Morning sunlight filtered through the windows of the Parker residence. Adrian sat cross-legged at the breakfast table, scarfing down eggs and toast while Peter fumbled with his backpack.
"I want stories from your camping trip with Adrian," Aunt May said with a bright smile as she handed Peter a juice box.
"Maybe later, Aunt May! I gotta get to school before the principal gives me that disappointed look again!" Peter replied, grabbing a slice of toast and bolting out the door.
Adrian chuckled and took another bite. After Peter left, he spent some time chatting with Aunt May and Uncle Ben about his living situation and vague future plans. The conversation was warm, but as always, Adrian's mind kept drifting to the life he was building outside this house.
Eventually, Adrian thanked them both and left the Parker home.
Montage - Adrian's Day of Hero Work
Dressed in his Red Nova hero costume, Adrian soared above the city using Float, scanning the streets like a silent sentinel.
He zipped down with warp gates to stop a purse snatcher mid-dash, phasing through a lamppost to trip the guy cleanly.
Later, he caught a child just in time before they wandered into traffic, scooping the kid up in one fluid motion and floating them safely to the sidewalk.
By the time 7:00 p.m. rolled around, Adrian leaned against a rooftop wall, armor scuffed and scratched, sweat matting his hair under the mask.
The last rays of the sun faded behind the city skyline as Adrian stood atop a rooftop, his suit scratched and dented from a full day of hero work. He adjusted his cracked visor and stretched his aching arms.
"Man… I need a nap. Or five."
Just then, a low chuckle echoed behind him.
Adrian spun around.
A figure stood under the flickering rooftop light—black tactical armor clinging tight to his frame, a wolf-shaped helmet masking his face. The gauntlets on his hands gleamed with sharpened claw-like blades. He radiated controlled menace.
"So, you're the hero everyone's been talking about... Red Nova."
Adrian rolled his shoulders. "Depends. You a fan or a threat?"
The man tilted his head. "What if I'm both?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. Shadow Wolf?"
The stranger grinned beneath his mask. "Got it in one."
Without another word, Shadow Wolf disappeared he just gone.
Adrian's instincts screamed. He ducked just as a bladed gauntlet whistled past his head. Shadow Wolf reappeared behind him, delivering a kick that Adrian barely blocked with hardened forearms. The impact still knocked him back.
"Fast," Adrian muttered, skidding across the rooftop. "But I'm faster."
Green lightning surged across his limbs as he activated 10% Full Cowling. Sparks burst beneath his boots as he launched forward, fist cocked.
The punch connected square in Shadow Wolf's chest, launching him through a rooftop water tank. The metal crumpled like foil as Shadow Wolf smashed through and rolled across the rooftop, landing on one knee.
Adrian charged again, but this time, the wolf vanished in midair.
Adrian barely caught a glimmer of motion—a ripple in space.
That's not teleportation... that's something else.
Shadow Wolf reappeared above, crashing down with both claws like twin hammers. Adrian raised his arms, activating Hardening. Sparks flew as claws scraped across his armored arms.
He grunted. "Okay. That stung."
Shadow Wolf didn't speak. He moved like a blur—flashing from place to place using short-range spatial jumps. A claw swipe here, a roundhouse kick there. Adrian stayed on the defensive, blocking with reinforced limbs and countering with sharp strikes, using High Spec to read every angle and muscle twitch.
Adrian ducked under another slice and activated Float, hovering above the rooftop. He threw three Warp Gates mid-air, using them to zip behind Shadow Wolf and deliver a spinning kick to the ribs. Shadow Wolf was sent tumbling again, but he caught himself, flipping and sticking the landing with animal-like grace.
Adrian's chest rose and fell. "You're trained. Whoever you are, you're not some random thug."
Shadow Wolf didn't answer. He opened his hands, and a sudden spatial rift burst behind Adrian.
"Shit!" Adrian leaped to the side, but too late—Shadow Wolf appeared through the rift and slammed Adrian into the roof with a vicious hammer-fist.
The concrete cracked beneath him. Adrian groaned.
"Alright… I didn't want to use this yet."
Green lightning surged again—but this time, Adrian vanished.
Shadow Wolf hesitated.
Then—bam! Adrian emerged from the ground behind him, a result of Permeation.
The punch connected with Shadow Wolf's helmet, sending him sprawling across the roof. Sparks burst from his armor. His breathing came heavier now, ragged even through the helmet.
Adrian lowered his arms. "You done yet?"
But then he heard it—whoosh.
Another blade aimed for his head.
He turned instinctively—and saw her.
Cassie. Her eyes wild, her body emerging from the shadows, a black blade stretched from her hand like a tendril.
Adrian's heart stopped.
"Wait—!"
But it was too late. He activated Permeation again, phasing just as the blade passed through where his head had been.
He emerged behind her.
She turned, ready for the next strike—but froze.
Eyes widened. Her shadow blade flickered that ability is that you.
"Adrian...?"
His helmet sparked as he pulled it off. "Cassie…?"
She took a shaky step back, voice trembling. "No. That's impossible. You—"
"Yeah," Adrian said, chest heaving. "It's me."
Shadow Wolf staggered to his feet, mask cracked just enough for Adrian to glimpse familiar eyes behind it.
Realization dawned.
"Wait… Bobby?"
Silence. Then the wolf disappeared again—fwoop—Bobby appears and smack the Shit out of Adrian in the face.