The Shard of Heroes

The sky of Nova Lumina shone a bright blue, almost unreal. White clouds, light as silk, floated over a seething city. On the giant screens of the buildings, a looped video showed a heroic scene: Solaris Bright, the "Symbol of Peace", descending gracefully into the middle of a crowded square, radiating its golden light. The delirious crowd cheered his name as he held a child in his arms, rescued from the flames of a collapsed building.

On the sidewalk, a group of young budding heroes watched the scene in awe.

" It is he..." the real hero! murmured a dishevelled boy, clutching his school bag to him.  Solaris Bright is unbeatable, her friend replied, a dreamy twinkle in her eyes.

At the top of the Tower of Heroes, the real Solaris, far from the triumphant video, contemplated the city through a tinted window. His pristine white cloak floated softly behind him. The luminous aura he exuded seemed natural, but it was only a calculated reflection of his power.

" Mr. Bright," a hesitant voice called from behind him.

He turned around slowly, offering his perfect smile to a young assistant in a suit.

"Yes?" "What's the matter?" asked Solaris, in a warm, almost paternal tone.

The assistant held out a file.

" It is... it's for the South End incident.

Solaris' smile froze for a moment. An imperceptible crack, but enough to betray something worrying. He took the file and opened it with a quick gesture. The first pages were reports on civilians who disappeared during the previous day's mission.

" How many know?" Solaris asked, his tone becoming icy.

"Only we—" For now.

Solaris fixed the numbers and photos in the folder. Nineteen victims. Nineteen faces that he had not been able to save... which he had perhaps sacrificed to avoid a greater catastrophe. But no one should have known this.

He closed the file abruptly and put a hand on the assistant's shoulder.

" Good. You did well to inform me of this. Now go. And he doesn't talk about it to anyone.

The assistant nodded frantically and slipped away. Solaris, alone, let his smile fade. In the silence of his office, his brilliance seemed to diminish slightly.

Not far away, on the opposite side of the shiny city, shadows stretched between dilapidated buildings. Screams resounded, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

A masked man, his eyes wide with fear, was running for his life. Behind him, a dark figure was advancing slowly but surely. Shadows danced around this figure, moving and unpredictable.

" Stop there!" shouted the masked man, pointing a trembling pistol at his pursuer.

The figure stopped. A deep voice, tinged with irony, was raised:

"A pistol?" Oh, really? What year are we in?

The man pulled the trigger, but a shadow burst forth, grabbing the weapon and crushing it in an instant. The man fell to his knees, begging.

" Mercy! I didn't want to... it was only a delivery...

The darkness faded slightly, revealing Umbros Kyne. His piercing eyes shone coldly, and a sinister smile stretched his face. His long black cloak, tattered at the ends, undulated around him like a living being.

" A delivery, eh?" So why were there explosives in it?

The man was trembling, unable to answer. Umbros heaved an exasperated sigh and took a step back, loosening his grip on the shadows.

" You know what?" Tell your boss that if he wants to destroy this city, he'll have to do better than that.

He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the man in tears on the floor. Once out of sight, Umbros ran a hand through his hair, tired.

" And of course, I'm still the one who will be blamed for all the evils..." as usual.

He continued his way through the dark alleys, gradually disappearing into the darkness.

Meanwhile, in the heart of Nova Lumina, an alarm sounds at the Hero Agency. An explosion was reported in the Central District. Solaris, regaining its perfect brilliance, immediately appeared on the main screen.

" It's time to shine," he said to himself, putting his cloak back on.

At the same time, Umbros Kyne, still in his alleys, felt an unusual tension in the air. He looked up at the sky, where a flash of light was beginning to dominate the horizon.

" Ah, Solaris... he murmured with an ironic smile. Still saving the day?

And for the first time in years, their paths were going to cross.

The Central District was a bubbling mix of modern technology and historic districts, a symbol of the coexistence between the past and the future. But today, a cloud of black smoke disfigured the sky. The explosion had left a gaping crater in the heart of a crowded square. Panicked passers-by ran in all directions, their cries piercing the din of sirens.

Among them, a young woman was making her way against the tide. Valeria Ashthorn, her hair tied back in a hurry and dressed in her gray jumpsuit, rushed into the chaos. Small embers danced around his hands, ready to turn into flames if necessary.

" Stand back!" Go to the safe areas! she shouted to a group of civilians paralyzed by fear.

Another explosion sounds nearby, sending debris into the air. Valeria quickly created a wall of compact ash to protect civilians. She winced under the effort but remained standing.

A thud caught his attention. A section of wall, weakened by the explosion, was slowly collapsing, threatening to crush a family trapped in a corner of the square. Valeria gritted her teeth, gathering her strength.

" No, not now. Not like that!

But before she can act, a bright light bursts forth from the sky. Solaris Bright appeared, descending gracefully. His cloak fluttered majestically, and his reassuring smile immediately calmed the crowd. With a precise gesture, he raised a hand. A wave of golden light emanated from him, pulverizing the debris before it hit the ground.

" All is well now!" he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the surrounding loudspeakers.

The crowd erupted in applause, with some civilians kneeling as if they were in the presence of a god. Valeria, panting, recoiled into the shadows. She clenched her fists in silence.

" Always him... she whispered, the bitter taste of frustration on her lips.

Nearby, Umbros Kyne was watching from an adjacent rooftop. The applause and acclamations drew a sarcastic smile from him. He crossed his arms, his eyes piercing the flashes of light to observe Solaris in the middle of the crowd.

" Always the same spectacle... A grand entrance, a few heroic moves, and presto, everyone forgets that there's still a problem to solve.

He looked away from the golden hero to focus on the other side of the square, where the explosion seemed to have been triggered. His shadows stretched around him, winding along the walls and gliding into the dark corners.

" Let us see what is found here."

As he silently descended into the alleys, Umbros discovered a series of homemade detonators. They were strategically placed, forming a pattern that he recognized immediately.

" Amateurs... but effective.

He heard voices in the distance. Hiding in the shadows, he observed a small group of men in black suits. One of them was holding a device, visibly nervous.

" We shouldn't have!" Solaris is here now!

" Shut up and prepare the second device," replied another, calmer.

Umbros frowned. He held out a hand, and the shadows gently wrapped around the men, trapping them without a sound. They struggled, but he tightened his grip just enough to get their attention.

" What's the plan?" he asked, his voice echoing in the darkness.

The men exchanged terrified looks.

" Answer, or I'll let the shadows show you how uncomfortable they can be."

" It was just a diversion!" The real objective is... The most nervous hesitated before continuing. The Tower of Heroes!

Meanwhile, Solaris was finishing calming the crowd. His smile remained intact, but inside, it was bubbling up. He knew something was wrong. The explosion had been too carefully planned to be a mere isolated act of terror.

As he looked up, his gaze met Umbros's, standing on a nearby rooftop. Their eyes locked like two predators evaluating each other.

" You here..." Solaris murmured, her smile flickering slightly. He raised his voice. Umbros Kyne, you don't belong here! Leave the area immediately before I'm forced to act!

Umbros raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth stretching into a mocking smile.

" Still as dramatic, Solaris. Maybe you should ask yourself why I'm here before you threaten me.

Solaris stepped forward, the light around him intensifying.

" You sow fear and destruction wherever you go. Why should I believe that your intentions are pure this time?

Umbros shook his head slowly.

" Believe in my intentions?" Hilarious, coming from you.

Before Solaris could respond, another explosion shook the city. This time, she came from the direction of the Tower of Heroes. Solaris immediately turned his head, his smile disappearing for good.

" No...

Umbros raised a finger, pointing in the direction of the explosion.

" And there you go." While you're shining here, Solaris, they're attacking there. But don't worry, you can always save the day... late.

Solaris clenched his fists, his luminous aura flickering slightly.

" Don't underestimate me.

He launched himself into the air, his brilliance illuminating the skies, leaving Umbros alone in the shadows.

Umbros watched the hero disappear, arms crossed.

" Go and play saviour, then." I'm going to deal with the real threats.

He in turn disappeared into the darkness, heading towards the Tower of Heroes by paths that Solaris could not reach.

The Tower of Heroes, Nova Lumina's iconic landmark, stood as a symbol of justice and order. Its walls, made of glass and metal, shimmered in the sunlight, an ode to the technological and architectural prowess of modern society. But today, the symbol was wavering. A massive explosion had opened a chasm in its side, leaving entire floors exposed.

Inside, the alarm sounded relentlessly. Heroes, interns and employees fled in panic, some trying to contain the rapidly spreading flames.

At the top of the tower, in a conference room turned improvised headquarters, Magnate Creed, the influential politician and president of the Council of Heroes, stared at the surveillance screens with cold anger.

" How did that happen?" Where are the heroes on duty?! he yelled, banging his fist on the table.

A young analyst, visibly overwhelmed, replied in a trembling voice:

" We were taken by surprise, sir." The attackers used drones and explosives to neutralize our main defenses.

Magnate turned to the other members of the council, all of whom were silent and tense.

" Call Solaris!" He is our best asset. He must deal with this situation before the media makes a scandal out of it.

A beam of light crossed the sky, shining like a meteor. Solaris Bright appeared above the ruins of the Tower, his golden glow illuminating the debris below. He descended with precision, landing in the middle of the flames. The remaining civilians screamed his name with relief, as if his mere presence was enough to turn the tide.

He raised a hand, and a wave of golden light spread around him, smothering the flames within a radius of several meters.

" Everyone, follow me!" I'll guide you to the exit! he announced in a resonant voice.

The civilians obeyed immediately, gathering behind him. But as he led them out of danger, his gaze was constantly drawn to the heights of the Tower. Something was wrong.

A trainee hero, wounded but conscious, rushed towards him.

" Solaris! This is not a simple attack. They... they are looking for the archives of heroes! They want classified data.

Solaris felt a tension grow in his stomach. The archive contained sensitive information about every hero recorded, including himself. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it could be disastrous.

He placed a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder.

" I'll take care of it." Rest.

Then, with a bound, he darted to the upper floors, leaving a trail of light behind him.

Meanwhile, in the basement of the Tower, Umbros Kyne was silently moving forward. The shadows that surrounded him seemed to swallow him completely, making him almost invisible in the darkness. He had already neutralized several attackers, leaving them unconscious and tied up in dark corners.

His thoughts were clear:

" They don't seek to destroy... They want to steal something. But what?

He arrived in a large underground room. Computer terminals were flashing, and in the center, a group of attackers was busy around a massive server. A towering man, dressed in black armor and wielding an energy hammer, seemed to be directing the operation.

"Hurry,"  he ordered his subordinates. We have little time before Solaris gets involved.

Umbros smiled amused in the shadows.

" Bad luck... it is I whom you have on your back.

He held out a hand, and the shadows suddenly burst forth, wrapping around the attackers and the machines. The electric cables crackled, and several men were thrown to the ground.

The man with the hammer turned abruptly, looking for the source of the attack.

" Who's there?" Show yourself!

Umbros slowly emerged from the darkness, his figure draped in his undulating cloak.

" You know, I'm starting to think that I have to open an anti-crime agency for myself. It would be easier than cleaning up behind your...

Before he could finish, the hammer man charged, swinging his weapon with raw power. Umbros deftly dodged, his shadows wrapping around the hammer to absorb some of the impact.

" Oh, you're the direct type. "I like it," Umbros said, his shadows forming spikes to counterattack.

The fight was intense, a mixture of brute force and tactical maneuvers. The ground shook under the blows of the hammer, while Umbros used his agility and shadows to immobilize his opponents.

On the upper floors, Solaris finally reached the archive room. He found a group of attackers trying to break into the system. With a single movement, he threw a blinding light that disarmed them and sent them flying against the walls.

" It's over," he said, his golden aura shining intensely.

But as he secured the room, a familiar voice interrupted him.

" Not yet.

Solaris turned to see Umbros enter the room, dragging the unconscious hammer man behind him.

" Umbros... Solaris narrowed his eyes. Are you involved in this attack?

" I?" Umbros replied, raising his hands. Not at all. But as usual, I'm the one who does all the dirty work.

Solaris did not let his guard down, his light intensifying.

" Why are you here?"

Umbros folded his arms, his shadows gently folding around him.

" Someone had to make sure that these fools didn't get their hands on your secrets. It looks like it's done.

A tense silence settled. Solaris stared at Umbros, torn between distrust and confusion.

" Do you expect me to believe you?"

Umbros shrugged.

" Honestly, no. But think about it: if I wanted to destroy this city, I wouldn't start by helping you.

Solaris' gaze flickered for a split second, but he didn't answer.

Solaris Bright, still surrounded by his golden aura, did not take his eyes off Umbros Kyne. The silence in the archive room was almost deafening, broken only by the crackling of burnt cables. Solaris, a symbol of light and order, and Umbros, the elusive shadow, stood face to face for the first time in years without any immediate attack being launched.

" I should stop you here and now," Solaris said, his tone firm.

Umbros laughed briefly, a mixture of sarcasm and provocation.

" Really?" With everything that's going on here? Good luck. But if you have five minutes to spare to fight me, go for it. Meanwhile, your real enemies will gain the upper hand.

Solaris hesitated. It was a truth that was hard to ignore. His posture remained rigid, but his brightness diminished slightly, as if he were taking time to think.

" Why are you really here, Umbros?" You have nothing to gain by protecting this tower... to protect these people.

Umbros rolled his eyes, his shadows floating around him like lazy waves.

" Maybe I just like to make your life difficult." Or maybe I'm tired of seeing fools play the big bad guys for the sake of destroying everything.

He approached slowly, putting his foot on a piece of twisted metal.

" And you, Solaris?" Why are you here? Because you still believe in your little fairy tale of justice? Or because you don't want your secrets to come out in the open?

Solaris clenches his fists.

" I protect this city." Which you will never understand.

Umbros laughed, but there was nothing joyful about the sound.

" To protect her?" You protect your image, not this city. But hey, keep believing your own lie. It seems to work for everyone.

Solaris stepped forward menacingly, but a new alarm sounded, interrupting their exchange.

" The security systems are breaking down!" A robotic voice shouted over the speakers. Perimeter compromised.

Solaris turned to the main screen, where a video showed a horde of armed drones deploying outside the tower.

Umbros sighed and cracked his fingers.

" Well, we could talk for a long time, but it seems that we have work."

Solaris looked at him incredulously.

" You suggest that we... work together?

" I suggest that we survive." You can save the innocent. I'm going to take care of the bad guys. It's up to me.

For the first time, Solaris really hesitated. Then, with a heavy sigh, he nodded.

" Very well. But I'm keeping an eye on you.

" Reassuring," Umbros replied with a smirk. So do I, by the way.

Outside the tower, the armed drones deployed by the attackers caused panic in the crowd. These sophisticated machines, equipped with machine guns and impulse projectiles, attacked everything that moved. The overwhelmed mid-level heroes tried in vain to limit the damage.

Solaris rushed first, flashing through the shattered windows.

" Civilians, get away!" he shouted, using a wave of light to neutralize the nearest drones.

His every move was precise, his golden glow shining like a beacon of hope. But the number of drones seemed endless, and even he couldn't stop them all.

Meanwhile, Umbros Kyne infiltrated the remaining attackers, who coordinated the drones from a mobile checkpoint hidden in a truck a few blocks away. The shadows around him formed a moving barrier, protecting him from bullets.

" Gentlemen, you should have been more discreet," he said, jumping into the truck.

The men panicked and tried to flee, but the shadows had already closed in on them. Umbros needed only a few seconds to disable the central drone system.

" And there you go." More toys.

The machines in the sky fell one after the other, like shooting stars going out. Solaris, seeing the danger dissipating, guided the last civilians to safety before reaching Umbros near the truck.

As they stood in the deserted street, Solaris stared at Umbros with a heavy stare.

" You may have helped today..." But that doesn't change anything. You remain a threat.

Umbros shrugged, his casual smile masking visible fatigue.

" Oh, believe me, I'm not trying to become your boyfriend. But think about it, Solaris: if I, a so-called villain, do more for this city than your dear heroes... What does that say about you?

Solaris did not answer. His eyes shone for a moment with an indecipherable brilliance, but he turned on his heel, walking away in tense silence.

Umbros, alone again, looked up at the sky.

" The twilight of symbols, eh?" It may be closer than they think.

Then, enveloped in his shadows, he disappeared.