Seven Heroes Redux

Slade's body healed after a few hours, thanks to the 7-Up.

Where was I again? Oh, I forgot to mention the potion called 7-Up! It strengthens the user's physical and mental abilities. There are seven levels of it, but it can be trained and maxed out, or just used at its minimum, which is still very strong. It does not count as a power.

I think that's it about the basics of being a hero... uhh, where should I skip now... here!

— Kataki-chan!

I run towards her, smiling. I'm in the main building of the association, a huge black cube made up of smaller cubes.

Wait, something's wrong. She heard me, why is she not looking at me? I try to place my hand on her shoulder, concerned.

— Kataki-

She refuses it with a slap. Huh?

— Yu-chan- Yuto, I'm going to do a surgery.

— A surgery? What happened?

— It's an experiment, actually. They didn't tell me much, I'm just going to have to lie down on the gurney and wait for the process to finish. They said that I will gain a new power and become much stronger. I'll be able to protect everyone now, including you.

What is she talking about? Out of nowhere, a surgery? What happened?

— Kataki-chan, look into my eyes. You don't need to protect anyone but yourself. I will protect you, no matter what.

— Yu-chan…

It's working! I'm in the right path...

— So promise me you'll come back safe and sound. If you stop being you, I don't know what I'm going to do.

— Y-Yes! I promise I'll be back, so don't worry about me. And I'll come back much stronger, so we'll never be in danger in this cursed city again!

The metal door next to us opens, revealing an older woman. She wears a lab coat, so she's probably the scientist in charge of this project. She wears glasses, has dark circles under her eyes, and has short, spiky light blue and molten acid green hair.

— Slade, the preparations are all ready, now we will wait for you in the operating room, on the other side of this door.

— Right! It's my time to go now, Yu-chan. And remember, I'll be back no matter what!

— Of course you will! Don't lose hope, I'll always be waiting for you, it's a promise!

We intertwine our pinkies and form an unbreakable promise.

She didn't come back.

What happened?

Kataki-chan, are you okay?

— Yuto, I'll leave for a second, okay? Please stay home.

— Huh? Sister, what is happening? Are you trying to distance yourself from me?

— Uh? No, that's not it.

— Sorry, I was overthinking... but why have you been going out so much lately?

— I'm just taking care of business, brother. Nothing serious.

— What kind of business?

— ...

— Come on, tell me. We're family, remember? We shouldn't hide anything from each other.

— Yuto, when you talk like that...

She blushes for some reason.

— Huh? Did I say something embarrassing?

— N-No, not really. I'm planning a raid on the association's main building.

— That huge black cube? Why?

— You always wanted to be a hero, right? Turns out they're more villains than heroes.

— If it's you who's saying that, I trust you. I knew something strange was hidden in the system.

— That's why I want you to stay home. Please, brother, let me take care of everything.

— That's an offer I can't accept, sis. Let me join in on the raid.

— No, Yuto, you don't understand...

— You're the one underestimating me, sister. If I'm alone, I can take care of myself. If we're together, we're invincible.

— But...

— Please, sister. We need to show the world what they are hiding.

— ...

She accepted, so now we're on a beach. Wait, what?

— Yuto, I'll get some coconut water, do you want one?

— I would love one!

It seems like we're both nervous about what's to come.

She comes back with only one coconut and one straw.

— Sis, didn't you forget to get mine?

— Of course not. We're brothers, so it's okay to use the same straw, right?

I guess we both need to relax. The world is not against us. Not yet.

— Of course there is a problem! That's unsanitary and, well... you know...

She comes closer to me, trying to force me to use the straw.

— "You know..." what? Come on, drink this, bro.

So this is just a random beach episode, you know. Easing the mind and body works wonders.

— W-Wait, sis!

She doesn't stop. I slap the coconut, kind of desperate. It falls and spills water on her body.

— Ara ara...

— S-Sorry for that, but please stop treating me like... like a...

— Alright, sorry, I'm gonna take a towel. Speaking of that, can I use yours?

— No!

— Okay~

As she turns to walk, she bumps into a woman wearing a white dress and a matching hat, a hat worn on beaches to protect the head. She has short, dark blue hair and wears sunglasses.

She drops the bag she was holding, as well as several papers that were inside it. My sister helps her up and puts all the papers in the bag. She apologizes and the woman walks away.

— Wait a second, that's weird.

Before I know it, my sister has her hand around the woman's neck, squeezing.

— Sister?! What do you think you are doing?!

— What's the point of someone bumping into me, dropping a bunch of papers, which would be of no use on a beach, and walking in another direction? What are you up to? If you don't say it in 4 seconds, say bye bye. Oh wait, you can't.

— Kanata! Stop it already! This must be a misunderstanding! Maybe she's blind and didn't know where she was going!

— But, Yuto, she…

— Release the girl now!

She lets go of the woman, who walks away, struggling to breathe.

— Sister, you have to stop attacking innocent people!

— But, Yuto, don't you agree that that was very suspicious?

— That's no reason! Look me in the eyes and make me a promise: never do that again!

— I don't know if I'll be able to keep that promise-

— Promise it, now! Or I won't forgive you.

— Right… I promise not to hurt innocent people again.

— Alright, sis, I forgive you. It's alright now.

October 31, 2041. Halloween, the night my sister chose to break into the headquarters. While the authorities were distracted, we broke in.

— Nice to meet you, I'm Stalor and this girl next to me, 4-S.

My sister walks forward.

— Yuto, Stalor is the third level 7. 4-S is the fourth.

So they're stronger than Kataki... If my sister trusts them, I trust them.

Stalor is a boy, about 17 years old, who has dark green hair. Only one eye of the same color as his hair is visible, as the right one is covered by bangs. He is wearing a simple purple and blue shirt and shorts. His futuristic white sneakers do not match the rest.

4-S is a girl with long, light blue hair. Her bangs are long, covering part of her face. She has scars all over her body and wears a hospital gown and slippers.

— Nice to meet you. You must be much stronger than me, so I feel safer having you around.

— Our differences aren't that big, Yuto. In the battle we had with Sage, I was blinded in my right eye and Spectrum lost her hearing. But if we are four against one, we will certainly win.

Sage... If I'm not mistaken, he's the second strongest. My sister can probably beat him on her own, but it's nice to have some help.

— My power is Matter. I can change the composition and physical state of anything nearby.

Stalor punches the wall. It phases through it, but nothing breaks.

— So I can walk through walls or just turn them into air.

He swings his hand inside the wall. Part of it disappears.

— Like this. I can do infinite damage, but at a short range. 4-S's power is Distance.

Somehow, everything between us and her stretches a lot.

— She can also use the principles of the fourth dimension.

— Wow...

— Our powers are very useful, but your sister can beat us in a second. So you don't need to worry about us going against you.

We started walking down very long corridors. There is no one here, probably because they knew about the attack beforehand. Who could have reported it? My sister comments:

— The pawns reported us, just as I expected. Now we have the whole building for ourselves.

Wait, pawns? You recruited more people?

We continue the search. Stalor stops next to a metal door.

— Guys, look.

He takes a flash drive out of his pocket.

— With this, we can hack into the computers and get some valuable information.

Stalor phases through the door. 4-S distorts the space and enters the room.