Dominic Scotia weaved his way through the bustling crowds lining the streets of downtown Chicago. The parade hadn’t started yet, but the energy in the air was electric. Colorful banners hung from every lamppost, draped with Crimson Nova’s emblem, and vendors were selling hero-themed merchandise left and right. A giant screen loomed over the crowd, showing clips of Crimson Nova in action, her flaming red suit trailing fire as she soared through the sky. It was a bittersweet sight.

  But Dominic wasn’t here to celebrate. He was here with a mission—a mission he’d been thinking about since the day of Crimson Nova’s funeral, when everything in his life had changed. His father’s words about the Nova Horizons graduating and joining the Guardians echoed in his mind. A chance to be among the most elite heroes in the world, a dream for anyone with powers. Except he didn’t have powers. He was just… Dominic.

  That’s why he needed to find him—Veil, the mysterious vigilante who had fought at NovaTech and walked away from a battle that left many of the city’s heroes crumpled on the ground. No powers, no public recognition, and yet Veil had fought like he belonged among the very best. If anyone could help Dominic find a way to stand tall without powers, it had to be him.

  Easier said than done.

  Dominic’s eyes scanned the crowd, searching for something—anything—that might give him a clue. He wasn’t even sure what he was looking for. A shadow in the corner? A man standing too still? A feeling? It wasn’t like Veil was going to be walking around with a neon sign pointing him out.

  As he passed a vendor selling bright red hero masks, he reached into his pocket for his phone. He had been combing through some old online forums earlier, trying to dig up any information he could on Veil, but the guy was a ghost. There were stories—rumors, really—that Veil sometimes patrolled big public events. Dominic had hoped today would be one of those days.

  "Hey, kid!" a voice called out, snapping Dominic from his thoughts. A vendor with a toothy grin was holding up a Crimson Nova mask, the plastic face shining in the late morning sun. "Wanna grab a mask before the big reveal? Only five bucks!"

  Dominic shook his head. "Nah, I’m good."

  He moved along the edge of the crowd, hoping the next block might offer a better vantage point. The mass of people had already started to thicken as more spectators arrived. Parents held their kids on their shoulders, teenagers snapped selfies with the skyline behind them, and a group of heroes on a float waved to the crowd, their capes billowing dramatically in the breeze. It was all too much for Dominic, his thoughts spinning too fast to enjoy any of it.

  There was nothing light-hearted about what he was doing here.

  But as much as Dominic wanted to be focused, he couldn’t help but feel a little bit like the kid he was. Heroes were everywhere. Actual heroes. He glanced up as Hyperion, his golden armor gleaming, flew overhead in a wide arc, trailing a radiant glow. A small gasp escaped his lips, and for a moment, the heaviness in his chest lightened. He wasn’t like them—at least not yet—but being here, surrounded by the very world he’d idolized growing up, gave him a little spark of hope.

  Still, he reminded himself, there was a job to do. Veil wasn’t going to come to him, and with the parade starting soon, his window of opportunity was shrinking.

  Dominic ducked into a nearby alley, hoping for a clearer path through the crowd. It was quieter here, the noise of the main street muffled by the narrow walls. He could still hear the distant cheering, the faint rumble of music, but it felt like a different world—closer to the shadows Veil would probably haunt.

  He pulled out his phone again, scrolling through the forum he’d been following for months. There had to be something—some kind of lead. He bit his lip, frustration bubbling up. “Come on, where are you…”

  As if on cue, someone bumped into him from behind.

  “Hey—watch it!” Dominic turned around, already annoyed. His heart skipped a beat.

  The man standing before him wasn’t particularly tall, nor did he look like a hero. In fact, he looked fairly ordinary—except for the mask.

  A black, featureless mask.

  It was Veil.

  Dominic’s breath caught in his throat. He hadn’t even realized he’d been holding his breath until that moment. This was it. The vigilante he had been hunting, the man who had saved lives at NovaTech without a shred of recognition. And now, he was standing right in front of him.

  Dominic opened his mouth to say something—anything—but the words seemed stuck. What was he supposed to say? "Hey, teach me how to fight like you?" Or maybe, "Can you help me be someone without powers?"

  Veil didn’t wait for him to speak. He stepped aside, moving swiftly past Dominic and further into the alley as though he hadn’t even seen him. For a second, Dominic considered letting him go. Veil clearly wasn’t the kind of guy who stopped for casual conversations.

  But then something clicked in Dominic’s brain. He had come here for a reason. He couldn’t let this chance slip away.

  "Wait!" he blurted out, spinning on his heel and jogging after the retreating figure. "Veil, wait!"

  The man stopped. Slowly, he turned his head, the dark slits in his mask betraying nothing of the man beneath it.

  Dominic’s heart pounded in his chest as he took a few cautious steps closer. "I… I need to talk to you," he stammered, trying to keep his voice steady. "I need your help."

  For a long moment, Veil didn’t respond. The tension hung in the air, thick and oppressive. Dominic felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him, the importance of what he was about to say.

  "You’re… you’re Veil, right?" Dominic continued, his voice wavering slightly. "I saw you at NovaTech. You fought… you fought without powers. You did something none of the others could. And I…"

  Veil tilted his head slightly, as if considering Dominic’s words. Then, in a low, gravelly voice, he replied, "What do you want, kid?"

  Dominic swallowed hard. "I want to be like you. I don’t have powers, and I know I’ll never be like the others, but… I still want to help. I still want to be a hero."

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  Veil was silent, his dark mask unreadable. The weight of Dominic’s words seemed to linger in the air between them, heavy with meaning.

  "You don’t know what you’re asking for," Veil finally said, his voice calm but firm. "This isn’t a game, kid. People die. Heroes fail."

  "I know," Dominic said quickly. "I saw it at NovaTech. I saw what happened when powers weren’t enough. But you… you were different. You fought back when no one else could. That’s what I want."

  For a moment, Veil remained silent, and Dominic could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Had he said too much? Did Veil think he was just some naive kid chasing a dream that didn’t belong to him?

  Finally, Veil let out a quiet sigh, turning to fully face Dominic. "You want to help?" he asked, his voice sharp. "Then stay out of the way. If you don’t have powers, you’re a liability out there."

  Dominic flinched but stood his ground. "I’m not asking for your permission," he said, surprising even himself with the firmness in his voice. "I’m going to help, one way or another. I’m asking for your guidance. I know I can’t be like them, but I can learn. You can teach me."

  Veil stared at him for what felt like an eternity. Dominic could feel the weight of his gaze, the cold judgment behind the mask. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy, and Veil wasn’t the kind of person who handed out second chances.

  Finally, Veil gave a short nod. "We’ll see," he muttered. "Keep your eyes open, kid. You might get more than you bargained for."

  With that, Veil turned and disappeared into the shadows of the alley, leaving Dominic standing there, heart racing. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. Veil hadn’t dismissed him outright, and that was more than Dominic had hoped for.

  Dominic exhaled slowly, feeling the adrenaline still pulsing through him. Veil’s words echoed in his mind—“Keep your eyes open, kid. You might get more than you bargained for.” He didn’t fully understand what that meant yet, but it didn’t matter. The fact that Veil had acknowledged him, even given him a sliver of hope, was more than enough to propel him forward.

  Straightening his jacket, Dominic glanced around the alley. The parade would be starting soon, and he needed to get back. He wasn’t going to miss the moment when the new Guardian was revealed. Maybe this time, he’d find inspiration not from the powers or the fame, but from the sheer will to make a difference—just like Veil had shown him.

  He jogged back toward the main street, weaving through the thinning crowds as the anticipation for the big reveal began to thicken. The energy had shifted, becoming more focused. Spectators huddled close to the barricades, cameras ready, eyes trained on the grand stage set up in the distance. The sky had dimmed, casting long shadows over the buildings, but the lights surrounding the stage kept it shining like a beacon of hope.

  As Dominic slipped back into the crowd, his heart lightened. He was still just a kid, a spectator, but he felt different. There was a weight in the air that no one else seemed to notice, but it didn’t scare him. Not anymore.

  The announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers, calling attention to the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve been waiting for is almost here!" The crowd roared in response, their excitement palpable. “Today, we honor Crimson Nova, one of the greatest heroes to ever walk this city’s streets, and in her name, we reveal the newest member of the Guardians!”

  Dominic edged closer, craning his neck to see the stage as the Guardians took their places. Stellar was at the center, standing tall and commanding, his bright white and blue uniform gleaming under the lights. Warden stood beside him, his impenetrable force field flickering faintly around him like a second skin. The rest of the Guardians were arrayed behind them, each one a symbol of the power and hope the city relied on.

  The roar of the crowd grew louder as Stellar stepped forward to address them. "People of Chicago," he began, his voice smooth and confident, "we gather today to remember one of our own, a hero who gave everything to protect this city—Crimson Nova."

  The mention of her name brought a swell of cheers, followed by a quiet, respectful murmur. Dominic’s chest tightened. Crimson Nova had been larger than life, a hero whose flame had burned out too soon. He watched as a large, holographic image of her appeared above the stage, her iconic red suit glowing in the darkened sky.

  "But today is not just about remembering the past," Stellar continued, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "It is about looking to the future. The Guardians are not just a team. We are a symbol, a promise that no matter what happens, we will stand to protect this city and its people."

  Dominic’s breath caught in his throat. This was the moment. The new Guardian was about to be revealed.

  "And now," Stellar said, turning slightly as one of the Guardians stepped forward, carrying a ceremonial plaque. "It is my honor to introduce to you the newest member of the Guardians, someone who has proven themselves time and again, someone who embodies the spirit of Crimson Nova herself."

  The crowd fell silent, the air thick with anticipation.

  "Everyone, please welcome…"

  Dominic’s heart pounded in his chest. The crowd held its breath, and he did too.

  “…please welcome… Zenith!”

  A young man stepped forward onto the stage, his suit a brilliant mix of white and gold that shimmered in the lights. His face was calm, focused, and his dark hair framed sharp, intelligent eyes. The emblem of the Guardians, embroidered across his chest, was a symbol of his new status among the elite heroes of the country.

  Zenith—Elliot Chambers, as the world would soon know—stood tall. His powers were as unique as anyone else’s: the ability to manipulate gravitational fields on a personal level. He could shift the weight of objects, people, and even the atmosphere around him, making him both a formidable offensive force and an incredible defensive asset.

  Dominic stared in awe. Zenith was only a few years older than him, yet he now stood among legends. The applause that erupted from the crowd was deafening, filling the air with a sense of hope, a belief that despite all the chaos and uncertainty, new heroes would rise to carry the torch forward.

  The cheers continued as Stellar placed a hand on Zenith’s shoulder, raising the young Guardian’s arm in triumph. Dominic’s heart swelled with excitement. Maybe one day… just maybe, he could be up there too. Maybe the world didn’t care about his lack of powers now, but if he found a way to prove himself… if he became more than what people expected, anything was possible.

  As the cheering died down, Stellar stepped back to the podium, smiling warmly at the crowd. “With heroes like Zenith leading the way, we know the future is in good hands.”

  Dominic clapped with the rest of the crowd, feeling that flicker of hope again. He wasn’t thinking about Veil or his own lack of powers for the moment. He was just a kid standing in a sea of people, watching heroes, believing in something bigger than himself.

  But then, the lights flickered.

  Once.

  Twice.

  The cheers dulled as confusion rippled through the crowd. Dominic blinked, looking up at the massive screens, which were now glitching with static. For a split second, a murmur of unease moved through the crowd.

  Suddenly, the entire street plunged into darkness.

  The power had gone out.

  Panic rippled through the sea of people. For a moment, everything was silent. Then, in the stillness, Dominic’s stomach dropped as a slow, steady sound filled the air—whoosh… whoosh… whoosh.

  People.

  Dozens of people, appearing out of thin air, one by one, flickering into existence in the heart of the crowd like dark phantoms. Teleporters. Their sudden appearance was terrifyingly precise. These weren’t heroes. These were masked figures, dressed in black, moving like shadows with masks obscuring their faces.

  Dominic’s breath hitched. This was an attack.

  All at once, the panic set in.

  People screamed, pushing and shoving to get away from the masked figures, but they were everywhere—too many of them to escape. The chaos surged as the villains spread through the crowd with terrifying speed. Dominic tried to push back toward the barricades, but the crowd was too thick, too frantic.