The chamber shook.
Dust slowly fell from the ceiling.
Roy stood in front of the old man, Lightning Nexis crackling around his body.
Five figures had entered the underground chamber.
Each wore a long black coat.
Their faces were hidden behind dark masks.
But Roy could feel it.
Their Nexis.
It was different heavy and dangerous.
The figure standing at the front slowly stepped forward.
"After all these years..."
Roy narrowed his eyes.
"...we finally found you."
Roy raised his hand.
Lightning gathered around his fingers.
"You people really need better introductions."
Nobody laughed.
The old man behind Roy spoke quietly.
"Roy."
Roy didn't look back.
"Yeah?"
"Don't fight them."
Roy blinked.
"Seriously?"
The old man stepped closer.
"You don't understand how dangerous they are."
Roy looked at the five figures.
Then smiled.
"Well, they came looking for me."
The Lightning around him intensified.
"So I guess we're going to have a conversation."
The masked leader tilted his head.
"You're just like her."
Roy's smile disappeared.
Lightning suddenly exploded around him.
CRACK!
"What did you say?"
The old man immediately stepped forward.
"Don't let them provoke you!"
But it was too late.
Roy disappeared.
CRACK!
He appeared directly in front of the masked leader.
Lightning Nexis: Serpent Lightning!
A massive serpent made of blue electricity rushed forward.
BOOOOOOM!
The chamber shook violently.
Smoke filled the area.
Roy landed several meters away.
He stared into the smoke.
"That should've—"
A dark hand emerged.
Roy's eyes widened.
The masked leader walked out.
Completely unharmed.
Roy took a step back.
"What?"
Dark energy surrounded the man's body.
It moved like smoke.
The old man whispered behind Roy.
"Void Nexis..."
Roy glanced back.
"Void?"
"Not Space."
The old man looked terrified.
"It's something else."
The masked leader raised his hand.
Darkness gathered around his palm.
"Your Lightning is impressive boy but you're still inexperienced."
The darkness suddenly shot toward him.
Roy jumped.
BOOM!
The attack destroyed part of the floor.
Roy landed and immediately activated Zeus Armour.
Lightning covered his body.
"Then I guess I'll have to learn quickly."
The four other masked figures moved.
Roy's expression changed.
"Oh, come on."
They surrounded him.
The first attacked.
Roy blocked.
CLANG!
The impact pushed him backward.
The second appeared behind him.
Roy ducked.
A blade passed over his head.
Roy spun.
His leg struck the attacker's side.
CRACK!
The masked figure slid backward.
Roy didn't stop.
Lightning gathered around his fist.
Lightning Nexis: Thunder Strike!
BOOM!
His fist collided with the attacker's chest.
The figure crashed into one of the machines.
Roy smiled.
"One."
Then—
A powerful kick struck his side.
BOOM!
Roy was thrown across the chamber.
He crashed into the ground.
"Argh!"
He rolled and immediately stood.
Three attackers were moving toward him.
The old man shouted.
"ROY!"
"I'm fine!"
Roy raised both hands.
Lightning surged through the chamber.
Lightning Nexis: Serpent Lightning!
Three massive Lightning serpents appeared.
The masked attackers jumped backward.
BOOOOOOM!
The serpents crashed into the ground.
The entire chamber shook.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then the masked leader spoke.
"Enough."
Everyone stopped.
Roy stared at him.
"What?"
The leader slowly walked forward.
"We didn't come here to kill you boy"
Roy's Lightning flickered.
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
The leader ignored him.
"We came to bring you back."
Roy frowned.
"Back where?"
The old man suddenly stepped forward.
"No."
The leader looked at him.
"You've already failed, Guardian."
Roy turned.
"Guardian?"
The old man's expression became dark.
The leader continued.
"You were given one responsibility."
Roy's eyes narrowed.
"What responsibility?"
The Guardian looked at Roy.
For the first time, he seemed uncertain.
The masked leader answered.
"To keep him hidden."
Roy froze.
The Guardian clenched his fists.
"And I did."
"Until today."
Roy slowly looked between them.
"Can somebody explain what you're talking about?"
The masked leader raised his hand.
A symbol appeared above his palm.
The same symbol Roy had seen on the machines.
But broken.
Damaged.
"Years ago, a child disappeared."
Roy's heart began pounding.
"That child..."
The masked leader pointed toward him.
"...was supposed to be dead."
Lightning exploded around Roy.
CRACK!
"I don't know what you people think you know—"
"Oh, we know."
The leader interrupted.
"We know exactly who you are."
Roy suddenly remembered the woman.
Her tears.
Her voice.
> I'm sorry.<
His head began hurting.
"Argh!"
Roy grabbed his head.
Images flashed through his mind.
Fire.
A burning building.
A woman running.
A man holding a sword.
Then—
A voice.
> "Don't let them take him!"<
Roy's eyes widened.
The memory disappeared.
He dropped to one knee.
The masked leader watched silently.
"Your seal is weakening."
Roy slowly looked up.
"My what?"
The Guardian shouted.
"Don't listen to him!"
The masked leader smiled.
"Still trying to protect him."
Roy stood.
His breathing had become heavier.
"Tell me."
The Guardian remained silent.
Roy turned toward the masked leader.
"Tell me everything now" Rou shouted
The leader slowly raised his hand.
"I can."
The Guardian's eyes widened.
"Don't!"
But the masked leader continued.
"Your name is Roy."
Roy stared at him.
"Obviously."
"But it wasn't always."
Roy froze "What do you mean by that"
The chamber became silent.
The masked leader took another step.
"You were given a new life."
Roy's fingers tightened.
"A new name."
Another step.
"A new family."
Roy's heart began pounding.
"And new memories."
Lightning began flickering uncontrollably around his body.
The Guardian shouted.
"Roy! Control your Nexis!"
Roy ignored him.
The masked leader raised his hand.
"Do you want to know why?"
Roy's voice became quiet.
"...Yes."
The leader smiled.
"Because your real past was dangerous."
Suddenly—
BOOOOOOM!
The Guardian attacked.
A massive blue barrier appeared between Roy and the masked figures.
The leader stepped backward.
"Guardian!"
The old man grabbed Roy's arm.
"We're leaving!"
Roy pulled away.
"No!"
"Roy!"
"I want answers and i don't f**king care what it takes!"
The Guardian looked directly into his eyes.
"And you will get them."
Roy froze.
"But not from them."
Another explosion hit the barrier.
CRACK!
The blue energy began breaking apart.
The Guardian turned toward a wall.
A hidden door opened.
"Move!"
Roy looked back at the masked figures.
The leader stood silently.
Then he spoke.
"Run."
Roy's eyes narrowed.
The leader smiled.
"You'll only delay the inevitable."
Roy clenched his fists.
The Guardian grabbed his shoulder.
"ROY!"
This time, Roy moved.
The two ran through the hidden passage.
Behind them—
BOOOOOOM!
The barrier shattered.
The masked figures entered the chamber.
"After them!"
---
Roy and the Guardian ran through a narrow underground tunnel.
Roy activated Lightning around his legs.
"Where are we going?!"
"Outside the academy!"
Roy's eyes widened.
"Outside?"
"Yes!"
"Why didn't you just say that earlier?!"
The Guardian looked at him.
"Do you always talk this much while running?"
Roy stared at him.
"Seriously?"
A dark blast struck the wall behind them.
BOOM!
Roy jumped forward.
"Okay! They're definitely following us!"
The Guardian raised his hand.
A blue symbol appeared.
The tunnel suddenly changed.
Several pathways opened.
Roy stopped.
"What?"
"Choose one!"
Roy looked between them.
"You want me to choose?!"
"Yes!"
Roy's pendant suddenly glowed.
He looked down.
The blue light pointed toward the left tunnel.
Roy immediately pointed.
"That one!"
The Guardian didn't even question him.
They ran left.
Behind them, the masked figures entered the intersection.
The leader stopped.
He looked toward the three paths.
One of the attackers spoke.
"Which way?"
The leader looked toward the left tunnel.
"He still has it."
The attacker frowned.
"The pendant?"
The leader smiled.
"Follow the resonance."
---
Roy suddenly stopped.
The tunnel had reached a dead end.
He stared.
"You've got to be kidding me."
The Guardian arrived behind him.
His face immediately changed.
"No."
Roy turned.
"What?"
The wall in front of them began glowing.
The pendant reacted.
A symbol appeared.
The Guardian stared at it.
"Impossible."
Roy looked at him.
"Can we stop saying that every five minutes and start explaining what's happening?"
The Guardian slowly stepped closer to the wall.
"Only one person should be able to open this."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
The Guardian looked directly at him.
"It's you."
The pendant floated from Roy's chest.
Blue energy spread across the wall.
The stone slowly opened.
RUMBLE.
Behind it—
Was another chamber.
But this one was different.
In the center stood a single object.
A weapon.
Roy slowly walked forward.
It looked like a sword.
But the blade was covered in strange markings.
Lightning suddenly surged through the room.
CRACK!
Roy's eyes widened.
The weapon reacted to his presence.
The Guardian whispered.
"No..."
Roy slowly approached it.
"What is it?"
The Guardian didn't answer immediately.
Then he said:
"A weapon that disappeared the same night you did."
Roy stopped.
His heart began pounding.
The pendant glowed brighter.
The sword began shaking.
The masked figures were getting closer.
Roy could hear them.
The Guardian looked toward the tunnel.
"Roy."
Roy stared at the weapon.
"What?"
"Whatever you do..."
The Guardian's expression became serious.
"...don't touch it."
Roy looked at the sword.
Then at the Guardian.
Then back at the sword.
He smiled slightly.
"Yeah."
He stepped closer.
"I think you know me well enough by now."
The Guardian's eyes widened.
"ROY!"
Roy reached for the weapon.
The moment his fingers touched it—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The entire chamber exploded with blue Lightning.
And inside Roy's mind—
A voice spoke.
> "Welcome back, Heir."