The Hunt Begins

Two weeks had passed since the world-changing battle.

The Villain Leader had fused all five Crystal Objects into a destructive scepter and nearly torn the world apart. Theo—known to everyone as the Cartoon Kid—had unleashed a final, overwhelming power to stop him. But the cost had been catastrophic. His body had shattered, scattering pieces of him throughout the city.

Those fragments—glittering shards—were now the key to bringing him back.

And everyone knew it.

Broadcast

Kira stood in front of a camera, her posture firm, her voice steady. The once-secret superhero now carried herself like a public figure—someone the public looked to for direction.

"The Villain Society's leader has been defeated by our hero, the Cartoon Kid," she announced. "But the battle cost him his life."

She lifted a shard—a small, camouflaged fragment glowing faintly.

"There's still a way to revive him. These shards are the key."

A hotline number flashed on screen.

"If you see unusual activity, or locate shards, report it immediately. The sooner we gather them, the sooner we bring the Cartoon Kid back."

She ended the transmission with a quiet exhale, as if releasing a weight she'd been carrying for days.

Debrief

Decibolt lounged behind her, arms crossed, expression skeptical.

"Are you sure telling everyone was a good idea?"

"What do you mean?"

"Now every criminal knows the shards can revive Theo. If I were them? I'd want to stop us."

Kira rolled her eyes. "That's why we get to them first. And if someone tries to interfere—"

"We stop them, right."

Decibolt tapped his Galaxom, activating a holographic interface. Tiny symbols pulsed on its screen.

"Good news. Three shards detected—Sector 15, Block 5, Street 6."

Kira blinked. "Since when can that thing track shards?"

"Since I fused it with that tracker the council leader gave us. Guess I'm better at combat and tech."

She scoffed. "I'll surpass you eventually."

"Sure you will."

He opened a circular portal, the edges sparking with light.

"Try not to fall behind."

He stepped through. Kira followed.

Sector 15

The street was quiet—a stretch of cracked pavement and abandoned cars.

Kira crouched and picked up a shard half-buried in dust.

"Got one."

"Got another," Decibolt called from atop a car, holding a shard like a trophy.

He checked his device again.

"Last one should be here, but I don't see it."

"You're thinking flat," Kira said. "It could be above or below us."

Decibolt smirked. "I'll take above."

He vaulted upward, landing on a rooftop. Moments later, he lifted the final shard.

"Gotcha."

He leapt down, landing beside her.

"Remember that canister I asked you to fill with NaCl solution?"

"Yes. Why?"

He pressed his Galaxom. A tiny portal opened—floating midair.

"It links straight into the canister. Drop them in."

They placed their shards through the portals, watching them vanish.

Kira relaxed. "This is way easier than I expected. And you were saying something abou—"

A violent explosion cut her off—followed by wailing sirens.

A voice murmured into their minds.

Guardian: Robbery in progress. Sector 15, Block 12, Street 23.

Decibolt grinned. "Told you so."

"No proof it's a summon yet."

"Let's go find out."

He summoned a sleek hover bike.

"I upgraded our ride. Now we don't have to stand as we hover around."

He shot forward down the street. Kira rolled her eyes, summoned her own bike, and followed.

Crime Scene

A massive hole had been blown open in the side of a bank. Smoke drifted from it. Police officers lay on the ground—hurt, but breathing.

One officer coughed as the pair approached.

"H-He's inside..."

Decibolt nodded.

They stepped inside.

A tall figure stood in the vault—serpent-themed armor, glowing lines winding across his suit like living circuitry. Energy crackled from coiling whips hanging at his sides.

Kira frowned. "Well, someone wants attention."

Molecular Girl narrowed her eyes as the armored figure stood before them, electricity flickering along the edges of his serpent-themed suit.
"Well someone wants attention" she muttered.

Decibolt stepped beside her, observing the stranger with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. "No V.S. insignia, though..."

Before either of them could react, the man's body twisted violently, collapsing inward and reshaping into a long, scaled serpent. He shot toward Decibolt with startling speed, fangs bared. The fangs struck Decibolt's armor with a sharp crack.

Decibolt grimaced. "Get off me, you slimy serpent!"

He grabbed the creature and hurled it down. The snake shimmered, limbs and torso re-forming as the man reverted to humanoid shape.

"Urgh... my tooth," he groaned, rubbing his jaw.

Decibolt planted his hands on his hips. "Who the heck are you?"

The man straightened, trying for dramatic presence. "I am Anacondor."

Decibolt blinked once. "No insignia, weird powers, dumb name... yep. Definitely a summon."

Molecular Girl let out a reluctant exhale. "Okay, fine. You were right."

Decibolt made a move for the exit, searching for the summoner, but Anacondor blocked his path in a blur, slamming a punch into Decibolt's chestplate and sending him skidding back.

"You're fighting me," Anacondor declared.

He snapped a black whip from his side and charged at Kira. She pivoted, slipping past the crackling lashes, then drove a clean front kick into his torso.

"Kinetic Punch!"

Her strike sent him crashing onto his back.

From the entrance, the summoner shouted desperately, "Anacondor, we're out. Let's go!"

Anacondor scrambled up, seized the stolen loot, and sprinted for the door. He vaulted onto a motorcycle, the summoner climbing behind him.

Decibolt growled. "They're getting away!"

Molecular Girl raised her hand. "Not for long."

Energy rippled outward as she used Molecular Kinesis to yank the motorcycle from below. It crashed onto its side, throwing both riders off balance.

The summoner staggered up, wild-eyed. "You want a funeral? Let's go!"

Anacondor lunged again. Kira caught the punch but was sent sliding backward by a follow-up kick.

"Kinetic Punch!" she snapped, launching debris toward him with a burst of telekinetic force.

"Condor Whip!"

Anacondor swept his whip through the air, deflecting the flying rubble. He charged again, striking at them repeatedly with crackling lashes.

Decibolt countered with a shout. "Sonic Blast!"

A sonic wave erupted from his palms, hurling Anacondor into the far wall.

Decibolt didn't pause. "Deci Cannon!"

A focused blast caught Anacondor mid-air, spinning him violently.

The villain recovered, planting his feet. "Rattlesnake—Shaking Fury!"

The ground trembled beneath them, vibrations rattling the chamber and disrupting their stance.

"Condor Whip!" Anacondor lashed out again, ripping furrows into the ground as he closed the distance.

His form rippled, and he spat five glowing orbs.

"Spitting Cobra—Venom Balls!"

The toxic projectiles streaked toward them.

"Deci Shield!" Decibolt shouted, generating a sonic barrier that absorbed the impact.

Anacondor dissolved again into his serpentine shape, launching himself around them and coiling tightly.

Kira pushed back both hands. "Full Body Repulsion!"

A force burst outward, blasting all three apart.

Decibolt hit the ground hard. "Urgh!"

Kira shrugged unapologetically. "Sorry—not sorry."

Decibolt pushed himself up, irritation flaring. "Tired of this fool." He inhaled sharply.

"Supersonic Decibolt!"

Sonic ripples exploded from his body as he launched forward in a blur, pummeling Anacondor with rapid-fire sonic punches and kicks that left shimmering shockwaves in the air.

He finished with a devastating shout.
"Deci Cannon!"

The blast hammered Anacondor downward, cracking the concrete.

Kira leapt in before he could recover.

"Kinetic Punch Barrage!"

A flurry of strikes—each propelled by kinetic energy—drove into Anacondor. The final hit detonated in a burst of force, and his form dissolved into yellow smoke, vanishing completely.

The summoner stared at the empty space. "Oh shoot—I'm out!"

He bolted for his half-wrecked motorcycle, but Kira lifted it effortlessly with her powers. The bike hovered above him, pinning him in place.

She approached. "How many shards does he have?"

Decibolt dug through a dropped pouch. "Umm... five."

Kira planted her foot on the ground, tone flat. "Hand them over. Or Decibolt launches you over the horizon."

"F-Fine!" the summoner whimpered, tossing the shards over. Kira retrieved them and then released the suspended motorcycle, letting it crash down. One precise strike knocked the summoner unconscious.

Molecular Girl exhaled, dropping the shards into the small portal.
"Looks like we've got our work cut out. Who knows what kind of summons are still out there?"

Decibolt suddenly remembered something. "Almost forgot—what does 'eviction notice' mean? One's taped to my door."

She stared at him. "Means you're getting kicked out. Mrs. Kirzma's not paying rent."

Decibolt groaned. "Back in the Crystal Realm, you lived inside the crystal you were born in. No rent, no problems! Where am I supposed to go?"

"Not my house," Kira shot back. "I can barely stand you for a few hours—definitely not twenty-four seven. The Guardian will figure it out."

She opened a glowing portal.

Decibolt pointed toward the unconscious summoner. "What about this guy?"

A nearby police officer stepped forward. "I'll handle him. You go ahead."

Kira nodded. "Thanks."

With that, she stepped through the portal, its surface rippling behind her.