Sigma and the Deviants
Sigma's inexplicable events had crashed over her like a storm, leaving Nova still dazed and disoriented. Just minutes ago, she had been a frail human awaiting death, and now she faced a monster clad in an unidentified mechanical gauntlet. But the situation gave her no time to process this massive change or find her footing.
"Here I come, human!"
The lion's thunderous roar echoed deafeningly across the crumbling overpass. Nova shoved aside the relentless flood of stray thoughts and focused solely on the battle at hand. But could she really win? Thanks to the Core Relic's influence, an indescribable power surged through her body, yet imagining herself facing a beast that had sent even an S-rank hero flying with a single blow felt utterly impossible. Just as the chilling terror of death from being slammed into that container began to creep back up—
Get it together!!
"Gah!"
Stella's sharp rebuke rang in her mind, snapping Nova back to reality. The lion had closed in, its massive forepaw slicing through the air, but she instinctively twisted her body to dodge. Like the first time she'd evaded the lion's attack, she barely flung herself aside, but the beast's merciless barrage left no room to escape. One lucky dodge was fortune; two seemed impossible at that desperate speed.
But then—
—I can see it?
It was an eerie sensation. As if the world's time had sunk into thick syrup, slowly swirling to a crawl, the lion's forepaw arcing through the air came into crystal-clear view. Just before the strike connected, Nova effortlessly ducked, letting it glance past, then evaded the third and fourth follow-ups by a hair's breadth.
"W-Wow... I can see all its attacks...!"
Of course you can! Who do you think lent you this power? Don't get flustered over this speed!
Stella grumbled, sounding annoyed.
And how long are you gonna keep dodging? You have to attack too! This suit isn't for show!
"R-Right! Got it!"
Rough around the edges, but Stella was spot on. Dodging alone wouldn't end this hellish battlefield. As Nova flowed with the lion's strikes, gaining confidence and clenching her fist for a counterattack—
You weren't planning to fight that thing barehanded, were you? Like some brute?
"Huh? Yeah, why not? It's all I've got right now!"
You can't take it down with bare fists! Especially since its Core Relic is power-type—melee puts you at a disadvantage...
"You've been yapping nonstop!"
The lion interrupted their conversation, slamming both forepaws into the overpass deck with tremendous force.
"Dodging like a rat! Try evading this!"
Boom!
A horrific shockwave cracked the deck massively, and unable to bear the load, the structure began collapsing.
"Ngh!"
Nova barely grabbed a supporting cable in the nick of time, hanging on amid the fall risk. But the situation was dire. The unstable wreckage dangled raggedly, shaking violently—any rash move would send her plummeting.
"No more places to dodge now!"
The lion stood tall on an intact pier, rearing its arm far back. Golden light leaked from the gaps in its mechanical arm, vibrating the air.
"This ends you!"
Whatever it was preparing felt ominous, the overwhelming pressure from its body anything but ordinary. Nova's face hardened.
That bastard's really gonna smash everything!?
"Wha—Guh?!"
Shrieeeek—!
A sharp rupture tore the air, and a massive fireball hurtled like a meteor, smashing into the lion.
"What the—!?"
Pinned on the fixed pier, its mobility limited, the lion couldn't dodge and collided head-on with the inferno.
BOOM!
The colossal explosion lit the pitch-black night sky ablaze in an instant.
"Hah... hah... A mere villain dares...!"
"Flare!"
Drenched in blood, Flare flew in unsteadily, gasping raggedly.
"Are you alright, Flare?!"
"Yo-You're...?"
Flare landed beside Nova, eyeing her suspiciously. Realizing not just her power but her entire appearance had transformed due to the Core Relic, Nova floundered for an explanation. But even in her battered state, Flare coolly assessed the scene.
"Judging by the suit, you're a hero? Reinforcements? Thanks anyway. You let me take down that villain... "
"—Who said I was taken down?"
"!!"
That voice shouldn't have been heard. Both women's gazes snapped to one spot. The thick flames cleared like mist before a shockwave, revealing the lion clutching a massive gauntlet, its golden eyes blazing.
"Kuhaha! Now my blood's finally pumping!!"
The lion reared its arm wide again. Despite its huge bulk, it was still some distance from Nova and Flare. But witnessing the vast energy condensing in that gauntlet, Flare hastily erected a wall of flames. Yet Nova instinctively knew: Flare's barrier couldn't block the lion's full-powered strike.
Deploy armament! Hurry!
"Armament? What armament?!"
As Nova cried out, blue particles swirled into her hand, solidifying in an instant. It resembled a pistol but was far thicker and larger than any standard large-caliber handgun—a hand cannon exuding intimidation.
No time to process the sudden weapon, Nova swiftly aimed at the lion.
"Take this!"
Simultaneously, the lion thrust its fist forward. The gauntlet's pent-up energy blasted out, a brilliant golden light dwarfing Flare's flames and flooding the overpass.
I'll handle precision aiming—fire now!
At Stella's shout, Nova pulled the trigger without hesitation. No bullet emerged—instead, a deep blue beam sliced through the air, clashing head-on with the lion's golden energy in a massive explosion.
BOOM—!
The blast's shockwave hit hard; Nova dug in her heels, straining to stay put, while Flare crouched low.
As the deafening roar faded and silence fell, the two stared in stunned disbelief.
"Water...?"
A towering wall of water blocked between the lion and them. As it receded limply, it revealed not just the lion—but a mechanical-gauntleted whale far bulkier than it.
"Ahem, weren't you getting a bit carried away?"
"Heh, sorry about that. I got a little excited myself."
From their casual exchange, the two villains were clearly allies. Surviving one lion had been a near-death ordeal; another like it appearing crushed hope like a wave.
"Ngh..."
"Flare!"
Already pushed beyond limits, Flare collapsed as tension released. Facing possibly two S-rank-or-higher villains, they had only newly awakened Nova and an unconscious injured hero. Pure despair.
One thought flashed through Nova's mind: I have to retreat. Can't fight anymore.
Taking on both was impossible, but escaping with Flare seemed feasible. No one left to protect or escort. Now, while the villains were off-guard—
"Anyway, are the others all done?"
"Yeah, finished them ages ago and watched from the start. Quite the show."
"What...?"
Chills raced up Nova's spine at the whale's words. Multiple presences pierced the thick smoke. From the overpass ruins, grotesque figures emerged slowly: wolf, horse, crow, turtle. Animals armored in intricate mechanical gauntlets like the lion and whale stepped from the shadows one by one. Overwhelmed by their numbers, despair engulfed Nova.
And from the group's center, a man strode forward slowly.
"Looks like Core Relic Stella found its compatible user."
Black coat, face-masked. Small and unassuming amid the giants, yet Nova sensed the densest, chilliest aura of death from him. Sure enough, as he appeared, the arrogant lion immediately knelt toward him.
"My apologies. The Core Relic reacted to that human, so I couldn't retrieve it. But if you command, I can kill her now and forcibly—"
"It's fine."
One cold word. The lion bowed its head instantly; no one dared speak.
Ignoring his minions, the man stared piercingly at Nova's transformed form, stroking his chin. Like observing a fascinating specimen.
"Hmm, a Core Relic synchronized with its user isn't easily separated. Forcing it risks damage—not efficient for immediate recovery."
Feeling his icy gaze through the mask, Nova asked in a trembling voice,
"Who the hell are you...? Why are you doing this?"
The man elegantly dipped his head.
"I am Sigma, and we are the Deviants."
Sirens pierced the night from afar. The man who called himself Sigma turned leisurely, offering final words.
"I'll leave the Core Relic with you for now."
"And soon, we'll meet again, Hero Nova."
With that, Sigma and the Deviants vanished into blinding light.
"Sigma... Deviants..."
Murmuring the names, Nova staggered and collapsed.