Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 611: Are You Awake.

The vigil at Blue Moon Street was a public event. One needed a tough shell to survive in this day and age, but no matter how tough that shell got, the untimely death of the innocent could still cause it to crack, and the tragedy of what happened at the Sanctuary was able to touch a lot of hearts.

People gathered to mourn the children who lost their lives to the terrorist attack. The incident left a deep scar on Neo-Vatra, and many found themselves wondering how something like this could happen—why was it allowed to happen?

The City had been protected by one of the powerful superhero teams for almost a decade now, and just recently, the world's strongest joined their ranks, putting them on the same level as the League of Valor. Even then, the disaster still struck, and the so-called heroes were powerless to prevent it, arriving only after death had claimed its victims.

The terrorist attack on the Sanctuary wasn't the only disaster that struck Neo-Vatra that week, and with everything considered, people expected the city's protectors to be too busy with the other incidents to come and offer their condolences. In a bizarre turn of events, Flame Guard decided to subvert everyone's expectations, and they couldn't have chosen a worse time to do so.

The heroes came wearing black suits, both the men and women. Paragon led the way, his imposing figure stretching the fabric of his clothes to the limit. That wasn't what caught people's attention, however. The man who had been a flawless image for humanity's power was now covered in bruises, scars, and bandages. One of his eyes was hidden behind an eyepatch, and his lower lip was split, with a line that almost reached his chin.

Despite his battered state, the strongest hero still exuded an air of confidence and unshakable will, demanding the respect of those around him. The rest of his team failed to achieve that effect. Liberty Star shared his size and build, but the only thing people noticed about her was the cast encasing her right arm, which hung from the sling around her neck. Huntress seemed fine except for her bandaged hands and short hair.

Thunderstrike seemed to have had it the worst, however. While he seemed fine on the surface, one only needed to look at the sleeve hanging from his left shoulder to realize that his injury wasn't easy to come back from.

The only one who seemed unharmed was Erebus, though it was difficult to tell if that really was the case, with him being a human-shaped cloud of smoke.

The five walked through the path made for them through the crowd, keeping their gazes straight. One would think the area would be abuzz with whispers, cheers, and jeers, but only the silence could be heard, as if everyone in the vicinity collectively held their breath.

It was subtle, barely noticeable, but the air had started to shift. The gloom enveloping the memorial site seemed to take on a physical form, dimming the light of the sun, and as it turned into a pressure that pushed down on the heads and shoulders of those who had gathered to mourn, turning their sadness to a growing sense of terror, bringing with it the desire to flee.

Sensing the danger, Paragon and his cohort came to a halt, raising their guard as they turned to face the source of the darkness. A red-haired youth was staring at them, his eyes slightly wide with surprise. The implant embedded into them should have had a blue color that matched the original, but anyone looking would swear that there was nothing in there but a pool of endless darkness threatening to seep out into the world, drawing it in malice.

The pressure continued to mount, and the heroes at its center felt the approaching threat. Sparks crackled around Thunderstrike, and Huntress held her hand out, about to summon her bow. Liberty Star braced herself, her jaw tightening. The tension reached its peak, and then-

SPAA

The crisp sound of a clap shattered it all, only it was a one-handed clap. Color suddenly returned to the world, and the people came to their senses, inhaling sharp breaths as if they had just remembered to breathe. Some collapsed to their knees, while others passed out entirely. The few who had the mental fortitude turned their sights to the source of the sound, and what they saw left them with another shock.

No one was as shocked as Dante, however. The darkness clouding his mind receded, allowing him to feel the sting on his right cheek. His gaze shifted to the one who caused it. A blue-haired girl stood before him, the hand she held up matching the red mark on his cheek. Though she wore an impassive expression, her cold eyes sent a chill rolling over his body, one he felt despite having turned off his senses.

"Are you awake now?"

Her question confused him, but only for a moment.

"Yeah…"

"Good." Nodding, Suzuka stepped back and let her hand fall to her side. "You were starting to scare Marie."

As if truly waking up, Dante turned around and froze upon meeting the little one's gaze. The way she looked at him was the same as when they met for the first time, back when he was nothing more than a monster made from metal in her eyes. Kizuna was glaring at him, and Nobara had her pipe in hand. The disapproving look she gave him said she was one step away from smacking him on the head.

Little by little, the chatter returned to the area. It kept on getting louder, merging with the ever-present ringing of the background as it worked to scramble his thoughts.

At the edge of his Absolute Awareness, Dante watched as his enemies continued to stare at his back. Paragon was there, closer than he had ever been, and yet…

"Tsk…"

As the little one looked up at him with troubled eyes, Dante suddenly vanished, leaving behind a faint gust of wind.