The hero headquarters was unusually quiet.
Deep within its underground levels, far away from the public halls and training arenas, there existed a sealed chamber that very few people were allowed to enter. Thick steel doors, guarded by advanced security systems and elite heroes, slowly opened.
Inside the room, five figures sat around a circular table.
They were the Lights of Justice.
Each of them carried an aura that felt heavy, oppressive, and powerful—like storms waiting to erupt.
At the center of the room stood an old man.
His back was slightly bent, his hair completely white, and his face was covered in wrinkles that told stories of countless years. Yet his eyes were sharp, cold, and terrifyingly alive.
Edward.
The head of the Hero Council.
Silence filled the room.
It was not an ordinary silence—it was the kind that made even the strongest heroes uncomfortable.
Finally, one of them broke it.
"So," a woman said, crossing her arms with visible irritation, "why did you drag us all the way here?"
Her name was Ella.
Her voice was calm, but her tone carried annoyance.
Edward slowly lifted his gaze toward her. His eyes moved from one Light of Justice to another, as if judging them silently.
"As you all already know," he said slowly, his voice rough but firm, "David Grayson and Zavier Malkov have died."
The room grew heavier.
No one spoke.
Even those who disliked David and Zavier could not deny the weight of losing two Lights of Justice.
Edward continued, "With their deaths, the number of Lights of Justice has dropped to five. That is unacceptable."
He raised his hand slightly, and a holographic screen appeared in front of them.
On it were the names and profiles of ten S-Class heroes.
"These," Edward said, "are the ten strongest S-Class heroes currently alive. You will each choose the one who deserves to become the next Light of Justice."
One by one, the Lights of Justice glanced at the list.
Most of them did not hesitate.
Their fingers moved, placing a tick mark beside their chosen candidate.
The sound of digital confirmation echoed softly in the room.
But one person remained still.
Cosmic.
He stared at the list for a long time, his expression unreadable.
Edward noticed it immediately.
"The person I am looking for," Cosmic finally said, his voice calm but firm, "is not on this list."
The temperature of the room seemed to drop.
Edward looked at him coldly.
"Then that person," Edward replied without hesitation, "is not strong enough."
Cosmic remained silent for a moment.
His eyes lowered slightly.
"…I see," he said quietly.
After a brief pause, he placed a tick mark beside a random name.
Ella turned her head suddenly.
"Wait," she said, frowning. "Where is Arthur? Isn't he also a Light of Justice?"
Before Edward could respond, Anthony let out a short laugh.
"Hah. You're just mad because your crush isn't here," he said teasingly.
Ella's eyes sharpened.
"And you're just mad because I rejected you," she replied without hesitation.
The air instantly became tense.
Anthony's smile disappeared.
Before the argument could escalate, Edward slammed his cane against the floor.
BOOM.
The sound echoed throughout the chamber like thunder.
"ENOUGH!" Edward shouted.
Even the Lights of Justice flinched.
"Arthur is not here," Edward continued in a low, dangerous tone, "because he is currently on a mission on another planet."
No one dared to speak after that.
Soon, the voting process ended.
One by one, the Lights of Justice stood up and left the chamber.
Footsteps echoed, doors opened, doors closed.
Until only one person remained.
Chronos.
He had not spoken a single word throughout the meeting.
He stood calmly, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Edward watched him carefully.
"So," Chronos said slowly, breaking the silence, "was there any other reason you wanted me to stay?"
Edward stared at him for a few seconds before answering.
"Unfortunately, no," he said.
Chronos turned slightly, as if preparing to leave.
"But," Edward added quietly, his voice suddenly changing, "I do have a secret mission for you."
Chronos stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And what is that?" he asked.
Edward's lips slowly curved into a faint, unsettling smile.
"Bring David Grayson's biological son to me," he said.
Chronos's expression froze for a fraction of a second.
Edward continued, his voice filled with something dark.
"He will make a wonderful weapon," he said softly, "just like the other boy."