Chapter One

Location: Port Oswego, Oregon, United States

The sun was already slowly inching towards the horizon, and yet still somewhat high enough by the afternoon hours of this humble town, eclipsed by some of the buildings and casting many shadows as a result. Like any other obscure town or village, this would be a place of peace, safety, and tranquility away from the big cities and conflicts. However, even in small towns such as this, metahumans and other super-powered beings would still roam about and be forced into fights, whether it be out of selfish needs or selfless protection of the people.

In the open and seemingly emptied centre of this portside town, two distinct figures in brightly colourful suits stood far apart from each other yet equally firm, facing each other with poised confidence. One was a young fit woman, just about eighteen years of age at least, with deep brown eyes, short black dreadlocks, and donned in a tight suit of black with armour plates of clean gold. The Powerhouse herself, Naomi McDuffie. The other opposing her, figuratively and literally, was a slender androgynous figure, slightly taller than the girl, donning a sleeveless bright-grey zentai suit with trims of sapphire-blue. Most notably, the imposing figure had sharp blades in place of where hands and forearms would otherwise normally be.

"Who are you even supposed to be?" Naomi asked the new foe.

"Call me the Human Blade", The new foe introduced themselves properly while sharpening their arm-blades with each other.

"Human Blade?" Naomi stated in confusion before muttering sarcastically. "Wow, that's original".

"At least I do have an identity", the Human Blade huffed back. "What name do you go by?"

"I guess I don't know at the moment", Naomi slightly shrugged with admittance. "Maybe I'll come up with a name of my own, or not, I dunno. Either way, I'm not defined by a name or identity, but by my powers, my actions, and my choices. And I choose to fight for the innocent and protect them, unlike you".

With that, Naomi pumped her fists in front of her as if ready for a close fight and hands-on combat, while the Human Blade cracked their neck before charging at the young superheroine with arms and blades spread out straight like the wings of a jet fighter. Glowing waves of energy began manifesting and surrounding Naomi's body before fusing into orbs of intense light in her open hands, which she then launched forth at the charging foe, only for them to quickly respond by deflecting each and every blast with a swipe of their arm-blades. Once they closed in, the Human Blade attempted to slash at Naomi, who then managed to block with her arms and a few kicks of her legs.

Meanwhile, crouching down on the top corner edge of a tall nearby building, another mysterious figure in a black and yellow suit with helmet and wings watched all this combative display from afar, slowing stroking the chin area of his mask with absolute intrigue.

"Hmmm, very interesting", the figure hummed intently, particularly at the heroine in black and gold. "I've quite a bit in store for you, my dear". He continued watching the fight down below as Naomi herself got a few more close shaves from the Human Blade's physical attacks.

The Human Blade even managed to leave a scratch or two on each of Naomi's bulky shoulder plates and her chest-plate as well. Seeing such faint scrapes at her suit, Naomi cringed with clenching teeth and fists before throwing a few punches at the daring foe. For every two dodges the Human Blade made, they received a hit to the side, their chest, or even their face. Faintly growling, the bladed human threw down a big slash of their right arm, only for it to be grabbed and held tightly by Naomi. Flabbergasted by this, the Human Blade then threw down their left arm, only for that to be gripped to a halt by Naomi as well.

In this stalemate, both figured groaned and struggled, kicking at each other while vainly hoping to gain the upper hand over the other. Naomi herself didn't let up with her grasp on those arm-blades, keeping them up and away from potentially coming down on her. Any harder, deeper, and further, and her hands would've been cut and bled. However, sensing that the Human Blade's stamina was draining faster than hers, Naomi pulled down her foe's arms, straining them, before she then finally let go and flung them to the side and into the air. They soon hit against a lamppost and slumped to the hard pavement below, knocked out to near-unconsciousness.

"I think I'll let the police take care of you for today", Naomi commented, casually wiping at her shoulder before she took off and dashed deeper into town, while the observing winged figure took flight as well and followed her from a far enough distance.

To be continued...