The huge TV screen at Hero League HQ flickered to life, displaying the image of a woman with striking features. Her long, meticulously styled metal hair framed a pale face, and her dark gray eyes glittered with cold intelligence. She wore a sleek, purple and black armored spandex suit that accentuated her curves, a stark contrast to the sterile, utilitarian environment of the briefing room.

  Ebony Blade's expression tightened as she recognized the woman. "Lady Gorgon," she murmured, her voice grim.

  Blue Lock, in turn, shook his head with a weary familiarity. "So she's the one behind sending Lizard Commando and Qun Via," he said, turning to face Josh. "You sure have gotten yourself a raw deal, kid."

  On screen, Lady Gorgon addressed the room, her voice a silky purr that sent a shiver down Josh's spine. "Greetings, heroes, and a special hello to you, Josh Miller. Though we haven't met in person yet, I've been… most impressed with your unique skills.”

  Josh growled at the compliment.

  "Such raw power, agility, and skill… it would be a shame to let it go to waste. So I am willing to offer you an invitation to our little club that will put them to good use, not only for you but for all of us.”

  Her smile was cold and predatory. The image on the screen shifted, displaying a grainy video feed of a stark, dimly lit cell. Josh's blood ran cold. He recognized them instantly—his mom and dad, looking confused and terrified, huddled together on a metal bench.

  "And to ensure your… cooperation," Lady Gorgon continued, her voice devoid of any sympathy, "my associates have taken the liberty of providing you with some… motivation. I trust you understand their current predicament."

  The feed cut out, replaced by Lady Gorgon's face once more. She elegantly displayed an address in fancy, swirling red cursive on the screen.

  "Come alone, Mr. Miller," she purred, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Tomorrow. Noon. If you fail to appear, or if you bring any unwanted company… your parents will be made… less than comfortable."

  The message ended, the screen dissolving into static. A heavy silence filled the briefing room. Ebony Blade cursed under her breath. "Damn it! I should have anticipated she'd plan this far ahead."

  Blue Lock mumbled, more to himself than anyone else, "And to think we were worried about him being a target… We should have been worried about his family from the start, and now she has the leverage to lead us all into a trap.”

  Josh stood silent until he spoke out in a slow, deep voice. "Then we need to find them… now.”

  Ebony Blade nodded, her expression grim. "We will, Miller. However, we cannot rush in blind."

  Blue Lock then stared at Josh, an unreadable expression on his face. "Kid, do you have a way of finding them?"

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Josh hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. But it's not what you would call… convenient.”

  A few minutes later, they were in a more private room, cleared of any unnecessary personnel. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. On the floor, Josh had drawn a complex, intricate circle with a white marker, the lines precise and deliberate. Runes and symbols he hadn't used in what felt like forever pulsed with latent energy within the design. With a wave of his fingers, he conjured five balls of fire, and then with a gesture, sent all of them to float around five points of the circle.

  Blue Lock stared in open-mouthed exasperation, while Ebony Blade watched with a wary curiosity. "When you said you were going to cast a spell to find your parents," Blue Lock said, shaking his head, "I didn't think you were going all out with a full-blown ritual."

  Josh didn't look at him. His focus was inward, gathering his power. "It's not ideal," he muttered. "My specialty is more… combative. But divination isn't exactly something you can half-ass."

  He then took a deep breath and began to chant in a language that sounded vaguely Latin, yet resonated with an otherworldly power. "Goddess of the moons and stars, show me where Markus and Emma Miller dwell..."

  As the words flowed out from his mouth, the room shimmered. The candlelight flickered and danced, and the air crackled with energy. His eyes snapped open, glowing with an eerie, light blue. Before them, a figure began to form, coalescing from the swirling energy in the center of the circle. She was beautiful and ethereal, with long, flowing hair and a gown that seemed woven from starlight. In her right hand, she held a shimmering scepter, and in her left, a floating orb that pulsed with celestial light. The goddess raised both objects above her head, and a blinding flash of light filled the room.

  When everyone’s vision returned to normal, the ghostly figure was gone. Josh turned to Ebony Blade and Blue Lock, his voice steady despite the weariness he felt. "I know where they are… and it's not at the address Lady Gorgon sent."

  Blue Lock stood with his jaw hanging open, utterly speechless. Ebony Blade, though clearly shaken, recovered more quickly. "Then we need to move," she said, her voice decisive.

  "Agreed," Josh said, "but I'm going to the address."

  Blue Lock finally found his voice, his tone incredulous. "Are you crazy? That's suicide! You're talking about taking on Lady Gorgon on her own turf! Who is a B-Rank villain, way beyond any of the C-Rank fodder you faced off against!”

  Josh then let out a grim breath. “He is right…” he thought morbidly. “While the C-rank villains may be one-man terrorists… those who managed to reach B-Rank are basically one-man armies, capable of taking on and even squashing entire military armadas on their own. I remembered seeing news footage of several of those villains slaughtering soldiers in the tens, even hundreds of thousands, within seconds.” He then furrowed his brow. “Unless the army has a nuke or metahuman of the same rank... well, it is pretty much no different than sending an army of ants towards a blazing firestorm and hoping they all don't get burned alive.” He then smirked. “But then again… It’s not like I haven’t faced an army or two before.”

  He met Blue Lock's gaze, his own hardening with a resolve born of desperation. "It might be… but if this Lady Gorgon is as dangerous as you say she is, then we've got to play her game, at least until my parents are safe. Otherwise, well… she might just kill them with a dead switch.”

  Ebony Blade then held her chin. “True… and it wouldn’t be the first time she pulled a stunt like this.”

  Blue Lock then glared at Josh for a moment, then at Ebony Blade, before rubbing a hand through his black, messy hair and letting out a sigh. "Fine," he conceded, though clearly against his better judgment. "You can face them on your own, kid… but not without backup."