Villain Retirement

Utter chaos. The people that were fighting on the ice rink now have been training for more than half a year to be superheroes. Battling villains, rescuing hostages, assessing the situation for the best outcome.

They have, however, never trained to fight monsters. And perhaps without the experience of having fought Cephalos during their stay in Hawaii, they would have already lost someone. But still, even if Cephalos was as big as a building, he was only one creature– his size even becoming a disadvantage for him in the end.

Some of the monsters in the ice rink were large, sure– but their speed still remained. And with them numbering almost 20, the situation the Baby Crew were in truly was utter chaos.

Silvie was still being bombarded by fists and palms– her entire body almost already drowned in blood as her heat vision almost split the clouds above trying to end the clones' suffering. But no matter how much she tries to obliterate them… they manage to regenerate.

It also didn't help that 2 of the 4 that were previously trying to reach Hannah in the air decided to make her a target instead. She still tried to end the clones in the most humane and swift way possible, but it was turning more and more difficult.

Her eyes started to glow; but as soon as she did so, one of the monsters tried to push her face away– one almost successful in trying to pin her head down. Silvie could try to use all of her strength, but with the others still here and them being near a city filled with buildings, it would be too risky.

It wasn't like she was fighting someone of the same caliber as Darkday, who always tries to take the fight into the city to inflict as much death as possible.

And even if she did decide not to hold back, the only thing it would achieve was to cause more destruction. Perhaps she could still be considered quite lucky as she could still fight back… Gary was not so lucky.

He was still being chased by the monster with a gigantic head while carrying both Tomoe and Aerith. He also couldn't move with too much force, as Tomoe would have surely broken a couple of bones from being slammed by Elsie.

He needed to find a place to rest her, but he couldn't go to the city as there were people there. Should… he just throw Aerith? Besides a lost arm, Aerith was still perfectly fine if you disregard her complete shock.

She is just an imperfect clone anyway… the world wouldn't need her since Silvie was already here.

"...Tch."

And as soon as that thought entered his mind, Gary quickly clicked his tongue. This is why he was on the Potential Villain list, he lamented. How can the son of Megawoman be this trash of a person?

"...Fuck," And with those thoughts circling his mind, Gary could only grit his teeth as he tightened his grip on Aerith. He shouldn't leave anyone… no matter who it is. And so, Gary continued to swiftly run away, his eyes scanning a place to hide the two girls– the two lives he was carrying.

Bella was in the same situation; she tried fighting the four-legged monster that was chasing her, and she did manage to slice off its limbs and even manage to restrain it with the metal fences of the ice rink… but it would seem the durability of the monster was stronger than even metal.

As for Riley… he was currently being surrounded by 10 monsters. They were in a circle, their skin and flesh slightly pressed as they tried to charge towards Riley, but unable to as there seemed to be an invisible circular barrier blocking their path.

10 monsters wanted to charge at Riley even though he wasn't doing anything. Based on the actions of the transformed clones, they were attracted to anything that moved and anything that drowned their eyes with light… so why exactly were 10 of them wanting to rush towards Riley?

"Disgusting."-- was the whisper that escaped Riley's mouth as he scanned the monsters surrounding him, not even seeming to care. The sighs that were flowing from his nose, as if saying that he should have killed them all the first time.

"Megawoman…" He then muttered, "Do you see what they are doing to your legacy? If you were here, then none of this would be possible. None would dare to make these ugly creatures that were supposed to be in your image. But of course…

…if you were really here, then I am sure you would show them mercy," Riley continued to whisper to himself, not stopping as he continued to scan the monsters,

"You might have even given them a home– put them in the place where your so-called disciples are staying. These disciples of yours, where were they when your blood scattered the earth? Only Empress showed herself when you were dying.

Megawoman…

…Megawoman, why is everyone so useless without you? Is this really the people you wanted to save?" A small smile then started to crawl on Riley's face as his whispers slightly became louder.

"What would you say to me if you come back to see this planet in ruins? Will you finally be angry at me? Will you finally tell me that I do not have the right to live? Will you finally show regret that you did not find a way to destroy me while you still could?"

Riley's voice then began to shudder, but still, unheard by anyone else as the groans and growls of the monsters surrounding him drowned his trembling voice. And soon, Riley embraced himself.

"Will you finally look me in the eye and tell me that you want to kill me?" Riley's voice started to tremble even stronger, "Although you already did so without knowing… that was why I finally won against you in the first place. Ironic, is it not, my Megawoman?"

"...Megawoman… Megawom–"

"Riley, snap out of it!"

And before Riley's excited voice could turn into something else, Hannah's sudden roar drowned the air with her words.

"It's fine if you're scared!" She screamed as she saw her brother trembling from where she was, "But you are the strongest telekinetic I know! Neutralize them all, you're the only chance we have at this!"

"..."

Riley then blink a couple of times as the thoughts of Megawoman finally disappeared from his mind; he then looked at his sister, only to see the smallest monster almost grabbing Hannah by the neck as it propelled itself from the ground.

"..." He then looked at the others, only to realize all of them were struggling. And so, with this pathetic view surrounding him, the only thing he could do was let out a small sigh. His mind would always wander whenever he was thinking of Megawoman– even forgetting the fact that he promised to kill everyone in England.

"..." No, he shouldn't leave here yet, Riley thought. His sister would probably be fine since she and Megawoman were at the same level. The others, however, might die– he didn't really care about them… but Hannah will become even sadder than she is now if any of them died.

She was already hurt by Julius Reuben… she may not be able to take any more.

That won't do… That just won't do.

"..." Riley's eyes then strayed towards Gary, who was currently carrying Tomoe.

Is she dead? Even though she was not as useful as Silvermoon, Hannah would surely be hurt if she died.

"..." Riley then finally returned his attention back to the monsters surrounding him– none of them, still managing to even pass through his barrier even though he wasn't paying attention to them.

Riley then let out another sigh as he finally began to move; his feet, slowly leaving the ground as he very slowly floated in the air. He then stretched his arms to the side before snapping his fingers– casting a loud but sedated crack to whisper and ripple in the air. The sound it made was almost the same as if one would open a soda beside your ear; a snap followed by a sort of fizzle.

The entire ice rink also trembles, causing even the monsters that were previously busy with trying to kill the other members of the Baby Crew to turn their focus towards Riley. This gave time for the others to escape; but alas, the only thing they could do was also look at the sudden eruption.

And as soon as they saw what it was, their eyes slowly started to widen.

A perfect circle.

There was a perfect red circle surrounding Riley– the monsters that were previously trying to get through his barrier, no more.

As for Riley, only a sigh escaped his mouth.

"Megawoman…" He whispered, "No… even Silvie would have survived something like this."

His feet then slowly returned to the ground; the disappointment on his face, rising instead. However, as soon as his feet touched the cold ground, the circle of blood surrounding him started to wriggle.

And soon, without even half a minute– one could once again make out the silhouette of the monsters, resembling the shape of what they once were.

Riley could have once again attacked them while they were healing; he did not do so, however, as his eyes were starting to squint as he just watched them regenerate themselves. He had seen this kind of healing process before, he was sure of it.

Riley then turned his head towards his sister, and seeing that even from afar, he could recognize his sister's somewhat perplexed expression, she noticed it too.

The way these monsters regenerate… it was the same as Julius Reuben.