The Nova Saga: Part 4
Part four begins with Rio talking to Jeff . Rio asks, "How did you regain your consciousness? I thought you had lost your humanity." Jeff replies that over time, the humanity of a transformed person can return, and every mutant who came with him has regained theirs. Rio asks, "Then why are you attacking this city?" Jeff explains, "We aren’t attacking. We are a distraction."
Rio is shocked. Suddenly, a message reaches all Nova members: several scientists have been kidnapped. Rio demands an explanation from Jeff, but Jeff says he promised the Leader he wouldn't reveal anything. Rio tells Jeff there is no room for negotiation. Jeff agrees, and without warning, Rio lunges at him. However, spikes erupt from the ground, blocking Rio’s attack. Jeff says, "I must go," as Frank arrives to take Jeff and the mutants away, along with the captured scientists.
Later, we see a man watching the city from a distance. Frank appears beside him and reports that the mission is complete. The man, named Eliot , says he is pleased but asks, "Is anyone following you?" Frank assures him they are alone. Eliot asks to meet the scientists, and Frank teleports him to their location.
Eliot asks, "Who is in charge here?" The terrified scientists look toward their leader, John , a research commander. Eliot smiles and asks John, "Do you know why you are here?" John guesses, "Perhaps for some kind of experiment?" Eliot calls him clever and reveals the true reason: The Virus .
Eliot explains that while the virus's transmission methods are mysterious to most, he has figured them out. John listens intently. Eliot claims the virus infects people through invisible waves, and he wants to stabilize it into a liquid state. John is horrified and asks why. Eliot explains that before the virus, the world was cruel—trash rose to the top while the truth was buried, and laws only protected the corrupt. He believes the fall of the world provided a chance for reform.
"I was among the first to regain my humanity," Eliot says. "I know that when all humans regain their consciousness, racism against mutants will emerge. Therefore, if I turn everyone into mutants and restore their humanity, there will be no more discrimination. I will rule a world of equality, not prejudice." John warns that they don't know if everyone will regain their humanity. Eliot coldy replies, "We will find out through experimentation."
Preparation for Battle
Back at the Nova city, a leadership meeting begins. Susan explains that the mutants who entered were able to revert to human forms, allowing them to bypass defenses. She decides to send a team to rescue the scientists before they are harmed, appointing Zero as the mission leader, with the operation starting in two days.
After the meeting, Ashl calls Rio for their daily training. Rio and Ashl have grown close recently. During practice, Ashl remarks, "You’ve become much stronger since our last session." Rio feels proud, noting his daily efforts. Ashl mentions that some of the half-mutants who arrived with Rio will join the rescue mission. Rio is surprised: "All of them?" Ashl explains they’ve been training under Zero.
Rio is saddened. "Why are they training with the strongest Nova while I am not?" Ashl retorts, "I am strong too! I’m the third strongest Nova alive." Rio stays silent, making Ashl feel a bit frustrated.
The Absolute Mutant
In a distant Nova-affiliated city, two scientists watch a creature inside a containment tube. The lead scientist, Gee , tells his assistant they are close to finishing the "Perfect Mutant." The assistant asks how they will control it. "You'll see now," Gee replies. Suddenly, other scientists burst in, telling the assistant to stop Gee. They reveal that Gee is mentally unstable and created the mutant to bring about human extinction.
Gee laughs, pulls out a gun, and shoots the assistant and the other scientists. He then releases the mutant. Within minutes, the city is destroyed; everyone, including Super Weapon users, is killed.
Susan calls an urgent meeting. She postpones the rescue mission because of this new threat. She explains what Gee did and classifies the creature as a new category: The Absolute Class , because it possesses the traits of all other classes. It is heading toward them. She sends a group of Commanders to kill it immediately.
The Final Confrontation
The team prepares, including Rio, Lizzy, Mark, Zack, and Nia . We learn that Zack and Nia are siblings; Zack is a Physical Class who can sprout swords from his hands, while Nia is a Super Class who creates unbreakable, razor-sharp ropes. The Commanders leading them are Jack , Amelia (whose Super Weapon is a scythe that creates cyclones), and Rex (whose Super Weapon is a giant hammer that increases in weight with every hit).
On the helicopter, Rio asks why Zero and Ashl didn't come. Jack explains they are too important to lose, but tells Rio not to worry because he is the second strongest Nova. Amelia expresses excitement about fighting alongside half-mutants, having become close friends with Lizzy. Rex, however, is angry: "Why is a rookie like Rio on this dangerous mission? You'll die quickly." Before Rio can answer, Lizzy snaps at Rex, telling him to stop bullying the rookie. Rex falls silent.
Rio is shocked by the exchange. Mark whispers that while Rio was training with Ashl, Lizzy earned the respect of all the Commanders by insisting that half-mutants are valuable assets. Even Zero was impressed. Rio feels a bit discouraged that he hasn't earned that same respect yet.
Suddenly, the pilot screams for everyone to jump. Rio asks where the parachutes are. Jack says, "We don't need them," and tosses Rio out of the plane. They land safely, with Jack catching Rio before he hits the ground. Rio grumbles, "Next time, bring parachutes or I'm not coming."
Suddenly, a creature with many faces and arms appears. Rex attacks, but the mutant dodges with incredible speed and strikes back. Jack realizes this is indeed the Absolute Mutant. The creature uses "invisible attacks" that keep everyone at a distance. Rio observes from afar and realizes he can see the patterns. He rushes in, dodging the invisible strikes, and tries to decapitate the mutant. The mutant opens its mouth and releases a sonic wave that blasts Rio back.
Rio shouts to the team, "It has invisible tentacles!"
The battle intensifies. The mutant uses a strange mass of flesh to cause explosions and then grows wings to attack from the sky. It lands on a building, turning the structure into a dough-like substance to trap the team. Amelia uses a cyclone to clear the debris, while Zack and Nia attack with swords and ropes. The mutant turns Nia’s ropes into living organisms that attack her, but Mark intervenes.
Lizzy throws a massive boulder, which the mutant deflects, but this allows Jack and Rex to land a dual hit. Furious, the mutant lets out a scream that summons a horde of mind-controlled mutants.
The mutant fires a strange substance at Rio that begins to seep into his body. A crew member from the helicopter drops an antidote just in time. We learn the substance would have turned Rio into a clone of the Absolute Mutant—a detail known thanks to Gee’s notes.
Rio tells Rex they must cooperate. Rex reluctantly agrees. Rio prepares a long-range attack while Rex readies a close-range strike. Their synchronized hit severely wounds the creature. In a final push, Lizzy undergoes a full transformation , turning into a terrifying, powerful form. She pins the Absolute Mutant down, allowing everyone to unleash their full power at once, finally killing it.
The Aftermath
Lizzy reverts to human form and faints from exhaustion. The team returns to headquarters with the mutant's corpse.
100 years in the future: Two cosmic beings arrive at a Time Gate after defeating its guardian. The first being thanks the second. The second warns, "The gate won't take you to the exact time, only close to it. Beware of 'Time Bumps'—they are lethal. Your journey will be long." The first being enters the portal.
Back in the present: Rio and the others are recovering in the hospital. Ashl visits Rio and says, "I heard you teamed up with Rex and were a major contributor to the mission."
Rio laughs proudly. "Of course! They all would have died without me."
End of Part 4.