(Five Years Ago)
June 14, 2020, was the day two figures fought over the fate of the Earth. The symbol of peace versus the prophet of destruction—all took place in the ruined Golden City.
The city was alive with chaos, destruction, and the screams of the innocent.
Buildings crumbled under the force of a battle between Empire Gold, the Number One Hero, and Lord Kaizer, the Prophet of Destruction.
Hidden in the shadows of a narrow alleyway, a fourteen-year-old Arthur watched with wide, awestruck eyes. Despite putting his life in danger, he simply couldn't resist a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch history up close.
Empire Gold stood like a golden statue, his body radiating an aura of golden light. His Trigger, Impervious Form, had made him the beacon of life.
He had saved hundreds, maybe thousands, with that power alone.
Arthur clenched his small fists.
"One day… I'll be like him. But first, I need a Trigger as strong as yours." Young Arthur was pumped after witnessing another collision in the air as they continued their back-and-forth.
The battle raged on.
Lord Kaizer, a monstrous figure with jagged, spiky skin, laughed as he swung a fist the size of a car.
Empire Gold pulled back his right arm and dashed toward him.
Releasing a shockwave from his feet, which shot him forward.
Arthur flinched but didn't run.
"He's going to win," he told himself, "He always wins."
Empire Gold was slowing down. His golden right arm glowed as he prepared to strike.
Then—
A gunshot.
But the bullet bounced off his body, not even stopping his momentum.
Arthur's eyes glowed with a wide smile of relief that he was okay. Arthur moved forward to get a better look, then shouting, "YOU CAN DO THIS, EMPIRE GOLD!!!" Hoping his words would inspire the hero to victory.
But Empire Gold was shocked to hear that someone was still present, despite being sure everyone had been evacuated. Instantly turning to Arthur's location, "KID, GET OUT OF HERE!"
But the unthinkable happened. Arthur's Trigger had never been active since Arthur never knew his abilities or what it could do. When he gazed into his eyes...
Arthur's left blue eye morphed into a crimson red.
Empire Gold's golden glow vanished.
And in that split second—
Lord Kaizer's fist punched him so hard that he flew toward Arthur's feet.
He was finished. Lord Kaizer leaped over to Empire Gold's body; with his two monstrous hands, he pulled Empire Gold's lower body and upper body apart from each other, "You have finally chosen to fall... I'm disappointed that you died so easily." He dropped the upper body of Empire Gold, where it landed gracefully in front of Arthur with his lifeless eyes staring at him.
Lord Kaizer realized that Arthur had assisted him, "I don't know who you are, but you have my gratitude for ending this lifelong feud. See you in the new world." Before leaping to the next hero.
Arthur slowly shifted his gaze to Empire Gold, and he started throwing up.
Silence.
More heroes arrived with flashes of light, explosions, and the roar of battle. But Arthur didn't see any of it.
His vision was locked on Empire Gold's body, lying broken on the ground.
Lord Kaizer laughed as he was finally subdued, his massive frame collapsing under the combined might of the Top Heroes, "Hope you are proud of yourself; you took a man that will never be replaced in this world," Wateredge stated.
"Pathetic," Kaizer spat, blood dripping from his lips, "After many of our battles, he chose now of all times to lose so easily."
"Save it. I hope you are prepared to never see the light of day," said Conquer.
Arthur trembled.
Then, before he could stop himself—
He stepped forward.
"It was me."
The heroes turned.
A scrawny, white-haired boy stood before them, tears streaming down his face.
"I… I looked at him. My left eye… it stopped his Triggers." His voice cracked, "I didn't mean to. It was an accident." When he shifted his eyes to Lord Kaizer, who was surprised to hear that.
Suddenly, Lord Kaizer's monstrous arms turned normal, "You... just turned off my Trigger. Remarkable," he said.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—
"You."
Conquer grabbed Arthur by the collar, lifting him off the ground.
"You killed him—" Arthur blocked out all the yelling from Conquer.
Arthur didn't resist.
He didn't even cry.
He just closed his eyes and waited for the punishment he knew he deserved.
The elders didn't give him a trial; he was immediately sent to prison.
No one cared that Arthur was a child.
No one cared that it was an accident.
All they saw was the boy who killed the Number One Hero.
The media dubbed him "The Demon Child"—a villain in the making.
He was thrown into Ironhold Penitentiary, a prison reserved for the worst criminals in the world.
The first year was hell.
He was surrounded by villains who idolized him and made him question whether what he did was a good thing.
Every day, he was in fights constantly—some were against well-trained fighters, and every day, street rats.
The guards would often starve him.
And most importantly, he was trapped in a dark cell for days. Deep down, he believed he deserved it.
Until one day—
He stopped feeling anything at all.
(Present Day)
Arthur's hands clenched into fists as the memory faded.
Flamestar was still holding his hand, her grip warm.
"Arthur?" she asked softly, "You okay?"
He exhaled.
"No."
The smoke rising within Golden City caught his eye, a dark plume against the sky, stirring echoes of that day's chaos in his mind. The weight of Empire Gold's lifeless stare lingered, a ghost he couldn't outrun, yet Flamestar's faith flickered like a lifeline. Could he step into that smoke and prove her right, or would his Trigger betray him again, turning hope to ash? He steeled himself—regret could wait; survival demanded action now.
"But that doesn't matter right now."
Flamestar nodded.
"Then let's go."
And together, they ran toward the disaster.