The roar of engines tore through the city streets as a man sped through traffic, his hands trembling slightly on the steering wheel.
Behind him, weaving through cars like a predator hunting its prey, a woman on a bike chased him down relentlessly.
Her green hair flowed wildly from beneath her hood as she leaned low over the bike, revving the engine louder, pushing it beyond its limits.
"Damn it—!" the man muttered, glancing nervously into the rearview mirror.
The woman surged forward, overtaking multiple cars in a blur. With one hand gripping the handlebar, she lifted her other arm and pointed directly at the fleeing vehicle.
Her fingers shifted—thumb and pinky extending unnaturally—forming the shape of a bow. A glowing blue string of energy stretched between them.
Without slowing down, she pulled back.
FWANG!
A streak of blue energy shot forward.
The arrow pierced through the car effortlessly.
Then another.
And another.
The vehicle lost control instantly. The engine sputtered, the brakes failed, and the steering locked.
"No—NO—!"
The car veered violently, smashing through the railing of the bridge.
And plummeted.
BOOOOM!
Flames erupted from below as the explosion echoed across the water.
The green-haired woman slowed her bike, stopping just long enough to watch the burning wreckage. Her arm shifted back to normal, the glow fading from her fingers.
"…Target eliminated."
Without another word, she turned her bike and sped away.
High above, on a nearby building, a different scene had already played out.
Arata—dressed in his Novabel outfit—stood calmly, holding the unconscious man who had been driving the car just seconds before it exploded.
The man's grip on a briefcase was still tight, even in his unconscious state.
"…Too predictable," Arata muttered.
With a flicker of blue light—Whoosh!
Both of them vanished.
Inside the Nova-Drive, the atmosphere was tense.
David drove the vehicle swiftly through the main road, though from the outside, thanks to chameleon mode, it appeared as nothing more than an ordinary van.
"Two hours to Klayd," David said, eyes fixed on the road.
Arata nodded slightly as he sat beside him.
Behind them, Melissa took the briefcase from Arata and immediately began inspecting it.
Tobita gently placed the unconscious man across the back seat.
"Rest well, sir," Tobita said politely, adjusting him so he wouldn't fall.
Melissa suddenly paused.
"…Found something."
Everyone looked at her.
She pressed along the inner lining of the briefcase and pulled open a hidden compartment.
Inside were two objects—a small pendrive…and a strange puzzle-like device.
Arata reached for the puzzle while speaking calmly, "Melissa, Aiba—check the pendrive."
"On it!" Melissa replied, already handing it to Aiba.
Aiba booted up her mini computer, plugging the pendrive in as lines of data flooded the screen.
Meanwhile, Arata turned the puzzle in his hands, studying it carefully.
Krrr—"Arata," Kaina's voice crackled through the Nova-Drive's communication system. "The bike woman escaped. She boarded a helicopter—heading straight to Klayd."
Arata didn't even look up. "…As expected."
"Return for now."
"Roger that."
The line cut off.
Aiba's expression changed rapidly as she scrolled through the files.
"These guys are sick in the head…!" she said, her voice shaking. "They're planning to bomb multiple major countries using those gas bombs—and take out the strongest heroes along with entire populations?!"
"That is… most ungentlemanly," Tobita added, frowning deeply.
Melissa crossed her arms, her eyes scanning the screen. "According to this… the master key to shut down their entire bomb system… is inside that puzzle Arata's holding."
All eyes shifted toward him.
Arata remained focused, his fingers moving steadily over the object. He twisted one segment, then another—Click.
A small white compartment slid out.
He removed it and inserted it into another section.
Click—click—click.
One by one, all six compartments extended outward.
Then—Snap.
The puzzle split open from the center.
Inside was a purple pendrive-like device.
Arata picked it up slowly.
"Got it."
He handed it to Aiba.
"We won't let Humarise hurt the world."
His voice was calm—but absolute.
"When we attack their base, I'll handle their leader."
He glanced at the others.
"Kaina, Melissa and Tobita will handle their commanders."
Then, looking at Aiba and David—"While we keep them busy… you two shut down the bomb system."
Aiba nodded firmly. "Leave it to me!"
David gave a confident smile. "We've got this."
Thud.
The back doors of the Nova-Drive swung open as Kaina stepped inside, landing smoothly.
Arata quickly repeated the plan.
Kaina smirked slightly. "So I get the arrow woman, huh…? Good."
Far away, inside the Humarise base in Otheon…The green-haired woman knelt on one knee before Flect Turn.
"The contents of the suitcase… and the mole within the organization… have both been destroyed."
Flect Turn nodded calmly.
"Well done."
He turned, facing the massive army gathered behind him.
"It is time."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"We will begin the broadcast… and save the pure humans from those quirked freaks."
A moment of silence.
"SAVE HUMANITY!"
"SAVE HUMANITY!"
The army roared in unison.