"That was cool, Michael."
Sunlight broke through the dust. Through the shattered wall. Hit Alex's face.
Golden light. Traced his profile. Hair glowing.
That moment. He looked like a hero.
Michael swallowed the pill. Held Flora tight. Tears streaming.
"Thank you..."
Voice cracking.
"Hero."
Alex looked at him. Paused.
This scene... He'd seen it somewhere. One Punch Man? Maybe.
Felt... pretty good.
He waved. Turned away. Back to them. Silhouette against the light.
Mysterious. Profound.
Michael stared. That moment. He saw divinity.
Then—
PFFFFFFFFFFFT.
Loud. Very loud.
The atmosphere shattered.
Michael blinked. Flora blinked. The rescued people blinked.
Alex kept walking. Didn't look back.
"Gulu?" Pie bounced.
The hero's back. Still mysterious. Still profound.
Next instant.
Under Pie. JB screamed. Nearly flattened.
"RISE!"
Black tendrils exploded. Shot upward. Wrapped around Pie. WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH.
Lifting. Pulling JB out.
Michael's eyes widened. "LOOK OUT!"
