TITANS 2150 - The New Era (Disney Monster Universe Phase 2)

Chapter 13 - Return of the King

The rain and the wind had redoubled force on the city of San Fransokyo now plunged in the beginning of this new night. But the storm would not be enough to stop the Big Hero 6 in their mission. Flying or leaping from roof to roof, the group of young superheroes moved as fast as possible, all showing in their eyes the same determination to go to the end, even if it meant having to face the entire army of the Apex Corporation. From the streets and sidewalks, and even from the windows of buildings, people watched them, especially the children who were smiling to finally see these heroes they had heard about.

In their line of sight, the Apex Tower, the tallest building in the city, came closer and closer, soaring into the night like a veritable spire of glowing metal and glass. But it didn't matter how big that building was, Hiro thought to himself. If he had to, to save Elsa, he would destroy that tower inch by inch.

_"Look!" Wasabi suddenly indicated, pointing downwards.

The others looked and immediately all had the same reaction of surprise. Several tens of meters below them, in the middle of the street facing the Apex Tower, a solitary form advanced ... which they recognized immediately because of the outfit he was wearing.

_ "Shockwave!" Fred gasped.

Indeed, it was him. The mysterious man who attacked the Apex warehouse. But what was he doing here? With all the things that had happened with Elsa and the arrival of Monarch, the group had almost forgotten this man, who nevertheless represented a serious danger with his high tech weaponry.

Fearing the worst when they saw him advancing towards the Apex Tower, the group of heroes decided to intervene and walked down to the street. Baymax landed smoothly, allowing Hiro, Honey Lemon and Wasabi to set foot on the asphalt, and were soon joined by Go Go and Fred.

Twenty yards from them, but sensing their presence behind him, Shockwave stopped in his lonely wakl, and dripping with rainwater, turned to face them. He allowed himself an unhealthy little laugh.

_ "Oh, but guess who's back ... the famous defenders of justice." he quipped.

With that, he tore off his mask and let it fall at his feet. Once his face was revealed, Hiro and his friends were more than surprised. They recognized Eren Michaels, a prominent botanist they had heard of, famous for creating several varieties of new plants. But there was nothing left of the vigorous young scientist, overflowing with optimism and life as he was known by many. Now his face was that of a man inhabited by hatred and sadness, it could be read on his expression as easily as reading the pages of a book. Of all the group, it was Honey Lemon who was the most shocked, because she greatly admired the work of Eren Michaels and what he had done for the flora of the planet.

_ "P ... Professor Eren Michaels? But ... no ... why did you do that?" Honey Lemon asked, still in shock.

_ "Why? Why? Ah, that's the big question ..." he sighed darkly, as he began to take off his Shockwave gear, until he took off his shirt to completely uncover his upper body. What he then revealed to the heroes was an even greater shock to them. On his chest, Eren Michaels wore the genetically modified rose bush that he had cultivated all these years in the greatest secrecy. The plant, covering most of the man's torso, had clung to him like a sort of parasite, its roots having penetrated his flesh. Faced with this vision worthy of a horror film, Honey Lemon had to cover her mouth not to scream, her eyes wide. The rest of the group behind her were as horrified as she was. Baymax, him, with his scanner, observed the thing attentively.

_ "This plant seems to have completely merged with this man's DNA. They are one and the same." Baymax indicated.

Eren Michaels, his body more and more traversed by the veins of the plant, then turned to the Apex tower and pointed at it with a vengeful finger.