Chapter 15

  The city cleanup continued for quite some time, as did the reconstruction. However, dungeon portals kept opening, and despite the Meta Association's damaged reputation, we still had a job to do. I could just disappear and not do it, but I was still interested in what was on the other side. An A-ranked portal was great, but I wanted to see inside an S-ranked one.

  I likely would've bugged out of this universe a while ago if it weren't for these portals. Superheroes are fascinating, and it has been a breath of fresh air not dealing with vampires and mages. Still, this city is paying the consequences of my actions, and that payment has been with blood. But it isn't fair to say that only the portals keep me here. A small part of it is my ego. Okay, possibly a more significant portion than I'd like to admit. But payback for all the needless deaths is high on my priority. I will make the syndicate pay.

  "Smog thinks no more innocent deaths."

  "Hey, buddy. I agree. I'll make sure everything nearby is vacant when I reveal myself for the attack. We'll be ready."

  I fed Smog, the murderer who had gotten away and was living nearby, being a menace to his neighbors. "I know you prefer cheeseburgers, but if Oden smells that on you, he'll complain about why he didn't get any."

  "Smog doesn't understand how Oden always knows. Smog doesn't even leave your body."

  "I think it is like a seventh sense or something."

  "Smog doesn't know sixth sense."

  "Oh, well, that is how dogs know when danger is nearby or bad weather. So, the seventh is somehow related to when other animals get head pats, food, or treats when they're not around. It's a dog thing."

  "Smog wants seventh sense."

  "Ah, well, I don't know how to grant that to you, ya know?"

  "Smog thinks magic."

  Uh… could I grant a hypothetical seventh sense that is totally unproven to a being that is technically missing two senses already? Smog can't smell or taste things. He doesn't technically eat, either. He more or less absorbs by breaking down everything and adding it to his substance. So why does Smog like cheeseburgers over people? Who knows. Maybe it is texture. I mean, I love the taste of onions, but that crunch reminds me of squashing bugs. Therefore, I can't handle the texture. Now, onion powder is a great alternative. The smell when simmering spaghetti sauce with a butt load of onion and garlic powder is fantastic. Uh, where was I?

  Right, magical senses. "I'll have to think about that Smog. Brute force spells are mostly mental ideas without understanding of how, but I'm not sure how to create the mental idea correctly. I wouldn't want you to get a ping of knowing whenever anyone ever eats food or gets a treat. You wouldn't be able to sleep. You understand?"

  "Smog thinks that would be bad. Smog wants you to wait."

  "Love you, Smog."

  Hours later, I was heading into the police station when I noticed everyone sort of staring but trying to look like they weren't staring. I turned my mind towards their surface thoughts and got a lot of "he's here" and "can't believe the order was given to arrest him."

  Interesting Smog. It looks like I might be going to prison. Wonder what for.

  Smog thinks because you claim you vampire.

  You're a vampire, not you. And perhaps you're right. Good thing I actually looked up the lore and what they think vampires are. I'll lean into that.

  "Hello Detective!" I announced as I arrived at her desk.

  "Good, you're here. Come with me," she stated without a smile on her face. I frowned but followed her to the interrogation room. "Have a seat, we need to talk."

  "Okay, what is this about? Am I breaking a beauty law for being too handsome or something?"

  "On one hand, we have or had a witness that claimed to have seen you the night of the vampire attacks on the warehouse. So, we know you weren't one of those two. However, the powers at be, believe you have knowledge of or are directly working for them. Your claims of being a vampire are too coincidental before their arrival to be coincidental."

  "Have you ever stopped to think that the two that attacked the warehouse might not be vampires?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, there are no movies or shows about vampires. Only obscure books and mythology. So, I understand why people don't have common knowledge about vampires, but if you read those texts, you'll see that while vampires do bite their victims, they don't drink blood. They drink the soul's life energy to sustain themselves. They can't go out in the light of the sun, and they don't have super strength or speed. But they do use magic and have enchanted eyes. Now, you know that to be true of me, but none of those qualities apply to the two monsters you saw in that warehouse. Right?"

  "I had not considered that. You also have people who obtained mutations and powers, granting them the status of Meta. You know I am not a Meta, but we don't know if those two are Metas or not. But wouldn't it seem more likely that they are instead of some mythical creature? Even if I claim to be said mythical creature?"

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  "You have a point. However, I have orders to arrest you. You will have to go to Jail and await trial. I will talk to the Chief and look into these ancient texts and modern lore to see if you're telling the truth."

  "What crime am I being charged with?"

  "That, unfortunately, is not a necessity when a Royal member gives the order to have someone arrested. It is a Royal privilege to have someone arrested for no crime. However, they will appear in Court and have to give special testimony as to why they believe you should be locked up, and if they don't have a good reason, only the Court can overrule them. But it isn't bad to have other powerful figures stand in defense of you, which includes the Chief. And despite this outcome, she is still rather fond of you."

  "Oh, I bet," I said with a charming grin. Olivia rolled her eyes. Now that I think about it. Suppose I could get myself thrown into prison. In that case, I'd have access to speak to the former Governor since that is where he's currently residing. Maybe I can figure out more about the Syndicate from him. Now, I just need to figure out how to go to prison.

  ~~~

  Comet Rush, now dressed in off-duty civilian clothes, left the hospital. He knew Radiant Jack's identity was leaked a day before the Syndicate attacked their HQ. He was also keenly aware he was the last surviving member, at least if the news reports were accurate. He was only mildly glad that his body healed faster than usual, which allowed him to leave the hospital early. Still, the memory of his dead teammates squashed any of that happiness.

  As he walked with his hands in his pockets and a hood over his face because he knew his identity would be public knowledge by now, he felt an object connect with the back of his neck. His brain overclocked instantly, slowing his perception of time to an almost standstill. In a flash, he removed his right hand and reached around to grab the offending object, which turned out to be a bullet. He hadn't heard a gunshot or a sonic boom, which meant subsonic and a rather good suppressor. Silencers were movie lies, after all. Now, in this moment of standstill, he turned and walked over to the hooded man and got a good look at his face, which looked to have attempted to turn his head the moment he shot. The gun was tucked under an armpit so as to be hidden from view when the shot was fired. "So, you tried to take a hidden shot and turn immediately to avoid suspicion and walk away, as everyone else would be focusing on the dead guy with blood spattered everywhere and brain matter, too. Now, what do I do with you?" His speech was too fast to comprehend for his subject.

  Comet Rush thought a hundred scenarios in less than a thousandth of a second and decided that because he's out of uniform, he should just play it off for now. He tossed the bullet roughly on the same trajectory as where his head would've been but aimed for a metal road sign. Then he resumed his position and started to duck before resuming standard time. The bullet tinged loudly, prompting the other citizens to look around to see the cause of the noise, even as Comet Rush completed bending over to retie his shoe.

  "Was that a gunshot?" One pedestrian asked.

  "What is that?" Another spoke up while pointing at the sign.

  "Is that a bullet? Did someone just fire a gun?" A third person asked, and others started to panic a little. Everyone looking around noticed the hooded man and his panicked expression, and then he tried to run. "Get him!" the fellow citizen yelled.

  Comet Rush let the citizens take action even as he saw one big fellow dive to tackle the suspect. The gun was pulled from the hoodie's pocket but clattered to the ground from the sudden tackle of the bigger man. Great, I was being watched, and people, for whatever reason, are now trying to target me, whether for fame or vengeance. I need to get out of here quickly. He thought to himself as he once again slipped into speed time and raced off to a safe house, now that all attention was focused on his would-be assassin.

  ~~~

  Arakiel was a lowly watcher Angel. His job was observation, reporting, and sometimes tracking interesting subjects. The fiasco with the death of a local Nephilim some hundreds of years ago was an interesting note. Still, the culprit, seemingly with Djinn powers, had left the Earth worlds. His presence went primarily unnoticed if he ever came back, so it was assumed he never returned. But now, the Nephilim known as Higarru had suddenly died on another Earth world. Since then, it has been a directive to analyze all of Earth's realities and find this murderer. Which they believed was a Sunstrider. Part of the Sunstrider's power included a Nephilim, so one would think it would be easy to track. But Arakiel knew it wouldn't be. Sunstriders were an abomination of many monster species, even if that included some Holy ones as well. The signature would be there but buried deep under the hundreds or even thousands of monsters. This one, in particular, was believed to be very powerful by this point in time if he still lived.

  This fact is why Arakiel was reluctant to approach the Grand Chamber to report to Micheal himself. Arakiel believed he had located the monster known as a Sunstrider in a world that had little to do with angels or even vampires, especially Sunstriders. The spectrum of belief regarding the divine went from very strong to very weak. This world was on the extra weak side due to their belief in Superheroes. But he was one hundred percent sure he had located his target. Okay, ninety percent sure… Maybe sixty-four percent, but it was a very good chance that this was the man.

  Arakiel, dressed in a Holy Robe made of pure golden light, knocked on the massive double doors that blocked the entry into the Grand Chamber, where the council of Archangels presided. Although most of the Archangels were never present due to attending to their duties, Michael was always present. However, when he was granted entry, he found himself before the entire council fully present. If fear or anxiety were a thing among Angels, he would've been locked in place, unable to move. As it were, he only felt a curious, mild nervousness and a slight doubt about his findings. Something he didn't fully know how to process, but nonetheless, he pressed on and bowed before giving tithing to the Court.

  "Speak, Arakiel. Give us your report," Gabriel stated in place of Michael. "We have another pressing matter to take care of."

  "Yes, of course. I believe I have located the Nephilim killer known as the Sunstrider. His signature is very weak, which, as you know, indicates he is very powerful for all the monsters that reside within him, but I do know which Earth world he is on."

  An eruption of chatter broke out amongst the Archangels aside from Michael. It went on for a dozen minutes before Michael's eyes flickered with a golden light, which silenced everyone in the room. "I have heard all the complaints and defenses for not getting involved. I acknowledge that there does exist a few beings in this multi-verse that contain the potential to rival our power. The Sunstrider is one such being. However, allowing him to grow in that power only adds risk to us. It may also be true that he is powerful enough to defeat one of us and gain our power directly. A Nephilim doesn't even compare. Therefore, I have decided that we will destroy this Sunstrider. But his death will be at my hands alone. I will personally dispatch this threat."

  The chamber erupted with chatter once again, but Michael had made up his mind. "Enough. I will not go alone. Though my power is more than sufficient, I know the Sunstrider has friends and tricks. I will take a representative of the Djinn with me. His contract will be to aid in the death of the Sunstrider by making sure no one else interferes. That is all." Michael stood up and left the chamber for the first time in eons.

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