Chapter 17

Time flew by and Thursday arrived. With work in the morning, then training, meditating and helping Lorelei, my days were full.

Still, I was happy and excited about tomorrow. I've never tasted alcohol before and I've always thought it was strange that so many Terrans seem to love it.

"Guess I'll see what's all the fuss been about."

I thought while returning home from work when a strong earthquake struck. It almost made me lose my balance but it didn't end there.

Following the earthquake, the pavement close to me split open and enormous green vines sprung from beneath the earth. They were so big that they towered over the nearby buildings.

Voranis: What in Adun's name is this monstrosity?

People around me began screaming and running away while the giant plant went on a rampage, throwing cars and smashing buildings with its vines.

I covertly activated my armor with only one thought in mind.

"What is wrong with this place?"

Events that could destroy whole cities were happening every other week and that wasn't even during war time.

Seeing a vine coiling around a bus full of people made my thoughts take a back seat as I sprung into action.

I sped towards the bus while using abandoned cars like footholds and just as the vine began crushing the bus, a cross slash from my two psi-blades severed it in half.

The stump writhed and thrashed about, almost slamming into me in the process but I stood my ground while guarding the people that were coming out of the bus.

At some point, other heroes arrived but the situation remained pretty much the same. No matter how many times the vines were cut, crushed or burned, more took their place.

To make matters worse, the plant released a strange chemical gas that made people...laugh uncontrollably.

Thankfully, my armor filtered the air which made it possible for me to go and carry affected people away to safety.

Admittedly, I wasn't really useful in this particular situation besides protecting the people. The plant was simply too big for me to be effective against it.

I could try to hit it with a psi-storm but I didn't know how the gas inside would react to it. It might even cause a huge explosion.

"The silver lining here is that with the effort of the heroes and me, the regular people were away from...Oh come on!"

Not very far, a reporter and her cameraman were filming the fight. I went to them just in time to block a smaller vine from making meat paste out of them.

Voranis: Are you out of your minds?

I turned to them after dealing with the vine.

Voranis: It's dangerous here! Please value your lives more and leave this place.

Cameraman: Y-Yes sir!

Without fuss, the cameraman simply turned and left while exhaling in relief.

Reporter: Really? Do you know what it took to persuade him to come with me here?

The woman had short blond hair which I believe it's called bob cut. She looked sharp and had a strict air around her.

"Huh?"

The contrast between the man and her flabbergasted me.

Voranis: Does that mean you won't leave?

She stared at me and then sighed.

Reporter: Fine, I'll go a little bit further. By the way, thank you for saving me, I'm Catherine Grant from Daily Planet.

She said her piece and then turned and started walking away.

"Damn...I wish she would walk a little bit faster!"

Finally done with this, I turned around. Ineffective or not, I started chopping the plant as much as I could while dodging the vines.

This went on for quite some time. My heart pounded and my chest heaved from the exhaustion.

"Note to self, add some endurance training to the menu!"

Though my body's endurance was quite alright, increasing it won't hurt.

While trying to think of a training regiment, the plant suddenly shriveled and collapsed.

Voranis: I don't know what happened, but it's finally dead!

"This thing's regeneration was higher than a burrowed Roach and a Queen's healing added together!"

Checking my surroundings, I saw some of the heroes were looking a bit exhausted as well.

I don't blame them. Trying to protect people and minimizing damage to our surroundings is not as easy as I thought.

"The good thing is that there was only one plant and we contained it. I can't imagine the amount of damage they would have cause if there were more of these in the city."

As I stood there, someone flew next to me with a warm smile.

Superman: Good work out there!

Voranis: Thank you, but we both know I wasn't much help.

Superman: Don't sell yourself short. Each person had a part to play in this fight. Protecting people might not sound much if you compare it to fighting the bad guys but that's the actual reason we're here. As protectors first and as fighters second.

"Damn! This guy can rival my father in inspiring speeches.

Voranis: I see.

I nodded slowly.

Voranis: So Superman, do you know what happened with the plant?

Superman: A team of villains working together were the root of the problem, no pun intended. They got taken care of and the plant died.

"What's a pun?"

Voranis: So you knew that this was going to happen?

Superman: We knew something was going to happen, just not what. Plus, before the attack they broadcasted their threat. Did you miss it?

"They did? Are they dumb?"

Voranis: Right, I must've missed it...Anyway, I have to go now so goodbye! Oh! Also, say hi to Supergirl for me.

He gave me a strange look, which I couldn't place, when I mentioned Supergirl but I decided to not mind it.

I turned around and started walking away while slowly becoming invisible which felt a bit cool.

"Damn, that movie influenced me more that it should!"

I screamed in my mind while thinking about it as I went back home.