Despite her best efforts, Prime slowly regained his footing. It was like anchoring a cloud to the earth. His Telekinesis seemed able to adapt as soon as she made any headway. He continued rising despite her efforts to pin him to the ground.
With a grunt, he stood upright before her.
His helmet's LED eyes glowed bright red as he stared back at her in silence. Though his expression remained hidden behind his helmet, Fii could tell he was furious. She'd caught him off guard...
A barely audible mechanical whirring followed. Then the LED eyes returned to their normal blue color.
Fii felt a pulsing force pressing against her own, a tide pushing back with each wave she sent forth. It was as if she were pushing against a relentless wind, her powers bending but not breaking under the invisible onslaught.
Around them, the air crackled, dust motes swirling into mini cyclones, as if the very atmosphere was being torn apart by their conflicting forces. A strange buzzing filled her ears and her skin crawled like she was being covered in thousands of tiny ants.
Her vision blurred and swam before her. Every breath hurt. Every fiber in her body burned with fatigue.
Eventually, she let go of her power and stumbled back, gasping for air.
It seemed as if Prime sensed this and he too relented; the oppressive sensation lifted slightly.
Prime finally stood up, tilting his head at her. "Axion? An interesting name...though I doubt a slum dweller like you could have come up with that on your own." His voice held a note of condescension as he regarded her with thinly veiled contempt. "Who chose it? Was it Virgil? Doubtful. He's not that clever."
Fii gritted her teeth in frustration. She forced her shaky legs to hold steady as she matched his gaze. "You're a Super...aren't you supposed to protect people? Why attack us?!"
She tried to keep her tone even to hide her pain.
Prime paused for a moment before replying, "In the same way we protect all of humanity—by ridding the world of its undesirables. The slums have become breeding grounds for degenerates...corrupt and depraved. Their influence must be expunged...one way or another."
"We did nothing wrong!" Fii snapped. "We were only defending ourselves from Salvatore and his mercs!"
Prime's eyes narrowed as he took a step closer. His hands remained clasped behind his back. The polished white of his suit reflected the sunlight overhead. He towered over by a full head's length. Even with the helmet obscuring his features, he radiated confidence and authority. Fii felt small in comparison.
"Salvatore...Ah yes...a complication...I must admit, that this unexpected development has...soured my mood. Still, nothing can be done about it now," Prime mused aloud. "At least you know his name...most slum dwellers don't...or care to learn. You seem more...intelligent than the average street rat. You may prove useful after all."
Fii felt her anger rise. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Don't change the subject! What gives you the right to do this?!"
Prime chuckled darkly. "The right? Do you really need to ask? Surely even you can answer that...unless you're stupider than I thought. But then again...you might be as thick-headed as the rest of them. Let me spell it out for you: I am Prime—leader of the Ultimate Guardians. I have the authority to protect humanity from any and all threats— foreign or domestic...and that includes those who live within these...deplorable conditions."
He gestured around him at the ruined neighborhood. His tone remained flat as he continued speaking. "The slum is a cesspool of human filth. It exists solely because we allow it to. It is a vestige of the past kept alive by nostalgic fools who refuse to let go. It is an affront to modern civilization...a disgrace.
"If not for the Metropolis, this city would be little more than rubble. We provide for your bare necessities...for your survival...and yet...you continue to squander our generosity by indulging in your...degenerate lifestyle...which has led to the creation of unruly scum like them."
Prime waved a hand towards the remnants of the Ironclad Legion. Most had fled, but several still lay dead on the street. The other slum dwellers who peeked out from the windows of nearby buildings or shanties quickly ducked back inside as his gaze swept over them.
He turned his attention back to Fii and continued speaking.
"I'll repeat myself just so you understand me clearly: If not for our efforts...you'd be living in constant fear of starvation—or worse...death. And yet...you throw that away—willingly—and in return you poison yourselves...and produce degenerates like these..." He walked over to Kareem's corpse and nudged it with his foot. "It is no wonder we allow the slums to rot—that we tolerate such squalor. Why waste resources trying to save those who refuse to help themselves?"
"We've done the best we could with what we have," Fii shot back. "Sure, it'd be nice if gangs didn't exist, but what can we do about it? We don't have the resources you guys have! It's not like we asked to live like this! We're stuck here...because of HighRise like you!"
Prime shook his head slowly. His voice took on a patronizing tone. "You make excuses...it's pathetic...but I suppose that's expected from someone who has never known anything better. Someone like you couldn't comprehend what life is like beyond these slums...the luxuries that exist outside of them. And yet...you yearn for such things, don't you? You'd give anything to escape this...if given the chance."
Fii stared at him silently as she considered his words. A part of her hated to admit it...but he was right—even if he sounded like an arrogant asshole. She'd always dreamed of leaving the slums—and living in the Metropolis.
"Yes...that's what I thought," Prime said with a chuckle. "Every person from these slums wants the same thing, and they will do anything to get it. They are no different than animals. They will tear each other apart to achieve their selfish desires...and you are no exception." He took another step closer until he stood directly in front of her. He stared down at her through his helmet's visor. His LED eyes glowed brightly. "Am I wrong?"
Fii didn't respond. She refused to give him the satisfaction.
"Your silence speaks volumes, and yet, your actions betray your words...you still defend them despite their misdeeds—despite knowing they are unworthy of such mercy...how foolish..." Prime paused as if waiting for her to reply.
When she didn't speak up, he began pacing slowly in front of her and continued his monologue. "I will not pretend to understand why you continue to defend them...perhaps you think you can save them? Is that it? Are you hoping to show them the error of their ways? If so...then you're wasting your time...and theirs."
He stopped walking and turned to face her once more. "Don't be a fool. You cannot change their nature...not when they have been like this for so long. And even if you could, it wouldn't last. Sooner or later they would revert back to their base instincts and do it all over again...until there's nothing left but ashes—as history has proven time and again."
Prime reached out with his hand towards her.
Suddenly, her helmet began to loosen from her head. She grabbed at it instinctively and tried to keep it in place. But his telekinesis was too strong. It slipped out of her grasp and flew towards Prime. He caught it easily and held it in his hands as if examining it.
Fii gasped in surprise as her face became exposed to the world. She glanced around at the scattered crowd of slum dwellers watching from a distance. She couldn't see their expressions clearly. But she didn't care anymore. Her secret was out...she was exposed.
"Ah, there we are..." Prime muttered as he tilted her helmet in his hands. "Now I can finally get a good look at you...so young...but old enough to know better—yet still foolish enough to defend them. An admirable trait...if misplaced...but there's no saving them now—not when they've made their bed...and must lie in it."
Fii took a deep breath and steeled herself before meeting his gaze. "You don't have to do this. We didn't ask for any of this! Please...don't hurt anyone else...just...stop...please!" She hated how weak she sounded. But she didn't care anymore. All she wanted was for him to leave.
Prime tossed her helmet aside and began walking around her slowly in a circle. He folded his arms behind his back again as he studied her closely. "It seems I underestimated you. You possess considerable power for a slumdog—even with your limited experience. No wonder Virgil chose you." He stopped circling her and stood directly in front of her once more. "Yes...you may be useful indeed...but only if you cooperate."
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
"Why? What do you want from me?" Fii asked.
Prime reached out towards her with one hand. She flinched instinctively as his fingertips grazed her cheek. He tilted her chin up slightly so she could meet his gaze.
"Simple...bring me Virgil's head. Do that, and I'll forgive your outburst." His voice held no hint of emotion. His tone was matter-of-fact...almost bored. "He will be...retired...due to his treasonous actions from a decade ago. You may not know this, but he was—is—a notorious vigilante who had done what you've just witnessed me do here. It's time for him to retire from that career. We'll be sure to write his epitaph for the world to remember."
Fii jerked her head away from his grasp and took a step back. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. "I won't do it! He's my friend. He's been training me...teaching me...helping me! I'm not gonna betray him! Never!"
"You abhor my methods yet you're fine with his?" Prime asked coolly. "Do you truly believe Virgil cares for you? Are you naive enough to think he does this out of kindness? You are merely a tool...a means to an end. A pawn in his schemes. He has no qualms about using others for his own agenda. Surely you must have realized that by now."
"No! That's not true!" Fii snapped. "Virgil's a good person! He's helping me so I can protect everyone!"
Prime shook his head slowly. "Your naïvete astounds me. It reminds me of myself...back when I first donned the mantle of a superhero...back before I understood the truth...before I realized what true heroes are...what they do...what they must do..." His voice trailed off as he looked away. He seemed lost in his own thoughts.
After a moment, he returned his attention to Fii and continued speaking. "You may be powerful, but you lack moral clarity...which makes you dangerous. It would be in your best interest to accept my ultimatum. I will not ask again...bring me Virgil's head...or else face the consequences. It would be a shame if I had to dispose of you."
"Go to hell," Fii snarled. "If this is what it takes to be a superhero like you...then I don't want to be one!"
Prime sighed heavily. "I'm disappointed...but not surprised. So be it. Don't say I didn't warn you."
----------------------------------------
Fii glared at Prime, her vision narrowing into a tunnel focused solely on him. The surrounding slums blurred into an indistinct backdrop as she prepared to engage. Her gravikinetic sense blazed to life in her mind's eye.
Ripples and eddies in the fabric of space-time swirled around them like water currents. She could sense the subtle movements of Prime's telekinetic power pushing back against the gravitational force—a constant pressure seeking to overcome her control.
Prime stood still, arms crossed, LED eyes glowing brightly. His polished armored suit pristine and unblemished. He seemed almost relaxed, unfazed by her resistance. It was as if he expected this outcome...as if he wanted her to fight him.
"You've made your choice," he said coolly. "Let's see if you can back it up."
She wasn't going to let him intimidate her.
Without warning, Fii launched herself forward, using her gravikinesis to propel her at an incredible speed. Her body became a blur as she aimed a punch at Prime's midsection. At the last second, she shifted the gravitational field around her fist to amplify the impact.
Prime didn't move. As Fii's fist closed in, she felt a sudden, immense force pushing back against her. It was like hitting an invisible wall. Her momentum halted abruptly, and she found herself flying backward through the air instead. She crashed hard onto the pavement.
"Is that all you've got?" Prime's voice was calm, almost mocking. He raised a hand, and Fii felt a powerful telekinetic force wrap around her body, lifting her off the ground. "How disappointing."
She struggled against the invisible grip, focusing her power on breaking free. The air around her shimmered with gravitational distortions as she exerted her will. With a burst of effort, she managed to disrupt Prime's hold just enough to drop back to the ground, landing in a crouch.
Not wasting a moment, Fii directed her power at the ground beneath Prime's feet, attempting to destabilize him. The concrete cracked and shifted, but Prime merely floated a few centimeters off the ground, unaffected.
She reached out with her mind again, this time targeting the surrounding debris. Shards of glass, bricks, and pieces of scrap metal flew towards Prime in a torrential whirlwind. He waved a hand dismissively, and the objects scattered in all directions.
Fii attempted another approach, leaping into the air and soaring above him. At the apex of her jump, she focused on a nearby pile of rubble, lifting several large chunks into the air with her power.
With a sharp motion, she hurled the debris at Prime from multiple angles, hoping to catch him off guard. Prime's eyes glowed brighter, and the chunks of concrete stopped mid-air, suspended by his telekinesis. He flicked his wrist, sending them hurtling back towards her.
She pulled back quickly, dodging the projectiles as they flew past. The shattered concrete slammed into the side of a building behind her, causing part of the structure to collapse.
Prime's next move was a sudden swipe of his arm through the air.
Invisible forces gripped Fii, yanking her towards a crumbling wall. Instinctively, Fii twisted in the air, lightening her body just enough to drift over the debris, turning a harsh throw into a controlled glide. She rolled as she landed, springing back to her feet.
Fii immediately concentrated. She envisioned dragging him down, making him kneel as he had forced her to, but the superhero’s silhouette merely shimmered slightly, as if he were made of nothing more substantial than the dust swirling around them. Prime didn't even look fazed.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be," he said, his tone edged with annoyance. He wasn't even winded. "I'm doing you a favor. You could learn a lot from me...become a real hero...or you can die a criminal."
With a flick of his wrist, Prime sent a telekinetic wave crashing towards Fii. She braced herself, using her gravikinesis to anchor her feet to the ground. The force of the wave pushed her back, but she held her ground, maintaining her focus. She couldn't afford to be distracted. Every second counted.
She reached out with her power, lifting a nearby abandoned car into the air. With a grunt of effort, she hurled it towards Prime. He raised his hand, stopping the car mid-air before casually tossing it aside. The vehicle crashed into a pile of rubble, exploding in a shower of sparks and twisted metal.
"Is this all you can manage?" Prime asked. His voice was tinged with boredom. "I expected more from you...but I suppose you're still just a child."
He floated closer to Fii, eyes glowing brighter than ever. "Do you have any idea what kind of potential you could've had? With the right training...the right guidance...you could've been something—someone. But now...you'll never achieve anything...you'll always be a street rat...an insect...nothing more."
His words cut deep, but Fii pushed the pain aside, focusing on the task at hand. She knew she couldn't beat him head-on. He was too powerful...too experienced...she needed to be clever...to use her environment to her advantage.
With a wave of her hand, she directed a barrage of debris towards him. He held up his palm, using his telekinesis to deflect the projectiles with ease. But Fii wasn't finished.
She charged, grabbing a rebar from the ground as she ran. Before reaching him, she slammed some of the debris together to create a cloud of dust, hiding her movements. She swung the makeshift weapon at him, aiming for his head. To her surprise, the bar bent around him instead, and he caught her by the wrist. His grip was like steel.
"A pointless effort," he said. "Did you really think that would work?" He tightened his hold, twisting her arm behind her back. She cried out in pain as she felt her bones strain against the pressure.
"I don't want to kill you...but I will if you make me," Prime warned. "You're young...you still have time to change your fate...but not if you keep resisting. Choose wisely." He twisted her arm harder. She bit back a scream as her shoulder popped out of its socket.
"Fuck you!" Fii growled through clenched teeth.
She reversed the gravity around him and amplified it a hundredfold. The unexpected change threw Prime off balance, forcing him to release her.
Prime launched skyward while Fii fell flat on her face. He collided with the debris she had previously hurled at him that now hovered in the air. The chunks of concrete exploded into dust.
Rocks and glass shards pelted Fii as she scrambled to get away. But before she could escape, she felt an invisible force wrap around her and pull her back towards him.
She thrashed wildly as she struggled against Prime's telekinetic hold. He floated towards her slowly, arms crossed behind his back. His once pristine suit was now covered in dust and scratches.
"Impressive...but not good enough," he said coldly. "I gave you a chance...and you wasted it. You have no one to blame but yourself."
As he closed the distance between them, the window from the building next to them shattered outwards—Kenzo's form barreling through in a fierce glide. He unsheathed his katana mid-air, a rhythmic beat-drop radiating out as he brandished his sword.
"奥義侍の交響曲 (Ōgi: Samurai no Kōkyōkyoku)!" he shouted, just as he swung the blade at Prime.
A cascade of rhythmic sonic energy rippled outward from his slash, connecting with the superhero's torso. Prime grunted in pain, the force of the impact sent him flying backwards into a nearby shanty. The shoddy structure collapsed around him.
The telekinetic grip on Fii vanished.
As he landed gracefully on the ground beside Fii, Kenzo tucked his weapon back into its sheath before turning to her. "Get out of here! I'll hold him off!"
Before she could protest, Prime rose from the rubble and fixed his gaze on them. A few large gashes marred his armored suit. His helmet's LED eyes glowed brighter than ever...but they were also different now...redder...and more intense...the icy calmness had melted away.
For once, he seemed angry.
"Impressive...you managed to injure me," Prime said icily. "It seems I underestimated you as well...whoever you are."
"Go get Virgil and run!" Kenzo shouted as he sprinted towards Prime with his sword drawn.
"What about you?!" Fii asked.
"I can handle him! Just do it!" Kenzo yelled back. "音速の槍 (Onsoku no Yari)!"
Kenzo swiped his blade in a quick upward arc as he closed in on Prime. A crescendo of rhythmic energy rippled outwards from the strike, sending a lance of sonic force towards the superhero.
Prime raised his hand and blocked the attack with a wall of debris. The chunks of concrete exploded into dust as the soundwave collided with them.
As Fii limped away from the fight, she glanced over her shoulder to watch the two exchange blows. Kenzo was fast...faster than she'd ever seen him move...but Prime reached out with his power and ensnared Kenzo mid-air.
Kenzo's sword fell to the ground with a clang as he struggled against Prime's telekinetic hold.
Oh no...NO!