The battlefield was silent now, but not peaceful. Emergency sirens wailed in the distance. Teachers and students were being escorted out by local heroes, many of them injured, some unconscious. I stood alone amidst the rubble, my heart still pounding from the fight.
I had won… but it didn't feel like a victory.
"Nezo!" a familiar voice called out. It was Kairul, one of the Rank 10 Malaysian heroes—blood running down his arm, a nasty cut over his eyebrow. "That monster… it was sent. It wasn't random."
"What do you mean?" I asked, stepping closer.
"It said your name when it arrived."
That chilled me. Ravagers didn't usually speak. And they definitely didn't target. Someone—or something—wanted me dead.
Before I could ask more, a call came through my communicator again.
URGENT: Top 5 World Rankers requested for immediate summit. Location: Skyspire HQ. Attendance mandatory.
I exhaled slowly. No rest. No reflection. Just the next mission.
I looked over my shoulder at the ruins of the school I once laughed in. I clenched my fist.
"I'll protect this place. No matter what."
---
Skyspire HQ was a floating fortress, stationed above the Indian Ocean. Only accessible by warp-gates reserved for the world's strongest heroes. As I stepped into the massive hall of crystal glass and obsidian stone, I felt the shift in atmosphere.
This was where legends walked.
And then I saw her.
Standing beneath a digital banner that read World Rank 1: Yuki, was the strongest hero alive. Her presence alone made the room feel colder, heavier. She had long jet-black hair tied in a high tail, wearing a white and blue battle coat with silver linings. Her expression was unreadable—stoic, elegant, almost royal.
So that's Yuki.
She turned slightly as if sensing my stare. Her sharp, violet eyes met mine.
"You're the new World Rank 4?" she asked, voice calm, yet piercing.
"…Yeah," I answered, a little caught off guard.
She nodded, her tone unreadable. "You disintegrated an S-Class without hesitation. Impressive."
"I did what I had to," I replied.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then, without looking, she added, "Don't get cocky. Strength doesn't make you invincible. Just more targeted."
I wanted to say something back—maybe challenge her—but I knew she was right.
The meeting started soon after. The other top rankers—Titanbreaker from Brazil, Chrono from the U.S., Valkyrie from Norway—all gathered. The topic was dire.
Ravager activity had risen by 300% worldwide.
And according to the data, they were being coordinated.
A single entity was pulling the strings.
The Monster King.
Everyone tensed at the name. He was a myth to some, a nightmare to others. The one being that could command other Ravagers—and had never been seen.
But one thing was clear.
The real war was just beginning.