February 29th 1996, Brockton Bay

The butcher was one of the terrifying people on the planet. He would take over any person who killed him and keep their powers while living in their mind. Currently we were on Butcher 4 I thought. She was a tall woman with bright red hair and a torn red leather jacket on. A large grin on her face filled with madness as she looked at me and Heracles with a feral gaze.

“Ah fresh meat for the teeth.” She said in what could only be described as a growl. She leapt at us then leaving no time for a reply jumping at Heracles. I could feel the impact as I saw her throw an expert punch at Heracles, he barely lifted his forearms in time and even then flew into the car behind him crumpling in the side of it.

I started out of my shock and ran behind her taking a swing of my warhammer to her back ready to crush her in one hit. What I didn't expect was for her to duck underneath the swing without even looking and backhand me into the pavement. I could feel the asphalt crack beneath me as I got my bearings only to instantly roll to the side as a foot smashed into where my head was a second ago, my danger sense saving me.

I rolled back up as I saw Heracles get up from the car wreck and we got back next to each other.

“ This isn't working.” He said barely loud enough for me to pick up.

“ We need to attack her together, get her off balance. I think she has a danger sense which is great against one opponent but physics still applies to her.” I said trying to figure out how to kick this butcher's ass. “ She can't regenerate. So if we hit her enough she’ll stay down.” I said with a look of determination entering my face.

“LET’S DO THIS!” I hear Heracles yell next to me. We moved in then on the butcher who’d just be watching us with a large grin, like a predator waiting for its food. We sprinted at her Heracles in front with his newly strengthened form as he took the first swing. She parried his hit going for an uppercut but instead having to dodge out of the way as I threw a kick at her solar plexus.

Me and Heracles kept up the pressure on her covering for each other's openings and trying desperately to land hits on her. Heracles wasn't as skilled in combat as us so he was mostly distracting her with haymakers as our danger senses tried to overcome one another. Eventually one of us prevailed.

I could feel the impact of my fist with her forearm in the first direct hit either of us had landed in this exchange, it didn’t do any real damage but I felt an odd connection almost like a tether appeared between myself and the butcher and a siphon opened up. The fight continued with us exchanging blows but she however slowly seemed to be getting sloppier in her fighting.

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She had to take more blows directly and not redirect the damage. She was becoming more feral with her punches as it became easier to dodge or parry her attacks and we could feel the tide shifting. Finally something happened.

In a particularly bad move she swung at Heracles far too widely Giving him an opportunity. He took the punch to his forearm and in the process grabbed her extended arm with his other hand, flipping her and smashing her into the ground. We both took the chance and pinned her under us giving her no time to stand.

We could barely hold her down with her strength and repeatedly smashed her skull into the ground. The sounds she was making were equivalent to an angry bear foam coming out with how angry she was. I could feel the resistance slowing down as we beat her, her stamina slowly losing against us. That's when I felt the pain.

I collapsed as I felt my body convulse with what felt like thousands of needles entering it. My eyesight failed me as I saw Heracles give her one last punch knocking her unconscious before coming to me.

I laid on the ground for what felt like hours but was really only a minute before the pain subsided and I regained control.

“Holy fuck Ares, you alright?” Heracles asked, eyes full of concern.

“I forgot what the original’s power was.” I said barely forming coherent words. “Inflicting pain, never thought about how shitty that would feel.”

“Yeah, it looked like a fun time.” Heracles said sarcastically trying to get my mind off what I'd just experienced.

“Alright I'm good.” Getting up as I spoke. “ You cuff her yet?” Asking as I looked over. I saw the familiar bronze sheen of the handcuffs Hephaestus had given us.

“Yup she’s snug as a bug ready for whoever.” He said, his face gaining a grin. “ You realize we just took down the butcher right?” A note of excitement entered his voice.

“Fuck yeah we did, didn’t we?” Not quite believing what we’d just done.

As I said it we could see a flying shape coming from the sky. Both of us enter fighting stances around the still unconscious supervillain. A person in an all white outfit with a purple outline landed in front of us. A purple domino mask adorning their face with blond hair flowing behind it.

“Hello there!” She said with a wave.” I’m Lady Photon of the Brockton Bay Brigade. Who are you two? Are you new?”

“Yeah we are new, name’s Ares of Pantheon.” I say extending my hand towards her.

“I’m Heracles.” He says while grabbing the body of the Butcher and putting it on his shoulder.

“Holy shit is that the Butcher.” Lady Photon says disbelief in her voice.

“Yup sure is, just waiting for the PRT to get here so they can take her.” Heracles said in a slightly bragging tone.

“Well it’s good to have more heroes in Brockton bay that’s for sure, you guys want to come meet the rest of the team?” Lady Photon asks.

“Maybe we could schedule something so the rest of us could meet with you too?” I ask. “ Does next Thursday work?”

“Sure sorry didn’t realize there were more of you. Want to meet at the old ferry station at like 7PM?”

“Sounds good, we will see you then.” I say.

“See you than MiLady.” Heracles says with a bow almost dropping the butcher in the process.

“BYE!” She says a slight blush appears on her face as she flies away.

I give Heracles a slightly judging look “What she’s pretty.” He says not an ounce of shame in his words.

“Let's just give her to the cops.” I sigh, not wanting to deal with that right now. Just staying positive that Pantheon just caught our first supervillain.