Arthur stared at the neatly folded clothes on the steel bench—a blue trench coat, a crisp white shirt, black jeans, and combat boots.
They were clean. New. Nothing like the tattered rags he had before he was locked up.
He ran his fingers over the fabric, half-expecting it to dissolve into smoke.
Flamestar leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, "You look like you've never seen clothes before. Since these were the clothes you were wearing before your arrested, I felt like you would feel comfortable wearing them again."
Arthur didn't answer. He simply dressed. He could hardly believe that after all these years behind bars. He was actually going to see the other side.
"Warden wants to see you before we leave," she said.
Arthur followed her in silence.
---
The warden's office was cold, sterile. The man himself sat behind a steel desk, his scarred face unreadable. He didn't offer Arthur a seat.
"Let's make one thing clear," the warden growled, "I'm against the idea of letting even get a fraction of sunlight touch you, but due to Lady Firestar service as a hero. I can't really deny her request. But I should let you know, if you step out of line—just once—and I'll personal drag you back here myself. Shove you to the darkest abyss and throw away the key."
Flamestar sighed, "He's not going to be a problem. Just have some faith in him."
The warden ignored her, his gaze locked onto Arthur, "You killed the Number One Hero. A man who billion looked up to, a true symbol to the people and you took him away. A title you proudly hold above your head with no empathy for those who suffer the consequences of his death. Do you feel proud that crime wave increased to the highest it ever been? Do you feel proud that his grandson the last family he had cried for month after he lost his only family? Do you feel proud that all villains value as the potential number one? Do you even regret what happened?"
Arthur met his stare, "Of I regret my actions. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and look what it got me. Five years of my life gone in a heartbeat. Why wouldn't I regret that mistake?"
A beat of silence.
Then, Arthur continued, "My Trigger is called Absolute Authority. I don't know its full potential or even if my two skills are the correct skills, but I know two things at the moment?"
He tapped underneath his left red eye, "This one can disable Triggers. I'm limited to one person a time and I need to deactivate in order to return the ability to the user. At the moment it's only temporary and I'm not sure how long it takes for the ability to return."
Then, his right blue eye, "This one summons the knight you saw earlier but I'm not sure if that's the actual ability. Right now, I'm basing it off what I have seen so far. It fellow my thoughts but sometimes act independently when it feels like it. It doesn't like going far away from me since it wants to protect me."
The warden's frown deepened, "And you're telling me this why?"
Arthur's voice was ice, "So you know that if I ever become a problem… you will have an easy time" bringing me down."
The warden chuckled with static of electric spark around his body, "Trust me, it will be pretty easy to bring back behind bars."
Flamestar's hand clamped onto his shoulder, "You don't need to worry," She smiled at the warden. "He's going to be a Hero. One that protect the innocent." She said filled with enthusiasm.
The warden scoffed but said nothing else.
---
During the walk down the hallway, Flamestar walked in front with Arthur between him and the warden.
Immediately he noticed the gate up ahead, "We are all must there. Hope you are ready to see the sun for the first time."
The prison gates groaned open, sunlight flooding Arthur's vision.
He flinched—he hadn't seen the sun in years, "So the rumours are true!" Then, his blood froze as he heard a mysterious voice waiting for them.
Standing in formation before him were five of the world's greatest Heroes.
- Glamourbabe, the Idol Hero (No. 5) – A dazzling woman with shimmering pink hair, dressed in a skimpy outfits that showed off her body.
- Bullet Blitz, the Speedster Hero (No. 4) – A lean man in a sleek black spandex while wearing a black mask with lightning bolts for eyes.
- Conquer, the Raging Hero (No. 3) – A muscular man wearing nothing but shorts and sneakers.
- Machineprince, the Metallic Suit Hero (No. 2)– A young man wearing a high-tech white armored suit.
And at the front—
Wateredge, the Water Hero.
The new Number One.
With a single step, water surged beneath his feet, carrying him forward until he was inches from Arthur's face.
"You don't belong out here," Wateredge hissed, "Get back in your cell."
---
The air crackled with tension.
Flamestar stepped between them, "Stand down, Wateredge. The Association approved his release."
"Like hell they did!" Conquer roared, "No way in hell I'm going to let that brat step foot out of this area."
Arthur didn't react. He had expected this.
Glamourbabe twirled a strand of hair around her finger, "Oh, come on~! He's just a cute homeless guy. What's he gonna do?"
Bullet Blitz's eyes narrowed, "You say that but we all read the reports. His Trigger is dangerous and there a reason we kept him behind bars."
Machineprince's visor flickered as he analyzed Arthur, "S rank threat level. Recommend immediate containment."
Wateredge raised a hand—a swirling blade of water forming in his grip, "Last chance. Walk back inside, or I drag you in."
Arthur exhaled.
Then—
His left eye flashed red.
Wateredge's water blade splashed harmlessly to the ground.
Silence.
"What the—?!" Wateredge staggered back, his Trigger suddenly gone.
Arthur's voice was calm, "I told the warden and Flamestar already that I'm going to be on my best behaviour so you don't need to worry about anything."
He glanced at the others, "I will just say it, looking at the five of you. I can kinda see why the guys in prison broke out not caring about being dragged back by our number five. All of y'all, are a joke." He said with a cocky smirk.
Each one of them had a furious look on their face.
Flamestar's eyes widened, "Arthur—"
"But don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean I want to start trouble or anything, just stating the facts." He lowered his head.
"But you should know that lady with the fine a** over there really believe in me so I suggest you trust your fellow hero decision. But if you're going to judge me… at least judge me for what I do now, not what I did then. A man can change if enough people give that person their support." Arthur said.
For a long moment, no one moved.
Then—
"Tch. Fine." Conquer crossed his arms. "But screw up once, and I'll break you myself."
Bullet Blitz relaxed slightly, "…We'll be watching."
Glamourbabe giggled, "Ooooh~! A redemption arc! How dramatic! I just got a killer song to write."
Machineprince's visor dimmed, "Threat reassessed. For now."
Wateredge's jaw clenched, but he finally stepped aside, "This isn't over."
Arthur didn't answer.
Flamestar grinned, "Well! Now that that's settled-" Flamestar gently pitches his right ear, "What's the nickname you called me just now?" She showed passive aggressive smile.
Arthur calmly, "You are the first woman I have seen in five years and not only that you are wearing a tight spandex. I thought you realised that after all the guys where cat whistling you when we started walking back." Flamestar horrified reaction answer his question.
Before Flamestar could respond.
BEEEEEP!
A deafening alarm blared across the city.
"ATTENTION ALL HEROES!" A robotic voice boomed from nearby speakers.
"CLASS S THREAT DETECTED IN DISTRICT 9. ALL AVAILABLE HEROES, RESPOND IMMEDIATELY."
Arthur blinked, "Class S?"
Flamestar's expression darkened, "The highest disaster level. We have to move."
Wateredge shot Arthur one last glare before water surged around him, launching him into the sky.
The other Heroes followed—Bullet Blitz in a blur, Machineprince with jet thrusters, Conquer leaping away with Glamourbabe on his back.
Only Flamestar remained.
She held out a hand.
"You coming, Hero?"
Arthur stared at her outstretched palm.
Then, for the first time in years—
He took it.