Supergirl

Naxino City, morning.

The blazing sun hung high above the city, its golden light piercing enough to make skin sting. The asphalt roads hissed gently beneath the solar onslaught, sounding like a hot griddle at its peak.

A black van, towing a long trailer, pulled up in front of the bank's main entrance. A group of figures emerged from the vehicle's rear, adorning ludicrous animal masks and wearing shabby clothes that barely made them distinguishable from vagrants. Armed and ominous, they charged through the bank's doors.

The one in a pink pig mask riddled the entrance's security cameras with bullets, while another with a zebra mask took center stage in the lobby, curving a spray of bullets across the ceiling as he bellowed, "Everyone on the ground! Don't move!"

The people in the lobby faltered into chaos, but soon, under the threat of gunfire, they complied. A brave security guard instinctively reached for his holster, only to be mowed down by the pig-masked felon, quickly drowning in his own pool of blood.

Hostages were petrified, daring not to even breathe too loudly as two of the criminals tossed large burlap sacks to the cashiers behind the counter, demanding them to stuff the bags with as much money as possible. The other two kept a watchful eye on the hostages, ensuring no one attempted anything foolish, while the last member stood guard at the door, watching for their lookout.

It would take the Naxino City police another three minutes to arrive, ample time for the robbers to grab the cash and disappear.

Curtis Hawkins, a fresh-faced 25-year-old officer from Naxino's police department, lay among the hostages. Like many young men his age, he joined the force full of ambition and fervor. Now, he was caught in the middle of a heist, lying prone on the lobby floor, observing the situation with the patience of a crouching hound, waiting for the right moment to act.

The zebra-masked criminal, frustrated with a cashier too petrified to move quickly, momentarily drew the attention of his patrolling comrades. Curtis sensed this might be his only chance. Silently, his hand crept toward the pistol under his jacket.

But perhaps it was not his lucky day. A third felon, wearing a rabbit mask, turned suddenly, spotting Curtis's subtle movement. The barrel of the gun swung toward him as the robber shouted, "What are you doing? Don't move!"

All eyes were now on Curtis, leaving him no choice but to cease his action.

The rabbit-masked robber, still aiming his gun, bent down, snatched Curtis's weapon and badge, and kicked him in the face in a rage, shouting, "We've got a damn cop here!"

"Hey, cool it," his accomplice urged. "Let's not make more trouble. We just need to grab the cash and then—"

The rabbit-masked robber's temper flared. Before his partner could finish, he pulled the trigger without hesitation. The rifle spat out bright flashes as three bullets charged toward the young officer's chest, a death sentence at such close range unless a miracle happened.

And then, a miracle indeed unfolded. A red-and-blue blur smashed through the ceiling, descending faster than the speeding bullets. She landed with an entrancing whirl between the young cop and the flying projectiles, her chest absorbing the lethal shots.

A blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, her complexion pale as snow, features irresistibly delicate. Clad in a tight blue bodysuit with long red boots rising above her knees, her red cape whipped up by the force of her landing like a battle standard, showcasing her valiant form.

And most strikingly, the 'S' emblem on her chest—a symbol that once held momentous significance across the globe.

The atmosphere in the bank's lobby froze in odd stillness as everyone held their breath at the unexpected arrival. The rabbit-faced robber's eyes flickered with malice, seemingly determined to fight. He yelled and pulled the trigger again, his rifle roaring as a stream of bullets rained on the girl. Sparks flew as the bullets simply bounced off her, scattering around and startling the prostrate hostages.

Supergirl, a Kryptonian just like Superman, was rumored to be his sister. Active in Naxino City during the age of heroes six years ago, she held the same status in Naxino as Superman did in Metropolis, a staple in the headlines. But like other heroes, she had rarely been seen since the Doomsday Crisis, her image all but vanished from the media. While rumors persisted that she still watched over the city from the shadows, most considered it mere hearsay.

Supergirl moved in a blur, reaching the robber in an instant. She blocked the barrel with her body and crumpled the steel like paper. The rifle let out a piteous wail as it exploded, leaving the rabbit-masked criminal flung to the ground, his hands drenched in red.

In that moment, all resistance ceased. The other criminals, including the one in the zebra mask who had been shouting at the cashier, dropped their weapons, abandoning any thought of fight or flight. "Supergirl? I thought—I thought you didn't exist anymore," he stammered in disbelief.

His confusion was warranted; most people shared his assumption. For six long years, Supergirl hadn't graced any major publication or influential website; her appearances were limited to unverified tales on obscure forums and small websites, which was indeed abnormal. The consensus was that the era of heroes had passed, and they became history after the Doomsday War.

Supergirl looked him in the eyes and replied simply, "I'm real when I'm needed."