FLY

My irritation this morning multiplied exponentially, following the rising temperature that became increasingly oppressive. I found myself in the heart of Melodistria, specifically sprawled in front of a burger kiosk, sitting shoulder to shoulder with several people who had alighted from their vehicles and sat in front of the nearby shops. Given that all the cafes and food or drink outlets nearby were packed with people who ordered one or two drinks and sat for almost three to four hours. Since 9:00 AM, all the main roads in the city center have been completely congested, and without exaggeration, almost all streets were filled with vehicles and public buses that had stopped operating up to three to four kilometers away, perhaps even longer.

It is evident that Melodistria's daily activities are at a complete standstill. Nobody could move in this kind of traffic. The situation is rather dire; the television screen in a nearby shop continuously reports the latest updates about the cause of the congestion. A group of superhumans, more aptly named the "Liberators Group," audaciously attacked the largest bank in downtown Melodistria, a government building, and reportedly the Melodistria police station, supposedly to fund their cause and take over Melodistria. They had taken control of the bank since 8:30 AM. By now, at 13:15, the area around the bank has witnessed extensive damage due to the Liberators Group members using rocket launchers, firing dozens of rockets, and blowing up cars on the street. They intentionally caused the gridlock to hinder the advance of security personnel. Their bullets also injured several security personnel and pedestrians outside the bank.

It seems they have a comprehensive arsenal. Reportedly, their group consists of over fifty members, with a majority believed to be superhumans. This is the largest gathering of non-BtP superhumans in the last three years. The bank and government building they took over are close to each other, located at a major crossroad that acts as the city's lifeline. With many burnt vehicles and roadblocks prepared by security personnel, in collaboration with firefighters and BtP members, all access to and from the city center is shut down and paralyzed. Alternative routes are also incredibly congested, almost immobile. It appears that several members of the Liberators Group deliberately damaged these roads before initiating their operation. The situation shows no signs of ending soon, especially after they successfully took hundreds of people hostage in the ten-story bank building.

I have to decide to call Master soon so he can detain Susan, because I will undoubtedly be late, or perhaps I might be forced to take my last day off for this month since I'm not at all confident that I can reach the cafe by 15:00.

'And why the hell I choose today to buy clothes!'

Most importantly, I'm fed up with waiting, just waiting and waiting for all this chaos to end since hours ago. Not a single vehicle can move to take me home. What's even more concerning is the couple in a car right in front of where I'm standing.

They've been stuck in traffic since 10:00, and the heavily pregnant wife has been screaming emotionally for hours, leaving her husband frantic and no ambulance has yet arrived. Probably only a helicopter ambulance could save her, given the long traffic jam, but it's doubtful if there's any landing space for that helicopter.

Now, she's cursing with words harsher than the worst prostitute's insults. Hearing the woman's moans mixed with curses is entirely unpleasant. Hours ago, I heard her husband, with full concern and a calming tone, tell her that the hospital had dispatched assistance. Somehow, that help hasn't arrived even three hours later. I heard all nearby hospitals are full as many got injured due to the Liberators Group's actions. Now, most people can only sit in their cars or rest in surrounding shops, cursing or shouting.

I myself am struggling with the idea of not assisting the pregnant woman by flying her to the hospital. Seconds keep ticking by, and I think I could help, but the problem is I'd be identified by street cameras, which isn't a smart move. I certainly won't help her because I don't want to be turned into a "rabbit" if found out later.

I just want to go home and leave all this to BtP, as for them, almost nothing is impossible. Annoyed, I've started to think about walking home, and maybe in some secluded spot, I can fly high, hoping no one takes a picture. Thinking about that, I don't like where my thoughts are headed, especially when I'd become a "rabbit" for BtP if discovered. It's too risky; I won't take the risk of exposing myself just for this. If there's a reason I haven't walked away already, it's because I thought everything would be resolved quickly once the BtP superhumans intervened. But even now, after all BtP members arrived on the scene at 09:30, everything remains unresolved.

A tremendous slap in the face for the BtP members who usually solve problems within minutes. Resignedly, I took out my mobile phone and called Master, only to hang up a few minutes later. Master didn't approve my leave, and neither did he hold Susan back. Given the robbery situation, all BtP members are on high alert and busy, meaning the Eve Cafe, whose entire clientele consists of BtP members, is completely empty.

"Well, the Eve Cafe thrives on BtP employees," I sighed. Time seemed to mock me, ticking away second by second, minute by minute. Waiting is what I loathe most, and I've never had the virtue of patience in me. I can't sit idle for hours doing nothing; at the very least, I need a book or something of the sort. And I've run out of that option since I impulsively bought an expensive pair of new clothes this morning.

This poor guy needs to save money now. Maybe I should just fly home and save on cab fare.

My mind can't wait any longer. I've been waiting for hours and don't intend to wait any longer. The robbery doesn't show any signs of stopping. It reminds me of a long-standing hostage situation that went on for three months in an eastern country a few years back. Nothing's worse than the stifling heat, the noise of a few still-running car engines, the flying dust and smoke, and all this chaos. I'm growing more irate, and so is that pregnant woman, her curses escalating, now listing names of various animals.

Chicken, dog, monkey, baboon, ape, cat, goat, pig, snake...

Okay, I need to get out of here. The surges of irritation I've been suppressing have now breached the thin defenses of my dwindling patience.

I decide to fly home.

I rise from the scorching street and head towards a hotel building a few blocks from where I was. Entering the building, I'm immediately greeted by the cool room air and the many people in the hotel lobby. My feet quickly carry me into the elevator, pressing the button to the 20th floor, the highest accessible floor. Reaching it, I immediately search for a door marked emergency exit to find stairs leading to the hotel's rooftop. I've been eyeing this hotel for a while, and this place is clearly safe from street surveillance cameras.

The scorching air hit me immediately as I pushed open a heavy, unlocked door to the top floor. The area was completely deserted, and from here, I could see plumes of black smoke rising from the bank robbery scene. Battles were still ongoing, but it was none of my concern. My hand reached for my new set of clothes, and I grinned; I wouldn't have even considered flying if not for this fortuitous purchase.

My mind had crafted a plan during those hours of tedium. I'd quickly change into the new attire, use my old clothes to shield my face, then rocket into the sky, soaring so high that I'd appear as a mere speck, before finally navigating my way home. Changing clothes was vital, as street surveillance cameras had surely recorded my earlier appearance. My eyes landed on the distant green highlands where my lovely house was located, and I estimated the distance. Satisfied with my calculations, I retreated behind the hotel door to change. Once dressed, I would burst out and ascend into the sky as swiftly as possible. No one would notice.

But as I swapped my trousers for jeans and began to undress, I was startled by voices at the bottom of the stairwell. People were possibly coming up to check out the view. Panicking, I pushed the door open, hastily stuffing my old clothes into a bag and pulling out my new ones. The very next second, before I could even get dressed, I heard the roaring blades of a helicopter spiraling overhead. Glancing up, I saw a chopper, or rather, a descending wreck. Thick smoke billowed from it as it spun uncontrollably, originating from the battle site and now plummeting towards the bustling street in front of the hotel. My eyes caught the familiar red cross usually found on ambulances, and the BtP emblem on the chopper.

Clearly, it was a BtP rescue helicopter, and I remembered seeing it hovering over the Eve Cafe multiple times. Undoubtedly, it had been hit, causing its engine to spew black smoke as it descended chaotically. My hands froze as the chopper drew ever closer, set to crash into the building. More likely, it would smash into the cars lined up below.

That pregnant woman, who had been cursing vehemently, stood right beneath the area where the helicopter might crash.

The next moment, my new clothes were strewn on the floor. The next time I became aware, I was already soaring toward the wildly spiraling helicopter.

I didn't care if I would get caught, I wasn't even thinking about it. What mattered was human lives at stake. I could always run away if I got identified as a superhuman, but at least I'd have saved some lives below. My body raced towards the helicopter, its wildly spinning blades nearly clipping me. "Ugh," a blast of hot black smoke hit my face. For a moment, I could see nothing but darkness until suddenly, the chopper's blades sliced through the smoke, inches from my chest.

My face turned pale, and my heart skipped a beat.

Desperately, I flew below the helicopter to avoid the smoke and its blades, managing to place both my hands on its underside. I immediately allowed the energy from the core of my body to envelop the helicopter and propel it away from the streets and buildings below. Even though the helicopter was rising, its blades were still active, causing me to spin uncontrollably in mid-air with it. It felt as if I had saved a drowning person only for them to panic and jeopardize both of our lives.

I had to shut down the chopper's engine before safely placing it down. With great effort, I took the erratic helicopter higher into the sky, spinning unpredictably. Reaching a certain altitude, I let go and quickly flew in front of the chopper. The windshield was shattered with bullet holes, making it hard to see both in and out. I quickly positioned myself in front of the glass, matching the helicopter's rotation, and banged on it repeatedly while shouting, "Turn off the engine!!!!!!!"

I could see the co-pilot struggling to control the spinning aircraft. "Turn off the engine," I yelled again, pounding even harder. It was then I realized the helicopter was already dangerously close to the streets and buildings. I had to lift this unruly machine to the sky again.

"Damn it, turn off the engine," I shouted once more, then flew underneath to catch the helicopter, propelling it skyward once again. The helicopter spun several times before its engine suddenly roared slower and, following a loud explosion from the back, died out completely. My spirits lifted; at least the pilot had shut it off. With the chopper now stable, I focused my attention and energy to envelop the entire aircraft and find a spot to safely land it.