Big Event, I Like It!

Night fell.

In Silver Tree Town's square, cheerful music rang out as the circus clowns performed acrobatics, drawing the crowd's gaze.

Moments later, fireworks began to bloom above the town, their brilliant colors painting smiles on every face.

For now, the atmosphere was joyous and relaxed.

On the town's tallest structure, the Bell Tower, another flare shot up and burst open midair.

But it produced no sparks—only a cloud of dark green smoke.

The tower keeper shook his head and muttered under his breath, "Great. They've got a dud."

"I told you, this is a third-rate circus. Nothing like the ones I saw as a kid."

As the keeper grumbled, more flares rose from the tower, each bursting into that same dark green smoke.

Those fumes didn't rise. Instead, they sank downward, carried by the wind toward the town center.

A few seconds passed before the keeper realized he was surrounded by the green haze. He coughed, pinched his nose, and hurried inside.

He shut the window, watching the green fog seep through the air outside, and shook his head. "Those idiots must be using cheap gunpowder."

Just then, his body convulsed, and he collapsed to the floor.

Trembling violently, he looked around. For some reason, his vision had turned blood-red.

The dim bulb in the room now blazed like a high-powered searchlight, so bright it hurt.

"Am I sick?"

His teeth chattering, he pulled out his phone and dialed for an ambulance.

But the call wouldn't go through. After several attempts, he suddenly couldn't catch his breath—and stopped breathing altogether.

By then, the green fog was spreading rapidly across all of Silver Tree Town.

A clown watched it all, chuckled softly, and pulled out a gold coin, rolling it between his fingers.

The coin was engraved with the pattern of a bat.

*

*

*

That same night.

Azu floated in outer space, eyes closed, facing the sun.

Sunlight struck his body, turning into strands of golden light that poured into him.

Every blood vessel inside him glowed gold, tracing out a complex, mysterious pattern.

After an unknown span of time, Azu opened his eyes. A brilliant golden light flashed in his pupils, like the noonday sun.

At the same time, fine golden lines lit up at the corners of his eyes, fading only as the light within them dimmed.

Azu let out a breath.

"Finally full."

"I can fire the maximum output of 'Heat Ray' now. But I don't know how many times."

Just then, a line of text floated across his retina.

Warning: 7 hours 14 minutes until Disaster Event.

Azu froze.

A warning seven hours early—this was no small matter.

He turned and flew into the atmosphere, turning into a streak of fire as he sped away.

Seven hours. Just the time for a nap.

When dawn came the next day, Azu gently pushed Angelina, who was wrapped around him like an octopus, off his body, got out of bed, and dressed.

A message appeared before his eyes.

Disaster Event triggered.

Do you wish to handle this event?

Curious about the event that had warned him over seven hours in advance, Azu gladly accepted, eager to see what kind of disaster it was.

You have accepted the event.

Event Name: Night Realm Rising. The Grand Performance.

Description: Silver Tree Town, located outside the city, is now in unprecedented crisis. The 'Black Bat Circus,' led by 'Midnight Clown' Brad Wiley, Senator of 'Vought,' has occupied the town and transformed 2,174 residents into 'Nightcrawlers.'

Event Requirements: 1. Kill at least half of the 'Nightcrawlers.' 2. Destroy the 'Black Bat Circus.' 3. Kill 'Midnight Clown' Brad Wiley.

Event Start!

"Finally."

Azu's lips curled slightly. "Finally, something bigger than rescuing hostages."

"This incident is interesting."

"Senator 'Midnight Clown.'"

"The Black Bat Circus."

"Over two thousand 'Nightcrawlers.'"

"Completing a big event like this should come with a decent reward, right?"

He jumped up and slapped Angelina's peach-shaped rear. "Time to get up. We've got work."

Angelina lifted her head, eyes still hazy. "Master, do you want more?"

Azu smirked. "Darling, not that kind of work."

He had Angelina prepare, then headed back to the command hall. Ashley entered shortly after. "Homelander, the costume design team has a proposal ready. Should I have them come up now?"

"No, wait."

"I have something more important to handle right now."

Azu crossed his arms, watching the TV screen, waiting for the diplomatic liaison to appear.

Ten minutes passed. Nothing happened.

Azu found it strange, then considered two possibilities.

One: the disaster in Silver Tree Town hadn't been noticed by the National Security Department or relevant agencies yet.

Two: the authorities didn't intend for The Seven to get involved.

But.

"Screw it."

Azu turned around. "Give me the location of Silver Tree Town."

"Also, gather the others."

Ashley hurried to carry out the order.

Moments later.

Princess Frost, Livewire, Element Man, and Starlight walked in.

Azu looked at Ashley.

She quickly said, "Queen Maeve and Black Noir aren't in the Seven Tower. They left last night. I've notified them to come back."

"No time to wait."

Azu spoke fast. "A small town called Silver Tree Town outside the city is hit by a severe disaster. We're leaving now."

"Ashley, get the helicopter ready."

"You take the helicopter. We'll meet in town. That's it."

With that, Azu flew out the window.

Following the coordinates Ashley gave him, Azu soon spotted the town.

It was small, with low buildings. With his eyesight, he could take it all in at a glance.

"Master, look."

Angelina, who had been brought along and was now tightly wrapped around him, pointed to the countryside outside the town.

A temporary camp had been set up there. Soldiers moved around inside, and outside, military SUVs circled the town continuously, as if monitoring the situation.

Strange.

The town was eerily quiet.

It didn't look like a place with two thousand residents.

Azu lowered his altitude, landed in a patch of woods, and set Angelina down. "Stay here on standby. Wait for my orders."

He'd brought Angelina out to let her gain some real combat experience, but he didn't want to expose her presence, so he left her in the woods for now.

Angelina nodded and stepped back. Azu shot into the sky, then howled toward the military camp.

Seconds later, he crashed into the camp like a meteor, shaking the entire base. Countless people stumbled and fell.