The final bell echoed through the halls of Ridgewood High. Students flooded out of classrooms, laughter and chatter filling the air. But for Maya Hart, there was no time to relax.

Just minutes ago, the city had been under attack — a towering, sludge-like monster tearing through the downtown district. Buildings cracked, cars overturned, and panic filled the streets. But where there was chaos, there was also Astra, the crimson superhero who could turn any object she touched into weapons. With a single burst of a missile, she had incinerated the creature, leaving only a smoldering crater behind.

Breathless, Maya landed behind the school gym, clutching her torn-up hero suit. Her heart pounded harder than it had during the fight. With a flicker of golden light, her battle-scarred suit dissolved into sparks, fading into her hoodie and jeans. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. Another save, another near miss.