Chapter 308: A Story of Triumph and Sacrifice
"We… We have just received fantastic news. Mega Woman… Mega Woman is…"
The cheers of the people filled the streets, their roars echoing throughout the world, their hope rippling through the skies. Every corner of the planet celebrated as they watched the revival of their savior, Earth"s mightiest defender, through their screens and televisions.
Every media, every news outlet all repeated the same words over and over again-- "Mega Woman has returned."
"We… we have also received separate reports that the aliens are starting to leave with the emergence of Megawoman!"
"This… this is truly– what? She"s going to make a statement?"
And with those words, the people all turned the volume of their screens to the highest level. Megawoman has never once, voluntarily called for something like this. And now, they were actually hearing her address all of them?
This was an event that none of them would miss. Those that were in the shelters, those that were in the hospitals, all gathered their strength to listen in on her words.
"Greetings, people of Earth."
Megawoman"s voice resounded throughout the entire planet, partnered with nothing but silence as the people all watched through their screens. Megawoman… Megawoman truly has returned.
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Some of the members of the Hope Guild were behind her, and also some other heroes that they only vaguely remember the name of. Soon, however, the screen displayed all their names.
Empress.
Butcher.
Tempo.
Hera.
Black Bell.
Hurricane Katrina.
And lastly, Megagirl and Monarch… tagged as Megawoman"s children.
This was a revelation that none of them ever expected or antic.i.p.ated, but still… their eyes were still glued to Megawoman and what she was about to say next. However, the next words that came out of Megawoman"s mouth quickly caused everyone to gasp.
"...This will be the last time for a very long time that I will be addressing all of you," Megawoman breathed out as she stared at the only camera that was allowed to film this momentous event,
"Thank you… for letting me stay on your planet for this long. But due to the events that have occurred, with what the government has done to me. I am afraid I have overstayed my welcome."
"..." The people, even though they weren"t in front of Megawoman, could only hold their breaths so as to not disturb or interrupt her.
"I will be leaving this planet soon."
And with those words… the world became filled with a gasp– a singular gasp by everyone all at the same time.
"But fear not, you have always been surrounded by people even more competent than I am," a small smile then appeared on Megawoman"s face as she gestured towards Silvie and the others,
"I will leave you with the people that defeated Darkday."
"!!!"
"Yes, you heard that right. With my emergence, also came Darkday," Megawoman let out a small sigh as she shook her head,
"This time, our fight was taken to s.p.a.ce. With Darkday ultimately being defeated by the children you see behind me."
"..." With Megawoman gesturing to them, Silvie and the other members of the Baby Crew all turned their heads down, almost refusing to face the camera.
"There"s also another one of them who is currently recuperating right now," Megawoman nodded as she once again faced the camera, "Nuclear B– The Nuclear Seraph. The one to ultimately strike the last blow and kill Darkday once and for all."
Gary seemed to want to say something as he opened his mouth but just decided to keep his silence as he looked to the side once again.
"That is right, people of Earth…
…Darkday is no more."
Megawoman then closed her eyes as she looked towards the sky, "And I hope that you do not create another one…
…That"s all I wanted to say, Empress will tell you what else you need to know."
And with those words, Megawoman flew away; bringing along with him Monarch, followed by the rest of the members of the Baby Crew as Empress stepped forward.
"In hope, there is sacrifice."-- were Empress"s first words as she stood in front,
"...A lot of us, and a lot of you have died in these past few days. Protecting your loved ones, protecting strangers. Today, I can proudly say that we will move on, all of us… as heroes. But in hope, there is sacrifice…
…One of our own, Whiteking, also sacrificed his life to defeat Darkday."
The news of Megawoman"s return, her departure… and now the death of the most inspirational superhero on the planet?
The people no longer knew whether to be happy or sad. The only thing they could really do was listen as Empress continued her story…
…A story of triumph and sacrifice.
It went on for almost an entire hour; detailed. But never once did the people not listen. They listened on until Empress"s last sigh as they all left one by one.
And then, once again, silence. Silence as the world tried to accept all the things they have heard. But they will recover. That was, perhaps, the only thing they could do to repay all those who have sacrificed their lives for those who remained.
They will recover.
***
"Hannah… we"ll be waiting for you outside when you"re ready."
"Y… yeah, bruh. M… Megawoman even chose a bada.s.s name for you."
"I… think we should let the sister rest."
"I"ll… I"ll make us some coffee."
The members of the Baby Crew were now inside the Ross" residence, in front of Hannah"s room. They waited there for an entire hour, but all they could hear was Hannah"s somewhat heavy breaths.
Silvie, Katrina, and Bella all headed down; as for Gary, he entered Riley"s room.
"So… this is his room?"
"Yes."
And Megawoman was there, standing right in the middle of the room; in her hand, was Riley"s phone that contained all of her… unflattering photos.
"It"s… crazy, huh, Megawoman?" Gary then let out a small chuckle as he sat on Riley"s bed, "Who knew… who knew he was so close. I… honestly don"t even know what to feel right now."
"Don"t call me Megawoman."
"...Mom."
"Good," Megawoman scoffed, "Do… you want a hug from your mom?"
"..." Gary looked at Megawoman for a few seconds, before letting out a long, deep sigh… and shaking his head,
"Nah… I"m good. I don"t want to miss it so much after you"re gone. It"s too late for… the mother-and-son act anyway," Gary then said as he started to step out of the room,
"So… what happens now? Bernard"s locked up, Darkday"s prisoners are missing, Tomoe"s missing, and Hannah refuses to leave her f.u.c.king room. Everything is just…
…so f.u.c.ked."
"You…" Megawoman also let out a sigh of her own as she glanced at her son, "...You just stick with each other."
"...Will we ever see each other again, mom?"
"You… will live a very long life," Megawoman nodded, "We will, I promise it."
"That"s good," Gary smiled, "The next time you visit, I also promise not to let you work anymore so you could actually spend some time as a mother, you kinda failed at that."
"...I know."
"Well… goodbye–"
And before Gary could finish his words, he felt the warmth of her mother"s embrace.
"Be… good to your friends, my son," Megawoman whispered.
"..." Gary rested his head on her mother"s arms, before nodding his head and walking away… waving his hand as he did so, "See…
…see you again soon, mom."
***
"Is this all of them?"
"...One is missing."
"Who?"
"...Ms. Friday, she was taken by sir Diley a few days ago."
Somewhere in the Antarctic, more than a hundred people were lined up– all wearing thick fur jackets as they walked in a line. And in front of them, was Warden, watching each of them carefully with his eyes wide open.
"Some of them tried to escape when… the Boss" clones suddenly disappeared," he muttered as he turned his head towards the… dark silhouette behind him,
"But a majority of them stopped those who escaped, saying that it was a plan by the boss and they were putting everyone in danger for trying to escape."
"Can you isolate those who tried to escape?" The dark silhouette whispered.
"It… might take some time since we need to find a place to settle the guests," Warden slightly raised his voice as he couldn"t hear much as the wind started becoming violent, "But… I think I memorize who they are."
"That"s not a problem."
The silhouette then stepped forward, and as soon as it did so, the colossal glacier they were standing on began to tremble– and almost instantly, with just a snap… a palace of ice emerged from behind where the guests were standing.
"Do your job, Warden."
"Y… at… at once…" Warden was about to walk away, but turned his head towards the silhouette before he could even take a single step, "What… do we call you?"
"To…" The silhouette then raised the helmet that was resting on its hand, before carefully wearing it,
"No. You can address me…
…as Nightqueen."
And with those words, Tomoe Reynolds leaned back; a throne, instantly emerging from behind her as she sat down.
***
"He… I really can"t feel him anymore."
"W… what? But… how… how is that possible?"
"I… I don"t know, but the others… the others are also gone. I can"t… I can"t connect to them anymore."
In an abandoned building somewhere in the world, hiding in the shadows, were two people. One of them, covered from head to toe with a cloak– but even then, his slightest movements…
…revealed his pale white skin and hair.
"Could… could the Boss really have died? But then why…
…why am I still here?"