Nighman

Chapter 15

As Cerulean descended back to the base, he could feel the exhaustion settle in, but he also felt a flicker of pride. He had faced down Hellspot, held his ground, and defended the city on his own. His body was bruised, his mind weary, but his resolve had grown stronger. However, the moment he stepped through the doors of the team’s newly established base, his sense of accomplishment was immediately dampened by the stern, unyielding gaze of Black Samson.

Samson stood at the center of the room, his arms crossed, his face a mask of frustration and concern. The air around him was tense, and Cerulean immediately knew he was in for a lecture. The rest of the team, Bulletproof, Monster Girl, and even Eve, trailed in behind him, curious and eager to hear what their veteran leader had to say.

“Cerulean,” Samson began, his tone sharp but measured. “Do you have any idea how reckless that was?”

Cerulean shifted uncomfortably, trying to suppress the slight pang of defensiveness rising within him. “Samson, I—”

“You took on Hellspot,” Samson interrupted, his voice growing louder, “alone. Without calling for backup, without alerting anyone. Do you know how dangerous he is? Hellspot has taken on the Guardians of the Globe and nearly wiped them out. You could have been killed out there, or worse—put the entire city at risk.”

Cerulean swallowed, realizing the gravity of Samson’s words. He knew he had taken a risk, but the adrenaline of the battle had made it easy to overlook just how powerful Hellspot was. In that moment, he’d been so focused on protecting the city that he hadn’t considered what he might’ve been up against.

“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, his voice earnest. “I just thought if I could handle him myself, I could avoid putting anyone else in danger. I didn’t want to risk anyone’s lives if I didn’t have to.”

Samson’s expression softened, but only slightly. “You need to understand something, Cerulean. Being part of this team isn’t just about raw strength. It’s about trust, about working together. You don’t have to carry the weight of every threat alone.”

The other team members exchanged glances, some of them nodding in agreement. Cerulean could see their silent support, their willingness to stand beside him. He felt a surge of guilt, realizing that by not calling them, he had, in a way, undermined their commitment to him and the team.

Before he could respond, though, the entire room was suddenly illuminated by a sinister, orange glow. A deep, mocking laughter echoed through the base, sending chills down Cerulean’s spine.

He turned sharply, just in time to see Hellspot stepping through a swirling portal of flames. The villain’s eyes gleamed with malicious intent, his smirk wide and menacing. Without warning, Hellspot extended his hand, releasing a searing burst of fire directly at Cerulean, hitting him square in the back.

Cerulean grunted in pain as he was thrown forward, stumbling to regain his balance. The heat of the flames singed through his suit, and he could feel the raw, blistering pain on his skin. His heart raced as he fought to stay focused, ignoring the stinging sensation that threatened to consume him.

The team sprang into action immediately. Bulletproof charged forward, his fists clenched, aiming to land a punch on Hellspot. But Hellspot sidestepped effortlessly, deflecting Bulletproof with a backhand swipe that sent him crashing into the wall.

Monster Girl transformed instantly, her small frame shifting and growing into the hulking form of her monstrous alter ego. With a roar, she lunged at Hellspot, swiping with her massive claws, but he dodged each blow with frightening agility, his flames intensifying with each passing second.

“Is this all your team’s got?” Hellspot sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’ve taken down the Guardians. You think I’m worried about a handful of rookies?”

Eve moved to the side, her hands glowing as she prepared to manipulate the molecular structure of the air around Hellspot, hoping to trap him in a containment field. But as she focused, Hellspot shot another burst of flames at her, forcing her to jump back to avoid getting burned.

Cerulean forced himself to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he steadied himself, the pain from the initial hit still fresh. He could feel his anger building, his determination hardening. This was his fight—he had brought this threat to their doorstep, and he wasn’t about to let Hellspot harm his team.

Ignoring the searing pain, he summoned his telekinetic energy, feeling the familiar blue aura wrap around his body. With a fierce cry, he launched himself at Hellspot, tackling him to the ground and driving his fists into the villain’s face. Each punch landed with a resounding force, and for a brief moment, Hellspot looked genuinely surprised.

“You wanted a fight?” Cerulean growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You got one.”

Hellspot snarled, his hands igniting with flames as he struggled to push Cerulean off. But Cerulean held firm, using his telekinesis to press Hellspot down, determined not to let him gain the upper hand.

Black Samson and the rest of the team moved quickly, regrouping as they prepared to join the fight. Monster Girl took advantage of Cerulean’s hold on Hellspot, delivering a powerful punch to the villain’s torso that made him roar in pain. Bulletproof followed up with a swift kick, and Eve began manipulating the nearby metal fixtures, twisting them into restraints to bind Hellspot’s arms and legs.

Hellspot writhed beneath them, his eyes blazing with fury. “You think you can contain me? I’ll burn every last one of you to ashes!” He struggled against the restraints, flames erupting from his body in violent bursts, but the combined strength of the team held him down.

“Keep him restrained!” Samson commanded, his voice calm but firm. “Eve, reinforce those bindings. We can’t afford for him to break loose.”

Eve nodded, her concentration unwavering as she continued to strengthen the restraints, layering them with reinforced metals to ensure Hellspot’s flames couldn’t melt through. Cerulean kept his focus, using his telekinesis to suppress Hellspot’s movements, pushing his powers to their limits to prevent any sudden outbursts.

Hellspot’s defiance faded as he realized he was outmatched, his breathing heavy, his once-mocking expression replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. He thrashed one last time, but his strength was waning, and the team’s collective efforts had worn him down.

Finally, with a defeated growl, Hellspot ceased his struggling, his flames dimming. The team stayed on guard, but it was clear they had subdued him, their combined strength proving more than a match for the notorious villain.

Cerulean released a shaky breath, the adrenaline starting to wear off as the exhaustion from the battle settled in. He looked around at his team, each of them catching their breath, the weight of what they had accomplished settling over them.

Black Samson stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Cerulean’s shoulder. “You did good, kid. But remember—you don’t have to do this alone. We’re a team. We face these challenges together.”

Cerulean nodded, a newfound respect for Samson and his team filling him. He understood now—this wasn’t just his fight. It was theirs, all of them, bound together by a shared purpose and the trust they’d placed in each other.

As they secured Hellspot, Cerulean felt a sense of relief wash over him. The road ahead would be long, filled with battles and challenges yet to come, but he knew he wouldn’t be facing them alone.