Inside the massive black skyscraper that served as the Hero Association's headquarters, the top members of the organization were gathered for an urgent meeting.
The air was tense, and everyone in the room could feel the pressure. Their jobs meant making quick decisions that could affect the whole city—or even the world. This was no ordinary meeting.
Sekingar, a tall man with brown hair, stood at the head of the table. His black suit, complete with a high-tech metal prosthetic eye, gave him a look of authority.
He was constantly in contact with the technical team through his earpiece, checking for updates.
"Did we manage to get any footage?" he asked, his voice sharp with impatience. "What about the person who took down Vaccine Man?"
The technical operator's response came quickly, though it was laced with hesitation. "We've recovered some footage. But it's going to take some time to process and analyze."
Sekingar let out a frustrated sigh, glancing around the room. The pressure to get answers quickly was growing. "Start the analysis right away. We don't have time to waste."
The room was quiet for a moment as the operators worked on their computers, trying to pull any information they could from the footage.
Meanwhile, the map on the table showed dots scattered all over, each one representing a potential threat or crisis. The chaos in the city seemed endless, and the Hero Association had to respond to all of it.
Sekingar's attention was fixed on the map, but his mind kept drifting back to the mysterious figure who had shown up during the battle with Vaccine Man.
It was clear that the Hero Association couldn't predict who would step in during these kinds of disasters, but it was becoming clear that this unknown hero was someone they couldn't ignore.
Finally, the operator's voice came through again. "We've managed to extract part of the footage. Sending it to your screens now."
The room fell silent as multiple screens flickered to life around the table, showing the critical moments of the battle with Vaccine Man.
The mysterious figure was unmistakable. His presence was powerful and impossible to miss.
Sekingar leaned forward, his gaze locked on the screen as he watched the unknown person's actions.
The figure was clearly involved in stopping the massive monster, but they hadn't taken any credit for it. They had just done their job and disappeared.
Exma, the deputy chief of the Hero Disciplinary Supervision Division, was the first to speak up. She had short black hair and a sharp gaze that made people listen when she spoke. "There's someone else in the footage.
Look at the person who took down Vaccine Man. Notice the distance between him and the monster when he died?"
Sekingar zoomed in on the footage, slowing it down. They watched as the figure, wearing a red gauntlet, delivered the blow that ended Vaccine Man's life. I
t was clear that this person had played a huge role in saving the city, but they hadn't tried to take any credit for it.
Exma raised an eyebrow. "A savior who doesn't want fame or recognition?" Her voice held a mix of curiosity and respect.
As the room processed this new information, an unexpected voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
A young man, no older than his early twenties, casually walked into the room with a confident smile. He was easy to notice—his charisma was undeniable, even making Exma, usually all-business, pause for a moment.
Sekingar's expression tightened. "How did you get past our security?"
The Hero Association's headquarters was known for its impenetrable security. Only the highest-ranking heroes, like S-Class, were allowed in, and even they had trouble getting through.
But this guy? He'd somehow slipped past all of that without anyone noticing.
The young man waved his hand casually. "No need to be alarmed. I'm Kai, and I'm the one who dealt with that monster."
Exma's frustration was clear as she slammed her hand down on the table, standing up. "Proof. Do you have any proof to back up your claim?"
The room tensed. This was a serious accusation.
Anyone could walk in and claim to be a hero, but if this guy was really the one who had taken down Vaccine Man, he needed to show something to back it up.
Kai didn't look bothered. He simply held up his arm, revealing the red scales that covered it, the same gauntlet seen in the footage.
The entire room fell silent as they processed what they were seeing. The scales were real—and they were undeniable proof that Kai had been part of the battle.
Exma's expression shifted from skepticism to stunned silence.
"Why aren't you on the National Hero Registry?" she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and confusion. "Someone with that kind of power should be well-known. So why aren't you recognized?"
Kai shrugged, as if the question didn't even matter. "Register me," he said, his tone casual. "I think my actions today merit an S-Class ranking, don't you?"
The room went quiet. Kai had just single-handedly stopped one of the most dangerous threats the city had ever faced—and he was asking to be placed in the highest hero rank without a second thought.
Exma turned to Sekingar, her mind racing with the implications. What did this mean for the Hero Association? They couldn't just ignore Kai. He had power, charisma, and the ability to handle situations no one else could.
Sekingar, trying to maintain control of the meeting, stood up. His tone was diplomatic, but there was a sense of caution behind his words.
"We appreciate your contribution. But before we discuss your placement in the registry, how about you take the hero test? It's standard procedure."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Sure. Schedule it for tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm going to explore the city. Maybe I'll check out a university or two." W
ith a flick of his wrist, he conjured his contact information out of thin air, the glowing letters floating in the air like water.
The room was left in stunned silence. Kai had just done something no one expected—he'd made magic happen right in front of them, leaving them no choice but to take him seriously.
Sekingar cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the situation. "Very well. We'll arrange the test for tomorrow."
Kai grinned. "Great. I'll be waiting."
As he turned and casually walked out of the room, the tension in the room didn't ease. The top brass of the Hero Association exchanged looks.