Villain Retirement

Chapter 86: The Hope Guild (2)

"Your target is only 42 people, Hera."

"And only 42 people are dead."

Hera crossed her arms as she nodded to herself in satisfaction. Tempo, on the other hand, could not help but once again look at the ruin she made. Although it's true that he was not seeing any other bodies besides the one sprawled on the floor near them, it feels like there were bound to be more dead people.

"...I think you did more than--"

"Are you doubting my words, peasant?" Hera did not let Tempo finish his words as she took a step towards him, "I made sure to ask Whiteking to have the others evacuated in a very sneaky manner before I let loose here!"

"P… please calm down. T… the sun's gett--"

"I am calm!"

"H… hey… your fists! Your fists!" Tempo's body started blurring as he took a few steps back, his fingers pointing towards Hera's fists, which were now trembling; the red veins crawling on them letting out a pulsing glow.

And as soon as Hera realized her fists were trembling on their own, she quickly took in a long and very deep breath. And soon, her grey skin started to turn into its natural color-- a light brown. Her muscles also started to calm down-- maybe too much as they completely almost disappeared, leaving only a slender and tall woman in its wake.

"See?" Hera then let out a small scoff, "I know how to control my abilities."

"R… right," Tempo breathed out as he slightly took another step back.

[Tempo, the others need you in Singapore.]

"That's my cue to leave!"

"W… wait!"

"Stay chill, Hera!"

And as soon as Tempo's words reached Hera's ears, it was followed by the sound akin to that of skipping stones over a winter lake; echoing with some sort of ripple as Tempo's body could be seen flickering over the distance-- almost like rhythmic drum… a tempo.

"Tch," Hera then clicked her tongue as she watched Tempo disappear, "What are you talking about, I'm always chill."

[Hera, the collateral damage you've inflicted is estimated to be $724,000,000…

...would you be paying that in check or installments?]

"Fuck you, Whiteking!"

Hera's skin instantly turned grey as she violently stomped her foot to the ground; causing a small earthquake and obliterating whatever building still stood within the vicinity as the honeycomb-like craters began to merge into one huge crater.

[...]

"..."

[$1,200,420,444 now.]

"..."

[...]

"...Bulwark will pay for it."

***

"And so, what do you guys need me for?"

An echoing drum once again thundered in the air as Tempo appeared in a blur, his eyes immediately surveying the surrounding area, and as soon as he saw a bald man, his body once again blurred before appearing next to the bald man.

Unlike where Hera was, the area he was now in did not have that many houses or buildings; with only a single tall tower from afar being the only noticeable landmark. But instead, there were tents scattered everywhere.

"10 minutes and 24 seconds," the bald man then quickly said as he looked at his watch, which was almost indiscernible with all the blood covering it, "You are getting slow, Mr. Tempo."

The bald man then turned his red eyes towards Tempo, before wiping the knife in his hands on his white uniform… which was similar to that of a chef's.

"...I have been running the whole day. I came all from Russia and this is how you treat m-- Oh shit," Tempo could not help but let out a small gasp as he looked at the scenery behind the bald man; it was filled with corpses, their heads all separated from their bodies,

"...Wait 'til the media sees this," Tempo sighed.

"Whiteking will--"

"This is why I suggested for Butcher to stay home… or even better, kick him out of the team!"

And before the bald man could finish his words, a hissing sound whispered in the air as some sort of pearl-colored humanoid robot landed in the ground; its surface almost like scales that were rattling with every minute movement. Its figure, almost towering Tempo and the bald man by a full meter.

"I am here because I am 32% more efficient than any of you when it comes to lethal missions and assassinations," the bald man, Butcher, turned his red but almost dead-like eyes towards the robot, "Unlike you, Whiteking lite."

"W… Whiteking lite!?" The scales of the humanoid robot rattled erratically before its torso split wide open, revealing a slightly petite woman wearing some sort of goggles. But even with the goggles covering her eyes, the green streaks of lightning that were emerging from her almond-shaped eyes were clear to see. Her feet, also letting out green sparks with every step she took towards Butcher.

"My name is V and you should tremble from my name!" The petite woman roared, "And I eliminated more targets than you by… like a lot, go calculate that you emotionless bastard!"

"You eliminated more targets, correct. But in the process, you also destroyed a lot," Butcher then pointed his knife towards an area on the horizon, which was similar to the damage that Hera made back in Russia.

"Does that even--"

"Alright, alright!" Tempo then suddenly appeared between the two, both his hands raised in defeat, "Before the two of you start pulling each others' hair--"

"I don't have hair."

"...Before you guys start fighting, please tell me what you need me here for."

"Oh, that," Butcher then pointed his knife towards the tall tower that Tempo passed by earlier, "Please evacuate all the citizens within the impact zone."

"...God damn you guys," Tempo looked towards the tall tower, only to see it slowly crumbling and tilting to the side. Tempo's feet were about to move, but before he could take even a single step--

[I have this one, please rest.]

A golden glow appeared beside the tower, and if one were to look and squint their eyes, one could see a human within the bright golden luminescence. The individual's hair was gold, freely flowing in the air as he floated; the individual's tight-skin suit was also completely golden.

"Bulwark… You were here as well?"

[Of course.]

Bulwark's voice reverberated through Tempo's earbuds as he saw him placing his hand on the tilting tower, and as soon as he did so, a sort of golden force field quickly swallowed the tower, before Bulwark began to carefully lift it above him.

And although Bulwark's voice clearly indicated that he was male, his face seemed more akin to that of a beautiful woman as his golden eyes looked down on Tempo.

"..."

[Since you are not needed there,]

And as Tempo was busy almost being dragged to the other side, Whiteking's voice echoed through his ear, [Go and assist Empress in London. I'll send you the coordinates since she is in the air.]

"Sure--"

[I do not need help, Whiteking.]

And before Tempo could even respond, a sharp and seemingly strict voice pierced his ears.

[That's the last airbase,] Whiteking responded, [It would help you better if Tempo is there.]

[I said I do not--]

"On my way."

And before the female super called Empress could respond, another drumming echo whispered in the air as Tempo disappeared from his spot.

"Hm…" Tempo's eyes almost seemed like they completely turned black as he looked at the coordinates sent to him by Whiteking. There were hundreds of screens projected on the shield of his helmet, helping him process which way to go.

And soon, after a minute, his feet stopped moving.

"Greetings, m'queen. I have arrived just in time for tea-- Oh shit, this is high," Tempo's feet were at the edge of a metallic platform, and beneath him was nothing but a sea of clouds.

"And where art thou, m'queen?" Tempo then mockingly said as he took a few steps back, "Seriously though, where are you?"

Tempo's eyes scanned the roof of the colossal floating ship he was now standing on, only to see no signs of anyone other than him.

"Are you inside the ship?"

[I told you I do not need your help. Blame Whiteking for what's about to happen to you next.]

"What do you--"

And before Tempo could even finish his words, a terrifying howl hummed through the sky like a whale as the colossal ship started to tremble.

"...Shit," and soon… Tempo could see the clouds getting farther and farther away in view.

"...Please don't do what I think you're about to do."

[...Too late.]