The crimson sun tore through the horizon above the New Dawn Heroes' new base, its light reflecting on the metallic panels and the energy towers that sustained the dimensional shield.The morning seemed calm… until a familiar voice echoed across the main courtyard.
— Ethan!
Before he could react, Ethan was suddenly wrapped in a tight embrace.Eliara Myne — the legendary Heroine of Human Singularity — held him as if she feared losing him again.
"I've missed you so much…" she said, eyes shimmering with emotion and a radiant smile on her lips.
Completely flustered, Ethan tried to pull away."W–Wait, Eliara… there's no need to hug me like this… in front of everyone…"
She blinked, finally noticing the dozens of curious eyes watching them. But instead of blushing, she grinned wide and shouted:"Ryan! Ryu! It's been forever!"
Both turned at once.Ryu raised his arms, shocked."Eliara?! No way!"
She ran and hugged both of them at once, squeezing them like plush toys.
"We missed you too, Eliara!" Ryan managed to say, half-laughing, half-choking."You're suffocating me, girl! What are you eating lately, bricks?!" Ryu wheezed.
Eliara laughed and finally released them. Ryan straightened his jacket, chuckling.The three of them walked toward the central courtyard, where the wind whirled gently around the glowing domes.
Ryan looked at her for a moment."I didn't see you at Inavy's funeral…" he said quietly.
Eliara averted her gaze, sighing."I was there. Just… clinging to my Ethan."
Ethan coughed, his face turning red."H–Hey… you didn't have to say it like that…"
Ryan smiled faintly, pulling an old notebook from his coat pocket — worn leather, yellowed pages.
Ryu raised an eyebrow."Bro, you still carry that old notebook?"
Ryan scratched his neck."Yeah… helps me study everyone's powers."
Ryu snatched it curiously, flipping through."'Darkness… Ultimate Technique: Yami no Shinpan'? Hah! This thing's outdated, man. I ditched that move ages ago!"
Ryan chuckled sheepishly."I guess I stopped taking notes for a while. But I want to start again."He looked up. "So, Eliara — tell me about your power. I want to record it properly."
Eliara smirked and crossed her arms."Alright then. Pay attention, because today's your masterclass, Ryan Valeborn."
She stepped back. The air began to vibrate around her.A blinding light burst from her body — white laced with golden sparks and crimson streaks.
"The Human Singularity," she began, her voice resonating through the courtyard,"is a biogenetic and spiritual anomaly. It allows a single human to absorb, understand, and perfect any form of energy, technique, or essence."
Ryu whistled, impressed."So basically… you can copy any power?"
Eliara smirked."Copy, adapt, and surpass.The Singularity sees everything as compatible — divine, demonic, elemental, shadow, even chaos."
Ethan folded his arms."And that's why half the cosmic empires fear you."
She glanced at him and winked."Exactly."
Ryan kept writing quickly while she explained, calm but proud.
"When I see a technique, I understand it. Even if it depends on lineage or divinity, I can recreate a version of my own. Every battle evolves me. My body and soul adapt. The Singularity is like a cosmic AI — in constant learning."
Ryu blinked."You're seriously overpowered."
Eliara laughed."Everyone says that. That's why the Renegates wanted my DNA."
Ethan nodded."And for good reason. Among us… Eliara's one of the strongest humans alive."
Ryu teased:"Stronger than our 'New Pillar'?"
Ethan smirked immediately."No way. The New Pillar's on another level."
Ryan sighed, blushing slightly. The group laughed.
Moments later, Abby and Annie ran over."Eliara!" they shouted in unison.Eliara hugged them both tightly."I missed you so much!"
Annie smiled."We missed you too."
Then, a powerful voice echoed behind them."Well, well… look who's back…"
Lorien Valtier, President of the Association, approached — his white mantle glowing, his golden aura bending the very air around him.
"The girl who dethroned Maxwell Johnson as the U.S. No.1 Hero. Long time no see, Eliara."
She smiled and hugged him briefly."Long time, Mr. Lorien."
"Came to help with the coming war?" he asked."You bet."
Lorien smiled, pleased."Then come. I'll show you the heart of the New Dawn Heroes base."
He led them into a massive training hall filled with metallic echoes and bursts of aura.Inside, Darius, Zen, Kane, and Dante were sparring intensely.
When Eliara entered, the atmosphere froze.Zen Kagetsune, golden-eyed and cold-faced, looked straight at her.A mocking smile formed on his lips.
"Well, well… Eliara Myne."
Her smile vanished."Nice to see you alive too, Zen Kagetsune."
The tension was suffocating. Everyone could feel it.Their past wasn't forgotten — before becoming a hero, Zen had been a mercenary, hired by Kai Hayashi and Hant to capture Eliara alive.
Ryan, Ethan, and Ryu exchanged uneasy glances.
Eliara exhaled and looked at Lorien."Hey, Mr. Lorien."
"Speak."
"Is there… a place where we can fight?I want a duel against Zen Kagetsune."
Zen frowned."Hey, girl. I'm not in the mood for this."
Darius stepped in."Lorien, don't allow this. Zen's not ready for—"
But Lorien only smiled, resting his chin on his hand."Relax, little brother. I want to see what these two can do.Their power is special… and it might be our trump card in this war."
He turned to Zen."If you fight her, I'll deposit 2 billion HeroCoins into your account right now."
Zen blinked, eyes widening."H–How much?!"
"Two billion. Win, and I'll make it five."
The flame of greed lit up his eyes. Zen jumped to his feet."Girl, we're doing this now! Let's go!"
Ryan, Dante, Annie, Abby, and Kane all said together in exasperation:"He's so shameless…"
Lorien laughed, guiding everyone to a sealed chamber — a combat dimension used for high-level hero duels.Golden runes pulsed on the walls, and the air itself seemed heavier — gravity and time bending differently here.
Darius sighed, arms crossed."You're insane, Lorien.""If things go south, I'm here, bro. Relax.""People say I'm the reckless one…" Darius muttered, shaking his head.
Inside the arena, Zen prepared himself.He donned a complex suit lined with devices — folding blades, sensors, energy cartridges.
Ryu frowned."Dude… what's all that for?"
Zen grinned."This? Heh… this is my true power."
Ethan folded his arms."You've never used all that before?"
"Of course not. Absolute Predator Mode was enough.But if Darius raised my salary by another billion… maybe I'd go 80%."
Everyone groaned in unison."How is he not a villain?"
Darius replied instantly."Because Kelvin would kill him."
Zen just shrugged.Eliara stepped forward, aura flaring."Let's see if all that gear helps you keep up with me, hunter."
Zen revealed his weapons one by one:
🔹 Leviathan Fang Sword — cuts through divine energy.🔹 Whispered Death Dagger — anti-magic and anti-aura.🔹 Chains of Mother Ruin — seals soul and energy.🔹 Eye of Djehuty — analyzes the opponent's weak points in real time.
Lorien smiled."See, Darius? This guy's a treasure buried in dirt."
Eliara took a deep breath, then turned to Ethan."Hey, Ethan… lend me the Blade of Chaos."
Ethan froze."You sure? That weapon only obeys me."
"Just throw it to me."
He unsheathed the sword and tossed it.It hit the ground, humming with dark, living energy. Eliara walked toward it.
The moment her fingers touched the hilt, a burst of black and crimson aura exploded outward.The floor cracked. The symbol of chaos spun behind her, and her pupils turned scarlet.
Darius stepped back, stunned."Impossible… when I tried wielding that blade, it threw me across the room — burned my hand!"
Lorien's eyes gleamed."She adapted Ethan's chaos to her own energy… bypassed the Blade's curse. But let's see how long she can hold it."
Eliara swung the sword, its thunderous sound echoing."I've got ten minutes. Ten minutes to settle our score, Zen Kagetsune."
Zen smirked."Ten minutes, huh? I only need five."
His body transformed instantly — muscles tearing and regenerating, veins glowing like molten gold.His eyes lost their pupils — pure, predatory instinct.
Absolute Predator Mode.Speed: 200× the speed of light.Strength: monstrous. Instinct: divine.
The ground shattered beneath him. Eliara raised the Blade of Chaos, her aura distorting space — darkness and light merging in perfect harmony.
Their energies collided, shaking the entire dimension.
Ryu staggered back from the pressure."This is… insane."
Ryan stared, wind whipping across his face."These two… they're beyond anything I've ever seen."
Ethan smiled faintly, watching Eliara."She's always been like this… unpredictable."
Lorien rose to his feet, golden aura surrounding him."The battle… begins."
Eliara twirled the Chaos Blade. Zen sharpened his gaze.
Both vanished at once.
A thunderclap split the air — as if space itself had been torn apart.
The war between Singularity and Predator had begun.
[To be continued...]