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Back in 2013, the US government sliced off a chunk of NYC and handed it over to the superpowered bunch, forming this place called "TOWER" It's just ready for superhumans—no regular folks allowed.
Then, in 2014, other countries started copying the US move. Similar mini-cities popped up in those countries too, but only in the wealthy ones.
Fast forward to 2023, when World War III explodes. Nuclear weapons turned the air into a slow poison, choking everyone. Those sliced-off cities were safe havens. They had these unbreakable shields that kept the nastiness out. So, all the survivors got ushered into these government-guarded cities.
Our story takes place in "TOWER"

The Guardians of "TOWER"

Kraut witnessed Lily and Lorient's fall. Seeing the speed at which the two were plummeting, Kraut nearly rushed forward to save them. Fortunately, Lily managed to catch herself with the wind, bringing herself in front of Jackson and the others.

"This kid is fine, just unconscious," Gordon said, jumping down from the roof.

"Why does this kid, who wreaked havoc across the entire United States in a rampage, seem a bit more... 'gentle' this time?" Kraut questioned.

"What about Jackson?" Lily, not hearing Kraut's words, asked about Jackson's whereabouts.

"He went to find Alicia," Kraut replied.

Future people cannot kill people from the past. Knowing this, Jackson immediately opened a portal to save Alicia, leaving Kraut to evacuate the crowd alone.

"So, can you explain what happened?" Lily asked Kraut.

With little hesitation, Kraut revealed the plan to assassinate the child, earning disdainful looks from Lily and Gordon.

"Did you just say future people can't kill people from the past?" Lily questioned.

It was only now that Kraut realized he had been struggling in vain from the beginning, unaware of the crucial detail.

"Why were you so desperate? Was it really for the country?" Gordon was suspicious of the man's true motives.

"Not entirely for the country." Kraut took out a family photo from his pocket, showing a picture of him with his family.

"Uh... is it my imagination, or is your photo really... disappearing?" Lily pointed at the photo in his hand.

Kraut was bewildered by these words. Looking down, he saw the photo gradually fading away, with the part about to disappear emitting a warm yellow light. Following that, his body started to vanish, turning into light until it completely disappeared from everyone's sight.

Lily and Gordon understood that they had just altered the future, causing Kraut's 'old future' to vanish. Therefore, Kraut couldn't live.

On a dining table, three plates of garlic butter spaghetti were placed. An excited child hopped onto a chair, asking when dad would be back. The mother, taking off her apron, elegantly walked out of the kitchen.

"Mom, when will Dad come back?" the child asked.

"In a little while longer," the mom replied.

Family Reunion