Villain Retirement

[My name is Steve Bridges. And if you're watching this…

…then I am probably already dead.]

"Prophet? He recorded a video?"

"He… is in the Academy? Isn't that his office?"

The scenery behind Prophet was a view overlooking half of the Academy campus; a view only seen from the large window in the Headmaster's office. And seeing as he was also sitting in the very same desk, Prophet was indeed in his office as he recorded the video.

[I calculated my death and now know how I am going to die. The fact that you are watching this means you have found the phone I hid somewhere in the place of my death– in my elementary school in the outskirts of the state of New York…

…If the person who finds this phone is the one who killed me. Please, have the decency to at

least leave it alone or just destroy it. But I swear I will not reveal who you are.]

"...He didn't commit suicide?"

[But if you are not the one who killed me. Then please, continue watching this video.]

"..."

"..."

Prophet stopped talking for a few seconds as he seemed to stare at his desk; but after a few more seconds, he once again faced the camera.

[I did not kill myself. And knowing the person who did this to me, he or she probably left a trail that would lead people to thinking I committed suicide…

…I did not kill myself.] Prophet repeated, his words heavy enough to almost cause the people watching the video to grip their knees.

[I know who killed me, but for the safety of whoever finds this video, I will not tell you who. The one who did this to me is a very dangerous man… perhaps the most dangerous man in the world. I discovered a secret… a secret that leads to my death.]

"..."

"..."

Spectacular Mustache Man could not help but look at Nightwalker as Prophet paused with his words.

But when he found the Nightwalker wasn't looking at him since he was blind, Spectacular Mustache Man turned towards the three students, who had their eyebrows furrowed.

[Perhaps it is fate that you found this video… but please. Know that I did not make this video so that you may avenge me. I made it so that there would at least be a person out there that knows I did not kill myself– I will never do that, I will never leave the people I love no matter the difficulties I am currently facing.

The Academy has been receiving backlash from the masses, harsh criticisms, and some are pointed at me. People would probably think I killed myself because I couldn't take the heat, but no…

…I did not kill myself. Even if it is just one other person, I want you to know that I did not kill myself. I…

…have never been a superhero that the people of the world wanted. I always stood on the sidelines, in the background. But even just for a short while, even with all the secrets surrounding it… The Academy gave me a purpose of nurturing the heroes of the future generation…

…After all, that's what I do– look to the future.]

Prophet then blinked a couple of times as he leaned back on his chair, releasing the biggest breath that he could.

[And… for my husband… my beautiful husband.]

"...Did he just say husband? Is that some kind of code?"

"Shh!"

[Whoever finds this phone, there's another video dedicated to my husband. I would really appreciate you giving the phone to him after deleting this video. No one knows who he is, not even those I trust– but he'll be there in my funeral… please find him and give him this phone…

…and tell him to run because something is coming.]

"..."

[And for the one watching this video. I repeat, do not try to find who killed me or attempt getting revenge. Your enemy is the most dangerous man on the planet.]

Prophet then once again let out a heavy sigh as he looked down, seemingly looking at some sort of photo that was sitting on his desk. Sadly, the angle of the camera did not really allow Spectacular Mustache Man and the others to see what it was.

And after a few more seconds, Prophet once again looked at the camera; his eyes, as if looking straight towards them. He then let out a small smile, nodding with a breath that soon turned into a single chuckle.

[Right, well…

…I think I lived a good life.]

And with that, Prophet switched off the camera. The next video was about to play, but before it could do so, Nightwalker turned it off and handed the phone to Riley.

"...Why are you giving me the phone, sir Nightwalker?"

"I was under the impression Whiteking and he were friends," Nightwalker sighed, "Be it fate or not, I think we… you found this video for a reason."

"..." Riley only looked at the phone for a few seconds, before nodding and placing it in his pocket. And as soon as he did so, a cracking breath suddenly whispered in the air. They all looked towards the direction of the noise, only to see Bella crying.

"How… why didn't he just run away?" Bella whispered.

"...Prophet was gay?"

"What if he was!?"

"N… nothing."

And with Daniel's mouth being shut by Bella, what followed the classroom was silence; with the group just looking at Prophet's corpse.

"..."

"..."

"Should we really just… let it go?" Spectacular Mustache Man then whispered.

"It is what the dead wanted," Nightwalker sighed, "We should respect Prophet's wishes."

"We're really not going to investigate?" Bella joined in on the conversation, "We should at least surrender the phone to the police instead so–"

"No," Spectacular Mustache Man shook his head, "Nightwalker is right. If Prophet let this happen knowing full well it leads to his death… then whoever killed him truly is a dangerous person."

"T… this shouldn't end here," Bella waved her hand, "We need to at least find out who killed him ourselves!"

"...I agree with the lesbo for once," Daniel stepped forward, "The headmaster of my school just died. Who's to say it won't be us next? You? What if this is the Dark Millenium again?"

"Leave it," Spectacular Mustache Man slightly raised his voice, "You may have already experienced what it's like out there for a few days, but you guys are not superheroes… not yet. Leave this to me and Nightwalker to handle."

"But–"

And before Bella could even say anything, the sound of a helicopter arriving thundered in their ears. And soon, flashes of red and blue slightly drowned the walls of the abandoned building.

"Looks like the cavalry is here," Spectacular Mustache Man muttered, "About time. Don't tell anyone what we just witnessed, okay?"

"But…" Bella could only click her tongue, before running out of the room without saying any more words.

"Daniel, follow her to make sure she doesn't do anything reckless."

"..." Although Daniel was slightly hesitant, he still nodded and ran to chase for Bella. Spectacular Mustache Man then turned his head towards Riley,

"You… are not going to say anything, right?"

"..."

"..."

"...Right, I'll fetch the men in uniform downstairs."

"I'll come with you," Nightwalker stepped away before slightly turning his body towards Riley, "You're okay here by yourself, kid?"

"Yes, sir Nightwalker."

And so, with that, Riley was left alone inside the classroom, staring at Prophet's lifeless body. He did hear from his sister that Prophet and Bernard were close back then, but he didn't really remember much about him.

"..."

"..." Riley then lightly moved his finger, causing all the flies and insects eating Prophet's brain matter to violently plunge into the walls of the room.

"..." He then once again stared at Prophet's corpse… and did so until the police and forensics team arrived to take photos of the scene; carefully looking at every inch to make sure they didn't miss anything.

As for Riley, Bella, and Daniel; after a few questions about how they came to find the body, they were asked to wait outside the school.

"Is it really alright to leave it like this!?" Bella once again bellowed, kicking the dried leaves on the ground.

"Sshh, can you lower your voice!?" Daniel screamed, "What if the one who killed him is right here!?"

"Shh! Why the fuck are you screaming!?" Bella quickly covered Daniel's mouth.

"Y… you're the one who–"

And before Daniel could finish his words, a small explosion erupted in the sky; the clouds that covered the stars, splitting as some sort of silhouette flew through it.

And that silhouette landed right in front of the school, causing the leaves to all fly away in a ripple.

And as soon as the people waiting on standby saw who it was, they quickly rushed to greet her.

"E… Empress, what are you doing here?"

"...I heard you found Prophet? Is… he truly dead?" Empress then walked without waiting for anyone to respond.

"Y… yes, it was people from the Academy that found his body."

"...What?" Empress then quickly stopped her steps as soon as she heard the man's words, "W–"

And before she could say another word, her eyes landed on the three people standing in front of the school gate.

"Is it the three of you?" Empress then quickly approached the three people who looked too young to be there, "Are you from the Aca–"

And before she could finish her words, her eyes finally caught a full view of the one standing behind the two; his hair, reflecting the moonlight she ever so revealed by splitting the clouds.

"You…" Empress then took in a small gulp as her feet slightly moved to the back, "Why…

…why are you here?"