Mod Superhero

Chapter 7.44 - Curtain Call / Paragon

Mod had missed Golden Boy's approach.

By the time he said something, Golden Boy had crashed into Paragon at Mach 2. The impact sent a shockwave across the mountainside that tore limbs off of trees and knocked down escapees. Mod's duplicate stabilized itself without losing altitude. On the mountainside below, the rest of Mod's team took cover.

Golden Boy and Paragon tumbled through the air.

Golden Boy recovered first. He pivoted in midair and drove another punch straight into Paragon's chest. Impact thundered again. Paragon shot backward, cutting a wake through the clouds before righting himself.

Another punch sent Paragon careening through the air.

Mod watched the exchange carefully. On the mountainside, Arsenal, Athena, and Lock let out a mixture of gasps and cheers.

Lock's words were barely audible between the shockwaves. "He might have a chance."

But Mod saw clearly what was happening. He caught the flashes of emotion on both of their faces, even as the two supers tumbled through the air. Paragon wasn't putting up a fight. Paragon was letting Golden Boy's punches knock him through the air.

Golden Boy swung again, landing an uppercut that knocked Paragon higher into the air. As he chased his quarry, Golden Boy shouted to the ground below.

Golden Boy shouts, "Run! Everyone get out of here!"

Most of the escaped prisoners from the Vault had already started running, but now all the workers and mages did too. Even with Mod's nanite dampeners suppressing their spells and powers, primal fear overrode everything else. No one wanted to be near ground zero of a fight like this.

Mod's duplicate hung motionless in the air, his sensors sweeping the chaos above and below. He consolidated the last of his resources—the remnants of his nanite web and his last fusion canisters. More simulations ran through his mind.

None of it mattered.

Mod had a plan. He should've been able to get everyone out. But now Golden Boy had thrown himself into the fray. Mod's frustration spilled over, and his duplicate's fists clenched. Golden Boy didn't need to do this. Mod didn't want anyone trading their lives for the cause.

Now he didn't know how to get Golden Boy out.

Golden Boy streaked through the clouds like a living missile, glowing yellow-hot from air resistance. His fist connected with Paragon's chest—the air detonated.

Paragon didn't move.

The blast dissipated around him like waves breaking against a cliff. He hung there, perfectly still, haloed by the fading shockwave.

Golden Boy hit him again, then again—each strike coming faster, until the air itself screamed. The sonic booms came in quick succession, rolling down the mountainside like artillery fire.

Paragon didn't even raise a hand.

"You were supposed to be the best of us!" Golden Boy roared. "You're falling for the same bullshit! Just like the Summit—just like the Brotherhood!"

Paragon's reply boomed, each word cutting through the roar of the wind. "What would you have me do? Stand against the Allied States? Against the world?"

Golden Boy's next punch faltered slightly. His movements slowed, shoulders trembling with the effort. Each blow landed like a hammer against a world that refused to break.

Paragon didn't react. Didn't blink. He hung there—anchored to the sky, like a nail driven into reality.

Mod's duplicate rocketed into the fray. He poured all the energy he could into forward thrust and tackled Paragon. Even without his full power, he impacted with the force of an artillery strike. Sensors lit up with alarm, but for a fraction of a second, he knocked Paragon off-balance and backward through the air.