1 Hero: Born again

*Click* *Click* *Click*

The cameras flashed across the man coming from the headquarters of the hero federation. He was clad in a black suit rather than his hero armor.

"Look here sir, what is your comment on the decision of the hero federation?"

"Sir, is it true you're being removed from 'The Vagabonds?"

"Hero Leviathan, is it true that you're advised to go back to the academy because of your impulsive and immature behavior?"

The silently walking man suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at the reporters. His eyes beamed with anger. This sudden act caught the reporters by surprise. They didn't think they might get an answer from him. They flinched back seeing his glaring eyes but since they were near the safest place on the planet, the hero's headquarters, they stood their stand.

If this was on any other occasion, they wouldn't have dared to ask something like this. For they also knew about his short temper.

"What they did to me is not right," He grabbed the nearby mic and started to talk, more like started to vend out his frustration with the decision of the federation, "I'm the youngest hero in the history of this world, to have climbed up to this point in a short period," his nostrils flaring up, heaving heavy breaths he continued, "I didn't achieve it with the help of others like many other heroes, I did it alone and with my strength," He looked at the various cameras that were inches away from him "The federation is making a grave mistake by removing me from the 'vagabonds,' I could've become the greatest superhero of all time, I could've become the most powerful hero of all time even greater than 'The Home-Bringer' himself but they removed me because they all feared my power. They feared me because they knew they couldn't control me like they control the others." His voice grew heavy and loud. The pent-up frustration was present in his voice.

"The federation is breeding the super---"

"That's enough, Des. This is dangerous." The man who had an executive look grabbed Leviathan's hand. He was the manager of this unfortunate hero.

"Let go, John, I've got to tell the truth to them." Leviathan shook his hands; the not-so-powerful manager wasn't able to hold the hands any longer, but he continued;

"This will go out of hands. The whole world is watching you currently. The Federation and the villain organizations alike. Slip of your tongue can result in your death, you know it too," He tried to persuade the former hero "Look up, they are watching you right now."

The hero looked behind him, his gaze settling on the topmost window of the tall building. Sure enough, he could feel multiple gazes on him.

"So, what! I'm already out of the group and now my hero license has been canceled. There is nothing more to lose."

"You may have lost those things, but you have your life with you. You could always conquer back what you've lost. Don't be foolish to provoke the federation anymore. You're young and you have potential." John etched those facts into leviathan's mind.

He took a deep breath. "Fine, only because you said."

"Yes, only because I said." John pushed the nearby reporter and started to walk with Leviathan. Despite the rambling of the reporters, the two of them entered their car, a black limited-edition limo. John took the wheels and sped up to the hero's mansion in the Blackwood hills.

****

"Hero Leviathan removed from the legendary hero group 'The Vagabonds."

"Hero Leviathan suspended for cruelty. Hero license has revoked."

"… The Vagabonds are a team consisting of 7 members. The team was created during the prehistoric era as the king's guard to the 11th-century king Arthur, but they were later redesigned to protect the innocent people around the world…"

*Click* The T.V. shut down with the click of the remote.

Sigh.

Hero Leviathan or Desmond Shephard, when he is not wearing the suit, slouched back on the couch, He stretched his hands and rested them on the top of the couch. He took a sip from his drink.

'I've lost, father. These idiots can't even comprehend that sacrifice is needed to save the mass. Not to mention these hypocrites are fooling the people.' He mused to himself while caressing the pendant gifted by his father before his death. 'This would save you, Des,' he could remember his father's last moments.

He was the youngest hero, at the age of 21, who managed to get a position at the Vagabonds, but he has lost that too. All his life he wanted to be a hero who wanted to save the world, but he also understood that they need some sacrifices in order to save others but the world seemed to reject that idea. Their superheroes must save everyone. Not a single innocent life should be sacrificed if the hero is in the vicinity.

Yeah, right, what a bunch of fuckers. Then why don't you fuckers do the job and stop complaining about the lives of some worthless people?

*Knock, knock*

He looked over at the window on the side where the sound was coming from.

"Oh, what brings the mighty 'Home Bringer' here?" Desmond smiled and opened the window to let in the guest. Home Bringer was levitating in the air, something he could also do, but not for a long time. He had his suit on, with the traditional blue and red suit with a red cape.

"Just checking on you." He entered the room through the window. "Gotta admit, the view here is amazing." He said while gazing at the vast ocean below the cliff where the mansion was built.

"I know, right? Here" Desmond poured Home Bringer a drink.

"Thank you."

They stood there just watching the ocean and the starry sky. After some moments of peace, Desmond spoke again;

"Seriously, why are you here? You're not someone who just randomly visits someone?"

"You're not just 'someone', Leviathan. You were my team member, one of the vagabonds. You were one of the few chosen among the countless useless and 'Innocent' lives." He emphasized the word innocent. It was a clear indication of his mockery of normal people. Well, one can't blame him, since he is the pinnacle of power. There is no one in this world who can stand against him and not to mention the normal people worship him like a god.

Desmond didn't speak anything. He knew the guy in front of him, even though is a symbol of hope, was actually a trashy guy with not an ounce of empathy in him. He was raised like that, to just be a god to those who seek him.

"Ah… this is getting boring," Home Bringer sighed deeply and looked at Desmond, who in turn looked at Home Bringer. "You know kid, I was genuinely surprised when you told the whole world that in a given time you could top me."

"Uh… I said that in the heat of the moment." Sweat started to trickle down Desmond's face. The surrounding air grew arid and heavy. Desmond took some deep breaths while contemplating why Home Bringer visits him at this time.

The only answer he got was terrifying. The federation must have sent him to…

"I'm here to kill you, kid." Home Bringer looked at Desmond with a blank face.

"I see." He accepted his fate just like that. Even if he wanted to do something, there is no way of outrunning or out-powering this monster. "Is it the federation or is it your personal decision?" Even though he knew the answer, he wanted to hear it from the emotionless hero of hope.

"Both. Though the order was shortly given after you left the building, it was given to some lowly supervillain for framing this as a terrorist attack. But I snatched the chance since I don't like the way you spoke about me in the conference."

"I see… What about John?"

"Already dead."

Desmond closed his eyes. After his father's death, John was the one who took care of him. He was the old manager of his dad. It was truly sad to hear him being dead. John took care of an arrogant punk and saved him from poverty and possibly… death.

"It was painless. I simply lasered his brain. Simple and painless."

How does frying someone's brain be painless, you fucking monster? Desmond wanted to speak out loud but decided against it.

"I can also give you the painless death if you want."

"Nah, I would rather die myself. I don't want to burden you with a kid's blood."

"I see. If that is what you want, then so be it. I wanted to kill you myself but since I'm generous and caring I'll let it to you" Home Bringer interlocked his hands behind his back and waited.

Desmond closed his eyes and took a heavy breath. Suddenly, a knife floated towards him. His plan was simple, pressurize the knife and release it, aiming his neck.

The knife began to shiver as the pressure increased many folds and finally; he launched the knife with enough force to penetrate a mountain itself.

*Whoosh*

The pressurized knife tore through the air at a speed that even a superhero couldn't see. The knife charged towards him, not Desmond, but Home Bringer.

*Clang*

The sound was made like metal clashing against each other. Though he knew he couldn't possibly kill the monster, he at least hoped for some sort of damage enough to escape, but to his horror, all it did was draw a drop of blood from his forehead where the knife stopped at the tip.

"All that for a drop of blood." Home Bringer's lips slightly curved as he looked at Desmond. "Well, now that your little circus is over, let's end this play. I'm really getting bored here." His eye started to glow as a thin white trail of smoke started to flow from it.

"Wait, let—" Desmond's voice was cut off as the last thing he saw was a red streak of light entering his eyes.

Everything went black. There was excruciating pain, but it ended pretty quickly.

Only if I had one more chance, I would've fucked them all. His last thoughts, before traveling to the other side, were interrupted by a voice inside his mind.

[Welcome player, to the system of power]