Vanguard walks through a highland terrain with a somber expression.
Vanguard: (When I left this place, I promised myself I’d only return after achieving my goal. I may be breaking that vow, but it’s for a good reason.)
Vanguard walks over a hill and looks down upon a destroyed village.
Vanguard: (I need to remind myself why I fight, not because I’ve forgotten, but because I can’t lose sight of what’s important.)
Vanguard strolls through the village, looking inside some burnt homes and rubble.
Vanguard: (This world always takes and takes but never gives to everyone. Some people must live their entire lives in dismay. Never experiencing the same luxuries as others.)
Vanguard reaches the destroyed remains of a church. He kneels down and prays before it.
Vanguard: (I will never forgive you for what you’ve done to my home. These people, MY people, didn’t deserve this. You’re supposed to be our beacon of hope. We pray to you for aid in our darkest times, but you never listen… at least, you didn’t listen to us. You’re a pathetic disgrace for an all-powerful being. Why would you create us just to watch us suffer? Some would say that you’re testing us. Well, that doesn’t make it right. I’m tired of watching this world go on the way it is, with famine, war, disease, natural disasters, and the list goes on! That’s why… I will replace you; I will become this world’s god, and I will fix what you have broken.)
Vanguard stands up.
Vanguard: (To show my resolve, I will stay in this village and survive as I did in my youth. Only this time… I will do it alone. 21 days, that’s how long I will stay.)
Vanguard walks behind the rubble of the church where a graveyard is located. It’s filled with hundreds of graves.
Vanguard: (And I will begin by visiting the most dreaded location on this entire planet.)
Flashes of memories go through Vanguard’s mind. He’s in his mid-20s, digging up a grave by hand, his hands are bloody, and his fingernails are gone. Behind him is a pile of nearly 40 corpses, some with gunshot wounds, some burnt, and others both.
Vanguard: (That was true pain… and nobody has ever endured anything like that… besides me.)
Vanguard stops at two graves and kneels down.
Vanguard: (Brother… sister… I promise I will make a better place, so no one will ever face the same hardships you did. To prove that I am true to my word, I will not move from this spot for the next 24 hours.)
Vanguard sits down and begins meditating.
Vanguard: (We’re so close… I promise I will finish the job.)
Ewing, Walker, Adrian, Spectre, Multi, Boom, Fatal, Houston, Metro Mole, Evergreen, Meltman, Gunslinger, Big Tank, Vulcan, Impact, Lust, and Exciton are gathered inside the U.A. conference room. Ewing has casts and bandages on while Walker has a cast on his leg, and Exciton is bandaged.
Ewing: Thank you all for being here today. We have much to discuss.
Vulcan: Yes, we do.
Exciton: *sighs* Here we go…
Vulcan: Why the hell was I not involved in either mission?!
Exciton: I called you, and it went to voicemail!
Vulcan: You called my assistant! She could have relayed that information to me if you had told her what was at stake!
Exciton: Oh, yeah! Let me just tell a random assistant information that less than a dozen people on the planet know!
Vulcan: Well, everyone will soon find out now that Vanguard and Iota possess three of these rings!
Exciton: You wouldn’t have been any help, Vulcan. You’re not that much stronger than I am, and I couldn’t finish off Vanguard.
Vulcan: Probably because you weren’t trying hard enough.
Exciton: Oh, shut the hell up!
Lust hits Exciton and Vulcan with smile cannons. They fall into their seats. Everyone else claps.
Lust: What’s done is done. The important thing is we figure out what comes next.
Walker: I agree; we can sit here and assign blame all day. The secret of the rings was kept for good reason, and it wasn’t concealed from anyone specific. We all understand that, but not everyone will. Especially considering we have a Top 5 hero death to report.
Metro Mole: When the public finds out about this… they’re going to tear U.A. apart; not only did you lie about your knowledge of the rings, but also you couldn’t keep them contained.
Evergreen: The school has the backing of the Top 10; they can’t disagree with all of us.
Gunslinger: We can’t prioritize this school’s reputation over giving the public the truth, though. If we lie again, and it gets revealed, we won’t come back from it.
Lust: We’re going to tell them the truth; there’s nothing left to hide, right Ewing?
Ewing: Well…
Everyone turns to Ewing.
Adrian: That should be everything, Ewing. I know as much as you do, and there’s nothing else.
Ewing: There is one thing… when I was battling Vanguard. He… revealed to me that the rings have powers that even I don’t know about.
Adrian: What?! How?!
Ewing: I’m unsure how, but I know some details. He planned to wipe my memories, so I’m sure he disclosed more than he would have otherwise.
“ Vanguard: That’s what I thought; let me guess, you thought passing the information from one person to another would be the best way to keep the secret? Well, what happens if someone along the communication chain changes some details… or omits them altogether. Then you have yourself a game of telephone, and everyone is losing.
Vanguard: You don’t even know the purpose of the rings, do you?
Ewing: What are you talking about?
Vanguard: The rings don’t make you a god! They’re the key to opening the gate.
Ewing: The… the gate? To where?
Vanguard: That’s for me to know… “ - Chapter 174
Big Tank: The Gate? What the hell does he mean by that?
Ewing: It’s impossible to know, but it’s safe to say that Vanguard’s one of, if not the only, person who knows this “added” information about the rings.
Fatal: It’s not worth worrying about if there’s nothing we can do about it. When we defeat him, we can get all the information we need.
Exciton scoffs.
Ewing: Is there something you have to say, Exciton?
Exciton: “When” we defeat him. Yeah, there’s not even a guarantee that we’ll injure him.
Evergreen: What makes you so sure of that?
Exciton: I saw what he did to Black Hollow… not a single person in this room stands a chance against Vanguard in his current state, and if he gets his hands on another ring. Pfft, it’s all over.
Big Tank: I’m not used to seeing you afraid.
Exciton: I’m not scared… because we have one chance left, but it’s a long shot.
Fatal: Care to share?
Exciton: Your students, Aaron and Wes, used a fusion technique to combine their strength and fight at a pro-hero level on the island. It was incredible.
Lust: Fusion? Really?
Exciton: I believe that technique is our best chance at defeating Vanguard.
Gunslinger: And who are you looking to fuse?
Exciton: Isn’t it obvious?
Exciton looks at Vulcan.
Exciton: The two strongest people in this room.
Vulcan slams his fist on the table.
Vulcan: Fuse? With you? Never!
Exciton: It would only be for thirty minutes!
Vulcan: And that’s 30 too many! I rely on my own power, not the strength of others.
Exciton: *sighs* This is why I said it was a long shot.
Fatal: You wouldn’t fuse with Exciton? Even with the world at stake!
Vulcan: I’m Vulcan, the #1 hero; I refuse to be anything other than that. If you want to fuse, choose someone else, Exciton.
Exciton: I’m not even sure that you and I would have enough power to beat Vanguard, and that’s our strongest combination!
Vulcan: I will not fuse; that’s final.
Exciton: *frustrated grunt* Why you idi-
Ewing: Let’s table this discussion for now.
Exciton: But we-
Ewing: Exciton!
Exciton quiets down reluctantly.
Ewing: Adrian and Damien. You discovered Battlin’ Boxer’s home during your “trip,'' correct?
Walker: We did, sir. We also found the sentry he placed to guard it, a woman who could modulate her voice.
Adrian: That’s how Vanguard deceived us for so long.
Ewing: I see… and Battlin’ Boxer?
Adrian: Gone, I’m afraid…
Ewing: *sighs* Well, did you find anything out about Vanguard? Such as how he discovered the whereabouts of the Alpha Ring?
Adrian: There wasn’t much, but… there was something I found curious.
Ewing: Hm?
Adrian: He dug a grave for Battln’ Boxer… with his own hands.
Impact: That is… strange…
Adrian: Vanguard’s physique obviously shows that he’s an incredibly built human being, but to dig an entire grave in the sand. It’s just… strange.
Walker: It gives me a few ideas of who we’re dealing with. One, he’s used to surviving with minimal resources. Adrian told me Battlin’ Boxer’s location was selected because of the harsh conditions attackers would have to brave to reach him. Is that true?
Ewing: It is.
Walker: My other observation was that he was able to kill Battlin’ Boxer.
Gunslinger: Yeah? So? He’s a pretty tough guy, by the sounds of it.
Lust: I see what Walker’s getting at… Vanguard wouldn’t have any rings when he fought Battlin’ Boxer, so it doesn’t make any sense how he’d be able to defeat him.
Gunslinger: Oh shit… you’re right…
Big Tank: Then how did he do it?
Walker reaches into his pocket and drops a used bullet on the table.
Houston: Uh… Damien… is that?
Walker: I had to find out for myself what actually happened. This was the bullet that Vanguard used to Battlin’ Boxer.
Boom: What the hell, man?! You dug up his grave!
Walker: I didn’t; Adrian did.
Adrian: Because you made me!
Walker: Regardless of your moral standpoint on this. I’d like one of our gun experts to look at this bullet.
Gunslinger: I’m more of a revolver expert myself. Big Tank?
Big Tank: Give it here.
Walker tosses Big Tank the bullet, and he examines it.
Big Tank: Hm…
Exciton: Well?
Big Tank: This bullet belongs to a handgun… but a unique one. Definitely not American, European, or Russian-made.
Walker: Any rough guesses?
Big Tank: I’d have to guess it’s an African weapon… but if you’re looking for a specific answer… my gut is telling me an NP1 pistol.
Ewing: What country makes that?
Big Tank: It’s what the ‘N’ stands for… Nigeria.
Walker: If that’s where Vanguard’s from, then I think that’s the first place we should look to find answers on the rings.
Gunslinger: So what, you’re gonna search the entire country for clues? That’ll take a lifetime!
Big Tank: No, we just have to research and make an educated guess on where the information could be found. My agency can lead that charge.
Ewing: Good, then we can move into the final stage of this discussion… What will we do next?
Fatal: I hate to be the one to say this… but Vanguard’s bound to return to U.A. His entire army is here.
Vulcan: I can’t believe you let the student body become mindless slaves! I’m ashamed of you, Ewing!
Adrian: Hey! Vanguard was controlling him too! It could have happened to any of us! He’s not the one to blame.
Ewing: I appreciate that, Adrian, but protecting this school is my responsibility regardless. I must cancel the S.S. Tournament to compensate for what I’ve done. It may be too late, but-
Walker: You can’t.
Ewing: Huh?
Lust: What do you mean, Walker? Isn’t the tournament what caused the students to join the Vanguard in the first place?
Walker: Yes, but it might also be the best way to free them of his control. I trust the remaining students to take care of that task.
Houston: I agree with Damien’s assessment; canceling the tournament at this point could cause more harm than good.
Ewing: Hm…
Walker: But that doesn’t mean we can’t change the rules…
Ewing: Huh?
Walker: Remove the point system. If a student loses a “match,” they’re out of the tournament. That way, if more students join the Vanguard, they can’t cause harm, and those that leave it can’t rejoin.
Fatal: That’s a great idea!
Ewing: I agree. We’ll move forward with that.
Walker: I believe our best choice would be to train the students not among the Vanguard harder than ever before. Rachel’s already doing that with the girls.
Fatal: Yes, and Houston was preparing to do the same with the boys of 2-A and B.
Houston: Indeed.
Walker: Vanguard will return to this school, so the students will be involved in this battle one way or another. Preparing them is the best thing we can do.
Exciton: I’ve already given my input on our chances against Vanguard, and I won’t start another fight with Vulcan.
Vulcan scoffs.
Exciton: But in this time of need, the Top 10- er, 9, need to be at our best. Both strength-wise… and PR-wise. Vanguard could return any day, and we have to be ready to fight for our lives. We’ll hold a press conference in two days with all of us together alongside Ewing and whoever else would like to represent U.A. we have to tell them everything and hope that peace remains…
Everyone nods.
Ewing: In that case, it’s time for us to adjourn this meeting.
The students who went to Alaska and Easter Island (plus Ivy and Blaze) are gathered in Recovery Girl’s office with Madame Mummy standing guard.
Aaron: *whispers to Hayze* So, why are we under lock and key right now?
Hayze: *whispers* The pros have a lot of sensitive topics to discuss. So they’re coming up with a plan as we speak, and the last thing they want us is for us to go blabbering off before they’re finished.
Impulse and Wrath appear beside Hayze as spirits.
Impulse: (Do you want me to get past Mummy and see what’s up?)
Hayze: (No, it’s not worth it. I trust our superiors.)
Wrath: (That makes one of us.)
Ivy is seated by herself, and Saige sits down next to her. Ivy gets worried.
Saige: Don’t worry, we’re cool.
Ivy: I- Are… are you sure?
Saige: Of course, Hayze is my best friend, so if he says you’re good now, then I believe him. So, where’s Hayze been hiding you all this time?
Ivy: I’ve been staying at Class 2-B’s dorm… they don’t seem to have a problem with me.
Saige: Well, you didn’t do anything to them, so that’s not surprising.
Ivy: Right…
Awkward silence.
Saige: Look, I’m just gonna cut to the chase.
Ivy: Hm?
Saige: You’re closer to Hayze right now than I am. So, I need you to keep an eye on him.
Ivy: Wh- why?
Saige: He has a tendency to get “obsessive.” It's probably his greatest strength… and his biggest weakness. He already had a bit of an issue with being fixated on stopping Iota, and this most recent mission won’t help that. He’s made some mistakes in the past because of this, so I need you to make sure he doesn’t do anything he’ll regret. Can you do that for me?
Ivy: I… I can do that.
Saige: Good! Then we’re already well on our way to becoming great friends!
Ivy: R- right…
Adrian arrives.
Madame Mummy: Is the meeting over?
Adrian: Yeah, I need to fill in the students.
Madame Mummy lets Adrian enter the room.
Adrian: Okay, everyone, listen up.
Everyone immediately focuses on Adrian.
Adrian: All information about your missions will be released in precisely two days to the public. Until then, you are forbidden from speaking about this with anyone else. Furthermore, all of you students will be expelled if anyone blabs unless someone identifies the culprit. As for the other two, if you’re caught speaking about the missions, you will be labeled a villain and promptly arrested. I don’t want you guys to think we’re being dicks here; we just need you to know this is serious business. Understood?
Everyone nods.
Adrian: Good, then I’ll address your class schedule now. Girls, I know you’ve been training with Ms. Fatal for some time; you’ll continue that starting tomorrow. As for the boys, you’ll also train with Houston at U.A. Stadium beginning tomorrow. This won’t be your usual training, as we’re looking to prepare you for life-or-death combat. We believe Vanguard will return to this school eventually, so you must be ready to defend yourselves.
Eve: And what about the tournament? Is that still going to continue?
Adrian: Do you still want to take down the Vanguard?
Eve: Well… yeah…
Adrian: Then there’s your answer. That’s all for now; head back to your dorms and recover.
Everyone begins funneling out of the room; Adrian stops Hayze.
Hayze: Huh?
Adrian: You alright, kid? I know you held Vargas in high regard. I’m sorry…
Hayze: It’s okay… he seemed to be at peace. I’m just sad I couldn’t avenge him.
Adrian: Hayze…
Hayze: What?
Adrian: I know what you’re up to. Lust told me what you did with the ring fragment.
Hayze: Yeah, I wanted to gain the ability to conjure the personalities to fight alongside me again.
Adrian: I know that’s not the only reason, so don’t try to hide it from me.
Hayze looks away.
Adrian: Be honest. You let Zaire get away so you can use the fragment inside your body to track Iota down. Hayze, that’s so reckless; I can’t believe you-
Hayze: I didn’t let him get away! But I knew that if he did escape, there would be no way for him to stop m- us.
Adrian: *sighs* Well, it’s been a year, but I think it’s time for us to resume your training.
Hayze: (He’s not…) I- O- Okay?
Adrian: Come on.
Hayze: You mean right now?
Adrian: Yeah, let’s go.
Adrian begins walking down the hall with Hayze following behind.
“ Adrian: Oh, and what about Eve?
Fatal: She said she wanted to save Lilith… which makes me worried that she might do something reckless.
Adrian: So, you set her up with a different task?
Fatal: Yeah, if she can outsmart me, then she’s at least close to ready. “ - Chapter 166
Adrian: (You made a good point, Rachel. I know I can’t stop him, so I have to make sure he’s as prepared as possible for the day he makes his move… because I know it won’t involve me.
Wyatt enters Iota’s office.
Wyatt: Master, sir, Zaire has returned… alone.
Iota: Really? What about the others?
Wyatt: We’re not sure; he was severely injured and barely conscious. We’re tending to his injuries now, but we don’t believe we’ll have a status update on them for a while.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Iota: Oh well, I’m sure they’re alright. Did Zaire return empty-handed?
Wyatt: No, sir. I think you’ll be happy with the results.
Wyatt pulls the Iota, and Sigma rings out of his pocket. Iota gets a massive grin on his face.
Iota: You’re right, Wyatt. I am. Place them over there with the Omega Ring, and keep an eye on Zaire. When he awakens, make sure you rescue the rest of his team if they’re still alive.
Wyatt: Yes, Master.
Iota: Dismissed.
Wyatt exits. Iota admires the three rings.
Iota: (One. Step. Closer…)
Vanguard hasn’t moved an inch in nearly 12 hours.
Vanguard (Naratting): I guess it’s finally time for me to tell my story.
A flashback begins; Vanguard’s village is alive and well. With young children playing and adults living their lives as usual.
Vanguard (Naratting): My name is Ekon Abdullahi, my former name, that is. Growing up in my village, we were taught two essential things: Always drink clean water, and praise the Lord. Our church was the most cherished building in the town. We didn’t have much, but we always had our religion. I carried the Bible my parents gave me everywhere I went. I was only 8 years old, but the Priest saw that I was a loyal son of God. So, he took me under his wing and trained me to be a Priest.
Vanguard puts on his uniform for the first time.
Vanguard (Naratting): I was giddy the first time I was called “Father.” I truly felt I was serving my lord and that he was proud of the man I was becoming. God was everything to me; I prayed when I was in pain. I prayed when I was hungry. I prayed when I was scared. I knew nothing could do wrong for my family or me with God’s protection. Or so I thought…
Vanguard is holding his newborn brother and sister in his hands.
Vanguard (Naratting): When I was 18, my mother and father had another child, but God blessed them with twins. Unfortunately, my mother died shortly after giving birth. God gave… and then he took. This was the first time I found myself questioning the Lord. I couldn’t understand why he would give the gift of life to a second child only to take their mother, my mother, in the process. I soon repented my ill thoughts. God was testing me; he wanted to see if I was a true son to him. This was my chance to become a man and raise these beautiful children with my father, so I did…
23-year-old Vanguard with his 5-year-old brother and sister watch their father’s funeral.
Vanguard (Naratting): My father fell into a deep depression after my mother’s death… he believed God had failed him. His faith wasn’t as strong as mine, so he turned to something that wouldn’t fail him… alcohol. He drank and drank until it led him to his deathbed. I tried to reason with him and get him back on the path of God, but he wouldn’t listen. Once again, I was being tested; my brother and sister needed me, which was reasonably simple… until my duties as a Priest heightened.
Vanguard is sitting beside the head Priest’s bed as his death approaches.
Musa: Ekon… my time approaches.
Vanguard covers his eyes to shield his tears.
Musa: Don’t be ashamed, my boy. Emotions are what make us human.
Vanguard: I… I don’t want you to go.
Musa: I know, but God has decided it is my time. Soon, I will be in heaven, and I will watch you with a smile.
Vanguard: You will?
Musa: Of course.
Musa touches Vanguard’s face.
Musa: You will be the new priest of this village. I have trained you well, and I know you will make me and God proud.
Vanguard: You believe I’m ready?
Musa: Of course, but that doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you believe you’re ready. Do you?
Vanguard thinks for a moment.
Vanguard: Yes… yes, I do.
Musa smiles.
Musa: Then, before I go, I must give you this.
Vanguard: Hm?
Musa reaches under his shirt and pulls out a key he was wearing as a necklace.
Musa: Keep this with you at all times.
Vanguard takes the key.
Vanguard: Wh- what does it open?
Musa: I don’t know.
Vanguard: You don’t?
Musa: No… a long time ago, a traveler from America came to our village and lived among us. He was an honest worker and a devout Christian. The Village Priest of the time asked him why he came to Nigeria… and why he chose to stay. The man said that he couldn’t return to America as he had abandoned his mission and, therefore… his home. The Priest asked him what his “mission” was… the man replied, “I cannot say, but this key unlocks the door that leads to God.”
Vanguard: What? What did he mean by that?
Musa: I don’t know. The man gave the key to the Priest when he died, and since then, it has been a tradition for the key to be passed down from Priest to Priest.
Vanguard examines the key.
Vanguard: What do you think he meant?
Musa: My theory is the man was tasked with discarding the key, but his faith prevented him from doing so. The only clue he was willing to give is etched in the key’s head.
Vanguard looks at the etching.
Vanguard: “O,O”? What?
Musa laughs and then begins coughing hard.
Vanguard: Are you alright, Father?
Musa: Your reaction was the same as mine. I don’t know if the man was telling the truth… or if he was insane. But if that key has anything to do with God, it is this church’s mission to protect it. Please do so for me, Ekon.
Vanguard places his hand on Musa’s shoulder.
Vanguard: I will, Father.
Musa smiles at Vanguard with pride in his eyes.
Vanguard (Naratting): With the passing of Father Musa, I was slated to assume his position and become the leader of our community. I was only 25… and believed God was rewarding me for my faith, but… *long sigh* I was wrong.
In his uniform, Vanguard emerges from the church; a church assistant is with him.
Assistant: Father, the communion today was beautiful. I can tell spending so many years under Father Musa molded you into an excellent Priest.
Vanguard: Thank you, but I was channeling God’s words through my voice. He was the one speaking, not me.
Assistant: Of course.
Vanguard: Is there anything important I need to check in on today?
Assistant: Ibrahim’s wife will be going into labor any day now; you could pay a visit and grant them God’s blessing.
Vanguard: I will.
Vanguard spots his brother playing with other children. He waves hello to him.
Assistant: You’ve done a fantastic job raising them, Father.
Vanguard: Thank you, God’s guidance was a great help.
Vanguard watches his brother with a concerned look.
Assistant: Is something wrong, Father?
Vanguard: Where is Alika?
Vanguard motions to his brother to come to him.
Adedayo: Yes, Father?
Vanguard: Brother, where is your sister?
Adedayo: I asked if she wanted to play, but she stayed home because she didn’t feel well.
Vanguard looks concerned.
Adedayo: Did I do something wrong?
Vanguard: No, no! Of course not! Go back to playing, and have fun!
Adedayo runs off.
Assistant: He calls you Father?
Vanguard: I told them to call me that when I wear these clothes. I must run now; I will be back shortly.
Vanguard starts walking away.
Assistant: Father! Before you go! The supply truck will arrive at noon. The nuns will take care of it, but I wanted you to know.
Vanguard: Yes, thank you.
Vanguard leaves.
Vanguard (Naratting): When you live like we do, where medicine comes in a single monthly shipment, even a tiny illness could prove to be life-threatening.
Vanguard returns to his home with the village doctor. The doctor examines Vanguard’s sister and the two converse outside the house.
Vanguard: How is she, Doctor?
Doctor: *sighs*
Vanguard: Oh no…
Doctor: I’m afraid she has malaria, Father.
Vanguard looks scared.
Vanguard: Do you think that she’ll be alright? She’ll pull through, right?
Doctor: I- *sighs*
Vanguard: Talk to me, Doctor!
Doctor: If she goes untreated… Well, it’s hard to predict how long she’ll have.
Vanguard: What’s the minimum?
Doctor: 24 hours, but I think she has a couple of days in her.
Vanguard begins pacing.
Vanguard: That’s only if she goes untreated. You have the medicine to make her better, yes?
Doctor: No… we don’t.
Vanguard: Wh- how?!
Doctor: Malaria is an endemic, Father. We go through our supply fast.
Vanguard takes a deep breath.
Vanguard: It’s okay; supplies are arriving soon, and more medicine will be here shortly.
The doctor gets nervous and looks away.
Vanguard: Why did you look away? What aren’t you telling me?
Doctor: I- I’m sorry. I thought you would have known by now…
Vanguard: Known what?
Doctor: The… the village has an agreement with the nearby Cartel regarding our monthly supply drop-offs. On even months, they get half of our supplies; on odd months, they get ALL of our medicine.
Vanguard stares at the Doctor in disbelief.
Vanguard: And it’s July…
Doctor: Yes, so we don’t keep our medicine this month. I’m sorry, but-
Vanguard storms off.
Doctor: Wh- where are you going, Father!
Vanguard ignores the doctor and continues walking.
Vanguard (Naratting): I was faced with a seemingly impossible decision: Either keep our deal with the Cartel… and watch my sister die, or break our agreement and face the consequences. I chose the latter without any hesitation… I knew it would cause members of my village to be taken, killed, or both, but I was willing to sacrifice them for my sister’s health. I was selfish, foolish, and I broke my bond with God. He swiftly punished me for it.
A few days after Vanguard blocked the deal with the Cartel, the Doctor is checking up on Vanguard’s sister.
Vanguard: How are you feeling, Alika?
Alika: I feel good. Can I please leave this bed now?
Doctor: No, can do, little one. You’re going to need one more day of rest.
Alika: *groans*
Vanguard kneels down at his sister’s bedside.
Vanguard: Don’t worry, Alika, tomorrow I will play games with you and Adedayo. We’ll make up for lost time.
Alika smiles.
Alika: Thank you, Ekon.
Vanguard pets Alika’s head. Vanguard and the Doctor then exit the house together.
Vanguard: Thank you for your help, Doctor.
The Doctor looks visibly worried.
Vanguard: Is something wrong?
Doctor: You know what’s wrong, Father!
Vanguard: I… what are you-
Doctor: I will not raise my voice to you, Father, but I need you to know that people will die because of your actions. God will not forgive you!
The doctor storms off.
Vanguard: *nasal grunt* (Perhaps… but I couldn’t let Alika die… if this was another test, God, I’m sorry, but I failed. I don’t feel bad, though! You’ve tested me many times, and I’ve passed each one! Why?! Why do you keep doing this to me?!)
Vanguard collects himself.
Vanguard: (Don’t speak to God that way, Ekon. I… I must go to the church… I must pray.)
Vanguard goes to the church and kneels before the statue of Jesus.
Vanguard: (God… forgive me…)
Vanguard stares at the statue with a concerned look in his eyes.
Vanguard: (Father Musa… what should I have done?)
Vanguard hears the sound of cars parking outside the church.
Vanguard: Huh?
Vanguard exits the church, and the village people have gathered around as men with AK47s step out of the cars. Vanguard spots the doctor looking at him.
Cartel Leader: What a lovely little village this is.
The leader lights a cigar and begins smoking it.
Cartel Leader: Notice how I said “little”... well, clearly, your balls are much bigger because we didn’t get our cut of your supplies this month. Now, I consider myself a reasonable man, but I can’t help but feel like this was intentional. Do you know why? Because you didn’t bother to tell us ahead of time.
The villagers look scared and confused.
Cartel Leader: If you had said to me, “we’re not paying this month,” I would have been mad, but you know what? I would have respected it. But no, the person responsible for this is a coward; they decided to make a call that puts this whole village in danger and then just sit and wait for the consequences.
The Cartel leader pauses and looks around.
Cartel Leader: I can tell by the looks on your faces that our agreement is a “village secret” of sorts. Well, my bad, but don’t worry, we’ll be out of your hair shortly. We won’t even take the medicine you kept from us. I only want one… thing… the person responsible. So… who did this?
Everyone is silent; the leader looks through the crowd.
Cartel Leader: Anyone?... Anyone?
The leader pulls out his NP1.
Cartel Leader: Look, I need an answer, and you’d better not lie.
The doctor rushes to the front of the crowd.
Doctor: It was the Father! He did this!
The Cartel Leader laughs.
Cartel Leader: Thank you.
The Leader shoots the doctor in the head. Screams and gasps come from various crowd members.
Cartel Leader: *shouting* If anyone leaves, shoot them!
Everyone stays put, scared for their lives. Finally, the Cartel Leader spots Vanguard and begins approaching him.
Cartel Leader: So, Father, it was you? A man of God?
Vanguard: Yes, it was me.
Cartel Leader: Wow… even though you knew what would happen?
Vanguard: Yes.
The Leader stares at Vanguard with a smile on his face.
Cartel Leader: Alright, get him on his knees.
Two Cartel Members grab Vanguard and force him to the ground.
Vanguard: *pained grunt*
The Cartel Leader points his pistol at Vanguard’s head.
Cartel Leader: Any last words?
Vanguard: No… just do it. I’m ready to face my God.
Vanguard’s brother rushes through the crowd but is held back by two villagers.
Adedayo: No! Ekon! NO!
Villager: Stay back, boy; you can do nothing for him.
Adedayo: Let me go!
The Cartel Leader watches Adedayo struggle.
Cartel Leader: Who is that? Answer me, Father.
Vanguard: He’s my little brother… Adedayo, take care of your sister. I will watch upon you from the afterlife.
Adedayo: NOOO! EKON!
Cartel Leader: Aw… you guys are gonna make me cry… but not hard enough to stop me from doing this.
The Leader cocks his gun.
Cartel Leader: Say goodbye.
Vanguard: (Father Musa… I’m sorry.)
The Leader pulls the trigger… nothing happens.
Vanguard: Huh?
The Cartel members begin laughing.
Cartel Leader: You actually thought I was going to kill you, huh?
The Leader kneels down and gets in Vanguard’s face.
Cartel Leader: That would be too easy. You may be a man of God, but I am not. What, I put a bullet in your head, and then you rot in the ground? How is that revenge? No, we’re gonna do something much worse.
Vanguard has a terrified look in his eyes.
Vanguard: Wh- what?
Cartel Leader: Take everything you care about.
The Cartel Leader stands up and turns to his men.
Cartel Leader: Kill them all.
Vanguard: WH- NO!
The Cartel members begin lighting up the crowd with their weapons. The leader opens up the back of his truck; it’s filled with gas canisters.
Cartel Leader: Let’s have some fun!
Vanguard struggles to break free of the men restraining him.
Vanguard: STOP! PLEASE! WE’LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING! JUST STOP!
Cartel Leader: You still don’t get it. The agreement was never because we needed your supplies; it was about having you under our foot. You were like a dog to us, and what do you do when your dog bites you? You put it down.
Vanguard spots one of the bodies of the people initially killed. It’s his brother.
Vanguard: No… no… NOOOOOOOOOO!
Vanguard is forced to watch as his village burns, and his people are killed one by one. After about 15 minutes, the Cartel Members gather at their vehicles.
Cartel Leader: Ah… that was fun. You can let him go now.
The members restraining Vanguard release him; he lies on the ground in shock.
Cartel Leader: Well, Father, it’s time we hit the road.
Vanguard: You’re… you’re…
Cartel Leader: We’re what? Monsters? Pfft… no, you know who the real monster is? Your God for letting men like me exist. Why don’t you chew on that?
The Cartel begin getting in their cars.
Vanguard: Please… kill me…
The Cartel Leader looks back at Vanguard.
Cartel Leader: I’ll tell you what. I’m more of a “teach a man how to fish” kind of guy.
The Leader tosses Vanguard his NP1.
Vanguard: Huh?
Cartel Leader: There’s one bullet in there. You’ve got three choices: You can use it on me, yourself, or not at all. Make your choice.
Vanguard picks up the weapon and stares at it.
Cartel Leader: You’ve got 10 seconds. 10…
Vanguard promptly aims the gun at the leader; he’s shaking.
Cartel Leader: Well, that’s half the battle… now, finish it.
Vanguard continues trembling, but after a few seconds, he drops the weapon.
Cartel Leader: Yeah… that’s what I thought.
The Leader gets in his car.
Cartel Leader: You can keep that, just in case you change your mind about option 2.
The Cartel drives off, leaving Vanguard alone, surrounded by dead bodies and burning buildings.
Vanguard (Naratting): This… this was the moment where I broke. I thought devoting my life to God would bring me good fortune, but it destroyed me instead. Watching my family and friends die was one thing, but knowing my “lord” was watching from the heavens… calling this a “test,” drove me to near insanity. I spent the next week gathering their bodies and digging a grave for each and every single one of them. It was my fault they were dead, so it was my duty to give them a proper burial.
Vanguard finishes burying a villager. He looks to his left… There are just two graves left. He grabs the charred remains of his sister and buries her with tears in his eyes. He then grabs his brother and buries him as well. Finally, he falls to the ground and looks to the sky.
Vanguard: WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO THEM?! THEY DIDN’T DESERVE THIS! THEY DESERVED BETTER! YOU FAILED THEM! YOU! FAILED! THEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEM!
Vanguard passes out from exhaustion.
Vanguard (Naratting): My faith was abandoned… I wanted nothing more than death, but I didn’t have the strength to face God after everything that had happened. I was trapped… Earth was my purgatory, and I didn’t want to go to the afterlife.
Vanguard awakens the next day and picks himself off the ground.
Vanguard: *groans* Huh?
Vanguard notices the key Musa gave him is still around his neck.
“ Musa: The Priest asked him what his “mission” was… the man replied, “I cannot say, but this key unlocks the door that leads to God.” “
Vanguard grabs the key and stares at it.
Vanguard: I… will… find you, and when I do… I’LL KILL YOU!
Vanguard stares at the etching at the bottom of the key.
Vanguard (Naratting): From that moment forward, my new life’s ambition was to find what this key unlocked. Whether or not the man who originally carried it was telling the truth did not matter if there was a slim chance that this key could bring me to god… I had to take it. I found another village to integrate into and lived as a worker on a fishing boat. I had built tremendous strength from digging so many graves with my bare hands. I stayed there for a year before I heard something peculiar…
Vanguard is sitting on a bucket eating a sandwich while the captain of his fishing boat is speaking with his first mate.
Captain: We’ll set sail tomorrow, be sure the crew is aware.
First Mate: Yes, Captain, have you decided where we’ll be heading?
Captain: Yes, close to Null Island. There should be some good fish there.
First Mate: Null Island? What is that?
Captain: It’s a joke name; there isn’t actually an island where we’re going.
First Mate: Then why is it called that?
Captain: Because it’s “located” at the coordinates zero degrees latitude, zero degrees longitude. “The world’s center,” so to speak.
This piques Vanguard’s interest.
Vanguard: (Hm…)
Vanguard takes out his key and examines the etching.
Vanguard: (O,O or 0,0?)
Vanguard stands up and approaches the captain.
Vanguard: Captain, may I ask if there’s anything else located at Null Island?
Captain: What? No, it’s just ocean. I mean, there’s a buoy moored there to mark the coordinates, but other than that, it’s water.
Vanguard: Hm…
Captain: Why are you asking, Ekon?
Vanguard: No reason, Captain; I apologize for wasting your time.
Vanguard walks off.
Vanguard (Naratting): It seemed far-fetched, but I had to investigate after a year of 0 clues. I found another boat that was willing to dive at 0,0 with me. A group of 5 sailors. We traveled to Null Island together. I wasn’t sure what I was going to find…
Vanguard’s diving team arrives at Null Island and gets in their gear.
Diver 1: Ready to go?
Vanguard: Yes, just one moment.
Vanguard secretly stashes his NP1 in a waterproof bag.
Diver 2: So, what are you looking for down there exactly?
Vanguard: “Exactly,” I’m not sure, but I know I’m looking for something that this key can open.
Diver 3: A key? Why do you think it can open something here of all places?
Vanguard shows them the etching.
Diver 4: That seems pretty unlikely…
Diver 3: Yeah, there’s probably nothing of interest to you down there.
Vanguard: Well, that’s what I’m here to find out.
Diver 1: Alright, let’s dive!
Vanguard and the five divers leap into the water and begin searching the water.
Vanguard: (It has to be here… it has to.)
The team searches for nearly 20 minutes, finding nothing.
Diver 1: (I’m not seeing anything matching what this guy is looking for.)
Vanguard continues searching when suddenly, the key begins pulsating light.
Vanguard: (What?!)
Vanguard immediately swims faster, and the key’s pulsations become more frequent; the diving team follows behind him.
Diver 1: (What kind of key is this?)
Vanguard eventually finds a crevice and swims inside, leading to an underwater cave. He and the divers explore it until they stumble upon… a door.
Vanguard: (Yes!)
Diver 3: (Jesus! He actually found something!)
Vanguard swims to the door with his eyes wide open; it’s covered in barnacles. He locates the keyhole and places the key inside of it. The door opens to a water-filled hallway, and the group swims through it. The path eventually becomes an upward tunnel that they swim up and surface in a pool inside a temple. They remove their rebreathers.
Diver 4: What is this place?
Diver 1: I don’t know; get out your flashlights, guys.
Vanguard: It’s the Temple… of the Gods.
The Divers look around at each other as Vanguard exits the pool and looks around the large room. At the center is a podium with ten holes in the top with an arch about 10 yards in front of it.
Vanguard: (Magnificent…)
The walls are lined with various symbols and words.
Diver 1: What are these symbols?
Diver 2: They’re hieroglyphics.
Diver 4: You mean like the Egyptian ones? What are they doing in the Atlantic Ocean?
Diver 2: I don’t know, but there’s no mistaking them.
Vanguard examines the podium. Each hole is labeled with a different letter… of the Greek Alphabet. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Iota, Sigma, Omega, Zeta, Epsilon, and Theta.
Vanguard: (Greek and Egyptian? What does this mean? Is this temple toying with us?)
Diver 1: Do you know how to read these?
Diver 2: A little bit; I might not be sharp.
Vanguard: It’s better than nothing.
Diver 2 looks through the hieroglyphics.
Diver 2: If I understand this correctly… This “temple” was built to lead somewhere.
Diver 3: What? But we came through the only entrance and exit.
Diver 4: Yeah, that can’t be right.
Diver 2: It’s saying the arch in the center of the room… is a gateway to… another world.
Vanguard’s eyes widen.
Diver 1: What? Are you serious?
Diver 2: Yes, it-
Vanguard: How do we open the gate?
Diver 2 continues reading.
Diver 2: It says you need to collect 10 of something and place them inside the podium.
Vanguard: 10 what?!
Diver 1: Hey man, calm down! She’s doing her best!
Diver 2: It’s hard to say? Rocks, I think? I’m not sure what this word is.
Diver 3: Does it say why Greek Letters are mixed into these hieroglyphics?
Diver 2: No, but over here seems to be an explanation of what each letter means.
Diver 2 approaches the Omega section of the wall.
Diver 2: “He who wields the power of Omega will obtain the strength of 10,000 men.”
Diver 1: The power of Omega, huh? I wonder what that could-
Vanguard shoots each member of the diving team in the head.
Vanguard (Naratting): I knew all I needed to know; I had to collect these 10 “rocks” to open the gateway to God. I took pictures of every hieroglyphic in the temple and left. Still, I needed more information, so I immigrated to America, the home country of the original owner of the key. I eliminated my accent to fit in better and established a life there for six years. But after all that time, I still didn’t have a single lead until this last May… when Iota attacked Nashville.
Vanguard watches as Iota holds his hands above his head to show off the Iota and Omega Rings. His eyes are wide open.
Vanguard (Naratting): They weren’t rocks… They were rings. I knew what I needed to do. I had memorized all of the information about the ring’s powers over the last 6 years and had to collect them. Iota had two, but I didn’t know where he was. So, I turned my focus to discovering the other 8. I researched Iota and Colossus… trying to find out what made them similar… why they had rings. There was 1 connecting thread… They both attended U.A. and were high-ranking members of their graduating class. It wasn’t much, but it led me down a rabbit hole of sorts. I found a list of many highly acclaimed U.A. students that forwent their hero careers and disappeared after graduating. There wasn’t much for me to go off of, but one name stuck out to me… Battlin’ Boxer. Why, you may ask? He was the only one who announced his decision to the public. It was a brief press conference that didn’t yield much information, but it gave me a timeline. He had to have left either the day of the press conference or the day after. I spent the next month searching… trying to find someone who saw Battlin’ Boxer traveling that day or any clue for that matter. Eventually, I got one… security tape footage of Battlin’ Boxer entering a flight from Nashville to South Nevada the day after his press conference. I traveled there the next day and began my search. You see, everyone leaves a trail, and I was determined to follow his. It took another month but in the end… I finally found him.
Deep in the Mojave Desert, a man dressed in a white cloak and hood approaches a small hut.
Vanguard (Naratting): This was the day my journey to create a new world began… the day I became Vanguard.
Vanguard: I know you’re in there; come on out.
The hut’s door opens, and a muscular man in a tank top steps out.
Vanguard: I remember you from long ago. You were the top student of United Academy and had a lot of hype surrounding you when you graduated, but then you seemingly disappeared off the face of the Earth. So what was your hero name again? Oh right… Battlin’ Boxer.
Battlin’ Boxer: Why are you here?
Vanguard: I think you know that already.
Battlin’ Boxer raises his fists. He’s wearing boxing gloves on each of his hands.
Battlin’ Boxer: I won’t let you take it.
Vanguard: That’s unfortunate.
Battlin’ Boxer: I knew when Colossus died that I’d eventually be found by hunters. I just didn’t expect it to only take three months.
Vanguard smiles.
Vanguard: Yes, well… let’s just say I’m a very determined man.
Battlin’ Boxer stares at the cloaked man.
Battlin’ Boxer: What’s your name?
Vanguard: Why do you ask?
Battlin’ Boxer: I’m tasked to kill all who visit me uninvited. I prefer not to kill someone I don’t know the name of.
Vanguard: My name is not something I’ll give you… however, out of kindness, I’ll provide you with something to call me.
Battlin’ Boxer: Kindness? What’s so kind about giving me your alias?
Vanguard: I want you to know what to call your killer.
Battlin’ Boxer’s eyes narrow.
Battlin’ Boxer: And what might that be?
Vanguard looks up at the sky.
Vanguard: I am Vanguard.