Power Thief's Revenge [BL]

"Next match!" Somner's voice sliced cleanly through the large square space. "Knightmare versus Sirentone."

Hermes tilted his head. "Knightmare?"

He instinctively glanced toward Victorina, who was spinning her pink star wand like a cheer baton. Her massive shoulders shimmered with body glitter. Her pastel tutu twirled with her, her expression excited and unbothered as always.

She noticed his stare and winked. "Oh, girly, you think I'm Knightmare?"

"…Aren't you?"

Victorina threw her head back in a peal of sparkly laughter. "Oh, bless your innocent little soul! No, no, girly. I'm Necromagia."

Hermes' eyes widened. "Oh!"

"The magic is in the glitter, and the glitter summons the dead!" She twirled for emphasis, leaving behind a trail of floating skull-shaped sparkles.

Hermes blinked. "So…. You're really the necromancer?"

"That's me, sugarpop. Corpses and confetti, hand in hand!" She blew a kiss. "Knightmare's our gloomy girl."

Sure enough, Vera stepped forward into the arena. She wore a tattered black combat coat with silver buttons, leather boots that made satisfying thuds with each step, and a choker shaped like a broken crown. Her dark lipstick, pale skin, and deadpan stare completed the aesthetic.

Hermes' mind reeled. She was Knightmare this whole time?

"I—okay. Yeah. That makes more sense. Honestly."

Cam chuckled beside him. "Happens to the best of us. I thought Victorina was a stage magician or some lolita stripper until she summoned a glittering zombie T-Rex."

"Excuse me! It's a magical girl. You're more brain-dead than a zombie!" Victorina boinked him with her wand.

On the field, Vera quietly inserted sleek black earplugs. Across from her, Somner raised a brow.

"Really, Vera?" He called out.

She stared at him blankly. "I'm not stupid."

Somner clicked his tongue, then smirked faintly. "No, but you're underestimating me."

"I'm not underestimating anybody. That's why I put this on in the first place."

Eirwyn, standing at the edge of the field with a clipboard, gave the all-clear. "Combatants ready?"

Somner's jacket fluttered as he adjusted his gloves. "Always."

Vera rolled her neck. "Let's get this over with."

"BEGIN!"

With a sudden stomp, Vera thrust her unicorn horn talisman into the ground. A thunderclap rippled outward. The summoning circle that bloomed beneath her feet was black and violet, pulsing with ghostfire.

CRACK!

The fabric of the air tore open behind her.

Dreadmane emerged.

A unicorn, yes—but one born from a nightmare. Obsidian skin, fiery red eyes, jagged spiral horn, and hooves that scorched the earth with every step. Its mane swirled like drifting ash, and it snorted a plume of toxic mist.

Hermes let out a low whistle. "Damn…"

Victorina giggled. "Isn't she a beauty? I helped Vera design her look! I told her, 'Girly, no one's scared of a marshmallow horse. Make her BITE.' And she bit."

Somner didn't flinch. He tilted his head, letting his tone shift low and firm.

"Kneel."

The command boomed.

Even from the sidelines, Hermes felt a chill crawl up his back.

But Vera didn't move. Her ears were sealed tight. Dreadmane, too, resisted—shaking its head violently, sparks flying from its horn.

Somner's eyes narrowed.

"So we're playing that game."

He darted forward, faster than Hermes expected. Somner wasn't known for brute force, but he was fast, his motions refined like someone who'd spent years perfecting how to move without being seen.

Vera didn't react. But Dreadmane did. It reared and brought its hooves down in a stomp aimed right at Somner's chest.

He somersaulted to the side, rolling up into a crouch. From his belt, he threw what looked like a glowing marble. 

Hermes realized it was an audio burst sphere.

He had seen some heroes use it, usually to call for back-up. But right now, Somner was using it to—

CRACK!

The high-frequency pulse rippled out. 

"Ahhhh!" Vera flinched and her hand instinctively reached for her ears.

That was all Somner needed.

He dashed in, caught her wrist, and with one smooth motion, yanked her earbuds free.

She gasped and for the briefest moment, her eyes locked with his.

That's when he dropped his voice into a syrupy whisper: "Sleep."

Vera's pupils dilated. Her mouth parted slightly, then her knees buckled. She crumpled to the ground, unconscious before her body hit the dirt.

Dreadmane shrieked—a piercing, pained whinny—and evaporated into shadow.

"Sirentone wins," Eirwyn declared, sighing as he made his way across the field.

Somner stood over Vera's body, brushing his blond hair back. "Told you not to underestimate me."

Hermes was already moving toward them. He knelt beside Eirwyn as the medic gently turned Vera onto her back and checked her vitals.

"She's okay," Eirwyn said with a warm smile. "Just a light hypnotic shutdown. No damage."

"She's still breathing." Hermes added. "No marks. Not even a bruise."

"Somner's precise with his commands. Effective, but not brutal." Eirwyn placed a hand on Vera's forehead. "She'll wake up soon."

Hermes smiled at the gentle way Eirwyn worked. There was something comforting about the way he moved—professional, but soft. Kind. Hermes always liked people like that. Maybe because they were rare.

"You're really good at this," Hermes said, looking straight into Eirwyn's eyes.

Eirwyn glanced up, his expression pleased. "Thank you. I try."

Somner, still nearby, was watching. His arms were crossed, foot tapping. A little red at the ears.

"Stop fawning over the HR rep and do your job, Hermes." He said sharply.

Hermes turned his head, raising a brow. "I wasn't aware that checking on a teammate violated protocol."

Somner scoffed. "Whatever."

Eirwyn chuckled under his breath. "Don't mind him. Perhaps he is simply having hormonal problems?"

"I do not!" Somner snapped, turning even redder. "Nothing's wrong with me!"

Hermes smiled, eyes glinting. "You literally sound jealous."

"I don't!" Their boss fumed.

Victorina leaned in from the sidelines with a megaphone made of glitter. "You so do, girly~!"

Somner pointed dramatically. "Shut it, Victorina!"

"I ship it!" She yelled, heart-shaped sparkles flaring behind her.

Hermes laughed quietly to himself as Eirwyn stood to help Vera up. The goth groaned and rubbed her head, blinking groggily.

"…Ugh. Did he make me sleep again?"

"Yup." Victorina called. "You did great, though, girly!"

"Don't call me that."

Victorina just guffawed and helped Vera walk to the refreshments corner.

Somner turned away, trying to storm off in a huff. But he tripped slightly over a pebble and caught himself with a curse.

Hermes couldn't help but chuckle.

He does find this spoiled obnoxious tsundere adorable sometimes.