Disclaimer: I don't own Worm, nor Rising Of The Shield Hero. Even this fanfiction is the product of Seerking! better author, better at time management.

Chapter 4: Totally The Last Time She Forgets To Look At A Notification

Max Anders(Kaiser)

"I won't help weaklings." I snapped at the nearest recruit, who hastily pointed his gun at a Merchant druggie.

Another territorial takeover. With the Merchants severely lacking in capes, a large group of drug fiends were the best they could do. Unfortunately for them.

I didn't care much about the people rushing off and screaming as my men fired on the Merchants. It'd be blamed on them anyways.

"Leaf Storm!"

And then leaves flooded the road.

Thousands of them, moving as if they were trying their best to rip at any bare skin they could get to, clouding my vision, offering the same resistance as heavy wind.

There were a few panicked cries, and then the leaf storm died down.

"Can you leave your dicks waving contests out of the populated areas please?"

I frowned mutely.

A girl, tall and willowy, probably 19 at most, Covered in. mismatched coats and various scarfs, covering most of her face.

She was either foolish or foolish. Most likely both.

"What's your name girl?"

The teen paused, green eyes glancing around.

"Heraldry. Um, Shield."

She probably just made that up. I thought, bemused.

"Is this your first night out girl?"

"I know I won't be enough to stop you." She admitted, putting her hands up, looking ready for a fight. "But I just need to hold you off long enough for the PRT to arrive."

I spared a glance at the Merchant druggies, who were holding dirty AK's.

She had performed multiple takedowns in that leaf storm. Strategic takedowns of my men, recognizing that my neo-Nazis had better guns and were the most sound of mind. She had managed to take down 10 of my gang members before the leaves dispersed.

I did not take kindly to that.

"I hope you're a Brute, because I want to take you apart slowly." A rising anger in my voice. I felt slighted because I was made to look weak in front of the Merchants. Merchants!

The girl erupted into a fit nervous laughter.

My eyes narrowed, and I tried to pull on my power to stab metal from her shield into her arm.

The snap of a rubber band in my head, sending me reeling. It disoriented me, rattled my head. I tried to focus on my power but it was met with muted results.

Some kind of Trump effect on the shield! I snarled angrily in my head. I felt rage at the thought of someone dampening my power. Weakening me. I understood that she was some kind of Grabag cape. Which would be a pain in the ass.

"Men, fire on the cape!" I ordered, my remaining men moved to shoot and attack.

Both the Merchants and my men posed to take her down.

She scrambled out of the way of gunfire, holding up her shield to block any incoming bullets.

…………

Taylor Hebert

I panicked and spazzed the fuck out.

What the hell was I thinking?!

I noticed idly how the Merchants were just shooting in my general direction, at anything that moved. While the Empire were more a threat to me, the Merchants were more of a threat to anyone in the general area, and I should have taken them out first.

I only had the split second to note that, as some of the Empire that I couldn't get to during my initial sneak attack, and the Merchants spraying bullets down the street, were posing a serious risk to herself and the people around them.

I need to protect the civilians until the Protectorate gets here. I realised. Fighting the two gangs were bound to end badly for me, and most likely the civilians around the scene.

And I need to do something fast.

The clothes I wore didn't really have a defense rating to multiply, which meant I had no real defense besides the shield on my arm.

Well, that's not entirely true… focus! Something strong, powerful and can defend the people watching the gang fight. Did I have something like that? …. I do!

"[Shield Form Change: Rock Shield]!"

I crouched, taking a second to feel for my surroundings.

We were on a street. A rectangular path. There were people scattered about, but mainly clustered or running away up the street. From the position I was in the Empire and Merchants were focused to the right of the street, mainly away from the majority of the people, which was originally my plan.

Kaiser seemed reluctant to use his power(for some reason), even with his previous threat, which I was taking full advantage of.

"Well, do or die." I muttered, trying not to think about how true that statement could be. "Rock Wall!"

I threw up my hand, jumping back, using my enhanced strength.

Sweat beaded on my brow.

The tug was back. Stronger, than before. Most likely from the extra work I was putting into my ability.

Two walls came up, one rising up quickly in front of me, the other blocking up the road, where people were fleeing.

I could feel the solid igneous rock, dull dark grey, rip through the cement and road, this power forcing it into existence as I planted my foot on the brick of the shop behind me, propelling myself over my wall.

I angled myself down on the nearest gang member, another Empire neo-Nazi, raming my fist into his face.

However much force was half of my normal was enough to knock the wind out of him and send him on his butt.

Having bled off my momentum, I twisted around, planting my feet on the ground and used my shield to bash the face in of a Merchant as I activated the next step in my last second plan.

"[Shield Form Change: Blinding Heat Shield]!"

"Shoot her!"

"Heated Blinding Spray!" I yelped out. I mean-heroically shouted!

A bright flash of light burst from my shield.

……………

Max Anders(Kaiser)

My world was enveloped in a burning, searing light.

I clutched my eyes, suddenly hating the cape that decided to be a total bitch.

My hearing was still intact, although my skin was slightly burning, and I felt the need to cough.

The worst pain was in my eyes, although I wasn't sure if closing them would have been enough to block them from the effects if she used that power again.

Either way I had to shut my eyes, forced to, which made my rage peak. My eyes hurt, and with that pain was the acute feeling of boiling, bubbling. In a way that made me want to claw at my eyes.

I could hear the sound of her movement, the shuffle of various panicked cries from cannon fodder, my own and the Merchants, and the sharp ring of her strange Trump shield quickly taking them down.

I had to do something quickly. I realised.

This wasn't some Grabbag cape. I snarled to myself. This was a powerful Trump/Striker. Some unholy hybrid of Dauntless and Shielder.

As much as my inner desires wanted to reel her in line, take her for my own to be used and broken, this overwhelming anger wanted her to choke on her own blood. Violently and brutally. Slowly.

But first things first.

I kneeled down slowly, gathering up my power and my mind. Whatever her Trump power was it had shaken my head, weakened my power.

But it was still my power.

Metal tore at the ground around me, enveloping me in this cocoon of spiked steel and sheet metal. Whatever her 'Heated Blinding Spray' was, it just caused temporary blindness, yet already I could open my eyes.

In a minute or two I'd be able to see, and she'd rue crossing me with the last stupid air she breathed.

My throat burned, forcing me to cough. Involuntary tears ran down my face, and my nose was on fire.

But she'd die.

My hand shot out, and I gripped the metal encasing me, tearing it from the inside.

Walking out of the metal cocoon, I sharply looked around.

The bodies of my men were on the floor, groaning painfully, some were struggling to get up. Tears and snot running down their faces.

The Merchants, if possible, were worse off.

Drugged up on whatever fix or narcotic they were on, 'Heraldry Shield' had caused most of them to knock unconscious by the last use of her power. It brought a cruel and stiff smile to my face, seeing one of them laying in piss, twitching like a roach.

But no sign of the cape.

And the sound of oncoming PRT vehicles.

My fists clenched, shaking.

A cape, one that hadn't even decided on a name before rushing in, taking me on, and won.

This would not stand.

I analysed my surroundings. Taking in how the rock walls were positioned, how she angled the fight away from the civilians, boxing us in and using her power and strength. She had the mind that let her understand that I was out of her league, and having accomplished what she set to do, vanished before I could recover. A tactical mind. One blinded by misguided 'heroism'.

I turned my back to the wall blocking off the street, walking down the torn road, stepping on some rubble as I trudged on.

The PRT would take the men I left, but I didn't spare them a thought.

I had more important matters to attend to, and most of my thoughts were taken up by blinding seething rage.

With Kayden gone, I had to bolster the Empire's fighting power somehow.

A dark smile lit my face.

There were many ways to cull a parahuman, and forcing this girl under my heel while torturing her would be cathartic. Even with as much as I wanted to kill her.

No, I needed to hold up the air of being more civilized and more approachable. This city would fall under my feet, and they'd want it.

I'd secure Brockton Bay, drive out the ABB, slaughter Merchants, cull the PRT pigs, and subjugate this Heraldry Shield.

Soon the city will fall before my feet.

...

Taylor Hebert

I panted heavily, sweating profusely, taking off my many layers of clothing as soon as I made it through my window.

Mp: [930/2,000]

I rolled my head, laying on the cold wood of my floor, groaning as it touched my hot skin.

"What the hell is Mp again?"

The statistical number of magic you have at your disposal. Using Shield abilities can cause Mp to go down. Using these abilities and pushing more magic through, you can unleash devastating effects.

"Thanks whatever you are." I said breathily. "That was such a bad idea. Oh my gosh, I didn't think I could run that far."

Or fast, really.

I fought Kaiser. Kaiser! Ruler of the Empire, head of one of the biggest gangs in the city.

And people shot at me. With guns.

I shivered, and not just because of the cold AC.

I could have died. I was not planning on doing something like that. If I wasn't just, there, I probably would have just continued on, not debuting as a cape at all.

"Heraldry Shield." I muttered.

It was a bit of a mouthful, one I made up off the top of my head. I think it fit, considering my power kept calling itself 'Holy Shield'.

It made me really question how powers really happened.

Had Kaiser's come to him in a dream, much like mine? It had been fed to me that some people had hid their powers, before coming out onto the cape scene ready to face the world.

For people like Alexandria, who had stopped aging? One of the strongest capes in the world.

And I had also heard that some powers trigger because of terrible terrible events, almost like the world was giving them something to fight back against their threats.

It was all conjecture, especially for someone like me who had never really studied parahuman science. Which, I probably should do, considering I was now a parahuman.

I glanced down at the clothes I threw to the floor as I came in through my window, realising I had technically stolen them.

To be fair, I doubted the place, which had had broken windows and torn up shelves, would worry too much about that. Hopefully whatever insurance they had would be able to take care of everything.

A piece of metal glinted in the bundle of coats and scarfs, and I idly grabbed it, twirling it between my fingers.

I should have absorbed something in the fight. I realised. One of the bullets maybe, a gun that was discarded on the floor, something-anything that would have increased my chances of survival and would have helped those civilians.

"Too late to think about it now." I frowned, thinking out loud. "Still…"

I pushed the piece of metal into the gem of my shield.

[Metal Shield (Medium)]

Attack: 25

Defense: 48

[Equipped Active Skill]- [Metal Spikes] (LV: 1)

Focused metal is unleashed from your hands or feet, letting you hit the ground and unleash spikes of metal to shoot at your enemies.

[Passive Skill Acquired]-[Metal Collection 1]

Allows you to quickly and readily understand anything to do with Metallurgy. Able to identify different types of metal.

[Warning!]

Max Shield Limit Hit! Next Shield available in the next 24 Hours.

"What?!" I hissed, trying to be quiet so dad didn't come and check on me. "That's so messed up! What the hell?!"

Shield forms occur due to an adaptation of the material into your DNA. If too many changes occur within a certain timeframe unfortunate and undesirable changes may occur.

"Oh, well that sounds…bad." I hesitated. "That must be what the [Passive Skills] are. Kind of like… mutations. The [Active Skills] must be changes that occur within the shield, and when I use them this energy is channeled through the shield to activate things like Leaf Storm and Rock Wall."

It also had to do with intent. I could make more, push past my limits, or choose not to cover an area with all my various [Active Skills].

Unlocking new and powerful shields can also make the limit on the number of shields go up. Like if you say, had a dragon scale. Then it'd take four days to unlock a new shield. The tolerance will go up as you get stronger, but in order for this to happen you need more LV.

"LV, the thing that's next to my name right? What is that exactly?

LV is the accumulative power you have. You can check enemies LV compared to your own, as well as their Hp and Mp, and earn EXP to level up. Speaking of…

You have defeated:

-Empire 88 Skinhead X23

-Merchant Druggie X43

You have defeated the Leader of the Empire: Kaiser in battle.

"Oh hell yeah." I sprung off the floor, grinning to myself.

I didn't know how powers normally worked, but the feeling of getting stronger, that was-

10 EXP earned.

I opened and closed my mouth, taking a glance at the innocent looking bar in the left of my vision.

Level 1 Next Level: 990 EXP

Race: Parahuman

After fighting off Kaiser, defeating over 50 gang members, and savings dozens of innocent lives… I get 1% of my 'LV' raised? What the fuck?

Okay. I breathed through my nose. I need to think about this.

I get tremendous bonuses every time I level up, and my shield sort of evolves too? It's able to absorb more powerful material and lessens the cooldown for absorbing new shields. I think.

And I could burn myself out somehow by taking in more than I can handle. It'd mutate me, or something. And my power had an inbuilt failsafe in case I did try to bite off more than I could chew.

Not to mention the shields I did have were impervious to damage, could call upon what could basically amount to other powers with devastating effect, and quadruple my armor rating. Which basically meant I had a pretty good power set to…

To do what?

Become a cape? Fight the gangs? Stop crime? Save people?

I sighed, flopping on my bed.

"If I didn't… who would?"

Plenty of people actually. There was a whole building full of people willing to fight villains in this city.

"Then a better question… if I don't, what does that make me?"

There were plenty of reasons for becoming a hero there. I didn't want to be a victim anymore. I never wanted to be a bystander, like people were to me. Doing nothing amounted to the same thing as hurting someone yourself.

And most of all… I wanted to help.

"Alright then." I cast a disdainful glance at my Heraldry Shield 'costume'. "If only I had an actual costume."

[Inventory]

[Hero's Cowl]

Modified equipment based off personal desires. It's a green leather cowl that conceals the identity of its wearer. No matter how obvious it is that you're the person underneath the mask, no one will ever know it's you. Unless you tell them.

Defense: 10

[Light Green Leather Armor]

Defense: 35

[Light Green Leather Boots]

Defense: 5

[Red Mantle of the Shield Hero]

A red cloak emblazoned with the symbol for the Shield Hero. It is empowered to add to your Defence if someone attempts to attack you from behind. Otherwise, it is a fairly ordinary, but impressive cloak.

Or is it?

Defense: 15

For the third time today my mouth hung open in justified anger.

"What the hell power?! Where was this an hour ago?" I growled angrily.

You were given a message 4 hours, 32 minutes, 23 seconds ago. One that notified you about your [Inventory].

"What? I don't remember…"

My jaw dropped in realisation.

I just sat there, staring blankly at the wall.

"That's… that's the last time I swipe away a notification without looking at it."

It wouldn't in fact, be the last time I swiped a notification without looking at it. But it would be a long time before I did it again.

And such concluded my debut as a hero.

Fourth chapter, yo yo. Hoped you liked it yo yo. Don't worry, new shields coming soon.