I released a relaxed sigh. It took a lot out of me, and some aid with Gavin, who is now using the codename Scarlet Knight. Really, without him, I might not have won against Squad Nova and the Super Soldiers. Honestly, those four are difficult to fight, not life-threatening and forced me to the breaking point like the SV4, but they were certainly more than annoying. Though I granted I would have won much more clearly had I not held back, of course, that would risk killing them, and that just ain't my style.

  Scarlet was rotating his shoulders. "Man, it felt good going out in the field again."

  I nodded towards him. "Yeah, thanks for the assist. Where did you get the new suit?"

  Scarlet paused before crossing his arms. What's his problem? Until I realized that we were out in the open, nearby, in front of all these soldiers. Granted, they may be unconscious, but telling people whether or not they're unconscious isn't in my power set. I rubbed the back of my head nervously, offering a sheepish grin.

  I could feel Gavin roll his eyes through his helmet. We begin walking away from the scene, after all, we're done. Squad Nova is defeated along with their super cronies. I would have just flown out of there, but after that fight, I was looking for a small, slower pace.

  "So I watched your fight..."

  I grinned at him. "So what do you think...?"

  We walked past a crater, where I smacked Fighter down to the earth. There was one soldier nearby, groaning, trying to get up, but Gavin nonchalantly grabbed a pebble and threw it at the dude's face, knocking him out.

  "...You telegraphed way too much. Again, you're fighting like a bum."

  I frowned. "That's not the compliment that I was looking for."

  Then we started arguing about my combat skill being fraudulent or whatever that means.

  "Look, I knocked out every single member of one of the greatest Super Soldier teams in the USA. At least be proud of that."

  "And I am." He paused for no reason. "You still telegraphed."

  I threw my hands up. "I knocked him out!"

  "You could've knocked them out faster."

  "Oh my god, you suck, old man."

  He turned to me and suddenly flicked my forehead with one armoured finger.

  "What was that, for exactly?"

  "For being a bum and a fraud."

  I rubbed my forehead. "You're such a hater."

  We continued to argue about stupid stuff until Gavin froze. I stopped almost instantly. I may not be able to see what his facial expression is, but I could tell that the Scarlet Knight turned pale.

  "Scarlet, what's wrong-"

  I cut myself off, as my SEE Goggles started beeping. It's an emergency alarm. Then a screen popped out showing one of the talking news heads. She was talking frantically, talking about a terrorist attack in Toronto. Then the screen switches into the camera, and judging by the angle, the cameraman was in a news chopper. What I saw made me pale as a sheet.

  Littering the streets of Toronto were dozens of the robots I fought earlier, causing mayhem. Well, there were some differences between them. The ones I just wrecked were mainly white or silvery. These seemed more menacing as their armour plates were black as the night sky. And had red glowing holes for eyes.

  They looked more advanced and slightly bulkier than the other ones. They weren't just standing to look imposing, no. They were causing chaos. The camera zoomed in to see that one of them is breaking into stores and roughly grabbing and assaulting the people. The police tried to intervene, but their durable shell blocked any firearms the police had.

  I wince as one of the robots grabs the officer's hand and twists it into a pretzel. However, it wasn't the center of attention. It looked to be fifteen meters tall or maybe even taller than that. It was a red and black robot, but it wasn't humanoid, at least not from the waist down. It had multiple crab-like legs.

  It even has pinchers for hands. Mounted on his shoulder were two massive cannons. One of them shot a beam of light into the building, causing it to explode and be vaporized on the spot. On its back what looked to be something akin to a scorpion's stinger. But instead of a sharp like thing at the end, it had a minigun.

  "What the hell...?" I murmured with a shocked look on my face.

  Scarlet immediately recovered from his shock and shook me, snapping the surprise out of me.

  "We've got to go, now!"

  I swallowed, but quickly nodded. Without telling me what to do, I grabbed his arm tightly and jumped. We flew to the clouds, before I had to embrace him, to not make him fall off. I moved fast, breaking the sound barrier to reach our destination. By the time we reached Toronto, chaos seemed to reach everywhere.

  Smoke, buildings on fire, people shouting and explosions. I immediately spotted a group of what I assumed to be a family being harassed by four dark robots. There was a man with a bleeding forehead swinging his metal pipe frantically to try to get them away. But his weapon was grabbed during its swing and ripped away, shoving him. The man was pushed back as his family screamed in terror.

  "Red!"

  "Got you!"

  I immediately understood the assignment and flung Scarlet at the robots. He descended in the air before landing in one of them. Before any of them could react, Scarlet pulled his metal staff and took off the heads of the robots in one swing. I flew down and asked if everyone was okay.

  "Red Justice, oh thank god!" An elderly woman rushed to hug me.

  I gently eased the elderly woman back, making sure she was steady on her feet. I also tried to calm the erratic family down. I turned to face Scarlet.

  "Scarlet!" I called over the noise. "What's the plan?"

  Gavin didn't even hesitate. Putting his staff away before his calf's armour splits open, and stored there were a couple of heavy-duty pistols, the barrels being colored red. He pulled them out before turning around to face me.

  "There are too many civilians in the area," He said, voice calm. "You and I can't stop whatever is going on with having to worry about them."

  "So evacuate everyone!?"

  "Exactly. But you'll do it since you're the fastest. Prioritize children, the injured, elderly. Move them beyond the attack at least five kilometres away."

  "And you?" I asked.

  His helmet tilted toward the deeper part of the city where the smoke was thickest.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "I'll draw the machines away from evacuation routes and dismantle as many as I can."

  My stomach tightened. While I haven't seen everything, judging by the estimated amount that flashed in my HUD. The lowest estimation is that about 10,000 robots are running around and wreaking havoc on Toronto. And to make matters worse, Scarlet just got off from the fight between Squad Nova. He's operating with already dipped stamina!

  I didn't like this. Even with his new fancy armour. Gavin isn't...No, I can't think of that. He can handle himself. I looked at the worried expressions on the family.

  "Stay in one piece, you hear me!?"

  Scarlet didn't answer and instead dashed ahead to the chaos to kick some more metal butt. As for me, I looked at the family. There were about five of them. While I could carry all of them and then some, the problem isn't the weight. It's the fact that I can't grab all of them without injury, and potentially one of them falling.

  I could just get every two people, but that would take too long and would be a waste of energy. But as my eyes scanned the area, I spotted a family car. Which gave me an idea...

  The family got inside the car, and I went under lifting it before taking off the air. Below me, Toronto looked fractured. It looked like a complete mess. I spotted Scarlet rushing in and firing a hail of bullets at the dark robots. I could feel with my Mind's Eye that tons of robots and civilians needed saving. I could even feel that...thing, that scorpion robot's silhouette.

  I chewed my cheek. When I'm done rescuing the civilians, I'm going to turn every damned Terminator wannabe metal buttholes into the scrap yard! I pushed forward, despite my fuming. I flew them beyond the densest smoke, past the city core, toward an open parkland near the outskirts where emergency services were beginning to establish a perimeter. I descended gently. The passengers exited the car and thanked me before joining the emergency services people.

  I lifted the vehicle again, using my Mind's Eye with my SEE Goggles to check anyone who was still in the city. My SEE Goggles mapped clusters of civilians trying to flee on foot. It didn't take long for me to reach them and get inside the family car, which was packed with ten people. Uncomfortable but better than staying on the ground with those robots. A pair of dark robots emerged from an alley, targeting a group trying to cross an intersection.

  I didn't slow down. Instead, my visor opened, and my eyes felt an intense heat as twin beams sliced cleanly through both machines at the torso. They were instantly taken apart. And this process repeats. I saved a group of people and sliced any robot nearby with my optic blasts. Until eventually, mid-flight, I collapsed, the car dropping from my hands and smashing to the ground. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone inside.

  I let out heavy gulps of air as sweat covered my face.

  [CE : 4%]

  Crud, I got to replenish. My SEE Goggles are showing me the way to the nearest Giga Burgers. I caught my breath and straightened up. But before I could take off, a swarm of dark robots, about seven of them, turned the corner and turned to face me. Great, just what I need, more of these dudes.

  And more annoyingly, they were in my way. Blocking the route between me and more calories to refuel. They immediately charged at me, eager to rip me apart. I released an annoyed sigh. Fine, have it their way, hopefully I have enough to dismantle them.

  I raised my fist and was about to charge at them, only for the robots to freeze suddenly. I blinked before squinting my eyes. No, they weren't frozen; they seemed to be struggling as if something invisible grabbed hold of them. Suddenly, they were flung into a building at high speed. I hear a crash and metal snapping, something tells me those robots aren't getting up any time soon.

  Finally, with them gone, I finally noticed someone floating behind me. I turned around. My eyes became wide as saucers as a certain female Esper landed, giving me a casual wave.

  "What's up?"

  "E-Emily!?"

  She frowned at my shout. "Would you like a megaphone to broadcast that Red Justice?"

  "Oh, sorry."

  Emily was wearing a purple hoodie and an outside dark duster coat. She's wearing black combat boots and wearing blue jeans. Her face was covered with a surgical mask, and covering her eyes was an older model of my SEE Goggles. This one's visor was colored black. Gavin let her keep it as thanks for helping out with the SV4 fight.

  She says she mainly uses it for homework. Yes, one of the most technologically advanced pieces of tech is being used for homework...can relate.

  "What are you doing here!?" I harshly whispered. "You've got to get out of here before those robots can hurt you!"

  She raises an eyebrow at this. "Wow. This is the thanks I get?" She shakes her head.

  "Listen, I know what you're about to say, but I'm not going to listen. You need my help."

  I was about to protest, but I immediately shut my mouth. I didn't want my friend to get involved in another life-and-death situation. However, Emily is incredibly stubborn and won't leave. It would be a waste of time to argue with her. If I wanted to help out Gavin, along with the rest of the people left over, her telekinesis ability is useful.

  I quickly told her about the situation as we flew around the corner and into Giga Burgers. There was no one inside, it's weird, no eerie seeing a usually packed place, completely. I remembered watching those urban explorer videos when I was a kid; it gives me the creeps. Anyways, I rushed and stuffed my face with fries and burgers. I felt guilty for stealing, it's really unbecoming of a superhero, but if it's to save lives, I'll swallow the guilt down.

  [CE : 100%]

  I released a relaxed sigh, feeling the early damage from my earlier battles and fatigue wash away from my body. Thank god for healing factors.

  "What's the plan, Red Justice?" Kinetic asked.

  "I need you to evacuate the civilians that are still in the city, help out Gavin or Scarlet Knight if you spot him."

  She nods. "Got you." Emily floats up, ready to take off, before pausing.

  "What about you?"

  I clench my fist, and a shaky grin forms on my face. "I gotta deal with the main event..."

  RED

  In A Helicopter...

  JUSTICE

  Michael groaned as he held his rib. That Red Justice and his backup really rocked him and his team. All of them regained consciousness after a few minutes. All of them suffered a lot of broken bones and bruises. Thankfully, their upgraded armour protected them a bit more than their previous battle with the Crimson Angel.

  The fact that he still beat them, even with their massive support, even if he had help, really showed how terrifying the young superhero is. The four Super Soldiers sat on their seats, their Power Armour removed for the nurses to patch their wounds. Wrapping bandages around their body.

  "My sniper..." Gabe let out more sad news, which earns an eyeroll from Arti.

  "Oh, give it a rest, you crybaby. We're lucky that the kid didn't kill us for messing with him again."

  Ricardo winces, rubbing his arm. "I didn't expect Red Justice to have someone to aid him in a fight."

  "Yeah." Michael agreed. "It is certainly unexpected and painful."

  He groaned, wincing as he touched his rib. But inside, Michael was glad that they lost. Maybe it was that pettiness from still being mad at the higher-ups for dropping a nuke on them. Or maybe it was the fact that he respected Red Justice, respected what he does. He bets his teammates felt the same.

  He looks outside the chopper's window. He prays that Red Justice can relax, now that Squad Nova or any of the other Monarch's schemes could harm him in his native country. Michael's eyes twitched and almost allowed them to shut, until he saw a large smoke coming from the direction of Toronto.

  "Whoa, whoa. Wait a second." He says, as he forces his aching body to stand up, which leads the doctors in the large chopper to take off their seatbelts and try to sit him back down.

  "No!" He shouts, shoving them off easily, which earns his teammates a look of surprise.

  "Dude, what the heck?"

  "Michael? What's wrong?" Arti struggled to get up, but using the railing as support, she managed to stand on her own two feet.

  "There is smoke coming from Toronto!" He shouts, pointing at the window. "I know the higher-ups caused this. What's going on!?"

  Michael furiously yelled at the doctors, who backed away. Michael clicked his tongue before stumbling to get his phone and dialling Nine. But he didn't answer.

  "Damn!" He said, throwing the phone, rushing to the pilot of the chopper, Michael demanded to know what was going on.

  "I'm sorry, Fighter, but my orders are-"

  With one cool glare. The pilot froze. It was a look he learned from his mom, god bless her soul. The pilot gulped, then explained what was going on. If phase one or Squad Nova, with the aid of the combat bots and other Super Soldier squads, fail to capture Red Justice, they would activate an experimental mech. The Scorpion King.

  Otherwise known as the Chimera SURVIVIOR Version two, or the CSV2 for short. A spin-off of the SURVIVIOR mechs series. It wasn't just them; the newer generation of Combat Drones, about twenty-thousand of them, will cause havoc in Toronto. This is designed to overwhelm Red Justice, to waste his already low stamina to save others while also dealing with the CSV2 and the combat drones. Michael stepped back with a horrified look on his face.

  Gabe had his hands on his mouth, frozen like a statue. Arti grimaced, biting her lip. Meanwhile, Ricardo dug his fist into his palms to the point that a faint trail of blood dropped to the chopper's floor.

  "They don't even care, do they? People might just die, and they don't care."

  Of course, they don't care. If the government wanted something, a couple of dozen lives didn't matter for their goal. I mean, if they are willing to drop off a bomb that would kill one of their best Super Soldier squads just so they could potentially stun a child. Michael gritted his teeth. No more.

  He looked at his team, his eyes filled with righteous fury. They looked surprised, but it didn't take long for them to nod their heads. All of them moved to retrieve their stuff. Their power armour is broken, but there were some lightweight tactical armour and SEE Goggles that were inside the chopper.

  "What are you doing? Your injuries are too severe for you to move around this much!? Just what are you-"

  Arti retrieved her anti-tank pistols and sat in the passenger seat next to the pilot.

  "Hey, what the-"

  His words were silent as a barrel was placed on his head.

  "To Toronto, please."