A Systematic Tale: The Hero 35 (Patreon)

Chapter 35:

– Silas –

My black boots clanked down the blood-slick hallways of the Rig, each step echoing off the metal walls. The smell of iron and death was thick in the air, and my jaw clenched hard under my cowl. 

Rage burned hot in my chest. 

All this death, all this carnage, because these villain gangs had the balls to break the Endbringer truce while I’d been in Australia saving an entire fucking country. These pricks were down here murdering good PRT men and women just doing their jobs.

The hum of bioelectric signatures pulled at my senses. Two of them. Strong, close, and moving toward me. My new ability from the System made the sensation sharper, more alive in my head, and it was practically buzzing with anticipation.

I followed it, rounding a corner, and came face to face with Kaiser and his sister, Iron Rain.

We all froze for a split second. Kaiser looked just like I remembered from the dossiers. Iron Rain stood beside him in her dark armor, posture rigid, helmet off so I could see the fury twisting her face.

She stepped forward first, her voice dripping with venom. “You.” Her glare could have cut steel. “You fucking outed me!”

I didn’t flinch. “Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn’t have been fucking my friend’s dad while doing sneaky Nazi shit.” My tone was cold, flat. I wanted her to know I meant every word.

Her eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening like she was about to lunge at me. I could almost hear her teeth grinding.

Kaiser finally broke the tense little staring match, his voice as cold and smug as the steel he played with. “Well, sister, do you want to gut him for outing you?”

Iron Rain’s lips twisted into a smile that made my stomach turn—not out of fear, but because it was the kind of bloody excitement you usually only see on serial killer documentaries. “Oh, absolutely,” she purred, eyes flashing like she was already picturing me in pieces.

Kaiser just waved a hand lazily, like I was some minor speed bump in his day. “Fine. But make it quick. I’ve got a date with that black Ward bitch—Shadow Stalker. She’s the one who popped Krieg’s skull, and I want the pleasure of paying her back for it.”

I couldn’t help it—one eyebrow shot up. “Huh. Good for Sophia,” I muttered, the corner of my mouth twitching.

Iron Rain stepped closer, the crunch of her boots on the blood-spattered floor loud in the narrow hall. “Oh, I’m not just going to kill you,” she promised, voice low and dripping with malice. “I’m going to make it so gruesome the whole Bay will remember it as a warning!”

I chuckled, slow and sharp, letting the sound bounce off the walls. “Yeah… see, the problem with that little plan? Neither you nor your brother are exactly up to speed on current events, are you?” I asked them. 

Both Kaiser and Iron Rain just stared at me blankly, like I’d suddenly started speaking fucking Martian. Not a flicker of curiosity, not even the decency to ask what the hell I meant. That stung a little—half the fun of being right was rubbing their smug Nazi faces in it. Guess I was really starting to lean into this whole superhero gig if I was actually tempted to monologue about it.

I didn’t get the chance. With a sharp, metallic shriek, a whole goddamn arsenal of conjured swords and spears burst into being in front of them, gleaming wickedly under the hallway lights before hurtling toward me like a freight train of cutlery.

I just stood there, smirking under my Nightingale mask, letting them think they had me dead to rights. The points were close enough I could see my own reflection warping in the polished steel—then, every single blade froze in midair, hanging there like I'd just pulled off a Matrix rip off scene.

While it was true that my “To Aru” Electromaster powers gave me some control over metal through magnetism, it wasn’t anything close to real magnetokinesis. 

The Power of freaking Magneto himself!

Yep, that was the reward I got from the system. All metal was my bitch now!

Well, it would be one day soon once I trained it up.

I was still in the very early stages. It would take me a hell of a long time to train my ability up to even a fraction of his insane cosmic level. Still, even when Magneto had just unlocked his powers, he was already a monster, and what I had now was pretty damn awesome!

The air around me hummed faintly with the tension of held power. I could feel the magnetic fields in the space, every blade, every spear, every scrap of sharpened steel buzzing at the edge of my awareness like static against my skin. Kaiser’s arsenal hung there, frozen.

I saw the disbelief in their eyes—they weren’t used to people stopping their bullshit mid-attack.

Kaiser recovered first, his jaw tightening as more blades began to shimmer into existence around him. He was trying to brute-force his way past my control. Iron Rain joined in, summoning jagged chunks of metal shaped into lethal spikes.

I didn’t even let them fully form before locking them in place, seizing every ounce of iron and steel they were trying to throw at me.

The strain built in my temples as I extended my control, not just stopping the new weapons, but manipulating all of them. Slowly, I rotated each blade, each spear, until their deadly points faced back toward their creators. My heartbeat was steady, my breath controlled. I wanted them to see exactly what was about to happen.

Iron Rain’s eyes widened, her bravado faltering. She took a sharp step back, her lips parting. “Oh fuck—” she started, her voice cracking with the first hint of real fear.

Kaiser’s eyes darted between the floating weapons now aimed at them and my face behind the mask. His hand twitched like he wanted to summon more steel, but he knew it wouldn’t help.

I had it all locked down.

I didn’t say a word, just kept my focus on holding the weapons in perfect position. I could feel the subtle resistance from Kaiser’s power, like a tug of war at the edge of my senses, but his control was nothing against the raw, constant pull of electromagnetism under my command.

“Run,” Kaiser barked suddenly, grabbing his sister’s arm.

Iron Rain didn’t argue. She turned with him and they both bolted, boots hammering against the blood-slick floor. I let them go—just for a moment—watching the panic in their movements, the way their earlier arrogance had evaporated.

Then, with a flick of my will, I sent the entire cloud of weapons after them. 

There was wet, ugly squelching as the steel punched through their legs. The sound was followed instantly by twin screams—raw roars of pain that bounced harshly off the walls. Blood sprayed in hot arcs across the floor, splattering my boots and running in thick streams over the ridged metal tiles. 

I didn’t kill them, but both legs on each of them were fucked beyond normal healing. I’d driven the points clean through meat and bone, tearing muscle and shattering kneecaps.

Iron Rain’s hands scrabbled against the slick floor, her eyes wide and teeth bared as she tried to pull herself free from the metal skewering her. The pain was written across her face, deep lines cutting into her features as blood leaked steadily from the wounds. Kaiser’s jaw was locked tight, his pale face shiny with sweat, but I could see the tremor in his hands as the agony sank in.

They wouldn’t be walking again without Panacea or Othala knitting them back together.

After tonight, any sane person in Othala’s shoes would be on the first bus out of the Bay. But I doubted she was sane. And wasn’t she screwing Victor? Maybe she’d stick around just to take a swing at Tylor for killing him. I filed that thought away for later—right now I had two angry Nazis skewered to the floor in front of me.

They started shouting through the pain, voices ragged with fury. “I’ll kill you!” Iron Rain spat, her tone dripping venom. “I’ll kill you, your friends, your family, every single—” Her words broke off into another scream as she jerked against the steel pinning her down.

Kaiser’s voice was lower, but no less filled with hate. “You have no idea what you’ve started,” he growled. “We’ll burn your life to the ground.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before,” I muttered, shaking my head. Villains always thought they could scare you with threats, like I hadn’t already stared down worse.

I stepped closer, boots squelching in their blood. The sharp copper scent filled my nose, thick and metallic. I lifted my left hand slowly, letting the charge build until my palm tingled and sparks danced over my fingers. My skin prickled with the surge of power, the bioelectric field inside me flaring in readiness.

“Here’s the thing,” I said flatly, looking between them. “You’re not in a position to make threats anymore.”

Lightning burst from my hand in a crackling arc, leaping to Kaiser first. His body jerked violently, muscles seizing under the current. The smell of scorched cloth and singed hair hit my nose instantly. I shifted my aim and sent the next bolt into Iron Rain, her scream cutting off in a strangled gasp as the electricity wracked her body.

I kept the current flowing until both of them were twitching uncontrollably, their heads rolling limply to the side as consciousness slipped away. The room was filled with the fading crackle of electricity and the sound of their ragged, shallow breathing.

A slow grin tugged at the corner of my mouth under the mask. I’d come a long way in a short time, and this was just the beginning.

I pulled out my phone, still streaked with dried blood, and thumbed open my contacts. Scrolled until I hit “Bug Girl.” I wanted to make sure she was okay because she hadn’t been at the Rig.

I fired off a quick text:

Me: “...You alive?”

It took her about a minute to respond.

Bug Girl: “I’m fine. Are YOU okay?”

Bug Girl: “Been running across the city for hours. Villains lost their minds, broke the Endbringer treaty. It’s a war zone out here in the city!”

Me: “Good. I’m fine. Got an absolutely insane story for you when we meet up next time.”

Bug Girl: “What happened?”

Me: “You’re not gonna believe half of it… By the way, I took care of your evil stepmom again...”

Bug Girl: “Huh...?”

I was glad Taylor was okay, and knowing she was out there busting her ass to keep the city from completely collapsing in the middle of this chaos gave me a weird mix of relief and pride. 

She could handle herself. 

I took one last glance at Kaiser and Iron Rain, still sprawled on the floor where I’d left them. They were breathing, barely, with blood pooling out around their wrecked legs. They’d live if someone got to them soon, but I wasn’t going to waste another second worrying about whether the PRT decided to patch them up or let them bleed. 

They were beaten, humiliated, and they knew exactly who did it. 

I turned and headed down the corridor. The smell of blood and scorched metal clung to me, following me all the way back to Piggot’s office. By the time I stepped through the doorway, the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately.

Kid Win and Aegis were looking a hell of a lot better thanks to Amy’s work. Both of them still looked worn out, pale and a little shaky, but the gaping wounds were gone and the color was coming back to their faces. I walked over, eyeing their patched-up injuries.

"You two look like shit, but at least you're not dying," I said bluntly.

Kid Win managed a weak grin. "Thanks for the concern, Silas."

Aegis smirked faintly, his voice still hoarse. "You should see the other guys."

I smirked at the two of them and pointed behind me towards the hallway. "Oh, believe me. I did see the other guys..."

Before I could say anything else, space twisted right in front of me, and Vista popped into existence like she’d just stepped out of thin air. 

Did she really just use her powers when she was only 5 feet away?

She launched herself at me, arms wrapping tight around my middle in a full-on glomp! “I sensed that whole fight!” she blurted, grinning up at me. “You were awesome!” Her energy hit me full-force, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Off to the side, Sophia was leaning against the wall with a smirk. “Vista narrated the whole thing for us,” she said. “Way to go, badass.” Then she licked her lips slowly, eyes locking on mine in a way that left zero doubt what she was thinking. 

Yeah, she was definitely giving me the "fuck-me" eyes right there in Piggot’s office.

And it wasn’t just her. 

Vicky’s expression was warmer, but there was the same heat behind it. She stepped closer, looking me over with a pleased grin. “Glad you got revenge for New Wave against Kaiser,” she said, her voice dipping into something darker. “After they tried to kill my aunt years ago.”

'Tried?' I thought, the word catching in my head. 

Fleur was alive?

Eh—now wasn’t the time to dig into it. I shoved the question aside for later and focused on the people in front of me.

I looked back down at Vista, who was still clinging to me. “I’m alright,” I told her with a smile. “And I’m proud of you for being awesome today.” Her cheeks turned pink, and she ducked her head with a shy little grin before I gently pulled her arms off me.

My eyes shifted to Amy. 

Out of everyone in this room, she probably carried the most stress, and it showed in the tension in her shoulders and the way her eyes darted from person to person. I walked over to her without a word and just pulled her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her and holding her tight against my chest. 

She squeaked in surprise, stiffening for a moment like she didn’t know how to handle it. The cute, freckled 18-year-old redhead was blushing hard, and I could practically feel the embarrassment radiating off her, but she didn’t pull away. 

Instead, after a second, she relaxed slightly, her hands pressing lightly against my sides as she let out a quiet breath.

For a few seconds, the noise and chaos in the room faded into the background. I could feel the rapid beat of her heart against me, the heat of her body, the subtle shiver that ran through her when she realized I wasn’t letting go right away.

She might’ve acted like a tsundere most of the time, but right now she just stayed there in my arms, and I could tell she needed it as much as I did.

I couldn’t help myself. My hand slid up to gently tilt Amy’s chin until she was looking right at me. Her dark eyes went wide, her lips parting slightly in surprise. For a moment, neither of us moved, the background noise of the office dulled. Then I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers.

Her mouth was warm and soft against mine, the taste of her faint and sweet. I kept the kiss slow but firm, moving my arms along her back feeling her squirm through her clothes. She made a tiny, muffled sound in her throat—half shock, half something else—and I felt her tense for a heartbeat before melting just enough to kiss me back.

Her tongue met mine in short, needy strokes, and I could feel the way her body shifted against me as my hands traced slow lines up and down her back. She clung to me tighter, her nails digging faintly into my sides, and for a moment it was just the heat, the pressure, and the wet slide of our mouths moving in sync without a single ounce of hesitation.

Behind us, Vicky giggled and cooed happily. Sophia, on the other hand, made a sharp hissing sound.

We stayed like that until the pointed, loud clearing of a throat cut through the air. The sudden interruption snapped me back to reality. Right—this was still Director Piggot’s office. 

Amy pulled back instantly with a startled squeak, her cheeks flushed crimson as she glanced away. I released her slowly, my palms still resting on her back for a second before dropping them to my sides.

To my surprise, though, she moved back to me and latched herself around one of my arms.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Aegis and Kid Win both leaning toward each other, whispering like school kids. “Dude, he’s the man,” Aegis murmured with a grin.

Piggot’s eyes locked on me, her expression stony. “How many girls are you planning on kissing in my office, Dragonborn?” she asked, her tone completely deadpan.

I was about to answer when a calm, authoritative voice beat me to it. “As many as he wants! Today, he’s the goddam hero after all…” she said from the doorway.

All heads turned. Alexandria strode into the room with Armsmaster and Miss Militia close behind her. Their costumes were scuffed but they all seemed fine after putting down Lung outside. I knew they could handle it, after all, Alexandria was able to take him on by herself.

Piggot straightened in her chair as Alexandria walked right up to her desk.

“Is it true then?” Piggot asked, her voice tight but measured. “Did you all win—against an Endbringer…?”

Did she not believe me earlier?

Alexandria’s gaze shifted to me briefly before returning to Piggot. “Yes,” she said simply.

The word hung in the air for a moment before Sophia broke the silence. “Kick ass...”

Piggot turned her attention to Alexandria, her voice low but clipped. “Alright, what’s the plan now?” she asked, clearly trying to keep the urgency in check.

Alexandria didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll contact Director Costa-Brown personally and push for immediate reinforcements. With the Simurgh fight ending in our favor and minimal casualties on our end, I can pull some capes here fast.” Her voice was calm, confident, and it made everyone in the room straighten just a little.

As she spoke, she glanced at me and gave me another of those faint smiles that made an involuntary shiver run down my spine. I couldn’t even see her eyes behind that visor, but somehow I knew the look was meant for me alone.

It was weird how much she seemed to like me, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to complain.

Armsmaster stepped forward next, giving me a short, deliberate nod. “You’ve earned some proper downtime, Dragonborn,” he said proudly. His gaze swept the wrecked office, blood smears and scorched marks everywhere. Along with the passed out fake Coil in the corner. “Although, given the state of the Rig right now, I’d strongly recommend you don’t try to sleep here tonight.”

I smirked at that, about to make a comment, but Vicky jumped in before I could open my mouth. She moved right up against me, slipping her hand around my right arm and holding on like she wasn’t letting go. “He can stay with us tonight,” she said quickly. “Amy and me!” She turned her head and flashed Sophia a slow, deliberate wink.

Sophia’s face twisted instantly, and she crossed her arms tight under her chest, glaring daggers at Vicky. “Of course you’d say that, Barbie,” she muttered. Her tone was laced with irritation, but I caught the way her gaze flicked to my left arm—still hooked securely by Amy.

Amy, for her part, said nothing, just kept her hand latched on my arm with quiet stubbornness, her expression neutral but her grip speaking volumes. The tension between the three of them was thick enough to feel in the air.

“Wow,” I said finally, glancing between them with a crooked grin. “Not even gonna pretend to be subtle, huh?”

Vicky squeezed my arm a little tighter. “Not when it comes to making sure you’re not sleeping alone after saving the whole damn day today! You beat a fucking Endbringer!”

Piggot groaned audibly from behind her desk. “God help me,” she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Is this ridiculous love triangle… or square… going to be a routine thing.”

“Yes!” Vicky giggled.

“No!” Sophia grumbled. Sophia stepped forward quickly, cutting her eyes at Vicky. “He’s coming with me,” she said firmly, her tone low and edged. “I’ve got my own place, a nice apartment with plenty of room for him and me to relax.”

Vicky’s lips curved into a pout that was more calculated than genuine. “Oh please. My place is closer, quieter, and way more comfortable. Amy and I can actually give him a chance to relax instead of listening to you complain about everything. Our home is the perfect spot for a hero to crash after saving the world.” She gave me a sidelong glance.

Sophia’s mouth opened for a sharp retort, but Piggot’s voice cut through the tension like a whip crack. “Hess. Zip it. Now!” Sophia froze mid-breath, the defiance still there but tempered by the steel in Piggot’s tone. The Director leaned forward slightly, her gaze locking on Sophia. “Silas will stay with the Dallons tonight. You will be staying right here at the Rig! …We’re going to have a discussion about your actions today. Running off on your own, abandoning your team to go on a personal Nazi-hunting spree is not acceptable behavior for a Ward!”

Sophia’s bravado faltered, and she let out a quiet, “Uh oh…” under her breath.

Piggot didn’t let up. “You’re lucky you’re still breathing and that your recklessness didn’t get your teammates killed. If it weren’t for the circumstances, we’d be having this talk in a disciplinary hearing...”

To my surprise, Alexandria actually ended up speaking up in Sophia's defense. She claimed extenuating circumstances were required of everyone today, and no heroes or wards would be receiving formal punishments or charges. 

Armsmaster and Miss Militia both agreed as well. I would have spoken up as well, but there seemed to be no need.

Piggot relented, but not completely. "I can still stick her on clean up or console duty." Piggot grumbled.

(The rest of this chapter is R-18)

You can read the next part on the PDF version above this post. Sorry for that, but if I post this lemon scene here the bots will flag it and take it down...