DA walked in silence behind a tall man, the man's back blocking out the path ahead. In his teenage years, yet his gaze carried the weight of someone who had lived through centuries of pain. They moved deeper into the forest until, through the shifting fog, a mansion emerged—grand, sudden, almost unreal.
"Attention, everyone." The man's voice carried authority.
Children gathered at once, forming a circle. He gestured toward DA.
"This young man is now part of our family. Treat him well."
Dozens of eyes turned to DA. He stood still, handsome in a way, but his eyes betrayed him. Darkness lingered there—darkness carved from betrayal, torture, and injustice. In only fourteen years, he had seen enough to kill the heart of any man. His soul felt like ash scattered in the wind.
So he remained silent.
His body was still wounded when his teacher had brought him here, and not long after, fatigue dragged him into unconsciousness.
A week slipped by. Training began. Harsh, merciless, unrelenting. DA's body gave in almost every day, collapsing on the hard ground, breathless and broken.
One afternoon, as his vision blurred and he staggered, a gentle voice reached him.
"Excuse me? DA?"
He turned sluggishly. A girl stood there, her smile light as the breeze.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Eleanor."
She held out bread and a bottle of water.
"Try your best," she said warmly before stepping away.
DA stared at the food in his hands.
Why is she being nice to me? What is she after?
For the first time in days, he felt something stir in his hollow chest, though he quickly buried it beneath suspicion.
The next day, pain returned in a different form. A group of boys surrounded him, fists and kicks raining down.
"You're ganging up on a newcomer?" A sharp voice cut through the chaos.
The bullies froze. Black Heart stood there, his presence suffocating. Behind him, his gang waited like wolves. The bullies scattered instantly.
"You," Black Heart said coldly to DA. "Get stronger. I won't always be around to save you."
DA's eyes narrowed.
Save me? I don't need you. DA thought
Before Black Heart could take another step, DA threw himself at him.
In a single fluid motion, Black Heart spun and slammed him to the ground with a brutal kick. Blood splattered from DA's lips. Still, DA staggered up and charged again.
I survived on my own.
Another strike sent him sprawling.
I went through hell alone.
He forced himself up again, even as his body shook.
I don't need anyone.
Each time Black Heart's fist or kick knocked him down, DA's thoughts burned with the same refrain, his pride refusing to break.
Black Heart's gang shifted uneasily, but with a single raised hand, he kept them back. He wasn't done.
Finally, Black Heart's expression hardened. He drove a punch into DA's chest with enough force to silence him. DA collapsed, unconscious.
"You've got a long way to go," Black Heart muttered before walking off.
Present – Scrubskey Gelenia-2
Swords clashed like thunder. Black Heart and Eleanor rushed DA at once, steel ringing as the swords collided, sparks bursting in the air. DA jumped back in the last second. Both leapt back, only to rush forward again, their movements fast and sharp as lightning.
"What the hell is going on?" Ron muttered, frantically searching for a weapon—powers didn't work here. Ron could keep up with their movements. It was after than anyone he had seen or heard. As Ron was thinking what to do,
A glowing message flickered in front of him
[Mr. Gonzalez is watching with popcorn in his hands.]
"…What the actual hell, Gonzalez?!" Ron spoke. "We're about to die and you're sitting there eating popcorn?!"
[Ron, don't interfere. Do you know how long I've waited for this fight?]
The clash of swords roared behind him, but Ron sighed, ignoring it for a moment.
"Fourth Wall, I order you to block Gonzalez's messages."
[Sorry man, just kidding. Why so angry? Friends joke, right?]
"Good boy," Ron muttered. Then, aloud: "So, Gonzalez, how do we use our powers?"
A voice came from above.
"A little help would be nice."
Ron froze. "Wait, what? Gonzalez… you need help?" He squinted upward.
DA sat on a tree branch, alive and glaring.
"Damn you. From what angle do I look like Gonzalez to you?"
Ron blinked. "You're alive? But I saw them both—"
"That's not the point. How do we activate our powers?" DA snapped.
Ron smirked. "You're the smart one, huh?"
"You're the one with Gonzalez's number. Ask him."
Before Ron could reply, energy flooded his veins. Strength surged.
[Mr. Gonzalez has changed the rules of "Scrubskey Gelenia-2." DA and Ron are now allowed to use their powers]
"Gonzalez, my man, you're the GOAT," Ron grinned.
DA unsheathed his sword. Ron gripped the Blade of Vengeance.
The battlefield shook. Black Heart hurled Eleanor back, but DA intercepted with a strike so powerful the mountains trembled. Rock shattered like glass.
Eleanor lunged next, her strike laced with a blend of techniques and raw power. It smashed into Black Heart, sending him flying into the air—only for DA to catch him with another blow. Then Eleanor. Then DA.
Ron whistled. "Amazing teamwork. You two are basically playing tennis with him."
But Black Heart stopped himself midair, his aura crackling. He raised a hand, and the sky itself split. Whole mountains crumbled as the force roared toward DA.
Then, faster than sight, Black Heart appeared behind Eleanor. His sword flashed—
Blood spilled. Eleanor collapsed, a deep gash carved across her back.
DA's eyes widened. Ron clenched his fist.
"…Maybe I should help."
But before he could move, a figure stepped out of the shadows, blocking his path.
Ron's eyes narrowed. "Don't tell me…"
The man lunged.
Another message blinked:
[You can only use your powers temporarily.]
"What?! Gonzalez, are you kidding me?!" Ron cursed, ducking under a fist and countering with a sharp kick that launched the man across the field. The man landed on his feat and pulled his sword in a fighting stance. Ron did the same.
Hero Town
The planet itself seemed to quake as two swords clashed—Carter and Liam.
Carter's blade, born of Dark Faith, collided with Liam's Black Sorcery. Sparks erupted, each strike like a thunderclap. Carter recognized that power, but said nothing.
His experience gave him the edge. When their swords locked, Carter's fist shot forward, slamming into Liam's chest. Liam flew across several buildings, coughing blood, but he rose again, eyes blazing.
"Why are you trying to kill innocent people?" Carter demanded.
"You know better than anyone!" Liam roared, staggering to his feet.
Carter's blade dissolved. He extended his hand.
"I'm sorry for what happened to Lia. But together, we can make sure no one else suffers like we did."
Liam froze. Slowly, he gripped Carter's hand—then conjured a dagger and drove it forward. But Carter's Ki Barrier held.
Before Liam could try again, a hand clamped around his neck, lifting him like a child.
"Long time no see, Carter."
Carter's eyes widened. "Dr. Thomas…?! Why are you here?"
Dr. Thomas released his aura. The weight of it was suffocating. Even Locki and Bruce, far away, felt the tremor.