Godlike

Chapter 12

Isaac blinked slowly, his eyes adjusting to the sunlight streaming through the window. He groaned as he shifted, the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest and arm reminding him of his injuries. Memories of the last battle began to seep back into his mind like a slow tide, but instead of despair, a grin spread across his face.

He scanned the room and saw them—Malick, Janice, Elliot, and Giovanni—each resting on separate beds scattered around the room. The faint hum of the television played in the background. Isaac's attention was drawn to the news broadcast. A striking headline caught his eye: Hero X Resurfaces.

Before he could process it, the door creaked open. His grandmother entered, accompanied by a nurse.

"Grandma," Isaac croaked, his voice rough.

"Isaac." Her voice trembled as she fought back tears. She rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him in a trembling hug.

"Ouch," Isaac hissed, though a wry smile tugged at his lips. "Good to see you too, Grandma."

She pulled back, dabbing at her eyes. "I thought I'd lost you," she whispered.

"I'm tougher than I look," Isaac said, forcing a playful grin. "And you're looking well."

His grandmother stepped aside as the nurse approached. The young woman glanced nervously at Isaac. "It's an honor, Hero X. I'm glad to see you're recovering," she said, her tone reverent.

Isaac stiffened. For a moment, the room felt heavier. Words hovered on his tongue but refused to take form.

"The Colony knows you're alive now, Isaac," his grandmother said gently.

He remained silent.

"You don't seem… happy about that?" the nurse asked, studying his expression.

She continued before he could answer. "Now that the Colony knows you've returned, there's hope. People are optimistic about the changes you'll bring. Especially those from Nova. They're ecstatic. One of the most powerful figures in Sierra is back, standing for them." Her voice brimmed with hope.

A dry chuckle broke the moment. Giovanni, propped on a pillow, smirked from his bed.

"It's not that simple," he said, his voice rough but steady. "The people of Sierra don't change overnight. To them, the Novans are still pigs—lesser humans, if I can put it bluntly."

The nurse opened her mouth to protest, but Giovanni cut her off.

"And don't get me started on the so-called supporters. You think they're waiting for Isaac with open arms? The Red Veil crushed anyone who dared side with him. One by one, they were hunted down. He's got no one left."

Isaac's jaw tightened. "There's still someone who can help," he said quietly. "Lucien."

Giovanni let out a pained laugh, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Lucien? The General? You're serious?"

Isaac nodded. "He may be complicated, but his goals are the same—creating a utopia. I can reason with him."

"Reason with him?" Giovanni scoffed. "The General's calm demeanor is hanging by a thread, just like the Council's. Lucien's a ticking bomb, Isaac. The second he sees you—or anyone—as a threat, he'll crush you."

"I can convince him," Isaac said firmly.

Giovanni shook his head. "How? What will you do when it comes to defending your belief? Let's be real—you're not the hero people fear anymore. You barely managed to beat me, and I'm nowhere near Lucien's level. He's the strongest person in the Colony by a mile. What do you have that he doesn't?"

Lucien stepped out of his sleek corvette, the engine humming briefly before falling silent. A bouquet of red spider lilies hung loosely in his hand as he walked toward the cemetery gates. He noticed people filing out, their expressions tense, eyes darting as though fearing what lay behind them. Ignoring their whispers and sidelong glances, Lucien pressed forward, his sharp gaze scanning his surroundings.

When he reached the private section of the cemetery, the bouquet slipped from his hand, landing with a soft thud against the dirt. The sound drew the attention of a few lingering mourners, but Lucien's focus was fixed on the desecrated graves ahead—the shattered resting places of his fallen comrades.

A cold rage surged through him. His grip tightened around the hilt of his buzzing katana. Without a word, the heads of the four perpetrators rolled to the ground, their lifeless eyes staring into nothing. Calmly, Lucien wiped the blood from his blade using the suit of one of the fallen before sheathing it with a quiet click.

Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved his phone. His voice, when he spoke, was low and venomous.

"Did you do this?"

The person on the other end audibly swallowed before replying. "I-I'm sure you've heard by now… the news is everywhere. Isaac. He's alive. If you'd focused on finishing him—"

Lucien cut off the call, a weary smile flickering across his face before it dissolved into a cold, cynical laugh. He let his head tilt back slightly as the laughter rumbled from his chest.

"I tried to avoid this…" he muttered to himself, sliding the phone back into his pocket. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Guess I can't anymore.".

Moments LaterThe low rumble of Lucien's corvette echoed as it came to a halt in front of the Capital building. Armed officers stood in formation at the entrance, rifles raised, their tension palpable. It was clear they had been waiting for him.

Lucien didn't hesitate. As the first shot was fired, his perception of time slowed. The bullets seemed to crawl through the air, suspended by the trails of smoke still clinging to them. In a fluid motion, Lucien drifted between the gunfire, his movements so smooth that he left afterimages in his wake.

With a swift, precise motion, his katana gleamed in the dim light. The guards didn't even have time to react as their heads fell in unison, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground. Calmly, Lucien wiped the blood from his blade before stepping into the building.

The oppressive weight of his murderous aura filled the space, sending a ripple of panic through those still inside. The hall emptied as people scrambled to escape, the only sound a distant ding from the elevator.

The doors slid open, and a man stepped out. His black coat hung from his shoulders like a cape, his hands buried casually in the pockets of his white dress trousers. The dark blue dress shirt he wore hugged his athletic frame, every inch of him exuding confidence.

Lucien's sharp gaze flicked over him, but a single bead of sweat betrayed the tension he felt. He fought to keep his expression neutral as the man approached.

"Those bastards," Lucien muttered. "To think—"

"General Lucien," the man interrupted smoothly, his voice steady yet edged with excitement. "It's unfortunate that I'm your opponent today. Though, I must admit… I've always wanted to test myself against you." He tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Pardon me if I get too excited and don't hold back."

Lucien's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Harvey Flynn… the Number One Dominion-class Hero. Flattery won't save you. I'm sure you know that already. Let's get this over with."

The last word hadn't fully left his mouth when Harvey closed the gap between them in a blur. His fist lashed out, aimed directly for Lucien's head. Lucien sidestepped just in time, and the blow collided with the wall behind him, leaving a massive dent in the structure.

Lucien glanced at the damaged wall, then back at Harvey. "I've always wondered how you've managed to maintain this level of strength for over a decade. People who don't know you would never guess you're the father of four."

Harvey grinned, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Now, who's flattering who?"

Blue energy began to crackle and swirl around Harvey's hands, taking shape until two long, glowing polearms materialized, radiating raw power. He spun them effortlessly, their hum filling the air.

Lucien's hand drifted toward the hilt of his katana as he steadied his breathing. "Let's see if that strength is still enough to keep up with me."

Harvey lunged at Lucien, his twin polearms whirling with precision. Lucien dodged most of the strikes, his movements sharp and calculated, but Harvey's unrelenting offense left little room for counterattack. Spotting a brief opening in Harvey's stance, Lucien stepped in, delivering a heavy punch to Harvey's midsection. The impact was solid, forcing a grunt from Harvey, but he barely flinched. Using the momentum, Harvey swung one of his polearms in a wide arc, catching Lucien in the side and sending him crashing across the room.

Lucien groaned, rolling to his feet. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, wiping blood from his mouth.

BurstLucien dashed forward, his speed blurring the edges of his figure. Harvey swung for a clothesline with his polearm, aiming to intercept, but Lucien slipped beneath the attack with a well-timed duck. Now behind Harvey, Lucien's katana flashed as he went for a slash aimed at Harvey's back.

But Harvey reacted instantly, spinning out of range. In a fluid motion, the end of one of his polearms shifted, reshaping itself into a sharp, curved blade. The weapon lashed out, slicing into Lucien's arm as he tried to block the strike. Blood sprayed across the floor.

Harvey smirked, his voice dripping with disdain. "Oh, this is getting boring."

Lucien straightened, ignoring the pain in his arm.

Harvey continued, a dangerous glint in his eye. "Something tells me—no, I know—you're holding back. Maybe you're saving your strength for someone else? I hate when people don't fight me with everything they've got. Makes me want to kill them painfully."

Lucien chuckled, wiping at his arm as his wound began to close on its own. "Holding back? Of course, I'm holding back. Do you think I'd waste my full strength on fodder like you?"

Harvey's smirk faltered slightly as Lucien took a step closer, his voice laced with mockery. "A Dominion-class hero, revered as the pinnacle of human strength. The strongest class of heroes. And yet… there are six Dominion-class heroes across the four colonies, and you're one of them? Seems like they're handing out titles to just about anyone these days."

Lucien placed his hand over his wound, and in a flash, it fully closed, leaving no trace of injury.

Harvey's grin returned, but his tone betrayed a flicker of anger. "You've got a smart mouth, but we'll see if you're still talking after this." He tightened his grip on his polearms. "Guess I'll have to teach you some manners, boy."

Harvey dashed forward, the energy around one of his polearms shifting from blue to a searing crimson. He swung the first one as a feint, baiting Lucien. Lucien reacted, sidestepping directly into Harvey's trap. The second polearm struck him square in the chest, the impact like a hammer blow.

Detonate.

The polearm exploded on contact, the force of the blast sending Lucien hurtling backward, through the window. He crashed into the street below, shards of glass raining around him. Smoke billowed from the fresh burn on his chest.

Lucien barely had a chance to recover before three glowing swords of volatile energy hurtled toward him, slicing through the smoke from the explosion. He twisted and dodged, evading the deadly projectiles by a narrow margin.

Before he could create distance, Harvey appeared in a blur, his polearms already spinning.

"Where do you think you're going?" Harvey snarled, slamming the blunt end of one polearm into Lucien's ribs.

Detonate.

Another explosion followed, launching Lucien down the street. He skidded across the pavement, blood trailing behind him. When he finally came to a stop, he groaned and forced himself upright. One of his arms was missing, blown away in the blast, blood pouring freely from the wound.

Lucien glanced at his mangled body and exhaled sharply.

Reversal

Before Harvey could press the attack, Lucien's body began to repair itself. His severed arm sprouted back, flesh and bone regenerating in mere seconds. The burns on his chest faded, and the blood disappeared as his body returned to peak condition, like the injuries had never happened.

Harvey frowned, watching the display. "Your time dilation ability," he said,

"Stretching and compressing your perception of time to heal faster than anyone else… It's one hell of an ability. But abilities like that always have a price, don't they? A drawback. Some kind of limit."

Lucien didn't respond, only rolling his shoulders and gripping his katana.

Harvey grinned, raising his polearms as red energy crackled around them. "Well, lucky for me, I've got just the right power to push you past your limits. My psychic energy constructs are perfect for breaking people like you."

Lucien snorted, amusement flickering in his expression. "Don't make me laugh."

Harvey's grin widened. "Watch and be amazed."

The two lunged at each other once more, their attacks clashing with a ferocity that shook the ground around them.

Harvey raised his arms, summoning multiple red energy spheres. They materialized one after another, rapidly multiplying until the buildings behind him were entirely obscured by the volatile orbs, a sea of crimson destruction pulsating with raw power.

"I'll explode you out of existence," Harvey growled, his voice filled with cold malice.

Lucien attempted to move, but his body refused to cooperate. He froze in place as a wave of exhaustion crashed over him. A thin trickle of blood drizzled from his nose and fell onto the cracked ground.

"I… overused my healing technique," Lucien muttered, breathing heavily as his knees buckled. "Damn it. I've hit my limit. But if this is pushing me to my edge, then Harvey's burning through his energy too. I just need to survive long enough for the real fight… but first, I need to live."

Harvey's smirk widened. "Goodbye."

He unleashed the energy spheres, the volatile balls streaking toward Lucien in a wave of impending destruction.

Then, the world stopped.

Not just Lucien's perception of time—time itself froze. Smoke curling into the sky froze in midair. The crackling roar of flames turned to silence. The deadly energy balls hovered mid-flight, their radiance frozen in place.

Lucien staggered, his body trembling under the strain. He coughed violently, dark blood spilling from his mouth, his nose, his ears. His vision blurred as the toll of the technique consumed him.

"Tch…" he hissed through gritted teeth, wiping blood from his chin with a trembling hand. "This is why I hate using this damn technique. The toll it takes on me—and with only thirty seconds of control, it's more trouble than it's worth." He straightened, his knees still shaking. "But still…"

Lucien's lips curled into a faint, dangerous grin. "The dopamine rush of being godlike… is exhilarating."

In an instant, Lucien disappeared from his spot, reappearing silently behind Harvey's frozen figure. Time remained frozen, the world bathed in eerie silence as Lucien reached for one of Harvey's polearms, gripping it tightly.

"This is your own psychic energy," Lucien muttered, his tone mocking. "you'll survive the brunt of your own explosions. Lucky you."

Lucien plunged the polearm through Harvey's stomach with surgical precision, blood splattering in slow motion as the blade sank deep. With that, Lucien vanished again, leaving nothing but a whisper of movement.

Time resumed its flow.

The energy balls crashed down, detonating with an earth-shaking force. A series of chain explosions ripped through the area, obliterating buildings and shaking the colony to its core. Smoke and fire filled the air, the devastation swallowing everything in sight.

Far away, in another section of the colony, Lucien rematerialized. As soon as he reappeared, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. His body convulsed violently as he coughed up blood, staining the floor beneath him. His vision blurred as his entire body throbbed with pain.

A shadow loomed over him.

"You had all the fun without me," a familiar voice teased.

Lucien lifted his head, squinting to see Helen standing over him, her arms crossed, her tone playful but edged with seriousness.

"You're late," Lucien rasped.

Helen smirked. "My apologies. After I heard that Harvey Flynn was sent to delay you so the Council could escape, I had to follow them. It wasn't easy."

"You know where they are?" Lucien asked, his voice strained but resolute.

Helen nodded. "Of course."

Lucien forced himself upright, leaning against a nearby wall for support. Blood still dripped from his mouth, but his eyes burned with determination. "Good. Then let's take control of this city."

He straightened as best he could, staring at Helen.

"We've waited long enough."

Helen's smirk widened as she held out her hand to help him.

"Let's finish this."