In a dark room, a girl with white hair lay fast asleep, wearing pajamas with a cute rabbit design. Beside her on the bed rested a book with intricate markings and the latest model of an iPhone. She snored peacefully, loud as an elephant, drool trickling down her cheek onto the pillow.
BEEEN BEEEN BEEEN.
The phone buzzed loudly on the bedside table. At first, it didn't disturb her. But as it persisted, her eyebrows twitched in frustration. With a groan, she reached a lazy hand toward the phone, her movements slow and clumsy from being yanked out of a deep sleep.
Still rubbing her eyes, she squinted at the caller ID. It read: Sea Salt—her personal nickname for Cecil.
Her face fell.
He knew not to call her in the middle of the night unless it involved mass extinction-level danger or an apocalyptic paycheck.
She answered with a grumble, voice heavy with sleep."What is it, boss man…"
Cecil's voice came sharp and urgent through the speaker."Come to the location. Now. That's an order."
And then—click. The call ended.
She stared at the phone for a second, sighed, then looked at the ancient book beside her. Huffing, she dragged herself out of bed and shuffled toward the bathroom to freshen up.
Later…
Mari arrived at the location, having flown there in the form of a Great Snipe, one of the fastest long-distance flying birds. As she transformed back into her human form, she looked around and immediately sensed something was wrong.
Cecil was barking orders, his tone tight and sharp, directing personnel with military precision. His expression was grim—more serious than she'd ever seen him.
Mari approached slowly, a puzzled frown on her face."Uhh… so what happened? You look like someone kicked your soul out of your body."
Cecil dismissed the person he'd been speaking with, turning to her. His eyes narrowed, and his voice came low and steady.
"Do you have any spells that can bring someone back to life—even temporarily?"
Mari blinked, then shook her head solemnly."No… If I did, don't you think I would've brought my parents back already?"Her voice was quiet, with an edge of bitterness.
Cecil exhaled, a slow and heavy breath he'd clearly been holding in."Come with me."
She followed him through the ruined facility until they came to a large display screen showing a surveillance feed—what Mari saw made her freeze.
Bodies.
Dead bodies.
The Guardians of the Globe—all of them.
Even though she hadn't known them personally, she'd respected their work. They were heroes—good people. And now they were just… gone.
Mari clapped a hand over her mouth, her red eyes wide."What the fuck…?" she whispered.
Cecil's voice was low and cold behind her."Exactly. What the fuck indeed."
He gestured to the display."Every single one of them. Dead."
He paused."Omni-Man… is the only survivor."
Mari looked around the screens again, her eyes scanning each gruesome image. This happened fast then she had expected, She had thought that maybe after she had grown stronger and find a way to tell Cecil and other that omni man was a villain she could fight him together or even take omni man herself.
But now?
Now they were all dead.
She sighed, long and tired, rubbing her eyes."What now?"
Cecil's voice was flat, almost mechanical."Now we identify the correct target and find a way to deal with them. We need answers."He walked toward one of the bodies, kneeling beside it."You got anything that could help us figure out who did this?"
Mari raised an eyebrow and tapped her chin."I… I think I know who did it. But it's just a hunch."
Cecil turned to her sharply."A hunch or not—tell me."
Mari folded her arms, her voice low but steady."Why is Omni-Man here?" she asked, locking eyes with him."Last I checked, he wasn't even an official member of the Guardians. So what was he doing here during the attack? And more importantly…"She pointed toward the bodies."If the killer was strong enough to take down every single one of these top-tier heroes—then how did Omni-Man survive? The math doesn't add up. It's like… it's like he wasn't a victim. He was the executioner."
As she spoke, Cecil's eyes slowly widened. His jaw clenched, and he said nothing for a long moment, just staring at her.
Finally, he exhaled."There's not enough evidence to convict him. Maybe the killer left him alive on purpose—to make us think it was him. To sow distrust."He crossed his arms."That's a tactic we've seen before."
Mari scoffed."You can believe what you want. But my gut tells me he's the killer. If he wasn't… he'd be here with you. Helping. Explaining. Instead, he's off flying around with his son like nothing happened."
Cecil was silent again, but she could see the gears turning in his head.
Mari gestured around the room."Also, what exactly did you wake me up at 3 a.m. for? Just to look at this mess"
Cecil just shook his head with a tired sigh.
""No… I didn't bring you here to see this mess".He looked at her seriously, his voice quieter but heavier."I just wanted your opinion… and to see if you were safe."
Mari blinked, a little caught off guard by the sudden sincerity.
"Wait… what?"
Then he added, matter-of-factly,"You're the third—no, the second strongest superhero we have now."
He glanced sideways at her."So yeah. I needed to know you weren't lying in pieces like the rest of them."
Mari was quiet for a beat. The usual smirk didn't come. No sarcasm.Just a quiet,"…Oh."
She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, then muttered,"Guess I'll try not to die, hehe "
But suddenly Mari raised an eyebrow, folding her arms."Second, huh? Who's first? You better not say Omni-Man."
Cecil give a smirk before saying " well he is Stronger then you "
Mari rolled her eyes dramatically."Yeah yeah , keep living in denial, boss man. But if I'm second strongest now… I better be getting a raise."
Cecil let out a low, exasperated breath."We'll talk about it later. For now—just stay alert. Things are shifting. Fast."