The world had changed.
News of the final battle had spread everywhere. Lord would return. It was no longer a rumor or a fear.
It was a certainty.
Because of this, the greatest hero organization in the world, WHU — World Heroes Union, had begun the largest preparation in its history.
The WHU headquarters had turned into something like a small city.
Flying transport ships were constantly arriving in the sky above the base. Heroes from every continent and every nation were coming.
Some of them were famous legends.
Others were unknown warriors whose names had never been heard before.
But they all shared the same goal.
To end Lord.
The enormous training field of the headquarters was filled with hundreds of heroes preparing for war.
Metal clashed.
Energy exploded.
Shockwaves shook the air.
Everywhere, heroes were pushing their powers to the limit.
On one side of the field stood a massive man whose body looked like solid stone.
His name was Titan Magnus.
He raised his fist and slammed it into the ground.
BOOOOM!
The ground trembled like an earthquake.
Cracks spread across the training field.
His ability was known as Seismic Strength — every strike he made released destructive shockwaves from deep within the earth.
Not far away, another battle was happening.
A silver-haired girl moved through the air at unbelievable speed.
Her name was Aria Volt.
Her power was called Thunder Step.
Every step she took created flashes of lightning beneath her feet, turning her movements into blinding bursts of speed.
Several heroes were trying to catch her during a combat drill.
But she was untouchable.
ZAP!
Electricity flashed across the air as she disappeared and reappeared like a living lightning bolt.
Meanwhile, on another side of the training field stood a young man wearing a dark cloak.
His name was Raven Locke.
Shadows twisted around his feet like living creatures.
His ability was Shadow Binding.
He slowly raised his hand.
The shadows beneath him suddenly stretched across the ground like black snakes.
Several training robots charged toward him.
Raven moved two fingers slightly.
The shadows erupted upward.
CRASH!
The robots were violently slammed into the ground as the shadows wrapped around them like chains.
Metal parts scattered everywhere.
Nearby, another group of heroes trained together in coordinated combat.
At the center of them stood Lance.
His long spear spun through the air like a silver storm.
Several combat drones attacked him from every direction.
But Lance's movements were incredibly precise.
One strike.
Two strikes.
Three strikes.
CLANG! CLANG! CRASH!
Within seconds every drone was destroyed.
On the opposite side of the field, another intense battle was happening.
Wang stood surrounded by five elite heroes during a sparring exercise.
His clothes were still partly wrapped in bandages from the previous battle, but his eyes were calm.
One hero attacked from behind.
Another launched a frontal strike.
Wang moved with perfect timing.
He blocked the first attack, twisted his body, and countered with a powerful strike.
BOOM!
The attacker was pushed back several meters.
Another hero tried to trap him.
Wang jumped, spinning through the air and landing a powerful kick.
His fighting style was simple…
but extremely dangerous.
The entire WHU headquarters was alive with preparation.
Because everyone understood something.
This would not be just another battle.
This would be…
the battle that decides the fate of the world.
High above the training fields stood the tallest building in the headquarters.
Inside one of its quiet rooms sat a single person.
Asher.
He sat near a large window overlooking the training grounds.
From there he could see hundreds of heroes preparing below.
But inside the room…
it was completely silent.
Asher rested his elbows on his knees.
His hands were clasped together as he stared out the window.
All of them are relying on me...
This battle would be fought under his command.
Every hero here would follow his orders.
It was a heavy responsibility.
Heavier than anything he had carried before.
The door behind him slowly opened.
Soft footsteps entered the room.
Slow.
Quiet.
Asher didn't turn around.
He already knew who it was.
Julia.
She walked toward him calmly.
When she reached him, she stopped for a moment.
Then she gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
"You're thinking too much again," she said softly.
Asher let out a quiet breath.
"When hundreds of lives depend on you…"
"It's hard not to think."
Julia looked down at the heroes training below.
"They trust you."
Asher lowered his gaze slightly.
"Maybe they trust me too much."
Julia frowned a little.
"What do you mean?"
Asher spoke quietly.
"What if I make the wrong decision?"
"What if everyone dies because of it?"
His voice carried no fear.
Only honesty.
Julia was silent for a few seconds.
Then she walked in front of him so he had to look at her.
Their eyes met.
"Do you know why you were chosen as the leader?" she asked.
Asher shook his head slightly.
Julia smiled faintly.
"Because you're the one who worries the most."
Asher blinked.
"The most dangerous leaders are the ones who don't care about people," Julia continued.
"But you…"
"You want to protect everyone."
She stepped a little closer.
"And that's exactly why people believe in you."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Julia smiled warmly.
"And I believe in you too."
Asher looked at her for a second.
Then he laughed quietly.
"You know…"
"I actually needed to hear that."
Julia shrugged playfully.
"I always say the right thing."
Asher stood up.
He turned toward the window one last time.
Below them, the heroes were still training relentlessly.
Everyone was pushing themselves beyond their limits.
Asher took a deep breath.
Then he turned back toward Julia.
A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Let's go."
Julia raised an eyebrow.
"Where?"
Asher answered simply.
"To train."
He walked toward the door.
Julia smiled and followed him.
A few minutes later, Asher stepped onto the massive training field.
One by one, the heroes noticed him.
The training slowly stopped.
Soon hundreds of eyes were looking at him.
Asher walked to the center of the field.
He looked around at all of them.
Then he spoke.
"This will be our final battle."
The field was completely silent.
"Lord is powerful."
"We all know that."
His voice grew stronger.
"But there is one thing that matters more than power."
He looked across the crowd.
"Unity."
Suddenly Titan Magnus raised his fist.
"For WHU!"
Aria Volt shouted:
"For the world!"
Other heroes joined in.
"For victory!"
"For humanity!"
"For the end of Lord!"
The entire field erupted with determination.
Energy filled the air.
Asher nodded once.
"Good."
Then he raised his hand.
"Let's begin."
Instantly the training resumed.
Explosions of power filled the battlefield again.
Lightning flashed.
Shadows moved.
Weapons clashed.
Heroes pushed their abilities further than ever before.
Because every one of them knew something.
The storm was coming.
And the next time they faced Lord…
The world would either be saved…
or destroyed.