Supplying Supers - Ch. 32 - Mellicent's Return - Alpha (Patreon)

Monday June 19th, 2025 Mazuma City, Mazuma Amerika

Yokai

OSDB Hero Rank: 5X - Supervillain

OSDB Threat Rating: 100+

Flux’s scream echoed throughout the courtyard as Yokai watched Berserker leap after Gunner’s body. The three supers all had the same idea. They struggled against their invisible bonds, trying to free themselves.

Forte pulled Flux, Yokai, and Blast Wave forward and lined them up. When he spoke, his voice seemed to emanate all around them. “I just love watching people struggle. The ignorance of knowing you’re not going anywhere while you try your hardest is just… delightful. You three aren’t going anywhere.”

“I’m going to rip your fucking face off!” Flux shouted.

“Are you now?”

“I knew I should have hunted you after I saw the bridge video. You all are dead! I’m going to kill every last one of you. I’m going to make you suffer!”

“Quite overprotective, aren’t you? You must be Mr. Webb’s assistant Abaddon told me about? Flux, am I right?”

“I’ll rip out your tongue for saying my name.”

“Such a terrible mouth on such a pretty little thing,” Forte said, as an invisible blow smacked across Flux’s face. “Although I have to give it to Mr. Webb. He’s got great taste keeping you around.”

“Hey leave her alone, you malformed prick,” Blast Wave shouted.

Forte looked out of the corner of his eye. “What was that?”

“Oh… so you’re hard of hearing, too? My bad. I said you look like the shit my neighbor's dog takes every morning.”

Forte flung Flux to the side as he hovered toward Blast Wave. “And who are you to speak to me in such a way? It’s clear you’re a nobody.”

“I’m about to be the one shoving his fist down your throat.”

“Oh really?” Forte asked before letting out a horrendous chortle. “Please go ahead. I’d love to see you try.”

“Let go of me and I’ll show you.”

“And there’s the crux of it. You can’t do anything whilst in my grasp. None of you can. You’re my personal playthings. I can do whatever I want with you. Such as correcting your attitude.”

Forte used Blast Wave like a pinball. He swung him from wall-to-wall until they’d crumbled away. When there was nothing left, he raised him into the air and slammed him into the ground with the speed of a jackhammer. Forte didn’t stop until the crater he created threatened to reach the Charon Cube. When he lifted him, it was clear the attacks rattled Blast Wave’s brain, however; he showed no sign of physical injuries.

“Had enough?” Forte asked, a grin evident in his voice.

Blast Wave looked up and smirked. “That was cake compared to having to look at your ugly ass again.”

“You’re a hardy one, aren’t you?” Forte asked, floating around him. “Yes… not even a scratch on you. That’s fine. We’ll just see how quick your mind cracks.”

Forte raised Blast Wave until he was eye level with him. Blast Wave shut his eyes out of fear. It didn’t help. His brows furrowed and his lips twisted. It only took a few seconds before he let out a shout.

“Ah… now that’s music to my ears,” Forte said before cackling.

Yokai turned her head as Blast Wave’s cries grew. Her mind raced over what spells she had left. None of them were useful to her in the situation. Her array of spells was vast, but she hadn't rested enough to recoup her energy and to modify what she’d prepared since the night before.

She knew she was in a fragile spot. With a powerful super like Forte holding her captive in his telekinetic grasp, one wrong move and he could snap her neck. She’d be dead before she even realized. So she bided her time. All she needed was a half second lapse in concentration and she’d be able to get a spell off.

Eventually Forte relented and Blast Wave’s eyes closed. “Tuckered out already?”

“Why are you fighting with him, when I’m the one you want!” Flux shouted. “Come over here, you inbred looking freak!”

“All right, I’m growing tired of this,” Forte said in a cold, deep tone. “Shut your mouth, or you're dead.”

“It doesn’t matter what you do. I’m going to kill—”

Forte’s eyes darted to Flux, and she exploded into a purple syrup. It sprayed on everything and everyone.

Yokai’s eyes widened. The destruction of Flux’s body seemed complete. She’d seen her come back before, but the pieces were all thick chunks. This was different.

She held her breath as she looked at the thickest puddle on the grass. When she saw a single bubble rise, she almost broke into a smile. Instead, she played along.

“No, Flux!” Yokai yelled.

“And then there’s you…” Forte said, pulling her close to him. “I’m a little surprised. Everyone touts you as the boogeyman, yet you’ve been just as easy as the last. I’d love to crack open that skull of yours and see what secrets you're hiding. Alas, I have strict orders to keep you alive. You’re Mother’s enemy number one. It’s a shame what she’s going to do to you. Such a waste. But orders are orders. She’ll arrive shortly, and I’ll hand you to her on a silver platter.”

When Yokai saw the drops of slime begin to pool on Forte’s face, she couldn’t help but smile. They rolled near his ear, combining into a piece barely thicker than a bead of sweat.

“What’s got you so amused?” Forte asked. “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“I did,” Yokai said with a nefarious grin. “It’s just that you’ve got the situation all wrong.”

“Oh? How so?”

“You’re already dead.”

Forte’s face contorted and his body tensed. By the time Yokai and Blast Wave hit the ground, Flux rose into a single pool. She snatched his body in the air with one tentacled arm and threw another onto his face.

With one quick pull, she ripped off the front of his face and his tongue. The psionic scream grew louder and rattled the entire building. Flux silenced him by wrapping her grip around his neck and pulling. Forte’s head popped off like a child’s doll.

“I told you,” Flux growled after dropping the body.

Yokai rested her hand on Flux’s shoulder and asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Flux said, pulling her shoulder away. Then she gasped. “Gunner! I’ve got to find him. He could be hurt!” She took off into a sprint in the direction Berserker punched him.

“Flux, we need you here!” Yokai shouted.

“He’s the only thing that matters!” she declared before snapping her tendrils to the roof and disappearing over the side.

Yokai grunted in frustration before turning to Blast Wave.

When she reached out for her, he held out his hand and said, “I’m all right. Just give me a minute.” He groaned when he straightened, popping his neck in satisfaction. “I have the worst fucking headache.”

Yokai let out a short laugh. “I don’t doubt it. Those psychic types can be real assholes.”

“It felt like he was taking an ice pick to my brain. Just stabbing me over and over.”

“Come on, we should get you to MartyrDOM and have her check you out.”

Blast Wave nodded forward. “Speak of the devil.”

MartyrDOM and Whisper climbed over the rubble that used to be the courtyard walls.

After sprinting across the damaged grass, they both looked at the bloody body before stopping in front of the pair.

“Are you two okay?” MartyrDOM asked.

“You should check him,” Yokai said, nodding toward Blast Wave. “He got the worst of it.”

MartyrDOM pressed her hand on Blast Wave and closed her eyes. She gripped her head and groaned. When she finished, they both stood refreshed.

“You had some inflammation in your head and across your body,” MartyrDOM said. “Nothing too bad.”

“That’s not what it felt like,” Blast Wave said, shaking his head. “But thanks for the recovery.”

“What are you two doing here?” Yokai asked. “What about Divinity?”

“Something weird happened,” MartyrDOM said. “She landed in the courtyard with Berserker. We thought things were fine, but then she started attacking us. Whisper, Velocity, and Hailstorm fought her while I helped the civilians. Then there was like a switch turned off, right Whisper?”

After he nodded, MartyrDOM continued. “She held out her hands and said to stop. So they did. She gripped her head and glided to the ground. Then she apologized.”

“I wonder if Forte had some kind of influence over her and Berserker,” Yokai said.

“Is that who that is?” MartyrDOM asked, pointing over her shoulder.

“Yes. He’s the one who commanded this operation. He seems to have been the regional leader of the Clavus Ad Cor sect, Sanguis Praeconis.”

“You’re kidding? Do you think the other members of the Paragon Alliance are in on it? What about Justice?”

“I don’t know. It would be worth interrogating all of them. We can’t be too careful at this point.”

“So, what’s our next step?” Blast Wave asked.

“I need to speak with Divinity,” Yokai said, pointing down the way they came. “She is an elder. I need to see if she knows Gale magic.”

“What about Flux and Gunner?” MartyrDOM asked.

“Berserker targeted Gunner under Forte’s command. Flux went after them. Without Gunner, I can’t stop the Charon Cube’s activation. It’s already far too along and far too powerful. Which is why I need to speak with Divinity. If she can assist me, we may be able to still stop this.”

“And if she can’t?”

“We prepare for war.”

Everyone got silent at Yokai’s declaration. They all shared glances before nodding, understanding the severity of the situation.

Blast Wave slammed his fists together and smiled. “Whatever happens, I’m glad it will be with you all.”

Whisper held his hand to his heart.

“Shut up, you big oaf,” MartyrDOM snorted, failing not to laugh.

As the group shared a simple chuckle, Yokai took off across the grounds as she yelled. “Come on, let’s finish this.”

The group sprinted through the worn down building. They hoped over the dead cultists like they were part of the building's matching decor. When they reached the front of the building, the fight with Divinity was clear.

Frozen shards of ice peppered the ground in between the lit fires from Whisper’s heated breath. Velocity’s bullet casings littered the ground.

Divinity was covered in blackened soot. Her revealing dress was scorched along the edges. She, Hailstorm, and Velocity stood conversing. Hailstorm reached over, resting her hand on her shoulder. The trio turned to the group as they rushed over.

“Is he dead?” Divinity asked, wiping her muddied mascara.

“Yes,” Yokai nodded.

“Good.”

“So you were under his influence?”

“Yes, but I don’t know for how long. If I did, it was subtle until just now. I didn’t realize the compulsion until now. So many choices made together with us three. Now, I don’t know what my own thoughts were or what he wanted me to think.”

“Could Berserker be free of the control too?” Hailstorm asked.

“He could, but I doubt that would change things,” Divinity said. “If he’s engaged in combat, he could care about little else. He’s always been an asshole.”

“Then we must act without Gunner,” Yokai said. “Divinity, I know you’re troubled, but we must stop the Charon Cube from opening the rift. Do you have any familiarity with Gale magic? Could you help me stop it?”

Divinity looked at everyone before leaning forward and muttered. “You shouldn’t speak of such things!”

“We’re beyond that!” Yokai shouted. “Can you or can’t you?”

Divinity lowered her wings as she said. “I know little. I led by example. The Gale is a threat to my tenants. I instructed my followers and inquisitors to purge all knowledge they found.”

“While admirable… that doesn’t help us.” The temperature in the air shifted a few degrees hotter and Yokai turned around, her fist clenched. “But it looks like that doesn’t matter.”

A deep hum echoed throughout the city as the end of the purple light ascended to the sky above. The vortex of clouds twisted and paved the way to a circle of pure darkness. The city’s fires below reflected along its surface.

A crack formed along the center with a booming thud. Each thump echoed down below, increasing its length. When the crack reached the edge, the entire thing shattered, revealing the orange glow of the Gale’s sands.

Everyone shielded their heads from the heat and shimmering light. Hundreds of winged creatures flew from the sky. Their bodies reminded Yokai of the ones they met in the processing plant; only they were much larger, their bodies were covered in carapaced armor, and they had six legs.

House-sized meteors fell in blue flames. The beasts inside were curled in a ball, their heavily armored bodies protecting them from the heat. After the first smashed through a skyscraper, the top half toppled. Civilian screams roared from the city’s surroundings.

“There are hundreds of them… maybe even thousands,” Velocity said, as if echoing everyone’s thoughts.

Yokai’s worst fears birthed before her eyes. This was no longer a mission of protection. It was a mission of survival.

A purple glow caught Yokai’s glare. Once she squinted and her vision focused, she gasped. Mellicent hovered just beyond the opening, and she’d changed.

Leathery bat-like wings protruded from her back with sharp-bladed points on the ends. Two sharp horns protruded from her forehead. Hardened carapace plates covered her body like armor. Her fingers and toes ended in sharp claws. Purple light pulsed along the soft parts of her flesh. Her eyes glowed the same color.

Yokai’s fist tightened as she looked at her foe. She turned toward the group and pointed up at the sky. “That’s Mellicent. She’s the one in charge. If we can kill her, maybe we can stop the invasion.”

“Who out of all of us can fly?” Divinity asked the group.

“I think it’s just you, I, and Yokai,” Hailstorm said.

“What about the fly spell?” Blast Wave asked.

“Mellicent is a formidable opponent, and now she controls an entire army,” Yokai said. “I’ll need all of my energy if we’re going to combat her.”

“We’ll need the rest of you on the ground providing support for the civilians,” Divinity said. “Do what you can. Protect who you can. But above all else, protect each other.”

“I’m staying here,” Velocity said, swapping to a fresh magazine. “Mr. Webb and Flux both know where they left us. They may come back here, looking for us.”

“Are you going to be okay by yourself?” MartyrDOM asked.

Velocity gave a snorting smile. “I’ve spent my entire life working from the shadows. I’ll post up in one of the surrounding buildings, keep a low profile, and stay available on the comm.”

“Good luck, then. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call for help. We can come back as fast as we can.”

“My burst should help me get out of trouble. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

“Let’s be off then,” Divinity said.

“Good luck to you all,” Blast Wave said.

Everyone shared a nod before splitting ways. Yokai pressed her hand against her body and said an incantation before jumping into flight. Divinity and Hailstorm followed shortly after.

As they ascended, Divinity said, “There’s a lot of those flying monsters around her. We’ll need to clear the way.”

“We should split up and try to hit her at different angles to make it harder for her to block our attacks,” Hailstorm added.

“Splitting up also makes it harder to coordinate our attacks and keeps us vulnerable,” Yokai said.

“We’ll go with Hailstorm’s plan,” Divinity said. “She won’t be able to block all of our power.”

Yokai relented. She didn’t want to argue, and needed to focus. Mellicent was a formidable witch when they’d last fought. The ominous question of how much her power had grown scratched at the back of her mind.

As they continued to rise, a missile flashed by Yokai’s side. It aimed for Mellicent. The Gale creatures swarmed the device, throwing their bodies in its path. It exploded before reaching her. When Yokai looked back, she saw Velocity drop the SAM pod before climbing off of the roof.

Mellicent’s voice boomed across the night sky as she turned to address the incoming threats. “What a warm welcome. Fireworks and entertainment. I was wondering when the first heroes would show. Be joyous knowing you will be the first heroes to fall as part of my grand reckoning.”

As they flew toward their enemies, Divinity raised her spear and cast, “Blessings of the Holy Mother, Divine Shield, Holy Ward, Protection From Evil, Divine Essence, Divine Stamina, Heaven’s Blessing,

Yokai felt the protection spell cover her. She felt a surge of energy and focus. Even with her spent blood and spells, this was as strong as she could be.

Yokai peeled off the group as dozens of Gale creatures flew toward her. She shot arcs of electricity from her hands, scorching a dozen fliers in an instance. They dropped from the sky as she rotated for another pass.

Her hands shifted from electricity to fire. She lobbed maximized fireballs for the greatest effect, converting them into miniature bombs rather than just raw heat. Combined with Hailstorm's frost rays, any enemies caught in the blast either exploded in frozen shards or instantly melted from the intense heat.

Mellicent’s patronizing laugh stung as she stood there just waiting. When Yokai saw one of Divinity's spells get through, she readjusted to push the advance. However, the swords of energy that surrounded in a cage, shattered as Mellicent flexed her wingspan.

“Bravo,” Mellicent said condescendingly. “I’m surprised you three got through the swarm. Maybe I should start trying.”

The Mother of the Gale spread her arms and wings. The number of the flying creatures pouring from the Gale increased ten fold. As their summoner laughed maniacally, she threw concentrated eldritch energy at the three as they fought the increase in foes.

This isn’t working, Yokai thought. There’s too many of them. All we’re doing is burning our power. We need more firepower.

All three saviors thought of similar plans. As Yokai prepared her massive area-of-effect spell, so too did the others. In one fell swoop, they unleashed their combined attacks.

Hailstorm raised her hands in the air, unleashed a torrential winter storm, flash-freezing everything caught in its path. Yokai combined a rain of purple fire, cindering anything it touched. Divinity summoned a colossal idol wielding a bell. When it rang, there was no sound, but the invisible waves popped the creatures like piñatas.

When the spells wore off and the battlefield cleared, Yokai’s jaw dropped. Mellicent’s wings covered her body like a protective shield. When she pulled them back, there wasn’t a scratch on it.

“That was it?” Mellicent asked, stretching her wings. “I honestly expected more.”

The snide remark got underneath Yokai’s skin. She conjured a massive torrent of lightning in her hands and unleashed it at her foe. Mellicent twisted her hands in the air and redirected the blast back at the sorceress. She let out a cry as the intensity of the blast knocked her back. The surrounding shield faded.

Mellicent cocked her brow, and then her eyes widened in recognition. “Yokai!” she shouted, pointing her clawed finger. “I know that spell from anywhere. You may have bested me that way once before, but I’ll be damned if I let you do it to me twice.”

Mellicent rotated her hands and cast a smile. A dozen copies split from her, creating a small squad of winged demons. They all launched attacks.

In the flurry of battle, Yokai lost the one in the front. She dodged the screeching demons as they launched at her with tooth and claw. Her first few shots of electricity missed. The speed that the clones moved made it difficult for her to land solo attacks. Each dodge made it seem as if they could teleport in an instance.

She shifted tactics to her AOE spells, but those drew more energy from her. Her conjured Cloud of Fire, Acidic Fog, and another Rain of Fire, whittled away the number of clones. The last few she caught in a Reverse Gravity pocket, allowing her to finish them with another Chain Lightning spell.

By the time the three cleared the enemies, there was none left. The three hovered, panting.

“Did one of you get her?” Yokai asked, taking in a huge breath.

“I don’t know,” Divinity said.

Mellicent’s laughter echoed in the distance, and she reappeared in a puff of smoke. “That was a fun game of cat and mouse. But I’m getting rather bored and my children are hungry, so I think it’s about time to let them feed.”

Another wave of insect-like creatures ascended from the rift. They gathered in a giant wall that blocked any light.

“She’s too strong,” Hailstorm said, panting. “Everything we throw at her, she deflects or dodges.”

“And we can barely get through her army of flyers,” Divinity added.

“Our attacks are too fragmented,” Yokai said. “We need to hit her with our strongest powers.”

“It will drain me completely,” Hailstorm said with a furrowed brow. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, I’m sure. If we work together, she won’t be able to withstand the attack.”

“Once I give you the signal, use any weapons to attack her.”

Yokai used her clawed nail to carve her most powerful rune into her hand. When she finished, she pressed both hands together and concentrated. She said the forbidden words, activating the spell.

Her skin tore like fabric as she stretched over ten feet tall. She hunched forward, allowing for the eight arachnid arms of yellow and black color to protrude from her back. When she straightened, her arms stretched with her.

“So you finally show your True Form, Yokai,” Mellicent said with a wicked tongue.

“If it takes a monster to kill a monster, I’ll do anything,” Yokai said with grimaced teeth, panting from the transformation.

She reached into the sky and gripped strands of the Gale with each appendage. As she twisted and pulled, the Gale creatures responded like puppets controlled by their master. They turned to face their Mother and for the first time her smile vanished.

With a pull of the threads, the winged animals lunged toward their creator. With each pull and yank, Yokai directed their movements. Each hand or claw manipulated dozens.

Mellicent flew on the defensive. She dodged the first incoming threats at first. She used her incredible speed to move out of the way before slicing any with her wings or claws. When the numbers threatened to surround her, she moved to her magic.

She shot long rays of eldritch energy from her hands. Any caught along its length popped in a shower of blackened flesh and blood. Her speed and power proved effortless until the first claw snuck in and swiped across her face.

When Yokai saw blood, she manipulated the threads faster. Her arms danced as they pulled and twisted, directing the creatures to their destination. But with increased speed came exhaustion. Wariness filled her body as the power to manipulate the Gale consumed her blood by second.

Mellicent let out a horrendous wail that disintegrated her foes, caught in the path. She directed her mouth like a ranged weapon, killing entire swaths of her creations. But when several of the beasts snuck from below, the pain silenced her attack.

With a quick swipe she cleaved the beasts with her claws, their razor teeth mouths staying connected to her carapaced body. But the distraction was exactly what Yokai needed.

“Now!” she shouted.

Hailstorm raised her hands, and Divinity raised her spear.

Melicent’s body stopped moving. Her eyes widened as she tried to move her arms and legs, only to have Hailstorm’s grasp over her blood keep her immobile. Golden electric swords summoned all around the Mother of the Gale. They pierced her body before bursting into holy energy.

Mellicent’s electrified screams echoed with gloom filled terror. When the spell concluded, her head slumped forward. Yokai signaled the animals to attack. Their frantic chewing and slurps rang as they bit and tore at her flesh. By the time they finished, there was nothing left.

“We did it!” Hailstorm shouted.

Yokai managed a half smile as she looked through her sweat matted hair. Her head felt as though it was floating in the air. The blood loss left her weak. When the threads in her grasp pulled with extreme force, she couldn’t help but let go.

The flying creatures all swarmed into a giant ball. They attacked each other until the only thing left was blood and sinew. The soup morphed together in a twisted amalgamation of claw, tooth, and flesh.

It pulsed with a heartbeat until a horned head pressed against the edge before tearing free. From the dripping sack, Mellicent’s form stood floating in the air. Her wings expanded with her arms and legs.

When her eyes opened, Mellicent cackled. “You thought you bested me? You fools! I am the Mother of the Gale. It is just a part of me as I to it. You could destroy this form a thousand times and it shall birth me anew.”

Before the Mazuma City’s defenders could respond, a flash of light off into the distance caused everyone to shield their eyes. A tremendous gust of pressure followed, pushing everyone along its path. When they regained their bearings, a purple mushroom cloud rose from the city. A half-mile radius of glassed earth remained. Destroyed buildings, fires, and screams of the innocent followed as the shock wave continued throughout the mega city.

Yokai’s lip trembled as she looked upon the familiar act of destruction.

“What the hell was that?” Hailstorm shouted. “Is the military bombing the city?”

“No, that was something else,” Yokai yelled back.

“Then what was it?”

Yokai flew closer to Divinity and Hailstorm. “We must fall back. Mellicent is much too powerful. We need to regroup and come up with a plan.”

“No!” Divinity shouted. “Look at what she has done to the city. More of her spawn pour from the portal every second. Any further delays will cost more human lives. We must push forward.”

“She can’t be killed! You just saw what happened. You must see reason!”

“You two gave everything, but I still have power left. It’s my turn to bring about her judgment.” Divinity blasted forward, her bright wings flying toward the darkness.

“She’s going to get herself killed!” Yokai spat.

“I know…” Hailstorm said, her voice cracking.

“Death serves no purpose when you can fight to live another day.”

“There’s no point in arguing. She’s made her choice.”

Yokai turned and watched as the holy woman wasted no time raising her spear. A bright yellow light illuminated from it before a dozen winged angels summoned above her. They stood like shining beacons in their holy armor.

Only golden halos stood where their heads should be. They wielded long spears the length of their four wings. Each movement was done in unison, as if they all shared the same mind.

With the direction of her spear, a shining energy surrounded each of the angels before they took flight. They flashed across the battlefield in a blur. Their bodies hovering above their foe, their spears thrusted forward.

“They did it!” Hailstorm shouted.

“No…” Yokai said, shaking her head. “They didn’t even touch her.”

Yokai could see Mellicent’s wings had closed in a split second, shielding her from the blow. With a horrific shout, she swung them, sending the angels spinning through the air. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a giant purple skull with fiery cyan eyes.

The weapon flew forward, opened its jaw, and sucked in all the angels. When the skull disappeared in a puff of purple smoke, the light from the angels exploded, illuminating the city like a dozen miniature suns.

A colossus avatar of an angel surrounded Divinity’s body. She screamed as she charged Mellicent. It gave her massive power and reach. With wild thrusts, bolts of holy energy discharged into the surrounding sky as the two clash.

Mellicent’s laughter made it clear she was toying with the hero. When she had enough, she conjured a ball of black void surrounding in electricity and shot it at the avatar. It shattered like a rock thrown through a window.

As divinity pressed forward, Mellicent swiped Divinity’s spear with one of her clawed hands before impaling her with the tips of her wings. Blood spilled from the divine’s mouth as she struggled to push herself free.

Mellicent let out a maniacal laugh as she raised her prey for display. When she spoke, her voice boomed across the horizon. “Is this it? Is this all humanity has to offer? A pack of nats against my army. Pathetic.”

The light in Divinity’s wings faded until it was no more. When she lay motionless, speared on Mellicent’s wings, the Mother of the Gale let out a battle cry and pulled her apart. The two halves spun on bloody wings as they fell to the earth in silence.

“No!” Hailstorm cried.

Yokai grabbed her ally’s arm and pulled her to face her. “Listen to me! Get everyone back to the Lighthouse. We’ll reconvene there. Don’t stop for civilians. We can no longer help them. Only engage to defend yourself. If you have any contacts at the SOC or allies, call them. Get as many supes as you can to help contain the creatures.”

“Where are you going?”

“To find the only person who can stop her.”

Hailstorm wiped the tear from her face and nodded. Yokai summoned her remaining spells, drew an infinity circle, and unleashed them all at once. Fireballs, lightning, and acid blasts flew from it like a machine gun.

Yokai knew the attack was fruitless. She just need to buy Hailstorm time to escape. When her spells ended, her arms slump to her side. She looked down to ensure she couldn’t see her ally.

When Mellicent locked eyes with her, she gave a wicked smile. “A last ditch effort and all you’ve managed to do is kill some of my children.”

Mellicent looked around. “Ah… I see. Well played. But unfortunately for you, it’s just you and me… old friend. But don’t worry… I’m not going to kill you. You left me to die in that hellhole. I have plans for you. Ones that I have spent centuries contemplating.”

Yokai smirked as she said. “I’d rather die than spend another second with you.” When Yokai cut her arm and opened a portal, her rival’s eyes widened, and she charged forward. “No! You’ll not escape me!”

The sorceress felt her foe’s clawed hands cut the end of her hair as the portal closed behind her. She took a moment to gather her breath. Once she centered herself, she looked down at the center of the crater, scanning for what the city needed in its most dire hour: its hidden protector.