As Nico entered Metropolis City, the sights of the world around him were completely transformed. The natural cliffs and surrounding fields of South Island disappeared in favor of giant skyscrapers made up of glass and steel. The signs of buildings made like flashing traffic lights, a whole new line of flying vehicles where far below they flew with flapping heads so that people were lined up at either edge of the road even if there wasn't much traffic from above.
The huge screens flickered with advertisements.
Hover trains were moving silently between buildings.
Nico said with a grin,"Ah, good old Metropolis.
Without stopping, he leapt upward and landed on a red rail suspended high above the street, about thirty meters in the air. The rail ran next to one of the highways crossing between the buildings.
Nico balanced easily and began riding along it as if it was second nature.
The wind flew past him faster than time: with a blur of motion the city blurred by.
He jumped from the rail to the side of a tall building and ran along its wall for several seconds before kicking off and flipping right back onto another rail.
For those on rooftops, there was a group of people standing on the rooftop of a neighborhood restaurant to whom that people in a corner store looked up shaking in disbelief.
"Was that him?"
I think that was Nico!
Nico waved confidently as he skipped by them.
He jumped off the rail again and landed on the roof of a delivery truck that was cruising down a sky highway. The driver didn't even notice Nico crouched on top of the vehicle for a moment.
"Nice ride," Nico joked.
He pushed off, again he launched himself high into the air.
He landed on a line of hanging construction cables hanging between two halfbuilt towers. The cables swayed violently as he ran across them like a tightrope walker.
Halfway across, he jumped and grabbed a passing drone.
The delivery drone came from above and beeped for a few seconds to Nico but then it took hold.
"Don't mind me."
He let go and dropped down, landing in another rail that swished itself around a tall circular building. The rail turned like a roller coaster and fell down, to be balanced out later.
Nico crouched low as he rode the curve, sparks flying behind his shoes.
The city lights reflected off the glass buildings around him.
Everything did feel alive.
In quick succession a deep explosion erupted in the distance.
BOOM.
A plume of smoke roared from a top tower in the city.
Nico skidded to a stop on the rail and looked up.
The building had a giant golden sign in its side.
The bank.
"Oh, damn! I wonder what's going on!"
Nico jumped off the rail without a second of hesitation and took off running across the rooftops.
"Better check this out!"
He sprinted across three buildings in seconds before launching himself off the edge of a tower and landing in front of the bank.
Glass and debris littered the street.
The front wall of the building had been blown open.
And someone came flying out of the smoke right from the smoke.
It fell into the pavement and rolled up and then flips back onto its feet.
Nico pondered, "Could it be Dr. E?"
"No."
The smoke cleared.
Nico squinted slightly as his eyes adjusted.
And then he recognised the silhouette instantly.
"Katie?!" he shouted.
A bat dusted herself and spread her wings.
"I should've known!" Nico laughed.
Katie groaned when she saw him.
"Ugh, damn it... not you."
Katie was not exactly Nico's enemy either.
But she definitely wasn't his friend either.
We had crossed paths several times with the two of them, he continued.
Katie was a small bat sleek with calm and strong skin. Her fur was mild grey and more subtle around her face and chest; her wings flitted happily away in the back of her back like a cape. She wore a sleek black bodysuit with bright pink accent on her slim frame. Her gloves and boots were white with metal trim. Her eyes were bright teal and full and animated, her smile on always a playful, mischievous sort of one.
The small glowing jewel was in her hand.
Little did Nico know this was a Phantom Ruby.
Nico pointed at it.
"You robbing banks again?"
Katie smirked.
"Borrowing."
Nico cracked his knuckles.
"You know I can't let you leave with that."
Katie suddenly flapped her wings and shot into the air.
"You can try to stop me!"
Nico dashed forward so quickly.
Katie swooped down toward him and tried to kick him in the head.
Nico leaned backward enough for her boot to miss his face.
"Too slow," he teased.
Katie spun midair and launched another kick.
This time Nico caught her ankle.
She gasped as he threw her around in a circle and tossed her across the street. Katie rolled through the air and landed gracefully on a street lamp.
"Oh please," she said. "You barely touched me."
She dove again, low and fast.
Nico sprinted forward to meet her.
Their attacks collided in the center of the street.
Katie threw some quick punches and kicks while hovering just above the ground and Nico dodged most of them with ease. He sidestepped, ducked and weaved through her strikes while grinning the whole time.
"But you're gonna try harder or what?" he told me.
Katie huffed and suddenly flew straight upward.
Nico watched her rise.
Then she dove down at full speed.
Nico waited until the last second before jumping.
He grabbed her arms mid flight and spun around before landing behind her.
Katie struggled as Nico held her in place.
"Gotcha."
She groaned in frustration.
"Let go!"
Nico casually draped her over his shoulder as though she weighed nothing.
"Sorry. Bank robbery gets you a ride back to South Island."
Katie crossed her arms angrily.
"This is humiliating."
Nico laughed as he took off running.
Within seconds, he was racing back across the massive bridge towards South Island, balancing the struggling bat over his shoulder as Metropolis's city lights dimmed behind them.