The atmosphere around me was electric, charged with tension as the heavy storm raged. Rain hammered against the ground relentlessly, subduing my visibility.
The winds howled, twisting trees into bizarre shapes, and the crashing waves against Flora Island's cliffs added a dark and powerful rhythm to the chaos.
I stood at the edge of the cliff, my black cape fluttring wildly in the wind, my pale-white hand hovering over the control panel on my wristband, which displays:
[Doombringer]
That name alone was enough to make my chest tighten. It wasn't just a weapon–it was, as if the destruction itself incarnate into a weapon, a power I wielded with absolute precision and control.
'So why does it feel so heavy this time?'
"Activating [Doombringer]," I muttered.
My voice was barely audible over the storm's–but it was loud enough to echo in my mind.
My heart raced as the ground beneath me began to glow as my body emitted lighting of different colours. My emotions were like a storm mirroring the chaotic weather outside. In my mind determination, anger, unease–they all clashed and collided in a battlefield.
I clenched my fists.
'No time for doubt. I need to Focus.'
The weapon materialized before me, a massive, black, obsidian blade humming with unstable energy. Sparks cracked along its long-edged length, illuminating the darkened island with violet glow.
As I gripped the hilt, a surge of familiar raw power coursed in my veins. For a moment, I felt invincible–a god among all men. And yet, theres a nagging feeling in the back of my mind which still remained.
"Enemy detected, at 10 'o' clock!" Mary warned me.
From the distance, shadows began to stir. Dozens of [Wraths] emerged from the treeline, their monstrous forms illuminated by the flashes of lightning. Their glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, and their guttural growls were barely audible over the storm. They moved in unison, a horrifying and strange synchronization that hinted that a greater intelligence controlling them.
I took a deep breath, narrowing my eyes–I unleased the [Doombringer].
"Come on then," I growled.
The ground trembled beneath my feet as the blade cut through the air, The first swing of the [Doombringer] unleashed a devastating arc of energy around me, slicing through the advancing [Wraths] like butter with brutality.
–Swoosh!!
A single swoop of my blade eradicated all the [Wraths], destroying nearly a mile of trees in the process. 'They are all dead, and I didn't even budge, ~Heh, told you it was overkill.'
The explosion of light and heat turned the surrounding rain into steam, creating a hazy battlefield where shadows and shapes danced ominously.
"Hmm? … something seems off. Hey, Mary, are there any other monster species here except the [Wraths]?"
"…. Negative." the answer delayed.
For every [Wrath] I cut down, two more seemed to take its place. They moved strategically, leading me towards the heart of the island. I felt the weight of the battle pressing down on me, this wasn't just a fight. It was a trap.
"They're stalling me," I muttered, my eyes darting around the battlefield. "For what exactly?"
Suddenly, a chilling presence made itself known. The air grew colder, and the storm seemed to momentarily still as if holding its breath. As I turned–my instincts screaming me to run away, but it was too late.
From the shadows emerged a figure unlike any I had encountered before. Clocked in darkness, its form was indistinct, shifting and blurring like smoke in the wind. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light.
Without any delay I held the hilt of [Doombringer] and slashed at the shadow, "Full Essence [Nova Blast]," I muttered, as I hit the shadow with my blade.
Before I could react, the figure moved with blinding speed. It caught my [Doombringer] with his bare hands. Gold colour blood started dripping from the figure's hand.
'—What!? Golden Blood!?'
Before I could process the sight, the figure flicked its wrist, it exerted a force so great–that it sent me flying, my body crashing through trees and slamming into the cliffside. Pain erupted through me as I struggled to breathe, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth.
"What the—"I coughed, struggling to stand. The [Doombringer] lay several feet away, its glow dimming. I reached for it, but the figure appeared before me, its hand plunging into my chest. All this happened so quickly that even I, hailed as the strongest human known to mankind, was left in awe.
"[Hope]," it said mockingly. "How ironic."
My vision blurring as I felt an icy, burning pain spread from the wound. The figure leaned closer, its voice a mere whisper in my ear. "Even the greatest can fall."
'How is this possible!? No one's ever called me weak... why can't I move my body– It's that golden blood—?.'
The world around me seemed to slow. The storm, the rain, the battle—all of it faded into the background as I collapsed to my knees. My mind raced, memories flashing before my eyes. Faces of my mother, father and my big sister appeared one after another.
'–It's been a while I have seen my mother's face…. How much year has passed 2 years? No, 3 years I assume, since I last saw them…. They didn't even know that their son is the Rank–1 Hero, what type of face they will make if they knew proud? worry? Knowing my mother she will definitely start crying, my father I think he will be proud and my sister, I am curious to know what kind of face she'll make... '
"Sir [Hope] your vitals are falling!!... sir [Hope]…... can …. Me!!.... back…...right.... with you…!" Mary's voice broke through my earpiece, panicked for the first time. "Please respond! Sir–"
"This… can't be it," I whispered. But even as I fought to hold on, darkness began to consume me.
. . .
The battlefield was silent now, [Hope's] lifeless body lay motionless amidst the chaos, his once vibrant aura extinguished. The [Doombringer], inert and dull, rested a few meters away, a haunting relic of a battle fought and lost.
As the storm began to calm, as if the heavens themselves mourned the loss of the Rank–1 Hero. The figure that had struck the final blow watched for a moment longer.
"The Fallen [Hope]," it murmured before vanishing into the shadows, leaving no trace behind.
Hero Association HQ
News of [Hope's] death reached the Hero Association headquarters within hours. The sterile, white conference room was silent as the board members—men and women in sharp suits with sharp eyes to match, gathered around a long table. The air was cold, devoid of emotion, as the president of the Hero Association, a man known as Marcus Bloodstone, stood at the head of the table.
"So, it's confirmed," Marcus said, his voice like steel cutting through the air. "[Hope] is dead."
A murmur ran through the conference room, but it was subdued, restrained. No one dared to show grief or shock, not here, not in front of Marcus.
"We cannot afford for this information to reach the public," Marcus continued. "The Rank–1 Hero is more than just a man. He is a symbol. A beacon of hope for humanity. If they find out he's gone…" He deliberately let the sentence hang, the unspoken consequences heavy in the air.
One of the board members, a woman with piercing grey eyes, leaned forward. "What do you propose, Mr. President?"
Marcus's lips curled up into an ominous smile devoid of warmth. "We replace him."
Gasps echoed around the table. Another member, an older man with thin frame, spoke up. "You mean… find another hero to take his place?"
"Exactly," Markus said. "We'll assign a new hero to the name [Hope]. The public doesn't need to know what happened. To them, [Hope] will be alive, still fighting for humanity."
"And where do we find such a Hero who matched [Hope] Description," The women with grey eyes asked.
"I have a perfect candidate for it," Markus stated immediately.
"But… what about his legacy?" someone whispered.
–BAAM!!
Markus slammed his hand on the table, his cold, calculated demeanour breaking for just a moment. "HIS LEGACY BELONGS TO US!! TO THE HERO ASSOCIATION!!... Cough! Cough!... [Hope] is not a person, it's an idea, a brand. And we cannot let the brand die."
Silence fell over the room again. No one dared oppose him.
"What about his body?" the grey-eyed woman asked.
"Destroy all evidence. Chop his body parts and burry it deep in the island. Ensure that no one ever finds out the truth," Markus ordered.
Thirty days later:
With that almost a month has passed, a new hero was chosen, His name was irrelevant; what mattered was his appearance and ability to mimic Hope's powers. The new [Hope] stood on a stage at a press conference, the Hero Association's emblem gleaming on the backdrop behind him. The crowd cheered.
"We will continue to fight for humanity!" the new Hope declared, raising his fist in a gesture of triumph.
But behind the scenes, the Hero Association moved like a machine, cold and efficient. Files were erased, records altered, and the real Hope's existence reduced to whispers and ashes.
Sixty days later
Deep beneath the surface of [Flora] Island, something stirred. Hope's body parts, tossed in a forgotten corner of the battlefield, began to glow faintly. An unknown energy, pulsed through him, knitting together torn flesh and mending broken bones. His heart, silent for so long, gave a single, powerful beat.
Ba-dump!... Ba-dump!
Hope's Eyes shot open, as he gasped for the air as if surfacing from the depth of darkest ocean. He clutched his chest, feeling no wound, no pain. His body was whole, unscarred.
"What…. happened?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.
Memories flooded back to him, the battle, the mysterious enemy, the cold final death. But then something else. A fragment of knowledge buried deep within him surfaced. A skill, dormant and hidden, has activated in his final moment of death.
"Immortality…" he whispered, the word tasting foreign yet familiar on his tongue.
As I stood, I felt my legs trembling as I surveyed the area.
The [Doombringer] lay nearby, still lifeless. I picked it up without any delay.
"When will the backup coming?" I wished.
I loomed my attention to my wristband and tried to contact the association, but it seems out of battery.
'I remembered charging it to fullest. It has to last atleast 30 days…is it broken?'
I waited.
One hour passed.
Two hours passed.
.
.
.
Six hours has passed and there is not a single member of Hero Association.
"What exactly happened?"
Without waiting any longer, I started climbing the cliff. As I climbed, the brimming light of sun falls on my skin erasing my worries. As I reached the top, I witnessed something unusual, the Island is brimming with people, people where parting on the beach, swimming in the ocean. Cars honking on the roads. Huge sigh boards of Hero Association pasted on the hot air balloons floating above my head.
Without wasting any minute I returned to the main Island, I moved in secrecy, as I searched for the clues, my instincts guided me toward answers. What I discovered left me reeling. The Hero Association's betrayal was laid bare, the press conferences, the new [Hope].
I stood in the shadows of a crowded city square, watching as the new [Hope] in a press conference, flaunting his recent achievement. My fists clenched, as my nails digging into my palms until they drew blood.
"After everything I gave them…" I muttered, my voice trembled with a mix of anger and despair.
Betrayal burned in my chest, a searing pain that threatened to consume me. Anger coursed through my veins, hot and unrelenting. Agony twisted in my guts, the weight of knowing I was discarded as a tool, my legacy stolen. And yet, amidst it all, there was a flicker of relief.
I was alive. I had another chance.
But what should I do with it?
Should I take revenge?
Should I leave everything behind?
"I think I understand your words now master." I whispered.
Without any more thinking I went to the island's airport. 'It's been almost three years I saw my parents face. I wonder how are they?
"Hehe!," I chuckled.
As I reached the airports reception window, a young lady with dark black hair greeted me." Good morning, sir. How may I help you?"
"A flight ticket to Frostveil city," I answered.
"Certainly! give me few minutes… Umm... may I check your Identity, please?"
I froze for a moment, showing my Hero Association Card as Rank–1 would definitely cause an uproar. I quickly checked my [Inventory ring], which, to my relief was still functioning. From it, I retrieved my Citizenship Card and handed it to the receptionist with a calm smile.
"Here you go mam."
The card was a standard 3x6 cm in size and transparent in appearance. Every citizen in this world possessed one. The data on the card automatically updated to reflect any changes in the body, like hair colour, skin tone, age, marital status, or occupation. It was no different from my Hero Association Card, except for one detail: it displayed my real name, a name even the members of Hero Association didn't know. That was part of the contract I had signed with them—my identity was to remain undisclosed, even to the upper echelons of the organization.
"Alright, sir. Please wait while I verify your details," the receptionist said, studying the card closely.
Citizen of Frostveil Kingdom
Name – Zane Skylark
Citizen No. – 200103789
Age – 17
Birth Place – Honeyford, Frostveil Kingdom
Date of Birth – 12-04-5030
"All done, Mr. Skylark! Thank you for your patience. Here's your Citizenship Card and your ticket to Frostveil. ~ Wishing you a pleasant journey!"
After thanking the receptionist, I took a seat in the waiting area. A few hours passed before my flight details appeared on the digital board.
I boarded the plane, settling in for the roughly seven-hour flight from Flora Island.
It was plenty of time to come up with a believable excuse for the 'three years' later reunion with my parents.
End of Chapter.