Villain Retirement

"Why can't I go!?"

"Because you need to study and have friends, Karina."

"I have friends!"

"Normal friends."

"Aunt Anna is normal!"

"She's an android."

"I take offense in that."

A week after the meeting regarding the Tournament, the people that will be representing Earth in the upcoming competition were now preparing to board and have started gathering in the Academy.

Why the Academy? One might ask.

The Tournament will be the most important event in Human history, and will not only be remembered by Earth for years to come but by the entire universe. And what better place to send off the people that will be representing Earth other than the most important place on the planet?

The Mega Academy, literally where the future of Earth resides.

And right now, Katherine, Anna, and Karina were watching on the side… along with the thousand students in the Mega Auditorium hall of the Mega Academy as they waited for their heroes to arrive. Everyone was extremely excited, as most of the planet did not know who was chosen to join the Tournament.

A voting happened, but the World Government did not really reveal even a single poll.

And so, right now…

…We get to witness the rebirth of our heroes!]

And with the announcer, Benjaya, finally appearing in the center of the crowd, the students began howling and cheering, filling the entire stadium with a sort of somber madness.

"You know… I've seen a lot of culture and other planets," Anna looked at the students that were jumping around like monkeys, "But you Earthlings do know how to hype shit up."

"Anna, I told you not to use that language in front of my daughter."

"Psh, it's fine. She's like what… 9 now or something? I learned all the languages the 2nd day I was born," Anna waved her hand.

"You're an android, Anna."

"...And? That's not an excuse for Karina not to learn more profound vernacular."

"Whether it's profound or not is extremely deba—"

[Let's not waste any time and introduce our first champion!] The spotlight that was drowning Benjaya very slowly dimmed. But soon, another source of light appeared beside him—literally, a source of light.

[And of course, why would we look far from home, when our very own Headmaster has been chosen to represent us in the Tournament!?]

"Huwhat…!?"

"The Golden President is joining!? Wait, who will be standing in as the Headmaster, then!?"

"...But I thought he was an alien?"

"Wait… does this mean we have a vacation?"

"...You're in an Academy where all we do is train in the most advanced facilities, go out in places that most have never been to before, and we have fun doing it—what vacation are you fucking talking about? I don't even want to graduate from this place."

[Everyone…]

And as Bulwark was handed the mic, all the students that were whispering with each other all stopped,

[...I hope none of you would make your instructors go crazy just because I am not here. And as your headmaster, I promise to make all of you proud.]

"Yeah!"

And once again, the students started cheering. But with Bulwark raising his hand, their cheerings turned into claps, and soon just nods of respect and whispers to each other.

[I don't know about y'all, but that was hype! It's not every day that we get a member of the Rainbow to join in on the fun, gays represent!]

"I'm… representing humanity," Bulwark looked at Benjaya for a few seconds, before taking a few steps back and just looking away altogether, "And I'm not a member of that… rainbow thing."

"...But you're gay," Benjaya moved the mic away as he whispered to Bulwark.

"I know love, and that's all everyone needs to know," Bulwark shook his head, "Please refrain from saying anything like that again in front of all the children. And I am still paying you, so…"

"...Right, right," Benjaya just awkwardly smiled before facing the crowd again, [And now, for the next one—and as all of you may know, there are five. And for the second one…

…is Whiteking!]

"..." Unlike with Bulwark's entrance, everyone just turned quiet as soon as Bernard walked to the auditorium. Some of them, even turning off their phones in fear of Bernard hacking them. Unbeknownst to all of them, however, Bernard already has.

As soon as Bernard stood on the stage, however, the clapping began.

[Do you want to say something, Whiteking?]

"I was born without any powers," Bernard quickly grabbed the microphone from Benjaya, "I was only born with a mind better than most—a remnant of the old civilization, of those that came before. We are not yet irrelevant. I am not a Super, but I rose to power and I received power. To those that are watching this at home, know that I am representing you…

…I am representing the past and future of the human race."

"..."

"Tch, sleazy fucker," Anna scoffed as she shook her head, "You see that grandpa of yours, Karina? That's the kind of man you need to avoid. Words like rose, but a rose with venomous thorns. No wonder Diana fell for his bullshit."

Karina, however, completely ignored Anna as she just clapped and cheered for her grandfather.

[Whew, I feel my balls shrinking just from hearing Whiteking speak,] Benjaya fanned himself with his hand. And once again, another one of the champions moved away from him as Bernard moved closer to Bulwark.

"Why… do you keep making this guy the host?"

"...A lot of people want to see him. And Hannah, she was on the list too, right?"

"She refused to join," Bernard chuckled, "She said she didn't want to stress herself and just wanted to watch—and considering Riley is also joining, it would be too much to have 3 Ro—"

[And while the hype is still not gone, let's give it up to Whiteking's daughter, the Nuclear Baby, Seraph!]

"No one fucking calls me Nuclear Baby anymore, can you stop fucking mentioning that name? This is why people love your sister more than you!" And without even needing to hand the mic, Hannah stomped her way to the stage.

[Whew, as always, Seraph is coming in hot, everybody!]

"Nuclear Seraph! We love you!"

"Please look here! Look here!"

"..." Hannah was going to grab the mic from Benjaya, but just chose not to as she just crossed her arms and stood still, only glancing at her fans and giving a small wave.

[And if you think she's hot, you're about to see the sexiest super alive, literally. Voted as the Sexiest Super of the previous generation, Hera!]

"Oh my god!"

"Hera! Did you look at my audition!? I auditioned for Hera Entertainment last year!"

And perhaps out of all the champions that would be representing Earth, Hera was the one most used to the spotlight—and it was evident with the way she walked to the stage. She was already taller than Hannah, and yet she was still rocking heels and even wearing sunglasses as she waved at her fans that outnumbered Hannah's.

[I am not going to give you a fancy speech or even a motivational one,] Hera gestured to her fans to calm down, [Instead, I am going to give you a promise…

…we're going to make the other species our bitch.]

"Heck yeah!"

"That's what I am talking about, Earth No. 1!"

"Kick some alien ass!"

[O…Okay, that was something,] Benjaya quickly grabbed the mic away from Hera, [Aliens are cool, everyone. My boyfriend's from another planet, hello? They're cool! Let's not discriminate.]

"So, it seems I am going to go on an adventure with another Ross," Hera lowered her sunglasses as she stood beside Hannah, "This should be fun."

"...Do you even have time to do this? Aren't you busy with your agency or something?"

"Oh, I am doing this for the agency," Hera winked before putting on her sunglasses again, "We're going universal, literally. Anyway, your brother's up."

"Don't claim that it's nepotism," Hannah smirked, "It's not our fucking fault we're the most popular family on the planet."

"Oh, I'm not claiming anything," Hera let out a chuckle, "Don't you know…? Riley signed on to my agency before he was thrown to another planet."

"...What?"

[And now, finally—the last champion that will be representing our dear and lovely planet. I am sure that most of you are already aware of who it is. Considered to be the most powerful of all the supers and the one that has the most potential…

…Tempo!]

"..."

"..."

"...What?"