– Aftermath Begins –
Rescue teams moved into the island, pulling out the injured and remaining surviving heroes—many of whom weren't even in a state to move.
The newscaster resumed her broadcast, standing near the chaos, trying to gather information. Her voice trembled as she struggled to maintain composure. She spoke to people who had witnessed the event up close, but got no helpful responses. Some were traumatized by the horror they'd seen. Others simply hid in fear, having no idea what truly happened.
---
– A Hero, Barely Alive –
Moments later, the rescue team returned with the hero Star.
Everyone gathered around.
It was not a good sight.
Star's neck had a hole, her eyes were gone, her left leg was twisted backward, and her jaw had been dislocated—evidence of just how much damage Killer had inflicted without ending her life.
---
– The Late Arrivals –
Soon, Celestial and some other top heroes from the Hero Association arrived at the scene. As they laid eyes on the destruction and sheer number of dead and injured, a thick silence fell over them. They regretted not arriving in time.
They walked among the crowd, stunned by the scale of damage.
They asked themselves, "How, in just one hour, could someone cause this much chaos... and vanish without a trace?"
---
– A Wounded Confession –
Celestial's eyes caught another rescue team pulling out two bodies—Dr. Anthony and Odinioha. She rushed over.
Odinioha was still alive, despite his injuries.
Celestial leaned in, asking what had happened, and whether he knew who was responsible for all the destruction.
Odinioha looked at her, silent.
After a moment of hesitation, he spoke.
First, he begged Celestial to make sure his daughter was safe. He gave her the location where she could be found.
Then he confessed.
He had helped bring Anthony into the country. He had hidden him.
Anthony had promised to cure the virus affecting his daughter—and for that promise, Odinioha had done everything in his power to keep him safe.
> "But before we knew it," he continued, "they already knew where we were."
Celestial pressed him further.
"Did you see their faces?" she asked.
Odinioha nodded slowly. "Yes. I saw them."
Celestial held her breath. The atmosphere tensed around her.
---
– The Shot –
But then—she felt it.
A bullet.
Moving at an incredible speed.
She instantly turned her head as it zipped past her cheek, aimed straight for Odinioha.
With inhuman reflexes, she reached out and caught it mid-air.
From a distant helicopter, Void was watching through a scope. He smirked.
> "Got you, Mrs. Hero."
The bullet in her hand suddenly sprayed gas.
She inhaled slightly, before her instincts kicked in—but it was too late. The gas was intoxicating, thick, and fast.
Her vision spun. Her body weakened.
She looked up at the helicopter, blurry shapes swirling.
Two more bullets flew out—this time too fast.
They struck Odinioha in the chest.
His body dropped.
Lifeless.
Void, still watching, whispered to himself:
> "No one's ever excited me like you did, Odinioha. But in the end... the outcome is the same."
The helicopter banked and pulled away, vanishing into the clouds.
Celestial's knees buckled. She fell to the ground, her world spinning, as the other heroes ran in to help.
---
– The World Reacts –
All around the world, news of the Lagos incident spread like wildfire.
Nearly a hundred were confirmed dead—including Dr. Anthony, one of the world's most wanted rogue scientists.
Many celebrated Anthony's death, but just as many mourned the innocent lives lost.
Nations across the globe expressed condolences and promised to work with the Hero Association to hunt down whoever was responsible for the attack.
---
– A Hero Awakens –
At the Hero Association medical wing, Mrs. Celestial opened her eyes.
She had been unconscious for twenty hours.
As she stirred, other heroes around her breathed out in relief. They were visibly glad to see she was awake.
Hero Viktor handed her a cup of warm water. Another hero, SEER, leaned in with concern.
> "Celestial... what happened?"
The entire room went quiet.
She began to speak.
She explained everything—every second of what had unfolded on Victoria Island.
Her story painted the full picture.
The attackers had one goal: Dr. Anthony.
But to reach that goal, they launched a chaotic, calculated assault that led to the deaths of nearly a hundred—civilians, heroes, soldiers alike.
When she was done speaking, a long silence followed.
Frustrated murmurs filled the room.
They had no leads. No faces. No names.
Only bodies.
Only destruction.
And a terrifying truth—
whoever those people were... they were beyond what the Hero Association had ever prepared for.
---
End of Lagos Arc