Roundtable Rival

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  The Professional Heroes found themselves back in a familiar scene, this time in the vast, empty Downtown New Tao. They stood in the small park that was a result of the city's Enviro-thon Initiative from almost two decades ago. The normally brightly lit billboards were out and the huge television stood silently high up on a building that once was a church. The normal bustle of cars and people were gone due to the military's blockades.

  Deadguy was getting a few warm-up swings with Masamune while Kiri was running last minute diagnostics on her upgraded Mecha Maiden suit. Valkadaidan leaned back on a tree, his eyes closed in meditation, as Jill checked over her gun.

  “Are you going to be able to handle yourself this time,” Jill questioned.

  Our Hero stopped swinging. “No cameras, no problem. Besides, taking down god-like beings is nothing new for me. I've beaten Orochi at least a few dozen times.”

  “That's a video game,” Valk remarked.

  “Series,” DG corrected. “Video game series. You play them too.”

  Jill checked her phone. “It's almost Midnight. One last-” She was cut short as a sudden surge of power rippled through them. The Heroes turned to face Zionus. With him stood Genia Lee, Vendetta, and Kothrec.

  “Who brings their pet to a battle,” Our Hero asked, pointing at Kothrec.

  The minotaur snorted his disapproval.

  “Shouldn't he be on a leash,” he continued.

  “Enough,” Zionus said, his voice reverberating through the battlefield. “I am not known for giving leniency to our enemies, but I will give you one last chance to walk away.”

  “The time for negotiations is over,” Jill said coldly. Valkadaidan readied Hopebringer. Kiri's visor slid down over her face. Deadguy propped Masamune on his shoulder. “The people demand justice.”

  “So be it.”

  Deadguy and Valkadaidan charged at Venatores Mali. Kiri took off into the night sky. Jill took a few steps back and aimed. Kothrec charged at the Heroes, meeting Valk halfway. He brought down his massive battleaxe, but was blocked by Hopebringer. Our Hero continued on, narrowing his sights on Zionus. Vendetta took flight, ready to fight Kiri in the air. Genia Lee rolled off to the side and took aim at Jill.

  Deadguy swung Masamune and was blocked by Zionus' blade. The two pushed against each other's weapons. “This is Masamune,” DG stated through gritted teeth. “What's your sword's name?”

  “This blade is known as Doomslayer,” the leader replied, trying to keep from losing ground. “It can vanquish evil with one cut.”

  “Well good thing we're the good guys then,” Our Hero quipped.

  Valkadaidan and Kothrec traded blows so fast that the weapons became a blur. Only the sparks their hits made were evidence of their use. The Dragon-Blooded heard someone singing. The voice was distant, but sounded strangely familiar. He shook it off, concentrating more on the giant blue bull in front of him.

  Kiri and Vendetta flew circles around each other high above the battlefield, looking as if a fairy and a dragon were locked in battle. Vendetta fired off a few blasts of energy from the gems on top of his gauntlets, but the Techie quickly dodged them. She retaliated with a few shots of electricity that bounced off his armor. “You can't win,” Vendetta boomed

  “Heard that one before,” Kiri shot back.

  On the ground, bullets race through the air as Jill Nemo and Genia Lee tried to take the other out as quickly as possible. Jill's single handgun was no match for the double-barreled handgun that Genia used, but what she lacked in firepower she made up for in speed. By the time Genia was able to fire a shot, Jill had fired two in two different areas. Another shot slammed into the trashcan she was using for cover, but it didn't come from Genia's direction. “Kiri, they have a sniper somewhere,” she called out. “Take 'em out.”

  Kiri dodged a few of Vendetta's energy blasts, then zipped away to scan across the building tops. On top of a squat three story building stood someone with a gray, wide-brimmed hat. They had a sniper rifle aimed at the battle. “Cheater,” she muttered. With a few well-placed bolts of electricity, the Techie managed to knock the sniper away from the ledge. The sniper looked up, and Kiri saw a woman with a skull tattoo on her face. “Huh. Weird,” she remarked just as she felt an energy blast slam into her back.

  Deadguy watched out of the corner of his eye as Kiri fell from the sky. He had to do something. He smashed his boot onto Zionus' foot. The leader remained unfazed, but his did raise an eyebrow from behind his dark sunglasses. “What was that meant to do,” he asked.

  “Distract you,” Our Hero answered. The hieroglyphics on Masamune began to glow green. Deadguy gave one last push, knocking Zionus off balance. He started off towards Kiri. He got only a few steps before a force grabbed him and threw him against a tree. He felt a great pressure pushing him further into the tree. Zionus stood across from him, his hand held out.

  The leader didn't hold for long as he was knocked aside by Kothrec. The two tumbled out of the park. The minotaur barely got to his hooves before Valkadaidan was upon him. The Dragon-Blooded started beating punch after punch on the minotaur's muzzle. Blood began to draw as Kothrec grabbed the attacker and threw him down the street. Kothrec chased after him.

  Jill and Genia watched the spectacle for a few moments before they turned their attention back to each other. “Be reasonable,” Genia pleaded. “You Heroes are in over your head here.”

  “Not the first time,” Jill replied. She tried to fire her gun, but it clicked in protest.

  Genia retaliated by trying to fire her gun, but it also clicked to say it was empty. They stared each other down, then Lee ran at Nemo, meeting her with a quick right hook. She staggered back, then responded with a punch to Genia's stomach. The two traded punches and kicks until something large came crashing to the ground.

  Vendetta crawled out of shallow crater that sat before the building that held the giant television. He took a few steps forward before Deadguy charged up and swung Masamune. The attack knocked the suit through the building and out of the other side.

  Our Hero barely had a moment to celebrate as a giant ax crashed onto his back. He felt blood and air fill up his lung as he began to fall. Kothrec was standing over him, ax held high. The was a blast of electricity that knocked the minotaur off his feet. Another blast of energy sent him flying down the street. Kiri flew close overhead. “Don't just lay there,” she stated as she flew after her target.

  “You'll have to give me a moment,” he sputtered as his body began to heal.

  Jill was fending off Genia when a faint song hit her ears. It was soft and soothing, like a lullaby a mother would sing to a child. It sounded foreign. Something she never heard her mother sing to her. The song was suddenly cut short. A woman with wet curly brown hair was thrown out onto the battlefield a few meters from where the two women were fighting.

  “Megyn,” Genia called out.

  Valkadaidan leapt out from the hiding spot as the woman started to get up. Blood was dripping from her mouth. “A siren,” he questioned.

  Genia rushed to the siren's side. With a quick spell, a faint white light formed in her hand. She touched it to the siren's cheek. The blood zipped back into her mouth.

  “Wait. They have a siren,” Jill asked. “I thought they stayed at sea?”

  “Doesn't matter,” the Dragon-Blooded replied. “They're cheating.” He readied Hopebringer.

  Genia swept her hand. An arc of reddish-orange energy knocked both Heroes back. Valk was able to catch Jill before they slammed into a car.

  “What was that about cheating,” Jill asked as they recovered.