19

[New Delhi: 23/08/2010]

01:34PM

The streets of the city were bustling as usual, people worked in their shops and lived their lives. Recently, due to some government commercial decisions to join the new economic bloc led by Brazil, citizens have seen a new influx of purchasing power for them.

For a people who have endured many years of oppression, it was like seeing a new dawn; they could now envision a future for their children, who were going to school and had the prospect of putting into practice what they learned.

But along with the economic development, there also came a new wave of crime that came to try to take advantage of it.

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—District Chandni Chowk

In the heart of the vibrant Chandni Chowk neighborhood, a criminal group known as the Delhi Jackals was planning their next big heist. The leader of the group, Rajesh "Raja" Kumar, a ruthless strategist, gathered his team in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the neighborhood.

"We have a unique opportunity," Raja said, looking at the faces of his accomplices. "The National Bank of New Delhi, the largest in the city, has received a cash shipment. Let's make that money ours."

The Delhi Jackals were known for their precision and brutality. Their team included Priya, a brilliant hacker who could disable any security system; Vikram, an explosives expert; and Manish, a master of disguise capable of infiltrating anywhere.

The plan was simple yet daring: to break into the National Bank of New Delhi, disable the security measures, immobilize any resistance, and leave with the money before the police had time to react.

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—New Délhi National Bank

At 2:45 PM, the group arrived at the bank. Priya, disguised as a maintenance worker, had disabled the security cameras and internal alarms. Vikram, with his precision tools, prepared explosive charges to open the vault.

"We're in," Priya whispered over the radio. "Cameras are out. Security disabled. We're ready."

Raja nodded to his men. "Let's go."

They entered quickly, masked and armed. Panic gripped the bank's customers and employees. A guard tried to react but was quickly subdued by Manish. Raja climbed onto a counter, his voice firm and authoritative.

"Nobody move! Stay where you are, and nobody will get hurt!" he shouted.

The Delhi Jackals worked with frightening efficiency. Within minutes, Vikram had placed the charges on the vault. With a muffled bang, the vault door swung open, revealing stacks of cash and gold bars.

"Let's go, quickly!" Raja ordered.

As the heist unfolded, chaos erupted in the National Bank of New Delhi. While Priya kept an eye on the security systems, ensuring that no silent alarms were triggered, something unexpected happened. One of Raja's henchmen, in a sudden move, struck Priya on the head with the butt of his gun, leaving her unconscious.

Meanwhile, in the vicinity of the bank, Arani Desai, also known as Celsius, patrolled the streets of Chandni Chowk. In her second year of superhero activity, Arani was determined to protect the citizens of New Delhi from the increasing crime rates that accompanied the recent economic development.

Hearing the commotion coming from the National Bank, Celsius ran toward the scene. Upon arriving, she saw the armed criminals inside the bank, controlling the situation. Knowing she needed to act quickly, Arani focused.

With an explosion of energy, flames and ice erupted around Celsius. She bravely advanced toward the Delhi Jackals, confronting them with her unique combination of elemental powers.

Raja's henchmen were shocked to see the new opponent. She was unlike anything they had faced before. As they tried to recover from the shock, Celsius moved forward, alternating between bursts of fire and jets of ice, disorienting and neutralizing the criminals one by one.

The fight was intense. Vikram, the explosives expert, tried to throw a grenade toward Celsius, but she reacted quickly, creating an ice shield that protected her from the explosion. Meanwhile, Manish, the master of disguise, attempted to sneak up from behind, but was caught off guard by a blast of fire that pushed him back, leaving him temporarily stunned.

Raja, the leader of the Delhi Jackals, saw the situation deteriorating rapidly. He knew he needed to act quickly to maintain control. With a cry of fury, he charged toward Celsius, wielding his weapon with determination. Arani, in turn, was focused and prepared for the confrontation.

Meanwhile, the hostages watched the fight with apprehension, praying that the heroine could save the day.

Celsius, with her skill, managed to shield herself from Raja's shots by creating an ice shield that enveloped her like a protective armor. As she defended herself, she prepared fireballs in her left hand, ready to counterattack. As Raja approached, Arani pressed her hand with incandescent flames against the ice wall that protected her. With a deafening crack, the ice wall exploded, sending a shockwave over Raja, who fell unconscious to the bank floor.

With the leader of the Delhi Jackals neutralized, the other members of the group surrendered, realizing they were defeated in the face of Celsius's immense power. The bank's citizens, finally free from danger, applauded and thanked the heroine.

Celsius acted quickly, using ice ropes to restrain the criminals, ensuring they remained immobilized until the arrival of the police. However, to her surprise, upon checking the area, she realized that one of the criminals had escaped, and later they learned that something from the bank was missing.

A few hours later, Celsius was on the rooftop of a house, observing the city when something beeped behind her.

Turning around, she saw a small drone.

*PING!*

"Hello, Arani Desai, my name is Roberto da Costa, and I have a proposition for you."

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[Abu Dhabi: 24/08/2010]

08:45 PM

As night fell over Abu Dhabi, the silent streets were interrupted only by the sound of desert winds. In the distant neighborhood of Al Khalidiyah, a criminal operation was underway. The Desert Falcons, a dangerous gang, were preparing to carry out a major heist at one of the city's leading jewelry stores.

Upon arriving at the jewelry store, Sandstorm, the local hero, saw the masked criminals entering the establishment. Without hesitation, he invoked his sand control powers to confront the robbers.

The Desert Falcons, surprised by the sudden appearance of the hero, attempted to react but were immediately confronted by Sandstorm's ferocity. Using his unique ability, he unleashed bursts of sand against the criminals, quickly disorienting and neutralizing them.

The fight was swift and intense. Sandstorm, agile and determined, used his abilities to disarm and incapacitate the members of the Desert Falcons within minutes. With precise and powerful movements, he controlled the sand around him, creating a barrier against the attackers' assaults.

As the criminals attempted to fight back, Sandstorm advanced, unleashing powerful sand blasts that left them disoriented and unable to counterattack. Leaving the criminals for the police, he exited the scene, bathed in the moonlight.

But as he soared through the city, a drone approached him.

*PING!*

"Samir Al-Farsi, my name is Roberto da Costa, and I have a proposition for you."

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[Zambesi , Maji City , 29/08/2010]

09:23AM

It was a peaceful morning in the capital of Zambesi, the small African country that had experienced ups and downs throughout its history. Having gone through French colonization, during World War II, it managed to free itself from French rule and defend against any other invasion.

The reason?

*BANG Boom!!*

The woman wearing a tight jumpsuit made of a durable and flexible material, allowing freedom of movement, was orange in color, with a cut in the fabric to reveal a neckline. Around the woman's neck was a necklace, a cord adorned with four animal fangs and a carving of a fox face in the center.

She was chasing a humanoid Gnu-like meta-human wearing only silver pants to cover his modesty. The two were running down Nkrumah Avenue, Flanked by shops, cafes, and markets, Nkrumah Avenue is the epicenter of urban life in the city.

"Come on, Gnuron!! Make this at least a challenge!" Vixen shouted as she ran faster than cars behind the villain.

"Go to hell, you bitch!! It was just some loose change!!" The villain shouted back, also running fast, his horns sending everything flying away from him.

"Maybe, but you stole it from an elderly lady!! That's just too low, even for you." Vixen said as she jumped high.

Above the villain, she touched her necklace; a purple aura of an elephant was enveloping her, until it disappeared, and then Vixen gained several tons of extra weight.

"Sweet dreams!!" She yelled as she landed a kick on the villain's head, burying his face deep into the asphalt of the street.

*Applause!!*

The people around applauded the protector of Zambesi, Vixen was part of the lineage of warriors who used the necklace to protect the country.

It was amidst the applause that Vixen noticed a drone approaching.

*PING!*

"Mari Jiwe McCabe, my name is Roberto da Costa, and I have a proposition for you."

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[China , Hong Kong: 30/08/2010]

03:01PM

People were walking calmly through the city, but the calmness didn't last long as the sky above them darkened, and then a figure emerged from the clouds.

Yin Feng the Sorcerer. His skin is pale as the moon, and his long, unkempt black hair falls in strands over his shoulders. He wore a long, dark cloak made of heavy fabric and adorned with sinister patterns. The cloak has dark red details that faintly glow in the darkness. He wears a conical wizard's hat, also black, which casts shadows over his face, partially concealing his features.

Around his neck, he wears a necklace of dark, intertwined beads, which emits a faint glow as if charged with malevolent energy. His attire is ornamented with arcane symbols.

"Come on, don't keep me waiting, old friend," he said, his sinister voice carried by the wind.

*ROOOOAAAAARRRR!!*

The sky trembled with a roar, and everyone could now see the enormous red dragon snaking through the air, its wings cutting through the winds.

"Finally!" The sorcerer shouted and then unleashed several mystical blasts against the red Dragon.

—Two hours later:

Some buildings were damaged, and the street was covered in snow, and some trees were in ashes, but overall, the city was safe. On the ground, the Sorcerer was being taken away by the authorities, his body slightly charred.

Far away, sipping tea, a young Chinese man in his twenties observed everything. He wore a red jacket with green pants, his black, tousled hair had hints of green at the ends.

His name was Liang Wei, but in his Dragon form, he was known as Wildfire, another from the new wave of national superheroes around the world. He was catching his breath before leaving when something stopped him.

*PING!*

"Liang Wei, my name is Roberto da Costa, and I have a proposition for you."