Keeping Promises
Let's keep our promises. Whew, that was thrilling—sweat-inducing tension right to the end. Who'd have thought she'd try to stop a runaway train bare-handed, head-on? It was beyond courage, straight-up reckless, but damn if it didn't look straight out of a movie. Deep down, I wondered if it'd even work, but human will sometimes laughs in the face of physics. Seeing that iconic scene from Spider-Man—Red Spider-Man hurling himself desperately to halt a runaway train just like this—played out live right here? Chills when I watched it on TV, but staging it myself on a set I designed? It’s a whole different feeling seeing it all come to life.
My Nova gave it everything she had, no less desperate, but movies and reality are worlds apart. In the film, the hero miraculously stops the train and closes his eyes amid cheering crowds. Here? Reality bites. One tiny slip, and she's a smear on the tracks. Cold, harsh reality.
"Ha... haa... you, you're...!"
Just five seconds. Hell, three more, and Nova might've stopped it solo. But the world doesn't bend to our whims. It's those razor-thin defeats that forge protagonists stronger than flawless wins. Sure, I had to step in for the finish, but I still clapped without holding back.
"Excellent."
Nothing else to say. Nova proved her worth as a hero—protagonist beyond my expectations. When else would I applaud if not now? An empty stage is lonely, but as her creator, I owed her top honors for that fighting spirit.
"You didn't stop it yourself, but I can't help being moved. Hero Nova, allow me to salute you."
"Shu... shut...!"
Nova's state was pitiful. Shredded limbs, leg armor pulverized to dust, suit torn in places oozing wounds and blood. Faint steam rose from the friction heat on the surface. Head injury too—crimson blood poured through her snow-white hair, streaming down her face. A total wreck, but her glare at me? Sharper than ever. Eyes blazing with pure hatred, locked solely on me.
"Why... didn't you stop it... I took down your minion...!"
Ah, right. I did promise her. If she beat my minion Accel Unicorn—Purrung—I'd stop the train. And when she gloriously shot him down, I really meant to. Even as a self-proclaimed villain, breaking promises? No way. What, villains can ditch deals? Bullshit! Flipping your word like a pancake is third-rate villainy. I didn't want to look lame in front of Nova, especially.
But then—
Hey, Kang Jinwoo.
Stella's message hit my private channel, and everything went sideways.
Isn't ending it here a waste? I've got a great plan to grow Nova. Leave it to me?
That one line shook me. Dopamine from Purrung vs. Nova clouded my judgment. Normally I'd dismiss the canned AI's nonsense, but right then? Irresistibly tempting. And so, I fell hook, line, and sinker for this psycho tin can's scheme.
Makina glared, warning me not to cross the line, but I figured I'd clean it up myself if needed. So I watched. Result? Stella's tightrope act awakened Nova beyond expectations. The thing that whines about traps and junk all day cooks up this plan? Just admit you like Nova—tsundere much?
Anyway, Nova got stronger—good. But sigh... didn't wanna be branded a promise-breaking third-rate villain from the first terror. Protagonists hating villains is fate, but starting as a liar? Unfair.
"So I did stop it. Like this."
The train sat wrapped tight in massive vines, halted inches from the wall. Not my doing, obviously—Resonance and Restoration don't handle giant plants. Who then? Another minion, naturally. Hmm, early intro maybe, but after Nova's stellar show, why not meet him?
She suffered for this feast, and I just grabbed a spoon, but hey—promise kept, technically.
"Shut... your mouth...!"
Nova dragged her foot from the cement, advancing with feral menace. Wounded beast aura crushed the air. But even untransformed, body and mind at limits—she barely took steps before collapsing.
She flailed, fingers twitching to rise, but her body betrayed her will.
"Sigma...!"
Down but eyes fixed on me, she declared through rage:
"I'll get you... with my own hands...!"
But she passed out mid-sentence, head dropping. That pure, righteous face twisted in murder? A bitter pang in my chest. "With my own hands"—capture? Defeat? Kill? Whatever, she hates my guts now. Ugh, should've just stopped it clean. Too late for regrets; I glared at Stella, but she played dumb.
Sheesh, can't even scrap the thing.
"...Fine. I'll look forward to it."
She was out, but as a villain, I gave her full respect with a bow. First terror: no casualties, overdid the finale but boosted Nova's awakening and fame. Mission accomplished.
"Okay, cameras—cut, cut."
Goal met, I clapped lightly. Stealth drones recording from above revealed themselves. Vines blocked train windows—no witnesses. I relaxed my stiff shoulders.
Tension gone, full-body ache hit.
"Haa. Brutal."
Great results, but twice? Nah. Terror aside, pushing Nova mentally to the brink wore me out.
"Next time, my plan only. Got it, tin can?"
My bracelet—Stella untransformed—blinked blue in protest. Ignored.
Acrobatics suck, but I'm growing Nova, not breeding grudges!
"Alright, everyone—withdraw before Association and cops swarm."
Minions warped from shadows on cue.
"—I'll clear out first."
"Yeah, good work."
Vine guy followed with a nod. Drones gone, I prepped to leave.
"One thing first."
I placed a hand on her head—back to Lee Seoha from Hero Nova. Petite and fragile again, but still wrecked. Stella's emergency fix helped pre-untransform, but lingering cuts bugged me.
"Good job, Nova. Next terror'll be gentler—rest till then."
Weird phrasing, but no audience. Restored her wounds clean, laid her comfy nearby.
Wanna pamper more, but people coming—my part done.
"Guess I'll head out too."
Warp device in hand—
Peeing—!
Familiar ominous whine. Red beam pierced me instantly.
"You bastaaard—!!"
Rage roar. Red hair whipping, blue eyes blazing—Hero Flare charging. My thought? Shit.
Agony swallowed screams; reflex-switch. Massive red fireball grazed my head as I warped out by a hair.
***
Thud crash! Eyes open—home sweet home. Warp worked just before Flare's blaze took my skull. Pried from furniture, gasping.
Makina—airhead usually, but tech queen. Glad she's ours.
Pat her head? Nah.
"Kyaaah!!"
She paled, screaming at me.
"J-Jinwoo! You, you're...!"
"Cough... aa, just grazed on the way back."
"Grazed?! Hole in your gut!!"
Tch, tried easing worry—backfired. Side sizzlin' like barbecue? Not "grazed." Even I gagged on the protein-burn stench. Lame mood-kill.
"Y-Your Restoration! Heal with that...!"
"Wanna... but..."
Restoration needs focus, control—takes time. Brain flashing white? Dead before starting. Maintaining consciousness? Barely. Vision blurred, body slumped.
Makina caught me—thank god. Promised no dangers with her—how soon broken? Nova too—punishment for promise-breaking?
She'll save me, but wake-up: apologize proper. And keep promises from now on, no matter what.
With that resolve, I blacked out into deep darkness.