A New Threat

As we neared the outskirts of Atlanta, the devastation became undeniable. From my position, the city looked like it had suffered through an unrelenting nightmare. Towering columns of thick, black smoke rose into the sky, merging with the already darkening clouds above, as if the heavens mourned the destruction.

The scent of burning wood, metal, and something else—something acrid and unnatural—filled the air, making each breath feel heavy. Roads that had once been arteries of a bustling metropolis were now fractured and nearly impassable, riddled with deep cracks, overturned vehicles, and debris from collapsed buildings.

Atlanta was a war zone, and the battle had left it in absolute ruin.

Carrying Booker through this wasteland had begun to take a toll on me. His body, unconscious yet breathing, felt heavier with each passing moment. I had underestimated how much strain this would put on me—not physically, but emotionally. He was younger and less experienced, and I had brought him into this mess without fully considering the consequences.

Finally, I stopped. Just outside the city, where the forest still stood—though even here, stray fires had blackened many trees—I found a spot to rest. Gently, I lowered Booker to the ground, leaning him against the thick, sturdy trunk of an old oak tree. His face was contorted in pain, though he wasn't awake to voice his suffering. His chest, burned from the last battle, was a mess.

I exhaled, rubbing my face. This was bad.

Tapping my communicator, I reached out to Rem. She picked up immediately, her voice sharp with worry. "Kaleb? What's happening? How's Booker?"

I glanced at him again before responding. "He's alive. But he's not in good shape. My Sentinel Solutions watch is more advanced than I thought—it scanned his vitals and said he needed extended downtime before he could move again. That means he can't fight. Not here, not now."

There was silence on the other end for a moment before she spoke. "Then he needs to get out of there. Kaleb, this city belongs to the Harbingers of Doom. If he can't defend himself, he won't survive."

I clenched my jaw. She was right. We had barely made it through our last encounter with just one of their members—one. And that wasn't even counting the waves of androids they had thrown at us. I had thought we could handle this. That Booker was ready. But now, watching him struggle just to breathe, the doubt crept in. Had I made a mistake?

"Call for an evac," Rem urged. "Now."

I looked at Booker again. His fingers twitched slightly, and a quiet groan escaped his lips. He was in pain. And even in his unconscious state, I could tell he was trying to push through it.

"I know it's the right thing to do," I murmured.

"Then do it," Rem pressed.

I hesitated for just a second longer before nodding to myself. Taking a deep breath, I activated my beacon, sending out an emergency distress signal. A sharp, blue light flashed from my wrist device before vanishing into the sky.

"I'm sorry, Booker," I whispered, my chest tightening.

As I stood, the roar of engines broke through the distant silence. A sleek aircraft descended rapidly, its thrusters scorching the ground beneath it. The rescue team wasted no time. They moved swiftly, securing Booker onto a stretcher and lifting him aboard.

I watched as the ship took off, disappearing into the sky just as quickly as it had arrived.

Then, I was alone.

Taking a deep breath, I activated my suit. The energy surged through me, propelling me into the air. The wind howled in my ears as I soared over the ruined city. The destruction below stretched for miles, entire blocks reduced to little more than smoldering wreckage. It was hard to believe this had once been a thriving city.

A pang of unease settled in my gut. This was the Harbingers' doing. And if they weren't stopped, my home would be next.

As I descended, I noticed something strange. The streets were... empty. A city of this size should still have people—survivors, scavengers, and even enemies patrolling the area. But there was nothing. Just silence.

I landed in a concealed alleyway, making sure to keep out of sight. I needed to update Rem on my status. But just as I reached for my communicator, I heard something. Footsteps.

And voices.

"Someone said they saw a hero flying through here," a rough voice growled. "I want him found."

"But, Vesper, I thought we—"

"Enough arguing," the first voice snapped. "Do what I said, or I will drain you dry and shatter your mind into madness. You know I'm a Violet-class metahuman."

I stiffened. Violet-class? That wasn't a term I had heard before. And judging by the way the others fell silent, they feared him.

A second voice grumbled, reluctant. "Fine. We'll look for the hero."

I pressed myself against the wall, remaining completely still as their footsteps faded into the distance. Then, I heard another sound. A phone call.

"Is our new base finished yet?" Vesper asked. A brief pause, then, "Good. I'm already sick of this damned city."

He laughed before ending the call. A few seconds later, his phone rang again. This time, I recognized the name that came up—King Kaiju.

I listened closely.

Vesper wasn't pleased. He berated Kaiju for his failed assault. But then, something far more concerning was mentioned—Kaiju was being replaced. His successor? The Grand Calculus.

And then, I learned the real reason they were here.

They were after the sphere. The one is hidden in the underground lab.

My mind raced. Back at the gas station, I had seen something similar—an object that had emitted a nullwave. If that sphere was connected to it, then the Harbingers were after something far more dangerous than we realized. A large-scale nullwave device could eliminate every hero in its path. But... wouldn't that affect them, too?

Unless they had found a way to make it target only heroes.

Vesper ended his call with Kaiju, stating that he was stripping him of his position. That sent another alarm through my mind. Who was Vesper to have that level of authority?

I immediately relayed everything to Rem.

Her response was immediate. "Kaleb, listen carefully. Vesper is a Violet-class metahuman. He doesn't have any confirmed kills, but that's what makes him even more dangerous than Mr. Magnetic."

I frowned. "What does that even mean? Violet-class?"

She exhaled. "Metahumans are categorized based on power levels, following the electromagnetic spectrum. It starts at red and climbs to violet. The higher the color, the more powerful the metahuman."

"So where do I rank?"

"You're strong," she admitted. "But you haven't fully unlocked your potential. Vesper, on the other hand... has."

I clenched my fists. "Then why doesn't he have any kills?"

"Because he doesn't need to kill," she murmured. "His victims don't die. They just... don't recover. He leaves them broken."

A shiver ran down my spine.

"Should I keep going?" I asked.

Rem hesitated. I could tell she was torn. But in the end, she gave the only answer she could.

"Yes. Continue the mission."

"Understood."

As I moved, I stumbled upon something even worse. A group of androids. They were on standby. And standing before them? Dr. Apauex.

I watched, concealed in the shadows.

"Are they complete?" Vesper asked.

"Of course," the scientist replied.

"Good. Now, your payment."

Vesper handed him a hard drive. They shook hands.

And then, Vesper walked away.

I remained hidden, knowing I needed more intel before making a move.

The Harbingers weren't just planning a strike.

They were preparing for war.

And time was running out.