*
A crowd of heroes running quickly.
Drones flying over the city center began to fly in quickly and capture their appearances in different ways.
The camera captured some people using their abilities to fly at high speed, while others simply ran using the basic physical abilities of those who had their abilities developed.
"In the beginning, it's like a skirmish, with numerous heroes keeping an eye on each other. Meanwhile, high-ranking heroes are seen moving quickly on the outskirts."
With announcer Cha Se-ri's commentary, the screen quickly split into several sections, and the figures of the top-ranked heroes began to appear one by one.
Hero Snow Bell runs quickly, creating a bridge of ice between buildings, and joins the course.
Hero Jet Blade runs between buildings like a ninja with nimble movements that are not captured on camera.
Every time the image of the hero they were rooting for appeared, cheers erupted from the crowd standing outside the barricade on the road.
"Hi!"
Of all the ones, the one that gets the most cheers is 1st place.
It was the figure of Bless, a bird-like shadow running between rooftops, shouting cheers.
The moment she stomped her feet hard, she jumped into the air and flew around doing somersaults, like a swallow flying freely through a forest of buildings. Numerous broadcast camera drones were quickly following her to capture her beautiful appearance.
"As expected, it's just like the hero 'Bless' who was running at the top of the pre-game popularity poll. With his superhuman physical abilities, he quickly rejoins the original route with a terrifying speed that makes his handicap of starting from the rooftop of a building seem meaningless. Then, what about Vigilante, the hero 'Vigilante' who caught everyone's attention with his hotly anticipated entrance? Let's move to camera number 5-"
Cha Se-ri, who had been speaking with a natural smile, stopped talking for a moment and placed her hand on her ear.
"Yes... Yes? Is that true?"
Her voice was filled with embarrassment, and she quickly smiled at the camera lens.
"It seems we're having trouble capturing Vigilante on screen. But don't worry, viewers. We'll resume broadcasting as soon as we can get Vigilante on camera. Keep your eyes peeled for this major event. Then, let's watch the commercial."
After giving the advertising introduction, when the red light from the camera lens went off, Cha Se-ri frowned, placed her hand on the earphone in her ear, and opened her mouth.
"What do you mean, 'I missed your appearance?'"
"Literally. It's gone."
"It's gone. All the top ranked heroes were supposed to start on the roof of the building and use their abilities to move to the race course."
"That's it. He said something to the staff on site and then left first."
"What on earth did he say..."
The PD, who was listening to her radio, said quietly, frowning.
"I feel a little embarrassed when there are cameras."
In this day and age, how could someone so camera-shy make such an appearance?
Cha Se-ri knew one thing about Vigilante.
He is a person who really can't lie.
*
"I didn't expect you to run here."
I chuckled at Lantern's words, who looked surprised at me.
"Anyway, the other high-ranking people are already taking care of everything else. There won't be any problems if I'm not there. Besides, I've been following the rules."
When I started on the roof of a building, I was initially confused, but I couldn't help but be confused when I was told to jump from building to building or use my abilities to join the course.
Even if it was S-mode, now that I was in M-mode, with my physical abilities that were only slightly better than those of an average person, it would have been impossible to go from one rooftop to another, let alone between houses that were right next to each other.
'You can't overuse the splendid dash from the start on a long course.'
The Splendid Dash, which runs at full power, was much better than when I first learned it, but I still couldn't maintain the activation time for long.
Even with the Black Bone that controls unnecessary body movements, the maximum that can be maintained is two minutes.
"Other people would be desperate to be caught on camera by a broadcasting station."
"I'm different from that type of person."
I smiled at Lantern, who was sighing in regret, and ran through the crowd, raising my head.
Of course, there was no camera shining on me, but I still felt the gaze.
'There is one gaze watching this way.'
I felt it from the moment I went up to the rooftop with the staff.
At first, I thought he was Baek Jung-man's lackey who had come to interfere directly, but I didn't feel any hostility in his gaze. Rather, he was just quietly observing my movements, and I just quietly revealed myself to him.
"If you go a little further, you'll see the first course crossing the Han River, Mapo Bridge."
"I wish it was a normal marathon course, but I guess I shouldn't expect that."
"Well, it was explained that there would be obstacles in each course, so it shouldn't be that difficult, right?"
Well, unless that raccoon-like old man moves to kick me out.
*
"Hahaha! I'm first!"
Marathon Course A - Near Mapo Bridge.
The leader of the lower rankings who started first, among them, the hero with the feather mask flying quickly while blowing strong wind from his hand, was caught on the relay camera of Mapo Bridge.
Hero 'Shinpung', who was leading the lower rankings, smiled.
Hero Shinpung, he was a hero who was quite well-known among civilian heroes.
As his name suggests, "Shinpung" (Shinpung) is a powerful force that harnesses the power of wind. He primarily uses the strong winds he unleashes from his hands to solve various cases, slowly building his reputation. He has enjoyed such popularity that he even has his own fan cafe.
His swift, dazzling movements, like the wind, amazed both his fans and the public. But—
After admiring the fast and dazzling movements, there was always an unnecessary comment from everyone.
'If it weren't for Top Hero Splendid, it would have gotten more attention.'
Splendid.
A hero who is already a popular top hero, but who pursues 'speed' on a different level from other heroes who have developed abilities.
His name was soon the standard for speed in the world of heroes, and at the same time the pinnacle.
His fans also tried not to express their support and love for him in words, but Shinpoong knew it too.
Still, he thought.
If you don't get noticed because of the splendid, doesn't that mean you can get noticed where there is no splendid?
So, when he first announced the big event of running, he secretly cheered.
A place for new and civilian heroes, where the top hero, Splendid, does not participate.
'Here, I can make a name for myself.'
It can attract attention with abilities comparable to those of Splendid.
And himself, like that Vigilante.
"See, Splendid? I'm just as fast as you!"
The strong wind shooting out from his hands gained more strength, and his body was quickly blown over Mapo Bridge with the strong wind bursting out.
And at the same time
Tudadadadadada-
Green bullets flew towards him.
"what?!-"
The divine wind that flew towards him with a sudden acceleration was not able to dodge in time, and instead he threw himself into the barrage of bullets flying towards him.
And the moment the green bullet hits his latex suit,
Phage support support-
"Eww!"
His vision went blank, and electricity quickly passed from the green bullet through his entire body.
His arms and legs, which had been flying straight ahead, shrank, and his body, which was shaking, fell onto Mapo Bridge.
"What, what is it?"
The leading group, which had been following him as he accelerated rapidly, stopped at the sight of him suddenly hit by a bullet and falling to the ground.
And then, something caught their eye.
Kiing-
Robots lined up on Mapo Bridge, aiming at them, slowly moving their catapult legs while glowing red lenses towards them, carrying steel shields the size of themselves on both arms and machine guns mounted above the red lenses that controlled their vision.
Soon the H app's alarm rang.
[First course, Mapo Bridge. Break through the ranks of obstacles and the STUN-G, a tactical machine used to suppress terrorism.]
The battle lines hesitated at the sight of robots aiming towards them, their red lenses glowing, and the barricade barrier erected, but their fighting spirit was gradually burning.
Looking at the scene with the lantern, I said quietly.
"It's a marathon, you old man."