The super returned to the Earth, slowly landing on the ground. The glow faded from them as both Xiong Huang and the Earth withdrew their power. The light around the tree began to fade, and the shield around the Earth faded from the sky. Xiong Huang walked over to Bob with a big smile on her face.

And then she froze in place.

She started to remember the past few minutes…

And all the things she had said during this battle.

 

Out loud.

 

At the top of her lungs.

 

In front of everyone.

 

Including former disciples.

 

And those brats she trained.

 

And Bob.

 

Xiong Huang’s face went bright red.

 

She quickly spun around, hiding her face from everyone.

 

“T-That…I-I…”

 

Bob shook his head and chuckled. He took a step forward and opened his mouth when…

 

“I-I’M GOING TO GO BEAT THAT STUPID ALIEN EMPIRE!”

 

Xiong Huang yelled and leapt into the air, immediately vanishing from everyone’s sight.

 

“I lo…ah, there she goes…I didn’t expect her of all people to run away.”

 

Londyn took a step forward. She took a deep breath.

 

“...Bob?”

 

“Yes?”

 

She heaved a sigh.

 

“Look Bob, I have a lot I want to say about recent events.”

 

“I’m sure.”

 

A vein bulged on her forehead but she let it go with a sigh.

 

“...I’ll just say this for now. For the sake of the world…please keep her happy. I do NOT want to deal with a tantrum from that one.”

 

“No.”

 

“No?!”

 

Bob looked up at the sky where Xiong Huang had vanished.

 

“I’ll make her happy because I want to. Because I love her.”

 

Londyn just stared at Bob with eyes half open.

Bob thought about what he had just said.

He groaned, and averted Londyn’s gaze.

She just turned around and walked away, massaging her temples with her eyes closed.

 

“Great. Just great. The fate of the world now depends on two cheesy lovebirds who can cause global Armageddon on a whim. And now I have to go and somehow explain things to the politicians and why we can’t do anything about the guy who stole all the nukes since his psycho girlfriend will kill us all. And if I tell them the actual reason they’ll jump on me since I knew you all along and just let you run around. Great. Just great. Bob, I hate you. I really hate you. You’re the worst. The absolute worst!”

 

At that moment Londyn happened to walk in front of Arachnalich.

The two locked eyes for a moment, speaking without words.

A contest of wills as leader of hero and villain glared at one another.

 

And then…

 

The two women gripped each other’s arms in a firm handshake.

 

“Bob?”

 

“Bob.”

 

The meeting of the Director of the International League of Superheroes and the Chairwoman of the Association of Villains and Superbeings would be recorded as a historic moment, a fated meeting that would define the negotiations and events that followed. A poetic meeting that tickled the fancy of all who heard of it, of how the bonds forged in battle had overcome even the rift between hero and villain and paved the way for understanding and cooperation.

What history would not record was the preceding drinking session shared by the newly founded Society for the Victims of Bob, as the two drunk founders poured out all their frustrations at that stupid faceless minion who left them with mountains of work and then ran off with his psycho girlfriend. They left that night fully resolved and united in purpose.

 

They would make Bob work if it was the last thing they did!

 

---

 

Icy Rose and Dark Rose stood in front of the block of ice. Icy Rose had fallen to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. Dark Rose was looking at the ground, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists as his eyes watered.

Then he heard footsteps.

Arvid stepped towards him. He held Dark Rose’s gaze and then glanced at Icy Rose. Dark Rose frowned…and then shook his head. Arvid gave him a sad smile and pat his shoulder, then walked over to Icy Rose.

 

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

 

She burst into tears.

 

“This…this is all my fault…again…if I had been stronger…if I hadn’t been there…he would’ve…”

 

Arvid took a deep breath.

 

“Constanza Rubio, you are wrong.”

 

She froze.

 

“Take a look at his face.”

 

In her shock, she followed Arvid’s command, looking up at Icy Falcon’s face. His face now forever locked in a peaceful smile.

 

“I do not know this man, but his face tells me all I need to know. This was not your fault. This was his choice. And you can see on his face, he had no regrets. He did what needed to be done, what he wanted to do. It did not matter if you were here or not. He would have made his choice all the same. If anything, I think he would have been glad he could do it for you.”

 

Arvid stepped around her and pulled her to her feet, looking into her eyes. He gave her a soft smile and pat her shoulder once more.

 

“Go ahead. It is right to weep, to mourn his passing. But do not disregard the choice he made, the person he was in his final moments. And do not sully his sacrifice by disparaging yourself. Honor him by living on, as he would’ve wanted.”

 

She looked at him for a moment and then slowly nodded her head, tears filling her eyes. She burst into sobbing once more. He gently pat her shoulder as she wept.

 

Dark Rose rubbed his eyes as well, heaving a sigh.

He wished it could be him.

But how could he?

It was because he worked for a villain that Constanza’s heart was wounded.

He would just be glad that someone was there for her.

But he couldn’t bring himself to watch. And he was still sorting out his heart regarding Icy Falcon as well. The man he had looked up to. The man who had hurt Constanza. The man who wounded her heart, and then helped it to heal. The man who gave his life to protect her.

For now, he would simply mourn the hero’s passing, and return to where he now belonged.

He turned from the pair and walked away, returning to where his team was gathered, as well as the rest of Aurora Legion and the Nova Guardians.

 

And that Nemesis bunch.

 

His eyes landed upon a certain kunoichi. He rubbed his head…and then made up his mind.

 

He was too curious not to ask.

 

“Hey.”

 

She jumped.

 

“Oh um…An…Dark Rose-sen…um, san? H-How can I help you?”

 

“Um, have we met before? I don’t think we’ve been introduced.”

 

She squealed slightly at that.

 

“N-No! W-We’ve definitely never met before. I-I…um…j-just happen to be a fan! Yes, that’s right! I, uh, heard about the new hero team!”

 

Teslida crossed her arms.

 

“She call you Antonio-senpai before, yes? I think she is lying.”

 

Crystal Guardian nodded.

 

“Yeah, that’s kind of weird when you think about it.”

 

El Mantis nodded as well.

 

“She does seem strangely familiar…”

 

PSI Omega simply smirked.

 

And then the gears in Antonio’s head turned, the boy’s experience as an ILS analyst (in training) going to work.

A girl who knew his name.

Who called him senpai.

And who was very accurate with a gun.

His eyes widened.

 

“Emao?”

 

She jumped again.

 

“I-I-I d-d-d-don’t know what you’re talking about?! I-I’ve n-never even heard of an Emao!”

 

Elise, Saydaa, and Kiyosuke simply watched as Nana was cornered by the Nova Guardians. Saydaa leaned over to Elise.

 

“Um, should we help her, or something?”

 

“Negative. Explanation: Nana is simply receiving justice for traitorous behavior.”

 

Aurora Legion also realized what was going on. Wonder Knight and Pink Star just glanced at each other, eyes wide. Voidspeaker was frowning, the gears in his head…still turning. And then they clicked together.

 

“WHAT THE HECK?! EMAO WORKS FOR NEMESIS?!”

 

Well, suffice to say it was no longer a secret. To anyone in hearing distance. A certain man in an armored suit in the distance just held his head and sighed.

 

Chronolock, on the other hand?

 

Chronolock’s eyes narrowed as she started to grin.

 

“Oh?”

 

She vanished and appeared next to Nana with a flash, gripping her arm.

 

Hard.

 

“Hello Emao. I believe I told you I better see you online. And then never saw you again. And now I’ve found you. So not only did you break our promise, but you went ahead and started playing against me, huh? Let’s have a little chat, shall we?”

 

Nana began to tremble, her face drenched in sweat. She wanted to point out that she had not actually agreed to any such promise but her shinobi intuition told her such details would not help her situation.

 

“Correction: Intervention is now necessary.”

 

Elise vanished and appeared on Nana’s other side in a puff of smoke, also gripping the kunoichi’s arm.

 

“Possessive Statement: Friendly Nana belongs to Nemesis. Noob Chronolock should find simulation participants among own allies.”

 

“What happens in game stays in game, there’s no heroes or teams there, you cheating bot. Emao started playing with me first, so her promise to me takes precedence.”

 

“Counter Argument: Friendly Nana made no such promise to noob Chronolock. She in fact, made a promise to this unit. Her loyalty lies here.”

 

“Does it now? So you’re betraying me, huh Emao?”

 

Nana jumped at being addressed.

 

“Observation: Friendly Nana cannot betray noob Chronolock, as they were never truly aligned. Former traitor Nana already betrayed this unit. I will not permit a second betrayal.”

 

“You understand, right, Emao? Tell this bot that we’re playing together and that’s that.”

 

“Warning: This unit advises potential traitor Nana against further betrayal. Please inform noob Chronolock of your true loyalties.”

 

“I…I…I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”

 

Suddenly a puff of smoke covered Nana, leaving Chronolock and Elise holding branches attached to a log.

Chronolock and Elise both stared at the log and then at each other.

 

“...hunt her down?”

 

“...affirmative.”

 

Wonder Knight, Pink Star, Kiyosuke, Saydaa, and the Nova Guardians all exchanged glances.

They all nodded.

And Crystal Guardian pushed Dark Rose forward.

 

“You should, um, probably help her, or something.”

 

“What? Why me?”

 

El Mantis avoided his gaze.

 

“You, um, met Emao first, didn’t you? You were closest to her, you know?”

 

“Why not Void? Didn’t she help you the most?! Don’t you owe her now?!”

 

“Don’t look at me, bro! I’m obviously partial here!”

 

“Then…what about her actual teammates?! She actually had her own team, didn’t she?”

 

Kiyosuke just shrugged while Saydaa shook her head hard.

 

“Oh no. I am not getting in the way of killer robot girl. Nope. She’s on her own here.”

 

“Then what about…”

 

Right…Icy Rose was still grieving for Icy Falcon. And the last member of Emao’s team was with her.

 

He glanced at Wonder Knight, the leader of the team! The face of the new generation! The man with a plan!

Wonder Knight just averted his gaze.

 

As Dark Rose processed the betrayal, he glanced at Pink Star.

She just shrugged.

 

“I make it a point not to get involved with Chrono’s gaming.”

 

He turned to Teslida…

She just smirked at him.

 

In desperation…he glanced at PSI Omega.

She also just smirked at him, and gave him a thumbs up for some reason?

 

Dark Rose let out a sigh.

 

And so the only person among the group with zero superpowers of his own found himself trying to pacify a killer cyborg and a girl who can manipulate time, while a teary-eyed ninja sniper hid behind his back.

 

Scenes like this played out all over. Baba Yaga joined a group of cackling witches before Ivan ran up to her and wrapped her in a hug. The otters bowed and rejoiced at the return of their king. Dr. Ueda and Dr. Iwalani wrapped Councilwoman Dayal in a hug of their own, a tree branch reaching up from the ground to join them. Tesla Titan…may have been kidnapped actually.

The ILS and AVS eyed each other warily, but none felt any wish to fight any more that day. They turned and departed in different directions, with silent nods and weary sighs.

And so hero and villain agreed upon a truce for the day, save for two young exceptions. The tired but victorious defenders of the Earth could finally rest, and make their way home.

 

Well, after grabbing every last piece of Vophae tech in sight that is…