The silence on the Hero Association rooftop was broken only by the muffled sound of the wind.Ryan leaned against the wall, his face red, trying to hide his embarrassment.
RYAN(whispering to himself):"I… kissed Annie…"
Ryu was just a few feet away, and couldn't stop laughing.
RYU(laughing loudly):"Bro, YOU kissed Annie in front of everyone! You look like a glitched NPC right now!"
ETHAN(approaching):"At least now we know you've got guts for something. Hahaha!"
ANNIE tried to hide her smile, looking away, while Abby crossed her arms, giving Ryan a look that clearly said "it was only a matter of time."
But then—
A glowing seal on Ryu's arm began to shine. Violently.
RYU:"ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
He screamed, overwhelmed by intense pain, and a blast of shadows exploded from him—throwing Ryan, Ethan, Annie, and Abby back like a wave.
Ethan slammed into a wall, Annie rolled across the floor, and Ryan caught Abby before she smashed face-first.
RYAN(shouting):"Ryu!!!"
The shadows around Ryu's body spun like a hurricane. A dark mist veiled his eyes. He dropped to his knees, trembling. Chaotic images invaded his mind—Tyrus's twisted face, rivers of blood, galaxies splitting apart, an empty gaze.
🛑 Cut to: Hall of Legendary Heroes
At the tower of the Association, the meeting of the Titans continued. Suddenly, the shadows around Kelvin Nox twisted violently.
He collapsed, gasping.
LORIEN:"Kelvin?!"
DARIUS:"What's happening?!"
Kelvin clutched his chest, eyes wide.
KELVIN(struggling):"He's… coming back… Tyrus… stronger than before… He's with Kairon!"
Everyone froze. The aura in the room shattered like glass under pressure.
Inavy rushed to Kelvin and held him—but then Inavy's eyes glowed crimson.Nion took control, instinctively.
NION(through Inavy):"…How… did he return?!"
KELVIN:"Kairon. He brought him back. He's using Tyrus… as a weapon."
NION(staring into the void):"That bastard… Kairon is using Tyrus like a puppet.Breaking Chaos with Chaos itself.Then… we must fortify. Like never before."
LORIEN(raising his voice):"No matter what comes—Tyrus. Kairon. The Imperishables.We are the heroes of this world.And this world will not fall again."
Everyone stepped forward and placed a hand on the center of the table.A silent vow.War was near.
🔙 Back to the Rooftop
The shadows around Ryu faded. He was on his knees, pale and drenched in sweat.Ryan, Annie, Ethan, and Abby approached.
RYAN:"Ryu… what was that? What the hell just happened to you?!"
ETHAN(still breathless):"Looked like… some kind of possession attack…"
RYU(panting):"It was him…"
ABBY:"…Him who?"
RYU(looking at them all):"Tyrus."
Silence fell like a ton of steel.
ANNIE:"That's impossible… he was… banished…"
RYU(quietly but firmly):"It's true, guys. He's back.I… saw him. I felt him."
🌀 Dark Dimension — Kairon's Throne
Kai Hayashi walks toward Kairon's cosmic throne, surrounded by twisted stars and fragments of dead universes.
KAI:"Master… are you sure bringing him back was a good idea?"
KAIRON(calmly, staring into infinity):"I know it wasn't.But we'll need 100% of our power."
Kairon stood. A living shadow wrapped around his back like a stellar cloak.
KAIRON:"Anyway… go to the Renegates. Those human tools.Tell them to strike the heroes immediately.Tyrus will go with them… and after that…I will descend upon Earth."
KAI(hesitant):"Wait, Master. That Tyrus… he's a serpent.We shouldn't trust him.And… he has the core of the Spear of Destiny."
KAIRON(slowly turning his face):"You're right, Kai.Maybe… I'm rushing things."
Just then, a shadowy eye appeared in the corner of the room, spying.Kairon noticed—and smiled, almost amused.
KAIRON:"Kai, you're always ahead of your time……And I know exactly what I'll do."
He stepped forward, eyes glowing like supernovas.
KAIRON:"Go retrieve the Spear."
[Between Realities – The Eavesdropper in the Shadows]
In a distorted realm where there is no time or shape…
Tyrus, fused with the shadows of Yon's punishment, slowly opened his eyes.His body was made of living darkness, pulsing with the core of the Spear of Destiny.He smiled.
TYRUS(in a chilling whisper):"Heh… so you want to erase me?"
He stood, his gaze empty and cruel.
TYRUS:"Good luck with that, Emperor…I am Ruin itself."
✦ End of Chapter 78