Super Nuts Chapter 21: Ice and Ruins

A world of endless winter stretched out before the Hispanic woman's icy blue eyes, her warm olive skin a stark contrast to the pure white surroundings.Glacia looked around warily, confusion clear from her furrowed silver brows. Her last memory was falling asleep in her luxurious, warm bed with her new plaything by her side.

*Is this a dream?* she wondered as she tried summoning her powers, only to find that they were beyond her grasp. As if locked away.Although all logic pointed to her being in a dream, the chill in her bones and the white mist escaping her lips with every breath convinced her this was no normal dream. Every sensation was far too real.

"Hello, Glacia." Came the deep, resonating voice of a man to her side, where merely a moment ago there had been no signs of anyone.

Glacia turned to face the mysterious man who had materialized beside her, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as she studied him.The man was tall and slender, clad in a fine suit that seemed out of place in this frozen wasteland. His features were striking, with piercing eyes and an aura of power that commanded attention."Who are you?" Glacia demanded, her voice cold and authoritative despite the unsettling situation. She crossed her arms under her ample breasts, a defensive posture as she sized up this new arrival."Why have you brought me here?" she continued, her tone sharpening. The woman was not one to be trifled with, and she refused to be intimidated, even in this strange dreamlike realm. Her gaze never left his, a silent challenge in her frosty stare as she awaited his response.

The finely dressed man bowed deeply before her, flourishing his arm grandly."I go by the name Mirage," he replied elegantly, his voice reverberating through the frozen tundra. "As you might have surmised, we stand in your dream." He gestured to the surroundings, his brown eyes sparkling as he caught a few snowflakes in his tanned hand."I'm a big fan of yours," he continued, meeting her gaze once more, a charming smile on his lips. "You've been a busy woman since you took over Crusher's gang and territory."

Glacia regarded Mirage with a cold, calculating gaze, her full lips pressed into a thin line as she processed his words. The name meant nothing to her, but the fact that he knew of her recent exploits set her on edge.

She took a step closer to him, her posture aggressive and threatening despite his seemingly friendly demeanor. "If you're a fan, then you know what I'm capable of. What I've done to those who cross me," she warned, her ice blue eyes flashing dangerously.

The smile on Mirage's lips remained unchanged despite her threat.

"Of course," he replied cheerfully. "Your heart is as frozen as this tundra." His gaze moved from her eyes to the frozen spheres hanging from her ears. "That's why I want to work with you," he continued, shifting his eyes to meet her own once more. "I always bet on the winners in this game."

Glacia's eyes narrowed at Mirage's comment, a chill running down her spine that had nothing to do with the frigid surroundings. She stepped even closer, her face mere inches from his, and looked directly into his eyes."I don't play games," she said coldly, her breath misting in the air between them. "And I certainly don't need help from anyone."She tilted her head, studying him intently. "So, Mirage, what exactly do you want from me? And more importantly, what are you offering in return?" Her tone made it clear that she wasn't interested in empty promises or vague propositions. If Mirage wanted her cooperation, he would have to provide something of value - something that could benefit her and her new empire.

Mirage didn't shrink back even as Glacia invaded his personal space. It would be rather hypocritical of him to do so, considering he was invading Glacia's mind. However, he did drop the charming smile in favor of a more serious expression.

"I want to destroy the Hero Association," he replied without hesitation, allowing some of the hatred he felt for them to seep into his words. "You seem to be very capable of helping me accomplish that."Mirage turned away from Glacia, finally breaking the intense staring contest, and grandly waved his arm across the fields of snow and ice. Suddenly, the ground began to rumble violently beneath them as if a great avalanche was tumbling down the white peaks in the distance. Yet, the mountain peaks were still. Instead, the impossible scene of a massive complex of buildings began to erupt from the ground in front of them, close enough to allow Glacia to feel the imposing nature of the steel walls that soon towered over them both, blocking out the sun and blanketing them in darkness.

With another motion, Mirage pointed in the direction of the sun with two fingers, then moved his arm at the elbow behind his head. The lighting shifted along with his motion, the sun literally dragged along by his fingers until it was positioned behind the two, the metallic parts of the building now glinting in the sunlight.

The largest building in the complex was a massive skyscraper that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. When looking directly upwards, it was just possible to make out the huge styled "HA" symbol on the skyscraper, marking it as belonging to the Hero Association.

It wasn't just the buildings either. In the sparkling sunlight, heroes of all shapes and sizes could be seen walking along the walls of the complex, training in its yards, or flying around the skyscraper.

Mirage's eyes followed a flying man with brilliantly colored wings for a few moments, before he turned back to Glacia. "Imagine how much greater your empire could grow without any heroes to impede you."

After he spoke, a massive blizzard rolled in around the complex - with Mirage and Glacia standing at the edge of it, just outside its range.

Orange fire, purple plasma, green acid, and all kinds of other attacks erupted outwards from the complex, forming a dazzling, multicolored barrage as the heroes attempted to fight back against the winter storm. But it was no use. Ice began forming along the walls of the various buildings and the massive skyscraper, until they were all fully frozen. Along with each of the heroes, who now resembled ice cubes. The ones who were in the air plummeted towards the earth, shattering into pieces as they hit the ground.

Glacia's eyes widened as she took in the impressive display of power before her. The sheer scope of Mirage's illusions was astounding - the towering skyscraper, the complex grounds, and the heroes themselves, all brought to vivid life in this frozen dreamscape.She watched with rapt attention as the blizzard enveloped the entire Hero Association complex. The heroes' desperate attempts to fight back were futile against the unrelenting onslaught of ice and snow. Glacia couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as she watched them fall one by one, their frozen forms shattering upon impact with the ground.She turned to Mirage, her eyes alight with a newfound respect. "Impressive," she said simply, her voice tinged with a hint of awe. "You have my attention."

A bright grin signaled Mirage's pleasure at her reply.

Instantly, the world shifted once more. Now, Glacia sat upon a luxurious frozen throne. In front of her were the prostrated figures of hundreds of heroes and villains. Some she recognized as famous, while others were entirely new to her.

Behind the bowing figures was a massive window pane, through which she could see the same frozen landscape as before, yet from an ascended perspective. Glacia quickly surmised she now sat within the Hero Association skyscraper.

"This is my vision of the future," came Mirage's voice from behind her, each word spoken with the charisma of a world renowned CEO. He stepped forward until he stood directly at her left. "Work with me, and it will become reality."

Glacia surveyed the scene before her with a critical eye, taking in the prostrated figures of heroes and villains alike. The sight of so many powerful individuals brought low sent a thrill down her spine. This was the kind of power she craved - the ability to rule over all, to crush anyone who dared to oppose her. It was an intoxicating sensation, and for a moment, she allowed herself to imagine the scenario Mirage had laid out.She turned to Mirage, her eyes meeting his. "And what, exactly, do you propose?" she asked, her voice cold and calculating. "How do you intend to make this vision a reality?"Glacia leaned back in her frozen throne, a gesture of casual confidence. "I'm not one to blindly follow anyone, Mirage. If you want my cooperation, you'll need to provide me with more than just pretty illusions and vague promises." Her gaze remained fixed on him, a silent challenge in her frosty stare.

"For now, I simply bring information," he replied with a cryptic smile on his lips. "You have a scheduled meeting with Crimson tomorrow regarding territory disputes. Perhaps it's not much of a surprise that he desires more than diplomacy."

Among the crowd of bowing superhumans, two climbed to their feet and began approaching the throne. One wore a midnight black rope with blood red accents, while the other wore an ordinary pair of cargo shorts and a t- shirt. Both had blank expressions on their faces and moved without emotion.

"As is custom, he's bringing a small group of his gang along with him." Mirage spoke as the pair approached, before pointing at the younger man wearing the t-shirt. He was Asian, and had a tattoo of a beige cobra on his neck. "Among them is this kid. An ex member of the weakened Cobra gang who recently unlocked his powers via a Super Pill."

Mirage held out a hand, stopping the approaching villains a few feet away from the frozen throne. Although he made no movements and his expression never changed from the blank look he was wearing, the Asian man began glowing bright orange, bathing his surroundings in the same glow. Glacia could feel the immense amount of heat produced by the man. Suffocating heat that burned her lungs with every breath and had sweat cascading down her tan skin within mere seconds. Even the ice covering the throne began to melt, wetting Glacia's black bodysuit and forming a stream that trickled down the imposing chair onto the marble floor.

"His power allows him to radiate heat in all directions around him like a human furnace," spoke Mirage from her left, his voice calm and his body showing no signs of discomfort despite the heat. His brown eyes flicked to Glacia, studying her reaction. "Brought along just to counter you."

Glacia gritted her teeth against the searing heat emanating from the young man. The sweat poured down her body in rivulets, soaking through her tight-fitting black bodysuit and making her silver hair stick to her face and neck. She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms as she fought to maintain her composure."A clever move," she managed to say through gritted teeth, her voice tight with strain. She glanced at the tattooed man, taking in his expressionless face and the eerie orange glow surrounding him. "But not clever enough."Glacia summoned her power, reaching out with her mind to the moisture in the air. The sweat on her skin began to crystallize, forming a thin layer of ice that spread rapidly over her body. She focused harder, drawing more and more water from the humid air until the ice thickened, encasing her in a protective shield.The ice crept along the ground, reaching out towards the two men like icy tendrils. It raced up their legs, freezing them in place as Glacia's power took hold. "You underestimate me, Mirage," she said coldly, her frost blue eyes flashing in the orange light. "I am not so easily beaten."

A smirk replaced the look of interest he had worn while he observed Glacia. She truly was formidable."Impressive," he replied pleasantly, snapping his fingers to turn off the man's powers just as the ice surrounding him finished melting. "However, I should mention that his powers are even more oppressive in person. You'll have a tough time repeating what you just did."Mirage turned his body to face her fully, now wearing a bright, disarming smile. "Not to say I doubt you, but simply keeping you informed to the best of my ability. Information is my primary dealing, after all."

Glacia met his gaze, her icy blue eyes narrowing slightly as she considered his words."Information is valuable, yes. But I still don't know your endgame, Mirage," she said coldly, her voice steady despite the lingering heat in the air. She leaned forward in her throne, the ice crackling under her movement. "What do you gain from this? From helping me expand my empire?"Glacia tilted her head, studying Mirage intently. "You clearly have your own agenda. And I'm not about to blindly follow someone else's plan without understanding their motives."

"For now, I gain your trust," he replied simply, maintaining the air of mystery he loved so much. "In the future I want your partnership. To crush the Hero Association, as I said." His brown eyes met her stare, his face an emotionless mask. "If you must know, my primary motivation is revenge. I'm happy to cede the throne to you if it means I get to stand beside you, gazing upon their ruins."

Glacia considered Mirage's words carefully, her frost blue eyes never leaving his. Revenge was a powerful motivator, one she understood all too well. And the prospect of crushing the Hero Association, of ruling unimpeded, was tempting."Very well," she said finally, her voice cold and clear. "I will accept your information and your aid. But make no mistake, Mirage - I am not your pawn. I have my own goals and ambitions, and I will not hesitate to turn on you if you attempt to use me for your own ends." She leaned back in her throne, the ice beneath her cracking and shifting with her movement. "We will work together for now. But remember, my ultimate loyalty is to myself and my empire. Cross me, and you will face the full wrath of my powers." Her words hung in the air, a chilling warning and a promise all in one. Glacia would accept Mirage's help, but she would never be his puppet. Her will was her own, and woe betide any who dared to stand in her way.

"I'd expect nothing less," he replied with a grin, before averting his gaze from Glacia to stare once more upon the rows of prostrated supers. "Now then, before I depart, I'll offer you one last gift." He turned back to her with that same charming smile from his introduction. "How shall I shape your dream for the rest of the night?"

Glacia raised an eyebrow at Mirage's offer, her full lips curling into a smirk. "A tempting proposition," she purred, her voice low and seductive. "But I'm not one for frivolous indulgences. My dreams are already filled with visions of conquest and power."Her gaze bore into his, unwavering. "I prefer to maintain control over my own mind, thank you very much."

He shrugged in response. "Suit yourself," he replied, before exiting her mind and leaving the ice queen to her dreams.

\---

The world around Glacia shimmered and faded, the grand illusion dissolving into the ether as Mirage's presence receded from her mind. She awoke with a start, her icy blue eyes snapping open to stare at the darkened ceiling of her bedroom. Beside her, Ignis stirred, his red hair tousled and his crimson eyes blinking sleepily.

"Glacia?" he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep. "What's wrong?" Glacia sat up, her brow furrowed as she processed the strange encounter.

"Nothing," she replied curtly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She stood, her toned body illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. She padded across the room, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she made her way to the en-suite bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face, the chill helping to clear her mind.

As she toweled off, Glacia's thoughts raced. Mirage's offer was tempting, but she was no fool. She knew that alliances were fickle things, easily broken when they no longer served one's interests. But the information he provided about Crimson and his new recruit was valuable. It gave her an edge, a way to prepare for the coming confrontation. Glacia's full lips curled into a cold smile as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She would use Mirage's aid to her advantage, but she would never let her guard down. She would crush any who dared to challenge her, and carve out an empire of ice and snow. And if Mirage proved to be a loyal ally, so be it. But if he tried to betray her, Glacia would show him the true meaning of cold-hearted.