One day earlier, the leader of the Dark Light received CCTV footage from his Knights—records stolen from the World Hero Association. As he studied the screen, a single figure caught his attention. Kael.
The resemblance struck him like a forgotten scar.
Memories long buried resurfaced—events from five hundred years ago. A man with the same face, the same presence, standing against him once more.
"Your reign will end here," the man had said back then. "But it seems I'm out of time as well. Even if you return again, I'll always be there—again and again—until the end of the world. That will always be our fate."
The vision faded.
Dark Knight Leader: So it really happens, even now.
[Present Day]
Kael and his team arrived at G City in the early morning. After handing the three captured enemies over to Ice Box, they received an official message from the WHA. It contained two pieces of news.
The first concerned their ranks.
Following Queen Bee's detailed report on the plane incident, the WHA reevaluated their standings. The results were drastic.
Charlie rose from Rank 14 to Rank 11.
Leona advanced from Rank 32 to Rank 18.
Michael climbed from Rank 53 to Rank 49.
Diego's rank surged from 99 to Rank 2.
And Kael—Kael moved from Rank 5 to Rank 1.
The WHA also informed him that he was eligible for promotion to A Class, though he would begin at the very bottom of its ranking. Kael saw no reason to refuse and accepted the promotion without hesitation.
He was now an A-Class hero—Rank 71.
The Association formally congratulated him on his promotion, praising both his performance and leadership.
The second piece of news concerned Michael.
Based on Queen Bee's assessment, the WHA concluded that Michael demonstrated exceptionally high compatibility with Kael's team, both in combat efficiency and coordination. However, they made it clear that his decision would not be forced or influenced in any way.
The choice, ultimately, was his alone.Either he joined Kael's team, or he continued alone. He took a moment to think it through. Then, after a brief pause, he pressed his watch.
A notification instantly appeared on Kael's and the others' watches.
A new member has been added to Nexus-5.
Before they could move, another notification appeared on their watches.
A third announcement.
Designation Update — Nexus-5
Leader Assignment: Kael (Codename: Oblivion)
For a brief moment, the group went silent.
Kael frowned slightly, reading it twice to be sure.
Kael: Leader…?
Charlie: Well. Guess the system finally caught up.
Leona smiled, calm but proud. Diego gave Kael a short nod—wordless, but firm. It wasn't a decision any of them questioned. If Nexus-5 needed a leader, it could only be him.
Kael exhaled slowly, then looked at the team
Kael: I won't order anyone around. We move together. Same as always.
That was more than enough.
Only after that did they step outside, flag down a cab, and begin the drive toward the bus station.
While inside the cab, Leona glanced at Michael
Leona: Now then—as you promised…
Michael: Yeah, yeah, I know. Uh… where should I start?
———————————————————
Michael was born in F City and raised by his two sisters.
Their parents had died of a malaria disease when Michael was barely one or two years old. From that moment on, his eldest sister, Maggie, became the backbone of the family, working as a baker in their city to keep them afloat. The middle sister, Maria, was still in school—an eleventh-grader, doing her best to keep up.
At just fifteen, Michael was already different from others his age—bold, composed, and physically well-built, carrying a presence far beyond his years.
There was a reason his parents named him Michael.
After having two daughters, they believed their son was a blessing—a savior, an angel granted to them at last. The name symbolized protection, faith, and deliverance.
But it was the Black Breath incident that set Michael on this path.
His sisters were affected by it. And now, he was walking the same road Kael and his team had chosen—to fight back, no matter the cost.
———————————————————
Michael: And that's my story.
For a moment, no one spoke.
They were stunned—so much so that words refused to come out.
Then Charlie finally broke the silence.
Charlie: Motherfaka… you're young.
Diego: (Shaking his head) Yeah, like—what the hell?
Only then did Michael realize they hadn't expected this at all.They weren't amazed by his life story so much as his age.
Michael: Okay. Now it's your turn.
Kael nodded and leaned back slightly.
Kael: Well… it's similar to yours, in a way. I mean, the Black Breath incident. But to start off, I—
He never finished the sentence.
A fiery barrel suddenly crashed down directly in front of the cab.
The driver swore, jerking the wheel hard to avoid it, but the tires screamed in protest as control slipped away. The cab veered sideways and slammed into a nearby light pole.
Before the impact could snap their necks forward, Michael reacted instantly—his body unraveling into threads inside the cab, wrapping around the seats and frame, absorbing the force of the collision and sparing them from serious injury.
They scrambled out of the vehicle, coughing, eyes wide as they took in the scene before them.
A construction site was burning.
[Five minutes earlier]
One of the Dark Knights received a call.
"The main target is in a cab, heading toward your side. Be prepared to ambush him."
A grin crept across his face.
He made his way to a construction site along the main road—the route the cab would be forced to take. Disguised as one of the workers, he climbed to the third floor.
Luck was on his side.
The floor was stacked with gas cylinders and barrels of tar. One wrong move and the entire section would go up in flames. He couldn't have asked for a better setup.
As the cab passed below, the third floor detonated in a thunderous explosion.
[Present]
The blast sent shockwaves through the street.
People screamed and ran in every direction. Some were knocked to the ground. Others were trapped beneath collapsing debris, while several workers were still inside the burning structure.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He activated his watch and immediately called for backup.
While help was on the way, the team did everything they could—pulling civilians away from the wreckage, guiding the injured to safety—but the flames were too intense. There was no clear path into the building.
From inside, desperate voices cried out, begging for help.
And there was no way to put the fire out.The flames roared unchecked—until the sky itself answered.
Dark clouds gathered without warning, swelling thick and heavy overhead. Rain came crashing down in sheets, relentless and cold, smothering the fire until the burning building finally surrendered. One by one, the trapped civilians were pulled to safety.
A man wearing a WHA watch stepped forward, rain dripping from his coat.
???: I heard backup was needed. Thank God I made it in time.
[S-Class Hero — Rank 9 — Purple Rain has arrived.]
Leona: Are you—?
Jaiden: Yes, yes, I know. No need for introductions. My designation's already been announced. Just call me Jaiden.
Seeing how casually Jaiden shattered the fourth wall, the group exchanged awkward glances.
Diego: …Okay?
Jaiden clapped his hands together.
Jaiden: No time to waste. Those people still need help. Move.
They sprinted toward the building.
But Kael hesitated.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted someone standing apart from the chaos—a lone figure pressed against the shadows, wearing a full-face mask. A Dark Knight… most likely.
Kael: Uh… guys?
Kael tried to call out.
Too late.
The others had already entered the building.
The masked figure turned and began walking away, unhurried. Kael clenched his jaw. He couldn't let her escape.
So he followed.
Michael remained on the ground floor.
Leona and Diego moved up to the second.
Charlie took the third.
Jaiden headed for the fourth.
One by one, workers were escorted down to safety.
All except the last.
No one knew it yet—but that final "worker" was the enemy.
As he passed Charlie, the blade flashed.
He stabbed her straight in the abdomen.
The pain was blinding—enough to ignite something feral inside her. Charlie snarled, slamming her forehead into his face before following through with a brutal backhand that sent him flying into the hard concrete wall.
Her scream tore through the building.
It alerted everyone.
Diego, Leona, and Jaiden reached the third floor first.
Michael was still on his way.
Cosmo: You're strong as hell—just like they said.
He snarled, blood trailing from his mouth.
Cosmo: But breaking my jaw? You've crossed the line. I, Cosmo, will end your life.
He raised his hand.
Cosmo: The corename's Bohemian Rhapsody.
A blinding surge of light erupted from him—fast, violent, merciless. It slammed straight into Charlie and sent her flying backward. Just as she was about to collide with the concrete wall, Michael appeared, expanding his body and catching her midair, cradling her like a fish caught in a net.
Charlie: Gh—what the hell is this?! It's burning—like my skin's being peeled off! This feels like over a thousand degrees Celsius… lava?!
Cosmo laughed.
Cosmo: No, no, no. Far worse than that. In a few minutes, the radiation will wipe out your white blood cells. Then the X-rays will finish the rest. Normally, a regular human wouldn't even last this long. But like I said—you're damn tough.
Radiation. X-rays.
Jaiden's blood ran cold.
Jaiden: (thought)Don't tell me…What he just fired—was that a solar flare?
———————————————————
The sun—the heart of our solar system—is one of Earth's greatest blessings. It gives warmth, sustains life, fuels photosynthesis, and even shields the planet from cosmic radiation.
But its power has a darker side.
A solar flare is a sudden, violent eruption of radiation from the sun's surface, born from the release of immense magnetic energy trapped in its atmosphere. When unleashed, it floods space with staggering force—energy rivaling millions of nuclear bombs detonating at once—racing forward at the speed of light.
And now, that force had been weaponized.
———————————————————
Cosmo: You've got some nerve challenging me, very well—I'll grant your wish and send you straight to hell!
He drew in energy, preparing to unleash another solar flare—
—but time froze.
Diego stepped forward into the stillness, lifting a steel rod with calm precision.
Diego: ooks like you forgot something. Some people are far faster than you.
He hurled the rod.
Diego: When time resumes, that will pierce your thigh—and this fight will end.
Two seconds...
One second...
Time surged forward again.
The rod shot toward Cosmo—but halfway there, it began to vanish, evaporating as though it were paper tossed into molten lava. The metal disintegrated before it could even reach him.
Cosmo didn't hesitate.
He released the solar flare.
For a split second, they were certain this was the end.
Then—like a curtain being torn away—the world shifted.
They stood encased in astronaut-like suits, sculpted entirely from clouds.
Jaiden: The ability to emit solar flares, a terrifying power.
Jaiden stepped forward.
Jaiden: I can also see the defensive radiation field surrounding you—about two meters out. That's why the rod vaporized instantly. But my ability allows me to create suits formed from layered atmosphere—oxygen-rich, temperature-controlled, radiation-resistant.
He raised his hand.
Jaiden: Bohemian Rhapsody. And you will be judged by me.
Cosmo's face twisted with rage.
Cosmo: Judge me? Don't fuck with me, Purple Rain. You might've survived my thousand-degree flare—but let's see you endure a million.
He unleashed it.
But the moment the energy erupted, something went wrong.
The solar flare didn't fire forward.
It curved—twisted—and burst straight from behind him, slamming into his own body.
Cosmo: W–WHAT?!
———————————————————
Born in A City, Jaiden was the son of two scientists—both meteorologists who devoted their lives to studying climate change. From a young age, he was captivated by their work, especially their research into planetary climates and extreme weather systems beyond Earth. His curiosity matured into discipline; he excelled in every subject that aligned with his interests—geography, meteorology, climatology, environmental science, and atmospheric physics.
When he awakened his ability, fate felt almost ironic. His power was not merely compatible with his passion—it was its ultimate expression.
Within just two days, Jaiden achieved complete control over his ability, accomplishing feats that bordered on the impossible—acts even the planet itself could not naturally replicate. His power carried the terrifying potential to dismantle Earth's atmosphere entirely, making him, by all objective measures, one of the most dangerous individuals alive.
Jaiden understood this.
Yet despite knowing the extent of his destructive capability, he chose restraint. He was a man guided not by ego or fear, but by conviction—someone who understood the difference between right and wrong. And that clarity, more than power, was the true reason he chose to become a hero.
———————————————————
Cosmo: (thought)Impossible…. How can my own attack—?
Jaiden: I knew you would do it again. So I created clouds around you—designed specifically to absorb your solar flare and redirect it back at its source.
The clouds surrounding Cosmo became visible at last.
Cosmo: So what if you did? I possess fire and heat resistance. I can pass through your clouds with ease.
He took a step forward.
And froze.
An unnatural cold surged through his body.
Cosmo: Wh–what the hell is this? My Radiant Defense exceeds a thousand degrees Celsius—how did ice form?!
His breath fogged. His body stiffened.
Jaiden: Thanks to the data you so generously provided, I was able to identify your weakness.
He raised his hand slightly.
Jaiden: Let me make this clear—once again.My codename is Purple Rain. I possess the ability to control weather and atmosphere. When you told me your defensive mechanism operates at around a thousand degrees Celsius, I realized something simple—heat alone is not absolute.
The air around Cosmo shifted.
Jaiden: All I needed to do, was surround you with a colder atmosphere. So I replicated the atmospheric conditions of Uranus—a world where temperatures plunge to nearly minus two hundred degrees Celsius. You said you have heat resistance… but tell me—do you have cold resistance?
As Cosmo watched frost crawl rapidly across his hands, his composure shattered. Roaring in fury, he released a solar flare in sheer desperation.
Jaiden did not retreat. Instead, he smiled.
Jaiden: Checkmate.
The surrounding atmosphere detonated inward. The explosion folded back onto Cosmo, blinding him completely.
Jaiden: Unleashing your solar flare was the worst decision you could've made. Uranus' atmosphere isn't just cold—it's filled with flammable gases. That… was your biggest blunder.
Cosmo collapsed to the ground, staring downward in disbelief. Defeat was written into his posture. Ice Box awaited him.
But just as Jaiden moved to place the band on his wrist, Cosmo lunged forward, grabbing him by the collar.
Cosmo:How dare you look down on me, Purple Rain?! I'll wipe you out of existence!
A second solar flare ignited—too close, too fast.
Jaiden had no time to evade.
For a single breath, even he believed it was over.
Cosmo smiled.
Then a fist slammed into his face.
Michael appeared in a blur, Cord Breaker snapping forward as he smashed Cosmo head-on. He seized him by the collar, yanked him backward—straight toward Charlie.
Michael: This—
Charlie: —is the best—
Together, they finished—
Both: —angle for punching.
Michael tightened his hold on Cosmo, locking him in place. Without hesitation, he and Charlie moved in perfect sync.
A dual barrage erupted.
The relentless storm of blows swallowed Cosmo whole. The assault ended with a simultaneous uppercut, launched from both sides, lifting him off the ground before slamming him back down—utterly defeated.
As usual, they followed standard protocol.
Cosmo was restrained.
Cosmo was sealed.
Cosmo was sent to Ice Box.
By the time afternoon settled in, Jaiden and Nexus-5 were forced to part ways. Jaiden praised them sincerely, acknowledging both the danger of the mission and their flawless teamwork. Mutual respect was exchanged.
But just as he turned to leave—
Charlie suddenly staggered.
She vomited.
Then collapsed.
Everyone rushed to her side at once.
Jaiden looked to Leona.
Jaiden: What's wrong with her?
Leona: (In panic)I don't know, I already healed her. She should've been fine by now.
Jaiden's expression hardened.
Jaiden: Unless...the UV radiation worsened before you could heal her.
The realization struck like a hammer.
Jaiden: She endured it the entire time. That vomiting isn't shock—it's delayed radiation sickness. She needs WHA medical care immediately.
He activated his watch.
Jaiden: Blake, get to my location now. This is a life-or-death situation.
The response was instant.
In less than a nanosecond, Blake arrived.
S-Class Hero. Rank 5.
Codename: Blue Void.
One of the fastest speedster among all heroes.
Without wasting a word, Blake lifted Charlie into his arms and vanished.
Leona: Will she be alright?
Jaiden: WHA has procedures for cases like this. She'll survive.
As the tension finally began to settle, Diego glanced around.
Something was missing.
Diego: …Where's Kael?