Riley Ross-Chapter 72: Just A Random Encounter with Megawoman

Who is Megawoman?

Even someone like Riley, who has no interest in the past at all, knew who she was. A name that has echoed for nearly three centuries—the woman responsible for the coming of the Age of Heroes.

The woman who single-handedly ended wars before they could begin. A figure once revered like a god, even worshipped in churches that she herself eventually shut down. The only hero known to subdue her enemies without killing them, regardless of whether they could level cities or move faster than the eye could track.

The hero... who killed his biological mother, and then retired after.

"You are supposed to be retired, Megawoman."

There was something undeniably royal and regal about her. It wasn’t only because of all the things they had said about her, but because of how she looked—Her outfit, though seemingly earthly, exuded a cosmic grandeur.

Perhaps because it was made with material not of this planet? The gold on her gloves and boots didn’t look like gold up close, not to Riley. Her red skirt shimmered like silk, but glimmered with what felt like the light of stars. The golden chestplate, the pristine white shirt beneath it, and the flowing red cape—all of it gave the impression of nobility.

And her face, incredibly... human. Not the most beautiful Riley had ever seen—that title belonged to Hera—but there was something ethereal about her presence. You could see her strength, yet she didn’t need to flaunt it.

But of course, none of those really matter to Riley.

Megawoman was quiet, only looking at him as her cape waved with the wind, which was odd, as her hair was completely still. Riley heard that Megawoman also had minor telekinetic powers. Perhaps she was using them to keep her hair from moving?

"Are you using your telekinesis to hold your hair still, Megawoman?" Riley asked. And finally, this seemed to garner a reaction from Megawoman as a small hint of a smile flickered across her lips.

"I am," she replied, exhaling lightly as she began to drift away through the sky. "How... old are you?"

"Twelve. How old are you, Megawoman?"

Once again, my young age and cute demeanor serve me well.

Megawoman’s eyes slightly narrowed, but her lips remained slightly curved as she stared at the incredibly dark silhouette in front of her. It was obvious that she found Riley amusing, but her eyes twinkled as soon as she heard how old he was.

"It’s been more than three hundred years since I’ve been here on Earth. Now, if you’ll excu—"

Megawoman was about to fly away, but Riley once again opened his mouth.

"That means you are older than that. Correct, Megawoman?" He asked.

Megawoman blinked a couple of times, her eyes darting toward the horizon and the weird silhouette. But after glancing at the horizon again, she slowly floated closer to Riley, softly chuckling as she did so.

"Yes. Yes, I am," she said.

"Are you older than Mr. Bulwark?"

"No. Bulwark’s a lot older than me. By thousands," Megawoman shook her head, "I think it’s my turn to ask questions, no?"

That was a mistake. Why did I keep asking her questions when she was obviously leaving?

"Of course, Megawoman," Riley motioned for her to speak.

"What are you doing flying out here so late at night?" she asked. "Do your parents even know you’re out?"

"No. They are completely unaware that I am even awake, Megawoman," Riley shrugged, "What are you doing flying out here late at night?"

"...Just getting some fresh air," Megawoman also shrugged, "And please don’t tell anyone that you saw me... and I won’t tell anyone that I saw you?"

"That is a deal, Megawoman," Riley nodded, "Do you still have any questions for me?"

"No," Megawoman shook her head, "Just be careful, okay? There’s... a new supervillain on the loose that’s not picky with their victims."

She is talking about me. If she knew that was me, would she subdue me here and now, considering my age? I... should not have told her about how old I am.

"Are you... searching for this new supervillain, Megawoman?"

"Me? I..." Megawoman’s eyes strayed away as she looked down. And after a few seconds, she shook her head and smiled, "...You said it yourself, I’m retired. So, no... No, I’m not. But you should go home, seriously."

"Okay, Megawoman," Riley nodded, "I will go home once I finish what I am doing. You should go home too. You are supposed to be retired, and old people should be sleeping by now."

"...Thank you," Megawoman once again softly chuckled as she started floating away from Riley, "It was very nice meeting you...?"

"I do not have a name, Megawoman."

"Wow, very mysterious there, Dark..." Megawoman narrowed her eyes at the dark shadow in front of her, a silhouette that would swallow even the brightest of days, "...Darkday? No, forget it. That sounds like a villain’s name."

Megawoman pursed her lips and giggled to herself before letting out a loud sigh.

"Well then, kid with no name..." Megawoman waved her hand, "...Be safe, okay?"

And with that, Riley found himself slightly leaning his head back as Megawoman disappeared, leaving only a boom in her wake and a sky completely devoid of clouds. Riley didn’t even blink, but he couldn’t even get a glimpse of her anymore—not even a dot.

And so ended his chance meeting with Megawoman—an encounter that, statistically, should have been impossible. After all, what were the odds of meeting a retired superhero in the vast sky?

No.

This wasn’t by chance. Megawoman probably heard someone flying at night from hundreds of miles, or maybe even thousands of miles away, and flew to check who it was. So, it didn’t really matter whether he flew above or down below... Megawoman would catch her if she truly wanted to.

But since she said that she was retired and just getting some fresh air, then... he should be safe for tonight.

Unfortunately, that means the world isn’t safe from me.

***

Several minutes later, Riley stood in the backyard of Tomoe’s house. He raised his hand to knock—but before he could, the door opened.

"Hello, Tomoe—I noticed the car up front was missing. I thought you left," Riley said as he stepped into the house. "You did not call the police and set up an ambush, right?"

"No," Tomoe muttered. Her voice was weak, completely devoid of any emotions. "I drove the car somewhere else. The detectives will come eventually. It would be better if the car weren’t here."

"But you are fifteen, Tomoe." Riley blinked as he glanced at her shoulder, "Driving without a driver’s license is illegal."

"It’s fine," Tomoe shook her head, "I drove my mother several times whenever she was drunk—no one really cares."

Tomoe gestured to Riley to follow him, leading him into the living room where her family was still caged. Her mother and Erik were not completely quiet, as for Rob’s corpse—

"You encased him in crystal, Tomoe?" Riley tilted his head as he looked at the boy. Rob’s body, still within the cage, was now completely wrapped in a shell of translucent crystal. In a way, he looked peaceful—his arms folded over his chest like he was merely sleeping. But there was something else,

"I didn’t realize you could also produce a dark crystal."

"I... only discovered it just moments ago," Tomoe responded as she stood in front of the crystal cage, "My normal crystal is still harder, but I could make finer shapes using the darker one."

"Interesting..." Riley narrowed his eyes, "...Then do you think you can make a large egg-shaped dark crystal large enough to store your cage along with us, Tomoe?"

"Why... do you want me to do that?" Tomoe blinked as she glanced at Riley.

"I will fly us to an empty warehouse," Riley muttered as he slightly lifted his hand. And as he did so, the entire crystal cage started to leave the floor, startling her mother and Erik. Riley then walked back to the back of the house, opening the sliding doors to the backyard so that the crystal cage could fit.

"There we go," Riley breathed out before looking at Tomoe.

"Are... you able to lift all of us?" Tomoe asked.

"I believe I could, Tomoe."

"You... believe?" There was a slight hesitation in her voice, but it was still as monotonous as before, "If we fall, then I suppose that would be the consequences of what we have done here."

"But you did not do anything, Tomoe," Riley shook his head.

"I’m the one who told you to do all of this," Tomoe shook her head too, "I am much guiltier than you are."

"Perhaps."

The two ceased talking after that, and Tomoe stood beside her and extended both her arms to the side. And slowly, a fractal of dark crystal bloomed at her feet, creeping outward in a circle before rising up, forming a massive egg around them—encasing her, Riley, the cage, and the bodies inside.

"We need to be very careful and not make a sound, Tomoe." Riley then sighed as he placed his hand on the egg, causing it to vibrate and tremble.

"I met Megawoman earlier; she might still be lurking in the skies."

"...What?" Tomoe’s voice hummed as she glanced at Riley, "Megawoman...? How? Shouldn’t we wait until we are sure she’s gone?"

"Hmm... No."

And with those words, the trembling stopped. The egg rose from the ground, lifting them with it—silent, smooth, and dark against the moonlit sky.

"I think it would be more exciting and fun if there is a threat of being caught by her, no?"

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