Ultra City. Daybreak. 6:45 AM.
The sun rose gently, its golden rays piercing through the skyscrapers like a hopeful promise.
Birds chirped. The city began to stir. School kids waited for buses. Vendors rolled up their shutters. A peaceful day had begun.
The ocean waves rolled calmly beneath the surface of Marion Ocean. Inside the underwater Fortress, the heroes were awake, moving about their home. Light conversations echoed as they had breakfast together. Nothing too exhilarating was happening, but the recent rankings still lingered in their minds. They all now knew the hierarchy among themselves even if they didn't show it. Still, they played along with their usual morning banter.
Minutes passed, and everyone had finished eating.
Tyler stood up from where he sat and walked over to Timothy.
"Err... Cap?"
"What's up?" Timothy replied.
"My, um... girlfriend and sister have been pestering me about visiting the Fortress. They really want to meet everyone. I don't know if it's okay for them to come around."
Timothy nodded and smiled.
"Sure, they can come. They're family."
Tyler's face lit up with a grin.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome," Timothy said warmly.
Tyler walked off, clearly pleased.
In another corner of the base, Jakson and Rudy sat chatting.
"What you up to today?" Rudy asked casually.
"Nothing in particular," Jakson replied.
Rudy leaned back. "What do you think about this job so far?"
Jakson looked up, thoughtful. The question had crossed his mind before.
"I don't know, Rudy... but all I can say is it's been fun."
"Just fun? Nothing else?" Rudy raised a brow.
"Yeah... just fun," Jakson said with a smirk.
***
10:08 AM – In The Fortress
The day rolled on steadily. The heroes lounged around the base, watching TV and relaxing.
Then the main doors opened and in walked Tyler with two young women.
All heads turned.
The ladies paused briefly, eyes wide, soaking in the high-tech headquarters.
Tyler stepped forward, slightly proud.
"Guys, I want you to meet Tomika Smith and Bethany Stewart my sister and my girlfriend."
He pointed to each as he introduced them.
Bethany, the lady on the right, wore a green oversized sweater and blue jeans. Her long, chestnut-brown hair flowed in waves, resting softly over her shoulders.
"Good morning, sirs. It's nice to finally meet you all," she said politely. Her hazel-green eyes sparkled as she added, "Oof I can't believe I'm really meeting the Heroes of Ultra City. I feel lucky." Her tone was soft and sincere.
Tyler stood beside her, smiling with pride.
"Good morning, Miss Stewart. Miss Smith. It's nice meeting you," said Timothy, their team leader, stepping forward.
The other lady, Tomika, bounced forward excitedly. She wore urban streetwear and ripped jeans, her short, curly afro tousled on her head.
"So who's who? I wanna know. My idiot brother wouldn't tell me!" she blurted out, full of energy.
The room went quiet for a second, caught off guard.
"Oh! Mind my manners." She grinned sheepishly.
"Good morning."
Derick tilted his head and joked,
"Wow, Tyler your sis is really eager to know who we are. You must be harsh for keeping her in the dark."
"He's a big meanie," Tomika added, giving her brother a side-eye.
Raymond chuckled.
"First, take a seat sorry for not offering sooner. We'll tell you everything. I'm Raymond Miller. Hero name: Frost."
The ladies gasped in delight.
Raymond turned and pointed to Timothy, who smiled politely.
"I'm Timothy Slinger, and I'm—"
"—Vilex!" Tomika cut in, grinning.
Timothy blinked in surprise.
"How'd you know?"
"The way you spoke. Calm, commanding. And Raymond already said he's the vice captain, so I figured the leader had to be you," she replied.
"Smart guess," Timothy said. "Wonder if your brother's that sharp."
He glanced at Tyler with a teasing look.
Tyler groaned.
"Why is everyone against me today?"
Laughter broke out across the room as everyone continued chatting and introducing themselves. The atmosphere was light, full of laughter but something darker loomed on the horizon.
***
12:35 PM
Jakson Aleksandar stepped out of his room, dressed sharply in a dark blue suit. His footsteps were smooth and composed as he walked into the living room.
The ladies seated on the couch were stunned jaws slack, eyes wide.
Tomika felt a sudden blush creep across her cheeks as Jakson passed by.
Bethany leaned toward Tyler and whispered,
"Mr. Aleksandar on a date? That's a nice sight."
Tyler, completely unfazed, replied,
"Nope. He's not."
"Really? He's not on a date?" Tomika asked, clearly intrigued.
"Yeah," Tyler confirmed. "Jakson just fell in love with suits after he came to Earth. Every now and then, he wears them no reason needed."
"I don't know, Tyler... that looks like a man who's going to meet someone," Tomika said, raising an eyebrow.
Jakson walked to a small locker panel, tapped a button, and a compartment opened dispensing World Cutter inside its sheath. He caught it mid-air and strapped it securely to his back.
He turned to face the group, flashing a roguish grin in the women's direction.
"Heading into the city. If Rudy asks, tell him I left," he said.
He gave a sly wink.
"Smith family… we'll meet again. See you later."
Tomika's cheeks deepened in color. She quickly looked away, hoping no one had noticed.
Tyler glanced at her with suspicion.
"What's up, Miks?"
"Nothing. Mind your business, Tyler," she muttered, trying to hide her flustered expression.
***
Ultra City – Streets
Jakson strolled through the city, his mind wandering.
"Where can I even go sit?" he muttered to himself.
"I thought running off would feel great, but now I'm just walking in circles. Should've called Rudy."
Eventually, he made his way to a small restaurant. A waitress in a white vest and black skirt greeted him politely and guided him to a table.
"What would you like, mister?" she asked with a bright smile.
Jakson glanced over the menu briefly and then pointed.
"I'll take the one that says two fried chicken and spaghetti. Let's see what it tastes like."
The waitress nodded and disappeared. Within five minutes, she returned with the plate.
"Your bill is two hundred Cellies," she said.
Jakson casually handed her a bill not even checking the amount. The waitress beamed and thanked him graciously before leaving. He tilted his head in confusion but didn't dwell on it.
He took his first bite and was instantly hooked.
"This is actually amazing," he murmured, going for more.
Jakson leaned back in his seat after eating, relaxing. Everything about today felt unusually peaceful.
But peace is never permanent.
The air shifted.
***
42nd Sector Street – A Storm Begins
A metallic scrraaape… scrraaape… echoed down the street steel dragging across the pavement.
Heads turned. A few pedestrians paused.
From behind the thin morning mist, a shadow emerged tall, slow-moving, deliberate.
He was dressed like the reaper himself. A black cloak, split like shattered wings at the ends, billowed around his feet. His hood was down, revealing silver hair that fell over dead-gray eyes cold and unreadable.
In his gloved hand, he held a jagged, obsidian scythe. Its edge gleamed under the sunlight like a promise of death.
Someone near a stall whispered, almost against their will:
"…The Scythe…"
Without a word, the figure raised his weapon and in a single sweeping motion, slashed the air.
A patrol drone high above split in half, the shockwave from the cut shattering every window on the street. Glass rained. Screams erupted.
That was no warning.
It was a declaration.
"I am doom. And I've arrived."