Before her very eyes. Could it be true? 50 years had passed since a hero was last seen yet here stood a man claiming to be one of them. Century's feet trembled at the sight, her hands frozen in a claw as she was speechless. The 2 brothers on either side of her gargled on their spit as tears washed away their clown makeup. Their faces, strained with regret, hopelessly stared into the prowling jaws of this battle's new opponent.

The proclaimed hero slowly walked forward, his steps rocking the ground as his eyes seeped with black tar.

"You've strayed far you lowly mutts. What does Ignition want with this town?"

The man looked up at both Pos and Neg.

Pos held his head high, the few gasps of breath coming out like a wheeze.

"We... just want the girl. That's all!"

Neg nodded. The man looked at Century.

"You're not from this town."

Century felt a chill run up her back as she shuddered. She held a tight gaze with him.

"Why are you here?"

Century felt if her answer weren't good enough, she would join the 2 brothers in their predicament. Century gulped.

"I'm just here to... deliver a letter to..."

Century checks the envelope.

"Mr and Mrs Scott."

The man raised an eyebrow.

"At this time? Must be mighty important. It's none of my business so I won't pry. Let me just deal with these 2 thugs for you then."

The man clutched his tie, a malicious stare on his face.

"Wait wait! Don't please man! We didn't have a choice, Ignition's scary! We couldn't have run away if we tried! We had to do this job!"

Pos got desperate as his pleas fell on deaf ears. The man walked up to the 2 brothers and released them from the tendrils. The man then grabbed both of their heads with each hand.

The man's eyes turned black before the brother's energy drained from their bodies. They screamed as their bodies shook violently. Once the process was done, they dropped to the floor snoring.

"That will keep them out of commission for a while."

The man turned to Century who looked at the brother's unconscious bodies with horror. The man darted his eyes to the bodies then back to Century.

"Oh don't worry, they're fine. I just shut off their powers for a while and put them to sleep. They'll wake up... sometimes I hope."

"You're... a hero?"

Century squinted her eyes.

The man looked at her with a surprised expression. He then smiled and began to give a hearty chuckle.

"I guess so! I'm an ex-hero. To the world at least. To this small town, I'm still their protector."

"So you were around 50 years ago? When they lost?"

"Ah, yeah I was. That's a... rough time to think about."

He had a faint frown as he looked down. Suddenly he perked his head back up.

"Oh, I'm Werren by the way. This town doesn't get many new faces. Especially this late. You said you had to deliver a letter?"

"I'm Century and yeah, it's from... the city."

Century bit her tongue purposely so that she wouldn't screw up and blurt out the wrong thing.

"You know where Mr and Mrs Scott live?"

"Yep, I can show you the way if you'd like. Follow me."

Werren turned around and began to walk further into the town. Century composed herself and followed behind him.

The walk was quiet, Century just stared at the back of Werren's head. A hero was still alive. They were only myths in the SHS, legends the older agents would tell the newbies. Most would describe the heroes as bearing large weapons and long flowy attire. Some rumors even said that heroes would spare their opponents and convert them to their side. Werren was nothing like these legends. He looked disheveled and lost. He looked like an officer worker, the only noticeable feature was how tall he was. He stood about 2 heads above Century.

As they kept walking Werren soon reached a dead end.

"Aw, dangit. Must have taken a wrong turn."

Werren turned around and began to walk another way. Century looked concerned at how easily he got lost.

After a few minutes of walking Werren and Century ended up in another dead end.

"Oh, whoops. My bad Century. This place can get confusing."

Century looked dumbfounded.

A few more minutes of walking led them to another dead end. In fact, it was the same dead end they were just at.

"Okay, Century let me just look at it on a map."

Werren pulled out a small thick phone as he put on a pair of glasses. He squinted while tapping at the screen. There was a few minutes of silence.

"Damn... I forgot the password to my phone."

Century was about to rip out her hair.

"Um... Werren, do you even live here?"

Werren looked at Century with a thoughtful look.

"Of course. I just get lost a few times, nothing out of the ordinary. Do not fret though, I've come prepared!"

Werren pulls out a folded paper map. He unravels it, there are many arrows and lines drawn on it. It was a map of the town. Werren seemed to have made himself a reminder of where to go. He took a good look at it.

"Enough with this Century. Just kill him now! He's distracted, it'll be easy."

Century's mind began to wander as she looked at him, his back to her, his attention on the map, his death could be quick.

"Just imagine Century! Killing a HERO. A literal HERO. There's no way Julie won't recognize you after this! Hell, maybe even one of the Lords will recognize you. All it takes is one strike to become a TRUE villain."

Century's grin grew wider as the thought of becoming a renowned hero killer flooded her mind. She took a step forward, her body heavy, she threw her head back sluggishly and looked down on Werren.

As she pulled a hair tie from her hair and raised it, it quietly ticked as she spun it around her index finger.

"I'll be... a true villain!"

The explosion rumbled through the secluded dead end. Century swiped the dust away with fierce claws, she wanted to see Werren's corpse for herself. As her vision became clear, however, Werren was nowhere to be seen. From the distance, a large tendril shot out and wrapped around her ankle. She was pulled up and tossed against the wall like a doll. The impact made her spine crack as the reverberations spread through her whole body, her bones rattled and her organs shook.

She fell to the ground, and with no time to retaliate a tendril shot up from beneath her and flung her up. While she hovered in the air for a second she ripped out a hair tie and tossed it down. The explosion rippled through the air and severed the tendril in half. The tendril collapsed to the floor and wriggled and writhed like a fish on the ground. Century made a quick descent as she hit the ground and tumbled across the floor.

When she looked up a tendril snapped to her wrist and lifted her. It spun her in circles before slamming her to the ground. She coughed up blood as she had taken too many nasty blows.

Her body was giving up as she managed to get to her knees. In the darkness, Werren glared at her.

"I was wondering when you'd pull something like this. Century... what a strange name. To be honest, it was obvious you came from SHS. You attack with no thought, you don't know the weight of your actions. I watched you fight those 2 clown brothers before. They had such a simple power yet you fell for their tricks. I'm ashamed I lost to the villains 50 years ago only for them to produce soldiers like you."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Century ground her teeth as her breath grew heavy.

"SHUT UP! JUST LET ME KILL YOU!"

Century dashed forward. Her legs moved fast as tendrils shot from the ground. She leaped over them and moved side to side. The tendrils thrust themselves towards her. Ripping out multiple hair ties, she scattered them in front of her. Their explosion created a large dust plume, covering the field in a thick smog. Werren's eyes scanned the dust. From it, Century leaped forward. A hair tie in her clutches.

"Web."

Werren fastened his tie, a web of tendrils blocking Century from reaching him. She got tangled in the web as she struggled. With a final push, she tossed the hair tie to Werren. He simply smacked it out of his way as it exploded nowhere near him.

Century finally let her body go. She lay limp among the webs as Werren looked at her.

"Werren... I... I need to kill you. Just let me..."

Werren shook his head and released Century. She fell to her hands and knees. She hit the ground in anger as her fist trembled.

"A villain. Back in my day, most kids wanted to be a doctor or policeman. A villain's a new one. It's an interesting dream, to say the least."

Werren knelt.

"A hero won't deny someone in need though."

Century looked up at him with disgust.

"Ew, like I'd take YOUR help. I don't need it."

Century said when she could barely stand on her own.

Werren sighed.

"Really? What about that letter? It seems pretty important. Are you sure you don't want help with it?"

Werren smirked playfully.

Century snapped at him.

"Get away from me! Just leave!"

Werren stood up and shrugged.

"Alright then, see ya."

Werren walked off. Century stared at him. She threw herself to her feet. Her body was bruised and bleeding. Wiping her nose she looked around, all the buildings around her didn't look familiar at all. She walked forward hoping to find a landmark, however, she was just met with more long narrow streets. In the distance, she saw Werren walking. With no other option, she followed him from afar.

Werren seemed to walk like he had a clear goal now, unlike before when he would just wander around into dead ends. Perhaps he had gotten lost on purpose, but what exactly was his plan?

Century kept her eyes glued on him. Eventually, he stopped by a house. Century watched from afar, a scowl on her face.

Werren knocked on a door. Soon a man with colorful eyes opened the door.

"Ah, Teller! Sorry to stop by so late. How's Globally?"

The man named Teller smiled upon seeing Werren.

"Ah, she's working away on one of her programming projects. What brings you by so late?"

Werren chuckled.

"Ah nothing, just thought I'd say hello to the Scotts! Glad you're doing well."

Teller seemed flustered as he scratched his lip.

"Aw, thanks Werren. Busy night? I heard some loud noises downtown."

"Just some troublemaking teens, nothing of concern. So you still coming on Sunday?"

"Yeah yeah of course! I'll have to drag Globally out of her officer but we will be there!"

"Glad to hear, I'll catch you later then Teller!"

Werren and Teller shook hands before Werren walked off. Century's eyes lit up as she took out the letter.

She walked up to the door and knocked.

"Hm? Werren? Did you forget something?"

Teller opened the door and looked surprised to see Century.

"Um, are you... Mr Scott?"

Century clutched the letter.

"Oh. Yes, that's me. Um is there something you need young lady?"

Teller raised an eyebrow.

Century handed him the envelope.

"It's a letter... from Kal- uh... the city. It's a letter from the city."

Teller looked confused and took the envelope. He opened it and read through it. His confused expression softened, and his eyes darted over the letter. His mouth hung open and his breathing picked up pace. With shaky hands, he clutched the letter. Century wondered what the letter said.

"She's... okay. Kaleido's okay."

Teller's eyes turned red as his chin quivered.

"She's okay."

He began to softly sob. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands. Through his sobs, he chuckled.

"She's traveling to the northern islands... what a silly girl."

Teller finished wiping his eyes and looked up.

"Who are you-"

Teller looked around, Century was already gone. He looked down the street and then back to the letter. He smiled warmly before going back inside.

Century walked down the dark, quiet street. Her hands were in her coat's pockets as she thought about her battle. So many mistakes, how could she have lost? She had the upper hand and she threw it away. She kicked a rock as she walked, her eyes following it as it skipped along the ground. Soon it came to a halt at the boots of a familiar man.

"Thought you didn't need my help?"

Werren said with a smirk.

Century's eyes widened.

"You... knew I was following you?"

Werren scoffed.

"Century, you're the most obvious girl I've ever met."

Werren walked up to a door and put a key in it. The door opened.

"Come in. You won't admit it but, you're starving, you have a limp, you're thirsty, you need to pee, you have rocks in your shoe, you want to shower, you have a headache, you are extremely tired and you don't want to take a 6-hour train ride back home."

Wow, he's perceptive. Century didn't even make an expression. She just hung her head low and walked inside. This must be Werren's house, it was messy. His looks resembled the state in which he lived. The hardwood floors creaked loudly and the walls had many holes and scratches along them. Walking into his living room, clothes were thrown everywhere. The TV was old, a small box TV. Pictures coated the walls. Most pictures consisted of a group of people hanging out.

"Just sit wherever, don't mind the mess."

Werren said walking down the hall.

Century didn't even care at this point. She threw herself down on the couch. It was warm, too warm. She looked around for a window but to her surprise, she found a baby sitting next to her. With a pacifier in its mouth, it gave Century and wide stare. Century was creeped out as she leaned away from the baby.

"Geez... kids in this condition? Some hero..."

Century muttered.

"Woah don't say that!"

Century heard a voice behind her. She spun around terrified as she was greeted by a talking mouse.

"And who even are you?!"

Century, out of pure instinct, whacked the mouse across the room as it slammed into a wall. The breaking of its bones echoed through the room.

"Oh shi... um..."

Century looked worried. The baby then looked up at her.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!"

The baby spoke. Genuinely, what the hell was happening in this house? Century's mouth lay agape.

"Stop giving me that judgmental stare!"

"It's kinda hard to consider there was a TALKING MOUSE and now there's a TALKING BABY!"

Werren then walked into the room, now in casual clothes.

"Yuro, stop confusing our guest."

Werren sat on the floor.

"Well our 'guest' just killed one of my mouse bodies! I work hard to find a mouse suitable for me to host"

"Century stop killing things."

"I'm sorry. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!"

Century put her hands to her head and spun around to look at both Werren and the baby named Yuro.

Werren sighed.

"That baby is a 70-year-old man. It's a long story but, he's a body swapper. He can swap his mind with any living creature that has a... low intelligence. Now the reason why he's a baby is because one day he accidentally swapped his mind with a baby and the baby leaped off a cliff in his old man body. So his original body was lost meaning he is now in a baby's body. He can't switch to another person's body because they need to be dumber than whatever he switched into."

Century threw her hands up and leaned back on the couch.

"Y'know, I don't actually care. I don't care."

"Listen... if you find him weird I don't think you'll find the other residents of this house too delightful..."

Werren laid back. He seemed just as tired as Century.

"Ugh, why am I even here? I don't need to be surrounded by weirdos, let alone weirdos that are my enemy. I'm leaving."

Century stood up and walked to the door.

"Hold on missy."

Werren flicked his finger and a small tendril shot from the floor and wrapped around Century's wrist, preventing her from leaving.

"Not yet. We have something to discuss."

Werren stood up and walked to Century. She glared at him.

"Listen, I'm doing you a favor. You wanted to kill me before, didn't you? Said you 'needed to'. Why? Is it to be a true villain or... another reason?"

Century broke eye contact with him and looked to the side.

"That's all I needed to know. Tomorrow, 5 am. I'll train you, train you to kill me.

Century's eyes darted back to Werren's as she looked shocked.

"Really...?"

Werren nodded.

"Fine. I don't mind taking the easy road."

Century grinned widely.

It seems Century's rise to being the one true villain had finally begun...