VILLAIN'S RISING

[And in a few minutes, the president of the United States will make an appearance to address the ongoing events in the world–]

In a metallic underground bunker, several people were gathered.

Despite being rather spacious in size, only around twenty or so people were in there. Furthermore, the bunker was also equipped with every possible necessity.

But from one glance, anyone could tell that the people gathered there weren’t in their best shape.

After all, they weren’t sure when the next earthquake would hit. According to scientists and news channels, it would take at least a few weeks for the world to barely recover from the absence of the moon’s gravitational pull.

But that alone wasn’t it. They were also unsure of what was happening in the world since the news channel had nothing new to tell aside from the moon’s destruction.

It’s been a few hours since the explosions in the sky stopped. Everyone in the world wanted to hear the result of the battle between the Progenitor and the Starsuper.

And since the president of the United States was going to hold a press conference, the world was finally expecting some answers.

Children wailing in the arms of their mothers, men and boys with tired, baggy eyes, women and girls with disheveled hair— everyone present in the bunker had their eyes glued on the television screen in front of them.

“Mom, mom, look! Papa is going to come on TV!” One of the kids, seemingly around the age of 5, pulled the hem of her mother’s dress and said, “Papa’s gonna make a speech!”

As you might’ve guessed, this bunker was a high-security bunker accessible only to the president’s immediate family and close friends.

“Yes, yes, your papa will come on TV and make a speech and give hope to the people of the world in this time of crisis,” the kid’s mother replied with a nod of her head, a loving smile plastered on her face. “Be sure to grow up and become just like your father, Shane.”

The kid’s eyes twinkled in excitement and awe as he nodded his head.

Shane had always been extremely proud of his father.

Why wouldn’t he be? His father was the president of the United States— the most powerful country in the world!

His father was not only responsible for keeping this country but also the world safe! If anything goes wrong, the world’s people look at his father with hope!

His father may not have any superpowers, but he was Shane’s hero!

[And now, it’s the time of the hour when the president addresses world issues and maybe provides us with some long-awaited answers.]

In the telescreen, the news reporter recited his report, and the scene changed from inside the news studio to the White House conference room.

“Huh…?”

“Wait, what’s that…?”

“…What’s going on?”

“Pa…pa?”

However, as soon as the press conference room was broadcasted, the people watching the news shook in terror while some went into disbelief.

The reason for them to react this way?

At the end of the press conference room, a stage was set for the president to have. On top of that stage was a podium with a mic.

And a man with blonde hair was on his knees, tied to that podium, butt naked. His mouth was gagged, and his eyes were covered.

His face was bruised, and multiple flesh wounds were visible all over his naked body. No doubt about it. That man was the president….

The reporters that were originally present there for the press conference were trembling in horror. They had no way to escape this room. Some of them were even mentally questioning the day they decided to pick this career that led them here— to their certain death.

On the president’s right, in front of the room full of trembling reporters, stood a black-haired youth with a gentle smile on his face.

“Is the broadcast live?” The black-haired youth questioned himself. After making sure that it was, he spoke, “Don’t cut the broadcast, or I’ll kill our dear president over here along with all these reporters.”

The reporters present there shuddered at those words. They had known already that the president was as good as dead, but maybe, just maybe, they had a chance to escape this death room alive?!

“Since the broadcasters haven’t cut the transmission yet, I think they’re obliging?” The black-headed boy nodded to himself. “Good. Now that we’re on the same page let’s get started.

“I’m Samael Gracefell, the current Progenitor.” After introducing himself, Sam pointed at the crowd of reporters with a smile. “We will resume this press conference with me answering three of your questions. After that, I’ll make an announcement to the world.”

Silence. Utter silence. No one dared to voice even a single question. The situation was ridiculous enough.

The people present in the conference room were having trouble breathing, let alone speaking. How could they form comprehensive questions to ask like this?!

After a few seconds of utter and complete silence, the smile on Sam’s face disappeared, and his expression turned serious.

He raised his hand and flicked his finger.

-Thwack!

-Splurt!

Like a watermelon against a baseball bat, one of the reporters sitting in the front row exploded. His insides scattered everywhere, and his blood spewed like a fountain, painting the nearby sitting reporters merlot.

“KYAAAAAAA!”

“SAVE US! PLEASE SAVE US! SEND HELP!”

“I have a daughter! Please! PLEASE!!”

“STARSUPER! HELP US, STARSUPER!”

Needless to say, everyone present there started panicking. But no matter how much they tried, they couldn’t get up and run. It’s as if their legs had no strength.

​ “Calm down, or I’ll kill you all,” Sam said in a patient tone. “There’s no one coming to save you.”

The yelling and crying instantly died down as an overpowering pressure was imposed on them. That pressure was, of course, coming from Sam.

Everyone did their best to calm themselves down. Those sitting close by who were soiled by the ‘explosion’ cleaned the mess off their face and endured this hell through gritting teeth and teary eyes.

“Good, now then, let’s resume the press conference. Ask.” Once again, Sam put a gentle smile on his face and ordered the reporters present there to shoot him three questions.

But once again, there was nothing but complete silence prevailing in the conference room.

Sam couldn’t help but sigh seeing this. He raised his hand again and said, “You guys are reporters. You make a living by asking worthless questions. But now that I’m asking you to ask me mere three questions, you guys have nothing? Fine, perhaps you all need a little motivation.”

“No! Please, no!”

“SPARE ME! PLEASE, MY MOM WILL HAVE NO ONE IF I DIE! PLEASE!”

“Oh god, save us! Starsuper, save us!”

At that moment, everyone present there quivered in fright. Some started begging for mercy, while some outright started to worship.

That sight disgusted Sam. Right when he was just about to flick his fingers and kill them all once and for all, a hand raised from the crowd of cowards.

“Hmmm?” Honestly quite surprised, Sam raised an eyebrow and looked at the person who had raised their hand.

She was a black-haired woman, seemingly in her late twenties. Dressed in a work suit, she was wearing glasses over her raven black eyes.

Even though she was covered in blood from the person who ‘exploded,’ her eyes were cold, and she was indifferent. As if the blood on her didn’t even bother her one bit.

Seeing that, a look of slight amazement appeared on Sam’s face before he pointed at the black-haired woman with great enthusiasm.

“Yes! You! Ask!” He yelled. He was a bit excited since this was his first answering questions at a press conference.

The woman respectfully nodded her head and introduced herself, “I’m Aria West, a reporter from Tomorrow Times. My question to you is, is it true that you and Starsuper fought a battle on the moon and inevitably destroyed it? If so, then who won?”

A smirk appeared on Sam’s face as he heard the question. In a relaxed tone, he answered

“No, Aria, we didn’t technically fight ‘on’ the moon. But yes, the moon ended up being collateral damage during our fight. Although I would like to add, Starsuper was the one who destroyed the majority of it. Also, we focused the destruction away from Earth so that the debris wouldn’t fall here and ruin our planet.

“I suppose it was the only thing Starsuper and I had in common. Keeping the Earth safe.

“Anyway, to answer your full question, as you can see, I’m well and alive. So I won the battle of the moon’s fall.”

Aria touched the bottom of her chin, seemingly unsatisfied with Sam’s answer for some reason. After a moment, she shot another question

“Ah, the way you said it, Mr. Progenitor, it felt like you’re implying Starsuper is dead. Is that true?”

At this point, Sam was truly taken aback by this woman. He didn’t know whether she was insane or brave to ask such a question with little to no expressions on her face!

But coughing and putting aside his awe, Sam answered with a nod.

“You’re smart. Yes, that’s true. Starsuper is dead.”

Once again, the murmuring that had slightly erupted in the room earlier died down.

Those who were listening to this live podcast or watching it on the television, even those who were present right there, couldn’t believe what they had just heard.

For a moment, it felt like the whole world had been plunged into deafening silence.

“Th-That can’t be….”

Someone from the crowd finally broke the long, creepy silence. As if to follow, everyone else started voicing their denial.

“No… it can’t be… it can’t be….”

“You’re lying! He’s lying!”

“Starsuper can’t die! He won’t abandon us like that!”

“Oh, but he did,” finally cutting the chain of denial, Sam spoke. “He did abandon you. He died. And you know the funny thing? He died begging for mercy. He begged me and cried before me to spare his life, but in the end, I killed him.

“If you don’t believe me, then ask your heroes. Oh, but I forgot, they too have abandoned you. If not, then why are they all gathering up in Los Angeles instead of coming down here and protecting you all from me? It’s because this world has been abandoned by the heroes. You all have been abandoned by the heroes.”

Once again, the room– no, the whole world was enveloped in silence. Everyone wanted to retort, but they felt their words stuck in their throats.

After all, what Sam said was true to a certain extent.

Why were the heroes not protecting the general masses? How could they let this happen? Why would they not come here and protect them if they hadn’t abandoned them? Why why why?!

After a long reign of complete stillness, a hand was raised.

It was Aria. Despite getting such heavy news dropped on the world, she still had a look of indifference in her eyes.

While everyone struggled even to keep their sanity in check, she calmly spoke as if all this was of no concern to her

“Then, since no one is asking, I’ll go for the last question too. My third and last question is, what are your plans from here on out now that Starsuper, the greatest defender of Earth, is dead?” She inquired.

With a faint smirk, he slightly cocked his head to the side and answered, “Aww, nice of you to ask this question since this was going to be my final announcement as well!”

Putting his hands together and straightening his head, Sam coughed and cleared his throat. He brought his face near the mic and spoke in a loud, clear voice

“Attention, entire world; hear my proclamation: I am Samael Gracefell, the current Progenitor and a descendant of the previous Progenitor, Kale Godhand. As you’ve listened to, I have killed Starsuper. Lightbringer is also dead. Several other members of the hero council have also lost their lives to me!

“In short, those who could’ve challenged my supreme authority are now dead! Those alive could not stop me anymore! Hence, from this moment on, I’m establishing myself as the ruler of this world!

“And as the ruler of this world, I am ordering the hero forces to surrender Los Angeles over to me. If my orders are not followed till daybreak, I will take it as a declaration of war against my authority. Once that happens, I’ll come there myself and bring carnage along with me.

“However, if you surrender, millions of innocent people would not lose their lives, and I might even let you all live. This is my generosity and my offer for peace. My goal? It’s to unite the human race as one. Those who may stand in my way shall face the power of dragons. So I ask you, world! I ask you, heroes! Submit to my rule!”