Published at 28th of October 2025 4:28 pm

Chapter 42 Heroes Union Meeting PT I (Aubrey POV)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Theres something about his warning that makes me raise my eyebrows. Sequence isnt the type of Cape to exaggerate. Every story, interview, and news clip of him paints a picture of a man who calls it like it is. So what does he mean? I almost reflexively raise my hand to ask a question before I remember Phoenixs very strict warning. This isnt a team meeting between Phoenix and us; This is a tactical conference about a growing threat that requires more than just a single squad. I am a fly on the wall, a spectator, and nothing more. My job is to observe and not draw attention.

Sequence, cut the theatrics and explain yourself, Arbiter said, annoyed.

There has been a growing trend that Ive taken notice of regarding missing persons cases, specifically Neuvohumans. These Capes and Cowls have completely disappeared without a trace. It all starts with the conflict that occurred in Crimton between the EDG and the Cavallaro family that resulted in thirty-five dead, which included one of the Dragons: Lee Daeshim. As you all know, the Cavallaro ended up retaliating and nearly wiped out the EDG in response to what was seen as an unexpected betrayal from a business partner, Sequence said.

Lee Daeshim? Why does that sound so familiar? Its like an itch in the base of my brain; theres a memory thats just out of reach.

I always found it odd that the Lightning Dragon died in a random place like Crimton. He was a powerhouse, and the Cavallaro Family never took credit for his killing. So what are you saying, that this mystery Cowl turned the two groups against each other and is the one that killed him? Titania asked.

The screen changes to pictures of the Crimton docks, and the itch gets even worse. Completely melted down vehicles, molten holes in warehouses, and bodies from both sides completely annihilated. I think Im going to be sick. The nausea threatens to make me puke in my helmet, but I keep it down after noticing that besides Ward and Zephyr, everyone else isnt reacting. The next slide shows a Korean man half buried in the cooled asphalt, his body covered in skin bubbles and burns. He has a dragon tattoo coiling around his body and up his neck, but large portions are just burned away. I squint at the picture because he looks vaguely familiar. Titania called him the Lightning Dragon. The doctors at St. Augustine said that my scarring was consistent with electrical burns or lightning strikes.

A blurry memory is rising to the surface of my mind. Tightness in my chest, the feeling of adrenaline coursing through my veins. That man shouting something, but I cant hear it. Shouting at me. Purple electricity arcing off him, travelling up and down his body. There are two other people, but I cant make them out, cant remember. The man, Lee Daeshim, says something and then fires electricity at me. I was there at the docks. Thats how I got my terrible scars. No matter what I try, I cant remember anymore of that night. For a moment, I consider telling them what I remembered, but a hazy memory isnt much help.

Yes, but I believe they had help. Ive spoken to local police departments and other Capes that work around that area. Theres an enforcer who frequently worked as muscle for hire for local gangs. I couldnt get a name, but the description I got was of a ten-foot-tall volcanic woman. Now, does that sound familiar to anyone? Sequence asked, jokingly.

Its the same woman we fought: Vesuvius. Youre saying she helped murder Lee Daeshim? No, that doesnt make any sense, Arbiter said, shaking his head.

If this is about your ego, Arbiter, you can save it, Titania stated.

My objection has nothing to do with me or my teams defeat; she destroyed us, I do not dispute that fact. My objection comes from the fact that I dont believe her capable of killing. Despite her overwhelming power, she was careful not to cause permanent injuries. She could have killed all of us easily, but she chose to hold back, controlling her strength when engaging with my less durable team members. She was working with three other Cowls: a man in a white helmet, a woman dressed in a mismatched outfit with a bunny mask, and a nearly seven-foot-tall male Bruiser. Both Vesuvius and the male were enraged when the helmeted man was accidentally wounded, Arbiter said.

Virtues hand shoots up into the air. To my right, Phoenix shakes his head, but doesnt say anything.

This isnt a classroom, and I believe you were all informed that you are here as silent observers, KnickKnack said.

Sorry, Sir, but I believe I might have relevant information about this group, she said.

Then by all means, continue, Sequence said.

About four months ago, Phoenix led us on a mission to break up the underground fighting pit hosted at the Doublin Down pub owned by the ORourke family. It was meant to be nothing but a simple shutdown, arrest the owners, and maybe there would be a single Cowl or two that wed have to fight. It was not that. The ORourkes were completely wiped out; there were seven Cowls, not two. Five Cowls attacked me, three I recognized and two I didnt. The three I knew are Oxxii, Amethyst, and Slabman; all of them were apprehended. The final two were a smoke Alter and a nearly seven-foot-tall Bruiser. The Bruiser lured me into a backroom, where a man in a black helmet was sitting at a desk surrounded by ORourke corpses. He didnt get up while I fought against the Bruiser; he just watched us and counted money. The Bruiser was strong, but I was winning easily, and he fought me with extreme conviction, not stopping even after I broke his arm. Then the woman in the weird outfit and bunny mask appeared out of nowhere and ambushed me. Shes a Mentalist, and she did something to me that made me hallucinate. I ended up fighting my team, who restrained me until it wore off. Im certain that the Bruiser you fought and the Bruiser I fought are the same, Virtue said.

And the web begins to unweave, Sequence said.

What the Probationary Member is failing to mention is that no one recalled seeing this man in the black helmet. He wasnt caught on any of the cameras either, Phoenix said.

Yes, I had no proof until today. When a new Cowl named Smolder appeared, killed Echochamber and Null, and then fought me. He quoted things I said back at the Doublin Down pub back to me, things I only said to the Bruiser. But he wasnt just a Bruiser; he had new abilities as well. He had a smoke power reminiscent of the Alter from the pub, but it was more. He summoned weapons from the smoke cloud and had these guns that I think mightve been Tinkertech. Then he threw a grenade at me and told me that the man in the mask says hello. Its connected, its all connected, Virtue continued.

For what its worth, I met the Cowl shes talking about today. He was able to blanket the entire shopping district in a dome of smoke, making it impossible to see. Hes strong and evasive. He told the Syndicate he was going to kill them one by one, and then forced me to either tend to Virtue or go after the Cowls. But, he did leave without harassing us or any civilians, Havok confirmed.

When I fought the Bruiser, he did not display any of these other abilities youre referring to. I am not refuting either of your claims, just wanted to share what I personally experienced, Arbiter added.

So the man in the black mask is now the man in the white mask? Sure, those four sound strong, but certainly not the threat youve made him out to be, Sequence. Mount Olympus and the Cavallaro Family are much more dangerous, Titania said.

If I hadnt been interrupted mid-presentation, then youd understand why hes so dangerous. It isnt just that he killed Lee Daeshim and fractured the relationship between the two Cowl groups. There are others, those that are gone: Erisate, Veritas, Murmur, Rushdown, Constrictor, Tramp, Callback, Diminish,Punch, Offset, and most recently, Hocus Pocus. Capes, Cowls, it doesnt seem to matter. Theres even a civilian by the name of Phillip Costanos whose family reported him missing. They are all related and all within the last few months. We have a Neuvohuman serial killer at large who is capable of operating completely undetected. But it isn't just that. Vesuvius went from being hired muscle for thugs to attacking Capes and police officers in broad daylight within two weeks. Then, two months later, she is seen brutally embarrassing a Heroes Union squad and turning an intersection into a sinkhole. Then we have a run-of-the-mill Bruiser who went from struggling against a probationary member to killing two members of the Syndicate and threatening Union members. Whoever the man in the helmet is, hes capable of cultivating people and motivating them to his cause. If these other five are anything like Vesuvius and Smolder, then you understand why we need to move quickly. We must capture one of them and use them to locate the man, Sequence said, gravely.

Based on Havok and Virtues testimonies, I dont believe that capturing Smolder is possible. Arbiter, your squad is the only one that has fought Vesuvius. Do you believe its possible to capture her? KnickKnack asked.

Arbiter mulls over the other squad leaders question. The Paragon of Justice, Arbiter. He doesnt do media, so hes one of the only Quinstin Capes I know nothing about. His only concern is saving lives and upholding the Creed. It makes it hard to be a fan of his when he comes across as an unfriendly jerk. His track record speaks for itself, so at the end of the day, it doesnt matter what anyone thinks.

From the footage of her fight against Tramp and Callback, the police reports, and what my team and I experienced, yes. But there is a large caveat to it; there is no existing squad that could take her on. We would have to form a custom squad to do it, and even then, Im unsure of whether weve seen the extent of what she can do, Arbiter answered.

You think shes that powerful? My team and I would be more than enough, Titania smiled.

No, you wouldnt be. It doesnt matter that Havok can regenerate using fire when the rest of you wouldnt be able to do much against her. Vibrances blasts wouldnt harm her; Veer cant touch her, she naturally counters you, and theres no telling if Legends shields could hold out against her. Dont underestimate her. We did, and the city paid the price, Sigilist said, speaking for the first time all meeting.

Another badass female Cape.

She isnt the first fire Cowl Ive fought, and none of them have been hot enough to harm me. Save your concern for those of us who are a lot less durable, Titania responded sharply.

Easy, Titania, Im sure she has a reason for bringing these concerns up. Continue, Sigilist, KnickKnack said.

When I fought Vesuvius, she showed a great degree of honor when it came to fighting. She let my teammates escape from the sewer to check on any civilians in the vicinity; she then asked my name as a form of respect. I believe that if someone were to challenge her to a one-on-one fight that she would accept. We can have it happen outside the city and use it to gather information on her capabilities. Then, if our challenger can defeat her or weaken her enough, we can move to contain her, Sigilist said.

Are you nominating yourself as our champion for this duel? Sequence asked.

No. I would nominate the boy over there, Sigilist said, pointing over to our side of the table.

Him? I follow her finger and realize shes pointing at Adversary. Dappur instead of Violet? I look over at my friend and leader, and shes chewing her lip. After her date got ruined, then getting reamed out by Phoenix, and now not being picked; shes pissed.

Me? Adversary asked, confused.

You want to use him to gauge how dangerous she is. Its a good plan, and will at least give me more data that I can use to narrow down further what the man in the helmet is after, Sequence remarked. Phoenix, thoughts?

No, Phoenix immediately answered. Aversary is not ready, none of them are. I will not let the Union use a child to test the limits of the new Cowl, no matter how powerful they may be. You will have to find a different champion.

Phoenixs refusal is met with crickets. The mood in the room is heavy as the silence stretches out. The atmosphere is uncomfortable and is making me nauseous. This is so freaking awkward. Eventually, Sequence breaks the quiet with a nod of his head. None of the other squad leaders voice any complaints or try to refute my teachers decision. Phoenix commands a lot of respect even though they retired.

I believe Sigilists suggestion still has merit; we will have to pick a different challenger. But that discussion can wait for another time, Titania said.

Agreed. Is that all you have so far, Sequence? KnickKnack asked.

For now, yes. But if Arbiter is right and there are four other Cowls at or close to the level that Smolder and Vesuvius are, then we have four more potential monsters to worry about, he answered, taking his seat at the table.

Well, until they show themselves, all we can do is be ready. Let's move forward to the next two items on the docket: the appearance of a new Cape and the brutal assassination of X-Train's second-in-command, Vixen. Arbiter, you have the floor, Titania said.

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