The Guild of a Thousand Lights was silent.The sound of Dante's footsteps echoed through the marble halls — cold, heavy, matching the morning air.
Abby and Annie were the first to see him.
"Dante, are you alright?" — Abby asked, noticing the distant look in his eyes.He nodded slowly.But his face... said otherwise.
Annie frowned, uneasy.
"Something happened to Yan… didn't it, Dante?"
He didn't answer.He just walked past them, heading straight for the main office.
Inside, Kelvin — the guild master — was waiting.The man with silver hair and a steady gaze rose slowly, sensing the weight of the boy's presence.
"What is it, Dante?" — he asked, his deep voice echoing through the hall.
Dante took a breath, his eyes welling up.
"Uncle… it's about Sensei Ron."
Kelvin fell silent.For a moment, the ticking clock on the wall was the only sound between them.
"He's gone… isn't he?" — Kelvin murmured.
Dante lowered his head.
"Yes…"
A heavy silence filled the room.Kelvin closed his eyes, leaning against the desk.
"I can't imagine what Ethan's feeling. Days ago, he lost his father… and now his uncle."
The boy clenched his fists.
"I just… wish I could've done something."
Kelvin turned toward the window, his eyes lost on the grey horizon.
"Listen, Dante. We're living in darker times than seventeen years ago.The Universal Emperors are moving — using humans as weapons.Casualties… are inevitable.Even the strongest can fall."
"Even you, Uncle Darius… and my father?" — Dante asked, surprised.
Kelvin gave a faint, sorrowful smile.
"For all of us, Dante. Anyone who lets their guard down… can die."
A distant thunder broke the silence.Outside, the news screens began to flash.
[BREAKING NEWS]"Hero and Guild Thunder Leader, Ron Stormbreak, dies in battle.""Son of Ray Stormbreak and brother of Inavy Stormbreak declared deceased."
The world stopped.
•••
In a hospital room, Kyara Stormbreak — Ray's youngest daughter — sat on her bed, her face soaked with tears.
"My brothers… my father… my mother… they're all gone…"
Her fragile voice filled the room.
Ethan, still injured, knelt beside her bed.His clothes torn, his body covered in cuts — and his eyes… red from crying.
"Auntie… I'm sorry… I couldn't do anything."He choked on the words."I could've fought, but Uncle wouldn't let me…"
Kyara leaned down and hugged him tightly.
"Don't blame yourself, Ethan.Your father's will… Inavy's spirit… Ron's strength… they live within you."
Rose stood by the wall, silent.Tears fell down her cheeks, wordless.The weight of the name Stormbreak… was fading from the world.
Headlines spread like wildfire across the globe.
"The End of the Stormbreaks?""Ethan Stormbreak: The Last Heir.""The Lightning Fades After Decades of Glory."
Social feeds. Broadcasts. Newspapers.The name that once meant power… now echoed like a ghost.
In the next room, Ryan slept peacefully.His breathing calm, the machines tracing each heartbeat.Kane sat nearby, watching him in silence.
Across the room, Ryu Nox was eating Ryan's lunch.
"Dude, that's his food," Kane complained.Ryu, mouth full, replied,"I was hungry, man. You think fighting Arcanis was easy?"
Kane sighed.
"I fought him too, idiot."He looked back at Ryan."He's gonna be okay, right?"
Ryu swallowed and leaned back.
"He usually wakes up after a few hours. His body's still adjusting."He smiled faintly."Think about it — in six months, he's stronger than people who've trained since childhood."
Kane stayed quiet.Ryu continued, his tone softening.
"He's a prodigy. I really admire him."
Kane chuckled.
"You know… I never actually hated Ryan."
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah? You were the first to tease the guy in class."
"Yeah, but…" Kane looked away. "We've known each other since we were kids. Even without aura, he trained every single day.And the first day we met… he protected me."
Ryu smiled.
"He's always had the heart of a hero. He can't see someone in trouble and just walk away."
"Yeah… he's something else." — Kane said quietly.
The door opened.Ethan walked in, exhausted.
"Hey, man." — Ryu stood. — "You holding up?"
Ethan forced a smile.
"Not really. How's Ryan?"
"Still out cold. But he'll live." — Kane replied.
"Good. Mind if I sit with you guys?"
The three sat together on the couch, silent.The weight of the world seemed to rest in that room.
Hours later, Ryan opened his eyes.
The white ceiling.The distant hum of machines.And on the couch — his friends asleep, leaning on each other.
He stood quietly, pulled a blanket over them, and smiled.Then he stepped out of the room.
In the corridor, Annie stood holding a bouquet of roses.When she saw him, her face turned red instantly.
"A-Annie…" — he stammered. — "Hey, how are you?"
"I should be asking you that, Yan— I mean, Ryan." — She smiled nervously.
"I'm fine." — He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. — "And those roses?"
"They're for you." — she said, looking away.
Ryan was speechless.
"Annie, about yesterday… I might've gone too far. I know it hurt you, but… I just wanted to protect you.When all this ends, I hope we can go back… to how things were."
She took a deep breath, gripping the flowers tightly.
"Things aren't that simple, Ryan.You'll have to fight… to win me back."
He smiled.
"Hey… you can call me Yan again."
She smiled too.
"Alright, Yan." — She handed him the roses. — "Get better soon."
And she walked away, leaving the scent of flowers in the air.
Ryan stood there for a moment, watching her go —a faint smile on his face… and warmth in his chest.
Far away, beyond any known sky…
The air was heavy, metallic.Kai Hayashi knelt before a tank filled with violet energy.Inside it — the body of Kairon, motionless, barely alive.
Suddenly, the Emperor's eyes opened.
"Kai…" — he murmured, weakly.
"Master!" — Kai rushed forward, tears streaming down his face. — "I'm here!"
Kairon tried to smile.
"Listen to me carefully. I don't have much time."
"Don't say that, my lord— there's still hope—!"
"No." — the Emperor cut him off. — "Inavy's attack destroyed my soul.But… you can continue my legacy.You can become the next Universal Emperor."
Kai froze.
"What…?"
Kairon grasped his hand with fading strength.
"You were the son fate gave me.So you will inherit everything.But there's a price."
"What price, master?"
Kairon coughed blood. His eyes blazed purple.
"Your humanity."
Kai bowed his head.
"Then so be it… father."
Kairon smiled one last time and placed his hand on Kai's head.A blinding light filled the chamber.All of Kairon's essence — his power, his rage, his pain — flowed into Kai.
He saw it all.The past. The loss. The hatred. The worlds reduced to ash.Each memory cut through him like a blade.
He stepped toward an ancient machine — built to erase human emotion.He hesitated.
Memories of Ray, Lorien, and Diana flashed before his eyes.Laughter. Battles. Promises.
He stood before the massive cylinder in the center of the room — glowing with violet light.It could erase everything.Fear. Pain. Love.
Kai's hand trembled against the cold glass.Then, a gentle voice echoed in his mind.
"Kai… is this truly the path you choose?"
It was Ray — the last fragment of his master within his memories.
Kai closed his eyes.
"Sensei… thank you for everything.But I'm not that boy anymore."
He stepped into the machine.Tears fell as the lights began to spin.And slowly… his memories began to fade.
The pain.The friendship.The love.All of it… erased.
A violet glow consumed the chamber.When the machine opened again, Kai emerged… changed.
His eyes now shone with a deep, imperial purple — the same as Kairon's.But behind that gaze… something lingered.A flicker.A fragment of humanity… still fighting to survive.
His voice was calm.Cold.
"Humans…" — he whispered. — "Prepare yourselves.Every tear shed for my master… will be avenged."
Behind him, the Spear of Destiny floated.Kai grasped it.
His power surged, cracking the floor of that dimension.
At the Hero Association headquarters, Lorien, deep in meditation, opened her eyes wide.She felt the shockwave of a new aura ripple through the universe.
"…Kairon?" — she whispered.
Then she realized.
"No… it's Kai."
The new Universal Emperor had awakened.
To be continued...