Londyn led the International League of Superheroes as they charged up the ramp. They entered on top of the head of the dragon, trembling as it tried to move but ultimately still. The Necrosaurus stood there clutching his head.

“No, how can this be? This doesn’t make any sense! How is this…what is this…!”

He looked up and saw the approaching heroes. He yelled, he screamed, he leaned back clutching his head.

“Gah! You know what?! Fine! I’ll do it myself!”

He began to float into the air, purple lightning cracking around him. Londyn pointed at him.

“Go!”

Agent Tina and Gray Slayer took aim and opened fire, gunshots ringing through the air. The bullets whizzed past, but struck harmlessly on a purple shield that appeared as they approached, fading once the danger was past.

The Necrosaurus swung his staff and a hail of bone shards bombarded the heroes. Aqua Mage lifted her staff and a wave of water rose before the heroes. Icy Falcon swung his cape forward and the wave froze. Voidspeaker thrust forward his hands as he chanted and the ice was painted black.

The bone shards pierced through the wave but failed to exit the other side.

The Necrosaurus grit his teeth and slammed his staff onto the ground. Countless magic circles appeared and zombie raptors charged. And fell to the ground as Agent Tina and the Gray Slayer gunned them down.

“We got these guys, go get him!”

Mr. Dapper Tiger and the Master Elegant Katana took the vanguard, knocking and cutting down the raptors that made it through. The Necrosaurus raised his staff at the charging heroes when a cone of fire enveloped him from above.

“DIE!!!!!”

A horned girl covered in flames dropped from the sky like a meteor. The Gentle Gloom floated from where she had first dropped, raising his hand.

“We made it too….”

A green beam shot down, colliding with the purple shield like metal edges grinding together. The Necrosaurus swore and rushed to the side, flying out of the path of the falling dragon. He swung his staff around to send out a wave of bone shards, forcing the Gentle Gloom to cease his assault. He then turned back to the heroes.

Captain Hot Devil was right in front of him.

The Captain gave a mighty uppercut to the shield, a jet of flame sending the Necrosaurus flying into the sky. The Necrosaurus looked up and saw a shadow. Master Mammoth Owl plunged straight into the shield, sending the Necrosaurus hurtling towards the ground. He landed with a crashed, slightly dazed despite the protection. And then he was blinded by blue light as the Tesla Titan blanketed him with lightning.

“EXPERIENCE NOTHINGNESS!”

A black beam joined in the barrage.

“GET SOME GET SOME!”

“...perish.”

More bullets pinged against the shield.

Captain Hot Devil and Dragontooth stepped in sync, one swinging his fist the other letting out her breath.

A torrent of flames hammered the shield.

Aqua Mage lifted her staff high and a column of water rose above. As it arced back down towards the shield the Icy Falcon flew above, transforming it into a rain of icy spears.

A small crack appeared on the shield.

Majestic Moth swung his glowing wings, sparks of light surging forward in a sparkling beam.

The Gentle Gloom raised both his hands, two beams converging into one.

The cracks grew.

The shield shattered.

The Necrosaurus flew across the dragon’s head, bouncing on the ground. When he came to a stop he shook his head and looked up.

Londyn stood, cannon at the ready, the air howling as a purple sphere grew in the barrel. The sphere shot forth. The Necrosaurus’s eyes widened and he leapt to the side.

But he couldn’t.

A pink pterodactyl flew overhead and a blue-yellow flash shot to the ground. Chronolock landed behind him.

And now his robes vibrated in place.

He tried to move his hand, to point it at the girl.

Wonder Knight leapt and grabbed Chronolock, both flying out of the way.

The Necrosaurus tried to move as his robes ceased vibrating.

The sphere arrived.

The air howled as a black hole exploded into being right on the Necrosaurus’s chest.

The heroes surrounded the cloud of smoke as the black hole dissipated.

There was no sign of the villain.

“Did we get him?”

They heard an explosion in the distance and a cry. They turned. Dayal bounced along the ground, smoke streaming from her robes. The ground beneath the heroes rumbled.

With a mighty crack the trees shattered.

The dragon began to roar.

There was a flash of purple light. The Necrosaurus reappeared, black mist now filling his clothes instead of flesh. His eyes were now glowing red lights.

“I’ll SHOW YOU! I’LL SHOW YOU ALL!!! THIS WORLD IS MINE!”

The Necrosaurus slammed his staff into the dragon, rooting the rod in place. Pale purple light surged across the dragon’s skin like streaks of lightning. The ground erupted into clawed, bony hands, grasping at the heroes’ legs.

“NOW…DIE!!!”

A sound like thunder.

The sounds of shattering glass.

An orange gem broke to pieces.

The bony staff exploded into shards.

He clutched at his neck with ghostly hands.

“GRAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!”

A hellish scream pierced the air.

A column of purple light pierced the sky.

Empty robes dropped to the ground.

Bone hands ceased their grasping. The heroes freed themselves from the grip. They crowded around the pile of robes.

“Is it…is it over?”

The ground began to shake. Flakes began floating off of it. Londyn’s eyes widened.

“GET OFF THE DRAGON!”

Some heroes took to the sky, their fellows in their arms. Others leapt for the branches that remained, grabbing hold of whatever they could.

The dragon opened its mouth.

A soft cry.

Like a gust of wind.

The dragon faded into dust.

“What happened?”

“I think…we won.”

A moment of silence.

And then the cheers began.

The sound of laughter and sighs. Heroes clasped each other on the back and recounted the battle. Others climbed onto the helicopters and sat back in their seats, closing their eyes to rest. Each celebrated in their own way.

Wonder Knight approached a woman sitting strapped in a seat, a metal case around her hands.

“Thank you, for your help.”

Dayal shook her head.

“Please think nothing of it. It is my purpose to serve.”

The rest of Aurora Legion popped over.

“So, are you like, a hero now or what? Or do you have to go to jail now?”

“Void!”

“What, you aren’t curious?”

Dayal smiled and closed her eyes as she shook her head.

“I do not yet know what I am. But many lives were lost due to my mistakes. It is only right that I answer when I am asked. Beyond that, I only know that I must atone.”

Londyn walked over and put a hand on Void’s shoulder.

“All right kids, that’s enough.”

She shooed Aurora Legion away, and then turned to face Dayal.

“This is only the start, you know?”

Dayal nodded.

“I would not have it another way. I have not yet paid for my wrongs.”

Londyn sighed.

“It’s a good start though. Thank you for today.”

Dayal nodded her head. Londyn stepped away and then the helicopter took off. She took a deep breath and tried to forget the paperwork this would entail.

She turned back towards the rowdy heroes. As she watched over them Captain Hot Devil came up beside her.

“Hey.”

“Hello, Captain.”

He rubbed the back of his head.

“Listen, um…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Londyn cut him off and turned to face him.

“I was a different person back then, and I think so were you. That part of our lives is over now.”

She turned back to the heroes.

“This is what I want to focus on now.”

Captain Hot Devil nodded.

“Still, I want to say I’m sorry. Today was…unlike anything I’ve ever faced. The helplessness, the despair, I’ve only ever felt that way one other time. I wouldn’t want anyone to feel like that. So…if I did that to you…then I’m sorry. And twice now, you pulled me out of it. So, I also want to say, thank you.”

Londyn turned to face him once more, looking into his eyes. His eyes shook but he kept to her gaze.

After a moment she extended her hand.

“Apology accepted, Captain.”

He took her hand.

“Thank you, Director.”

She let out a sigh.

“Then, let’s return to the League.”

Captain Hot Devil nodded and the pair walked towards the chatting heroes.

“Tina! Nice shot there, you really are the best!”

“You know it! But that last one wasn’t me.”

“Wait, really?”

“I’m too good to steal credit!”

“Then Gray Slayer?”

“...not me.”

“Wait, then who made that last shot?”

The edges of Londyn’s mouth curled up. She didn’t know but she had a real good idea who might have.

Up in a neighboring mountain overlooking the battlefield, two figures were lying down. One was facing the battle, rifle in hand. The other was leaning against a rock and yawning.

Bob sat up, placed the rifle back in a metal briefcase, and then closed and locked it.

“All that and it still came down to the wire. Couldn’t finish it yourselves, couldn’t even get him to stay still, could you? Heroes are so annoying.”

Xiong Huang yawned.

“You’re the one who’s annoying. Brought me all the way out here and I didn’t even do anything. Seriously, don’t bug me if all it takes is one bullet.”

Bob raised an eyebrow.

“That was hardly just a bullet.”

Xiong Huang shrugged.

“Still could’ve just given it to one of the mortals. Or let me do it in the first place.”

“You want to be a hero?”

“Eh, maybe if I get really bored one day. Sounds annoying though, what’s with the whole not killing people who deserve it thing?”

“Being annoying doesn’t deserve death.”

“Says you.”

“Entering your field of vision when you’re bored also doesn’t.”

“You’re starting to sound like a hero now.”

“...”

“Oooo you felt that one, didn’t you?”

Xiong Huang grinned as Bob stood up and began to walk down a mountain trail.

“Poor Bob, becoming all goody-good. Maybe even heroic? Wait wait, let me say it this time. ‘Heroes are so annoying. So let me make sure they always win and that the villainous Xiong Huang doesn’t kill anybody.’ Did I get it right?”

Bob closed his eyes. Xiong Huang followed behind, poking his cheek with a massive grin on her face.

Villains are so annoying.

“Good evening, all you denizens of the planet Earth. This is GNN and I’m your host, Brendan Baird, bringing you all the updates you need. Today there is only one thing to discuss: the Necrosaurus and the heroes who put an end to his reign of terror.

Director Londyn Green personally led a task force of the International League of Superheroes’ finest today to confront the Necrosaurus in a battle of epic proportions. While GNN is still investigating all the details of this cataclysmic clash, one thing is certain: the ILS proved victorious in the end. The Necrosaurus’s hordes left as abruptly as they arrived, fading until dust with the loss of their dark master.

For now the world scrambles to pick up the pieces of this brief but destructive Dark Lord. Scattered armies must be reorganized, broken cities must be repaired, and the loss of the world’s strategic fuel reserves remains a heavy blow.

But for now, the world can breathe a collective sigh of relief. And give a warm thank you to Director Green and the heroes she led for the incredible act of bravery. Some have asked if one organization and one woman have too much power, others have questioned the Director’s judgment in the face of unprecedented challenges. But I know I, for one, will sleep well tonight, knowing Director Green and the ILS are out there, watching over us in the dark. This is GNN and Brendan Baird and I wish you all a good night.