She burst into flames. And then there was an explosion of smoke, and they saw her no more.

“CHRONO!!!”

Void cried out. He tried to stand. He tripped, face first into the floor. He grit his teeth and pushed himself up. He ran towards the window covered in smoke.

Pink Star sat on her knees, tears streaming from her eyes. Wonder Knight’s head hung down.

The Atomic Herald clasped his hands and bowed his head.

“May your soul find peace.”

And then a ball of fire struck him on the forehead.

Void skid to a stop. Pink Star gasped and tapped Wonder Knight’s leg. Wonder Knight looked up and his eyes widened. The smoke began to dissipate.

A red mask and cape. Red and yellow suit. Fists covered in fire. Yellow and orange flames painted across his chest.

Captain Hot Devil had arrived.

And Chronolock was lying behind him, the missile still vibrating in place.

Wonder Knight and Pink Star smiled. Tears dropped from Voidspeaker’s eyes.

Captain Hot Devil pulled his arm back for a throw, and lobbed another ball of flame at the Atomic Herald. The Atomic Herald flew backwards into the wall and was covered in smoke and dust. Chronolock grit her teeth, blood dripping from her nose.

“DO! SOMETHING!”

Captain Hot Devil nodded.

“You three take care of the villain. I’ll handle this.”

He turned to the missile. Aurora Legion nodded at each other and took a formation around the smoke where the Atomic Herald vanished.

A sickly green beam shot from the smoke. Wonder Knight and Voidspeaker dodged to the side while Pink Star stretched out her hands. A pink wolf flashed forward and leapt into the air, meeting the beam. The beam stopped as the wolf exploded into pink shards. The Atomic Herald flew out of the smoke.

“Experience Nothingness!”

He threw up his hands and shot out a beam to catch the incoming assault, the beams matching each other in the air once more.

And then a boom mic struck him on the forehead with a superpowered swing.

The Atomic Herald let out a cry and threw up his hands. The glow around his body faded as the black beam struck his chest and he fell to the ground. As he tried to stand back up, Wonder Knight appeared before him and sank a fist into his abdomen. He flew back into the wall with a mighty crash, and then sank to the floor against it. He began to raise his hands when a 400-pound, glowing pink gorilla sat on him, holding his arms against the wall.

He looked up in front of him. Wonder Knight stood to the right, arms raised into a boxing stance. To the left floated Voidspeaker, glowing purple and floating in the air. Directly in front of him was Pink Star, arms stretched out and gauntlets pulsing with pink light.

“Don’t. Move.”

But the Atomic Herald wasn’t looking at them. His eyes widened.

“No!”

Captain Hot Devil surveyed the missile, swearing as the kid let out a grunt. There was no time, he’d have to just take the risk.

“On my signal, let it go.”

The kid was in no shape to respond so Captain Hot Devil immediately leapt into action. He jumped into the air, jets of fire shooting from his hand. He shot up until he was near the center of the missile and flying towards it. Closer, closer, until he was inches away.

“NOW!”

The world roared as the missile stopped vibrating and the firing sequence resumed. Captain Hot Devil grabbed onto the missile and grit his teeth. He held on for dear life as the missile flew into the sky.

He held.

He held some more.

Until the trees grew small.

He closed his eyes and took a breath. Only one shot. He set fire to his fingers, burning a small hole through the metal he was grabbing onto. Then he let go with one hand and pulled it back into a flaming fist. He swung it towards the opening he had made and then let go with his other hand as the fireball shrank into the hole. Then he shot as much fire as he could from his hands, pushing himself away from the missile.

For a few, heart dropping seconds, nothing happened.

And then the sky exploded.

The team gasped as Captain Hot Devil landed back into the silo, clothes and hair burnt and smoking. He knelt, picking up Chronolock in his arms, then stepped back into the room.

“Bro, how are you still alive?”

“Hell is hotter.”

Silence.

“Uh, anyways, nuclear bombs work very precisely. Explosion like that isn’t precise. And I can handle jet fuel.”

The Atomic Herald began to giggle, before he broke out into raucous laughter.

“Did he finally lose it?”

“I don’t think he ever had it.”

“What’s so funny?”

“What’s so funny? You think this is over? You think you can stop the new dawn? You never had a chance! This is only one of an entire network of silos! Even now, the missiles fly! Salvation cannot be stopped!”

Captain Hot Devil walked over to the wall of monitors and flicked one of the switches.

“I wouldn’t be too sure.”

The Atomic Herald’s eyes widened. His jaw dropped.

“How..How can this be? What is this?”

Each monitor showed the observation room of a different silo.

“I must say, the hospitality of these fellows is quite lacking.”

Mr. Dapper Tiger sipped a cup of tea in front of a mound of groaning bodies.

“Tesla Titan reporting, silo is fried.”

Tesla Titan gave a salute, surrounded by sparking and smoking machines and men twitching on the floor.

In another monitor Agent Tina was whistling while setting up some small packages in the room. She turned around, and strode to the monitor while tossing a detonator remote.

“Oh hey! Just setting up a little present.”

Another room was covered in ice. Icy Falcon gave a nod.

“Assets frozen, justice prevails.”

The Atomic Herald’s mouth opened and closed.

“This..this is impossible! This cannot be?! What is this?! Who are you all?!”

Captain Hot Devil grinned.

“Why don’t you tell him, kids.”

Aurora Legion grinned.

“We’re the International League of Superheroes!”

The Atomic Herald shut his mouth. He furrowed his brow. He grit his teeth.

“This isn’t over, you hear me?! Even if I am stopped today, salvation will come! The new dawn cannot be stopped!”

“Pretty sure it can.”

“Like, we literally just did it.”

“It's not cool to be a sore loser, bro.”

The Atomic Herald grit his teeth. And slowly pointed a finger at the big red button on the wall, a dim beam of light creeping forward.

The ground shook and all the heroes stumbled. Explosions rang out from all over the facility.

“What was that?!”

Just then there was a flash of sickly green light. The Aurora Legion shielded their eyes. The pink gorilla shattered into shards. The Atomic Herald leapt up and fled from the room. Voidspeaker gripped his fists and started after him.

“Hey! Get back here!”

Captain Hot Devil put a hand on his shoulder.

“No time, kid. This place is coming down, and your friend is still out. We’ll deal with him later.”

Voidspeaker clenched his teeth but nodded as he glanced at Chronolock, still unconscious in Captain Hot Devil’s arms. Captain Hot Devil nodded at the rest and heroes made their way out of the crumbling silo.

Evil may have escaped to plot again, but the day was saved.

“This is my stop.”

Captain Hot Devil stood as the plane touched down at a military airfield.

“You aren’t coming with us?”

Captain Hot Devil shook his head.

“I have a prior appointment. And I’ve had my time in the spotlight, today is your win.”

Pink Star shook her head.

“That’s not true!”

Wonder Knight nodded.

“She’s right, we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Captain Hot Devil gave Aurora Legion a smile.

“The world needs new heroes. I had my time. I’ll be around, but it’s your turn to carry the torch. And hold your heads up high. We all helped, but it was you four who tracked the Atomic Herald down, who uncovered his plot. We all owe you. The whole world owes you.”

Chronolock slowly shuffled forward, eyes at her feet. She slowly looked up at the Captain.

“Um, thank you, for saving me.”

Captain Hot Devil shook his head.

“Just doing my job, kid. You’re the one who saved the world.”

With that, Captain Hot Devil turned and exited the ramp of the plane. He walked out towards a car waiting on the runway. The ramp slowly closed, and the plane began to taxi out. The Aurora Legion sat back down and buckled in. Chronolock sat next to Voidspeaker and nudged his side.

“Hey.”

“W-What is it?”

“You had something to say to me, right?”

“Um…”

“Before the mission.”

“Oh! Um…I thought you didn’t want to hear it.”

“Not before the most important mission of our lives I didn’t.”

“Right…and…”

“Mission’s over now.”

“Oh…OH! Um…d-do you want to hear it now?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, ok, um, hang on, deep breaths, um here I go…”

Wonder Knight and Pink Star both furrowed their brows.

“”I’M SO JEALOUS!””

Four teens stepped out of the airport. As soon as they had exited the door, they stopped and blinked. They were surrounded by flashing lights and screaming crowds.

“There they are!”

“It's the Aurora Legion!”

“Wonder Knight, how did you get your powers?”

“Are you and Pink Star dating?”

“How did you stop the missiles?”

“Is Captain Hot Devil training you?”

“Is it true you’re actually just students?”

“What exactly is the International League of Superheroes?”

A van pulled up to the sidewalk. Someone stepped out and stepped in between the bewildered teens and the reporters.

“That’s enough folks, give them some room. I can take any questions you have.”

The reporters turned to the newcomer as the teens shuffled into the van.

“Who are you?”

A dark-skinned woman with black, braided hair, wearing a suit and sunglasses. She reached up and took off her sunglasses, showing her face to the world.

“Londyn Green, director and founder of the International League of Superheroes.”