Ryan's room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of his phone screen. He was typing rapidly, sending yet another message to Annie, but the "unread" notification remained frozen.He sighed.
— Damn it… Annie…
The young hero lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling for a few seconds before pressing the phone against his chest.
— Maybe she's just tired… — he muttered, trying to convince himself.
But the unease wouldn't let him rest. Three days without a reply was far too long, especially for someone as caring as Annie.
On the other side of the city, in a shadowy hideout, chains rattled and the metallic stench of blood filled the air. Annie was bound, her body bruised and battered. Beside her, Ron Stormbreak lay injured, struggling to breathe.
In the gloom, footsteps echoed until a tall figure emerged. Hant.He smirked with disdain and pulled up a chair, sitting before the two captives.
— What do you want with me, you bastard? — Annie spat, glaring at him with hatred.
Hant tilted his head, clearly pleased with her defiance.
— I want your boyfriend's head. He almost destroyed my dream, but he made the mistake of sparing me when he had the chance. — His voice was calm, but laced with venom. — Ryan will die for that weakness. And you… will die with him.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes glinting with malice.
— According to Kai, I will become the ruler of this planet. I'll bring an end to the age of heroes. That's why I captured Ron Stormbreak. Unlike Inavy, he carries the direct bloodline of Ray Stormbreak.
Hant stood and yanked Ron up by the hair, forcing his bloodied face toward Annie.
— I'll kill him slowly, just to prove to the world that not even the Stormbreaks can save humanity.
Annie clenched her fists, her voice steady as she replied:
— No matter what you do, you'll always be a failure. A man who couldn't become a hero and chose the easy way.
Hant's smile vanished. His eyes flared with fury.
— What did you say, bitch?
— That's right. You're a failure.
The slap cracked across the room, followed by brutal kicks. Annie collapsed, coughing blood, yet she didn't look away.
— How dare you, you filth! — Hant roared.
Annie tried to gather her aura, but the chains and cuffs drained all her energy. She gasped, helpless.
— You'll pay for this… you fool.
Hant opened a portal, his body consumed by shadows.
— I'll be back soon. Next time, it will be your end.
As he disappeared, Annie turned to Ron, who was barely conscious, his breaths shallow.
— Ron-sensei! — she cried.
Slowly, he raised his head, his swollen face marred by wounds.
— Don't worry… because when I get out of here… that bastard will pay…
The words came weakly, but with unshakable conviction.
Three days had passed. Ryan came down the stairs of the Valeborn mansion with a backpack slung over his shoulder. His eyes were shadowed, heavy with worry.
In the kitchen, Emily was preparing breakfast.
— Good morning, my son — she said with a smile.
Ryan returned it faintly, and Emily instantly sensed something was wrong.
— Hey, what is it? Tell your mom.
He sighed deeply.
— Annie hasn't replied to my messages in three days. She lives alone now, since her mother's traveling. This isn't normal…
Emily stopped stirring the pan, staring at him seriously.
— Three days? Maybe she's just busy, son.
— No, mom. She always lets me know when she's busy. Always. And now… nothing.
Emily placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling the tension coursing through him.
— Then talk to her friends. Or to the guild members. Maybe someone knows.
Ryan nodded, but the knot in his chest didn't ease. Just then, a voice called from the doorway:
— Ooooh, Ryan! We're late, man!
It was Ryu, as lively as ever. Ryan kissed his mother's forehead before leaving.
— I'll be at Phoenix HQ for a few days. Call me if you need anything.
— Wait, son. — Emily handed him a lunchbox. — Take this to Darius-kun.
Ryan almost choked.
— To who?!
— To Darius. Go on, silly! — Emily winked playfully.
— Fine, fine, fine… — he muttered, grabbing the package. Before leaving, he turned back. — Oh, almost forgot… Go pick Mason up from prison. He's being released today.
Emily widened her eyes, then smiled softly.
— Of course, son. Go and do your best.
Outside, Ryan met Ryu, Ethan, and… Zen, leaning against a sleek black sports car.
— Zen, is this your car? — Ryan asked.
— But of course, kid! Finally paid off my debts, had a little left over — Zen said proudly.
Ryu's eyes sparkled.
— This car's awesome! Can I play some music?
— At your service, my favorite DJ! — Zen laughed.
Soon, loud, vibrant music filled the air. For a moment, Ryan forgot his worries and smiled.
— Hey, Ethan. How are you holding up?
Ethan adjusted the Chaos Blade strapped to his back, grinning with confidence.
— Better than ever, man. Let's give it our all today.
Ryan clenched his fist, determined.
— Always, bro. Always.
Meanwhile, at the Guild of a Thousand Lights, Kelvin Nox scanned the room. Abby, Kane, and Dante were present, but one was missing.
— Where's Annie? — asked the leader, his tone sharp.
Abby hesitated.
— S-she hasn't answered in three days, sensei…
— Three days? — Kelvin frowned, connecting the dots. Three days ago… was when Hant released the video of Ron being tortured.
— Annie's Ryan Valeborn's girlfriend, right? — he asked bluntly.
Abby blushed, but before she could respond, Kane stepped in:
— She is, sensei.
Kelvin stroked his chin, thoughtful. Dante, watching closely, recognized that serious look.
— Something's wrong — Dante muttered. — That's the face he makes when things are about to get worse.
At Phoenix HQ, Ryan, Ethan, Ryu, and Zen were greeted with thunderous applause.
— These are the heroes who defeated the Renegates! — shouted some members.
Ryu waved with charm, earning screams from the girls. Ethan smiled faintly. Ryan, shy as ever, simply raised his hand.
The walls were lined with tributes to Inavy Stormbreak. Photos of him young, alongside Rose, Darius, and Diana. The mood grew heavy for a moment.
— A minute of silence for the legend who left us — said Darius, his voice thick with respect.
Everyone fell silent, honoring the supreme hero's memory.
Then, as always, Darius broke the silence with fiery energy:
— NOW… BEGINS THE TOUGHEST TRAINING SESSION OF YOUR LIVES!
The guild erupted in cheers.
Ryan, Ryu, Ethan, and Zen shone like veterans, their skills captivating everyone.
— Look at them, they're on another level! — whispered the members.
Ryan's Reversum was mesmerizing, Ryu's shadows sharper than ever, and Ethan's flawless chaos — wielding Inavy's blade — left even Zen in awe.
Darius grinned, fired up.
— Hey, you three! Train with me!
He cracked his knuckles and assumed a fighting stance. The entire guild roared in excitement, eager for the clash.
Ryan, Ryu, and Ethan exchanged glances and smiled.
The spar with Darius was about to begin.
✨ End of Chapter 97