Chapter 10: Debut
Ash stood in his newly created secret base, staring at the suit laid out on the table in front of him. He had finally finished building it, and the result was more impressive than he had ever imagined. The black and red armor looked sleek, aggressive, and futuristic. The glossy black surface contrasted with glowing red lines that ran along the seams, giving it a dangerous, high-tech feel. The helmet was angular, with a sharp visor glowing a menacing red, and the suit had a muscular yet mechanical design, making it look both powerful and nimble.
"Wow," Ash whispered to himself, running a hand over the cool surface of the armor. "This is… insane."
He couldn't believe he had made it. It was like something out of his wildest dreams. The suit reminded him of those from the movies and comics he loved, a perfect blend of futuristic tech and sleek design. It was a far cry from the scrappy DIY superhero suits that other heroes started with. This one screamed 'professional'—he had built it to be efficient, powerful, and durable.
Ash stood back, admiring the full look. He then gave the command for the suit to shrink down. The armor began to fold into itself, collapsing in smooth, fluid motions like it was made of tiny interlocking pieces. In seconds, it had transformed into a simple, yet still stylish, bracelet on the table.
"Just like in the movies," he chuckled, picking up the bracelet and slipping it onto his wrist. It fit snugly, its black and red color matching his casual clothes. "Man, that's cool."
He checked the clock. It was already 9 p.m. and the night was quiet outside his apartment. The perfect time to test the suit's functions. He wasn't going to wait any longer. He'd been building this suit for days, and now it was time to see what it could really do.
"Alright, let's do this," he muttered, stepping into the middle of his room.
Ash closed his eyes, focusing on the bracelet. He didn't need to say anything; the suit was designed to activate with just a thought. Instantly, the bracelet expanded, the armor wrapping itself around his body in a smooth, almost liquid-like motion. In a matter of seconds, he was fully suited up.
When Ash opened his eyes, he was staring through the red-tinted visor. The HUD (Heads-Up Display) flickered to life, showing him a full readout of his suit's systems. The interface was sleek, easy to read, with data streams and diagnostics running across the screen. It was even more advanced than he had imagined.
Suddenly, a soft, calm voice spoke through the helmet. "Suit systems online. Good evening, Ash."
Ash blinked in surprise. "Whoa. You are the suit's AI right?"
"Yes," the voice responded, sounding smooth and professional. "Would you like to assign a name?"
Ash thought for a moment. "Hmm… how about Zoe?"
"Zoe registered. How may I assist you, Ash?"
Ash grinned behind the helmet. "Alright, Zoe, let's run a systems check. Is everything working properly?"
"Running diagnostics… all systems are functioning within optimal parameters. The suit's strength and speed enhancements are ready, and auxiliary systems such as flight and teleportation are fully operational."
Ash clenched his fists, feeling the power in the suit's movements. It wasn't bulky or stiff like he feared—it moved with him, almost like it wasn't even there. "Let's test that out."
He walked over to a large weight he had set up for testing. Normally, it would take all his effort to lift it, but with the suit on, he lifted it with one hand effortlessly.
"Whoa. Okay, this is crazy," he said, laughing as he tossed the weight aside. "Let's try speed."
Ash dashed to the far end of the room and back in the blink of an eye. He was moving faster than any human could, his surroundings becoming a blur.
"Zoe, what about time dilation? Can we test that?"
"Activating time dilation now."
Suddenly, everything around him seemed to slow down. Ash looked around, waving his hand in front of his face. It moved slowly, like he was watching it in slow motion, but he himself felt normal. The feeling was strange but exhilarating.
"This is so cool!" Ash said, his voice filled with excitement.
After deactivating the time dilation, Ash moved on to the next feature. "Zoe, let's test the teleportation. Can you teleport me to a random rooftop in Hell's Kitchen?"
"Teleportation initiated."
Without any delay, Ash found himself standing on a rooftop. The night air was cool against his armor, and he looked around at the dark streets of Hell's Kitchen below. It was a gritty part of the city, but perfect for his first real test of the suit. He could see the faint glow of neon signs in the distance, hear the distant sounds of traffic and people, but up here, it felt peaceful.
"Alright," Ash muttered. "One last thing to try."
He stepped to the edge of the building and took a deep breath. "Zoe, let's fly."
"Flight systems engaged."
With just a thought, Ash began to rise into the air. At first, it was slow, but then he sped up, soaring higher and higher until he was above the rooftops. It felt completely natural, like he was just floating. The suit didn't have any loud thrusters or anything—it was like he was simply defying gravity. Ash laughed out loud as he flew higher, shooting up toward the clouds.
"This is amazing!" he shouted, retracting his helmet so he could feel the breeze on his face. The cold night air hit him, but it only added to the thrill. He looked down at the city, which looked so small and quiet from up here. The lights twinkled like stars, and for a moment, Ash just floated, enjoying the view.
After a few minutes, he lowered his mask again. "Alright, Zoe, let's get to work. Find me some action. Is there anything happening around here?"
"Scanning… there is an ATM robbery happening two blocks from your location."
Ash's heart started pounding with excitement. "Alright, let's go."
He dove down from the sky, moving so fast that the wind roared past him. Within seconds, he was standing outside the ATM where three men were trying to pry it open with crowbars. They hadn't noticed him yet, so he casually opened the door to the small ATM room.
The men froze when they saw him. Their eyes went wide with fear and confusion, staring at the high-tech suit in front of them. It was something they had clearly never seen before, something out of a sci-fi movie.
"Who the hell are you?" one of them barked, trying to sound tough.
Ash crossed his arms, trying to stay cool. "You guys should walk away while you can."
One of the robbers, clearly the leader, narrowed his eyes. He wasn't intimidated. "You think we're scared of you?" He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Ash's chest. "You're gonna regret coming here."
He fired the gun, but the bullet bounced harmlessly off Ash's chest, leaving the suit untouched.
Ash sighed. "Really? That's the best you've got?"
Before any of the robbers could react, Ash moved. In a blur, he was on them. A quick punch to the gut knocked one out cold, and a swift kick sent another flying into the wall. The third tried to run, but Ash grabbed him by the collar and tossed him aside like a ragdoll. Within seconds, all three men were lying unconscious on the floor.
"Zoe, send an anonymous tip to the police," Ash said, dusting off his hands.
"Message sent," Zoe confirmed.
Ash stood over the unconscious men, feeling a rush of satisfaction. His first mission as a superhero, and it had gone off without a hitch.
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