UNDER THE BRIDGE – GAP'S HIDEOUT – A FEW YEARS EARLIER
The water flowed slowly under the bridge. The concrete pillars were tagged with strange symbols — territory marks. Trash floated on the river. But here, in this exact spot, it was clean. Maintained.
Gap had set up his camp under the central arch. A hammock. A wooden crate for belongings. A gas stove to heat water.
Midas trained.
Every day, he ran along the docks. Every day, he lifted stones, tires, anything he could find. Every day, Gap watched him, arms crossed, impassive.
"Faster, kid. Here, it's hunt or be hunted."
Midas sweated. His muscles burned. But he didn't stop.
---
FIRST MISSIONS
Gap wasn't an honorable hero.
He didn't save people out of kindness. He saved people because it was his territory. And on his territory, you don't touch his own.
His power: to grow his hair infinitely. Black strands, thick, impossible to cut, capable of lifting cars, crushing walls, strangling from a distance.
Midas watched him operate, fascinated.
"You don't kill them?"
Gap wiped the blood from his hands.
"No. I tax them."
He explained: every cartel, every network, every gang had to pay him a sum each month. Otherwise, he came. He destroyed everything. The men. The stockpiles. The hideouts.
No mercy. No second chance.
"That way, they control their world. And I control them."
Midas was in awe.
He flipped the system. He doesn't destroy it. He uses it.
---
THE FIRST SCAMS – GAP'S ABSENCE
Gap sometimes left. Entire days. Midas stayed alone under the bridge.
One day, he came across harassers in an alley. Big guys. Tough guys. They were bothering a younger girl.
Midas didn't hesitate.
He beat them down. Not with style. With rage. His fists struck again and again until they fell.
Then he forced their hand. He took their Daemon cards. These cards — hunting certificates — were worth money. Lots of money.
He resold them at a high price.
A crooked justice. But justice nonetheless.
---
THE CONVENTION – THE DISAPPEARANCES
Gap received an invitation.
A convention. All the great heroes were invited. The fledgling Association wanted to rally them.
Gap looked at the envelope, then at Midas.
"I'm 12 now. I can stay alone."
Gap shook his head.
"That's not it."
He crouched in front of him.
"If I don't come back…"
Midas looked up.
"You must always help others. No matter the cost."
Gap left.
He never returned.
---
THE ASSOCIATION – THE GREAT MARKET
Upon returning from the convention, the Association announced its partnership with the State. A marriage between public power and the official institution.
Five legends were invited to join the council.
Only two accepted.
Captain Man. Mecha Sullivan.
The other three — Myestro, Magic Man, and GAP — disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
People spoke of accidents. Resignations. Voluntary departures.
Midas believed none of it.
He continued his schemes.
---
THE ENCOUNTER – SILVA AND AMÉLIE
Winter was harsh. Midas walked down a deserted street, hands in his pockets, the icy wind whipping his face.
He saw them.
Two girls. Huddled against a wall. Dirty clothes. Thin faces. Eyes bright with hunger.
One was his age. The other was younger.
Midas was about to walk past.
You must always help others. No matter the cost.
He stopped.
"Are you hungry?"
The girls looked up.
He bought them food. He talked to them. He taught them his techniques. His schemes. His art of surviving in a world that rejects the weak.
The older one was Silva. The little one, Amélie.
That day, a family was born.
---
AMÉLIE'S AWAKENING
They hung out together now. Silva was strong, fast, silent. Amélie was discreet, almost invisible.
One day, an arrogant boy crossed their path.
"Move it, you bums."
He shoved Silva.
Amélie looked at him.
"You're going to get run over."
The boy sneered.
"What?"
BAM.
A truck. An acceleration. A loss of control.
The boy was thrown onto the sidewalk, rolling across the asphalt, screaming.
Amélie looked at her hands. Her eyes were wide open.
She saw the future. Just a moment. Just enough to save him.
Midas understood.
"You saw what was going to happen."
Amélie nodded.
"But only the bad sides. I only see what's going to go wrong."
Midas smiled.
"That's a good start."
---
DAEK-BIN – THE PARIAH
They spotted a target. A boy, well-dressed, insolent, taunting them.
"You're poor. Your father abandoned you. You grew up on the streets."
Silva clenched her fists.
He attacked them. His eyes plunged into a deep black, then a scarlet red pupil lit up.
Midas managed to neutralize him physically. But the boy's gaze struck him — Midas's blood gushed out, materialized into spears, shot toward him.
The spear stopped dead a centimeter from his face.
It fell.
He doesn't control his power either.
Midas helped him up.
"Who are you?"
The boy spat blood.
"My name is Daek-Bin. My father is a mafia boss. Since GAP died, he's resumed his activities."
His eyes shone.
"I want to bring him down. By any means necessary."
---
MARIE-JOY PORT
They investigated. Daek-Bin revealed the trafficking: import-export from the port. Drugs. Weapons. Slavery.
The father's personal guard patrolled.
The children snuck through. They took photos. Evidence.
Midas opened a container. Drugs. Kilos. Tons.
He filmed himself.
"I'm entrusting this to you, Amélie."
He handed her the tape.
"Run."
---
THE FATHER'S OFFICE
They entered. Daek-Bin and Silva. Midas behind.
The father looked up.
"Who are these kids?"
Midas stepped forward.
"I was told you're involved in drug trafficking."
The father sneered.
"Who are you, kid?"
"Someone who has evidence against you."
The father stood up.
"Evidence? You little shit, I can make you disappear."
Midas didn't move.
"I want to make a deal."
The father burst out laughing.
"A deal? With a child?"
Silva pulled out a knife.
She placed the blade against Daek-Bin's throat.
"MY SON! LET HIM GO!"
Silva stared at him.
"One wrong word, and he loses his life."
The father went pale.
"…What do you want?"
Midas smiled.
"I want to form a faction. Mini-soldiers under my command. And for that… I need to join a high school."
---
ARMSTRONG ACADEMY
Midas stood before the gates.
Behind him, Amélie, Daek-Bin, Silva.
Armstrong Academy. The pride of the city. Myers' direct rival.
"This is where it all begins," Midas murmured.
He pushed open the gate.
The wind rose.
Behind them, the port burned. Ahead, the future.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…