Bab 6: Big Misunderstanding
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Flash, witnessing the gruesome scene and seeing Miles's mask, made a snap judgment.
"Hold up! You one of them?" Flash's voice crackled with suspicion, his stance aggressive and ready.
Miles, still reeling from the intensity of using Superman's lasers, barely had a chance to respond before Flash was upon him. In an instant, Miles found himself slammed against the alley wall, the back of his head hitting the brick with a painful thud.
"Hey—wait! I'm not—" Miles started, his words choked out as Flash's hand pressed against his chest.
"As if I would get tricked by a villain!" Flash interrupted sharply, his gaze hard and unyielding.
The Dice System chimed in, the notifications floating before Miles's strained eyes:
**< (Flash) Likeability: -5 >**
**< (Flash) Likeability: -10 >**
Miles's heart sank as he saw the numbers. His attempt to help had spiraled into a disaster.
In desperation and defense, his eyes emitted a bright, menacing red glow, instinctively firing laser beams at Flash who, with his super-speed, dodged them effortlessly.
To Flash, this was further confirmation of his initial suspicion. Reacting to the perceived threat, he intensified his assault.
With superhuman speed, Flash darted around, striking Miles repeatedly.
Bam! Bam!
The world became a blur as Miles was dragged at breakneck speed through the city streets, colliding with walls, street objects, and lampposts.
Each impact sent pain ricocheting through his body, his vision blurring, his consciousness teetering on the edge.
Blood sputtered out of his nose and the side of his face as he repeatedly got battered.
"Stop... please... you've got it all wrong..." Miles gasped, his voice barely a whisper as he struggled to form the words.
But Flash was relentless, his mind set on subduing what he believed to be a dangerous escaped convict. Just as Miles felt consciousness slipping away, a new voice crackled through the commotion, piercing the haze of pain and confusion.
"Flash, hold up! The lady from the alley—she's saying the guy in the mask saved her," Green Arrow's voice came through the comms, urgent and clear.
Flash skidded to a halt, the sudden stop disorienting Miles further. Without a word, Flash gripped Miles's arm tighter and zipped them back to the alleyway. The world was a streak of colors until they reappeared at the scene of the initial confrontation.
The woman, now sitting on the ground and attended by paramedics, looked up at their approach. Her eyes widened at the sight of Miles, bruised and battered.
"That's him! He saved me. He stopped that man from... from taking over my mind," she exclaimed, her voice firm despite her obvious trauma.
Flash's expression morphed from one of fierce determination to confusion and then to embarrassment. He released Miles, stepping back as the reality of his mistake set in.
"Uh, I..." Flash began, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Look, I'm really sorry, man. I thought you were one of them. This... this was a big misunderstanding."
"What the hell man?! You nearly killed me!" Miles yelled with a croaked voice and began coughing afterwards.
"I'm really sorry I swear I thought you were a bad guy..." The Flash did his best to explain.
Miles, slumping against the wall for support, managed a weak smile. "Ugh... Super-speedy decisions and all..."
As much as he wanted to remain mad, he didn't have the strength for that at the moment. He was just glad that the confusion was cleared up before his body got turned into mush by Flash.
Flash offered a hand to help him stand, his eyes apologetic. "Yeah, but I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. You did good here today... Sorry for the rough handling."
Miles accepted the help, steadying himself. "I guess I should work on my superhero look... and maybe get a less villainous mask."
Some of the mdeics rushed to attend to him due to his battered face.
The Flash felt bad seeing how Miles winced in pain when some liquids were applied to clean up his face.
After a couple of minutes, Miles could be seen holding a cold compress to the side of his chin.
Flash came over to apologize for the umpteenth time and at this point Miles grudge had died out.
"I'll let you make it up to me one of these days," Miles stated.
Flash nodded with a jolt of light laughter.
"So, what's your hero name?" he asked, eager to learn more about the new face on the scene.
Miles, caught off guard by the question, stuttered slightly. "Uh, it's... well, it's a work in progress," he admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
He hadn't thought that far ahead yet, too caught up in the mechanics of the Dice System and the reality of suddenly being thrust into the action.
Green Arrow, overhearing the exchange, chimed in with a stern tone. "You should focus more on controlling those lasers of yours," he advised, his voice serious. "You could seriously injure someone, or worse. You need to train seriously before you put yourself out there again, or you might make a mistake you can't take back."
Miles winced at the harshness in Green Arrow's voice, but he knew the seasoned hero was right. The power of the laser beams was much higher than he expected. When he recalled how he always read of superman holding back, it made sense to him now.
A little mishap would be all it took to wreak immense havoc with such a power. Although it was starting to fade now since the time limit was at hand.
Flash, sensing the tension, laid a reassuring hand on Miles's shoulder. "Don't sweat it too much," he said, trying to lighten the mood. "Everyone starts somewhere. Just keep practicing, alright? And hey, why do you want to be a superhero anyway?"
Miles looked between the two heroes, gathering his thoughts. "Ever since I was a kid, I looked up to you guys. You're not just heroes; you're legends. It only makes sense to follow in your footsteps now that I have the chance, now that I have the power... Although I won't be slamming random people into walls."
'But I will still do things my own way.'
"I'm sorry once again man," A wry smile appeared on Flash's face.
"Its fine, I'm no longer mad," Miles raised a thumb.
Flash nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "That's a solid reason if I ever heard one. I'm rooting for you, kid. Just, you know, maybe practice away from the public next time?"
With a light-hearted wave, Flash and Green Arrow then left the scene, their figures retreating into the distance, leaving Miles to reflect on the whirlwind of events. As they departed, Miles's Dice System chimed with several notifications:
< (Flash) Likeability: +10 >
< (Flash) Likeability: +5 >
< (Green Arrow) Likeability: +1 >
**[ Hidden Task Completed: Interact With A Superhero ]**
**< Reward: +20 points >**
**[ Hidden Task Completed: Team up with a superhero ]**
**< Reward: + One Time Use Character Abilities Card >**
(Attain the full abilities of a DC character for a limited time frame)
**[ Task Completed: Save A Random Person ]**
**< Reward: +10 points >**
Miles looked at the glowing messages with a mixture of pride and relief. It had indeed been a fruitful day even though he nearly got whooped to death.
Each notification not only confirmed his growing capabilities but also cemented his place within this new extraordinary reality.
Meanwhile, back at the Watchtower, the mood was one of quiet contemplation. Flash and Green Arrow reported back on the successful roundup of the prisoners, but another topic soon captured their attention.
Batman, having listened to their debrief, was especially intrigued by the mention of the mysterious new hero with eye lasers. He stood before the massive screen that monitored global activities, his silhouette casting a long shadow across the cold metallic floor.
"A superhero that shoots laser beams from his eyes?" he mused aloud, his voice echoing slightly in the vastness of the command center. "Is there a new Kryptonian Superman didn't tell us about?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Batman was known for his meticulous nature and deep-rooted suspicion, traits that had served him well in his many years of crime-fighting.
"I will have to discuss this with Superman when he returns," Batman decided, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the console. "If there's a new player with powers resembling those of Kryptonian origin, we need to ensure they are not a threat."
Flash, ever the optimist, tried to allay some of Batman's concerns. "He seemed like a good guy, though. Helped us out back there, even if he's got some learning to do."
Green Arrow added, "He's raw, but he's got potential. And he definitely saved that woman today."
Batman merely nodded, his expression unreadable behind his cowl. "Potential is one thing. Trust is another. We'll keep an eye on him for now."
As the heroes dispersed, returning to their respective duties, the Watchtower resumed its ever-watchful stance over the Earth.
Miles, unbeknownst to him, had just taken his first steps into a larger world, one filled with heroes and legends, challenges and opportunities. And high above in orbit, the most legendary among them were now watching his every move.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone