✦ Prologue: The Birth of Inavy Stormbreak
Herocity — thirty-five years before the events of Rise of Kairon .
Rain poured down on the city as if the heavens themselves mourned. Lightning tore through the clouds, flashing across the shattered windows of burning skyscrapers. Sirens wailed in the distance, merging with screams and explosions. Herocity was at war.
Heroes filled the streets, fighting to hold back the invasion of the Order of Tyrus — hooded warriors drenched in shadowy energy, each bearing on their chest the mark of chaos: a serpent wrapped in black fire.
The wind carried the scent of destruction.
And atop a partially evacuated hospital, a different scene was unfolding.
A beautiful blonde woman with emerald eyes was in labor. Sweat streamed down her face, her cries nearly drowned out by the distant sounds of battle.
Beside her stood Julius — the prince of Nionderland — holding her hand tightly, tears and panic filling his eyes.
— Hold on, my love… we're almost there — he whispered, his voice trembling despite his efforts to sound calm.
The nurse checked the monitor, alarmed.
— Another contraction! It's coming, Mrs. Mary!
Mary screamed, her voice mingling with the rumble of thunder. Then, a cry broke through the chaos — weak, yet alive.
The doctor lifted the bloodied newborn, curly-haired and bronze-skinned, his eyes glowing faintly green even through the dim light.
— It's a boy… — the doctor murmured, smiling in exhaustion.
Mary gasped for breath, tears mixing with sweat, as Julius kissed her forehead.
— We did it, my love… he's here — Julius said, his voice breaking.
Outside, lightning split the sky open.
Ray Stormbreak raced through the burning streets, his body moving like living lightning, each step leaving sparks in his wake.
In his hands glimmered two blades — Raijin and Arashi — vibrating with electrical fury, channeling his storm-born power.
Before him stood a warrior of the Order of Tyrus, cloaked in black energy.
— Where is he?! The heir of Chaos!
Ray smirked, eyes flickering with blue light.
— Think I'd actually tell you?
The enemy lunged. Ray vanished in a flash — one strike, one thunderclap. The body hit the ground, lifeless.
He wiped the blood from his cheek, eyes rising toward the burning skyline.
Then, his communicator buzzed.
— Ray… — came a voice, weak but full of joy — he's born.
Ray froze.
— He… he's born?
— Yeah, man… I'm a dad! — Julius's voice cracked with laughter and tears.
Ray smiled, his face streaked with dirt and emotion.
— And Mary?
— Resting. She's tired, but strong as ever. Oh — and that name you picked for him?
Ray looked up, lightning reflecting in his eyes.
— Inavy. Inavy Stormbreak.
Julius chuckled softly.
— Sounds heroic. I just hope he becomes a scientist like me.
They both laughed, if only to forget the chaos around them.
Then Julius's tone softened.
— Ray, thank you… for protecting us all these months. The Order of Tyrus is dangerous, and knowing my son carries such power—it terrifies me. You've been a brother to us.
Ray shook his head, voice steady.
— Don't thank me, Julius. He's family. He's got my blood, yours, and Mary's. And I'm his godfather — don't forget that.
But before Julius could reply, a thunderous explosion shattered the air.
The earth shook violently.
Ray turned toward the horizon — flames rising from the direction of the hospital.
— No… — he whispered, eyes widening.
From his communicator came a voice — distorted, cold, and cruel.
— Where… is the heir of Chaos?
Ray didn't hesitate. His body erupted into lightning.
And vanished.
The hospital was hell.
Flames devoured walls, the air thick with smoke and the metallic scent of blood. Sirens and screams mixed into a single note of despair.
Ray bolted through the collapsing halls, shouting:
— MARY! JULIUS!
Then, faintly — a baby's cry.
He followed it, his heart pounding.
And when he entered the ruined ward… the world stopped.
Mary lay among the rubble, barely breathing, shielding the baby in her arms. Before her stood a man clad in dark armor, a spear of shadow piercing her chest.
Ray froze in horror.
— No… no, no, no…
The figure turned. The very air warped around him.
— So… you're the uncle of the heir of Chaos.
Mary coughed blood, her voice trembling.
— Ray… thank god… you're here…
Ray knelt beside her.
— I'll get you out of here! Please, just hold on!
She shook her head weakly.
— Stop crying… and fight.
Ray's hands trembled as he rose to face the armored giant.
— Who are you?!
— Aitor, General of Lord Tyrus. — His voice was sharp, his tone amused. — And my lord wants that child dead.
Ray raised his twin blades, lightning dancing across his body.
— If you want him… you'll have to go through me first.
Aitor's aura erupted in black flames, corrupting everything around him.
Ray shot forward like a bolt of light, his first strike carving a crater into the ground. The clash of lightning and shadow shook the heavens. Buildings trembled, the sky flashing as if two gods battled for dominance.
Above the city, helicopters hovered — broadcasting the fight live across the globe.
— It's him! Ray Stormbreak, the new hero on the rise! — cried a reporter.
— The son of Rayden Stormbreak! Look at that power!
Crowds around the world watched in awe.
— Come on, Ray! You can do this!
Ray heard their voices echoing through the chaos.
They're calling my name…
Aitor floated above, shadows swirling.
— Why protect a cursed child? Even you can't understand what he is.
Ray spat blood, glaring up.
— First… he's my nephew. My sister's son. And second… — his eyes flashed gold — I'm a hero!
His aura exploded — gold and blue lightning devouring the darkness.
Ray vanished.
In an instant, a flurry of blows — a punch, a slash, a spinning kick — each one charged with electric fury.
Aitor flew through the ruins, crashing through walls and debris.
Ray walked toward him, battered but unstoppable.
— Any last words, monster?
Aitor laughed, blood dripping from his mouth.
— That power will consume you. Humans like you… never last long.
Ray lifted Raijin toward the storming sky. Lightning converged, coalescing into a colossal spear of thunder that pierced the clouds.
— Thunder Spear!
The heavens roared.
A blinding column of lightning crashed down, vaporizing everything in its path.
When the light faded, Aitor was gone — erased from existence.
Ray collapsed to his knees, gasping.
— He… was definitely the strongest yet…
Cheers echoed in the distance. The name Ray Stormbreak filled every broadcast channel, every street, every home.
But Ray couldn't smile.
He could only think of one thing — Mary. Julius. The baby.
He ran back into the wreckage, his body trembling.
— Hey! You guys okay? I'll get help! Doctors! — his voice cracked.
Something gripped his arm. Julius — broken, bloodied — looked up with dim eyes.
— Where do you think you're going, man? — he whispered, smiling faintly.
— To save you, Julius! Hold on!
Julius shook his head weakly.
— No… we don't have much time. I'll go first… before Mary. — He coughed blood, voice fading. — I just… want to hold my son… one last time.
Ray knelt beside him, tears spilling freely. Julius, trembling, brushed the baby's cheek.
— Please, Ray… promise me you'll look after him. Make him strong… like you.
Ray gripped his hand tight.
— I promise, Julius. I'll raise him like my own.
Julius smiled, eyes glistening.
— Then… I can rest easy… my brother.
His breath faded. The smile remained.
Ray's chest tightened — but before he could break, a soft voice began to sing.
Mary — barely alive — was humming a lullaby to her crying son.
— Ray… — she whispered — I don't want to die… I want to see him grow up… to see the man he becomes…
Ray couldn't speak. His sobs choked him.
— I wanted to see him laugh… fall in love… live his life… — she smiled weakly through blood — to see all the beautiful things he'll do.
She kissed the baby's forehead and handed him to Ray.
— Take care of him… like you always took care of us. Stay the hero you are. Protect him… no matter what.
Ray held her close, trembling.
— Mary… please… don't leave me too…
She smiled one last time.
— Thank you… for everything… my brother.
And with that final breath, she was gone.
Ray screamed, clutching both her body and the crying infant as rain poured through the broken ceiling, washing away the blood — but not the pain.
Minutes later, Ray stepped out of the ruins, drenched and broken, holding the baby close.
Police and heroes surrounded the area. At the front stood a tall man with gray hair and a stern gaze — Rayden Stormbreak, president of the Hero Association.
When he saw his son, his heart sank.
— Ray… don't tell me…
Ray's silence was answer enough.
— She's gone, father.
Rayden fell to his knees, eyes wide with grief.
— My little Mary…
An officer approached.
— Sir, bad news. Hero Number One, Dimitrius Valtier… is dead.
Rayden closed his eyes, crushed.
— The world… is falling apart…
Ray looked down at the tiny child in his arms — fragile, yet radiating a calm, mysterious energy.
— Father… I'll become the new Number One.
Rayden stared at him.
— Are you sure, son? That title carries more than glory…
Ray tightened his hold on the baby.
— I'm sure. I'll protect this boy. And I'll protect the world.
Rayden nodded slowly.
— Then let the heavens bear witness… the legend of Ray Stormbreak begins here.
Ray looked down at Inavy — the infant gazing back with glowing green eyes.
He smiled softly.
— Welcome to the world… little hero.
And that night — amid rain, fire, and thunder — Inavy Stormbreak was born.
The Heir of Chaos.
And with him… a legend rose.
Ray Stormbreak, the Thunder of the Heavens.