Adamus stood there, determination etched on his face, ready to chase after Lizard Mouth. Suddenly, a cop car appeared, its sirens blaring as it pulled up in front of him. Two officers stepped out, one of them calling, "Hey kid, I saw what you did there. What's your name?"
"You can call me Vajra," Adamus replied.
The officer studied him closely. "I've never seen you before… and I've never heard that name. You part of the superhero organization?"
Adamus's chest tightened. Oh no… he's going to try to arrest me. It's illegal to use your powers unless you're a registered superhero or it's part of your job.
Out loud, he said calmly, "No, sir."
The cop's expression softened. "I can tell you were actually saving people."
"You don't care that I'm not a registered superhero?" Adamus asked cautiously.
The officer smirked. "As far as I know, you never told me you weren't." He then stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.
The man looked around thirty, his hair a striking mix of black and white, the contrasting colors catching the light. His strong jawline and silver eyes carried a mix of wisdom and determination. His high-tech police armor a sleek blend of dark blue and black had a futuristic design, built for mobility and protection. The suit's panels shimmered faintly under the streetlights, with the badge of the city's law enforcement embedded in the chest plate. Several small commendation emblems were integrated into the armor's plating, a testament to his service.
"Okay, Vajra," he said with a confident nod. "You lead the way. We've got your back. By the way… my name's Deputy Hunter Stone." He offered a firm handshake, his voice steady with authority.
Adamus raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "I don't think you can keep up," he said.
Deputy Hunter Stone smirked and stepped forward, gesturing toward his vehicle. "This is one of the older models. All the newest tech is locked away in the top districts… but don't underestimate this beast. She's still fast multiple times faster than light, FTL+." He patted the side. "We call it the SkyGuard. You might be a little quicker, kid, but we can catch up eventually. Just know we've got your back."
The SkyGuard looked less like a car and more like a compact, armored jet. Its sleek frame was forged from a classified alloy designed to withstand direct missile impacts and high-yield explosions. The polished black-and-chrome body shimmered with faint energy fields, while its adaptive armor plates shifted minutely, adjusting to potential threats. Retractable grav-thrusters were tucked beneath the chassis, capable of launching the craft straight into the air and propelling it at speeds that shattered the light barrier several times over. Aerodynamic fins folded seamlessly into the body when grounded, and neon-blue police insignias pulsed along its edges both a warning and a promise of swift justice.
"We'll eventually keep up," Hunter assured, his silver eyes glinting.
With determination tightening his muscles, Adamus lowered into a running stance. The pavement hummed under his feet as green energy surged around him in a shimmering aura. In an instant, he was gone the air snapping with electric force as he sprinted ahead, leaving the two officers and the SkyGuard in his wake.
Top of Form
One of the officers, Sheriff Amber Fox, stepped out from the other side of the SkyGuard, a faint weariness lingering in her expression. Though she looked to be in her early thirties, her yellow, half-lidded eyes gave her the lazy, assessing gaze of a cat watching the world go by. Her striking white hair, cut in layered waves, contrasted sharply against the dark gleam of her high-tech police armor. Perched atop her head were a pair of feline ears, their fur the same pure white as her hair, twitching subtly at every sound.
Her armor matched the style of Deputy Hunter Stone's a sleek, form-fitting blend of deep blue and matte black plating but was tailored to her frame, with reinforced panels protecting her torso, shoulders, and forearms. The segmented design allowed for agility while still looking combat-ready, and faint neon-blue tracer lines pulsed softly along the edges, signaling both authority and advanced technology. On her hip rested a compact, high-frequency sidearm, and on her chest plate, the badge of the city's law enforcement shone beneath the glow of the SkyGuard's lights.
"You know we don't have to get involved, honey," Sheriff Amber Fox said as she stepped up beside the SkyGuard, her tone equal parts weary and blunt. "I'm running on fumes here, and last I checked, we're not on overtime. This is supposed to be the superheroes' job."
Deputy Hunter Stone kept his eyes locked on the skyline where Adamus had disappeared. "Every time I call the superhero organization, it's always an excuse. Or the city has to pay a ridiculous amount of money just to bring one of their superheroes out here. And when they finally do, it's too little, too late. Meanwhile, our budget's already bleeding from those contracts every time a monster shows up." He glanced at her, his silver eyes hardening. "This kid? He's strong, fast, and he's actually saving people. Feels like we're looking at a real hero."
Amber's ears twitched slightly, her yellow eyes narrowing. "You're really set on this, huh, honey?"
"Yeah," Hunter said firmly. "Saddle up. We're going."
Amber sighed, but slid into the passenger seat without another word.
The SkyGuard's systems roared to life, deep and resonant. Wheels retracted into the armored body with a mechanical hiss, and the craft rose smoothly off the street. Its blue-and-black plating shimmered with energy shields, and thrusters flared beneath the chassis. The nose tilted forward, and in a blur, the vehicle leapt into the air lanes.
They sliced through sky traffic, darting past civilian transports and patrol drones. Neon-blue police insignias streaked through the city glow as the SkyGuard accelerated faster and faster chasing Adamus and Lizard Mouth across the skyline like a jet-hardened predator on the hunt.
Adamus sprinted through the streets, each step driving him faster, the world blurring around him. His focus was locked on one question: How can something that big move so fast?
Ahead, Lizard Mouth bounded from rooftop to rooftop, his hulking frame silhouetted against the skyline. Adamus's eyes narrowed. There he is.
The mutant turned mid-leap, his voice booming across the city. "Stop chasing me!"
He hurled himself off a building, hitting the street with a bone-rattling impact that cracked the pavement and sent shockwaves rippling outward. A car swerved to avoid him, clipping another vehicle before skidding to a halt.
Citizens screamed and scattered. Doors flew open as people fled on foot, desperate to escape.
Adamus landed a few feet away, planting himself between the chaos and the threat. "Just give it up, Darryl. You don't have to do this. Those friends of yours They're not good People"
"They're the only friends I've got!" Lizard Mouth roared, his voice raw with pain and fury. "These people mocked me my whole life because I look like a freak! Because I'm from the Mutation Realm! Just like you did!"
"I'm sorry for that," Adamus said firmly. "But it doesn't give you the right to kidnap my friend or tear this city apart. If you won't stop, I will stop you."
The drug in Lizard Mouth's system surged, veins bulging along his arms as his muscles swelled. With a snarl, he seized a nearby car and flung it at Adamus.
Adamus sidestepped effortlessly, but the mutant's attention had already shifted to a young woman clutching her baby, running for their lives.
The drug twisted his mind, turning the terrified mother's face into a sneering mockery. The hallucination stabbed into old wounds, and his rage boiled over.
"Stop laughing at me!" he bellowed, his jaw distending, drool hissing on the pavement. Acid welled between his fangs before he spat, a glistening stream arcing toward the family.
Adamus moved, light bent around him as he exploded forward at FTL+ speed, a streak of green racing past panicked pedestrians.
In a blink, he was there, between the family and the acid. With a flash of will, a shimmering shield bloomed into existence a complex lattice of concentric, rotating spheres, each nested within the other like the layers of the Hopf fibration.
The acid struck, sizzling furiously as it splashed and rolled harmlessly away.
Adamus's stance never wavered. "It's okay," he told the trembling family, voice steady but urgent. "Go. Now."
They nodded, clutching the child tightly as they ran.
The shield faded, and Adamus turned back. Lizard Mouth was already in a frenzy, ripping cars from the asphalt, slamming his fists into buildings, sending chunks of concrete raining down.
The fight was far from over.
Adamus flexed his fingers, staring at his hand with a cold, steady gaze.
Now I'm mad.
"That was an innocent family," he said, his voice low and hard. "They had nothing to do with this. This is between you and me… and no one desecrates my district. My city."
In a burst of FTL+ speed, Adamus became a streak of light, closing the distance before Lizard Mouth could bring his massive fist down on a cowering civilian. In one fluid motion, Adamus spun, delivering a devastating roundhouse kick that sent the hulking mutant stumbling backward.
Lizard Mouth roared, swinging a fist the size of a wrecking ball. Adamus met it head-on, their knuckles colliding with such force that shockwaves ripped through the street, rattling windows and shaking the air.
They traded blows in a blur, each impact sending out concussive bursts that made bystanders scatter in terror. Above, helicopters hovered like steel vultures, their spotlights cutting through the chaos while news cameras captured every moment.
With a sudden whip of his tail, Lizard Mouth swung at Adamus. The strike came like a wrecking crane but Adamus caught it mid-swing. His grip tightened, and with raw power he smashed the mutant back and forth, slamming him into the pavement left and right before hurling him into the ground with a seismic crash.
"I was pitying you," Adamus said, his voice carrying over the groaning of collapsing structures, "but now you've made me angry. You dared try to hurt an innocent little girl."
Lizard Mouth staggered up, clutching his sides. His breathing was ragged, his face contorted in pain. "The drug it's burning me alive!" he snarled, veins pulsing under his skin. "They told me not to take it… I can't… control myself!"
His eyes flared an unnatural yellow. Energy pulsed violently through his frame. His tail lashed like a thunderclap, sending cars flying through the air. The sheer force toppled buildings, masonry raining down like meteors.
Then he charged every step an earthquake, every breath a furnace blast.
Adamus calculated in an instant. He's coming fast… but those people!
With no hesitation, Adamus vanished in a zigzag blur, darting through the warzone. Lizard Mouth's punch cut through the space where Adamus had been a heartbeat earlier, but Adamus was already under the shadow of collapsing buildings.
Civilians screamed as tons of debris rained toward them. Adamus swept them into his green flames, the shimmering fire wrapping around them like a guardian spirit. In the blink of an eye, they were far from danger.
"What's your name?" they cried after him, but he was already moving. "You can call me Vajra!" he shouted over his shoulder.
Ahead, flying cars hurled by Lizard Mouth tumbled toward another crowd. Adamus intercepted, pulling more civilians into the safety of his emerald flames, rushing them away before impact.
Still, the mutant rampaged unchecked, hurling more wreckage, collapsing more structures. Adamus spread his hands wide, unleashing streams of green fire that streaked out across the chaos. The flames solidified into radiant shields, domes of shimmering light protecting scattered survivors from falling steel and shrapnel.
But in that moment of protection he left himself open.
A titanic shadow loomed behind him. Lizard mouth tail the blow landed like a meteor strike.
The force blasted Adamus off his feet, his body tearing through building after building, walls exploding into clouds of glass and dust in his wake. He spun through the air like a missile, crashing through concrete until he erupted from the far side of a skyscraper, a trail of devastation in his path.
The structure groaned ominously, parts of it beginning to crumble. Adamus hit the street hard, the impact cracking asphalt and making the ground quake.
Lying in the rubble, Adamus exhaled slowly. "Okay… that hurt," he muttered, forcing himself upright. His eyes locked on Lizard Mouth, who was already thundering toward him.
But then his gaze shifted. The skyscraper directly ahead groaned, its steel frame twisting under the weight of destruction. Glass shattered in a cascading roar, and the top floors began to shear away.
And then came the screams.
Hundreds of voices cried out as people tumbled from the collapsing structure, their forms plummeting toward certain death.
Adamus's heart clenched. Enough.
"I need to stop playing games," he thought, his jaw tightening. "This isn't a joke. People are dying."
In the next heartbeat, he was gone vanishing in a streak of green fire. To him, the collapsing skyscraper was now moving like a slow-motion nightmare. Shards of glass hung frozen in the air. Dust clouds billowed sluggishly, curling like ink in water. The falling people drifted downward as if through honey, their terrified faces suspended in time.
He was everywhere at once.
His emerald flames flared wide, consuming each citizen he touched, wrapping them in a shimmering cocoon that shielded them from the lethal g-force of his speed. One, two, five he swept whole clusters into his arms, carrying them to safety before reappearing inside the building for the next group.
Every rescue was a blur of motion. A man clutching a briefcase. A child screaming for her mother. A construction worker still gripping a bent steel beam. Adamus grabbed them all, his arms and flames working in perfect rhythm.
In seconds that felt like hours, he had evacuated hundreds depositing them in clear streets, far from the chaos before vanishing again into the falling behemoth of steel and glass.
Finally, he reached the last figure: an elderly woman in a pale coat, her body tilting forward toward the ground. Adamus reached out, his hand closing around hers with perfect precision.
"You're okay," he said, his voice calm despite the thunder of destruction all around them. "I've got you."
The instant her body was wrapped in his flames, they were gone reappearing in the open, the skyscraper's remains crashing to the ground behind them in an earth-shaking roar.
But before the old lady could respond, Lizard Mouth's foot slammed into Adamus with bone-crushing force, sending him crashing into the pavement. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, cracks forming beneath Adamus's body as he skidded to a halt.
crashing into a nearby wall. Lizard Mouth approached slowly, his steps deliberate and menacing. He walks up to Adamus and starts kicking him, With each kick, Adamus felt the force like meteors raining down?, each blow leaving him more bloodied than the last. But amidst the pain, Adamus gritted his teeth, refusing to yield.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Adamus grabbed Lizard Mouth's foot and hurled him away, the villain crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. Adamus rose to his feet, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. "I can keep going," he declared, his voice firm as he assumed his fighting stance.
Lizard Mouth let out a scream so sharp it tore through the city like a sonic blade. Windows exploded outward in glittering showers, the sound bouncing off buildings in an endless echo.
Then searing yellow light cut through the haze.
Bolts of pure energy lanced into Lizard Mouth from multiple angles, slamming into his scaled hide with crackling force. He reeled, roaring in agony, clawing at his face to block the relentless barrage.
Adamus whipped his head toward the source and felt something stir in his chest.
Down the avenue, a fleet of SkyGuard cruisers screamed to a halt, grav-thrusters humming against the pavement. From their flanks emerged towering police mechs hulking exosuits of midnight-blue plating with chrome accents, hydraulic limbs hissing steam. Each one was bristling with integrated cannons and shoulder-mounted emitters glowing with lethal light.
Deputy Hunter Stone stepped out of the SkyGuard, the hatch sealing behind him with a hiss. His boots crunched over shattered glass as he walked toward Adamus, silver eyes locked on him. Even with the chaos raging around them, his presence radiated comman
"We got this together," Stone said firmly, his voice carrying over the roar of battle. "I can tell you're strong you can beat this thing. But you're too busy saving everyone else." He tapped the comm unit on his wrist. "So let us handle that. You fight him."
As Stone spoke, his voice switched to a sharper tone for the channel. "Alpha Squad clear the west sector! Beta, cover the evacuation routes! Nobody left behind!"
Further back, Sheriff Amber Fox stood atop the roof of a cruiser, her white hair whipping in the wind. Her yellow eyes swept the battlefield like a predator tracking prey. Every order she barked sent mech units moving with perfect synchronization forming barricades, redirecting fleeing citizens, and cutting down debris before it could crush anyone.
The city was still on fire, still breaking but now, the tide had shifted.
Adamus glanced at Deputy Stone and Sheriff Fox, his mind racing with ideas. "Why don't you two have a robot suit on?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
Deputy Stone flashed a confident smile. "Because we have superpowers," he replied matter-of-factly.
Adamus nodded, a plan forming in his mind. "Okay, I have a plan. You're right, I could beat him, but it would take a long time and cause a lot of casualties. So let's try to finish this with one hit. How long do you think you can hold him off?" he asked, his eyes scanning the scene. Deputy Stone shook his head. "Not for long. He's pretty strong. Seems like a level C threat, way above our pay grade," he admitted, his tone serious.
Adamus's gaze swept across the row of SkyGuard cruisers, their neon insignias pulsing against the dim chaos of the street. His eyes flicked to Deputy Stone, then back to the humming vehicles. Dylan's words echoed in his mind like a spark catching dry tinder: You can absorb energy. All kinds.
If that's true… then maybe I can pull it from them.
"Stone," Adamus said, stepping closer, his voice low but charged with urgency, "you got power cables or jump cords in those rides?"
Stone raised an eyebrow. "We always do." He smirked slightly. "These cruisers run on nuclear cores… and a few are running on something stronger dark matter drives."
Adamus's pulse quickened. Perfect.
"Then here's what I need," he said, his tone sharpening into command. "Get every car you have in a tight perimeter around me. Hook me up to all of them nuclear, dark matter, everything. Drain them dry into me."
Stone didn't hesitate. "You got it." He spun toward his officers, barking orders into his comm, his voice cutting through the chaos: "Circle up! All power to Vajra feed him everything you've got!"
Around them, the SkyGuard engines roared as cruisers and mech units converged, forming a steel-and-energy fortress around Adamus. The air buzzed with raw power, waiting to be unleashed.
The SkyGuard cruisers hummed like caged storms, their cores flaring brighter as power surged into the thick cables running into Adamus's hands. He gripped them like iron vices, the cords trembling under the draw. His veins swelled and pulsed with each surge thick cords of green fire crawling up his forearms, tracing over his biceps, then spiderwebbing across his neck. His skin glowed faintly from within, the light pushing out through every pore as though his body were a vessel on the edge of overflowing.
Around him, the battlefield raged. Lizard Mouth was a whirlwind of muscle and malice, hurling police mechs like toys, their midnight-blue plating screeching as they skidded across asphalt. One officer was swatted aside by his tail, slamming into a building hard enough to crack the wall. Others fired their cannons point-blank, only to be knocked sprawling into the street by the monster's thrashing limbs.
Adamus watched it all, the scene burning into his mind. His jaw tightened. The heat of the energy in his body was nothing compared to the weight in his chest.
"I'm sorry…" he murmured, voice low but steady, his eyes never leaving the carnage. "I couldn't save all of you."
From behind him, Deputy Stone's voice cut through the haze firm, unwavering. "It's okay, kid. They signed up for this." A beat. "I just hope you've got enough in you now… because our cars are tapped out. They're dead."
Adamus took one last breath, veins still burning with nuclear fire and dark matter shadows, his aura whipping the air around him in violent waves. He released the cords, the ends sparking as they fell.
"Tell your officers to clear the field," he said, voice carrying a weight that made even Stone pause.
Stone didn't ask questions he just relayed the command. Across the street, mechs and officers peeled back, their heavy footfalls and mechanical whirring fading into the background.
Adamus stepped forward through the settling dust. Lizard Mouth turned, their eyes locking.
In that moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. Adamus and Lizard Mouth locked eyes, two forces of nature poised for a showdown of epic proportions. The ground trembled beneath their feet, the echoes of battle filling the streets.
With a resolute expression, Adamus took a step forward, his energy crackling around him like a fire-green aura. Lizard Mouth stared him down, growling and screaming like a wild animal. Adamus held his ground, his eyes locked onto his adversary.
"I really wanna help you, man, but I gotta put you down," Adamus declared, his voice firm.
Lizard Mouth rushed towards Adamus with incredible speed, but Adamus was ready. With light reflexes, he dodged the attack, his body moving at FTL+ speed. Adamus aimed a punch at Lizard Mouth ribs, imbued with the same green aura as his energy.
The punch landed with a powerful impact, sending Lizard Mouth flying into the sky. Adamus focused all his energy into his feet and blasted off into the sky. As he soared into the sky, he went past Lizard Mouth, appearing in front of him in an instant.
Then, Adamus's entire body began to blaze with emerald light, the energy around him roaring to its absolute peak. With a breathless moment of tension, he threw his head back and unleashed a battle cry that tore through the air.
"Quantum Quake!"
In an instant, his form snapped into a flying sidekick stance, his entire body especially his legs sheathed in blinding green energy. He became a living comet, hurtling toward Lizard Mouth with unstoppable momentum. The very air seemed to split around him, spiraling into shockwaves that rattled the clouds.
The impact was cataclysmic. Adamus's kick slammed into Lizard Mouth with world-shaking force, detonating a burst of energy that sent rippling shockwaves tearing through the sky. The pair plummeted toward the ground at impossible speed, each thunderous shockwave in their descent erupting into fiery bursts of green.
On the streets below, Deputy Hunter Stone and Sheriff Amber Fox had already deployed the city's special defense units towering, high-tech shields that flared to life in walls of shimmering blue light. Their armored vehicles, designed as mobile bunkers, opened to receive civilians, sealing them safely inside reinforced compartments built to withstand even massive explosions.
Across the city, hidden access points dropped other citizens into fortified underground chambers a vast, interconnected network running beneath the streets, built to keep the population safe during monster attacks. As debris and waves of green energy tore through the area above, the shields and shelters held firm, ensuring no lives were lost in the chaos.
Then came the final crash.
With a deafening blast, Adamus drove Lizard Mouth into the earth, the impact creating a crater so massive it swallowed an entire city blocks. The explosion lit the sky, its shockwave flattening nearby debris while the police shields absorbed the brunt of the force.
When the smoke finally began to clear, the air still crackled with raw, residual energy. The ruined streets hummed in the aftermath, every bystander holding their breath.
Through the fading haze stood Adamus one boot planted firmly on the chest of the unconscious Lizard Mouth, his hands raised high in victory. His body still glowed with a soft, defiant green light, a living testament to the battle he had just won against a monster no one else could stop.
Sheriff Fox observed the scene with a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Looks like the kid's got it," she remarked to Deputy Stone, her voice carrying a lazy tone.
Deputy Stone nodded, a sense of pride swelling within him. "It looks like finally our city has a real hero willing to put in the hard work," he replied, his voice filled with admiration.
As Adamus stood over his defeated foe, citizens began emerging from the reinforced bunkers beneath the streets and the armored police vehicles that had shielded them. Relief washed over their faces, quickly turning to cheers and applause, their voices rising in praise for the hero who had saved their city.
With a satisfied smile, Adamus glanced around at the faces of the people he had saved.
The crowd of citizens rushed toward Adamus, spilling out from the fortified police vehicles and underground bunkers. They surrounded him in a wave of cheers, hugs, and questions.
"Can I get your autograph?" someone blurted, shoving a pen and paper forward.
"What's your name? I've never seen you before," another asked.
Others were more cautious. "We don't have insurance… you're not gonna charge us, right?"
"Or raise our taxes to cover this?"
Adamus gave a calm smile despite the barrage. "All of this was free," he said firmly. "I just want to protect my city, my people, and my district. My name… is Vajra."
Suddenly, a microphone appeared in his face held by a striking woman in a sleek news jacket, her voice crisp and confident.
"It looks like we have ourselves a new hero here," she announced to the cameras. "From the data provided by the superhero organization, we can't identify him. Please, tell us who are you?"
Adamus hesitated, the tension in his shoulders betraying his nerves. "My name is… Vajra," he said at last.
"Is this your first day on the job with the superhero organization?" she pressed.
Oh no… this is bad, Adamus thought. Then he straightened, resolve settling in. You know what? Who cares.
Out loud, he said, "No. I'm not part of the superhero organization. I'm my own hero."
The reporter's eyes widened. "That's illegal."
"Sometimes the law is wrong," Adamus replied evenly. "And if I see anyone in danger, I will risk my life to save them."
He turned to leave, the reporter following a few steps behind. "Wait we have more questions!" she called after him.
But as the crowd pressed closer, Adamus moved through them with gentle persistence, his voice low but certain. "I gotta go. But I'll always be here when you need me."
With that, he slipped away, the cheers echoing in his wake.
Adamus rushed over to Deputy Stone and asked, "Do you guys have everything? You don't need me anymore, right?"
Deputy Stone nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Yeah, kid, you're good to go. I appreciate the help," he said, patting Adamus on the shoulder.
As Adamus turned to leave, Deputy Stone stepped forward, holding up a small radio device. "This is what he was using to communicate with his accomplices," Stone said, his tone measured and professional. "We'll trace it and see what intelligence we can extract."
Adamus nodded, acknowledging the deputy's diligence. "Keep me updated," he said simply.
Stone reached into his pocket, retrieving a card and extending it to Adamus. "Here's my contact information," he said. "If we find anything or need to coordinate, I want to ensure we can reach you directly."
Adamus accepted the card, his eyes scanning it briefly. "Understood. I'll reach out with my details. Let's keep the communication open," he replied, his voice firm yet respectful.
Stone gave a curt nod, his demeanor calm but focused. "We'll handle it from here. Be safe out there."
Adamus took the card and pocketed it, giving a nod of thanks. As he turned his head, he noticed something peculiar. Lizard Mouth was transforming back to his regular form a human lizard. The transformation was a startling sight, a reminder of the complexity of the situation they had just faced.
Deputy Stone instructed the officers to take Lizard Mouth into custody, and they swiftly moved to handcuff him. "Treat him like a C-rank threat. Get all the big handcuffs and everything," he ordered.
Adamus shook his head, stepping forward. "You don't have to do all that," he said calmly. He walked up to Lizard Mouth and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, sorry about this whole situation."
Lizard Mouth lowered his head, a mix of shame and frustration evident on his face. "You don't mean that," he muttered.
But Adamus's response was firm. "I do. I know how it feels to be peer pressured to be in a gang," he said, his voice sincere. "If you ever need help, I'll be here for you."
With those words, Adamus stepped back as the officers led Lizard Mouth away and into the waiting police car. The car doors closed with a heavy thud, sealing Lizard Mouth's fate for now.
As the car drove away, Adamus watched with a mixture of determination and compassion.
Adamus ran off into the distance, leaping from rooftop to rooftop to catch his breath. As he landed on a nearby roof, he paused to gather his thoughts. "Damn, that was tiring," he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, Dylan's voice came through in his headpiece. "Bro, we saw all of that on the news. There was a helicopter following you guys. You did an awesome job."
"Thanks, man. How's Sofia? Are you guys safe?" Adamus asked, concern lacing his voice.
Dylan's response was swift. "Yes, we're safe."
Before Adamus could reply, he heard a loud bang behind him. Instantly, he spun around, his senses on high alert.
The figure appeared, his cape billowing dramatically in the wind, his dark black hair flowing like a river of silk down to his shoulders. His hand raised in a calming gesture, he spoke with authority, "Calm down, big guy. I don't want any problems."
Adamus narrowed his eyes in recognition. "It's you, Omnimorph," he said, his voice steady.
Omnimorph's long, silky hair cascaded down his back, a testament to his Brazilian heritage, his gray eyes flashing with intensity. His suit, a striking combination of black and white, exuded power and authority as he approached Adamus.
"Can I help you?" Adamus asked, his tone cautious.
Omnimorph's response was laced with anger. "Yes, you can! What's your name?" he demanded, his voice echoing with authority. "You see, this city is under my leadership. Every superhero in District C answers to me. I decide how they operate, how they save people. So who the hell are you?" he challenged, moving closer to Adamus with each step, his presence imposing and intimidating.
Adamus took a step back as Omnimorph advanced toward him. "My name is Vajra," he declared firmly, maintaining his distance from the powerful figure.
In his earpiece, Dylan's voice sounded urgent. "Bro, whatever you do, don't get him mad. I know you feel powerful, getting your powers and all, but that dude is ranked number three. He will destroy you."
Omnimorph's response was surprisingly nonchalant. " Vajra, not a bad name," he remarked casually. But his demeanor quickly shifted as he fixed his gaze on Adamus. "What do you want from me? I gotta go," Adamus said hastily, attempting to escape.
He ran towards the nearest rooftop on the other side, but to his dismay, he collided with Omnimorph, stumbling to the ground. Looking up, Adamus saw Omnimorph extend a hand to help him up.
"Are you trying to run away from me?" Omnimorph asked, his voice stern. "Just know, I can Move at immeasurable speeds. I will catch you."
Adamus swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of the situation. Omnimorph continued, his tone now more advising than threatening. "Listen, Vajra. Go to the courthouse. Get your superhero license. Get registered as a superhero. Because if you don't, and I ever see you saving even one more person, I will end your career as a superhero," he warned, before soaring off into the sky.
Adamus watched Omnimorph disappear into the distance, his words echoing in his mind. "Hey, bro, maybe he's right," Dylan's voice sounded in his earpiece. "You should probably go to the courthouse and get a license."
Adamus shook his head, a stubborn resolve in his eyes. "You know, I'm not doing that," he replied firmly. "If I do that, I know for a fact they're going to keep me away from saving people."
"It's the right thing to do. Just follow the rules for once," Dylan urged.
Adamus sighed. "If the rules mean innocent people get hurt, I'm not following them," he stated defiantly. "But how's Sofia?" he asked, his tone softening.
"She's safe. I dropped her off at the hospital. She's with her father," Dylan responded. "I'm probably about to go to sleep, bro. I'll see you tomorrow.
"Alright, take care," Adamus said, acknowledging the end of their conversation. He took one last look at the city skyline before turning to head back home, his mind swirling with thoughts of the events that had just transpired.
Adamus hurried to the store before heading home, landing near some bushes close to his house. Swiftly, he changed out of his superhero costume and into his school uniform. He walked through the door, finding his mother watching TV. She turned around as he entered, a smile spreading across her face.
"Adamus, honey! I know you don't wanna watch soap operas with me anymore, but this episode is crazy," his mother said, munching on popcorn.
Adamus walked over to her with his hands behind his back. "Almasa, what's behind your back?" she asked with curiosity.
He pulled out a giant birthday cake and said, "Happy Birthday, Mom! Sorry for always getting into trouble. I love you!"
Almasa's eyes lit up, and she embraced him tightly. "I love you too Adamus Jovajra, and it's fine. I understand it's in your blood to help people out. Just don't do it anymore, OK? I don't care if it's a cat stuck in a tree," she chuckled. "By the way, you did a good job with your makeup. Told you, learning how to do makeup all those years with me wasn't a bad investment. I can't even see your bruises anymore." She smiled warmly at him, her pride evident in her eyes.
Adamus laughs, "Yeah, makeup," he replies, a playful glint in his eyes.
"I promise I won't risk my life to save anyone anymore, to save random strangers," Adamus vowed.
They settled on the couch, watching the soap opera together, laughing and enjoying each other's company. As the show went on, Adamus noticed his mom dozing off, her head resting gently on the arm of the couch. Smiling, he took a blanket and tucked it over her before quietly heading upstairs.
In his room, Adamus sat cross-legged and began to meditate, repeating the secret mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum. With each repetition, he felt his body healing, his strength subtly growing.
He exhaled slowly. "Guess it's time to sleep. It's already nine o'clock… and I've got school tomorrow."
But as he rested his head on the pillow, something strange happened.
Help… help…
The voices were faint at first, but they grew louder, echoing in his skull. Adamus sat up, eyes wide. "What is that? What's this feeling?"
He moved to the window, scanning the dark streets below. The cries weren't just in his head he could feel them. The pain, the fear, the desperation. It seeped into his bones, his skin, his very soul. He grabbed his head as the noise swelled.
"What's with all these voices? I can hear everyone… thousands of them… all in distress, all praying."
Without another thought, Adamus reached for his superhero suit. Pulling it on, he leapt from the window and bolted across the city at speeds faster than light, answering the calls for help as they flooded in.
His first stop an alleyway. A masked man was pinning down a young woman who screamed and prayed for rescue. Adamus arrived in a green-and-gold blur, tying the man to a pole before he could react. The woman looked around in shock. "What was that?"
Adamus enveloped her in his green flames, gently lifting her. "Name's Vajra," he said as he carried her to the nearest train station. She whispered a shaky "thank you" before disappearing into the crowd.
Next, he tore through a bad neighborhood. Two gang members were in a shootout in a parking lot. With a flicker of movement, Adamus snatched the guns from their hands, snapped them like twigs, and trapped the men in a shimmering green shield. "The cops will be here in the morning," he warned before vanishing again.
Along the way, he scooped up trash from the streets, moving too fast for the human eye to follow. Then he spotted a homeless man, shivering in the cold. Adamus raced to the nearest woods, gathering wood and scraps at incredible speed, returning again and again until a sturdy shed stood in place. The man's eyes welled with gratitude.
Adamus didn't stop there. Across the city, he built shelter after shelter for the homeless, answering cries for help without pause. Eventually, he returned to the scene where he had fought Lizard Mouth, cleaning the debris until the area looked untouched.
By the time every last prayer was answered, it was past 1 a.m. Adamus stumbled into his room, too exhausted to even remove his suit. He collapsed onto the bed and was asleep in seconds.