The immediate aftermath was… intense. Josh was quickly surrounded by heroes, police, and paramedics, all wanting answers. Before he knew it, he was ushered into a temporary command center set up in a nearby fire truck, where Ebony Blade began the questioning.

  "How did you do that, Mr. Miller?" she asked, her voice sharp and direct. "Was it some sort of metagene you just recently awakened?"

  Blue Lock leaned against a console, arms crossed, a skeptical smirk on his face. Despite being only nineteen, he carried himself with the weary confidence of a veteran. "Yeah, care to explain how you managed to pull off a freaking rain dance and then suck up fire like a… Fairy Tail kung fu wizard?"

  Josh sighed, rubbing his temples. He knew they wouldn't believe him, but after everything that had happened, there wouldn't be a point in hiding it. "It's magic," he said simply. "I used magic to put out the fire, and Ki to fight Qun Via."

  Blue Lock snorted in amusement. "Oh, so not just magic but Ki too… Right."

  Ebony Blade, however, remained focused, her gaze intense. "If what you say is true, Mr. Miller, it would explain several things. The enhanced strength, the speed, how you survived a laser blast from an X-I-ranked weapon during your fight against Qun Via." She paused, then added grimly, "It is also very likely that you're being targeted."

  Josh's eyes narrowed. "You think Qun Via and Lizard Commando were after me because of my abilities?"

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Ebony Blade nodded. "It's possible, as your powers aren't like metagenes, genetic engineering, or any known form of technology. And above all… You were taught these skills…”

  Josh nodded in confirmation. "That's… a simplified version, yeah."

  Ebony Blade's expression hardened, her earlier skepticism replaced by a grim understanding. "Then whoever is employing these C-rank villains must have sent Qun Via to properly test you. And given how well you held your own against her… well, they likely want to gain such abilities for themselves.”

  Blue Lock finally dropped his smirk, his expression shifting to serious. He looked at Josh, then at Ebony Blade. "So, what do we do with him?”

  Ebony Blade turned to Josh, her voice firm. "Reluctantly, Mr. Miller, you've become a person of interest. And to ensure your safety, and the safety of those close to you, all of you will be placed under Hero League protection."

  Josh lowered his head, running a hand through his hair. This was exactly what he was afraid of. He had a taste of that world—the world of heroes and villains and constant danger—and no longer wanted any part of it. Yet, because some psycho decided he was a science experiment, he was being dragged back in.

  As he was processing this unwelcome development, a League agent rushed into the command center, his face urgent. "Ma'am, we have an urgent message that needs to be seen in the main meeting room. Immediately."

  Ebony Blade nodded, her expression tightening. "Blue Lock, with me. Mr. Miller, you as well."

  Josh was being pulled deeper into this, and he had a sinking feeling that whatever this urgent message was, it wasn't good.