Chapter 1 — The Beginning of a New Path
Scene 1: Academy Training Grounds — A Bright Morning
A vast open courtyard stretched beneath the clear morning sky, surrounded by glass-paneled buildings that gleamed in the sunlight.
Explosions of energy echoed across the field — fireballs, wind bursts, and flashes of lightning from students honing their powers.
In the middle of the chaos, a single figure stood unnervingly calm.
Ren Escarta.
His jet-black eyes observed the scene in silence, his movements sharp yet effortless — dodging attacks as if his body already knew the rhythm of battle.
> "Finally! We graduate today — real heroes at last!"
A student shouted, excitement blazing in his tone.
> "I'll be a great hero!" a short-haired girl added, her eyes bright.
"I'll save people and protect them from monsters!"
Laughter rippled among them until one turned toward Ren.
> "What about you, Ren? Planning to be a hero too?"
Without looking up, Ren replied in his usual quiet voice:
> "...I'll be a hunter."
A short silence followed.
> "A hunter? Seriously? Everyone wants to be a hero!"
Ren's voice remained calm, almost detached:
> "I've already told you — I have my own goals."
---
A few meters away, two students watched him from a distance.
> "Ren's strong and calm… but man, that guy's cold."
"Not really," the other replied. "He just leads with his mind, not his heart."
> "Weird. His dad wasn't like that, though. Still… he's the son of Escarta, one of the greatest heroes in Japan."
"Yeah, but he refused to use his father's name to get in here. Took the entrance exam like everyone else. Honestly? That earns my respect."
"Can't argue with that. He's incredible."
---
Inside, Ren's thoughts echoed quietly:
There are two kinds of ability users — Heroes and Hunters.
Heroes fight to protect, to inspire, to defend against evil and reduce the gates that appear across the world.
Hunters, on the other hand… walk into the unknown to seek truth. They belong to no organization. Their goals differ — power, discovery, or understanding.
They balance the heroes in their own way.
---
Scene 2: Academy Hallway — Moments Later
Ren walked down a long, banner-filled hallway.
Posters read: "Graduation Ceremony — Today!"
His voice overlapped with the image, calm and steady:
> "Shinra Academy… Japan's finest — one of the most prestigious institutions in the world.
A place that forged generations of Heroes and Hunters since the first awakening of abilities."
---
Scene 3: Visual Flashback — The Birth of Power
> A hundred and fifty years ago,
supernatural abilities began to emerge within humanity.
At first, only a handful possessed such powers — living legends whose names were etched into history.
But as decades passed, the phenomenon spread.
Now, nearly 90% of the world's population carried some kind of ability.
Then came the Gates.
Rifts in reality itself — shimmering blue voids that tore open the sky and unleashed horrors unknown.
Monsters.
Beasts that defied logic.
And from that day onward, humanity's struggle truly began.
---
> "Gates are ranked by danger levels," the narrator continued.
"Fifth, Fourth, Third, Second, First… and the rarest of all — Zero."
> "Zero-grade gates… are nightmares incarnate."
Each gate remained open for only five days in the human world, time flowing differently within.
An hour outside was two hours inside — a realm where even time refused to obey.
---
Scene 4: The Encounter
A hand suddenly slammed against Ren's back.
> "Ren, my dearest friend!"
> "Kaji… do you ever not do that?" Ren muttered.
"Why didn't you wait for me?"
"Didn't know where you were."
"Tch. That's the hundredth time you've said that."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I expected us to blow something up before graduation!"
Ren exhaled.
> "If you mean you, then yes."
"Still the same cold bastard."
"Are you going to do something about that strange ability of yours?"
"Yes."
"Then I guess I'll be the loyal friend who saves your ass when things go wrong!"
Ren gave him a side glance.
> "Kaji."
"Yeah?"
"Your room's on the right. Go change."
"Fine, fine! Later, Mr. Ice Cube!"
Ren shook his head.
---
Scene 5: The Graduation Ceremony
A voice echoed through the speakers:
> "Attention all students! Please proceed to the main courtyard — the graduation ceremony is about to begin!"
Ren took a deep breath, staring at his hands, still dusty from training.
> "Three years… gone faster than I expected."
He walked toward the changing rooms.
---
Scene 6: The Ceremony
The courtyard gleamed beneath the noon sun. Rows of students sat in pristine uniforms, eyes fixed on the stage.
The principal — a man in his forties with silver hair — stepped forward, his white coat billowing.
> "Students of Shinra Academy…"
"You've trained. You've fallen. You've risen again. Today marks your rebirth — as the next generation of Heroes and Hunters."
Thunderous applause filled the air.
Ren stayed quiet, gaze unwavering.
(One chapter ends… another begins.)
> "From this day forward," the principal continued, "your futures are yours alone. Tomorrow, you'll head to the National Measurement Center. There, you'll test your power and choose your path — Hero or Hunter."
The crowd erupted once again as fireworks burst across the sky.
Ren looked up at the fading lights, whispering to himself:
> "A new adventure begins…"
---
Scene 7: The Legacy
After the ceremony, Ren stood alone near a wall of portraits — heroes immortalized in gold.
His eyes stopped at one familiar name:
"Escarta — Co-founder of Shinra Academy, and one of Japan's greatest heroes."
He stared silently. Then, with a faint smile:
> "Father…"
A gentle breeze swept through the open window, rustling his black hair.
> "I once thought I'd become a hero like you," he murmured.
"But I realized… my emotions are too cold for that path."
He paused, his reflection shimmering in the glass.
> "You had two abilities — physical enhancement and super speed. A rare combination that made you nearly unstoppable.
Mother, on the other hand, wielded the power of Life's Hope — fueled by positive energy, giving her immense strength and speed.
I didn't inherit that. My sister did."
> "All I received was your speed.
For years, I trained my body to match my ability… but a year ago, something changed."
> "A second power awakened — one that bends the laws of nature.
It creates a limited space — two meters wide — where I can alter reality itself for five seconds.
I've used it only five times… and only Kaji knows."
He turned away from the portrait.
> "That's why I'll be a Hunter — to uncover the truth behind this power… and master it."
> "That's my purpose."
---
Scene 8: City Streets — Evening
The city buzzed with life.
Neon signs. Flying transports. Robots walking beside humans.
Ren walked quietly through the crowd, diploma in hand, his mind elsewhere.
> "People think graduation is the beginning," he thought.
"They're wrong. The true beginning is when you face a Gate… alone."
He stopped at a tall building bearing a digital emblem:
"The Hero Council of Japan."
Then turned away, boarding a train bound for the outskirts.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the world in amber light, Ren whispered:
> "Sometimes… calm beauty hides chaos beneath it."
---
A holographic screen lit up inside the train:
"G.W.P.C — Global World Progress Council Meeting: Live Now."
Ren's thoughts stirred again:
> "The world isn't ruled by a single superpower anymore.
It's balanced… between five."
The map displayed glowing lines connecting continents.
> "North America — still led by the United States."
"South America — divided, stable, but ununified."
"Australia — independent, untouched."
"Europe — rebuilt under Spain's technological dominance."
"Africa — its heart beats strongest in Egypt."
Ren's eyes narrowed.
> "Since overcoming terrorism decades ago, Egypt has risen again — stronger, smarter, self-made."
Then Asia appeared.
> "And Asia… is the battlefield of balance.
China, Russia, and Egypt's eastern influence shape the tides."
A soft smirk crossed his lips.
> "Japan may not be a superpower, but its Hunters and Heroes make it impossible to ignore."
The hologram flickered again:
"Global World Progress Council — G.W.P.C."
> "A council formed by the five powers — to guide humanity's future."
"Their goal: develop Earth… or control it, depending on who you ask."
Outside, Ren watched farmlands glide past the window — drones hovering above the fields.
> "Technology has advanced beyond imagination.
AI, robotics, surveillance… yet none of it can replace us."
Images of riots flashed across the train screen — people revolting, machines burning.
> "When AI took every job, humanity fought back.
Now, robots serve only for defense and transport… while humans reclaimed their place."
He looked up again, eyes calm.
> "Even with all this progress, only one truth remains…
No machine can face a monster."
In the distance, a faint glow split the clouds —
a Gate, flickering ominously as heroes rushed inside.
Ren stared at it, his reflection blending with the blue light.
> "What awaits me…?"
> "No… what awaits
humanity?"
---
End of Chapter 1
✨ Author's Note ✨
If you enjoyed the chapter or have feedback, I'd love to hear it in the comments.
Your support means everything. Thank you for reading! 💫
— Mohamed Ahmed
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