The day of the invasion had finally arrived.Across the world, people prepared themselves, whispering final goodbyes to loved ones, uncertain if they would ever return.
The heroes' transport was no ordinary vessel. The spaceship waiting on the launch site was as large as a city, packed with towering machinery, supplies, and weapons built for war. One by one, thousands of figures boarded, their footsteps echoing with a mix of dread and determination.
Among them was Adrian. As a newly appointed hero, he felt both a thrill of excitement and a knot of fear twisting in his stomach. The weight of everything—the mission, the uncertainty—pressed down on him.
The heroes were gathered in one enormous hall inside the ship. Some leaned against the walls, arms crossed, while others sat in silence, their faces tense. The room buzzed faintly with whispers, the air heavy with nerves.
Before Adrian could catch his breath, a small group of heroes approached.
"Hey," said a girl with bright pink hair and matching clothes. She gave him a hopeful smile. "Do you want to join our group?"
Adrian blinked, uncertain. "Um… why should I join your group?"
A blond-haired man beside her stepped forward. "It's simple. If we stick together, we'll have a better chance against the aliens. Fighting as a team makes things easier, don't you think?"
Adrian hesitated only a moment longer, then nodded. "Alright. I'll join."
Their relief showed instantly. It felt better not to face this alone.
Not long after, a voice thundered through the ship's speakers:
"Attention. We will arrive shortly at the alien planet. Prepare yourselves."
The engines roared, and the ship descended. A tremor shook the floor as they landed.
The alien planet stretched before them—its surface barren, rock-hard, and covered in a haze of swirling dust. But before the heroes could even step outside, the ship was surrounded. Hundreds of aliens appeared, far stronger than the ones Adrian had seen on Earth.
Without hesitation, most of the stronger heroes launched forward, striking the aliens down with ease. Blades of light, bursts of flame, and waves of energy lit up the dusty air. Yet, further back, some of the D-class heroes struggled, their weapons glancing harmlessly off alien armor.
The tide of battle pushed outward. Soon the heroes scattered, flying in every direction, searching for the enemy's main base. Adrian's newly-formed group chose to head west. On their way, they clashed with more alien soldiers but managed to cut through them without much trouble.
Still, the base remained hidden. Frustration built until an A-class hero raised his hand. His eyes glowed faintly as his power activated.
"Tracker," he whispered. Moments later, he shouted: "Northwest!"
At once, the mass of heroes changed course.
When they finally arrived, the base revealed itself—not as a towering fortress, but as a sprawling complex buried underground. Guarding the entrance were thousands of alien warriors, and at their head stood three commander-class aliens—the same rank David had once fought
"I'll handle the commanders," said Chronos, one of the Lights of Justice. His voice carried absolute confidence as he soared into the air.
The moment his power ignited, the battlefield froze. Time itself stopped under his control. In the stillness, he unleashed a devastating strike. To the heroes watching below, the commanders simply vanished, erased in an instant. Chronos descended calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, the others had already overpowered the weaker aliens, their bodies littering the battlefield.
Adrian's eyes caught something—a massive steel door leading into the underground base. He pointed quickly. "There! That has to be the way in."
Together, the heroes blasted it open, revealing a dark tunnel that split into three separate paths. They divided evenly. Adrian and his group chose the left corridor.
The deeper they walked, the heavier the air became. And then, waiting at the end of the passage, was something far beyond what any of them expected.
A towering alien stood before them, its presence alone suffocating. Its armor shimmered with otherworldly light, and in its hands it carried a massive machete. This wasn't an ordinary alien. Nor a commander.
It was a general—one rank below the alien king. Generals were said to wield enough power to destroy entire planets. And one of them was standing directly in their path.
"We… we have to run!" the blond-haired man shouted, panic breaking in his voice.
But before they could retreat, the steel door behind them slammed shut. They were trapped.
"No choice," Adrian said through gritted teeth. "We have to fight!"
The pink-haired girl stepped forward, her hands glowing. "Everyone, behind me!"
Her shield materialized, shimmering like glass. The others crowded behind it just as the general moved.
With terrifying speed, the alien swung its machete. The shield shattered instantly, fragments of light scattering into the air.
Another strike came before they could react—faster, heavier. It caught them off guard, especially the blond-haired man.
"Andrew!" the girl screamed, echoed by the rest of the team.
But it was already too late.