David expertly maneuvered the flying van—now officially named Nova-Drive by Arata—through the skies with steady precision.
The soft hum of its engines filled the interior as glowing energy lines pulsed faintly across the control panels. "We'll be arriving at our destination shortly," David said, his tone calm as his eyes flicked between the holographic map and the terrain ahead.
Melissa, seated behind him, clasped her hands nervously. "Do you think Sister Kaina will be okay?" she asked, unable to completely hide the worry in her voice. She and Kaina had hit if off and treated each other as sisters.
Arata, sitting beside David, glanced back at her. His expression remained composed, but there was reassurance in his tone. "She'll be fine. Kaina has experience in reconnaissance, far more than either of us. And even if something goes wrong, her suit is connected to me. The moment she's in danger, I'll know… and I'll be there instantly."
Melissa nodded, though her concern didn't completely disappear.
The Nova-Drive soared over a massive mountain range before a sprawling city came into view ahead. The contrast between the rugged terrain and the sophisticated urban sprawl was striking.
David lowered the vehicle smoothly, guiding it into a secluded valley hidden between the mountain ridges.
"We'll stop here," he said, bringing the Nova-Drive to a quiet landing.
With a few swift commands, he activated one of the systems. A hidden compartment on the roof slid open, and a sleek, compact drone shot out into the air. Within seconds, it cloaked itself in invisibility and sped toward a grand mansion perched on the mountainside.
Inside the van, a holographic feed lit up as the drone's camera activated. It hovered silently above the mansion, circling it before pausing over a balcony.
The camera zoomed in.
There, seated gracefully at a small, ornate tea table, was a blonde woman with striking blue eyes. She held a teacup delicately, smiling as she spoke to the man standing beside her.
"Target confirmed," David muttered.
"That's her…" Melissa whispered.
Anna Scervino.
Her presence radiated elegance and calm, but Arata's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew better than to underestimate her. Her quirk—Overmodification—was exactly what he needed to finish the Power stone. A power capable of pushing quirks beyond their limits, evolving them temporarily… or perhaps, under the right conditions, even further.
Standing beside her was her butler.
"Giulio Gandini," David continued, analyzing the data. "Quirk: Neutralization. Similar to Eraser Head, but he needs physical contact to deactivate abilities."
Arata stood up. "Stay ready here," he told David. "We'll handle the initial approach."
David gave a firm nod. "Be careful."
Melissa shot her father a confident thumbs-up before following Arata out of the Nova-Drive. The moment they stepped outside, the cool mountain air greeted them.
With a mechanical hum, metallic angel wings unfolded from Melissa's back. She lifted off the ground gracefully, still getting used to the sensation but far more stable than before.
Beside her, Arata's body became enveloped in shimmering blue space energy. Without another word, both of them shot into the sky and headed toward the mansion.
Behind them, David continued piloting the drone, expanding its scan radius to map out the entire estate.
Meanwhile, inside the Gollini family mansion, Valdo Gollini strode through a lavish hallway, his footsteps echoing faintly against the polished marble floor. His expression was calm, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.
He pushed open the door to a large office and walked in confidently.
The room resembled that of a CEO. Valdo made his way to the central chair and sat down, leaning back as he looked at the two men standing before him.
Bruno Gollini stood to his right, silent but observant. On his left was Kamile Gollini, a man known for managing the family's finances and operations.
Valdo rested his chin on his hand. "Prepare for my father's funeral," he said casually. "Two days from now. Inform everyone in the family—they will attend."
Kamile nodded immediately. "Understood."
Valdo's lips curled into a faint smile. "That day won't just be a funeral… it will mark the beginning of my rule."
Bruno stepped forward slightly. "And what about Anna Scervino?"
Valdo tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest. "First, we consolidate control within the family. Once that's done… we move for her."
His eyes gleamed with ambition.
"With her quirk in our possession," he continued, "we won't just dominate Europe… we'll move on to Japan."
Kamile hesitated before speaking again. "What about All Might?"
At that, Valdo chuckled—a low, confident sound.
"All Might…" he repeated, leaning forward. "He's not what he used to be. Haven't you noticed? His appearances have become shorter. Limited."
His grin widened.
"Something happened four years ago. An injury, most likely. Permanent. He can't maintain hero work for long anymore… eight hours at best."
Valdo spread his arms slightly, as if already envisioning his victory. "All we have to do is exhaust him… push him beyond his limits… and then strike."
He laughed.
"I'll defeat All Might… and then I'll become his successor. I'll bring 'peace' to this world… by conquering it."
As his laughter echoed through the room, a small white cat with faint pink stripes quietly observed from outside the window. Its eyes narrowed slightly before it leaped away, disappearing into the shadows.
The cat moved swiftly through the estate, slipping past guards and cameras with ease. It eventually reached a quiet alley far from prying eyes.
It paused. Then, its body was engulfed in a soft white light.
The form shifted, stretched, and restructured…When the light faded, Kaina stood there in place of the cat.
She adjusted her stance and brought her hand near her ear, activating her communicator.
"I've got something," she said calmly. "Information on the target."