“Reporting live from Fire News Network. The Hero League has implemented their Villain Reform program, and it’s reported that their first subject is the infamous Tyler Blaze. The man responsible for the Sanison Biscuit Factory Fire of '06 that took the lives of six civilians. Amidst the news, a new group known as the AVRA, or the Anti Villain Reform Association, have been protesting this decision on the streets of Sanison City. We’ll now be switching to our correspondent at Ground Zero Penitentiary.”

  Professor Halo switched the TV off and growled under his breath. What were the higher-ups thinking? Tyler was a liability. A massive liability at that.

  “Honey.”

  A sweet voice called out, instantly quelling the loud questions in his head. He looked over from the black screen to the living room door, where a tanned woman dressed in a black suit dress and black heels stood. Her hazel eyes glimmered at the sight of him, a sweet smile playing on her lips. Her chestnut brown hair swayed with every step.

  She dropped herself into the taller male’s lap.

  “Hey sweetheart,” Halo greeted soothingly. “How was the mission?”

  Serena laughed. It sounded velvety, rich, and deep to Halo, often acting as a blanket to the heavenly man.

  “It was a simple mission to the Philippines to help Fin Girl with evacuation and the oncoming tsunami.”

  “I know,” he cooed. “However, how was it?”

  Serena pecked the side of his lips and grinned.

  “Aaamazing! The food was to die for, and the locals were really nice.”

  “Enough about me though. How was your week? I heard about Tyler Blaze, and most of us are pissed,” she said, grimacing as she said Tyler’s name.

  “How can the—” He stopped mid-sentence, furrowing his eyebrows in agony. “How can they choose one of the worst villains to side with us?”

  “I don’t know, Halo. I really don’t,” Serena whispered, nestling her head into her husband’s neck.

  ######

  Hero League Training Hall

  Downtown Sanison

  Glaring eyes stared at Tyler, who grinned at everyone. Several suited heroes stood before him with their arms crossed.

  “Guys. Relax. We’re like coworkers now. No need for hostility,” he said brightly.

  A figure shoved through the crowd and stepped uncomfortably close to the crimson-haired man. It was a tall, lean woman wearing a pastel yellow leather jumpsuit that hugged her figure, paired with shin-length blue boots. Her blonde hair was tied into a ponytail with a pair of goggles sitting on the crown of her head.

  Her blue eyes glared into his, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyebrows furrowed angrily. She placed her index finger on his chest, pressing at the material of his black compression shirt.

  “Wipe that fucking smile off your face, vile scum. We will never be coworkers. Ever. I don’t know what the Hero League is thinking, but you are not welcomed,” she spat.

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  A string of agreements rang through the hall.

  Tyler only grinned wider and moved closer to the blonde woman until they were practically nose to nose.

  “I really don’t care about your welcome,” he whispered viciously. “And I especially don’t care what stupid heroes think about my presence here. The Hero League called on me since they obviously believe you fuckers are incompetent.”

  The woman yelled out in anger and lit her fist up with electricity before punching him.

  Tyler flew back but braced himself, landing on his feet. He rubbed his cheek. He then watched as the girl materialized into lightning and flew toward him, landing another hit on the same cheek. He took hit after hit until the itch started to sting a little.

  He dodged her next punch and landed a spin kick on her shoulder fast enough that she couldn’t turn into lightning. Then he kicked her in the stomach, forcing her down from the air and onto the training mat. A crate was created around her, and she coughed up blood.

  “Electria!” a man called out.

  She tried to get up, but Tyler was too fast. He was already flying down toward her with his fist lit up in flames.

  “If you want to continue having your powers, Tyler Blaze, you’ll stop what you’re doing!” Halo’s voice boomed.

  Tyler groaned and immediately stopped. He didn’t want to wear that uncomfortable collar again.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll stop. Just remember, she started it,” he commented, pointing at the angry woman behind him.

  Halo looked behind him with a raised eyebrow. Electria waved at the suited angel with a tired smile.

  “Doesn’t matter who started it. The deal included you using no excessive force,” Halo reminded him.

  “Hey, I was protecting myself. And I’m pretty sure the ‘no excessive force’ was towards fellow villains and the civilians. Not bitchy heroes,” Tyler rebutted, raising his eyebrows.

  Halo let out a deep sigh and ignored the male. Instead, he focused on the various heroes and began calling out names.

  “Nephele, Dino Man, Electria, and Crow. You four will be overseeing Tyler’s preparations for the citizen’s test. And I don’t want to hear any complaints. For the rest of you heroes, please head back to your posts.”

  Footsteps echoed through the training hall as the heroes whispered among themselves.

  Electria slowly walked toward the three heroes that remained. Tyler gazed at the new individuals.

  A dark-skinned, average-height girl with lilac eyes and pale blue hair styled in two puffs. She wore a white and blue long-sleeved jumpsuit and ballet flats and softly smiled at him.

  Next to her was a large green figure that took the form of an anthropomorphic T-rex. The creature wore nothing but shorts, and all Tyler could think of was the lazy superhero name. Really, Dino Man?

  Next to the creature stood an ominous figure dressed in an all-black hooded cloak. They were tall, that was certain.

  With that, Tyler had pretty much put the names to the faces. However, Halo still introduced them anyway. The angel pointed to the blue-haired girl first.

  “This is Aya Johnson, also known as ‘Nephele.’”

  Aya waved at the crimson-haired male, who awkwardly returned the gesture.

  Halo introduced the next two. Dino Man’s real name was Leonard Van Blair. Crow’s real name was simply Michael with no last name.

  ‘Mysterious weirdo,’ Tyler thought to himself.

  “I heard that, jerk,” the raspy-voiced male said.

  Tyler widened his eyes in surprise.

  “My bad,” he replied insincerely.

  Halo kissed his teeth and pushed the man forward, stopping him in front of Electria, who wore the nastiest look on her face.

  “And you’ve met Electria. Her real name is Joanna Dawson. Try not to get into another altercation,” Halo spoke. He sounded tired. Extremely tired.

  “I’ll try. However, the bitch touches me again, I’m burning both her arms,” Tyler threatened manically.

  Joanne lunged at him but was stopped in her tracks by Nephele, who landed on her outstretched arm in a second. Tyler watched in silent awe.

  “Let’s try and be nice, Jojo. We’re gonna be stuck together for a bit. Let’s not try spending all that time fighting, okay?” the girl spoke, her soft voice instantly reeling in the lightning superhero.

  “As much as I hate to agree with Aya, what she’s saying is correct. We need to get used to his presence whether we like it or not. Now, one of you can show this man to his new apartment.”

  As the group deliberated who would take on the task, Tyler looked at Joanne with a smirk.

  ‘I’m gonna break her first.’