Ryan felt the weight of the world even before opening his eyes. Herocity was burning, towers collapsing under a blood-red sky. The wind carried ash and the intense smell of burning metal and smoke. In the distance, entire buildings crumbled, and the screams of civilians echoed like desperate laments, cutting through deserted streets and ruined avenues. Every flame reflected the fear of a world on the brink of collapse.
Amid the rubble, Ryan saw familiar figures. Ryu ran through a ruined street, trying to protect civilians; Ethan was injured, struggling to hold up an energy barrier that kept collapsing; Annie held children, her eyes brimming with tears. Dante and Kane stood side by side, facing hordes of invisible enemies, while Abby moved like a shadow, shielding those who couldn't defend themselves. But the faces that hurt the most in his memory were those of veterans already dead: Lorien, Kelvin, Darius, and Zen Kagetsune. Each looked at him with a mix of accusation and frustrated hope, as if the entire world depended on his strength — and he had failed.
At the center of all this chaos, a figure emerged, imposing, almost unreal: Kai Hayashi. He walked slowly among the flames, each step radiating absolute and chilling power. The Spear of Destiny in his hands glowed with a dark energy that seemed to absorb all the light around it. A cruel smile curved his lips as he locked eyes with Ryan.
— You are not Inavy Stormbreak nor Ray Stormbreak, Ryan Valeborn — Kai said, his icy voice cutting through the hot air. — You are a weakling who can't even stand. Everyone entrusted this world to you… and you failed.
Suddenly, Kai's allies appeared around him, each radiating an aura of power so intense that the air seemed to vibrate with fear. Hant, his right-hand, observed with surgical precision. Reiv, the Universal Champion, exuded an overwhelming force, capable of destroying entire planets with a single strike. Zarkon, the Annihilating Pride, radiated pure arrogance, and Abyssion, the Divine Beast, seemed to absorb all the light in the scene, turning the atmosphere suffocating. Ryan felt the weight of each presence, every enemy stronger than any challenge he had ever faced.
Kai advanced, unhurried, driving the Spear of Destiny into Ryan's chest. A pain that seemed to pierce his very soul hit him, and Ryan fell to his knees, unable to react.
— Pathetic — Kai said, leaning over him. — And you still call yourself a hero. Disappointing.
The ground around them cracked under the pressure of Kai's aura, and Ryan felt his very life threatened. The screams of his friends blended with the sound of destruction, creating a symphony of chaos and helplessness.
Then, a strange sensation arose in his mind. A familiar, cold, precise voice whispered:
"It's not time to give up."
Ryan tried to react, but the weight of the vision was overwhelming. The fire seemed to consume everything around him. Kai smiled, satisfied with the fear on his face, before Ryan finally woke up, gasping, drenched in sweat, his heart racing uncontrollably.
The room was silent. Soft morning light streamed through the window. Ryan looked outside, contemplating the New Dawn Heroes base, still at peace.
— Five years… and nothing has happened yet — he murmured, trying to calm his racing heart.
Zen appeared, noticing his somber expression.
— Hey, Ryan… you look pale. What happened?
Ryan tried to hide it, scratching his head.
— Nothing, Zen… just a bad night's sleep.
But Zen, suspicious, crossed his arms and approached.
— I've known you for over five years… and you're terrible at lying. Tell me, it has to do with the war to come, doesn't it?
Ryan hesitated. He looked at the floor for a moment before responding.
— Sometimes, the Reversum shows me… a possible future. If I don't get stronger, this could happen.
Zen's eyes widened, impressed and surprised.
— Since when does it predict the future?
— Since always — Ryan said, grim. — And this was the first form it manifested with me.
— I see… so the vision was horrible.
— You have no idea — Ryan replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Zen sighed but tried to lighten the mood with a smile.
— Let's eat, man. Everyone's already gathered — Eliara, Kane, Dante, Ethan, Annie, Abby, Ryu…
The dining room of the New Dawn Heroes residence was alive with the aroma of freshly prepared breakfast. Morning light streamed through the large windows, illuminating the polished wooden table where the heroes had gathered. Ryu, as always, was already cracking jokes, his hair messy and a grin stretching from ear to ear, trying to break the tension that still hung over Ryan.
— Hey, Ryan! Sleep well? — asked Ethan, holding a cup of coffee and watching his friend closely. — Or are you going to tell me you spent the night staring at the ceiling?
— Man, you look like a zombie, huh — Ryu commented between bites, still chewing. Ryan smiled, scratching his head, trying to hide the apprehension the dream had left him with.
— I'm… 100% — he replied, forcing a firm smile. Annie, sitting beside him, raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
— Yan… are you really okay? — she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Ryan leaned slightly, smiling.
— Yeah… just a rough night's sleep.
Dante, observing the scene, decided to bring up the day's topic.
— Guys, today is the Hero Draft. Let's watch and see how the new generation performs.
Ryu's eyes widened with surprise, a wide grin spreading across his face:
— That's right! Your sister will be there, Ethan, won't she?
Ethan furrowed his brow, thinking.
— Yeah… little Saddie. I wish she wouldn't become a hero, but she insists on honoring our father Inavy's legacy.
The comment brought a brief silence to the table. Ryan took a deep breath, remembering when he himself had gone through the Draft years ago, feeling the same mix of anticipation and fear.
— We've gone five years without a draft, and now there are no guilds… — murmured Ryu, frowning. — How's this going to work?
Dante sighed, his hand brushing his chin.
— The ten best heroes will be chosen to join the New Dawn Heroes. But it will be elimination-style. It's cruel, but necessary. We're in a wartime mindset. Many of them still lack battle experience, and… — Dante paused, gazing at the horizon through the window — I can't guarantee that everyone will come out of this future war alive.
Ryu, always trying to lighten the mood, clapped his hands and laughed:
— Nobody's dying here! And if someone does… I'll resurrect them just to kill them again!
The table erupted in laughter, and even Ryan let out a short chuckle, though inside he felt the tension growing.
After breakfast, Ryan went to his room to get ready. He chose an elegant outfit: a dark blue cardigan, cream-colored pants, and white shoes. He felt the weight of responsibility in every step, remembering past battles and the hope placed in the new candidates.
Upon arriving at the arena, the view took his breath away. The stands were packed; the audience buzzed with anticipation. He could feel the collective murmur: the expectation of a new generation testing their strength before experienced eyes. Every VIP seat was filled with veterans and established heroes, observing every detail.
Annie approached, a nostalgic smile on her lips:
— Yeah… feels like we went back five years, Yan. This arena brings back good memories.
Ryan nodded, smiling slightly.
— Yeah… a lot has changed, but some memories remain.
Ryu, in the VIP seats, waved at them, his voice full of excitement:
— You're late! The final stage has already started. Saddie is shining, but… pay attention to that boy with glasses. His name is Elijah. He reminds me a lot of you, Ryan.
Ryan's eyes narrowed. He focused on the arena and saw Elijah, shy, observing the other competitors. The young boy adjusted his glasses, taking deep breaths to steady himself. Ryan noticed something: the boy's aura was still contained, almost dormant.
In his thoughts, Elijah encouraged himself:
"Breathe, breathe… stay focused… you trained all year for this. He's watching you, but he can't intimidate you. Focus."
Ryan discreetly activated the Reversum, his eyes glowing galaxy-blue as he analyzed every flow of energy around the boy.
— This boy hasn't awakened yet… observe the flow of his aura. It seems contained — he said quietly to Ryu.
— True — Ryu replied, curious. — He seems to not know how to let his aura flow. But watch… this kind of containment doesn't always mean weakness.
In the next moment, Anfrees, a fire-user, entered the arena, his fists engulfed in crackling flames.
— Hey, glasses nerd! — Anfrees taunted as he advanced. — Why don't you just give up and stay on your computer instead of fighting? This is for those who want to be real heroes!
The audience held their breath, eager to see Elijah's reaction.
— I… won't give up — the boy replied firmly, his body tense but resolute.
Ryan watched silently, a mixture of pride and anticipation swelling within him. He could feel that something was about to awaken, something that would forever change the story of this Draft.
The crowd could hardly contain their excitement. The arena crackled with energy, their screams blending with the distant roar of the stands. Anfrees, already fueled by his own provocation, approached Elijah with a cruel smile, his flaming fists licking the hot air. The red-orange aura around him vibrated intensely, sending small sparks dancing across the floor.
— Come on, little nerd! — Anfrees jeered as he moved forward. — I want to see how long you can hold your composure.
Elijah held his ground, taking a deep breath, feeling every muscle ready to react. Sweat ran down his forehead, but his eyes — still normal — reflected absolute determination.
The first attack came like a wave: Anfrees launched a flaming kick straight at Elijah's torso. The impact shook the ground, small stones flew, and the audience leaned forward, caught in suspense. Elijah rolled to the side, feeling the heat of the flames graze his skin, leaving scorched marks.
— Haaa! — Anfrees shouted in disbelief. — Quick dodge, but that won't save you for long!
Elijah rose, his knees creaking, and countered with a low kick. He aimed for Anfrees' leg, trying to destabilize him, but his opponent blocked easily, flaming fists clanging against Elijah's strike with a metallic ring. The crowd erupted in cheers. Ryu and Ethan, seated in the VIP section, leaned forward, impressed by the boy's precision.
— He's fast… but still lacks control — Ethan commented, frowning.
Ryan, beside them, simply observed, his eyes glowing galaxy-blue as he analyzed every energy flow from Elijah.
— Yes… he hasn't fully awakened yet, but he's learning to react instinctively — Ryan murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
The Awakening of Overclock 2x
Elijah could barely breathe. A searing pain shot through his spine, as if every nerve were being rewritten and every cell forced to burn beyond human limits.The bluish aura around him began to pulse like an overloaded heart—thump… thump… THUMP—and each pulse made the arena floor tremble.
Neon‑blue veins crawled along his arms, lighting up like living circuits. Lightning danced across his skin, vibrating with raw power.
— AAAAAARGHHHHHHHH! — his scream tore through the entire arena.
The internal Overclock system reacted on its own.
[EMERGENCY PROTOCOL ACTIVATED][SAFETY LOCK DISENGAGED][OVERCLOCK 2X – ONLINE]
Blue‑green light wrapped around Elijah. The air itself vibrated, lifting dust, cracking the ground, and making stones rise in a slow orbit around him.
Anfrees staggered backward. His pupils shrank.
— Wh-what the hell is that…? — he muttered, voice cracking. — He… he wasn't like this before!
At the arena's edge, Ryan activated the Reversum, his eyes spinning with galactic patterns.— This flow… it's way too unstable — he said under his breath. — He's burning himself alive.
In the VIP balcony, Lorien grinned wildly.— HA! I knew it! That kid is a walking nuke!
Darius turned on his Seraphim Eyes, staring at Elijah like a divine anomaly.— This is beyond human capacity… beyond heroic capacity. It's something else entirely.
The Devastation
Elijah took a step.
BOOM.The ground cracked like glass.
Another step.
BOOM.The stands shook.
When he lunged forward, he vanished in a flash—appearing in front of Anfrees like a predator materializing from thin air.
His eyes were pure white.No pupils.No emotion.No consciousness.
Only instinct.Only fury.Only raw, primal power.
Anfrees launched a blast of fire, panicked and trembling.
Elijah dodged effortlessly, without even moving—his speed bending space around him.
Every punch Elijah unleashed was a small earthquake.Every impact sent Anfrees flying across the arena, carving craters into the ground.
The audience fell silent.
No one dared breathe.
Kelvin whispered:— That… that's not aura.
Darius replied:— It feels like something ancient is awakening inside him…
Elijah roared.A deep, guttural roar that made the air vibrate like a beast from before the birth of the world.
His aura erupted into a towering pillar of blue and green light, with lightning arcs slicing through the space around him.
His glasses shattered.His hair spiked wildly.His entire body pulsed with uncontrollable power.
He didn't run.He appeared.In multiple spots at once—as if reality itself couldn't track him.
Anfrees, barely conscious, lifted a shaking hand.
Elijah grabbed him by the uniform and slammed him into the ground.
CRAAAAAAAAACK.
Blood splattered.Anfrees coughed violently.
— S-stop… Elijah… I… I was just joking… — he whimpered, paralyzed with fear.
Ryan's Intervention
Elijah raised his fist for the killing blow.
A strike that would end Anfrees' life.And destroy half the arena.
Ryan appeared in a burst of blue light.
He placed his hand on Elijah's chest.
— Reversum: NULLIFY.
A galaxy‑blue flash erupted from within Elijah.
The Overclock 2x was ripped out of his body like a dark force being exorcised.
Elijah collapsed instantly.
Ryan caught him.
— That's enough… you've gone far beyond what a beginner should — he said firmly, though without anger.
The judge, trembling:— Th-the winner is… Elijah!
The crowd erupted into applause—mixed with fear, awe, and disbelief.
Elijah slowly opened his eyes.The first thing he saw was Ryan holding him.
— R-Ryan Valeborn!? — he gasped.
Ryan chuckled.— Well, look who woke up. Don't move too much. You fried your body inside and out.
As Ryan carried him through the halls, Elijah thought:
"What is this feeling…? Being near him… it feels like absolute safety."
Ryan glanced down at him.— First time activating something like that?
— Yes, sir… I thought I didn't have a power. But I could feel… something inside me.
— You have power. A lot. But without control… it'll kill you. Or worse, kill someone beside you.It's your choice whether you'll master it……or be consumed by it.
Elijah swallowed hard and nodded.
Kai's Vision and the Echo of War
As Ryan walked, flashes tore through his mind:
Herocity burning.Screams.Ash.Kai standing with the Spear of Destiny.Every friend Ryan had… dead.
His heart skipped.
Something catastrophic was coming.
The Empire of the Universal Emperor
In a dead universe, where extinguished stars drift like ash…
An infinite army assembles.
Aliens from collapsed galaxies.Kaijus the size of continents.Living machines.Aberrations from the void.Creatures torn from alternate realities.
And at the center…
THE NINE THRONES
Reiv — Universal ChampionAbyssion — Divine BeastZarkon — Pride IncarnateHant — The Right HandSolenne & Lunara — Paradigm TwinsVargros — Reality DevourerArcturion — Frozen King of TimeMagnalon — Titan of Annihilation
All kneel.
Hant approaches.— My Lord… five years have passed.
Kai stands, arms crossed, the Spear of Destiny pulsing in his hand.
He raises one hand.
The entire army bows instantly.
His eyes burn like dead stars.
— With this army… there is no outcome where we lose.
He closes his eyes.
Master Kairon…Do you see this?I will avenge your suffering.All of Yon will kneel before my name.
He opens his eyes.
— I promise.