Marion Ocean was sharp and restless—like nature itself was on edge.
Inside the Fortress…
In the living room, a few members of the Hero Squad sat together: Sage, Derick, Raymond, Larry, Rudy, and Max.
Derick leaned forward, frowning as he stared out the glass panels.
"Wasn't it supposed to be sunny today? The forecast didn't mention any of this."
Max shrugged, checking his phone.
"Forecasts don't always get it right. But even if they missed it, it shouldn't be this heavy..."
Raymond looked over, raising an eyebrow. "Wait—has it even started raining yet?"
Max glanced back at his phone. "Nope. Not yet."
Raymond exhaled, uneased. "Then we've got no idea what kind of downpour is coming."
Sage, calm as ever, folded his arms.
"This isn't a normal weather shift. Someone's angered the gods."
Derick, half listening, grabbed the remote and flipped the TV on. As he scrolled to the news channel, he smirked.
"Or maybe someone angered… whoever that is."
He pointed at the screen.
The others turned to look. The live news feed had caught something in the sky—someone flying with a body in his arms.
"Who is that?" Max asked, squinting.
"Derick, zoom in," Rudy said, standing.
The image enlarged.
It was Tyler. He was carrying someone—his sister—in his arms. His expression was pale and frantic.
"What the hell happened out there?" Derick muttered.
"Shit... Larry," Raymond called out.
"Yeah?" Larry replied quickly.
"Can you scramble the facial IDs of the twins before the news broadcasts their identities?"
"Already on it, Ray," Larry responded, fingers flying across his tablet.
Suddenly, the doors to the Fortress burst open.
Tyler rushed in, his voice breaking with panic.
"Guys! Help me!"
Everyone turned to him.
"Quick—get her to the sick bay," Sage said, already moving.
Max didn't hesitate. He gently took Tyler's sister from his arms and sprinted down the hallway. Moments later, she was lying unconscious on the sickbay bed.
Back in the lounge, Rudy approached Tyler.
"Hey… What happened?"
Tyler's face was dark with rage. His fists clenched.
"It was Scythe. He ambushed us… on our way back from the supermarket."
The room went quiet. Tension filled the air like pressure before a storm.
The guys were pissed.
Raymond stepped beside Tyler, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Take it easy," he said calmly. "Larry's handling her. Once she's stable… we deal with Scythe."
A few minutes later, the remaining members of the Hero Squad arrived—Timothy and Jakson walking in with serious expressions.
"What's going on?" Timothy asked immediately, his sharp eyes scanning the room.
"Tyler and his sister were ambushed," Raymond replied. "She got hit."
"Goddamn…" Timothy muttered, turning to Raymond. "How bad is it?"
"We're still waiting. Larry's inside working on her injuries. Sage went in a few minutes ago to help with what he can," Raymond said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Without hesitation, Timothy walked over to Tyler, who sat quietly in a corner, his eyes dark with rage.
"Hey," Timothy began softly, crouching beside him. "I know you're pissed, man, but I need you to say something. Anything. I need something to go off when I speak with the higher-ups."
Tyler's fists clenched. "He knew who I was. He knew my identity before he attacked."
Jakson stepped forward, arms crossed. "Then he's not working alone. Someone gave him our details—no way he figured all that out himself."
Timothy stood up. "Raymond, I want you to report everything that happens after I leave."
"Sure, but… where are you headed?" Raymond asked.
"I'm going to see Layla," Timothy replied simply, before walking off.
The rest of the squad remained in the waiting area, anxiously waiting for Larry and Sage to return from the sick bay. Tyler sat, unmoving, fury still smoldering in his eyes.
Suddenly, he let out a guttural scream.
"ARGHH!"
Everyone turned toward him, startled. Jakson approached and sat beside him.
"Hey. Calm the fuck down," he said quietly.
Tyler snapped his head around, glaring at him. "I'm tired of everyone telling me to calm down!" he barked. "My sister is in there—I don't even know if she's gonna be okay, and you're telling me to be calm?! I CAN'T!"
As his voice rose, thunder cracked loudly in the sky above, rumbling through the walls of the building.
Jakson stood up and faced him directly. "Listen, Tyler. No one expects you to be calm right now. We're all furious—Scythe hurt one of our own. But your emotions are causing these weather surges. That storm? It's you. And Ultra City isn't safe when you're like this."
Jakson paused, then added, "Bethany's still out there, remember? In your motorhome. What if this lightning or wind hurts her too? You could lose even more if you don't get a grip."
Raymond stepped in. "Jakson's right. You'll get your chance at revenge—but right now, pray your sister pulls through. Focus on her, not your anger."
He pointed at Tyler's blood-soaked shirt. "And you're bleeding too. You need stitches, man."
Tyler's breathing slowed. The fury in his eyes dimmed slightly as the thunder outside softened and rays of sunlight began peeking through the windows.
Derick glanced outside and grinned. "Finally, some sunlight."
Tyler let out a small chuckle, rubbing his face. "Thanks, guys. I don't know what might've happened if you hadn't stepped in… but I'm still going to kill Scythe."
"Yeah, yeah. Everyone wants revenge," Jakson teased.
Rudy gave Jakson a nudge with his shoulder. "Says the guy who's acting like he doesn't."
Just then, Larry and Sage stepped out from the room. Tyler immediately rushed over.
"How is she?" he asked, his voice anxious.
"She's stable," Larry replied calmly.
Relief swept over Tyler's face. "Can I see her?"
"No," Sage said firmly. "She needs rest. Give her time."
Larry leaned closer and whispered in Tyler's ear, "Is she superhuman?"
Tyler frowned. "No… why?"
"Nothing," Larry said, brushing it off. "She's lucky. None of her vital organs were damaged. She should wake up in a few hours."
"Alright… Thank you," Tyler said, though his thoughts lingered on Larry's odd question.
He pulled out his phone to check on Bethany and immediately froze.
"Fifteen missed calls… twenty texts?" he muttered. "Oh shit…"
Elsewhere.
Scythe stood alone beneath the looming shadow of a ruined tower. The wind whipped around him, carrying the scent of rain and salt. His phone buzzed in his pocket. The name on the screen read The Savior.
He answered.
"Hello, boss," Scythe said, his voice flat but respectful.
A cheerful male voice responded, "Hello, Craig. Wow, you really pulled off a clean job. I wasn't expecting you to drag family into this, but I've got to say, you did well. You're edging closer to what I promised. But listen—they're going to retaliate. Be ready. Still… nice job."
The call ended with a faint beep.
Scythe lowered the phone slowly and pulled off his mask. He sank to the ground, eyes clouded, voice low.
"I hit a woman… The one thing I promised myself I'd never do. And not just any woman—someone's sister. A loved one."
He clenched his fist, striking the cracked ground beneath him with a single blow that deepened the fractures.
"If I were in his shoes… I'd be furious too," he muttered. "Just like the boss said… they'll retaliate. Thunderstorm's not coming at me lightly."
He leaned back against the wall, staring up at the stormy sky above, thoughts racing as the first drops of rain began to fall.