While Impactor and Mira had a sudden burst of motivation after seeing Belinha's attack, the object of their fear was looking at her creation with a frown.
"It's still not good enough."
The tree faded, leaving a scorched crater.
"Mamae's attack would leave a pool of lava when it's done. Its branches would stretch across the entire city and could be used to attack."
She clenched her fist.
"I'm still incompetent."
"Always so hard on herself."
Around 30 KM away from her, there was someone watching Belinha with a gleeful smile. This person was standing on the ledge of a multi-storey building at the edge of the city.
"Életfa is a legendary technique the Flame Sorceress was famous for. Using it to that level is a great feat."
The person who was clad in white armour and a Hannya mask had their eyes locked on Belinha, who started attacking the villains with her team.
"She switched gears quick. Geniuses are truly something else."
From the voice, one could determine it was a woman.
"I agree."
A voice came from behind, yet she didn't turn to look.
"The Blood Phoenix is a beast."
Two men stood behind her. They wore fur coats that covered their bodies and wolf masks.
"Hello, Kenshin. It's nice to meet the #6 Hero."
Kenshin didn't respond for a while and kept her eyes on Belinha. Without the smile leaving her face, she finally spoke.
"The Eriksen Brothers, Skoll and Hati. I heard there were three Ruin Class Villains in the city, so you're the other two."
"Yeah, we were going to ambush Kismet, but that idiot Firben had to jump the gun."
"Now he's dead. The useless bastard."
The brothers spoke with clear disdain.
"Firben's death was expected."
Kenshin still had her eyes on Belinha and the others even as she spoke.
"By definition, he was a Ruin-Class Villain, since he had the power to destroy a city. However, he gained that rank because of his ability, not skill. If he fought someone like Belinha, who spent all her life developing her skill, his defeat was obvious."
"Are you saying that he was lucky to be born with his power, and that's the end of it?"
Kenshin nodded.
"Then, what about us?"
"You two, you're different. I read the reports, but I don't need them to know you're skilled from how difficult it was to detect you approaching."
The brothers looked at each other before looking back at Kenshin's back.
"You were able to sense us?"
"It was a bit difficult, but I did."
"Bullshit."
"Our stealth is unmatched."
Kenshin shrugged.
"I told the truth, I don't care if you want to believe me or not."
Claws peeked out from the brothers' coats.
"I'd rather you not."
Kenshin's smile didn't fade as she shooed them with her hand.
"You see, this is not my mission. I just dropped by to watch my fav before I go back to Japan. I don't want to steal her kills."
"You don't have to worry about stealing kills."
"You're gonna die soon."
"Nuh uh."
"The fuck you mean 'Nuh uh'?"
"We have the advantage, so you're gonna die."
Foot-long claws resembling blades emerged from their coats. One emitting intense heat, the other oozing bone-chilling cold. They pointed their blades at Kenshin.
"Kenshin, we know about your ability, Sword God!"
"But we also know it's useless without your special sword, Futsunushi."
"That sword is under GHF's regulations and can only be used in an emergency because of how sharp it is."
"So you're pretty much defenceless!"
The brothers' voices became more elated by the second. Yet, Kenshin's smile still didn't fade, nor did her eyes leave Belinha.
"You guys have this strange obsession with trying to finish each other's thoughts. It's like you want everyone around to believe you're of one body and mind."
"We are one!"
The two shouted in unison. Kenshin covered her ears.
"Then, why don't you tell me why you're yapping and not attacking me if I'm so defenceless?"
For the first time, the brothers remained quiet.
"Want me to answer?"
For the first time, Kenshin looked away and faced them.
"It's because you're uncertain. You don't know if I'm truly powerless without Futsunushi."
She pointed to her head.
"Also, you two are smart enough not to dive in recklessly. However, that common sense is what prevents you from acting."
The two remained silent while being vigilant.
"My easygoing attitude scares you, doesn't it?"
Kenshin pressed on.
"Despite you trying to throw me off from the beginning, I didn't take you seriously and that frightens you."
Why is she so confident? Why did she leave her back exposed the entire time? Why did she allow them to approach her if she sensed them coming?
These questions plagued the brothers' minds and prevented them from acting.
"Go back to your fight with Kismet."
Kenshin suddenly said.
"What?"
"I said, go back. I don't want to interfere with their mission and you're afraid of me. So that's the best result for both parties."
The brothers looked at each other and started backing away while keeping their eyes locked on Kenshin.
"Ah, wait."
Their bodies froze when she spoke. Did she change her mind?
"I should give you a warning since you've kept me company."
She pointed at the brothers' chests.
"There's a tracking ability on your bodies."
"?!"
They started checking their bodies.
"Don't bother. You won't see it. Those with it can't see it on themselves or on anybody else. Do you know what that means?"
Kenshin pointed at the city.
"Belinha has been planning to hunt every single one of you down since the beginning. All of your actions, she always knew them."
The brothers' hearts started to race. As if she could hear them, Kenshin smirked under her mask.
"Don't underestimate, Belinha. There's a reason she was chosen as the leader of Kismet. Also, don't underestimate a team under her command. A genius leading a band of monsters is very terrifying."
Kenshin turned her back to them.
"I got to see what I wanted. So, I'll take my leave."
She waved at them before disappearing the second they blinked. They couldn't tell if she was gone or just hiding. She left without leaving a trace that their animal senses could pick up. This struck great fear into their hearts.
"Rumours have it that Kenshin is the strongest of all the current Female heroes."
"That would mean she's stronger than the Blood Phoenix and Dark Priestess, who ranks above her?"
The two looked at each other again.
"Wanna go home?"
"You already know."
The two left in the opposite direction of Kismet and never looked back.
"They actually left. That's smart."
Kenshin, who was already several kilometres away, laughed as she ran.
"They're sensible, too bad it's a negative trait for a Villain to fear death."
She laughed and vanished the next second.
"Huh?"
Elsewhere, Belinha wore a confused expression and turned to the east.
"What's wrong, Boss?"
Impactor looked up at her while holding two thugs in a headlock.
"The Erikson Brothers left."
"They left?"
Mira stepped on the back of a Villain who was trying to escape.
"You mean they ran away?"
"...I don't know, but they left the city. They were at the edge of the city for a while before they left."
Belinha's mind started to race.
"Did they meet up with somebody else? Another Villain? If so, did they change their plans?"
She stayed silent for a bit before speaking into her communicator.
"Batu, change of plans. Have Kira come join us to quickly defeat the Villains."
"Defeat, not eliminate?"
Batu's voice came from the communicator.
"That's right. Since the leaders of this mess ran off, we need to collect info from those left."
"I understand. Kira will be there in 5 minutes."
"Alright."
She cut the call.
"You heard everything. Switch from elimination to capture."
"Are we allowed to get rough if needed?"
Mira asked.
"Yes. As long as they're alive, then it's up to your conscience."
Mira smiled.
"I heard over 8000 civilians were killed when they captured the city."
Her eyes grew sharpened.
"If it's bastards like you, my conscience will stay clean."
Impactor applauded her as she started attacking their enemies with more intensity than before. Belinha watched on with a frown.
"Who did Skoll and Hati meet with for them to leave?"
After a couple of hours, all Villains and thugs in Aarhus were either captured, detained, or escaped the city. With the removal of all threats, Kismet's mission was complete. Even so, Belinha didn't relax.
"A warrior is at their most vulnerable when they believe they've won the battle."
She floated over the city with her hands stretched towards the sun.
"This won't apply to us."
Flames gathered in her palms.
"Sun Veil."
Flames fired into the sky. The flames spread thin and moved in every direction, slowly covering the city. After nearly a minute, a thin, semi-transparent veil engulfed the city. Belinha slowly descended from the sky and landed on the ground.
"That was your mother's technique?"
Impactor approached with children clinging to his back laughing. Belinha looked at him for a bit before nodding.
"It's a sensory technique, so it doesn't stop people from passing through it. Instead, if anything enters the city, I'll know."
"That's sick. If you have something like that, why did you make Bojana put copies of herself in the underground tunnels?"
"To prevent sneak attacks outside of the veil's reach."
"Oh, make sense."
Belinha looked at him from head to toe again.
"Why are the children climbing you?"
"Because kids love me."
Impactor placed his hand over his chest.
"I'm sure it's because they can sense my pure heart."
"Or maybe it's because you're the same level of maturity."
Belinha spat back.
"You're just jealous I still have my innocence."
Belinha started walking away from him.
"You killed over a hundred people today. What's innocent about you?"
"It was your orders, so all my actions are your responsibility."
He showed a huge grin as he followed behind with children still latched on him.
"So I'm still innocent."
"Yeah, yeah. We'll burn in hell together."
Belinha shooed him, but he still followed.
"How would a Phoenix burn in hell though? Would you just continue to reincarnate for eternity?"
"That's a good question."
"?!"
A voice echoed in their minds, causing them to stop and look around.
"Huh? What's wrong with the kids?"
The children latched to Impactor's body were frozen like statues.
"Belinha!"
The rest of Kismet came running from all directions with a panicked expression.
"All the citizens, Heroes, and Villains froze! They're not moving or breathing! It's like they turned into statues!"
Mikel shouted.
"Are we under attack? But I didn't sense anybody approaching."
"Me neither."
Belinha and Bojana wore puzzled expressions.
"Of course you wouldn't notice."
The voice echoed through the city.
"Wait, I know this voice."
Impactor mumbled.
"Well, it's the voice I used when we first met."
A man wearing a plague doctor mask and dressed in a tuxedo appeared in the middle of their gathering.
"Ah, the Host of the Villain Awards!"
Impactor pointed and shouted.
"No."
He shook his head.
"Mishma."
Mishma gave a gentleman's bow.
"Congratulations on clearing your first mission, Kismet."
He straightened his back and lifted his mask partially to reveal a smile.
"And sorry for the hell you'll experience later on."