After the Smoke Clears
The students were immediately escorted back to their homes after the incident. Lionel Academy suspended all activities for the day, and the city buzzed with confusion and fear.
By the following morning, horror struck Vornis.
Five bodies—the heroes who fought Fray—were discovered laid neatly in front of the National Hero Headquarters, positioned as if in a deliberate formation. No wounds. No blood. Not a trace of the killer.
It was a message.
The entire nation erupted in panic. News reports flooded every screen, radios crackled with emergency broadcasts, and social networks exploded with speculation. The video footage of the incident—blurry and chaotic—spread like wildfire.
"Who is the blindfolded man?"
"How did he defeat heroes without touching them?"
"Is Vornis under attack?"
No one could track him.
No signal.
No trace.
It was as if he vanished from existence.
At the Arcwell Estate
That night, Luna sat with her family, trembling as she recounted every detail—the blindfold, the strange power that sealed abilities, the teleportation through objects, and the single word he left behind:
Fray.
As she spoke, Raze watched his father carefully. Roland Arcwell's expression changed—not shocked, not confused—but deeply troubled.
"Father…" Luna whispered, "You know something about that name, don't you?"
Roland remained silent for a long moment before speaking, voice heavy.
"There are names in this world that are better left buried."
His gaze hardened.
"Fray was erased from history twenty years ago. They were a threat beyond anything you can imagine."
Raze leaned forward. "What happened to them?"
Roland looked away.
"They were destroyed. Completely. And anyone who knew more than that… disappeared."
The room fell silent. Even Rose Arcwell, normally calm and composed, seemed shaken.
Rumors were already circulating outside—whispers that some heroes were involved in the tragedy twenty years ago. That justice was never truly served. That something was covered up.
And now, one survivor had returned.
Inside Vornis Hero Headquarters
An emergency meeting was called. The highest-ranking heroes gathered in a circular war room lit with red alarms.
The national top hero, Zephyr Drayden, slammed his fist on the table.
"We can't sit still while someone like this walks freely. I propose a full-scale nationwide search. Mobilize everything we have."
But others objected immediately.
"A reckless mobilization will endanger civilians!"
"We don't know how many are with him!"
"We don't even know what his second Nexas is capable of!"
Arguments collided like thunder.
After hours, they reached a reluctant decision:
No large-scale operation.
Use surveillance and tracking technology.
Identify him first. Observe before confronting.
Because no one knew whether Fray was truly alone—
or leading an unseen army.
And most terrifying of all:
If one man could slaughter mid-level heroes without using Nexas…
What could he do when he actually used strength?
The meeting adjourned with heavy silence.
A single man had shaken the entire nation.
Returning to Lionel Academy
The next morning, Raze walked toward the school gates. Reporters swarmed outside. Helicopters hovered overhead. Security doubled. Students whispered anxiously.
Roger approached him, trying to lighten the mood—though his voice shook slightly.
"So much for a peaceful semester, huh? We're already living inside a thriller."
Raze forced a small smile.
"Looks like the real world isn't waiting for us to grow stronger."
Rain joined them quietly.
"Fray… He didn't kill for chaos. He left a message. This isn't random."
Raze's eyes narrowed.
He didn't know who Fray was.
He didn't know why the heroes were attacked.
But he knew one thing:
This was only the beginning.
And whatever storm was coming—
he would face it.