CHAPTER 267: ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS

Compared to other large cities in the Radmir Union, Neo-Vatra hadn’t suffered many major incidents involving Enhanced Individuals, none that couldn’t be hidden from the public eye, at least. The raid on the Blue Ember hotel drew the country’s attention due to its impact and implications, but in other parts, major battles were taking place as well.

"And this is the last one."

Metal creaked and groaned, gradually succumbing to the pressure of the armored hand closing around it. The flames dancing around cast an orange glow on a pile of crushed machinery, sparks flying from severed cords and broken circuits.

Tossing the crushed drone, Liberty Star looked around once then jumped, rattling the area with her landing, her armor clanging loudly.

"Hey! I’m done over here!" She shouted. "Do you need any help!!?"

A faint tap drew her attention, and when she glanced to her left, she saw a young woman knocking an arrow on her bow, pulling the string with a single motion.

"No need."

The glowing green arrow took flight, blasting a gust of air that played with the elegant archer’s hood and hair. A few dozen meters away, time seemed to stop as a large metal abomination struck the lifted four of its six legs, raising its body as it prepared to crush the yellow man in front of it. Before it could, the green arrow slid through a hole in its bottom, disappearing behind a jungle of cords and tubes.

Light flashed through the countless gaps littering the abomination’s shell, and a moment later, emerald green flames ripped it apart from the inside.

"Damn..." Watching the explosion with amusement in her eyes, Star replaced it instantly with a frown and turned to the archer. "I should have been the one fighting the big thing."

"You lost. Get over it already." Said Huntress.

"That’s what I’m saying! You know I’m no good at that game! That’s why you always suggest it!"

"It’s rock-paper-scissors. Not my fault that you suck at it." Sighing, the green archer gave her teammate a side glance. "Besides, we would still be deciding things with a coin toss if you weren’t a cheater."

Star opened her mouth to argue but no words came out. Gritting her teeth, she turned around and stomped away, each of her steps causing a small quake.

"She’s still mad about the game?"

Strike walked over with unhurried steps, the tendrils of electricity dancing around him slowly fading away.

"Yup." Sighing again, Huntress got up and stretched. "We’re done here, right?"

"We just need to-"

"It’s done."

Lightning flashed and thunder roared right after. Gritting his teeth, Strike slowly undid his transformation and turned around, piecing a certain shadow with a sharp glare.

"That was a bit much, don’t you think?" Erebus said, looking at the melting wall a short distance away.

"Guess it wasn’t enough." Strike replied, his left eye twitching. "Sneak up on me again and-"

"I see you are done over here."

A deep voice echoed through the burning factory, silencing the infuriated Thunder Strike. All eyes turned to a hole in ceiling from which a tall figure descended, the red cape draped behind him fluttering elegantly. Illuminated by the sea of flames below, his presence gained a rather terrifying tone, adding to its to the oppressive aura surrounding him.

"Paragon." Strike switched his demeanor in an instant, plastering a smile on his face. "What are you doing here? I thought you-"

"I took care of everything on my end." The floating man said.

"But you- you dealt with all five!!?"

"It didn’t take long."

"Oh, I see. We’re done over here as well." Whipping his head in the shadow’s direction, he added between gritted teeth. "Right?"

"Everything has been taken care of." Erebus held up an ok sign.

"Then you should get going." Said Paragon, turning away as he floated up. "From what I have heard, things haven’t gone according to plan back home."

Staring at his back for a moment, Strike and Huntress then turned to their shadowy teammate, their eyes demanding answers.

"Relax, nothing major happened," Erebus said with a shrug. "The operation failed, that’s all."

His relaxed tone contrasted with the bomb he dropped, which delayed the explosion.

"The operation... what!!?" Thunder Strike yelled.

"Yeah, Something about a third party messing up everything. It’s a little late, though. Even if we go back now, the most we could do is help with the cleanup."

"I told you, didn’t I?" A shout came from a short distance away, followed by a loud bang. "We should have been the ones leading the charge! Not those rookies!"

Liberty Star went around crushing the already broken drones and machines, directing her anger at them. The others watched her, but only for a moment.

"Can’t say I don’t feel the same," Huntress said.

Strike shook his head.

"What choice did we have? We are the only ones who could take care of things on this level." He said. "Besides, stopping the manufacturing of more Sorcery tech is as important of a job as any other."

Steel Wolf holdings owned several manufacturing plants around the world. Most of them were dedicated for the creation of weapons and heavy machinery, but in recent times, some were repurposed for the mass production of the Blue Skull suits.

Such places are created to be impenetrable castles that can repel armies of Level 4 EIs, and for that reason, superhero teams such as Flame Guard were the only force capable of shutting them down and ensuring none of the products see the light of day.

"It was a little disappointing, Though. Don’t you think?" Asked Erebus. "I was waiting for the final boss to appear this entire time!"

"Right!!?" Star shouted. "Where was the bastard anyway? Don’t tell me the big guy ran into him in one of the other plants."

"Apparently, he was killed by this third party they were talking about. And guess what?" The shadowy hero paused, and when he spoke again, all humor vanished from his tone. "I heard you can change power suits on the fly."