My World, My Justice Ch.14

The second day of training comes to an end, and I have to admit, Taylor completely blindsided me with her sheer dedication. Especially when she starts mimicking my heroic speeches during our exercises.

“FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS!” she shouts while doing push-ups, her skinny arms shaking with effort. “Evil shall not... prevail against... the mighty forces of good!”

I probably should be worried about how she’s pushing herself beyond her limits, but watching her mimic my exaggerated heroic speeches is both concerning and oddly endearing.

“MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY OF VALOR, young justice seeker!” I boom, striking a dramatic pose with my fists on my hips. “Let the eternal flames of justice fuel your unwavering spirit! BEHOLD as True Might guides you on this noble and selfless path!”

I immediately drop to the floor and start accompanying her in doing push-ups, though in my case, doing them one-armed. “WITNESS how the blessed path of righteousness strengthens both body and spirit! Each push-up brings us closer to ULTIMATE JUSTICE!”

She stops for a moment to look at me, watching droplets of sweat fall from her nose before actually grinning through her exhaustion and starting the next set with even more enthusiasm, if that’s even possible. When I expect resistance or complaints, instead I find a teenager attacking each exercise like it’s her personal mission in life.

“REJOICE, young Taylor!” I declare with mandatory bombast. “Together, we shall forge our righteousness through these mighty trials of strength!”

“Y-yes, True Might!” Taylor manages between shaky push-ups. “For... for the triumph of justice!”

“MOST EXCELLENT!” I boom, internally wincing at how she’s actually getting into this. “Now, let us embark upon a noble journey around this sanctified training ground! For the forces of evil never rest, and neither shall the champions of justice!”

“Right!” She straightens up with renewed determination. “Heroes must... always stand ready!”

We soon depart, going for a run together, and despite my internal concerns about her overexertion, my cursed speech pattern keeps spewing encouragement.

“BEHOLD how your dedication to the righteous path strengthens each mighty stride!” I proclaim, easily keeping pace beside her as we finish one lap, trying desperately to tone down the ham but failing miserably.

“Another lap!” Taylor gasps out, sweat pouring down her face. “We must... persevere!”

“YOUR SPIRIT BLAZES WITH THE SACRED FIRE OF JUSTICE!” I declare, while mentally wondering if I’ve created a monster. “ONWARDS, for righteousness knows no bounds!”

Taylor pushes herself, and we manage to do a couple more laps. She doesn’t give up even though she’s limping. However, on the next lap she literally collapses mid-workout, legs giving out after the twentieth lap around the abandoned lot we’re using. I catch her before her face hits the concrete.

“The path of heroes... requires sacrifice,” she mumbles through ragged breaths, trying to stand back up on trembling legs.

“INDEED, valiant apprentice!” I proclaim, grateful that my ridiculous speech pattern can at least be used for something sensible. “But remember! Even the mightiest champion must rest to fight another day! For Lady Justice demands wisdom in our dedication!”

I’m not sure whether to be proud or worried that she’s taking my hammy speeches so seriously. At least she’s motivated, even if it might kill her.

Missing school doesn’t seem to faze her either, because we are way past the entrance time. When I bring it up, she just shrugs and mutters something about it, “not being important right now.” 

“A true champion of justice... must prioritize their training!” She shouts with what little energy she has left.

“YOUR DEDICATION BRINGS HONOR TO THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE!” I internally cringe at my own words. “TRULY, YOUR SPIRIT SHINES WITH THE BRILLIANCE OF A THOUSAND RIGHTEOUS SUNS!”

I... I may have created a monster. 

A justice-themed monster.

Walking her home is... quite the experience. Between supporting a barely walking Taylor and expressing my crippling heroic persona, I find myself in a unique balancing act. She’s practically sleep-walking at this point, occasionally mumbling something about justice between yawns.

Which is cringe.

Oh my god, the cringe has taken hold of this poor girl.

“FEAR NOT, young justice seeker!” I declare as Taylor leans heavily against me, her feet dragging slightly. “My boundless strength shall support your valiant steps! Though perhaps next time we shall moderate our RIGHTEOUS ENTHUSIASM with the wisdom bestowed by Lady Justice!”

“Thanks,” she mumbles, fighting to keep her eyes open. “Sorry for being... so much trouble.” She nearly trips over absolutely nothing, and I have to adjust my grip to keep her upright.

We walk for a while, keeping everything grounded and friendly. I could have easily carried her over my shoulder, but this walk would be more impactful for her, so yeah, it was a conscious decision on my part. Either way, we reach her home, a worn two-story house with peeling paint. A man opens the door before I can give it a gentle knock and freezes. His tall, thin frame goes rigid at the sight of his exhausted daughter being half-carried by a massive costumed hero.

I watch his expression shift rapidly from shock, fear, anger, confusion, and protective fury all flash across his face in seconds. His large eyes narrow behind his glasses as he steps forward, completely disregarding the fact that I’m twice his size and can easily break him like a twig.

“What happened to my daughter?” His voice is quiet, but carries an underlying tension that suggests he’s barely containing his temper. The way he’s positioned himself in the doorway, and the genuine desire to protect his daughter no matter the situation, it’s actually commendable and admirable in its own way.

“GREETINGS, honorable father! BEHOLD, for I-“

“Dad! Wait!” Taylor wheezes out, and gently hits her chest before she lifts her head, which seems to take plenty of effort. “He is True Might - he’s been helping me train. I wanted this!” She tries to stand straighter and nearly topples over before I catch her shoulder.

Mr. Hebert’s stance shifts as he processes this, looking between his daughter’s exhausted but eager face and my heroic posture. I’m still stuck in a dramatic pose because my power apparently thinks this is the perfect moment for it.

“Training?” He asks carefully, his protective anger giving way to cautious concern. “Taylor, you can barely stand, and you were supposed to be at school.” He eyes my costume suspiciously, probably wondering what kind of hero turns up at his doorstep with his daughter looking like she’s run a marathon in a desert.

“FEAR NOT, good sir!” I proclaim, my voice probably startling half the neighborhood. “Your daughter has shown MOST IMPRESSIVE dedication to the path of justice and physical betterment! Her flames of justice burn with the fire of a thousand righteous suns!”

I can practically feel Taylor beaming with pride despite her exhaustion, while her father wears a complicated expression.

“It’s true, Dad,” Taylor manages through a yawn. “True Might’s been teaching me self-defense and... exercises.” She conveniently leaves out that she has become cringe incarnate... just like me.

I watch her father’s expression soften as he looks at Taylor’s determined face before he runs a hand through his thinning hair, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Well... would you like to come in for coffee?” he finally offers. “We should probably talk about this whole training regimen to avoid her from collapsing from exhaustion next time.”

“ALAS! While your hospitality honors me, my justice sense is tingling!” I bullshit, carefully transferring Taylor’s weight to her father. She’s practically asleep on her feet now, mumbling something in his arms. “But fear not! For I shall return to continue guiding your daughter along the noble path of MY GLORIOUS JUSTICE!”

And before he can say anything, I make a high leap into the air, reaching a roof and then making another jump to get away from the Heberts’ residence.

Dramatic exit aside, I can say that this was a surprising but positive turn. So now I only need to wait for Oracle to come back with her investigation. And before I can make another leap, my phone buzzes.

I quickly fish out my phone and notice that I have a notification, which I quickly check, and the contents make me raise an eyebrow in surprise.

-

Surprise mission success!

As the new hero in town you have left a good and lasting impression on the protagonist of this world besides being entertaining about it.

Rewards

- 2 credits 

-

Not exactly a fortune, but I’ll take it. Like I’ve mentioned before, every bit helps.

Riding the small success, I navigate to the mission tab. Might as well try my luck with another random assignment.

Tap the button and... nothing?

Well, not nothing, but definitely not the usual instant response. The loading icon just keeps spinning, which is new. And strange, because it is always an instant thing.

Then my phone pings with a message covering half the screen. I check the message - it’s from an unknown number. Just an address in South Stratham. And the word basement.

-

New Mission Alert!

Boring time? Hooking you up with a good time!

Things seem to return to the normal and boring status quo albeit slowly even with your presence, so it is finally time to make it clear to everyone that there will be changes around here, even if it is one step at a time.

Main objective

- Defeat Hookwolf. 

Hidden objectives

-????

 Rewards: 

Based on performance

-

I stare at my phone for a long moment, reading the mission again. Hookwolf. The Nazi blender. Empire 88’s resident murder machine and their heavy hitter. A cape capable of going against multiple heroes and winning.

A slow grin spreads across my face. Finally, some real action instead of these small-time operations that barely make a dent in the grand scheme of things.

Taking down Hookwolf? That should be enough to shake the Empire and actually change something in this city.

And with hidden rewards in play? That means bonus objectives to discover and exploit. Maybe even enough credits to cover another installment of my debt.

“JUSTICE CALLS!” I boom, launching myself southward. I bounce from building to building, crossing half the city in minutes. The wind whips past my costume as I vault over rooftops, each leap bringing me closer to my target. A few civilians point up as I pass overhead, which is expected, as I’m not trying to be sneaky here.

The address leads me to a surprisingly well-maintained building. Three stories, brick facade, could pass for any business in the commercial district. Nothing screams ‘neo-nazi cape hideout’ about it, but those are usually the ones you have to watch out for. I drop down to street level, landing with a dramatic flourish that cracks the sidewalk.

Two skinheads smoking outside spot me, their jaws practically hitting the ground. One drops his cigarette, the other fumbles to grab for what’s probably a phone from his pants.

“GREETINGS, misguided citizens!” I declare, striking a heroic pose as I stride past them. “It only takes one step to abandon your wicked ways and join me on the shining path of justice and righteousness!”

But they just run away instead of trying anything. Smart move.

No basement door in sight, but the message was clear about the basement. Only one way to handle this with proper dramatic flair.

I stride to the center of the main floor.The few people inside scatter at the sight of me, knocking over chairs in their haste to flee.

I raise my fists high above my head and bellow: “JUSTICE HAS ARRIVED!”

Then I bring them down hard, smashing through the floor like it’s made of cardboard. I crash through in a perfect three-point landing, surrounded by debris and dust. The impact echoes through what turns out to be a large underground space.

Panicked screams erupt all around me, along with savage barking. Through the settling dust, I make out a fighting cage, betting stations, and dozens of Empire supporters scrambling for exits. Several pit bulls bark and strain at their chains, while their handlers try to drag them away.

Dog fighting. Of course, these neo-nazi pieces of shit would be into that.

Then the rubble behind me explodes outward as Hookwolf emerges, already sprouting blades and hooks from his transforming body. The metal grows over him in waves, turning him into a nightmare of whirling steel. He lets out a bestial roar that reverberates through the basement and charges straight at me, concrete cracking under his claws.

“AHA! The villain reveals himself!” I declare, settling into a fighting stance. “Let us see how your blades fare against the virtue of justice!” I then flex my left arm. “And the integrity of the creed!” And flex the right one.

I completely forgot that one line, and I fucking hate it.

The Nazi cape charges forward, his form completely transformed into a giant wolf made of whirling metal and blades. He’s even bigger than me, all gleaming edges and grinding steel. The concrete cracks under each step of his massive metal paws as he barrels toward me like an unstoppable force.

I plant my feet firmly, facing him head-on. My stance doesn’t waver as he crashes into me like a freight train. His metallic jaws snap at my head, but his teeth just shatter against my skin, much to his surprise as I notice in his eyes. The impact doesn’t even budge me an inch, which seems to throw him off even more.

“BEHOLD, EVILDOER! A body blessed by Lady Justice stands unmoved by your wicked assault!” I proclaim, wrapping my arms around his massive frame. “Now witness the TRUE MIGHT OF JUSTICE!”

I arch backward, lifting the metal monster’s entire writhing mass over my head in a perfect arc. His metallic frame screeches against my grip, but can’t penetrate my skin. With a mighty heave, I drive him head-first into the concrete, burying half his transformed body into the ground. The impact sends tremors through the entire basement, causing dust and debris to rain down from the ceiling.

I stand up and brush some dust off my costume before the concrete crater explodes as Hookwolf rips himself free, his metal form re-configuring and growing even larger. The wolf's shape reforms, but now with additional blades jutting out at every angle, hooks and razors whirling in constant motion.

“You think you can just walk into MY territory?” Hookwolf’s human voice echoes from inside the metallic mass.

I merely strike another heroic pose. “You cannot hide from my glorious justice! Righteousness shall dull every blade!”

However, rather than lunge at me again, he responds by morphing his body, stretching and coiling into a massive serpent with... a wolf’s head, blades grinding and screeching as they shift. The hybrid metal creature lunges at me from multiple angles, trying to wrap around and constrict.

“FUTILE!” I declare, catching his metallic body mid-strike. The sharp objects screech against my skin but can’t penetrate and even bend. “Your steel may be sharp, but JUSTICE is even sharper!”

I launch both hands forward and get a much better grip on his body.

“Your feeble villainous tricks won’t work against the true armor of righteousness!” I declare, squeezing harder until I hear his metal body creak and groan. That’s when the villain thrashes in my grip, his form constantly shifting and morphing, trying to slip free.

“Stand still and die!” he snarls, his wolf-head splitting into a mass of multiple whirling sharp blades that try to grind against my face. All it accomplishes is making an awful screeching noise and dulling his edges, my hair completely untouched and spotless clean.

“BEHOLD how justice dulls the blades of villainy!” I proclaim, grinning at him. “Perhaps you should SHARPEN your moral compass instead!”

My terrible pun seems to piss him off even more. His entire form explodes into a chaotic mass of sharp things, all spinning and striking from every angle. It’s like being in the world’s most lethal blender - anyone else would straight up be liquified inside here.

But I’m not anybody.

“Fight like a real warrior!” Hookwolf roars somewhere in that chaotic mess.

“BUT I AM!” I boom back, grabbing what seems to be his main mass. “TRUE WARRIORS FIGHT FOR THE GLORIOUS JUSTICE, NOT IN THE SERVICE OF EVIL!”

Rather than respond, he stops that mess and reforms into an even larger wolf, probably hoping the extra mass will help. It doesn’t. All it does is give me more room to work with.

“Now, witness the RIGHTEOUS POWER OF JUSTICE!” I declare, lifting his enormous metal form overhead. “And let this be a lesson in humility and equality! FOR JUSTICE DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE!”

Hookwolf’s only response is an enraged roar as he desperately tries to find some way - any way - to hurt me.

Laughing at his pathetic attempts, I launch us both skyward, crashing through the remaining basement ceiling and the building’s floor in one mighty leap.

We burst out into the open air, and very, very high into the air, debris raining down around us as I hold the giant mass of metal overhead. Hookwolf is still frantically morphing and shifting, his blades grinding uselessly against my grip. Taking one glance down, I notice pedestrians scatter at the sight of us, while a few braves (or honestly, pretty stupid) souls pull out their phones to record my fight.

“Release me, you theatrical fool!” Hookwolf snarls, his wolf's head reforming just to snap ineffectively at my arms.

“THEATRICAL? Why, yes!” I declare, adjusting my grip on his metallic form with a dramatic flourish. “For justice must not only be done, but be seen to be done! WITH STYLE!”

“I’ll kill you!” That’s all he manages to say as his form writhes in futile rage.

“AHA! Your threats are as dull as your blades!” I exclaim, readjusting my grip as my gaze meets what I assume is his face, somewhere in that chaotic mess of metal. “Now, let justice be SERVED!”

I twist my body, causing us to start spinning, slowly at first but soon gaining momentum as we fall faster and faster. The centrifugal force tears away at his constantly regenerating blades, leaving a spiral trail of broken steel in our wake. The sound of grinding metal fills the air as pieces of his form scatter like deadly confetti.

“BEHOLD! The SPINNING HAMMER OF JUSTICE!” I roar as I finally release all the accumulated force downward, adding the momentum of our spin to gravity’s unstoppable pull while he only screams in fury.

I watch as the neo-nazi crashes into the street like a meteor, his metal body cratering the asphalt in a spectacular explosion of concrete and steel. A cloud of dust and debris billows outward, quickly dissipating to reveal the bastard still moving.

And since I haven’t landed yet...

“JUSTICE CRUSH!”

Both feet slam into his downed body, driving him even deeper into the crater with enough force to shake the entire block. The impact sends a shockwave through the ground, setting off car alarms everywhere and creating spider-web cracks that spread across the street. The sound echoes through the surrounding buildings like a thunderclap.

I pull my feet from the crater where they’d sunk into the broken asphalt, taking a moment to admire my handiwork. The impact zone looks like someone dropped a small bomb in the middle of the street, spider-web cracks spreading out in all directions.

Yet a mass of twisted metal emerges from the hole, but instead of reforming into another wolf-like shape, it starts crumbling bit by bit. Pieces of steel fall away like autumn leaves, clattering against the broken ground. Finally, Hookwolf’s human body emerges from the collapsing metal form, trembling and shaking as he tries to crawl away on hands and knees.

I grin viciously at the sight because I can take that as the villain still has some fight left in him - perfect for my finisher move. Time to give him the same treatment Earth Shard got weeks ago, but with a little variation.

“JUSTICE DEMANDS YOUR SURRENDER! YET YOU STILL RESIST LADY JUSTICE MERCY! SO I MUST STOP YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW TO SAVE THE INNOCENT FROM YOU EVIL WAYS!” I boom, charging forward as Hookwolf manages to stagger to his feet. He barely has time to turn before my shoulder slams into his side, sending his body cartwheeling through the air.

“NEO FINAL JUSTICE!” 

I roar, stop my charge and spin my body with a fist ready. My first strike catches him mid-spin - a devastating uppercut that sends him even higher. I leap after him, my fists becoming a blur as I deliver a rapid series of precise strikes on his body. Each hit lands with thunderous force, keeping him suspended in the air through sheer impact. 

Left, right, cross, low.

Head, side, right.

For the finale, I grab his neck with one hand and his pants with the other. “THIS IS THE HAMMER OF JUSTICE!” 

The strike connects with his sternum, driving him downward like a missile, causing his body to crash into the already broken street, creating yet another, but smaller, crater in the abused asphalt. The impact sends tremors through the ground, rattling windows and setting off another chorus of car alarms.

“ANOTHER VICTORY FOR JUSTICE!” I declare as soon as I land back on the ground. “LET ALL EVILDOERS TREMBLE BEFORE THE MIGHT OF VIRTUE!”

I raise my fist high in triumph, but suddenly a series of compressed air explosions pepper my body like invisible artillery shells. I barely start turning left when I catch a glimpse of a shirtless man with a tiger mask. Before I can properly face him, another concentrated air blast hits my eyes directly. The explosion temporarily blinds me, more an inconvenience than actual damage really, but doesn’t make it any less annoying, ugh…

But that irritation becomes secondary as the air suddenly feels heavy and wrong. A bizarre sensation invades both my mouth and nostrils, like breathing in ice-cold acid mist. My entire body starts tingling as if thousands of needles were trying to pierce me from the inside, and I quickly realize what’s happening. As only one would be capable of this.

Fog.

And he is attempting to corrode my body from within, probably thinking that my insides aren’t as indestructible as my outside body.

But that only makes me chuckle, rubbing my eyes while thumping my chest dramatically. “A body blessed by Lady Justice is untouchable and indestructible against any evildoer tricks both from the inside and outside!” I announce the tingling intensifying until it becomes ticklish, which honestly just makes this situation funnier.

To me.

“And it can also fight back against the wicked evildoers!”

“BEHOLD villains! Your feeble attempts at ambush only prove your cowardice!” I declare while purposefully inhaling more and more of the toxic gas form, expanding my chest to its full capacity. The tickling sensation becomes almost unbearable, fighting to not burst in laughter as Fog tries desperately to eat through my internals. 

But eventually that soon turns into distorted screaming inside me. He now clearly is regretting from trying to pull a fast one on me.

“JUSTICE SHOWS NO MERCY TO THE MERCILESS!” I boom, holding my breath and feeling Fog’s increasingly desperate attempts to escape. “Now taste the RIGHTEOUS WINDS OF JUSTICE!”

With that declaration, I exhale with explosive force, expelling Fog’s gaseous form directly at Stormtiger. The compressed air blast carries the screaming Nazi cape with it, turning him into an unwitting projectile against his own ally. The two villains collide with enough force to send them both tumbling across the broken street.

“THE LUNGS OF JUSTICE SHALL NOT BE TAINTED BY THE FOUL STENCH OF VILLAINY!” I strike another exaggerated side chest pose.

Heh, I cannot believe that line from that PRT event would be said ever again.

However, my internal amusement is cut short as I catch a sudden glint in the sky. Pure white light, getting brighter by the second… Purity. 

The sneaky bitch tried a second time, but this time I’m more than ready.

I slam my foot down on the cracked asphalt and puff out my chest. A split second later, the blast hits me full force, a beam of destructive energy that would have leveled a building. But I don’t budge an inch, my feet planted firmly as the destructive light washes over me.

The attack’s barely faded when a chain wraps around my neck - perfect timing. I grab the metal links and yank hard, revealing a tomboyish woman. Another empire cape, Cricket, if I remember correctly. Who lets out a scream as she’s pulled from her hiding spot on a nearby building.

“WITNESS THE SPINNING CHAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!” I declare, starting to spin. Cricket dangles at the end of her own chain as I build momentum, turning faster and faster until she’s just a blur at the end of a metal line.

“LET JUSTICE UNITE YOU IN DEFEAT!” With that declaration, I release the chain, launching Cricket skyward like a human projectile. Purity doesn’t have time to dodge as the other cape’s body slams into her with devastating force, sending both villains tumbling through the air.

“BEHOLD AS JUSTICE STRIKES WITH THE FORCE OF A THOUSAND RIGHTEOUS SUNS!” I strike another ridiculous pose, legs spread wide in an impossible stance while flexing my arms in ways that would make any bodybuilder jealous. 

And surprisingly, the sunlight glints off my muscles dramatically, because of course it does.

Nonetheless, I watch as both villainess fall to the ground, only to be caught by a floating chunk of concrete, and a green-robed girl is riding on that floating chunk.

Rune has arrived.

Even more capes joined the fray, and that means even more rewards for me.

I cannot help but laugh boisterously at that.

“AHA! Another villain joins this dance of justice!” I declare, cracking my knuckles for dramatic effect. “Though your mastery over stone is impressive, I have mastered the way of virtue and duty!”

A motorcycle suddenly soars over my head, landing with expert precision and drifting to a stop, the tires screeching against broken asphalt giving me a good view of the driver who is none other than Armsmaster who dismounts in one fluid motion, taking a position beside me with his signature halberd at the ready.

Probably trying to snatch some glory for himself, but I will let it slide and use this situation to my advantage, nonetheless.

“BEHOLD! My metal friend has joined my righteous crusade!” I announce it enthusiastically. 

And Armsmaster merely responds with a grunt of acknowledgment,although I take notice that his exposed bear twitches at his nickname.

And if it wasn’t enough, a barrage of purple-tinged energy blasts suddenly streaks from the east, hitting the cape teen platform, forcing Rune into a rapid descent. That’s when Lady Photon descends from above, as she takes position, her white and purple costume gleaming in the sunlight.

I’m getting vibes from a movie scene now, so then that would mean…

“OI BIG GUY! “ The new but familiar voice comes from the rabbit heroine as she lands close, grinning viciously. “You should have told me you wanted to kick supremacist ass!”

Yep, then one more should arrive right about….

Four more figures land close in formation.

…Now.

Their leader, with her striking red hair and cat-whisker markings beneath her eyes, takes a point in her crimson costume. Beside her stands the towering Tiger in his brown outfit, his muscular frame and triangle beard making him stand out among his teammates. 

Blonde hair catches the light as she adjusts her blue-tinted visor, the two distinctive blue dots on her cheeks matching her costume. Completing their formation is their last member in her yellow outfit, her wide yellow eyes and emerald green hair framing the pink whisker marks on her cheeks.

“The Claw Patrol strikes!” they announce in perfect unison, the red cat girl taking the lead.

Then that must be the last one to join into the fray, it seems.

So according to the scenario, then I must take charge as this will be a free-for-all fight, although more for the theatrics as this will be a steamroll, no contest.

I point an accusing finger at the Empire capes, who are quickly regrouping and look considerably less confident now that their heavy hitter, Hookwolf, lies unconscious in the crater behind me. “BEHOLD, evildoers! Your moment of reckoning has arrived! Surrender now, or face the combined might of the allies of justice!”

Mirko grins, cracking her knuckles. “If I couldn’t kick Hookwolf's ass, then you bastards will have to do.”

The villains shift nervously, clearly aware of how precarious their position has become. Even if more reinforcements arrive to save them it would be pointless because I alone would beat them all. 

But before anyone can move, an orange portal opens above them and a woman with long blonde hair and kitted in black armor drops down. She holds up some kind of talisman, and another portal opens beneath the Empire capes’ feet, swallowing them instantly.

“What the- Get back here, cowards!” Mirko shouts, launching herself forward but too late.

“COWARDS! Running from the light of justice!” I declare, though the unconscious form of Hookwolf tempers my annoyance at their escape. 

So this is still a win in my book.

I strike my signature victory pose, one fist raised to the heavens. “Nevertheless, JUSTICE PREVAILS! For no villain can truly escape the reach of my justice!”

I stay for a moment there, letting everything settle in.

“At least we got the worst one,” Mirko finally says, nudging Hookwolf with her foot. “Though I really wanted to kick his sorry ass, he owned me after all.”

Well, I rushed to catch the guy, so I didn’t inform Oracle, which in turn would tell Mirko. But still.

I still hold my victory pose, letting my hair flutter in the wind as much to my surprise and delight as a strong ray of sunlight shines upon me, which causes everyone to chuckle and giggle.

Except Armsmaster, whose sigh is particularly audible, which only prompts me to pose harder.

The juicy rewards can wait. Let’s just savor this moment.

--------------------------------

Bonus scene: Just a hunch.

-Oracle-

She got True Might’s requested info, a laughably simple task, really. Hacking into Winslow High School’s system had been child’s play—even with a Ward attending, they hadn’t bothered reinforcing their security beyond the default settings and a firewall that might as well have been made of tissue paper. Not that better security would have stopped her anyway, but it was the principle of the thing.

Having clear parameters helped she’d known exactly what to look for, sparing her the tedium of sorting through irrelevant data. Director Blackwell’s computer had been an open book, the woman’s incompetence extending beyond her management of the school. Emails, disciplinary records, incident reports—all just sitting there, practically begging to be accessed.

The files on the trio and Taylor were already compiled. Of course that was all that mattered at Winslow—not the gang activity, not the drugs, not the weapons occasionally found in lockers. Just those four students and their twisted little drama that the administration had let fester into something monstrous.

Now she just needed to test something. She had a hunch, a really big one tho. She just needed confirmation.

But first she had to leave her specialized workstation, the one she’d built specifically for more demanding operations, and returned to her usual desk where she left her phone… she should have taken it with her. 

“Heh, silly me!” Hopefully, nothing big happened.

So she went to check.

“WAIT WHAT?!”

And she fell down from her chair.

--------------------------------

AN: HAPPY NEW YEAR! I can’t believe I was able to finish it before the new year but I really set out to do it to close this year with bang. Now I’m gonna rest for a couple of days now. Have a beautiful new year and as always, I’m really thankful for your continuous support guys. This wouldn’t have been possible without your help.