V.I.R.A.L

Everything was blurry. She had lost too much blood, and everything was fading. Zinnia glared up, struggling to keep awake as she saw Alton and Percy going toe to toe with Vanguard. She wanted to reach out and help. She tried to save them and take down Vanguard but alas it was already too much for her. All she could do was watch from the sidelines. Yet she wasn't willing to do that. From the corner of her eye, she saw a streaming drone. Although damaged, it looked like it could still work. Dragging herself over, she snagged it holding it close trying to set it up. She rolled over onto her back as the drone booted up. Luckily for her, it was already linked to Alton as Vanguard's stream begun.

Alton crashed back being stopped by a wall of ice as he snapped forward, never keeping his eyes off Vanguard. Percy had him on the ropes, never letting him get a moment to breathe. As Vanguard took down another clone, he had his eyes set on Alton. Loosening his weight, he shot at Alton, which he decided to meet head-on. Throwing an unexpected punch, this sent Vanguard flying into a wall surprising. Percy looked on in shock as Alton was just as startled as he smiled, knowing all well what this means. "You didn't tell me you have super strength."

"I don't, and neither does Vanguard," Alton smirked as Vanguard hit the ground. Vanguard looked up paranoid as Alton smirked. "Vanguard's powers are not super strength. He can change the weight of himself and others he touches. This makes it look like super strength when in all reality, even an old grandma could throw him. What's wrong angered I figured out your secret power?"

Vanguard patted himself down sighing. "A little I must admit. I did my best to hide the true nature of my powers. No matter. None of you will live to remember it. Guess there is no reason to hold back anymore since the secret is out."

He crouched down, hovering up in the air before crashing down, landing on Alton without any warning. Alton screamed out, unable to move as Vanguard begins beating him like a pinata. He gripped his hand, trying to freeze him over to no luck as Vanguard was an unfeeling tank. This barrage of attacks was abruptly stopped as serval clones of Percy managed to gather the strength to pull him off. Percy helped Alton up who stood up only to crash down onto his knees. "We need a plan for this guy."

Alton raised his hand, which was shaking. He was struggling to stand as he croaked out. "There's a short delay between when he can change his weight. Also, I think he can only do one at a time. His or ours."

"Alright, but how does that help us?"

"He doesn't feel pain. Can hit like a truck and has had years of practice. We have two options to take him out in a single attack or bombard him with attacks."

"Well, our most powerful attacks haven't done much to him. So, plan B?"

"How many clones can you make?"

"Enough, why?"

Alton gripped his hand together as his body was already freezing over. He coughed nodding. "If he hasn't got super strength, then he won't be able to break out from my attacks. Hold him down!"

Dozens of clones jolted to life holding Vanguard tightly. He struggled to move, but his powers were unable to break him free from this.

Alton stepped forward holding both of his hands back as the room continued to drop in temperature. Ice snagged and ate away at Alton as his eyes rolled into the back of his skull. He air froze once leaving his mouth as he readied the final blow. Moving his arm around charging the attack, Alton suddenly stopped as his powers were too much to control. Something snapped in his mind as his attack suddenly stopped, and he collapsed onto the floor. Percy retracted his clones turning to Alton in misbelief. "Alton?!"

Alton lay on the floor cold to the touch as he struggled to breathe gasping. He had never gone that far with his powers, and it showed repelling against him. Although Percy tried helping him any direct contact with him would be too cold to even hold on for long periods. Percy turned around, facing down Vanguard. "Are you both done now?" Percy screamed, throwing a punch which Vanguard countered chucking him across the room. "While I admire your attempts, it was all futile. Coming at me one at a time. Announcing your plans to the for all to hear. For a team, you suck at teamwork. Your all weak. Divided and inexperienced. You were all destined to lose."

"Even so… we had to try." Alton cracked, staring up at the light blinding him. "What sort of heroes would we be if we didn't? What happens next then? Do you kill us? Continue living your truth. The truth, you will always be number one. Even when you aren't happy with it yourself. How many more are going to die until you realise that?"

"As many as I see fit. As many until there is meaning to all of this for me. You, The Montagues. That stupid number two streamer Ruby and whoever else stands in my way."

"How, how can you live like that?"

"What difference does it make? Is it living if you can't feel it? Why did you even go through all of this Alton? You doomed your team when they could have lived. You dragged them in your death all for what?"

Alton was kicked back as he began breathing. "I knew we couldn't defeat you. We stood no chance. One of our best fighters is out for the count. Zinnia can't even fight, and I refuse to use these powers. This was one big suicide mission."

"So, now you finally get it? Pathetic."

Alton laughed to himself, using all he had to stand up. "The idea was never to defeat you. If it was, I wouldn't have confronted you so quickly. I would have waited for the perfect moment. No, our plan was different. It was to expose you."

"Hmm?" He muttered soon noticing the stream drone recording the whole fight. "So, you tried playing me again? What were you hoping to achieve? Were you hoping the masses turned against me like with Pokiero? Were you hoping for the little people to rise and take me down?" He began waving his phone in a taunting manner. "Look here. Not banned. Nothing has changed. Read the comments. Go on. Read them!" The phone was pushed in Alton's face as the majority of the comments were unhindered. People were cheering on Vanguard. Wanting him to defeat Team Rhapsody. They didn't care. Very few words were against him and the ones who were getting banned. "As you can see, my fanbase doesn't care. They won't fall to your petty beliefs."

Alton was kicked to his knees as he slouched over coughing. "People will… there are people out there who disagree. They will revolt against you."

"So what? I lose a few viewers. Get a few controversial videos about me? They'll forget this ever happened in a few months nothing will change. It will be as it always be. V.I.R.A.L will always be Vanguard."

"Someone will come! Someone will stop you!" Alton screamed, losing hope. He looked around as no help arrived. "People, people don't just turn away when bad happens. V.I.R.A.L isn't meant to be like that. We are the Vanguard, the imagination, the revolution, the almighty and the law. Not everyone is like you! I've met people. Good people. People who will come and fight for the truth and what's right. People like Zinnia, people like Percy, people like… Sam…"

Time passed, and nothing happened. Alton's face dropped as he fell onto his front admitting defeat. Vanguard looked around, laughing. "How cute. You did your little hero speech about friends and teamwork? Good. Guess I can end this now. Do you want to know the real truth? The truth why there are no more heroes anymore? Because there was never such thing as heroes, to begin with."

"I disagree with that!" A voice yelled. Vanguard turned confused. "As long as there are villains like yourself, heroes will always rise to the occasion. I may not be a so-called hero I can at least agree on the aspect of fighting for what's right and protecting those who are important to me."

Vanguard saw a figure standing by the collapsed wall with their hands in their pockets. He raised his eyebrow snarling. "Who the hell are you?"

"Like you'd know who I am. Apparently, I wasn't good enough for your little mental overload. You dare go threatening my friends and my sister. I won't allow that to happen."

"You came…" Zinnia cried, smiling.

"Of course, I did. Do you think I was going to abandon my friends? I saw the whole stream. Don't worry, I'll take care of this." Iris smirked, swinging her arms around. Two cubes suddenly appeared floating around her. They began to spark and morph getting bigger and smaller. "This will only take a few seconds!"