No Gods, No Heroes

Chapter 4 

Nova

Isaac and Kang squared off, the tension so thick that even the slightest movement could tip the balance.

Kang casually lifted a rock the size of a small boulder and hurled it at Isaac. Isaac ducked under it, springing forward with a punch aimed at Kang's gut. Kang caught his fist mid-air, twisting Isaac's arm and flinging him through a nearby wall like a discarded rag.

Isaac shook off the impact, rolling just in time to avoid Kang's boot as it smashed into the ground, fracturing the concrete beneath.

"You holding back pisses me off," Kang said, yanking his leg from the crater he'd left. "Killing you like this won't be any fun. You're Vanguard-class, aren't you? Act like it."

In a blur, Kang lunged. Isaac barely registered the movement before Kang seized him by the head, driving him through two buildings with bone-crushing force.

Dangling limply from Kang's grasp, blood trailing down his face, Isaac managed a faint smirk.

"Pathetic," Kang growled. "I came here for a fight. Is this a joke to you? I'm Kang the Hunter – the greatest Pinnacle-class Physiomorph and bounty hunter this side of the galaxy."

Isaac coughed, wiping blood from his mouth. "You sure…talk a lot."

Kang's eyes narrowed. He swung Isaac into the side of a building. Brick and steel crumbled. Isaac collapsed to his knees, spitting blood into the dust.

"I'll drag that monster out of you, even if I have to beat you half to death."

"...Monster…"

Images flooded Isaac's mind—visions of war, corpses piled beneath his feet, the weight of blood soaking his hands. Soldiers retreating at the mere sight of him.

He groaned, clutching his head.

"You're Hero X," Kang snarled, his voice echoing like thunder. "Sierra's deadliest weapon."

Kang lunged.

Repulsion.

A shockwave exploded from Isaac, hurling Kang backward. The bounty hunter tore through several buildings before finally crashing into the rubble.

Isaac rose slowly, eyes shadowed.

"I've spent too long burying that part of me. Don't make me dig it up again" 

A Few Years Ago

The rain fell hard, drowning out the distant rumble of approaching trucks. Soldiers moved into formation, their rifles aimed at a lone figure illuminated by the blinding glare of a floodlight.

A voice crackled over a radio.

"X, this is the Aurora Kyoto military. You've trespassed. Surrender now, and you will be spared."

Isaac stood still, staring ahead. The rain trickled down his face, but his eyes—cold and hollow—never wavered.

Death Sonata.

The sound of raindrops twisted, distorting into something else entirely. A low hum. Then—

Boom.

Fire erupted, swallowing the arc of soldiers in a sweeping inferno. Flames licked at Isaac's heels as he stepped forward, untouched by the carnage he left behind.

One soldier lay crumpled on the ground, his eyes flickering with the last traces of life.

"You… you're a monster," the man rasped, blood trickling from his mouth. "I curse you."

Isaac didn't look back.

Nova – Main Military Bunker

Isaac sat slouched in a chair, shirtless. Deep scars crisscrossed his torso, silent reminders of battles long past.

Across the room, a woman in a lab coat busied herself with medical tools, her back turned to him.

"How many did you kill today, Isaac?" she asked casually, as if discussing the weather.

Isaac's eyes narrowed. "Why do you care? Just do your job, doctor. And don't call me by my name."

"Oh, terrifying." She glanced over her shoulder, smirking as she held up a syringe. "You know, I might not be a soldier, but I play an important part in this war too, Isaac."

Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping her by the throat.

"I said… don't call me that." His gaze bore into hers, but something shifted when his eyes landed on the name stitched into her coat.

Eunice Cially.

"Eunice," he muttered, loosening his hold.

"Nice… to meet you," she managed, forcing a strained smile.

Isaac let her go, stepping back with a sigh. "Sorry."

Eunice coughed lightly, rubbing her neck. "It's fine. Nearly having my head twisted off is all part of the job, right?" She gave a lopsided grin and jabbed the syringe into his arm.

"I'm not here to make friends." His voice was flat, distant. "They cloud judgment."

Eunice tilted her head. "Then why fight at all?"

"For my country."

She laughed softly.

"What's so funny?"

"Ever feel like having a reason to come back might matter more than just fighting?"

Isaac pulled his shirt back on. "No. I'm one of the strongest. The thought of not returning has never crossed my mind."

He paused by the door. "And if I didn't come back… it'd be better for everyone. No one needs a monster."

Eunice leaned against the counter, watching him. "We all make mistakes, Isaac. That doesn't mean we can't change. There are no monsters… just misunderstood people trying to survive."

He lingered for a moment, her words hanging in the air. Then, without another word, he left.

Present Day

"I'm no longer that monster" 

Kang grinned. "That's the power I've been waiting for."

He lunged at Isaac, his fist cutting through the air. Isaac sidestepped the wide jab effortlessly.

Shatter.

Isaac's palm met Kang's chest. A sickening crack echoed as Kang's ribcage crumpled beneath his touch. Blood sprayed from Kang's mouth as he staggered back, leaping away to put distance between them.

"You're a close-combat fighter," Isaac said, watching Kang clutch his chest. "Your physiomorph mutation lets you alter muscle density and mass – gives you insane strength. But fighting at range… not your strong suit."

Kang wiped the blood trailing from his lips, eyes narrowing. "You underestimate me."

He plunged his hands into the ground, tearing free two massive slabs of rock. With a grunt, Kang hurled them at Isaac, the air whistling as they shot forward.

Repulsion.

A shockwave rippled outward. The rocks shattered mid-air, reduced to dust as the wave passed through them.

Isaac lowered his hand. "Now tell me – who put that bounty on my head?"

Kang smirked, blood dripping down his chin. "Still breathing, aren't I?"

Isaac exhaled slowly. "I didn't want to do this."

The air around Isaac began to hum. Kang's eyes widened as sound twisted and condensed, swirling around Isaac's body like a living aura. The vibrations pulled tighter, spiraling into a small, concentrated orb at Isaac's fingertip.

Sonar Cataclysm.

Isaac flicked his finger.

The ball of energy shot forward, accelerating faster than the eye could track. It brushed against the faintest speck of dust—

Boom.

The resulting explosion tore through the city block. Buildings disintegrated, leaving behind only smoldering ruins.

As the dust began to settle, Isaac stepped forward.

Kang lay in the rubble, surrounded by a pool of his own blood. His right arm and both legs were gone, severed by the blast. He coughed weakly, eyes flickering toward Isaac.

"You… couldn't kill me, could you?" Kang rasped, choking on his own breath.

Isaac knelt beside him. "Tell me who sent you."

Kang's lips curled into a faint, broken smile. "I'll give you a hint… though, really, it's more of an answer. The one who hated how you changed after meeting her."

Isaac's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"Lucien Voss."

Isaac froze. The name struck him like a hammer, and he stumbled back, collapsing onto one knee. "Lucien…? How…?"

Kang's hand trembled as he reached into his pocket, drawing out a small knife.

Isaac's gaze snapped to him. "What are you doing?"

"Don't," Kang said hoarsely, lifting the blade. "I'm as good as dead. Lying here… like this… humiliating for someone like me."

Before Isaac could stop him, Kang drove the knife into his own chest.

His eyes faded as he slumped forward, exhaling one final breath.

Hero Organization

Lucien and Helen stood in the center of a vast office, the room bathed in sterile white light. A long table stretched before them, where seven men—all in their late sixties—watched the pair with cold, scrutinizing eyes.

"Hero Z… Lucien Voss," one of the men began, his tone measured. "I assume the rumors of Isaac Hart's return haven't escaped you?"

Lucien met his gaze without flinching. "Yes. I'm aware Isaac is still alive."

"Doesn't that threaten your entire plan?"

Lucien smirked faintly. "Isaac was always a problem child. A monster trained to kill, serving all of you while you sat behind your billion-dollar security systems. I figured I'd let him enjoy his little resurrection… for a while. I suspect he'll come looking for me soon enough."

A brief silence followed.

"And?"

Lucien's eyes darkened. "It doesn't change anything. For this country—and the world—to know peace, fools with naive ideals can't be allowed to hold power."

"Your methods have brought stability over the years," another man said, his voice wavering slightly. "But… we're concerned."

Lucien's gaze narrowed. "You don't trust me?"

The man hesitated. "We feel your judgment has been clouded by emotion lately. I hear you've been visiting the graves of your fallen squad… including her grave. Eunice."

The room grew tense.

In the blink of an eye, Lucien was behind the man, a blade resting lightly against his throat. The others instinctively backed away, their chairs scraping against the marble floor.

"Wha… what are you doing, Lucien?" the man stammered, beads of sweat trailing down his temple.

Lucien leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper. "Never question my convictions. Comrade or not—anyone who stands in my way will be removed." He pulled the blade back an inch. "Peace and Stability doesn't come from soft words or kind intentions it is built by blood and governed by fear, Isaac's ideals threaten everything I've built. He will be taken down."

Lucien lowered the knife, stepping away. He descended the short staircase leading to the exit.

"You shouldn't get too comfortable in those chairs," Lucien said without turning back. "The power you think you hold is temporary. When the time comes, I will lead Sierra Nova to glory."

"You're treading a dangerous line, Lucien," the man warned, massaging his throat.

Lucien paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder. "Fine by me. Come on, Helen."

Helen offered a slight bow to the council before following Lucien out.