Ultra City – Penny's Road
The city burned. Chaos ruled the skies. Everywhere was in distress. Civilians panicked, no one knew what was going on the explosion unexplainable.
The two heroes rushed to the area of the explosion, leaving behind the two guys they had stopped before.
Rudy and Jakson watched as Vilex and Frost left for the next street. Jakson laced his fingers behind his head, elbows out, and strolled forward with an easy, carefree swagger—like the world around him barely mattered.
Before he could leave, Rudy said, "Aren't you gonna go check what's going on?"
"Why should I? It's none of my concern."
***
At the explosion site, Vilex looked around, scanning for the cause, but found nothing.
Vilex pressed a finger to his comms. "Commander, what's going on in the city?"
Layla's voice came fast. "We don't have full visuals—but I'm seeing multiple portals… brimming with unstable energy."
"What portals? I can't see any—"
He paused, eyes lifting as he saw the portals pulsing in the sky.
Frost stepped beside him, calm but tense. "How are we supposed to stop this? We haven't even identified the culprits. And what about evacuation?"
Vilex's eyes narrowed. "We don't know yet. But we'll do what we can."
***
BOOM.
A shockwave split the street.
A muscular figure slammed down from the clouds, his massive staff crushing the pavement. Wind whipped through his wild mane. He stood fierce and imposing—dark eyes glowing beneath a shadowed brow. His armor shimmered obsidian-black, streaked with gold.
With one swift spin of his staff—there were hundreds. Clones spilled outward, some morphing into hulking, gorilla-like beasts. Agile. Savage. Terrifying.
Frost stood his ground, breath misting in the air. "Damn. On my first day I get to face things like this? They're not even imaginable."
"Knew something big was coming," he muttered.
Suddenly, the sky twisted. A rift tore open— And Sun burst through, crashing onto a skybridge. His red-orange tactical armor pulsed with heat. Eyes like molten embers locked onto the chaos below.
"Brother," Sun growled, "let's make them beg for mercy."
Wukong smirked. "Mercy? Elder brother, they don't deserve it."
His staff pointed forward. "Let's show them what forgotten children become."
***
Ultra City erupted. Civilians ran in all directions, desperate for shelter.
"What is happening? Has rapture befallen us? If so, I want to ask for forgiveness of sins," one civilian cried, bowing his head.
Everyone thought chaos had won. Until—
VMMM.
A blur of white and silver streaked through the chaos.
A glowing figure zipped across streets and rooftops, evacuating citizens in a storm of speed.
Frost squinted. "What the hell is that?"
Vilex kept his gaze forward. "Whatever it is… it's helping. That's what matters."
As the blur passed them, a voice echoed—distorted by speed: "I'm not a thing—and definitely not an it."
"Hey Timothy, have you ever seen anyone move that fast before?" Frost asked.
"No, I haven't. Enough questions—let's do our job."
***
Elsewhere…
Tyler held his phone tightly.
"Bethany, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," her voice crackled. "Already evacuated. What about you?"
"I'm near Penny's Road. I've got to take care of something first. I'll come for you after."
"Hey, don't do something dangerous, okay?" Bethany said softly.
"I won't, I promise," Tyler replied with a smile.
He ended the call and looked skyward. Lightning danced in his eyes—then he vanished in a thunderclap, launching into the clouds.
***
The weather turned as dark clouds gathered, rumbling with thunder.
Vilex looked up, seeing a man in the sky. Back on the ground, he turned to Frost. "Let's hope he's on our side too."
Hi-Tech landed nearby—Larry in full gear. His nanotech suit shimmered, drones orbiting his back.
"Targeting portal generators," he reported. "Disruption protocol engaged."
Frost slammed his palm to the ground. A jagged wall of ice erupted, shielding civilians from falling debris. He froze the road ahead, turning chaos into strategy.
Another portal cracked open. A robed figure stepped through, calm and composed.
"I'll handle the debris," Sage said. "You do the fighting."
Frost blinked. "Where are all these people coming from?"
Vilex allowed himself a small grin. "Don't ask. Just be glad they're here."
***
Above the skyline—
Flames streaked the heavens. Jakson and Rudy soared into battle—red and blue fire trailing behind them like twin comets.
Jakson landed first, unsheathing a long, obsidian-black sword with a silver core. The hilt carved into two fire-breathing snake heads activated when he channeled fire into the blade.
Rudy followed, spinning his brown-gold staff as blue flames crackled from its tip.
"I'll take the right," Rudy said.
"Left's mine," Jakson replied.
They tore into the clone horde—Jakson slicing with flawless precision, Rudy a blazing storm of fury and fire.
From above, Derick leaped down, claws drawn. He landed beside them.
"You picked the wrong day to attack this city."
Sun snarled. His portals expanded, raining down explosive blasts across Ultra City.
***
Vilex tapped his comms. "Commander… are you seeing this?"
Layla's voice came firm. "I sure am. We needed a miracle and it came. Take charge, Timothy."
He nodded. "I understand."
He turned to the others, voice rising with resolve.
"We all came here to protect this city, and I want to say thank you—you've all done well. But now… we stand as one."
He stepped forward. "There are nine of us. They have numbers—but we have unity. Four of you assist Frost with the clones. The rest of you, come with me. We're taking those brothers down."
***
Ultra City – Central District
Lightning ripped the sky.
Thunderstorm descended like a bolt from the heavens, blasting a wave of clones into the air.
Nearby, Sage raised his arms, chanting ancient words: "Spirits of the storm lend me your fury!"
The wind howled. The battlefield became a storm.
Overhead, Blaze shot past—limbs ablaze. He carved through giant beasts, fire burning like fury incarnate.
Sun roared, "Brother, they don't deserve this city!"
Wukong answered darkly, "Let's burn the corruption out."
They hovered rage and destruction swirling around them.
But the squad stood unbroken.
Jakson and Rudy rose together, their flames merging into a massive cyclone of red and blue.
Tyler hovered beside them. "Everyone clear out lightning strike incoming."
CRACK!
The sky exploded. Lightning ripped through the brothers. They screamed in pain.
From below, Vilex drew his bow and loosed a radiant arrow. It pierced the portal field—shattering it in a flash of light.
Derick lunged through the chaos, claws glowing. "You picked the wrong jungle," he snarled, tearing into one of the beasts.
The brothers were overwhelmed—fire, ice, lightning, arrows. Beaten and battered, they barely escaped.
***
Ultra City – Aftermath
Smoke curled from the ruins. Civilians slowly emerged—stunned, shaken… but alive.
> Civilian 1 (awestruck): "They did it…. We're alive. We've never had heroes like this."
> Larry, smirking: "Well… someone had to show up."
> Civilian 2: "You guys should be a team!"
Everyone chuckled—bruised, burned, but still standing.
Frost crossed his arms. "This was a one-time thing. We're not… official."
Vilex turned to Layla. "You really think they'd go for this?"
She smiled. "We'll have to find out. A proposal's already been submitted to form a team. But if even one of you says no… it's off."
Vilex looked around. Everyone was smiling, laughing—even after the chaos.
"Well," he said, "Doesn't look like anyone's saying no."
Just then, a small boy tugged on a reporter's sleeve.
"Let's call them… Hero Squad!"