By the time evening arrived, both groups had reunited. Charlie asked who the woman was, and Shimmer introduced her.
Estridth was a woman in her mid-forties whose presence carried a quiet warmth that naturally put others at ease. Though slightly fuller in figure than the average person, it only added to the comforting and motherly aura surrounding her, making her seem like the kind of person capable of turning even the coldest room into something gentle and welcoming.
As a widow, traces of hardship lingered subtly within her expression, yet unlike someone crushed by life, Estridth carried herself with calm dignity and quiet maturity. She was not breathtakingly beautiful in the conventional sense, but undeniably pretty in a way that deepened with familiarity rather than fading. The softness in her smile, the patience in her eyes, and the composed manner in which she spoke all gave her a charm far more enduring than youthful glamour.
Her intelligent nature was evident almost immediately upon meeting her. From the attentive way she listened to others to the thoughtful calm behind her gaze, Estridth possessed the kind of wisdom that did not need to announce itself loudly. Altogether, she carried the image of what many would consider an ideal woman for her age—graceful, dependable, emotionally mature, and quietly strong despite the hardships life had placed upon her shoulders.
Shimmer: This is Estridth, or you can call her Queen Bee. An S-Class hero like me. And since I'll be going a separate way, she can keep you company.
Estridth: Right. Since this city and its neighbouring cities are safe, we'll fly to G City. And don't worry, I'll pay for the tickets.
With that said, they parted ways, thanking Frostbite for his help before leaving.
Kael and his team reached the neighbouring city, L City, with Estridth in no time.
It was now nighttime, but they planned to sleep on the aeroplane and continue their journey.
They flew out by 9 p.m., aiming to reach G City within eight hours.
The world was split into three continents, seventeen islands, and three categories of countries: least developing, developing, and developed.
Leona asked Kael if they had encountered any enemies, but all Kael told her was that they hadn't faced any threats—though they had lost their way.
At times, they kept circling, and there was a moment when Charlie got pissed and ran forward, only to circle back to them. They barely managed to find the right path, and hearing this, Leona thought it was funny and laughed wholeheartedly.
It was now about 1:00 a.m., and most of them were asleep in the plane.
Diego open his eyes and as he saw Charlie sleeping next to her sleep, he thought that even hot tempered girls have cute sides. He move her blanket a bit higher to cover her better and slept. Charlie smiles.
Suddenly, a man got up and started walking toward the crew rest area.
One of the attendants noticed him approaching and stood up, asking if he needed anything.
But when the man looked at her, she froze in terror. One of his eyes was blackened, just like the Dark Knights.
The man suddenly grabbed her, turned around, and shouted-
Man: Nobody move! This plane has been hijacked! Anyone move and she dies!
He held a knife close to her neck.
Everyone, including Kael and his team, woke up and saw the situation. They couldn't risk using their abilities—if the hijacker realized heroes were present, the situation could escalate. But if they did nothing, the woman being held hostage could be killed.
Kael asked Charlie if she could reach him in time, but Charlie replied-
Charlie: No, I need to stand up first, and even if I could, I wouldn't reach him in time. He's too far away."
Kael then asked Diego, but he gave the same answer.
Kael: Mrs. Estridth?
Estridth : I can only activate my ability within a fifteen-meter range,and he's about fourty-five meters away. Creating a life form now might only make the passenger panic. All we can do is wait for the right opportunity.
But the situation grew more intense—harder to predict, more breath-taking.
The man shouted more and more, becoming increasingly aggressive. Any action could lead to death—but inaction could too.
Then, as the man was shouting, he suddenly got punched in the face from his left side. The punch was so strong that it sent him flying to the right, crashing into the passenger seats and knocking him out completely.
Stranger: WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, ASSHOLE?!
Broad shoulders and a naturally sturdy frame gave the young man a stronger build than most people his age. Standing around six-foot-one, he carried a physique shaped less by training and more by physical labor, the kind earned through years of lifting, hauling, and working beneath open skies rather than inside crowded cities.
Messy dark-brown hair rested unevenly around his face, slightly unkempt yet strangely fitting for him. Beneath it were calm amber-brown eyes that carried a grounded steadiness to them, sharp enough to notice details others might miss, yet lacking the arrogance often found in stronger men. His features were well-defined and masculine, though softened by an expression that usually seemed more thoughtful than intimidating.
Unlike Diego's polished appearance or Charlie's fierce edge, there was something simpler about him—honest, almost rustic. Even his clothing reflected it clearly. Loose earth-toned fabrics, worn straps, and practical layers gave him the unmistakable appearance of someone raised far from luxury. At a glance, anyone could tell he was a country boy long before hearing him speak more.
Yet despite the rough simplicity surrounding him, there was an undeniable sense of reliability in the way he carried himself, like someone others could instinctively trust when things became difficult.
He wore a watch identical to those worn by members of the WHA, signifying that he was a hero. He approached the unconscious man, asking if he wanted more—but when the man opened his eyes, the darkness was gone.
The strange hero frowned, confused.
Strangehero: (thought)Didn't he have dark eyes before? Or was it my delusion?
The man he punched looked equally confused about what had just happened.
Suddenly, the plane began to tilt downward.
Kael and the others rushed to the cockpit to see what was wrong. When they opened the door, they were shocked. Both pilots were dead, and the systems were wrecked. One pilot's face was crushed, while the other's neck appeared to be snapped.
There was no time to think about what had happened.
Their priority shifted to the passengers' lives.
Only a few seconds remained before they hit the ocean.
Kael ordered Charlie and the others hero to strap everyone into their seats. Charlie and the strange hero moved with blazing, extraordinary speed, securing every passenger in no time before returning near the cockpit.
Understanding the situation, Estridth touched the plane and gave life to every passenger's seat, transforming them into Florida Softshell Turtles (Apalone ferox).
These turtles had soft shells, capable of cushioning the impact.
The plane slammed into the ocean, but Estridth wasn't ready—she was thrown to the right as a trolley came flying down.
The strange hero unraveled his arm into a long string, trying to grab her, but Diego immediately realized it wouldn't reach in time.
He acted without hesitation—stopping time and moving toward Estridth. He caught the string and wrapped it around her, but time resumed before he could pull her back.
Estridth was dragged away, and Diego was struck by the trolley as luggage began to scatter.
Seeing Diego in danger, Kael shouted-
Kael: Diego!!!
His power activated, erasing the air and space between Diego and Estridth. The sudden absence shifted Diego's position toward her, giving Estridth enough reach to grab his hand as they were pulled together.
As they regrouped, Leona formed a large spherical energy barrier around them, filled with enough oxygen to last until they reached the surface.
Estridth then transformed all the turtles into dolphins, which safely pulled everyone toward the surface.
Once above water, the dolphins reverted to their original forms—the passengers' seats—allowing everyone to hold on.
Leona's spherical barrier was dragged forward by two dolphins while the new hero wrapped his strings around them for stability.
Inside the barrier, Diego looked at Kael-
Diego: Kael… was that—?
Kael: I think so…Yes. I managed to develop a new skill just in time. Be careful next time. You could've died.
Diego: I know, and I will.
Diego said with a small smile.
On their way up, Estridth asked the strange hero for his name. At first, he stayed silent for a moment before replying.
Michael: Michael, codename StrandCord. A-Class, Rank 53.
Estridth thanked him for saving both her and Diego, but he simply replied that he had only done what was necessary—nothing more, nothing less.
Michael's face carried a constant look of disinterest, almost indifferent, yet there was something firm and quietly bold about him.
After reaching the surface, the first thing they did was break off the plane's wing using Charlie's and Michael's tremendous strength.
Estridth then transformed it into a whale, large enough for the hundreds of passengers to climb onto.
With no time to waste and no signal available in the middle of the ocean, they wrote a letter asking for help.
Estridth gave life to the letter, turning it into a wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), a bird capable of flying over 10,000 kilometers without landing, gliding at speeds of up to 120 km/h and even faster when carried by strong winds. Its sharp vision allowed it to detect contrasts on the ocean's surface, even in the darkness of night.
With help finally sent, all they could do was wait. Kael later asked Estridth how she always knew which animal, insect, or life form to use at the right moment. She replied calmly that she had studied botany, biology, and zoology—and that she was a professor.
But most of all, Michael had something in his mind. Something... Wasn't right. And it's closer than they think.