Fear of death. How long has it been since she felt this way?
Or has she felt that way before?
Of course she did and she can remember it too vividly, It was...
——From the times she had no powers, yeah when she was just Klara Risinger, not title no cod name ...nothing—yes that was it.
Naturally, it was completely understandable for her to be afraid of death during that period.
Just like any other normal person with no power, she was vulnerable to various potential causes of death, such as catching a simple cold, getting into a car accident, accidentally falling from a window, or even being bitten by a venomous spider. It was a common fear that anyone in her position—or human would have had.
After all, she was just an ordinary woman with an ordinary body, devoid of any extraordinary abilities or powers.
But even so, did she truly find peace of mind once she obtained her powers and realized that death would be a challenge for her to face?
Well, for a while yes. She enjoyed the peace of mind, but just for a while until...
——He showed up, "Soldier boy".
Initially, she underestimated his potential at first look, but as the war progressed, the reports she received, the news she heard, and the secret files she stumbled upon painted a different picture.
——The looming presence of death and the realization of his hidden ability to nullify her powers started to weigh heavily on her mind, she couldn't even sleep.
His ability to neutralize any powers of any sup made him a formidable threat, especially to someone like her, She began to see him not just an ordinary super soldier, but as a dangerous individual with the potential ——to actually kill her.
—But what did she do regarding that?...——Nothing she actually done nothing, risky at least.
Without a doubt, she thinks that she made the firm decision to persist in her normal routine and fulfill her obligations, of being the hero that the people wanted her to be.
Naturally, she ceased engaging on some dubious activities she has been doing, as she had no desire to confront soldier boy. It was only natural for her to feel scared and haunted by the lingering fear of death, —and so that fear relentlessly pursued her until, at long last, the fear ceased his relentless pursuit in her mind, because.
——"Soldier boy" had finally died.
She was absolutely thrilled by the turn of events, and with the joy she felt over his death, the anxiety of her own mortality vanished completely.
And so...
Not long after his demise, she abandoned her role as the heroine of the people she abondend her role as "liberty", and instead dedicated herself to pursuing her true passions, mirroring the activities of her late husband " Frederick Vought", namely, cultivating a fresh lineage of individuals endowed with superpowers–and did she succeeded?.
——Of course she did, and for a while so.
She started, by abducting people, a people that won't be missed, and against their will of course, she subjected them to brutal and merciless experiments.
While giving them powers through injections was a simple task, the real challenge for them was determining whether their abilities would be beneficial to her. —If not, she had no qualms about ending their lives.
However, power was not the only motive driving her actions; she demanded unwavering obedience, and failure to comply meant certain death.
However time passed, and numerous experiments were conducted and a multitude of lab rats were used, yet the desired outcome remained elusive. She found herself dissatisfied with the progress she had made thus far——she was bored.
And of course as if fate was mocking her, a new hero emerged of course the hero was none but "Homelander", and his strength surpassed the strength of the previous one.
And if this new hero was even stronger than before, then...That means only trouble for her and double the fear she had before.
——And what did she do to prepare?.
Well for that, she made a really bold choice this time around that would make even the devil himself feel ashamed.
Unlike her previous endeavors, she opted for a course of action that involved kidnapping innocent newborns. Her motive behind this heinous act was of course to conduct experiments on these young souls, hoping to achieve the desired outcome.
And as a result, she successfully abducted a staggering of fifty child from various corners of the globe. These unfortunate souls that still didn't see nothing In life were subjected to merciless experimentation, leaving no room for compassion.
But deep down, fear and desperation consumed her, as she yearned for a powerful protector to shield her from the fear of death.
But alas...
Almsot all the fifty newborns that was subjected to her twisted experiments met their death, one after another. Their fates were grim, with some experiencing the grotesque horror of their heads exploding, while others met a more tranquil end.
Nevertheless, the outcome remained unchanged - her experiments were an utter failure. However, to her astonishment, the final child, the very one who had succumbed to death with his heart ceasing to beat, defied all expectations.
Hours passed, and to her surprise the newborns heart started to beat again.
And not only that, she was actually more happy to discover that the boy she had believed to be deceased was actually a successful experiment, and her certainty only grew stronger as the child matured into a six-year-old boy.
Witnessing the young boy exhibit an extraordinary level of power beyond ever her own, filled her with immense joy and excitement.
—But that is weird isn't it?, to be happy that ther Is actually someone who suppressed her should scare her, right?...
——No, this it wasn't the case here, because...
As it appeared, the young lad became deeply attached to her, displaying not only overwalming physical strength but also a profound affection towards her.
And of course she know, that she ended up receiving far more than she had anticipated, as the outcome exceeded her wildest expectations and left her thoroughly pleased with the situation.
And so.
She was finally able to revel in the absence of the looming threat of death, as the boy's powers flourished in tandem with his growth. It was an undeniable truth that the boy,——No her beloved "Subaru", had ascended to become the most formidable force in the world.
Yet - how could she be certain and confident of this?——well.
Once again, "Soldier boy" made his appearance, he wasn't dead.——and what did she do?
Well, the news of soldier boy appearance provided her with the perfect opportunity to test the strength of her Subaru. And of course, he didn't disappoint.
In the next morning and With a gleeful smile on his face, Subaru flew to her window, not a single scratch on his sleek orange and black caped suit with the letter "M" in the chest, proudly presenting her the soldier boy decapitated head on his shattered shield.
Witnessing this spectacle, she couldn't help but feel a surge of pride and happiness and a big burden lifting off her back, And the cherry on top?
When Subaru recounted the story of the fight, and apparently Unlike the other sups, Subaru didn't have their—— and her weakness.
Naturally, there were some issues that arose. Subaru, for all his physical prowess, struggled with managing his feelings. He was a boy with inner turmoil, yet aside from that, Subaru excelled in many ways.
And so...
With the commencement of her role as a hero under a new cod name"Stormfront," the once looming dread of death vanished entirely from her being. Fear became an obsolete notion as she fearlessly embraced her profession once again without worry, And why should she be worried or even afraid?, while entrusting the heavy burdens to Subaru while she easily tackled the minor problems.
Subaru, her dearest Subaru, served as her ultimate safeguard, her very own life insurance, ensuring that fear would never dare to encroach upon her existence, ever again.
Yeah that's right, that how it is and how will all be...or at least that's what she thought for a while.
...
——But how about now?
"F...ucking b-asterd, you little piece of ...OF SHIT!"
Well, you see, back then things were different, but now it's a whole new ballgame. And let me tell you, at this very moment, she was in a world of hurt. She was bleeding, cursing, and feeling an excruciating pain coursing through her entire riddled of hols body. It was no ordinary pain, mind you. It was the kind of pain that would make anyone believe she should have been six feet under by now.
And you know what? Maybe she should have been, but considering the circumstances...
"What the hell? Listen here You, yes you!, had the audacity to barge into my sacred cathedral and launch an attack on me! For such an action I should've unleashed my wrath upon you, and immediately turn you to nothing but a crimson mist. And yet, what do I get in return? Instead of showing gratitude for sparing your pathetic life, you have the nerve to insult and curse me? Well, let me tell you something, this kind of disrespect is utterly intolerable!"
"Damn it!" she hissed through gritted teeth, swiftly evading another incoming attack that literally obliterated the entire row of towering trees behind her.
——shit he wasn't kidding this one is worst.
It was a close call, a hair's breadth away from certain death. However, now she was prepared as she know what she was facing.
——But still the bad news is, she know that she can't win because she already tried.
"Da-mnit!
The forest around her was engulfed in flames, with the scorching heat causing most of the trees to burn. And a majestic cathedral now stood with a partially scorched and collapsed wall, a result of the chaos that had unfolded just moments ago.
...
It was when she found herself here In this forest she didn't know how or why, but she didn't had the time to investigate more of her situation when she encountered him - a man with striking white hair, and yellow eyes that seemed to hold a hidden depth, and dressed in pristine white garments.
——However, what stood out the most was his incessant talking, as if he couldn't stop himself from sharing every thought that crossed his mind. The constant chatter became unbearable for her, and in a fit of frustration, she unleashed powerful black lightning bolts towards him.
The thunder roared and the storm raged from all directions, but to her surprise, he remained unscathed. Instead of being hurt, her attack only fueled his anger, and destroyed the place around her, as a result intensifying the situation even further.
...
"Listen here, you piece of shit...I never intended to end up in this shithole. And to be honest, I couldn't care less about who the hell you think you are," she spat out with venom in her voice, her eyes locked on the man in front of her, her body tense and despite the wounds, it was ready to move away at the slightest movement from him.
But surprisingly unprovoked, he responded with a simple smile, leaving her unsettled in the process.
" what? Mocking me now" she hissed.
"I am the epitome of satisfaction in this vast world, and therefore, I have no inclination to ridicule," he declared with a mischievous grin, further fueling her fury. With a touch of audacity, he continued, "However, I must express my gratitude for bringing to my attention a rare oversight on my part — I failed to introduce myself to you adequately, just as you did. It seems we both erred, but as the most mature individual present here, I shall take the initiative and rectify this situation."
With a grin stretching across his face, the man confidently shifted his hand towards his chest.
Hm!?
The sudden movement caused the stormfront to recoil in fear, but In a surprising twist, the man's hand gently rested on his own chest, accompanied by a subtle bow of his head.
"I am Regulus Corneas, the sin archbishop of greed and the rightful owner of this Cathedral and land you are currently in. And now that I have graciously taken the time to introduce myself to you, and now it is your turn to reveal your identity to m—
Mid-sentence, his words abruptly faded into silence, leaving a lingering sense of incompleteness in the air. Just as he was introducing himself, Stormfront swiftly soared through the sky, seizing the opportunity to escape as far as her powers could carry her.
In the midst of his speech, Regulus couldn't help but feel a surge of displeasure coursing through him, causing his face to contort with anger.
"So that's your answer to my patience——then I will show you mine"
Hissing, regulus kicked the ground making dirt and gravel rising...
...
"Screw that...he's a total creep, and I should have known better right from the get-go, damn it stormfront Damn it!," she muttered under her breath, berating herself for her errors as she soared through the air, though not at her typical velocity and with a less graceful flying posture than usual.
Because as it still stands——she is still wounded, and now the bleeding is getting worse.
Taking flight with a body riddled with bullet-sized hols is an ill-advised endeavor, for as she soared through the air, a crimson trail followed in her behind, akin to a slender scarlet ribbon clinging to her form.
Though she may be soaring presently, one must question how long she can endure such a precarious state before succumbing to its consequences.
"You can do this stormfront com on ...COM ON!"
Well As a superhuman, her body Is remarkable resilience, refusing to succumb to the wounds inflicted upon it. Undoubtedly, she possesses an extraordinary ability to withstand pain and endure the physical toll.
Yeah she definitely gonna do good at this rate.
——unless...
"AAAAHK—!".
Her lips parted, unleashing a primal scream that echoed through the air, as an agonizing sensation coursed through her body.
The pain was unbearable, intensified by the sight of her own blood splattering in every direction. In that moment of sheer disbelief, she watched in horror as the objects that had pierced through her continued their trajectory, passing right before her eyes.
——How could his attack reach her from such a distance? Did she underestimate the distance she had traveled, or he was just that strong?.
She wasn't sure, but what she was sure of is that...
"Hk! I C-ant ... no longer fl—"
She was falling, Like a wounded bird plummeting from the the highest of the skyes, she descended rapidly towards the unforgiving forest floor.
The force of her fall left a crimson trail in her wake, a stark reminder of how bad the injury she had just sustained.
And With a thunderous impact akin to a miniature rocket, she collided with the unyielding earth, sending billows of smoke spiraling into the air, shrouding the scene in an eerie haze.
...
Regulus let out a frustrated sigh, "I hope that this attack would finally teach her a valuable lesson about not crossing me again.However, I doubt that she would be able to since she is dead" . As he made his way back to his cathedral, a small smile crept onto his face, accompanied by a bittersweet thought, "It's a pity though, she could have been a suitable wife."
...
".S..ub..aru I n-ne..ed yo-u..."
Regulus, as always, proved to be a failure in his predictions.
Stormfront was very much alive, although her condition was perilously close to death. Her body was riddled with wounds and punctures, any of which could have been fatal to an ordinary person. ——However, Stormfront was far from ordinary. She possessed an extraordinary resilience that kept her fighting, fueled by the desperate hope that Subaru would somehow hear her desperate plea for assistance.
"S..u.ba..ru–hk!"
Struggling to escape the pit she had inadvertently created during her descent, she clawed her way out with a fierce determination, her hands grasping at the loose dirt and rocks. Despite the trembling in her limbs, she refused to give up, pushing through the pain and weakness that threatened to overwhelm her. With her legs still functional but weakened from the loss of blood, she knew she had to rely on her upper body strength to pull herself forward.
"Su..bar–hk!"
Brain fraying, from the relentless agony and pain she was feeling in her body, her mind struggles to maintain its composure, her body quivers and trembling as she continues to press forward, inch by agonizing inch.
And despite all of this, her thoughts involuntarily drift towards Subaru, the Iron presence that had always stood by her side. In this crucial moment, when she needed him the most, his absence looms ominously.
The question echoes through her mind, reverberating with uncertainty and desperation - where could he possibly be now?.
"I n..e.ed y-ou..."
and so crawling and crawling and crawling, she With every ounce of strength she had left, she relentlessly dragged herself through the dense forest, her body aching and her spirit fading.
The fear of death loomed over her again, driving her to push beyond her limits. She was well aware that any pause, even for a mere second, would seal her fate. Determined to survive, she clung to the thought that stopping was not an option. And so, she persisted, crawling with unwavering determination, defying the odds stacked against her.
As she continued to crawl, her mind consumed by the excruciating pain coursing through her body, time seemed to stretch endlessly. She had no idea how long she had been crawling or where her destination lay. With her vision obscured by the crimson veil of her own blood, she was oblivious to the passing minutes and hours. Every movement was a struggle, every breath a reminder of the agony that enveloped her.
Until...
"You there stop!"
The sound of a deep, commanding male voice pierced through the air, demanding her to halt.
Despite her surprise at being able to hear it so distinctly, she paid no attention to it, her determination unwavering as she persisted in crawling forward, she can't think stright anymore.
——She was driven by instinct.
"For the last time I demand you stop or els–
"What are you going to do about it, huh? You and your goons really think she's a threat to me in that sorry state?" A new voice cut through the tension, a woman's voice dripping with sarcasm as she unleashed her fury on the man who ordered stormfront to stop.
"You're lucky to be still alive after...well after whatever happened to you ,"
And then the mysterious woman remarked to her, her voice dripping with awe.
"Hk!".
Stormfront could sense the firm grip of numerous individuals holding her tightly from behind, their presence overwhelming her senses, pain intensifying.
"Oh my even in such a state!?" The woman said with more surprise.
Because Stormfront nonchalantly just shrugged off the people who was restraining her, as if they were mere inconveniences.
And then directly, she continued to crawl forward with determination, but suddenly she found herself unable to move any further.
"Hk—no!"
It seemed that her body had given up, perhaps due to the immense effort she had exerted in trying to free herself from the clutches of whoever had grabbed her. Or maybe, just maybe, the notion that pausing for even a second could prove fatal was not just a mere exaggeration.
"Sorry but you got so much potential that it's impossible to overlook. Hey, you Idiot's, why don't you kindly pick this woman up to the carriage? She's going to be my esteemed guest, after all"
stormfront hearing her words started shaking obviously an attempt to crawl again, after all at this she couldn't think straight.
"Yeas lamia-sama!"
Hm!?
And then Overwhelmed by the sheer number of people surrounding her, she sensed their presence, but this time their demeanor was not as cruel. They lifted her from the ground with unexpected tenderness, yet her vision remained obscured, and her thoughts weren't stright.
All she yearned for was to crawl away, to escape the suffocating weight of her despair and fear, but even that simple act eluded her now.
——so what she can do now?.
"Rest assured survival, Because I will take care of you from now on fufufu~"
——Yeah maybe she can do that.
And then with that last thought stormfront succumbed to the word of darkness letting go of everything at last...
A/N
This will conclude the end of arc 1, thanks for reading.