Chapter 6: Who is Phyron, and who is X?
The Association of Heroes was meeting in City B, it was by no means all the heroes in the association but there were at least 230 heroes there and they were listening to a group of Heroes discussing the threat of the League of Villains and their worrying rise and larger number of violent events attributed to them. The atmosphere in the Grand Hall of the Association of Heroes' City B headquarters crackled with unease. The vaulted ceiling, usually illuminated by golden light filtering through stained-glass windows depicting legendary heroes, now felt oppressive under the cold glow of holographic screens. Each displayed grim data: maps of recent attacks, casualty reports, and shadowy footage of the League of Villains' latest atrocities. Among the 230 heroes present, whispers rippled like wildfire. Some shifted in their seats, armor clinking; others stared stone-faced, fists clenched. At the center of the raised platform stood Vanguard, the Association's silver-haired strategist and de facto leader of the meeting. His voice, amplified by the hall's acoustics, cut through the murmurs. "The League isn't just growing—they're evolving. Six months ago, their operations were scattered. Now?" He gestured to a hologram zooming in on a smoldering ruin—the remains of St. Aurora's Hospital. "Coordinated strikes. High-profile targets. Civilian casualties up by 300%." A collective flinch passed through the crowd.
Ironheart, a veteran hero clad in crimson power-armor, slammed a fist on the table. "We've been reactive for too long. It's time to hunt them down. All of them." A chorus of shouts rose in agreement, but Spectra, a telepath whose irises glowed faintly violet, raised a hand. "And risk becoming what we fight? The League wants us to lash out blindly. Look at this." She tapped a screen, pulling up a video of a masked villain taunting, "Burn the heroes in their own fury." The room fell silent. Then, from the back, a new voice rang out—Kestrel, a young hero known for her razor-sharp wings and sharper tongue. "They're not just taunting us. They're recruiting." She tossed a file onto the central projector. Footage played of a rally in the dystopian Free Zone: hundreds of disillusioned citizens cheering as League enforcers distributed food, medicine, and promises of "a new order." A hero in the crowd gasped. "Since when do villains play saviors?"
As this was going on a strange figure entered the room, he had pointy red hair, and had strange eyes but other than this he appeared human. Kestrel said: "Who are you, I've never seen you here before in the association." The man began to chuckle. "Oh I'm no hero, I'm a man who dreams to become a demon. You see you all here are as good as dead. You're all dead men walking."
A hush fell over the Grand Hall as the stranger's voice echoed through the vast space. Vanguard's sharp gaze locked onto him. "Security, remove this intruder." But no one moved. The heroes stationed at the entrances—elite guards tasked with ensuring the Association's safety—stood frozen, their expressions twisted in silent agony. One by one, they collapsed, blood trickling from their mouths, their bodies twitching before falling still. Gasps and shouts rippled through the room as the heroes leapt to their feet, battle instincts kicking in. Ironheart's voice boomed through his helmet speakers. "Who the hell are you?" The red-haired man smirked, tilting his head. "Ah, it's always amusing how the strong demand names before they die. But fine." He raised a hand, fingers twitching as if conducting an unseen orchestra. "Call me Phyron." Without warning, Ironheart surged forward, thrusters roaring as he launched a punch straight at Phyron's face. A hit from his armor could shatter steel, yet the moment his gauntlet met Phyron's palm, the entire hall shook. A sickening crack echoed as Ironheart's arm twisted unnaturally backward, metal and bone alike snapping under an unseen force. He screamed as he was hurled through the air, smashing through three marble pillars before crumpling to the floor, unmoving. Chaos erupted.
Kestrel shot into the air, wings flaring as she launched a volley of razor-sharp feathers. Each one could pierce concrete—but before they could reach Phyron, they halted midair, trembling as if caught in invisible threads. Phyron flicked his wrist, and the feathers turned back, streaking toward Kestrel at twice their original speed. She barely managed to twist out of the way, but a single feather slashed across her thigh. Blood spurted, and she crashed down, clutching her leg in pain.
Vanguard barked orders. "Spread out! Overwhelm him with—" A wave of sheer force erupted from Phyron's body, a pressure so suffocating that the air itself seemed to warp. The nearest heroes were sent flying, their bodies breaking against walls like ragdolls. Some screamed as unseen claws ripped through them, gashes appearing in their flesh before they even understood what was happening. Spectra, gritting her teeth, reached into his mind—only to recoil in horror as she found herself staring into an abyss of writhing shadows and unnatural whispers that clawed at her consciousness. She let out a choked gasp before collapsing, blood trickling from her nose.
One by one, the mighty heroes of the Association fell. Some tried their powers, unleashing torrents of fire, ice, lightning—but Phyron danced between them, his body moving with eerie unpredictability, like a specter untethered by physics. With each motion, he struck down another hero. A flick of his fingers sent a shockwave that reduced armor to dust. A casual step forward cracked the floor, sending shockwaves through the building. Vanguard, his face contorted in fury, charged with a glowing blade of energy. Phyron merely sighed and whispered, "Kneel." Vanguard's body locked up, muscles betraying him as he crashed onto his knees. His eyes widened in shock as Phyron placed a single hand on his forehead. A pulse of dark energy surged, and Vanguard's scream filled the hall before he collapsed, unconscious.
A stunned silence stretched through the ruined Grand Hall, the flickering embers of Phyron's inferno casting long, eerie shadows across the corpses of fallen heroes. The air stank of burnt flesh, the scent thick and suffocating. Somewhere in the distance, emergency sirens wailed, but none of the remaining heroes dared to move. The battle had lasted mere minutes, yet the devastation was absolute. Phyron exhaled, shaking the residual embers from his fingertips as though brushing off dust. His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement as he turned toward the massive display screens positioned around the hall, each one broadcasting the feed to every news channel in the city. The world had just witnessed the fall of its mightiest defenders. He smirked, knowing full well the impact of his words.
"Did you catch all that?" he asked, tilting his head toward the cameras. "Good. Because this is just the beginning." He leaned forward, as if addressing the people behind the screens personally. "To every so-called 'hero' watching this—consider this your warning. Your time is up. The world doesn't need you anymore. It needs a true ruler, someone who understands power, someone who isn't afraid to wield it. That someone… is me." He straightened, rolling his shoulders as if he had just finished a mild workout rather than a massacre. "The League of Villains accepts me as their new leader—an honor I humbly take upon myself. As for the Hero Association, you have two choices: bow or burn. Either way, I'll reshape this world in my image." The transmission cut, leaving the world in stunned, horrified silence. In the shadows of the devastated hall, a faint groan broke the eerie stillness.
Meanwhile in Lupus' ship in the Depths of Space:
Deep in space Prince Lupus was in his hibernation chamber awaiting his arrival on Planet Helios over 11 months from then. Lupus the Lupine (Wolf) alien, was sitting in his room quietly taking a nap after leaving the Hyphenation chamber following a grueling day of training. Bairam began speaking over the intercom, "Sire, we have a warning signal by one of the galactic empires, they're saying to turn back as we're in enemy space." Lupus responded with a laugh, "I'll be right up." Prince Lupus stretched his muscular frame and cracked his knuckles as he stood up from his seat. His white fur shimmered under the dim artificial lighting of his quarters. He flicked his ears and let out a low chuckle. "Enemy space?" he muttered to himself. "Well, that just makes things interesting."
He grabbed his ceremonial battle cloak from the nearby chair, draping it over his shoulders as he exited his quarters. His clawed feet padded silently against the smooth metal floors of the starship, his tail swaying slightly behind him. As he made his way to the command bridge, crew members saluted him, their faces tense with anticipation. The doors to the bridge slid open with a hiss, revealing Bairam, his second-in-command, standing at the central console. The Izadoran officer turned swiftly, his fur gleaming in the glow of the monitors. "Sire," Bairam said, his voice edged with concern, "the warning came from Orion: the so-called Void Slayer. They're demanding we turn back immediately or face consequences." Lupus laughed, "Well if it isn't Orion, my I believe my father has a treaty with you." Orion, who was dressed in all black armor with a powerful sword and a red visor said, "that's correct, you know the Lupine Empire is forbidden from making excursions into the Orion Empire for no less than 250,000 years needless to say you're currently violating the treaty."
Lupus laughed, "What does it matter, this entire Universe will one day bow before me. Why don't we just cut to the chase. I'm going to take your empire and enslave all your subjects. It had to happen sooner or later." Orion didn't react at all. "Meet me at the nearest moon, If I'm correct you can survive the vacuum of space as I can fly over to the nearest moon and we'll settle this there. I'll make sure you don't come back alive. Here's the coordinates." The coordinates 912389-B82389Q-94 appeared on the screen. Lupus said with a scoff, "Well I guess I'm off to fight this monster, wish me luck." Bairam tried to stop him, "Sir, it may not be, he may just be confident like yourself, but this could also be a trap." Lupus laughed, "Let him try, trap or not I'm far too powerful to bow to that fool anymore, you see as a superior being its my destiny to rule over trash like that. Don't worry I'll be back." Lupus opened a hatch in an enclosed area, and he began to fly off to the planet. Bairam was wrong, Orion was not planning on trapping Lupus, this wasn't a trap at all, Orion was merely confident he could handle Lupus. But he was wrong, Lupus was his inferior a month ago but things had changed and he would find that out soon enough.
Lupus soared through the void of space, the distant glow of a dying star casting an eerie crimson hue upon his shimmering white fur. The vast emptiness surrounded him, yet he felt an intoxicating exhilaration, the thrill of an impending battle coursing through his veins. He reached the moon's surface within minutes, landing gracefully upon the dusty terrain. A cold wind swept across the barren landscape, stirring up plumes of fine gray dust. His sharp golden eyes scanned the horizon as he folded his arms, waiting for his opponent. A sharp hum cut through the silence, and moments later, a shadow descended from above. Orion's armored form touched down a few meters away, his crimson visor glowing ominously. The dark plates of his battle suit gleamed under the weak light, his presence as imposing as ever. He was tall, nearly as tall as Lupus, and every inch of his frame radiated an unshakable confidence.
"You came alone," Orion observed, his voice flat, unreadable. "Foolish." Lupus grinned, his fangs glinting. "I could say the same about you." Lupus folden his arms: "Though I must say, it's been some time the last time we fought each other this universe shook with energy, that was about 250,000 years ago, around the formation of your and my father's treaty. But no matter what, treaties are meant to be torn up." Orion drew his sword, its obsidian blade crackling with energy. "This battle won't be like the last time we crossed paths. You should have heeded the warning." Lupus extended his claws, his muscles tensing with anticipation. "Warnings are for the weak, Orion. And I have no intention of being weak." Without another word, Orion lunged, moving faster than the eye could track. His blade cut through the air, a streak of darkness aimed directly at Lupus's throat. But the Lupine Prince was faster. He sidestepped effortlessly, bringing up his arm to deflect the strike with his hardened claws. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the moon's surface, cracking the ground beneath them.
Lupus countered with a devastating swipe, his claws aiming for Orion's chest. Orion twisted mid-air, dodging by mere inches before slamming his fist into Lupus's side. The impact sent Lupus skidding back several meters, his feet digging into the lunar dust. He grinned as he rolled his shoulders. "Not bad," he admitted. "But you'll have to do better." Orion didn't respond. He simply raised his sword again, and this time, his entire body was engulfed in a shimmering red aura. The power radiating from him caused the ground to tremble. Lupus felt the air around him grow heavier, charged with an oppressive energy that would have crushed a lesser being. But he wasn't just anyone—he was Prince Lupus, the strongest warrior of his people. And he was about to prove it. With a mighty roar, he unleashed his own power. A brilliant white energy burst forth from his body, shattering the oppressive force surrounding him. The two warriors stared each other down, their auras clashing violently, distorting the very fabric of space around them. Then, in an instant, they charged. The battle that followed was beyond mortal comprehension. Every strike sent shockwaves rippling through the void, every clash of their powers igniting the sky with blinding bursts of energy. The moon quaked beneath them as they exchanged blow after devastating blow, neither willing to give an inch. But Lupus had changed. He was glowing with colorful multicolor energy, a new form he unlocked called Rainbow Lupus, which he was still perfecting.
Orion, for all his confidence, had not expected the sheer force of Lupus's newfound strength. With each exchange, it became clear—Lupus wasn't just keeping up. He was winning. Eventually Lupus kicked Orion into the distance, Orion got up on one knee defeated and humbled. "What… what the hell happened to you… how did you get this strong, you're my inferior." Lupus laughed: "Your inferior, don't make me laugh. I'm a cut above all other mortals, I've played around with you long enough, it's time you went away." Lupus opened his mouth and shot a laser from his mouth destroying, the ray was incredibly seemingly obliterating Orion. Lupus laughed, "I guess my training is really paying off. Before long I'll be able to arrive on Helios and grind that imp (Talus) into dust. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Lupus began to fly back to the ship and continue his training, but Orion crawled out of the dust and talked into the armor on his wrist. "X it's Orion. I'm okay, but there's no way I'm strong enough to beat him, I couldn't kill Lupus and revert destiny. He plays a small part in the awakening of this monster, if he's allowed to reform his heart and travel down the right path it will lead to the Prophet growing stronger, what shall we do?"
A man in a strange room with translucent walls responded through his wrist device: "Understood, I'll speak to Zed. X was a mysterious man with his face covered by a metallic mask exposing two yellow eyes. They were part of a strange organization called The Council of Archon who were technically a largely-loyal but heretical council under the technical supervision of King Apollo, the God and Lord of the Universe. X bowed in his cloak to a council made up of over 100 people led by a strange man named Zed who had a mask like X, Zed however had a mask that resembled a rubber purple hood. X explained the situation to Zed. Zed pulled up a hologram on the screen, showing events from the future, It was Prince Lupus, he had married some human woman named Ashley Benares and they had a child named Kazan, who looked like a human being with pink hair, wolf ears and a wolf tail, half wolf and half human. Lupus was over 300,000 years old. This girl who would bear this child a year and a half from now was only 21 or 22. This bond as Ashley was now one of Hermes' friends would slowly destroy the evil in Lupus's heart and bring him towards the side of light. Normally the Council would think this was a good thing but it was many of the dominoes in this case that would lead to the awakening of an ancient demon within the heart of the so-called Prophet, Hermes.
Zed stared at the holographic projection, his fingers steepled in thought. The room was silent, save for the hum of energy coursing through the Council's chambers. His yellow eyes flickered with an eerie glow as he turned back to X. "If we eliminate Lupus now, the timeline fractures," Zed murmured. "There are too many unknowns. But if we allow his heart to reform, Hermes will ascend beyond our reach." X nodded. "The Council must decide. Do we risk allowing Hermes to awaken the ancient demon, or do we cut down the chain before it begins?" The hundred council members began whispering among themselves, their voices merging into an indistinct hum. Some murmured approval for immediate action—Lupus should be erased before destiny could alter its course. Others argued that attempting to kill Lupus now could have unintended consequences, ones that could fracture reality itself.
Zed raised his hand, and silence fell over the chamber. He studied the flickering images of Lupus, Ashley, and their unborn child—Kazan. His voice, when it came, was calm yet authoritative. "We need more information," Zed declared. "X, return to Helios. Observe the Prophet, Hermes. His trajectory must be understood before we make our next move." X hesitated for only a moment before bowing. "As you command." As X turned to leave, Zed's voice stopped him. "And X… should it become necessary to eliminate Lupus, do it quietly. A war with the Titan clans would be… inconvenient."
X nodded before vanishing into the shadows of the chamber.