Planet Thandros — Residence of the Universal Champion, Reiv.
Two colossal guards stood before the golden gates of the palace.
— "No outsiders are allowed to enter," — they declared in unison.
In front of them, Kai Hayashi, the red-haired man with blazing eyes, watched in silence.Behind him stood Arcanis, the Supreme Herald, and Bhor, the clumsy one who looked more like a jester than a warrior.
Kai lifted his gaze slightly.— "You two know what to do."
Bhor cracked his neck, stepped forward, and grinned.— "Who wants to fight the great Bhor?"
One of the guards laughed mockingly.— "You? You look like you can barely carry your own weight, weakling!"
The laughter echoed—Then stopped.
Because the ground trembled.
Bhor's aura exploded.Veins bulged, his muscles expanded, his eyes glowed red, and power erupted from his body like a storm. The air itself vibrated.
🌀 Unbreakable Rage — Invincible FuryConcept: The more he's underestimated, the stronger he becomes.Activation: Laughter, insults, or mockery.Duration: Three minutes of exponentially increasing power.Limit: Total collapse after the effect ends.Weakness: Respect nullifies the power.
The guards stepped back in fear.— "I-It's impossible…" one of them stammered.
Bhor advanced. One punch.The ground cracked; the guard was sent flying through three pillars before collapsing unconscious.The other ran for his life.
Bhor raised his fist triumphantly.— "Two minutes, as always, master!"
Kai walked past him, indifferent.— "Good work. Let's go."
Inside, the palace gleamed with absurd luxury: golden columns, constellation tapestries, and a throne made of pure silver.
There, reclined, was Reiv, the Universal Champion — long golden hair, white eyes without pupils, a wine cup in hand, and two women massaging his shoulders.
He smiled arrogantly.— "Well, well… if it isn't Kairon's right hand. Kai, the god-slayer himself. What brings you here?"
Kai crossed his arms.— "It's been ten years, Reiv. I'll be direct: I need you. A war is coming."
Reiv burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the hall.— "Hahaha! Don't make me laugh, Kai! Me, Reiv, allying with a lesser being?"He took another sip.— "If Kairon asked, I might consider it. But you? Hah. Leave."
Kai's eyes darkened.— "Are you sure Kairon isn't here?"
The air grew heavy.Kai's aura exploded — purple, abyssal, crushing.The ground shattered, the ceiling trembled, and everyone in the palace fell to their knees. Even Reiv's hands shook.
Kai's eyes blazed with a deep violet light. He lifted one hand—and a golden spear flew across the room, landing in his palm as if drawn by gravity.
The Spear of Destiny.
Reiv froze.— "T-that's… the Emperor's weapon! How did you—?"
Kai smiled.— "I am the new Universal Emperor."His voice echoed with divine authority.— "The one Kairon entrusted with everything. If you prefer… call me the new Kairon."
He took a step forward, and Reiv's throne disintegrated into dust.
— "Now stand, Champion," — Kai ordered. — "And listen."
Bhor and Arcanis watched silently, overwhelmed by their master's power.
Reiv stood, trembling.— "What do you desire, my lord?"
Kai sat upon the newly formed throne, rebuilt with raw purple energy.— "I want you to join me. In return, you'll have your revenge."
Reiv's eyes darkened.— "You know what he did… that human, Ray Stormbreak. He killed my brother years ago."
— "I know," — Kai replied with a faint grin. — "It was thanks to him that I could be reborn. And that's exactly why I want you at my side."He paused.— "As a reward… you may kill his grandson."
Reiv raised his gaze.— "Say the name."
— "Ethan. Ethan Stormbreak."Kai's tone hardened.— "But there's a price. You must abandon everything and serve me. We have five years — five years to prepare."
Reiv hesitated, then knelt.— "Then so be it, my Emperor."
Kai rose. Behind him, a massive portal of violet energy opened.
— "And our next target?" — Reiv asked.
Kai's eyes turned toward the void.— "Zarkon."
Reiv's expression changed.— "The warrior who despises humans?"
— "The same," Kai replied. — "His aura can devour planets. With him, our army will be unstoppable."
Reiv smirked.— "Are humans truly that strong?"
Kai smiled faintly.— "More than you think. They wield the power known as the Trinity of Yon — Chaos, Light, and Darkness.And beyond that… they possess something else. The Reversum."
Reiv frowned.— "Reversum? A skill?"
Kai's gaze grew darker.— "It's their ultimate power. A force that defies reality itself."
— "And who wields it?" Reiv asked.
Kai's answer was calm, cold.— "Ryan. Ryan Valeborn."
Reiv chuckled.— "Fascinating, these new humans."
Kai looked into the distance, his expression unreadable.— "They are, indeed. But we will erase every last one of them."
The portal flared open.Three silhouettes walked through the light.
The Empire was reborn.
New Dawn Heroes Base — Central Sector
The sun blazed over the training courtyard.Ryan, Ryu, and Ethan were sparring — their movements so fast they blurred like sparks.
— "Damn, Ryan!" — Ethan shouted. — "You're insanely fast now!"
Ryu appeared behind him in a flash.— "Try me next, Ethan!"
He vanished for a second, reappearing on the opposite side.
Ryan blinked. — "Was that… teleportation?"
Ryu grinned. — "Nope! That was pure speed!"He spread his arms. — "The fastest of Herocity's Big Three, baby!"
Ryan laughed. — "You really are quick, Ryu."Ethan nodded. — "I'll admit it… slightly faster than me."
The trio then entered the Extreme Gravity Chamber — the toughest training room in the base.Dozens of heroes watched from the stands.
— "Hey, kids!" — shouted an S-rank hero. — "You think you can handle this?"— "Absolutely, sir!" — Ryu yelled back, full of confidence.
From the bleachers, whispers spread.— "It's him… Ryu Nox! He's so handsome!"— "Those muscles… oh my god!"
Ryu smirked proudly.Abby frowned beside Annie. — "I swear, I'll kill those girls."Annie laughed. — "But you don't even date him, Abby. Why so jealous?"— "Shut up, Annie!" — Abby blushed.
Inside the chamber, Ryu laughed under the crushing gravity.— "This is awesome!"He began leaping around like a kid in an amusement park.
Ethan teased. — "Try it without the jacket, let's see if you're still smiling!"
Ryu took it off.His toned sixteen-year-old body glistened with sweat.The crowd of girls screamed. One even got a nosebleed.Abby did too.
From a distance, Darius watched.— "He reminds me of myself and Inavy back in Nionderland."Lorien laughed beside him. — "At least he inherited your show-off spirit, Darius."Kelvin sighed, rubbing his temples. — "What did I do to deserve that boy…"
Then came Ryan's turn.
He took off his shirt, shyly.The whispers started again.— "Whoa…"— "Look at that physique!"— "A Greek god with blue eyes!"
Annie turned crimson and shouted:— "Shut up! He's MY boyfriend!"
Silence.Abby chuckled. — "Oh, so now it's official, huh?"— "Go to hell, Abby!" Annie shot back.
Ryan entered the chamber.The gravity intensified — but he didn't even flinch.The Reversum neutralized the weight completely.
Everyone was speechless.Then, Ryan deactivated the ability.The chamber shook, but he stood tall, relying only on his physical strength.
Lorien murmured, awestruck. — "That's… incredible."Darius smiled proudly. — "That's my boy."
Ryan walked out, dripping sweat.Ryu greeted him with a grin. — "Dude, that was insane!"
Then Ryu leaned closer, whispering:— "So, I heard the girls flirting with you… but Annie said you're her boyfriend. You two back together, huh, New Pillar?"
Ryan blushed. — "M-me and Annie? Not exactly… we're just… trying again."
Ryu laughed. — "Sure, sure."
Then Ethan entered the chamber.He deactivated his chaotic aura — and still moved easily under extreme gravity, doing push-ups and pull-ups as if it were nothing.
When he walked out, the crowd erupted in cheers — until a voice echoed through the hall:
— "Showing off shirtless to impress the crowd, Ethan Stormbreak?"
He turned.There she was — Eliara Myne, daughter of the U.S. President, the No. 1 Hero of America.Silver hair, violet eyes, and an aura of pure singularity.
Ethan sighed. — "What are you doing here, Eliara?"
She smiled, mysterious.— "I came to see just how far the New Dawn Heroes have come."
The air vibrated once more.The new generation had only just begun.
✨ [End of Chapter — Echoes of the Empire]