A frigid chill sunk into Shuzo's core as his boots hit the ground. Upon a successful air drop into Siberia, the Paragon now stood in the midst of a supernaturally harsh blizzard, freezing tempests registering on unprecedented levels.
What seemed like a meteorological phenomenon had razed down buildings, encased everything in its wake in ice, including humans and all other life. Yet one peering glance through the fog that swirled around him revealed to Shuzo its source, laughing with bloodthirsty delight as a silhouette taking form of a woman stood a distance away. He unsheathed his swords, the ring of metal being drawn piercing through the howling winds and gaining the woman's attention.
"Skade, Herald of Whitefrost" (or so the televised new footage had shown her proclaiming herself as when apocalypse struck) turned around to face the Paragon, and her piercing blue eyes shone with malicious excitement. Shuzo narrowed his eyes as he pulled his hood over his head, pressed his mask to his face, and lowered into a battle-ready stance.
As the woman immediately lunged toward him, the blizzard seemed to only rage more intensely, and Shuzo gritted his teeth through the biting winds as crimson lightning began to crackle around him. Small bolts at first, fizzing out as soon as they were conjured. Then larger. Brighter. The lightning began dancing wildly around Shuzo, coursing through his swords, shrouding his body in electricity as Skade approached.
Fierce exchanges resounded through the wild storm, steel clashing with ice, flurries of sparks dancing throughout every corner of the battlefield. Though Shuzo had proven himself capable of holding his own, the Herald from another realm was slowly gaining the upper hand, her bloodlust only increasing as the battle raged on. Following one particular exchange, the two found themselves at a standoff, with Skade seeming to take little damage, and Shuzo now decently exhausted. They had locked eyes, and to the Paragon's confusion, the Herald's eyes flashed with a glint of familiarity, as if she had recognized him, and with a smirk lacing her lips, she opened her mouth to speak.
"So.... it's you, huh?"
Shuzo jerked awake with a gasp, sitting up in his bed in a cold sweat. Skade's last words echoed in his head as he continued to pant for air, and as he slowly regained his composure, he pinched the bridge of his nose and cursed under his breath. Taking a few more minutes to breathe, Shuzo leaned against the wall and stared at the ceiling before finally getting out of bed.
November 17, 2043 ~ New York City, 2:41 A.M.
Shuzo trudged along the sidewalks of New York City, wiping beads of sweat from his brow as the heat of summer persisted even in the middle of the night. He had thrown on a plain white tee, paired with black joggers, white sneakers, and a black cloth mask that covered his nose and mouth. Hands shoved in his pockets, Shuzo stared ahead of him with dull eyes as he walked, hoping to clear his mind with a brisk walk--well, as brisk as a walk in the middle of a hot night after a nightmare could get. However, with the occurrence of the same memory he'd been recalling rather frequently since 2033, he couldn't help but dwell on the past.
In the aftermath of the events of ten years ago, Shuzo--or, more importantly, newly inducted Paragon "Sparkblade"--had disappeared from the public eye following the Paragons' historic attack on Warren Industries and the attempt on Charles Warren's life. His alias, which once carried an air of mystery and intimidated any villain or criminal that knew it, was now defamed, the hero promptly deemed a fugitive after his direct involvement with the event. However, eyewitnesses reported that they had seen Sparkblade's recognizable red lightning crackle through the air several times during the cataclysmic Herald attack, an apocalyptic event that soon followed the battle at Warren Industries.
Much to Shuzo's dismay, Warren was revealed to have survived the events of 2033, and with his institution as the World Leader and the superhuman registration act swiftly put into place shortly after, Sparkblade had found more of a reason to disappear than ever. Hanging up the cowl and thinking it best to reduce contact with his old allies. Shuzo now lived a quiet life, staying under the radar as often as he could and making as little noise as possible.
....Wouldn't be long before something went ahead and screwed all that up.
The thought of his old allies turned his attention to those he had sided with in the multiple conflicts and battles of that year; Crosshair had remained faithful to his occupation, busting deals and putting criminals away, and Deluge had embarked on a trip up north to Niagara Falls--no doubt he'd be in his element there.
And her.
Former Chief of Police. The bane of any bold vigilantes who thought themselves above the law and the thorn in his side for years. Not long after Shuzo himself had left the grid, Yin Li disappeared as well, her name being dragged through the dirt as she was accused of joining the Paragons against Charles Warren. Though he could most clearly recall the irritation she had caused him and the occasional gratitude he had begrudgingly given her whenever she'd come to his aid, Shuzo continued to walk silently, a thought he'd never let slip audibly stirring in the back of his mind.
Hope she's still alive.
What seemed like a meteorological phenomenon had razed down buildings, encased everything in its wake in ice, including humans and all other life. Yet one peering glance through the fog that swirled around him revealed to Shuzo its source, laughing with bloodthirsty delight as a silhouette taking form of a woman stood a distance away. He unsheathed his swords, the ring of metal being drawn piercing through the howling winds and gaining the woman's attention.
"Skade, Herald of Whitefrost" (or so the televised new footage had shown her proclaiming herself as when apocalypse struck) turned around to face the Paragon, and her piercing blue eyes shone with malicious excitement. Shuzo narrowed his eyes as he pulled his hood over his head, pressed his mask to his face, and lowered into a battle-ready stance.
As the woman immediately lunged toward him, the blizzard seemed to only rage more intensely, and Shuzo gritted his teeth through the biting winds as crimson lightning began to crackle around him. Small bolts at first, fizzing out as soon as they were conjured. Then larger. Brighter. The lightning began dancing wildly around Shuzo, coursing through his swords, shrouding his body in electricity as Skade approached.
Fierce exchanges resounded through the wild storm, steel clashing with ice, flurries of sparks dancing throughout every corner of the battlefield. Though Shuzo had proven himself capable of holding his own, the Herald from another realm was slowly gaining the upper hand, her bloodlust only increasing as the battle raged on. Following one particular exchange, the two found themselves at a standoff, with Skade seeming to take little damage, and Shuzo now decently exhausted. They had locked eyes, and to the Paragon's confusion, the Herald's eyes flashed with a glint of familiarity, as if she had recognized him, and with a smirk lacing her lips, she opened her mouth to speak.
"So.... it's you, huh?"
Shuzo jerked awake with a gasp, sitting up in his bed in a cold sweat. Skade's last words echoed in his head as he continued to pant for air, and as he slowly regained his composure, he pinched the bridge of his nose and cursed under his breath. Taking a few more minutes to breathe, Shuzo leaned against the wall and stared at the ceiling before finally getting out of bed.
November 17, 2043 ~ New York City, 2:41 A.M.
Shuzo trudged along the sidewalks of New York City, wiping beads of sweat from his brow as the heat of summer persisted even in the middle of the night. He had thrown on a plain white tee, paired with black joggers, white sneakers, and a black cloth mask that covered his nose and mouth. Hands shoved in his pockets, Shuzo stared ahead of him with dull eyes as he walked, hoping to clear his mind with a brisk walk--well, as brisk as a walk in the middle of a hot night after a nightmare could get. However, with the occurrence of the same memory he'd been recalling rather frequently since 2033, he couldn't help but dwell on the past.
In the aftermath of the events of ten years ago, Shuzo--or, more importantly, newly inducted Paragon "Sparkblade"--had disappeared from the public eye following the Paragons' historic attack on Warren Industries and the attempt on Charles Warren's life. His alias, which once carried an air of mystery and intimidated any villain or criminal that knew it, was now defamed, the hero promptly deemed a fugitive after his direct involvement with the event. However, eyewitnesses reported that they had seen Sparkblade's recognizable red lightning crackle through the air several times during the cataclysmic Herald attack, an apocalyptic event that soon followed the battle at Warren Industries.
Much to Shuzo's dismay, Warren was revealed to have survived the events of 2033, and with his institution as the World Leader and the superhuman registration act swiftly put into place shortly after, Sparkblade had found more of a reason to disappear than ever. Hanging up the cowl and thinking it best to reduce contact with his old allies. Shuzo now lived a quiet life, staying under the radar as often as he could and making as little noise as possible.
....Wouldn't be long before something went ahead and screwed all that up.
The thought of his old allies turned his attention to those he had sided with in the multiple conflicts and battles of that year; Crosshair had remained faithful to his occupation, busting deals and putting criminals away, and Deluge had embarked on a trip up north to Niagara Falls--no doubt he'd be in his element there.
And her.
Former Chief of Police. The bane of any bold vigilantes who thought themselves above the law and the thorn in his side for years. Not long after Shuzo himself had left the grid, Yin Li disappeared as well, her name being dragged through the dirt as she was accused of joining the Paragons against Charles Warren. Though he could most clearly recall the irritation she had caused him and the occasional gratitude he had begrudgingly given her whenever she'd come to his aid, Shuzo continued to walk silently, a thought he'd never let slip audibly stirring in the back of his mind.
Hope she's still alive.
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