The sound of heart-monitoring machines echoed softly throughout the medical department of the New Dawn Heroes.
Bip... Bip... Bip...
The white ceiling lights illuminated two hospital beds positioned side by side.
On one of them lay Elijah.
His entire arm was wrapped in bandages.
Several wounds covered his chest.
Small cuts marked his face.
On the other bed...
Saddie Stormbreak rested quietly.
Bandages wrapped around her head while scratches covered her arms and cheeks.
For a few seconds...
Silence.
Then Saddie slowly turned her head.
— Hey...
Elijah looked toward her.
— Hm?
She pointed toward his arm.
— How's your arm?
Elijah glanced at his right arm.
He tried moving his fingers.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
A strange expression crossed his face.
— Well...
— I can't feel it.
Saddie's eyes widened instantly.
— HEY?!
Elijah suddenly started laughing.
— Relax, relax! It'll probably be fine.
He looked at her with a small smile.
— You know...
— You're seriously strong.
Saddie blinked.
— Hm?
— After the Draft...
— wanna train together sometime?
Her face immediately brightened.
A genuine smile.
— Absolutely!
But before they could continue—
The door suddenly slammed open.
— SADDIEEEEE!!
Someone rushed inside.
Rose Eldara.
The greatest medical heroine in the world.
Without hesitation, she immediately hugged Saddie tightly.
— My princess! Thank heavens you're alright!
Saddie smiled awkwardly.
— Mom, it was just a fight.
She flexed her arm proudly.
— Look! I'm strong and—
Suddenly—
— AIIIIIIII!!
— OW!! OW!!
Rose stared at her seriously.
— You tore multiple muscles, nearly collapsed, and took a catastrophic explosion directly to the face.
— So stop acting insane.
Saddie laughed nervously.
— Ehe...
Elijah quietly watched the scene.
Mother and daughter arguing.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Such a simple moment...
Yet something so distant from him.
And then...
Memories surfaced.
A man ruffling his hair.
A woman smiling while placing food on the table.
Laughter.
Warmth.
Home.
Elijah's eyes slowly lowered.
Rose noticed immediately.
She turned toward him.
— You're Elijah, correct?
He quickly raised his head.
— Y-Yes, Mrs. Stormbreak.
Rose smiled gently.
— May I examine you?
He nodded.
She placed a hand on his arm.
A soft green energy flowed through his body.
For several seconds...
Her expression changed.
It became serious.
Very serious.
— Elijah...
His eyes widened.
— What happened?
Rose sighed softly.
— You need to be extremely careful.
She looked directly into his eyes.
— The bones in your right arm were completely destroyed.
Silence.
Saddie's eyes widened.
— WHAT?!
Elijah remained still.
No reaction.
Rose continued:
— The good news...
She smiled faintly.
— Is that your body is regenerating.
Elijah released a breath.
— Thank God...
Rose then grabbed something from a small metallic case nearby.
A technological prosthetic arm support.
Silver.
Blue lines glowed across its structure.
— You'll need to wear this for seventy-two hours.
Elijah carefully placed it on.
CLACK
Lights activated instantly.
The prosthetic connected immediately.
His eyes widened.
— WOAH?!
He opened his hand.
Closed it.
Moved his fingers.
— THIS IS AMAZING!
Rose smiled proudly.
— Eldara technology.
Elijah lowered his head respectfully.
— Thank you, ma'am.
Rose nodded softly.
But then she asked:
— Elijah...
— Where are your parents?
...
Silence.
His smile froze.
Saddie noticed immediately.
The entire room suddenly felt heavier.
Elijah lowered his head.
— My parents...
His voice faltered briefly.
— They're dead.
Rose froze.
— They died...
— On the same day your husband died, Mrs. Rose.
Saddie's eyes widened.
Elijah smiled.
But it was empty.
— During the Renegates attacks...
— And Kairon's arrival.
He kept smiling.
— Don't worry.
— They left me a good inheritance.
— I'm fine.
— Really.
But then...
A tear fell.
Then another.
And another.
— I...
His voice trembled.
— I just wanted...
More tears streamed down his face.
— I just wanted them to be here...
— To see me achieving my dream...
Rose said nothing.
She didn't try to give advice.
Didn't search for perfect words.
She simply walked toward him...
And hugged him.
Elijah froze.
And then...
He broke.
He grabbed onto her clothes while crying uncontrollably.
Years of loneliness.
Years pretending to be okay.
Years carrying everything alone.
Saddie watched while crying silently too.
Because at that moment...
She also remembered Inavy.
His smile.
His voice.
His promises.
And Rose closed her eyes...
Remembering the man she loved.
"Our duty is to protect the dreams of the next generation..."
Tears streamed down her face.
And inside that room...
Nobody tried to be a hero.
They simply allowed themselves to be human.
Then
The sounds of machines, drones, and metallic structures echoed throughout the entire HeroCity Arena.
After the monstrous battle between Elijah and Saddie Stormbreak, countless repair teams moved at absurd speeds.
Robotic arms rebuilt shattered walls.
Floating platforms replaced destroyed structures.
Nanotechnology sealed massive cracks across the arena floor.
Within minutes...
It was as if the destruction had never happened.
Then the stadium lights shut off.
A voice echoed throughout the arena.
The narrator.
— Ladies and gentlemen...
— We have finally reached the moment everyone has been waiting for!
Thunderous applause erupted.
— Well... it is time for the medal ceremony!
The crowd exploded.
— YES! You heard that correctly!
— Today we will also reveal the Official Ranking of the Top Ten Heroes of this Draft!
Gigantic screens illuminated the arena.
Images from the battles flashed rapidly.
Explosions.
Impact clashes.
Emotional moments.
The narrator continued:
— Long ago, there were guilds...
— But today...
— We stand as one!
— WE ARE THE NEW DAWN HEROES!!
The entire stadium roared.
— NEW DAWN!!
— NEW DAWN!!
— NEW DAWN!!
— And now...
— Please welcome with a huge round of applause...
— The President of the Hero Association...
— LORIEN VAAAAALTIEEEER!!
The lights focused on the stage.
Lorien Valtier appeared wearing an elegant blue suit with a red tie.
Smiling calmly.
Deafening applause consumed the arena.
Lorien raised one hand.
— Good evening, everyone.
The crowd slowly quieted.
— I know it has been five long years without a Draft...
— But today...
He looked toward the new generation.
And smiled.
— Today we witnessed something incredible.
— A strong generation.
— A generation carrying hope.
Massive applause echoed again.
Then he pointed toward the stage.
— Please...
— Come forward, the ten strongest heroes of this Draft!
The giant screens began displaying names.
One by one, the young heroes stepped onto the stage.
Then Lorien began the main announcement.
— In third place...
Dramatic pause.
— ROBERT CALIENTE!!
For a few seconds—
BOOOOOOOOO!!
Massive boos erupted instantly.
Robert Caliente froze.
— H-Hey?!
Ethan Stormbreak suddenly began clapping.
— Let's go, kid!
Ryu Nox stood up as well.
Then Ryan Valeborn.
Then Dante Valtier.
And little by little...
The boos disappeared.
Replaced entirely by applause.
Robert's eyes widened.
— T-They're...
— They're clapping for me...
Lorien smiled faintly.
— In second place...
— SAAAADDIE STORMBREAK!!
The arena exploded.
Cheers.
Screams.
Thunderous applause.
Saddie laughed awkwardly.
— AHHHH DON'T SCREAM SO MUCH!!
Then—
Absolute silence.
Lorien smiled.
— And in first place...
The lights dimmed.
— The boy who started from the very bottom...
— The underdog who became a monster...
— The winner of this Draft...
— ELIJAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!
The stadium completely erupted.
People screamed.
Jumped.
Whistled.
Elijah stood frozen.
Eyes wide open.
— I-I...
Saddie shoved him lightly.
— Move already, idiot.
Elijah nearly tripped while climbing the stage.
Lorien smiled.
— For the medal ceremony...
— I will call three very special names.
The giant screens displayed:
Ryan Valeborn
Ryu Nox
Ethan Stormbreak
The crowd lost its mind.
— THE BIG THREE OF HEROCITY!!
— RYAN!!
— RYUUUU!!
— ETHAAAN!!
The three walked onto the stage.
Ryu posed dramatically for the cameras.
Ryan waved casually.
And Ethan simply walked with his hands in his pockets.
Ryu approached Robert.
Robert looked like a broken computer.
— R-R-R-RYU NOX?!
Ryu placed his hands on his waist confidently.
— In the flesh.
He leaned closer.
— Heard you're a fan of mine.
Robert immediately started trembling.
— VERY! VERY MUCH!
Ryu pretended to think deeply.
— Hmm...
— After what you said to Saddie, I'd normally never take a picture with you...
Robert died internally.
But then Ryu smiled.
— But I heard you were man enough to apologize.
He placed the medal around Robert's neck.
— As a reward...
Ryu pulled out his phone.
— You get a photo and an autograph.
Silence.
Robert's eyes widened.
— Huh...
— HUH?!
Then he immediately burst into tears.
— UAAAAAHHHHH!!
Ryu's eyes widened in confusion.
— OI?!
— ARE YOU CRYING, KID?!
Ryan and Ethan burst into laughter.
On the other side of the stage...
Ethan walked toward Saddie.
He picked up the silver medal.
Placed it around her neck carefully.
Then hugged his little sister.
And whispered softly:
— Dad would be really proud of you, little sis.
Saddie remained silent for a few seconds.
Then smiled warmly.
— I know, big brother.
On the opposite side...
Ryan approached Elijah.
Holding the golden medal.
Elijah stared at him like he still couldn't believe any of this was real.
Ryan smiled.
And placed the medal around his neck.
— You surprised me, kid.
Elijah's eyes widened.
Ryan continued:
— You fought like a true hero.
...
Elijah froze completely.
His eyes trembled.
Tears streamed down his face.
— I-I...
Ryan simply smiled...
And hugged him.
The crowd applauded loudly.
Lorien watched the scene quietly.
Then raised the microphone once more.
— Here...
He pointed toward the new generation.
— We have the present.
Then pointed toward Ryan, Ethan, and Ryu.
— And we have the future.
— A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF THEM!!
The entire arena exploded into celebration.
Far away from HeroCity...
Sitting upon his throne.
Holding the Spear of Destiny.
Kai Hayashi watched everything silently.
Then smiled coldly.
— Heroes...
He slowly closed his eyes.
— Are disposable.
— When they break...
— They get replaced.
— And they call that a new generation...
His eyes glowed crimson red.
— Pathetic.
Later that night...
Inside the New Dawn Heroes headquarters...
Music.
Food.
Laughter.
The new generation introduced themselves to one another.
Ryu took endless photos.
Zen Kagetsune screamed somewhere in the distance.
Robert was still crying because of the autograph.
But Lorien...
Stood away from everyone else.
Holding a drink.
Looking toward the sky.
A small smile resting on his face.
Because that scene...
Reminded him exactly of the night after his own Draft.
Kai.
Diana.
Ray.
All together.
All smiling.
...
Lorien slowly closed his eyes.
— Heh...
— Idiot...