The screen darkens.A deep voice echoes.
"Who will be the successor of Inavy Stormbreak?"
The HeroChannel logo appears in gold.Images blend together — battles, lightning, crowds shouting the Stormbreak name.
Cut to the streets.Cameras show ordinary people in quick interviews.
— Well… — says a man, hand on his forehead. — In my opinion, it has to follow the pattern: Ray, then Inavy, then Ethan. He has the Blade of Chaos, the same powers… he's the obvious choice!
A woman laughs.— I think the Stormbreak era has ended. My guess is Ryu Nox! He's funny, but has the charisma of an amazing hero.
Responses vary, but the names remain the same: Ethan. Ryu. Stormbreak.Until the scene changes.
The Analyst
A dark studio.Several monitors flicker.In the center, sitting on a leather chair, a man in a blue suit with feline eyes stares at the camera.
Cat Eyes — Behavioral Analyst and Global Influencer.
He smiles, confident.
— Inavy always showed us that his successor would not be a Stormbreak.
The audience holds its breath.
Cat Eyes spins his chair and points to one of the monitors.An old recording appears — Inavy Stormbreak and Ryan Valeborn talking in a park, under the trees.
— Watch carefully. — he says. — Mentor and student. It's as clear as day.
Other images appear: the Draft, the fights, the explosion of energy.Cat Eyes stands and walks slowly before the screens.
— Ryan Valeborn is Inavy Stormbreak's successor.Why? I'll tell you why.
He raises his voice.
— They say Ryan was "without Aura," right?You're wrong!
The studio trembles. He points at the camera with intensity.
— Ryan Valeborn has something greater than Aura.We cannot feel it… but villains can. Heroes can.The entire universe can.
Cut to a rapid sequence: Ryan facing other young heroes, dodging blows, reflecting attacks, the battlefield bending around him.Inavy watches, ecstatic, his eyes glowing with pride.
— Look at Inavy's face! — says Cat Eyes, excited. — He witnessed Ray Stormbreak's peak… but look at this!He's witnessing something unprecedented.
Silence.
Cat Eyes stares at the camera and murmurs:
— Now… the cherry on top.
The screen darkens.
File: Inavy Stormbreak's Funeral
Rose's voice is heard in the background:— Inavy, dinner is ready!
Inavy smiles.
— Sorry, everyone.But I see a future of peace.And boy… show them what you're made of.Your moment is now.The New Pillar.
Cut to Ryan, at the funeral, tears in his eyes.Cat Eyes' voice returns, firm:
— Inavy was referring to Ryan Valeborn.And do you want to know the name of his power?
The studio lights go out.A screen shows two images:Ryan six months ago — brown eyes.Ryan now — intense, electric blue eyes.
Cat Eyes smiles.
— His power is called Reversum.
The whole world holds its breath.
— Reversum is no ordinary technique… it inverts reality itself.Anything that tries to hit him — physical, magical, even the laws of the universe — is reflected.It doesn't vanish. It comes back. It reverses.
Images of Ryan in combat reappear. Hant being thrown into the air, the battlefield warping.
— Whoever masters Reversum doesn't protect themselves… they mirror the universe.Predict moves, amplify strength and speed.At its peak, the Zero Absolute, it's not about killing… but exposing the enemy to their own existence.
Cat Eyes approaches the camera, eyes shining.
— It's a power that doesn't destroy.It reflects. Rebuilds. Transforms.And only someone truly strong can control it without losing themselves.That someone is Ryan Valeborn.The future of the world rests in the hands of a "No Aura."A Zero… an Absolute Zero.That's why I entrust this world to him.
The documentary ends.Complete silence.Millions of people frozen before the screens, absorbing the impact.
Zenith City Hospital
Ryan opened his eyes, blinded by the light.
— I need to go home… — he murmured. — I wonder if mom already picked up Mason from prison?
He sighed and slowly stood up.Picked up his phone.A notification from Ryu: "Dude, did you see the documentary???"
Before he could respond, he heard the sound of automatic doors opening.Flashes. Voices. A sea of people.
— It's him! — someone shouted. — Inavy's successor!— Ryan Valeborn! What is Reversum?— What was your relationship with Inavy Stormbreak?!— Why didn't we feel anything from you?!
Ryan blinked, confused, surrounded by cameras and microphones.
— Hey, wait a minute, guys, you're suffocating me!
The chaos escalated — until suddenly, BANG!Ryan vanished.
Journalists froze.Some shouted:— Must be Reversum! He disappeared!
But the truth was different.Ryan reappeared a few kilometers away, standing in front of a black SUV.
A familiar voice echoed:
— Big shot now, huh, kid?
Ryan turned.— Darius-sensei?!
Darius Valtier, sunglasses and carefree smile, leaned against the car.— Let's go. I'll take you home.
They got into the SUV.The engine purred softly.
Ryan crossed his arms.— Sensei… you're not sleeping at my house, right?
Darius averted his gaze.— Uh… Emily asked me to stop by tonight.
Ryan raised an eyebrow.— So…?
— Slept on the couch! — Darius hurried.
Ryan sighed.— Phew. I thought you two were sleeping together.
Darius, sipping water, choked and started coughing.— Are you crazy, kid?!
Ryan laughed.— Not sure about that… Lorien Valtier's brother, the most eligible hero in the world… "Blue-Eyed Heartthrob"...
— Shut up! — said Darius, laughing. — You're impossible.
The car stopped in front of the Valeborn mansion.Ryan got out and waved.
— Thanks for the ride, sensei.
— Anytime. — replied Darius. — For defeating Hant, you all get a month off. Enjoy. Train.Because if you don't get stronger… it'll be trouble.
— Understood. — Ryan smiled. — Where are you going?
— Meeting with Lorien. Global hero meeting. Something big.
The SUV drove off, leaving Ryan thoughtful.— I wonder what's happening…?
Valeborn House
Ryan opened the door.
— I'm home!
From the sofa, a familiar face awaited him.Mason.
— Welcome to the new home, bro. — said Ryan, smiling.
Mason hugged him.— I couldn't stand watching the sunrise anymore.
Emily appeared from the kitchen, apron on and warm smile.
— Ryan! Welcome back, my love.
She hugged him, and Ryan took the chance to ask:
— Mom… what was Darius doing here?
She blushed. Before she could answer, Mason chimed in:
— Yeah… I heard some bed noises, some moans… not sure, bro…
— MASON! — shouted Ryan, almost having a heart attack.
Mason burst out laughing.— Just kidding!
Emily laughed too.Ryan placed his hand on his chest.— I'll kill you, man!
Laughter filled the house — a rare moment of lightness amidst the chaos.
Hero Association Headquarters
A gigantic oval room.Holographic panels displayed the faces of all guild leaders.
Kelvin Nox, Rudius Eldara, Maxwel Johnson, Antoine Fountier.Beside them, Dante, Zen, Flynn, and dozens of legendary heroes.
The doors opened.Darius hurried in.
— Hey, Darius! — said Kelvin. — More punctuality, number one!
— My bad, had some issues. — he replied, scratching his head.
At the center of the room, in a blue suit and golden tie, was Lorien Valtier, next to Diana Flamesoul.
The man who made the entire world fall silent when he spoke.
— Heroes… — Lorien began. — We have lost another of our own.Ron Stormbreak is gone. The funeral will be private, at the family's request.But… something worse is coming.
The transmissions expanded. Thousands watched in real time.
— Our enemy is no longer Kairon.— The new Universal Emperor… is Kai Hayashi.
Murmurs filled the room.
— Kai?! — some shouted.
Lorien nodded, serious.— Yesterday I sensed an aura similar to Kairon's… but different. Inherited. Familiar.He is returning — more dangerous than ever.Therefore… train. Get stronger. Also, I'm considering unifying the guilds.This will be a war that decides the fate of the universe.
Kelvin crossed his arms.— When does the guild unification start?
— Now. — Lorien replied. — And more: I'm coming back.If Kai rose against us, it's only fair I personally put some sense into that idiot.
Darius laughed.— You'll handle him?
Lorien smiled arrogantly.— Don't worry… I'll win.
Kelvin laughed too.— You never change.
Kairon's Laboratory
Silence.Purple light slicing through the air.The bubbling of liquids inside metal capsules.
Kai walked down the corridor.His gaze empty, serene, powerful.
At the center of the room, a capsule pulsed with black and gold energy.Inside, something alive writhed — a colossal, deformed body, veins glowing luminescent.
Abyssion.Kairon's ultimate creation.
The creature roared, cracking part of the glass.The entire room trembled.
Kai raised his hand.Golden energy filled the air, compressing reality around it.
— Abyssion. — he said calmly. — Obey me.
The beast resisted.But Kai's aura — the perfect fusion of his soul with Kairon's — dominated it.Abyssion fell to its knees.
— Master… — it murmured submissively. — I… understand.
Kai approached, purple eyes burning like two dead suns.
— The era of chaos begins again.From today… I am the Universal Emperor.
The creature's body trembled, absorbing the order.The laboratory vibrated, acknowledging its new lord.
Kai extended his hand.— Come, Abyssion. The universe must bow once more.
The purple aura pulsed, as if the cosmos itself breathed with them.
Somewhere far away, Lorien opened his eyes.The air around him froze.
— …That aura… — he whispered. —It's no longer Kairon.It's Kai.
The true enemy had awakened.