Chapter 444: Four

In a much calmer ocean a few minutes ago, the surface fully reflected the moon and stars above almost like a mirror. And even through the darkness that veiled the night, one could see how immaculate the shore was— its beach, white and almost like powder.

And a little more beyond the beach, Tempo was there, seated and relaxing in front of his house and killing any mosquitoes that dared to even fly within his range; his arm, almost like a whip as they let out a loud snap every time they completely obliterated a mosquito.

One would think that one of the most popular superheroes in the world would live in a more extravagant and luxurious house, but no. Tempo's house was completely made of wood, bamboo. If anything, it was more akin to a giant cottage.

He made the house himself, and even the chair he was relaxing on.

The Hope Guild is disbanded. There was no official statement to the public yet, but they were. They have been ever since that fateful day more than 2 years ago now.

It didn't mean Tempo quit being a superhero, of course. He didn't become a hero for fame, after all— he just wanted to help people. But for some reason, no one was doing any crime.

Tempo expected the supervillains to wreak havoc while the entire world was grieving and recovering from the attack of the House of Super, but none of them were doing anything.

Even the talking bear that was his adversary for years now, has not shown himself even once. He asked Empress to investigate this sudden silence from the supervillains, but she just vaguely told him that... Butcher and his team have been handling it.

And since it involved Butcher, 'handling it' is probably code for mass assassination.

Empress actually planned something like that and discussed it with the Hope Guild once, but everyone voted against her. But now that she was basically the leader of the World Government, she could finally bring it to fruition.

Come to think of it, Empress had many ideas that could be seen quite... dark for a superhero. Perhaps being the world's secretary of defense was actually her true calling all this time.

"..." Tempo truly wouldn't want her job. But then again, he was bored out of his wits that he might actually be tempted to join their... dubious operations. Maybe he should apply?

Hera also hasn't been home since she was busy handing out relief to the families that could no longer recover from the tragedy. He wanted to help her, but she refused, saying it was just a promotion for the film she was currently filming...

...about the attack of the House of Super.

"Ha..." Tempo could really only let out another breath of boredom as he raised his hand in the air, "Damn... I'm getting darker from all the sun."

*BE—*

And before the beeping noise that suddenly seeped from inside his house could finish its first ring, Tempo disappeared from his seat, only to appear again within a second already holding a phone in his hand.

"Sup, boss?" A small excitement slowly crawled on Tempo's face as he answered the call.

"Hm. Oh, no. Not at all. Atlanta City? Why?"

"Hm, hm," Tempo nodded several times. And very soon, the smile on his face died down, "...Why would I help the fucker?"

"What? What do you mean 'one of our own'? The dude's a fucking spawn from hell. What? You know, you should retire, no offense."

"...Right."

"...Right," Tempo could really only sigh as Empress's voice became louder and louder. And after a few more seconds, he just nodded his head.

"Fine, fine. Anyone else responding?"

"What? Of course not, I'm... also busy," Tempo said as he looked at the wooden chair he was just previously relaxing on, "I... I just finished a race for charity. Anyway, I'm on the way."

And before Empress could say anything more, he dropped the call. He then once again disappeared from his spot, before reappearing again now wearing a black, almost tactical suit. His helmet which almost took the shape of his head, now also completely tinted in black.

He used to show his dyed green mustache. But alas, he no longer had it since Hera asked him to shave it.

"Ha..." Tempo once again let out a small sigh as he looked at himself, "...It seems I also got a little fat. Ha... fuck it, I'm taking the long way there."

And with those words, Tempo started to run— his feet lifting in the air as a whistling pulse echoed around him. The scenery in front of him, changing by the second. This wasn't a problem for him, however, as Whiteking created a system for him in his helmet that calculated and showed the best path for him to take at any given speed.

And so, he ran— taking his time to reach his destination as he left the breeze of the night and basked in the warm rays of the sun. And soon, he reached the Atlantic Ocean.

"..."

"..."

He then noticed some explosions rippling from afar— and as he decided to check it out, he saw... weird-looking cat person with horns shooting straight from the ocean.

"...Things are getting really weird around here," he could not help but whisper to himself. His eyes then turned to the silhouette in the air that seemed to be the target of the alien, and as soon as he noticed that it was human, Tempo did not think twice as he rushed to save him and take him to shore.

...not realizing it was John.

"...Aren't you one of Riley's friends?"

"What? No," John's eyebrows quickly furrowed as he heard Tempo's words, "I'm his right-hand man, how dare you— Thank you for saving me, Mr. Tempo."

"...Your face."

"Hm? Oh," John quickly touched his cheeks, only to touch inside his mouth as the sides of his mouth were slit open, "It... would seem I got a little excited."

"...Your arm."

"Oh, this?" John raised his arm that now only extended to his elbow, "I'll just ask the Boss to regrow it."

"...Right," Tempo could really only stare at John for a few seconds, before very slowly turning his head back to the horizon as he noticed someone floating just above the water's surface,

"You're one of those races that's full of sprinters, right?" He then breathed out as he stared at the silver-haired man.

"And you're fast, human," Viole then very slowly floated to the beach, "Almost as fast as an evaniel."

"I could go faster if you want," Tempo smirked as Viole's feet started leaving prints on the wet sand, "Both of us will probably die if I do, though."

"Hm," Viole only squinted his eyes,

"Sadly, I don't have time to play with you," he then said as he looked at John, "Elder Zora said that the creature beside you is one of Riley Ross's clones. If so...

...then he needs to be contained."

"A... clone?" Tempo quickly stepped away to look at John, and only then, he finally noticed their subtle similarity— especially with the sides of his mouth slit open,

"...Oh."

"Now that you know, please step aside."

"..." John could really only close his eyes as Viole approached him. It would seem his fate was all but inevitable now.

"Well, I don't think so."

Contrary to John's expectations, Tempo did not leave and even stood closer to him, "I was asked to help one of our own by my boss. So...

...I'm afraid I will have to do that."

"Duty above personal belief." And soon, Elder Zora also arrived as he stood beside Viole,

"I admire it," Elder Zora then said as he licked his paw before wiping his horns.

"I do too," Viole breathed out, before shaking his head and looking at his reflection on Tempo's helmet, "But you're not going to win this. You're both just...

...inferior versions of your betters."

"Maybe. But orders are orders," Tempo shrugged. And soon, the sand beneath his feet started to ripple even as he just stood there.

"I am starting to see now why Boss likes you, Mr. Tempo," the smile that was growing on John's face could really only be described as... visceral due to the blood that extended it, "Well then, now that there's four of us...

...time for Round 2, I suppose."