Kreji growled as he looked over the security cameras again and again, replaying the footage of all three traitors returning and now teaming up. Two of the upgraded could be killed by The First Fugitive, and now the rebels could leave the city and escape to continue their plan. He should've killed Blade and Talon the moment he saw them. But that's when the blast doors opened and he turned around.

Shard was there, hands behind his back. He gave one glance at the footage before shrugging it off and walking over to his second in command. "The experiment's progress?"

"N-Nearly every Shade on Earth is upgraded, sir. More Shade from the Empire will arrive here soon to be upgraded as well." Kreji said with a clear of his throat. "But The High Council isn't happy. They told me through messages that they'll be here in a matter of an Earth hour."

"It's been an hour." Shard said before hearing a ship land outside. He grinned and then began walking with Kreji outside.

Then? There they stood. The founding fathers and mothers of The Shade Empire. Shard was the only Shade alive to have ever seen The High Council in person and remain alive. Most to see them and not die was always because of how they were in hologram form. But now, this was an in person visit.

The Stinger of the Council growled when he saw Shard and showed his yellow stingers. "YOU DIRECTLY DISOBEYED US."

The Crushers and Shockers all ignited or activated their weapons, slowly walking over to Shard with growls and stern looks on their faces.

"I am doing what you are too afraid to do, my Council." Shard said with a bow before he too unleashed his Stingers. "You think our emotions and will are what make us stronger. They don't. All of us need to fight like a single unit."

"And what gives you the right to think and speak to us like that?!" The first Crusher growled.

"Because I'm the only one who has actually done anything about the traitors. You just sit there in your thrones, silent and dead. I have made nearly every battle plan, every strategy, every invasion. Everything that the Empire has now is because of me." Shard hissed before seeing the Council charge at him. He grinned and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, a whole group of upgraded Shades stabbed the two Crushers of the group between their eyes and then slashed them in the chest, gutting them. The Shockers roared and shot out electricity, but Kreji hopped in and decapitated both of them with a swing of his red blades.

The Stinger flicked his hands and then his Stingers zoomed by, cutting Kreji in the sides and then stabbing all of the upgraded through the heart before his stingers began to dash towards Shard.

Shard dodged the two flying blades and then sent his own against them. He then punched the Stinger in the jaw and then grabbed him by the neck, slamming his kneecap over and over into his chest. He then let the Stinger go and roundhouse kicked him onto the dirt. He cackled and lifted his hands.

His stingers went near them, and then Shard slammed his hands down, and the stingers SLICED through the Stinger as he sat up. The corpse went into bloody yellow pieces as it fell.

Kreji blinked. "S-Sir...You just..."

"Killed The High Council." Shard grinned as he retracted his Stingers and then stepped onto their ship, and after making it to the cockpit, he pressed a recording button and then looked at the camera. "Shade Empire! Come to Earth as quickly as possible so a new upgrade can be recieved! The High Council is no more like we all planned, and now? We will show their spirits in Hell below that they are nothing but obsolete. Do not pursue the traitors until I give the command. That is all."

Kreji then stepped forward towards his master. "Commander- I mean...Emperor Shard..." He then bowed before his new master.

Shard grinned and then stepped forth towards his second in command. "Today is a new day for The Shade. Let the traitors flee. Their plan, whatever it is, won't succeed."

"But Master, I have gathered information on many villains of this world. So many like us...they always suffer defeat." Kreji whispered.

"I know this." Shard said. "But unlike them, I already know enough about our enemies." He then lifted his wrist and showed a wrist device of some kind. He then brought up holograms of Nova, Talon, Macy, Blade, and Hunter. "I know what will make them 'tick'."

Kreji cackled. "Excellent. When will I be receiving this new upgrade...?"

"Oh. You're not getting it."

"...What? Master, I don't under-"

"You will. Soon enough."

Meanwhile, our heroes had gathered their gear and zoomed out into the night sky, with Hunter piloting the ship. "We should be there in an hour or so. If what Nova's information says is true."

"It has to be." Nova said as she rested on one of the seats of the ship before a spare and silver jetpack caught her eye. "So, who's that for-"

"Blade." Hunter said simply. "I had to get something for her."

"I mean, from what I heard, you saved her life. She should be giving something to you." Nova said with a shrug.

"I'm a kind guy." Hunter said with a shrug. "And by the way, if what I'm thinking about these new upgrades is true, then you all might wanna head into storage. Should be some new gear in there."

"Jetpacks?!" Nova exclaimed before she then cleared her throat. "I mean, uhh, yeah. I'll let the others know." She then stood from her seat and began walking towards her allies.

Macy and Blade seemed to be getting along, with Talon just shaking his head and crossing his arms as he watched the girls talk from afar. Nova walked over. "What is it?"

"Macy started apologizing about something for no reason, Blade said it was ok, and I think they're best friends now." Talon said, looking at her with a shrug. "Now I'm feeling left out."

"Eh, it's a custom here. Besides, I'm sure right now is not the best moment to catch up with your sister." Nova said. "Buttt...Hunter did say we could get some new weapons and armor and stuff-"

"You had me at new outfit."