The city of Nova Astra gleamed under a steel-gray sky, its skyline stretching toward the heavens like the fingers of a sleeping giant. Towering skyscrapers pulsed with neon light, advertising the latest exploits of heroes—the world's chosen elite.
Giant holograms projected the latest Sentinel victories.
"Titanus saves Sector 4 from a seismic catastrophe!"
"The Crimson Huntress apprehends the rogue pyrokinetic!"
Everywhere Kael Renshiro turned, the world reminded him that he was nothing.
His hands tightened into fists as he walked past the enormous billboards, their flickering images reflecting in his dull gray eyes. Power determined everything. And in a world where nearly everyone was born with superhuman abilities—known as Manifestations—Kael was an anomaly.
No power. No talent. Just a regular seventeen-year-old scraping by in a society that worshipped strength.
"Hey, Renshiro!" A voice called out from behind him, laced with mockery. "Still pretending like you belong here?"
Kael sighed and turned around.
Rex Donovan.
The Academy's golden boy, standing with his usual entourage of sycophants. He had the perfect combination of arrogance and raw power to back it up. His short, spiked blonde hair practically glowed under the artificial lights, and his crimson jacket bore the insignia of Vanguard Academy, the prestigious institution that trained future heroes.
Rex flexed his fingers, tiny embers crackling around them. His pyrokinetic Manifestation was one of the strongest in his class, and he loved showing it off.
Kael remained silent. He had learned long ago that responding to guys like Rex only made things worse.
"Come on, man," Rex continued, stepping closer, his gang laughing behind him. "How does it feel knowing you're the only powerless loser in the whole damn city?"
Kael clenched his teeth. He wanted to fight back. He wanted to say something—anything—but what could he do? Rex could incinerate him with a flick of his wrist.
"Leave him alone, Rex."
A new voice cut through the tension.
Kael turned to see Lena Asakura, his only real friend, stepping forward. Her dark green eyes burned with defiance, her short brown hair whipping in the breeze. She was small but quick-witted, always ready to stand up for him.
Rex scoffed. "Oh look, his girlfriend's here to save him."
Lena smirked. "Better than wasting my time with a discount fireworks show."
Rex's expression darkened, but before things could escalate further, a loud explosion rocked the streets.
BOOM!
A shockwave sent people stumbling as smoke and debris filled the air. Alarms blared, and the holographic billboards flickered before shutting off entirely.
Kael's heart pounded. His first thought was that it was just another hero-versus-villain battle—something that happened often in Nova Astra. But then he saw them.
Figures cloaked in tattered black garments emerged from the smoke. Their eyes glowed like molten silver, and their bodies radiated an eerie energy.
The crowd screamed as the cloaked figures advanced.
Then one of them pointed directly at Kael.
"There he is," the figure rasped. "The Metalborn has awakened."
Kael froze.
Metalborn? What the hell did that mean?
Before he could react, the figure lunged toward him, hands glowing with a dark, swirling energy.
And for the first time in his life—Kael felt something.
A force deep inside him, humming like a dormant storm.
Instinct took over. He raised his hands—
—and the city trembled.