"...What do you mean, Riley Ross was chosen as a villain?"

An hour earlier, a mile away from the bridge, the candidates for the newest member of the Hope Guild were gathered inside an empty building. All of them were wearing the same uniform, a semi-tight white and black suit.. They were already introduced earlier, but unfortunately for Spectacular Mustache Man's students, and only his students, weren't able to hear their introduction.

Right after he had oriented them on what they were about to do, they were thrown into action in their respective roles.

And of course, Hera, with her network throughout the entire school, quickly heard that Riley was placed in the role of a villain.

And of course, she was shocked. Why wouldn't she be? When she was one of the only few people who had already fought against Riley Ross? She knew how strong and problematic he was as an enemy… and that was when he had no training with his telekinesis at all.

She couldn't imagine just how broken he was.

"You know him, Ms. Hera?"

"...He's trouble," Hera answered, glancing at the person who just approached her. It was one of the other Hope Guild candidates—a student from the South Africa Mega Academy.

[Baraka | Hero Rank: A | Powers: Manifestation of tentacle-like constructs from his back. These constructs possess immense strength, dexterity, reach, and durability, functioning like additional limbs in combat and rescue scenarios.]

"I just pity the poor soul that's going to have to deal with him," Hera whispered, wincing and shaking her head as she scoffed."

"That is me," Baraka said.

"Oh… Yikes." Hera chuckled. "Well, I'm sure you can take care of him. He might be strong, but he's still young."

"I haven't heard of this boy. He is still a boy, correct?"

"Yup. He's like twelve or something."

"Twelve years old, eight months, and two days—more or less."

[Butcher | Hero Rank: B | Powers: Manipulation of friction, allowing him to reduce it to zero or amplify it. With even a blunt blade, he can slice through steel like paper. Known for his ruthless precision and terrifying efficiency. Not a student of any Mega Academy.]

"He is also the youngest superhero to be registered in the Superhero Registry in the history of its conception," Butcher said. And even with them being inside a building, his bald head was shining what little sunlight was seeping in from the newspaper-covered windows.

"Based on what he had shown when he had only unlocked his powers, he has a ninety-eight percent chance of beating you, Baraka."

"I'm sorry, but who the fuck asked for your opinion?" Tendrils started to emerge from Baraka's back—and unlike his dark skin, they were incredibly blue and almost the color of the ocean in the morning. Before any of those tentacles could actually fully form, however, the smallest candidate among them stood between the two.

[Chihiro | Hero Rank: A | Powers: Interdimensional Storage. Can store anything, regardless of size, in a separate space and retrieve it instantly. Rumors persist that her powers are more than they seem. Not much is known about her due to her quiet and reserved nature. A student of Japan Mega Academy.]

She was adorned with a fox mask and was the only one wearing a mask to hide her identity. Their trial would be broadcast to the entire world, but all of their faces would be obscured, especially since the freshmen were involved. But still, she insisted on wearing her mask.

Well, at least that was what the other candidates think, none of them has actually spoken to her yet.

And even now, as she stood between two young men who towered over him, she still remained silent. She glanced at the two, and Butcher was the first to back up while bowing his bald head.

"I apologize, Madam. And to you, too, Baraka. I meant no offense with my words, and am merely stating a fact."

"And you think that a little boy can defeat me?" Baraka's eyebrows lowered.

"And I believe he can defeat me, too. I have a 72.6% chance of being beaten by him."

"Where are you even getting these numbers?!"

"From my ass," Butcher said, whose lips then slowly curled up as his shoulders started to bob. "That was a joke."

"What in the…" Hera blinked a couple of times as she watched Butcher start to laugh, and he looked like he was hurting while doing so. "...You're a very creepy dude."

And with the four finally huddled together, the last candidate started to approach.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

[Jeff | Hero Rank: B | Powers: Cryokinesis. Able to generate and manipulate ice, forming barriers, weapons, and terrain hazards. While raw power is considerable, perhaps even one of the strongest in history, his control is still developing. Not a student.]

Jeff looked incredibly normal, perhaps too normal. Except for the fact that is, that steam was escaping from each of his words and filling the entire hall with it, dancing around him as he walked and approached.

"I heard you're going out in—"

A loud siren rang through the air before Jeff could finish his words. And without even waiting for any of them to say anything, Baraka took one final glance at the map that was provided for them in the building, and then rushed out without a word.

"...And there he goes," Hera said, placing her hands on her waist as she sighed. "Riley, huh. Damn."

"Is he truly as strong as the news and rumors make her out to be, Hera?" Butcher stood beside her as they both watched Baraka disappear into the street outside, his tentacles sprouting from his back and pushing him up into the buildings like some sort of spider.

"Because if he truly was as strong as the data suggests, then I believe it would be better if there were two of us against him."

"Well, it's not a group project." Hera glanced at Bulwark for a moment before subtly stepping away from him. For some reason, although it was different, Butcher and Riley had the same vibes. Whatever that vibe was…

…Hera just doesn't know what yet.

***

"Tch, ninety-eight percent, mah foot. Bru, I'm proper gatvol of these people."

Baraka was crawling across the side of the buildings, leaping from one to another so casually that he didn't even need to look where he was landing or where his tentacles were latching onto.

He moved incredibly agile, almost as if the tentacles had a life of their own and didn't even need him to move them.

Baraka was talking to himself, his accent thicker than when he was speaking with the others. But he shook his head, and just focused his eyes on the scene in front of him—the bridge.

"Why did this school have to announce that I'm approaching?" Baraka scoffed, landing on a roof and hiding behind a ledge as he scanned the bridge. The bus was obscuring his vision.

"...They just had to make my life harder and harder." He scoffed again, but a small smile started to creep onto his face. "Good, I wouldn't have it any other way. I should probably approach them from the bottom of the bridge. Sneak while no one was—?!"

"Are you seriously talking to yourself?"

A face slowly emerged from the other side of the ledge, causing Baraka's tentacles to hastily crawl him back.

"Heh. He was right, there really was someone here."

It was Gracey, her head completely covered by the hood. But her eyes… already glowing red.

"Hello there."

And with that as her only warning, the light shot out from her eyes.

"What the—?!" Baraka's tentacles moved him to the side. He was stunned for a moment, but only for a moment, before he decided to retreat and leap down from the building.

"Why are you runnin'?! Why are you runnin'?!" Gracey bellowed as she flew to chase her, only to be struck by a tentacle as soon as she was at the other end of the building.

"F—!" Gracey rolled back a couple of times on the roof, but she quickly recovered and started wiping her cheek. "Ack! Disgusting shiet! Oh… It's dry."

Gracey then flew again to chase Baraka, but he was already gone.

"Seriously? You didn't even fight?"

Of course, he wasn't going to fight. He was outnumbered, and this was first and foremost a rescue operation.

And also, he wasn't stupid. He actually took Butcher's comment at heart.

"Ninety-eight percent. That wasn't Riley," he whispered to himself again, stepping out of a dark alley that was closer to the bridge and had a view of its side. He quickly hid behind a car, squinting as he assessed the situation.

"There are—?!"

And once again, before he could assess anything… the door of the car suddenly opened.

Baraka was about to throw the car away, but then noticed the blue band on the girl's arm—it was a hostage.

"What… why are you…?"

The girl was awkwardly smiling at him as she stepped out—and then, another figure emerged from the same car. An arm.

More specifically, a hand holding a gun that was aimed right at the girl's temple.

"Well…" It was then followed by a head covered with a hood, but the eyes almost blinded Baraka from how clear it was.

"...Checkmate. But, where is the fun with that, Mr. Candidate?"