Metropolis, a city of dreams and hopes, a place of power and powers, both to be and to wield, a bustling city full of wonder and people. Metropolis was a massive city and home to the Rite, a mysterious effect that caused many people to develop powers and abilities by the time they reached adulthood. Naturally, people being self-serving, some used their powers to break the law and let chaos reign. Others, of course, rose to stop them, to protect the innocent, and uphold the common good for all.

They were collectively named ‘Powered People’, for they wielded fantastical powers that most of the populace didn’t have. Though most people ignored the official terminology and just called them Supers.

Supers for the most part had powers that were geared for combat, either direct combat or something that could indirectly aid them. Superpowers were, for the most part, limited by a loose rock-paper-scissors effect where different powers filled a soft elemental resistance profile. Superpowers based on water would be stronger against those that were based on fire, and fire would be super ... effective it was said, against those based on ice or grass.

Additionally, Supers were in peak physical human condition. Supers were athletic and powerful, with or without their powers. Those that were previously over or under weight would gradually come to a normal but athletic shape over time as they fought to take or protect the city from others.

Today was almost like any other day. Normally, heroes and villains contested control of the city. Villains would initiate, and the heroes would come up and fight back. The villains would be beaten back eventually, and the city would once again be safe for the people.

However, today was almost like any other day.

Villains clashed with heroes but unlike every normal day where the heroes won the day, come by evening, one villain stood undefeated.

Stainless Sludge.

Black hair with purple streaks, dirty complexion, brown eyes, and a muscular build, the Stainless Sludge stood over a coalition of heroes, writhing in agony from attempting to fight the man.

With cameras on him, the Stainless Sludge proclaimed that Metropolis was his.

Naturally, being a battlefield for both heroes and villains, an all-encompassing statement was aimed at them. An alliance of villains rose to kick the Stainless Sludge off the man’s perceived throne.

They were also struck down.

Analysts were quick to come up with a rationale. Stainless Sludge was a unique elemental typing. He was the first ever Steel and Poison super, meaning the vast majority of Supers were either heavily resisted by the Stainless Sludge, or he had immunity to their powers. On top of that, being a Steel-type Super meant that his physical prowess was a rung above everyone else, meaning he could challenge and best in hand-to-hand combat pretty much any of his counters.

Analysts decreed that the Stainless Sludge did indeed have a weakness, except it was also a unique typing. The Stainless Sludge would be vulnerable to an Earth-element Psychic Super. Now, Earth Bending was a Superpower but it wasn’t a Psychic Super. It was a Physical Super, meaning the Stainless Sludge could beat Supers with that power. And the Stainless Sludge was very good at fighting in hand-to-hand combat.

The Stainless Sludge quickly set to work gathering a small cabal of Super followers and unpowered henchmen as he ousted the city government and exiled or pacified the other superheroes and supervillains.

Except one.

“I’m retired. You know this. I just want to live my life in peace and work at my day job before going home and enjoying time off.”

“But there is no one left.”

“Not my problem.”

“The Stainless Sludge will bring us ruin.”

“Fine someone else to do it.”

And with that, the man returned to his work, cleaning up the office building where he worked.

The Stainless Sludge had other ideas.

People quickly found out the man didn’t like dogs. Or cats. Or babies. Or the elderly.

Those that objected were struck down.

No one openly objected after that.

Outside of work later that month, the janitor and the Stainless Sludge crossed paths. The janitor, of course, was in work clothes and initially dismissed as one of the masses of unpowered people.

The Stainless Sludge and a small entourage were walking around their city, kicking cans and the occasional puppy, being a general nuisance. They were also littering, spray-painting walls, and muddying the good city’s name, both figuratively and literally, with buckets of mud they brought in from the countryside.

A muddy can came to a stop in front of the janitor.