Act 1: "The Unsung Hero"
Canberra, Australia.February 24th,2011.Alexandria of the Triumvirate.
The sirens wailed through the dense smoke and chaos of the city, their eerie sound barely audible over the roar of flames and the cacophony of panicked voices. Alexandria, her face streaked with soot, moved with a calm stride. The inferno that had erupted was spreading rapidly, devouring everything in its path.
"Come on! This way!" she shouted, her voice hoarse but commanding. She led a group of frightened residents down a narrow alley, away from the main blaze. The heat was intense, and she could feel it searing her skin even through her clothes.
Alexandria stood tall, her imposing figure a beacon of strength amidst the chaos. She was a muscular woman, her physique honed to perfection through years of rigorous training during his recovery phase after taking the vial. Her long, straight black hair, usually held back by a visor, now flowed freely behind her, cascading down her back like a dark waterfall.
A small child clung to her side, crying. Alexandria bent down, her expression softening for a moment. "It's going to be okay," she said gently, lifting the child into her arms. "I'll keep you safe."
Words that would only come from a 'hero' were uttered, and she played her part well… it was a convincing act, but sometimes she doubted herself whether it was truly necessary.
She glanced back at the group following her, ensuring they were keeping up. They moved quickly, navigating through the debris-littered streets. Every few moments, Alexandria would pause to listen, her ears tuned for any sign of collapsing buildings or approaching danger. She spotted an older woman struggling to keep pace and hurried back to support her.
"We're almost there," Alexandria reassured her, guiding the woman forward.
In the distance, the faint outline of the evacuation point was visible, marked by the flashing lights of emergency vehicles. In the opposite distance was the Simurgh in all of her glory, causing death and destruction in her path. Eidolon was confronting her head-on, while Legend provided fire support from the rear.
Dragon's voice rang through Alexandria's earpiece, calm yet urgent. "The Simurgh is coming to your location… I'll send a few capes your way to take over the evacuation. Please lure the Simurgh away from them."
Alexandria's jaw tightened as she processed the information. The Simurgh was a threat unlike any other, and facing her was a daunting task even for the most seasoned capes. She glanced at the group of frightened civilians she had been leading to safety, then nodded to herself, resolute.
This was more like it…
Fighting was more of her style anyway.
"Understood," she responded, her voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. She turned to the group. "Help is on the way. Follow the new arrivals to safety. I have to go."
Without looking back, she then flew away, assessing the best way how to deal with the Simurgh.
Coming from her left, buildings began to fall and crash down on her. Alexandria immediately knew it could only be the Simurgh— unlike other Endrbingers— the Simurgh had more tactical finesse to her, explaining how she could create situations in her favor.
"Engaging the Simurgh now," she called to the comms in her ear.
Dragon replied succinctly, "Copy that. The perimeter north-east had been completed, and civilians had been evacuated in time—"
The Simurgh emerged from the swirling dust and rubble, a spectral figure of otherworldly beauty and terror. Her form was ethereal, with alabaster skin that seemed to glow faintly even in the dim light of the smoke-choked city. She was 15-foot-tall and slender, almost unnaturally so, with limbs that appeared delicate yet exuded a sinister strength.
Her wings were the most striking feature, spanning wide and majestic, composed of countless pristine white feathers that shimmered with an almost metallic sheen. Each feather was razor-sharp, capable of slicing through steel and concrete with ease. As she moved, her wings created an eerie, melodic sound, like a ghostly choir singing a dirge.
The Simurgh's hair floated around her head like a silver halo, moving as if caught in an unseen breeze. It framed a face that was both hauntingly beautiful and deeply unsettling. Her eyes were a piercing, ice-blue, devoid of any emotion or empathy, gazing out with a cold, calculating intelligence. They seemed to see everything, every possible outcome, every fear, every hope, all laid bare before her.
Her mouth was set in a serene, almost gentle smile, a stark contrast to the chaos she wrought. This dissonance made her all the more terrifying—a figure of divine grace causing unspeakable destruction. Her presence alone seemed to distort reality, bending the air around her and creating a palpable sense of dread.
As Alexandria faced her, the full weight of the Simurgh's menace bore down. She tilted her head slightly, as if considering Alexandria, the serene smile never leaving her lips.
"Simurgh," Alexandria muttered under her breath, steeling herself for the confrontation.
It wasn't like her, but every time she'd come to blows with the Simurgh, she'd always end up losing her composure. Rather than anger, Alexandria would feel annoyance at the Endbringer for the fact alone that her psychic influence had caused trouble for the PRT.
The Simurgh used her telekinesis to nab Alexandria's cape, lifting her effortlessly into the air. For a split second, Alexandria felt the crushing pressure of the invisible force twisting along her clothes, but she quickly broke free, using her strength and flight to propel herself out of the telekinetic grasp.
"I can't take this head-on," she thought, frustration bubbling within her. "Legend and Eidolon can handle her better."
She flew away, zigzagging through the collapsing buildings to evade the Simurgh's relentless pursuit. She knew her limitations; without any real offensive power or trick against the likes of an Endringer, her best role was to play support— act as the anchor, while Eidolon and Legend played the hammer.
More buildings collapsed around them, and Alexandria couldn't help but overthink about the Simurgh's intentions of coming here…
There was always an 'agenda' to the Simurgh's intentions. While the other Endbringers similarly had 'intentions' of their own, the Simurgh worked in a complicated manner. The Leviathan and Behemoth were easy to see through if they knew what they were looking for.
The Simurgh however was different.
Despite Alexandria's annoyance, she maintained her focus. She couldn't let her emotions cloud her judgment. In fact, she never had let her emotions get the better of her, and she conyinued to do so even now. She had to keep the Simurgh occupied, draw her away from the civilians and the other capes arriving to assist. Her primary objective was still clear: protect as many lives as possible.
Losing human lives to any of the other two Endbringers were permissible, but the SImurgh? If any triggers occurred under the SImurgh's influence, then it would be too much of a waste…
Darting between the ruins of what once were bustling buildings, Alexandria kept her pace erratic, hoping to make herself a more challenging target. The Simurgh followed, unperturbed, her serene smile never wavering. She manipulated debris with precision, trying to corral Alexandria into a corner.
Alexandria's earpiece crackled to life again. "Hang in there," Dragon's voice encouraged. "Reinforcements are almost at your location. Just a bit longer."
"Roger that," Alexandria responded, breathing heavily.
Right at that moment, laser fires erupted from above.
Legend's voice echoed from the comms. "I got your six, Eidolon is just ahead of you."
"Copy that."
Alexandria zoomed through the air, zigzagging across the buildings, planning to lead the Simurgh back toward Eidolon, who seemed to have suffered a concussion last seen. "Eidolon, how is it?" she asked him over the comms, her voice steady despite the chaos.
"Where is she?" he asked back, his voice slurred but focused.
"Right at my tail… I will be bringing her to you."
Legend's laser fire pushed the Simurgh off course, giving Alexandria more leeway. She felt a brief moment of relief but knew it wouldn't last. The Simurgh was relentless, and even Legend's powerful attacks could only buy so much time.
"Alexandria, you're clear for now," Legend's voice crackled through the comms. "But she won't stay off you for long."
Alexandria tightened her grip on the comms device embedded in her helm. "Understood. Keep her occupied. I'm bringing Eidolon back into the fight."
Diving between skyscrapers, she caught sight of Eidolon struggling to regain his bearings. He floated unsteadily, blood trickling down his glassy mask under his hood. "Eidolon, focus. We need you," she urged, coming to a halt beside him. Eidolon's appearance didn't come as a surprise to her, since the Simurgh had always been a tricky foe.
He nodded, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "I'll manage."
Eidolon must have switched powers to heal himself faster… It was her who would usually face the brunt during an Endbringer attack given her durability, but it was usually Eidolon who'd suffer every time… Alexandria frowned at the thought of losing their possibly strongest cape…
Admittedly, it wasn't Eidolon's fault he could bleed unlike Alexandria or that Legend specialized in long range activities.
Alexandria planned on staying for the meantime and providing more direct strategic support since she had achieved the bare minimum of her objectives. Eidolon was competing with the Simurgh's telekinesis with static barriers. Meanwhile, Legend continued to blast accurate and deadly lasers at her from high above. Alexandria flew around the Simurgh, and every time she saw a chance, she'd immediately dive in and attempt to pin her down.
As expected, the Endbringer easily dodged her attempts. She didn't despair, aware that she only had to try harder. The reason why she could be so reckless was because she was sturdy, so no real reason to be afraid.
"Eidolon, focus your barriers to the left. I'll come in from the right," she instructed, her voice cutting through the static-filled comms. "Legend, keep the pressure on her center."
With her 'thinker' power, she was used to giving orders and strategizing on the field. Though it was simply a powerful analysis and memory-based ability, her attention to detail had always been unmatched, well, with Contessa as the exception…
"Copy that," Legend responded, his lasers intensifying in a brilliant display of power.
Eidolon grunted in acknowledgment, his concentration evident in the stillness of his movement. The Simurgh shifted her attention between them, her haunting eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Alexandria could feel the psychic pressure she exerted, a constant reminder of her mind-warping abilities.
Thankfully, Eidolon was here to counter everything the Simurgh could throw at them.
The Simurgh hovered ominously above the city, her alabaster wings stretching wide, each feather glinting with an otherworldly sheen. Her body was ethereal and ghostly pale, a stark contrast to the dark, smoke-filled sky. Her long, flowing hair cascaded around her, moving as if caught in an invisible breeze. Eyes devoid of any warmth or humanity stared down, their icy blue depths piercing through everything in their gaze.
It was a scene right out of an apocalypse. When fighting an Endrbinger, it was normal for things to end up like this…
With a simple gesture, the Simurgh tore down buildings as if they were made of paper. Her telekinesis ripped through concrete and steel, reducing towering structures to rubble. Chunks of debris floated around her in a macabre dance, ready to be hurled at any moment. The air crackled with energy, and the ground trembled under her power.
Amidst the destruction, her 'song' filled the air. It was a haunting, discordant melody that seemed to resonate with the very bones of those who heard it. The song wasn't music; it was a weapon, a relentless assault on the mind. It pounded at anyone within range, digging into their thoughts, and sowing confusion and despair. Those who listened for too long found their wills weakening, their sanity fraying at the edges.
At this scale, the central command had ordered retreat for any capes in the vicinity with the exception of the Triumvirate.
Alexandria didn't need to put any extra effort to resist the song pressing against her mind, but she knew it could harm her if she let her guard down even one bit. It was a constant, insidious pressure that threatened to overwhelm anyone who heard it. But Alexandria simply shrugged it off like nothing. She glanced at Eidolon and Legend, both showing signs of strain but holding firm. They had faced the Simurgh before and knew what to expect. Her song was powerful, but they were prepared.
"Eidolon, focus!" she called out, shaking off the effects of the song. He nodded, his barriers shimmering as he concentrated. Legend's lasers intensified, cutting through the haze of debris and light, targeting the Simurgh with unerring accuracy.
Despite their efforts, she moved with a grace that belied her destructive power, weaving through their attacks with an almost casual ease. The Simurgh was a nightmare given form, and her presence turned the battlefield into a hellscape.
"We need to pin her down," Alexandria said, her voice steady despite the chaos. "Eidolon, tighten the barriers. Legend, keep up the pressure."
With a burst of speed, Alexandria darted towards her again, aiming to grab hold of her. The Simurgh anticipated her move, her telekinesis swatting Alexandria away. She spiraled through the air, but quickly regained her balance, circling back for another attempt. Each dive brought her closer, and with each failure, she learned more about the Simurgh's movements.
If Alexandria could just fight naked, she would, but she couldn't… PRT had too much face to save, and for the sake of her career, she wouldn't dare to do something as daring as that. Clearly, the Simurgh was using her clothes as means to bypass the Manton-limit.
A white blur streaked past Alexandria. She initially thought it was Legend, but she was wrong—blue cape, blonde hair, blue eyes, and no mask. This man slammed into the Simurgh, sending her crashing to the ground and landing in an open area: a parking lot. A crater formed beneath the two of them. Was it just her imagination, or did she hear him say the words, "Flying Punch"?
Never mind that... the Simurgh used her telekinesis to pry away the new arrival, sending him toppling on a building and another. Anyone who lacked brute ratings would have been squished by that.
Alexandria launched herself down and held the Simurgh, taking advantage of the turn of events. Her foot and both hands pressed on the Simurgh, forcing the Simurgh onto the ground.
"Who the hell are you?" she shouted over the comms, her voice tinged with a mixture of doubt and confusion. But no replies returned, except Dragon's.
"What do you mean? We are evacuating the rest of the city, and we are blind to your situation… It is more than confirmed that Simurgh most likely had powers related to tech interference, I am only able to talk to you like this because I am using some esoteric means…"
"So, you didn't send this one?"
No replies came back, whatever esoteric means Dragon used must have been exhausted.
The newcomer simply stood up, dusting off his shoulder as if this were an everyday occurrence. "Yikes," he muttered, showing a playful but confident behavior. "She's loud…" he picked his ear with his pinky finger, showing annoyance.
He must be referring to the psychic cry the Simurgh was emanating, Alexandria thought to herself.
The Simurgh writhed beneath her, her telekinesis lashing out in an attempt to throw her off. Alexandria tightened her grip, feeling the Simurgh's power pressing against hers. "We can use all the help we can get, but don't be reckless." Whoever the new guy was, he could only be a newbie considering she knew every cape of note, and with someone with the power set the new guy had, it would be impossible for him to remain unknown. But seriously… No mask? Either this new guy was either naïve, suicidal, or an idiot.
Legend blasted his lasers, the strongest he could unleash. Alexandria knew she could take it, but not the Simurgh! Moreover, Legend was very accurate with his lasers, thus her lack of worry over friendly fire. The beams cut through the air with a high-pitched whine, striking the Simurgh with pinpoint precision. Her form shimmered and wavered under the assault, the destructive energy tearing into her almost at a molecular level.
For a moment, Alexandria thought they had her. The Simurgh's eerie, discordant song faltered, and her alabaster wings crumpled as the lasers burned through them. But then, with a sudden burst of telekinetic power, she pushed Alexandria off and vanished in a flash of light, teleporting away using the same technology she had used back in 2009, based on Professor Haywire's tech.
"Damn it!" Alexandria cursed, her frustration boiling over. The Simurgh had slipped through their grasp once again. It was rare for her to get this angry, but for once, they came this close in containing an Endbringer…
Among the Endbringers, the Simurgh had been judged the most feasible for a capture…
Thankfully, Eidolon was one step ahead. He had anticipated her move and teleported to where she reappeared. Over the comms, his strained voice came through, "I've got her pinned. Need support now!"
Among the Endbringers, if there were someone they wanted dead the most— it would be definitely the Simurgh… but Cauldron's greed were going strong since signs of the calamity approaching were beginning to appear one by one…
Alexandria launched herself into the air, zeroing in on Eidolon's location. The new guy was right behind her, a determined look on his face. "What's the plan?" he asked, keeping pace with her effortlessly.
"Hold her down and keep her from teleporting again," she replied. "We need to take her out before she can recover."
As they arrived at the new battle site, Alexandria saw Eidolon struggling to maintain his barriers against the Simurgh's relentless telekinesis. She dove in, adding her strength to his by literally tussling with the winged Endbringer. Together, they managed to stabilize the containment.
Legend was already there, his lasers once again cutting through the air. "We can't let her slip away this time," he said, his voice grim.
The new guy nodded, his expression serious. "Got it."
With a coordinated effort, they renewed their assault on the Simurgh. Eidolon's barriers held her in place while Legend's lasers seared through her defenses. Alexandria threw herself into the fray, grappling with her telekinesis, trying to keep her grounded.
The new guy darted in and out, delivering powerful blows that disrupted her focus. His punches were unlike anything Alexandria had seen before, each one packed with an incredible amount of force… and that speed… He was weaving in and out of the Simurgh's range, allowing Alexandria to move freely as she grappled with the 15-foot-tall woman.
The Simurgh's song grew weaker, her movements more erratic. They were wearing her down.
But just as they were about to close in for the final strike, she let out a psychic scream that shattered Eidolon's barriers and sent them all reeling. In the chaos, she teleported once more, this time further away.
"She's trying to escape," Legend said, his voice tense. "We need to track her down before she can recover."
Alexandria asked aloud, trying to find the blue cape. "Where is the new guy?" And then a loud explosion resounded like thunder a few kilometers away from them. She exchanged a glance with Legend and Eidolon, and then they all took off towards the source of the noise—to the Black Mountain.
