[ A Flash into the future ]
The strongest hero in the world, SSS-Rank Crimson Gold, charged at Markus with his legendary attack: The Exterminator. It was a move that had ended countless lives, a strike that left cities in ruins when unleashed. The air around him shattered with golden light, with terrifying force.
Markus stood perfectly still and smirked. The attack struck him, and… nothing. Crimson's eyes widened in disbelief. Every hero had warned of God-Destroyer Markus, said he was dangerous—but this? This was impossible.
Before anyone could react, Markus moved. One swift motion, precise, silent, and merciless. Crimson's life ended instantly, leaving only silence behind. The other heroes—Magnus, Starborn, Commander P. and Doctor Corpse—stared, frozen in shock. The air felt heavy. Fear spread among them.
They tried to run, but the mansion around them was no ordinary building. It was alive with shadows, walls twisting, corridors stretching into infinity. The darkness was not just black—it was a deep, pressing against their senses. Every sound was amplified: their own breaths, their footsteps, the faintest whisper of movement. Markus' presence filled the rooms, folding space around him. Escape was impossible.
Markus raised his hand to strike the next hero, and suddenly…
A few months ago…
Markus had been just a normal boy. Not a hero, not a villain—just Markus. That day should have been special: his eighteenth birthday. It has been weeks since he slept, chugged ten cans of Blaze energy drink. It was meant to keep him awake.
His parents had saved every penny to take him to the grand opening of Lifespawn's new restaurant. Lifespawn was a S-Rank hero, known for healing powers infused in food. Only VIPs could eat there. It was very expensive for normal middle class individuals to book a table there, but Markus' parents found a way. The meals was able to heal wounds or boost health instantly. Markus had dreamed of meeting a hero in person for years, but sitting in a fancy restaurant; was not his style.
The room was full of important people: rich families, government officials, even the famous K-pop idol Bunny from Pink Peaches. The smell of food filled the air. Markus' parents smiled, proud to finally bring him here. They ordered food once the waiter came to their table. Markus ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. They didn't order fancy food often. In his mind, the spaghetti looked like guts, the meatballs like organs, and the tomato sauce like blood.
Then the food arrived. Markus stared at the spaghetti and meatballs on his plate. His stomach twisted uncomfortably.
"When are you getting a real job?" said his father eager to hear Markus' answer.
He tried to focus on his parents' conversation, but the feeling of unease only grew.
"I need to use the restroom."
Markus' rushed to the restroom. His father muttered something swiftly behind his back about Markus drinking too much energy drink, but Markus ignored it. Inside the bathroom, he let all ten cans of energy drink spew out his mouth, then sat down on the cold floor and cried. His life felt like chaos—dropped out of high school, unemployed, spent days playing video games, never seeing the light of day (literally).
He whispered to himself, "In the end… I will always be a failure."
He washed his face and flushed the toilet. Then he heard it—screams. At first, he thought he was imagining it. But the sound grew louder, closer, more real. Heart hammering, he ran out of the restroom.
The scene that greeted him was a nightmare. Bodies lay across the dining area. Blood coated the floors and tables. People who had been laughing minutes ago were dead. Markus ran to the table where his parents had sat. He found his parents, but they were not alive. Empty bodies. Gone. Fifty-eight others dead on that day. Panic and grief tore through him. He tried to wake his parents, but it was useless.
The police had interrogated Lifespawn of what had happened and another witness account.
"It was an accident, nothing but an accident." Lifespawn said taking no responsibility.
On the news that afternoon,
"A tragic disaster had struck at a new restaurant opened by the Famous Lifespawn-S Rank Hero. Unfortunately the unsuspecting guests did not know a villain would be there to attack them..."
Markus looking at the TV, watching the news while the stale tears is still running down his face.
"Unfucking believable."
"When I ran out the restroom there were no villains to be seen, not even Lifespawn was there to help."
"When the police got there, witnesses were chased away; silenced."
"When i tried to say something, they threatened me."
What does Lifespawn have to say about this?
He increased the volume of the TV, just loud enough to get some clarity.
Lifespawn spoke to the cameras with a forced calm, "We are deeply saddened by the incident, and we are fully cooperating with authorities to ensure justice. I will find the ones responsible for this."
Markus had lost everything in a single day. He found the baseball bat his dad had gifted him for his tenth birthday and he swung it for the first time ever, with all his built up anger; he struck it against the TV with so much force he dislocated his arm while doing so. Tears roll like rivers down his face. He felt regret. No, it was a burning feeling of revenge.
Markus swore, "If no-one else will do it, I'll ensure justice and I will find the ones responsible for this."