Published at 11th of August 2026 7:18 am

Chapter 42 Contact Pt I (V) + ART!!!!!

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Vesuvius! Deactivate your power and stand down, Virtue shouted.

Im going to beat you within an inch of your life: you lying, cheating, murdering, rapist.

What? Virtue asked, her voice quivering in shock.

I am having an awful day, and this bitch is going to pay for everything. Ive wanted to fight her since Hotpants first told me about her. The idea of a Cape I wouldnt have to hold back against is tantalizing. Ive fought a lot of people since joining up with Nobody, and none were a real challenge besides Father Forward. But that was before I met the woman underneath the mask. Violet Graves is a petty, pathetic, entitled princess. After Miles fought them, I did my research on the Heroes Union. I couldnt keep relying on other people; I needed to start being proactive instead of reactive.

The homeless-looking flying mercenary is Chase; hes just a fast flyer, but he wont be able to weaken me because of the heat. He increases his speed by siphoning power from other Neuvohumans abilities somehow via touch. He doesn't actually take away powers; he isnt Eryk. He just weakens them for a bit. The metallic mutt is Ferrol, a Shifter who can create weapons. Technovore must be the one riding on Ferrol. He's the wildcard. Theres no telling what kind of Tinkertech he has hiding in his body. The one with the rubber fetish is Phoenix; Nobody told me that theyre the mentor of Virtues group. He said they were retired from active duty, but clearly that has changed. It wont change anything.

Im done talking to you. Get ready bitch, I replied. The rest of you are going to be busy; keep this fight contained. Im going to go all out.

How dare y- Violet started to say.

Virtue. On my command, Phoenix called out.

Ferrol finally reaches the rest of us, the wolf sliding to a halt that destroys the road. Technovore jumps off his back and lands in a superhero pose. Technovore is quite interesting-looking, on top of giving off a dangerous aura. His head is enclosed in a gunmetal gray metal helmet with an angled blue line denoting his eyes. Tubes are coming out of the side of it and connecting to his back. Hes wearing a hyperweave changshan the same color as his helmet, but the chest portion seems to be an actual breastplate. Hes got a second hyperweave bodysuit underneath that covers his neck, arms, hands, legs, and feet, all a vibrant coral color. When he stands up, he takes a stance that speaks to karate training. Ohohoho, what gem have I found? Who wouldve thought the Heroes Union had another fighter waiting?

Excuse me, Squad Leader. Before we resolve ourselves to fighting, why not try a peaceful resolution through conversation? Chase asked, speaking up.

Shes a Cowl; a known violent offender who has shown zero problems assaulting others. There are some people you cant reason with, Virtue responded, immediately jumping down his throat.

Wait, are we talking about me or you? I asked loudly.

Before Phoenix can stop her, she charges right at me. Even with the mask, I can tell I struck a nerve, hit her right where it hurts. Shes fast, definitely the fastest person Ive ever fought. I center myself, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath as I let go. The heaviness of my anger at The Triad and Violet, the weight of the deaths that still haunt me all these years later, the responsibility of being a member of Momentus, the burden of being too strong, too skilled, to ever fight seriously, and the tethers of my relationship with Anika and my friendship with Nobody and the others. Let go of all of it. Mister Jonesby always said that in a fight, the only thing you should think of is your opponent. Just let go of everything else, Vivienne.

I hear the whizzing of her fist before Ive even opened my eyes. A right hook aimed at my temple. A step backward is all I need to avoid the wide swing; I latch onto her arm, leaning into the momentum shes carrying to pull her close. My other hand goes into her armpit as I spin 180 degrees and slam her into the ground. It explodes from the force, and the two of us fall ten feet down into the crater my ippon-seoi-nage causes. I feel so light. Weightless and unburdened from the world, I am free. Virtues face contorts, not in pain, but in rage. She flies out of the crater, smiling in a way that doesnt reach her eyes.

Good. GOOD. You better be strong after running your mouth, she said.

Virtue's eyes glow blue briefly before two lasers blast me. I put my hand up in time to block them; I can just barely feel the heat from them. The fact I can feel any heat says volumes about how hot her laser vision is burning. She crashes into me like a linebacker, stretching both her arms as far as she can around my waist, and lifting me up. We soar into the sky, the Abandoned District rapidly shrinking below us. We go higher and higher, breaking through the citys skyline and continuing on. I lock my fingers together and hit her with a hammerblow in the back. She grunts and loses grip on me momentarily. I jerk my body to the right, escaping her grasp, and punch her square in the jaw. The Cape goes flying backward, spinning head over heels away.

I drop out of the sky, falling like a meteor. And as a humanoid flaming rock, its an accurate comparison. Theres no need to panic; Im not in any danger. The only ones in danger are the Capes below. They were told to evacuate the area, and if they didnt do that, whatever happens next is on them. Ive never fallen from a height like this before, but I know that it wont end well for whatever I hit. The wind whips around me, my flaming hair blowing wildly. I condense myself, putting my legs together, and folding my arms over my chest as I try to control the angle of my descent. I need to land in the same spot we took off from; otherwise I could hit somewhere else and do a lot of damage.

The point of impact is one of the nearby automated production facilities. Feet first, I penetrate the roof like a 50 caliber bullet, shredding through the steel supports, lighting system, and production line. The factory floor is obliterated, the cement bursting into chunks of stone shrapnel. Hoses carrying lubricant snap, leaking oil everywhere, and then burst into flames. It takes less than a minute from my crash landing for the fires to start, and then thirty seconds from that before everything goes white in an explosion. Multiple tons of machinery and metal crash into me, burying me in the ruins of the building. Damn. I lay there for a moment before I start to push and shove everything off of me. The rubble and debris are starting to melt around me; my temperature is steadily rising.

I slowly walk out of the wreckage, keeping my head on a swivel for the Heroes Union squad. Phoenix is floating in the exact same place he was before, but the rest have scattered. I know your secret, you old fuck. Enough damage and theyll be forced to run or risk exhausting their lifeforce. Phoenix is going to watch until theyre sure they have to get involved. Pathetic coward. Now, where are the rest of them? A spear hits me in my right boob with enough force to push me back a few feet. The weapon is already melting from my body heat as I wipe it off.

Cmon, Fido, come get some. THERE! Hes retreated several blocks away to take pop shots at me from afar. I wouldnt have seen him if it wasnt for the sunlight reflecting off his chrome body. If my eyes werent made of flames, it might have blinded me. Twelve more spears come blasting through the air like ballistic missiles. I could let them hit me; they dont hurt, and Im not in any danger from it. But Im angry, so Ill embarrass them. I twist and tilt my body, avoiding every single projectile. I hear them pierce into the ground behind me, and I rip one out, tossing it up to get a feel for the weight. Then I take a step forward, pop off my right foot, and throw it back at him.

I trow all but one back at him, forcing him to jump and fetch it out of the air before it goes past him. The last one I grab, tossing it up as I have for the last eleven, but then I spin on my heel and launch it at Phoenix. Gotcha. There's not enough distance for the Cape to dodge it, which means theyll have to use their powers. The hot metal spear zips right for them, only to dissolve against a wall of white flames. I wonder how hot they are? The stone beneath my feet crunches as I jump at the flying Cape. The wall of white flame doesnt impede me in the slightest; it doesnt even feel slightly warm to me. I burst through them, surprising Phoenix with a right hook into their stomach. Rotating my shoulder up and angling my fist down sends the Cape crashing down. My fist leaves an imprint melted into their suit, the smell of melting leather joining the melange all around us.

My back lets out a satisfying crack that reverberates down my spine as something, likely Virtue, smacks me out of the air. I shoot forward like a cannonball, carving molten Vivienne-sized holes through a dozen buildings, coming to a stop only after skidding several miles down the street. Theres a line of devastation left in my wake from Virtues attack. Getting up off the ground, I see the trail of destruction leading to me. Shes suddenly right in front of me, eyes glowing and face contorted into a snarl. I put a hand up to block the lasers, but they dont come. Oh fuck, she pump-faked me. Her tiny fist hits me in the abs, hundreds of windows shattering from the shockwave, as Im shot up through a building. Car alarms, barking dogs, and screams of people bleed together, barely muffled by the whistling wind in my ears. Wait, how far did she hit me?

I take a look around as I burst out the other side of the office building Virtue hit me through. I fall, gravity taking hold of me as I descend toward the busy street. Were not in the Abandoned District. That moron hit me toward the city center. I twist around in the air, civilians below scrambling to get out of the way. Theyre not going to get away fast enough. The people start disappearing one by one, whisked away in a blur. Good. At least someone on that team cares about other people. Instead of harming any people, I cleave straight through a city bus like a laser sword. The seats combust, fire spreading until the entire vehicle bursts into flames. Where am I? Just how far did I fly? Just let go of everything else, Vivienne. I committed to beating Virtues ass, and thats all I need to do.

I kick off the ground, getting up and out of the burning bus. An angry bark is the only warning I get before a dozen chrome portals appear all around me, spiked chains shooting out. They pierce into the asphalt, locking me down. It isnt enough; already the chains glow red, then bright orange. Technovore drops out of the sky, thrown by Chase, who disappears again with a sonic boom. Two large cannons emerge out of his shoulders, pieces emerging out of nothing as they are assembled. His left hand transforms, a bright red drill forming over his fist that he jabs into a nearby fire hydrant. Clear tubs come out of his sides, connecting to the hydrant just as a huge pod is built out of his back. Water starts filling the pod, pouring in until it's full. The drill dissolves, and he puts both arms together as they fuse together into a hi-tech-looking water hose as big as a horse. All of it takes less than a minute, and Technovores hydrocannon hits me, causing a steam explosion.

The chains shatter, metal scraps shooting off like bullets. I cant see shit through the fog. The whole street must be blanketed in a misty haze. My body is so hot the fog thickens to the point I cant see ten feet ahead. I take a single step forward, and everything goes to shit. The fog flash freezes, extinguishing the bus and covering it and myself in a layer of white frost. The cold is in my bones. It wont last forever, but it hurts so much. Chase presses his hand on my left arm, then vanishes. He reappears, and he tags me again, repeating the same action a few more times. Exhaustion is starting to creep in, the lava lines on my body dimming slightly, as he continues to weaken me with every touch. My head shakes as I shiver, the deep chill penetrating into my core. Chase dashes away before swirling metal circles appear all around me, chains shooting out to wrap around me. Technovore hits me with his hydrocannon again, soaking me in water. The two shoulder cannons glow bright white before twin beams of frost blast me.

Is she down? Chase asked, landing next to Technovore.

Do not drop your guard for a moment. We arent the first squad to run into her, and the last squad got run through, Technovore replied.

Virtue and Phoenix touch down, Ferrol standing behind them.

Do you see, Virtue, what can happen when you follow the plan? Phoenix asked angrily.

I was doing fine.

No. You werent, kid. Vesuvius has shown herself to be honorable in a fight, not involving innocent bystanders. You decided to hit her out of the zone we quarantined into a populated part of the city. If it wasnt for Chase, dozens of people wouldve lost their lives, Technovore said harshly. You are the youngest and newest member of the Union, but youre not a probationary member anymore; you dont get to act like a stupid child.

I laugh, my teeth clacking together from the cold. Youre a danger to everyone. Even your team doesnt trust you. Is it because they know youre a killer, Vye? I asked.

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