Ma’Xilia kingdom, where winter is half the year and summer is just a few degrees higher. The snow piled outside by inches. The wind that blew could freeze anyone who didn’t wear the proper clothes.

  The clanking of my heels made the people flinch with every step, my eyes burning crimson. “Countess. Sir Argonaut is waiting for you with the rest that have been called.” A Grey Scale told me.

  “Dismissed.” He saluted with his arm slamming with his chest two times and left. The veil that covered my face was showing a darker shade of the night, yet my vision was capable of looking at the darkness. Heels echoed through the empty dark hall of the castle of the once Ma’Xilia duke.

  Heading inside one of the halls of the right side, I could hear shouts. Shouts of a fool who has never learned to control his temper. That fool is the same who grew up with the brainless giant that was mysteriously killed by an unidentified Hero.

  As I opened the doors, four men and three women seem to be sitting around the room. The two girls on one side, one with purple and blue hair with her pink eyes had a robe that barely covered her legs, her arms and even her cleavage. Mika, one of the strongest of our group.

  By her side, a girl with flaming reddish pink hair that was short and silky. Her eyes were a ruby red, the pupils dark and empty. Her body was covered by a robe, it was baggy and even like that, it marked her lean and very developed body. Mia, the strongest of the girls.

  The one meditating had her eyes closed. Her hair reached all the way to the floor, golden brown and clear skin. Her dress was completely black, along her hands held a small orb. Inoue, the witch of our group.

  Then the four men in the center, were shown to be arguing. The one with his hair gray as ash and red eyes with green pupils had shown to be laying back on the pillar. Sasaki, the loser of the group.

  Then the three standing in front of me, one held a strong and very intimidating presence. His golden eyes with crimson pupils could freeze even the veteran Heroes of older generations. His body was chiseled almost as if from stone. The robes didn’t hide the muscles and his scar on his neck that reached all the way to his left cheek. He was the one that followed after our Lord Great One.

  Argonaut. The title was proper and represented his power. The two facing him, Garo and Tsubomi, wore their under suits of their armor. Tsubomi had bright red short hair with a few scars on his neck and eyebrows. His red eyes burned with anger at Garo.

  Garo was the tall guy with long hair that reached all the way to his ankles. Green dark hair and serpent like green eyes that shined like diamonds.

  “Shut it, Tsubomi. There is a Hero strong enough to kill Juno and managed to even hide themselves from our radars.” Garo slapped away the hand of Tsubomi.

  My head pounded from the rather stupid tantrum this guy was having. “Juno should’ve killed the bitch before and have probably come back to suck you.”

  Garo turned to Mika. Mika spat near him and only made him grind his teeth. “Mika, that’s enough.” Mia said softly. Mika just scoffed and laid back. Garo seemed to look at me, his eyes narrowing.

  “Oh, Ferny. It’s quite a surprise for you to come. Has Great One given his answer?” Argonaut asked with a deadpan. I stood straight and sighed. “Garo, he accepted for you to head to the last spot where Juno died. Hunt the one who killed him.”

  I lifted a crystal ball. One that was completely black, the orb empty of any light. “This will lead you to the target in which we found traces of their magic. With this, you are as well tasked with one more thing.” Garo looked at me suspiciously.

  “What?” He said bluntly. “We have belief that the same person who killed Juno might have saved a Hero of the new generation, along with that, it’s believed they are traveling back to Joyce.”

  He took a second to process. “And you want me to kill them?” I shook my head. “First kill the one who you want to hunt down and bring alive the Hero. We shall begin extraction in information and memories of the Hero. That way, we can have everything about the new generation.”

  He snarled. “Why should I follow that order?” He tried to reach for the orb, but my hand flicked. The sudden burning sensation of my blood leaving my hand and the cold grip of the lack of it made it so that Garo could understand.

  A sword made of pure crimson reached across his throat. “You know why you should follow. You have no choice. Be grateful he gave you permission to have revenge, all he asks for is for you to retrieve the Hero.” Garo only sighed and nodded.

  Releasing the pressure, I returned my blood and handed the orb. His hand grasped it with a tight grip, almost enough to break it. “You shall be teleported in two days. There, you shall follow in the direction the orb traces the mana of the one who killed your buddy. Do be careful.”

  He chuckled. “What, worried about me?” I held my laughter as if he were telling me a joke. “Don’t get the wrong idea. Losing another Hero and depleting the forces before we can proceed with the plan will make it only be more time spending.”

  His jaw clenched. “What did he say about the one the Maiden encountered?” I rolled my eyes behind the veil. “What about him?” I said with irritation leaving my voice.

  “Golden eyes, black hair. That Hero is probably the one of the prophecies that the little monster fears would come true.”

  Garo took the orb. “This could also tell us what we can do about that. If the Maiden is right and he begins to be the one of the scriptures, what then? We will lose.”

  My heel screeched against the floor. “You think a mere poem of a Hero that would bring down our plans?” He chuckled. “Like you said, don’t get cocky.”

  Chuckling, I turned to Argonaut. “What do you think?” His silver blonde hair waved as he faintly shook his head. “I cannot agree with you. Garo has a point. It’s better to be safe. Remember, we’re down two of the Faction, losing more will only backtrack Great One’s plans.”

  Sighing with a bit of frustration, I turned to look at Garo. “I’ll tell Lord Great One of this. Be prepared to be deployed in two days. Make it count.”

  Leaving the room, I headed outside from the gardens. Once filled with multiple-colored plants and flowers, now only red beet flowers that are similar to peonies of our world. Size of a human head and the smell of roses along the insect taking nectar.

  The wind was even colder than ever. The winter was fading from the lower kingdoms as its only three months of winter. The heels clacked with the stone floor, the pure rock seemed glass and black that shined.

  The halls empty of anyone who used to be work and live here. The silence was nothing but calm, my heart beating so slow I could barely hear it in such silence.

  As I began to reach the dorm where we call our lord, I began to understand his reason to send Garo to an unknown enemy. But that would mean that the Hero is someone who would have been dead for a long time.

  I shook my head, not making any more effort to think about it. Arriving to the door that was as tall to touch the ceiling, I opened it with a hint of mana. The door disappeared as if made of nothing but dust.

  Entering the room, there was nothing but a single orb floating in the middle of the room, along the entire room having runes that were carved in a circular pattern on the floor. Thousands of runes that symbolized the energy that brings to life the video.

  I kneeled, chanting in High Osvian, language of the once Primordials, I began to see that the orb hummed with a faint white glow.

  “Lord Great One, is he present?” I asked the two figures standing in front of me. The image became more clearer as the orb let off the hum and shined like a bulb.

  “Ah, Countess. It’s been forever since you spoke to me. You are as beautiful as ever.” The child like voice of the girl left chills down my spine. Her golden eyes with reptilian silver pupils were horrifying to see. Lowering my gaze, I let out a breath. “You honor me.” She waved my words away with her hand, her smile almost reaching her ears, inhuman beauty for a child.

  “Lord Great One is on a task on another world. Is there a situation for him to worry?” I shook my head. “I have come to speak of confirming of sending Viridescent Eyes to his mission. Along with having news that Joyce plans to strike us at the wall.”

  Her face seemed to be covered by a very dark shadow that covered half her face, but her smile was very bright. The eyes scanned my gesture and body language; each millimeter traced with her eyes. “You seem to be a bit tense; there is no need to be afraid Countess.”

  She was smiling playfully, but the other figure, a young woman shown to be covered in nothing but a black rob that covered her from head to toe, along the porcelain mask carved as a face with hollow eyes and a set of lips in a slight frown with purple lips, stood there with no emotion and stared with her light blue eyes.

  “I have only one wish to know what the next move is.” The reptilian eyes only seemed to show her amusement and then she lifted a finger. “Send a message to the Hero who is standing guard at the wall. Tell her that the blackmail won’t work no more and to begin to prepare for a battle. Send 3,000 of the troops, along with a few elites.”

  I nodded. “Now that we have confirmed that they are unto us, then that means everything is going according to plan.” Her smile was turning into a frown. “Have there any signs of the ones who shine?” I shook my head.

  “I see. Keep me informed if you ever do.” She turned, her childlike body floating away from the recorder. The other woman only stared. I snarled as she took a deep bow and like that, the connection was finished.

  “Why am I just sitting and rotting on this castle. Hakuto-sama is only leaving me to boss around.” Turning, I began to walk to the hall. But as I began to turn into the next one, Garo appeared. His serpent eyes only glared in surprise.

  “It seems he wasn’t there to speak to you.” He said. I laughed with sarcasm. “No. But the little girl seems to be comfortable on his throne.” He chuckled.

  “Can’t say I disagree with you. A mere being like her trying to be the adviser is quite hilarious. But she is good at aiding Hakuto.” I rolled my eyes, the anger turning into nothing but annoyance.

  “You should head to your quarters and have a nice nap before leaving.” I said as I passed him. Garo didn’t say anything, he went to the hall where I just passed and heard him go to the stairs.

  Taking the path back to the gardens, I stared at the empire from the view.

  I shall never get used to how the sky beamed in a rainbow with clouds that seemed to pass, witnessing what shall come to pass in this world.

  The wind howled and the trees, its branches and what snow remained on it blew with it. Nothing was more peaceful than staying in this garden. Closing my eyes, I began to feel the mana.

  Peace, it doesn’t exist unless you bring disaster to others, chaos is all, and peace is very little. Lord Great One knew that we would never obtain what we needed unless another catastrophe was brought upon this world.

  The breeze suddenly stopped as I made the mana pause in the garden, the wind stopped, the chirping of the birds, the small insects stayed hidden, much of that little control I had, it made everything around me stand still, almost as if the garden knew I was the one who was the predator.

  This was true power. As I thought this, I felt two individuals entering the garden, one was not even moving, while the other came closer. Turning, I saw Mia, behind her a young woman with black armor and a vermilion shoulder cap stayed still.

  Mia had her eyes staring at the city on the left side of ours, in which they traced all the way towards me. Her eyes were empty, hollow and proof of what she was. A killer.

  “It seems Great One is busy.” She said while standing straight with her hand behind her back. Her feet were at shoulder length and her eyes staring at the sky.

  “Yes. On a mission.” I was surprised I spoke to her so openly as if a hundred years haven’t passed. “He’s been on that mission for the past year.”

  I sighed with my eyes closing as I tried to remember his face. It’s been a long time since I saw him in person. All I could remember were his eyes. Golden, similar to the sun, yet the thing that made chills run down my spine, were the pupils of my beloved.

  Black holes that swirled and created a strange white light to cross around the golden irises, almost as if a disk surrounded the pupils. It was rather, beautiful but terrifying.

  Mia looked at me, though I couldn’t see it, I sensed her ruby irises stare at me. “The fact that he is still away, it means that West of Cypher isn’t easy to conquer.”

  “Yes, they do have a group of old Heroes in their kingdoms to aid them. But a year is quite normal or even not too long. Lord Hakuto is more than capable to defeat a bunch of old bastards.” She chuckled. Something rather rare to see as almost as an eclipse of the two moons.

  “We should never underestimate our enemies Ferny. We thought the same back a hundred years ago.” Her words made my eyebrow twitch.

  “Don’t bring back those memories. It leaves the taste of rusty blood in my mouth.” The city shined like gold and silver from where the castle stood.

  “You shouldn’t make any mistake; I’m just saying that we must always strive to prevent from any more casualties like those.” I laughed.

  “Casualties will always happen, as long as it isn’t one of ours, millions can die if all I care.” Mia stared at me with an expression I couldn’t read. Was it disappointment? Or perhaps disgust? I couldn’t really say.

  “You act as if you’re hands aren’t dirty, Scarlet Death.” Her eyes closed and she sighed. “Can’t deny that, but I can’t deny the fact that losing millions of lives is something to take as a measure for the plan.” I chuckled.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Perhaps. All that matters is that the plan moves forward. As well for us to take up the roles.” She nodded.

  “May chaos rule over the world.” Mia said this while leaving. Truth be told, the phrase came from how Lord Great One began to cause a new shift in power.

  “Chaos, hmm.” Walking to the side of the garden, I stared down at the meters where the small roads to reach to the kingdom are shown to be filled with nothing but beasts guarding it.

  Heights were never something I could ever hope to break fear from, however. I simply stepped out in the air; I looked as what the world was going to change from.

  The single steps I made in the sky was so far from the sensation of touching ground. The world was beginning to change, so, I giggled at the fact we were no longer the same students of a century ago.

  Chaos has taken place in this world, the denizens are our slaves, the people, an unnecessary waste of space. Though my ideals shall never be the same as Lord Hakuto, I shall follow him to the gates to hell if necessary.

  He is the one to bring the prophecy to be true, and to guide us to the fruits of Gaia.

  II

  DAE-HYUN

  “So, is this really going to work?” Diane asked me while scratching her head. The design of what I came up with for the single forth of attacking was not really brilliant, yet I knew this will put the Heroes of Tokyo on their butts.

  “Still, I don’t think it’s that bad.” Seo-Ji said as she began to mark the wall. “Deploying some mines on the other side and placing some boobytraps on the water would still be enough to push them back a bit.” She patted her thigh with the marker.

  “I don’t think so much is necessary for a counter.” Diane said as she looked at the table. “You think, but believe us, they will use their own soldiers as bait if it comes to it.” Tae-Soo spoke as he bit down on a chocolate.

  “Really? We just had lunch.” He looked at me confused and scratched his head. Shaking my head and letting out a laugh, Aegis stood next to the table.

  “Taking very few soldiers with you is a bit risky, but as well could prevent unnecessary casualties.” Everyone nodded.

  “But how will you face what the Calamity and Hero are capable of? We need to think of some other way without deploying the four of you with just a squad.”

  Si-Young stared at the plans, but her gaze was rather more concerned with what she saw than heard. “Any ideas?” I asked her. She nodded.

  “How do you plan to attack them if we only have one way forward? If there are a Calamity and a Hero, how should we proceed in taking both of them?”

  I smiled. “That’s a good question.” I pointed to the small hole that was made through the bombing of the previous war. “Here through this is where we will destroy the Calamity.” She stared, her eyes clearly showing numbers and possibilities.

  “Oh, I see.” She said. Master Diane was confused, but Aegis nodded. They knew what I was getting at. “Can you tell me at least?” I nodded. “Let’s just say, we will throw a spirit bomb on him.” Her eyes went sideways. Her head clanked and I could clearly see smoke come from her temples.

  “Yeah, I think that’s the best way. But the other thing is the Hero residing there as a guardian.” Seo-Ji said as she scratched her head. Her silvery ash hair was silky as a few strings fell onto her face. “We can just gang up on him, don’t you think?” Tae-Soo asked while stretching his back.

  I shook my head. “I heard they’re rather very good with that sort of attack. We’ll need more than to gang up on them.” I said as I pointed on the map. “The only thing we need to do is not defeat the Hero but to stall for one of us to use enough of our energy to create enough power to push them away.”

  Nodding in affirmation, Seo-Ji stared at the points and stayed like that for a while. “I still have no clue what you four are up to, but I can tell you already have a plan set.” Diane said while scratching her cheek.

  “Don’t worry, Diane, it seems that we will have some back up plans just in case.” Tae-Soo lifted his thumbs up.

  Diane nodded fiercely. “Faith.” She said. They looked like two kids on how they were bringing back and forth gestures as thumbs ups and poses.

  Aegis only laughed and shook his head. “She still is the same Diane.” Those words left me wondering, but I concentrated myself into the plan.

  As time passed, I went on to the garden of the balcony of the palace. From where I stood, I could see the kingdom, six main roads connected to form a star of six points, which were aligned to point to the castle of Joyce which was held on a mountain peak that was near the river of Julia.

  Julia river was crossing horizontally across Joyce and was the one that brought to the A’Xi lake that is where most of the Joyce kingdom is located.

  The kingdom was big, and from where I could see it, it was probably big enough to fit my country as their main kingdom.

  As I watched the kingdom, two maids came to check on me. Though my eyes were staring at the scenery, I could hear the footsteps, rapid heartbeats, and even sense their eagerness and warmth.

  “Hero Dae-Hyun, we’ve come to ask for a few minutes of your time?” Two girls my age, one who was tall with pink-blonde hair and green eyes and the other with orange hair and blue eyes had the uniforms of maid along some sort of device.

  “May we have you signatures, if you are ok with it?” The maid with orange hair asked. I blinked a couple of times.

  “Signature?” They nodded fiercely. Scratching my cheek, I simply did what they asked me. As they both jumped, I could see an older woman, probably around her late 20s and early 30s staring at them.

  “Hello madam Juliette.” The moment I said this, the two maids flinched and went dead pale. “Well, aren’t you both having a fangirl time.” The tall one squealed and dragged behind me with her friend.

  “Madam Juliette, we can explain.” One of the girls said. “Kara, Velra, you both still have a lot of clothes to wash.” Madam Juliette, the head of the maids of Joyce palace and as well a former drill sergeant.

  Her hair could be confused with black hair but in truth is a dark red that shines in the light. Her eyes however, a beetle black with pale indigo pupils were even scary for me to stare at.

  “Hero Kim is probably tired. You two should be a bit more considerate!” She shouted. As she walked towards us, a group of maids were peaking from the hall. One waved and another giggled.

  “They weren’t bothering me at all Madam Juliette.” I said as I lifted placating hands. She lifted a brow and stared at them. “Yeah, no.” Grabbing both of the girls by the ear, they showed panic and worry.

  “Save us.” Velra said as she held my arm. “Madam Juliette, I think that’s too much.” She stopped, her beetle eyes staring at me. Gulping and a sweat drop roll down my forehead, I tried my best to smile.

  She didn’t leave, but she did release her grip on their ears. “Hero Kim, you shouldn’t spoil these girls. They should already know that the work must be done and after that their studies must be completed as well.”

  I scratched my neck as I let out a soft chuckle. “I know Madam. But they just wanted a signature, they were about to leave until you frightened them. I don’t think they were going to leave without finishing up their chores.”

  She stared intensely at me. “I see. But you should know they have time to do that during their lunch break or even after finishing everything they could have gone to see you.”

  The two girls stood there with their heads down. “It wasn’t our intention to do so Madam. We just really wanted his signature, after all, Hero Dae-Hyun is going away for a while. This was the only time we could have it.”

  Madam Juliette stared and sighed. “Girls, you shouldn’t have done this. It’s still irresponsible to leave your work unfinished, and the exams to your academies are coming close. You should know better.” They nodded.

  “We’re sorry Madam.” She sighed. Then she turned to me. “So, did they get it?” She asked me. I nodded.

  “Okay then, let’s head back.” The two girls sighed in relief but straighten and began to walk to the hall.

  “Hero Kim, apologies for my rudeness.” She said as she bowed. I only did the same as a way for her to understand I’m not bothered in the slightest. “I do have one thing to say Hero Kim.” She said as she turned.

  “Never forget the fact that we all support you, may it be with prayers or in the battlefield, we all have the desire for you to achieve what you want as much as you are helping us.”

  With that, she walked away. I was rather confused, not understanding entirely what she meant. But an experienced soldier like her must have told me that for some reason.

  Staring at the city, all I could think was on the words of my future self. Who is he?

  From what I heard by many workers in the palace, I’m something unique that shouldn’t have happened. Divine rooted Heroes come only when there is a calling. The calling of when balance is disrupted when something isn’t right.

  Back a while ago, the Virtue as well told me that I might be the key. Madam Juliette as well said herself the people shall support us for what we wish for.

  It was strange, and it was giving me a bad feeling. Too much faith in me, but how can I truly deny the fact I was as well the one improving very quickly. My emotions were troubling as I began to think what they might believe can be true, but unable to have beaten Juno who was the weakest, along having lost a classmate.

  Clenching my fist, all I could think was how could I become stronger. The wind was not as cold as the last time I came here to stare at the city. It’s been a month since our encounter with Juno, the winds began to warm up. But it was still quite hard to see Hyun-Ha without her friend.

  Hyun-Ha was always cheerful before the incident. Now, she seems to have lost that spirit in most part. Her eyes tell me she cries at times. Not knowing what might happen in the future, I must be sure to never let another one of us get taken away, even if that includes Hwan.

  Leaving the garden, I began to return inside where I tried to understand a bit more about this world.

  I went on the third floor of the palace, which was where most training and teaching was taught. Through the many rooms, there was one that had over half a million books. There, I had been reading for a week now. Si-Young and Iseul visited it often.

  Through the grand hall, there was an opened door made of pure white wood with runes that said library. Stepping inside, I found myself entering the library of the palace. Honestly, it was a maze inside, as books were left in a pattern and section. The books were even beneath my feet under some strange protection glass that helps find what you wish to find.

  “Greetings Hero Kim Dae-Hyun.” Turning to the robotic voice, I found a sphere that levitated midair. The sphere was made of a strange metal that shined like a mirror, a single orb that was in the center that floated as an eyeball. Glowing a beautiful light pink, along two antennas that were sticking from side to side.

  “Hey FIFI.” The small metallic ball hovered a few inches higher and showed to squint its neon pink eye. “Oh my, you seem to have not slept in a while.” I put a deadpan face.

  “You should really mind whose body you are scanning. It’s quite clear you are a pervert.” The metallic ball jolted.

  “How dare you! I for a fact am not a pervert, and probably the only female to look at you.”

  “Ouch. That hurt.” It shook its body side to side and made a strange noise similar to coughing.

  “Well, have you come to read of the Hero Chronicles?” I nodded. “Yes. The one of the previous generation as always.”

  “You have gone through 50 books this week alone. I’m impressed Hero Kim.”

  Chuckling I went to sit on one of the cushioned chairs around the library, specifically the one close to the corner. FIFI, an eighth generation First Intelligence Fragmental Automaton, worked and was programmed as the librarian of the palace. She was really good at pointing the books that had more information to what specific topics you wanted to know about.

  FIFI came back with a book that was around the length of my torso and quite thin. It was strange as the previous books were thick enough to be considered dictionaries.

  “Which is this one?” I turned the book, where I saw a drawing of a knight in full white armor and a great sword lifted in the air. The runes were in a strange cursive font.

  “Nights of the Overlord.” I opened the book to find what seemed to a detailed and very realistic picture of nine Heroes against a grotesque beast hunched with what seemed to be four skeletal wings.

  There, I read.

  Great One held his sword, nothing but his divine authority pushed the necrotic magic away. Pushing away the death that awaited for his fellow Heroes.

  It was about the time that the Tokyo Faction finally fought the Overlord. But what I found shocking was that it lasted so long.

  Through each page, there was a drawing, but then came a page where it showed a young man who had black hair being held in the only arm left of a beautiful young woman.

  Her tears dried and her robes torn and bathed in blood, along all the rest of the Heroes staring at them both. The boy held a broken sword, along his eyes showing nothing but an abyss.

  Through the last night, the Sword Saint held his last breath, the wound on his heart already reaching to take his life. Peace was drawn in his eyes, the soul leaving his body to rest in the arms of the Great Saint who would follow him and reach together paradise.

  Staring at the art, I took my time to look at the portrait, yet this felt as if it was a fairytale and not a true historical event.

  “My, you truly are not from this world.” FIFI said as she hummed around me. “What do you mean by that?” I asked while never leaving my eyes from the page. “You don’t believe that this was how it ended.”

  I turned to the metallic ball. “Do people here believe this?” It tilted as if it shrugged. “Some do and few to none don’t. The Duchess of Gran’Diosa never trusted the Heroes that returned, unlike the grandfather of his highness.” The robot made a very melancholic beep. FIFI was the friend of the previous king of Joyce.

  “I heard from Master Gram that Great One killed the king of that time.” The machine only floated without saying anything. “That’s the rumor. But I believe he had already passed away.” FIFI lowered itself near to my face. “I could sense the beating of my friend’s heart. It stopped hours before Great One found him.”

  I looked at FIFI, the robot staring intensely at me. “How old was the king?” I asked. “139 years. It would have been 140 if he lasted until the ninety full moons.” I nodded. “So, humans live longer than on my planet.”

  FIFI floats a few inches away and stares at the book with silence. “The Heroes 30 years later disappeared.” The small robot floated above and went between the bookshelves.

  I turned the pages left in the book. There, I found another drawing. One made of the Sword Saint, who I didn’t expect to look like he did.

  Thin, a bit shorter and with black hair and silver eyes. His eyes weren’t similar to those of his companions; he looked more like a foreigner. It was strange. Probably having one of his parents being from Europe?

  As I asked myself these questions, FIFI brought a book that seemed to be falling apart. “What the?” Before I asked, I began to realize it wasn’t a book, but files.

  The files were in the language of this kingdom, if I remember well, it was called Zal’Va. The file was of no other than the Tokyo Faction. I stared at the sheet then at FIFI.

  “How did you get this?” I asked FIFI. “Do you know that the files are located in this library? It’s so if enemies come knocking on the door, they will be clueless in which place it’s sealed. Me and another droid specifically only know the files archive. The royal family has hints to know where they are but that’s to keep things safe and secure.”

  “Quite the darn strategy for peaceful people.” FIFI beeped, as cussing. “Peaceful people know more about safety and preventing another conflict.” Nodding in agreement, I lowered my head to the files.

  “Are these of all the Heroes of Tokyo?” It nodded.

  “Correct. All 19 files are of each Hero that was brought in the 13th generation along their small info of their elements and of their skills. Some even having their titles.”

  I was having a rise of excitement. But one thing made me feel a chill down my spine. “Will there be something I won’t like?” I asked FIFI. It shrugged.

  “I see.” Flipping open the slight hardcover, the first file that came was that of Great One. No picture or anything. Just seven sheets of one single man, Hakuto. His last name was in black ink. His age and birthplace were as well.

  But what wasn’t in black was his divinity. Divine blessed the same as me. From the file, I learned that he was a master swordsman, trained in the arts of the great sword, his skills even approved by most of his classmates.

  Having blessings that covered half the sheet and even skills similar to mine. How strong was he? “Like all Divine Heroes, Great One is truly a force to be reckoned with.”

  I looked at the file with the caption that read: ETHERIC VECTOR.

  I tilted my head. “What?” I said bluntly. “Oh yes. Great One is one of the four Heroes of his generation that were ranked as Etheric Vector, something like your worlds hyper lethal. Capable of even turning a world into a wasteland.”

  Gulping in what I could say was the most obvious sound, I turned to see FIFI. “A planet?” It nodded with no hesitation.

  “Affirmative, as any Hero of his caliber, doing such thing is like sneezing or coughing.” I lifted a hand to stop FIFI from saying more.

  “So, who are the other three?”

  FIFI began to hum with mana, then shot out a strange beam that was a single line that appeared to be like a heat wave or magnetic beam. With that, FIFI lifted three files and put them on top of the rest.

  Three names came into view. Jin, Mia and Sword Saint. I stared at the three names for a while, then I began to reach for the first. Jin, also known as Argonaut, the third strongest of the entire group.

  From what I heard from the Virtue, he might be the second strongest now. His file wasn’t in all black ink, which was strange.

  “You should be aware as well Hero Dae-Hyun that all that information might be old and from what we know they might have different abilities and skills now.”

  I looked at the file for a few seconds. “Then why show them to me?” FIFI chuckled.

  “Well, nothing is worthless. Information even to how they breathe works as an advantage. Don’t think they aren’t the same as they have come from your world.” FIFI gets it.

  I chuckled softly and nodded.

  “As I can see, Jin is known as the most bloodthirsty of them all. I can’t believe I have to fight this psychopath.” FIFI tilted.

  “You may be correct; the Heroes of Tokyo are one of the strongest factions to have been brought to Cypher, however, that can’t mean certain defeat. Through loss one gains knowledge and experience, and with experience, it teaches great lessons.”

  Staring at the file, I read the weapons they use. Great One and Argonaut both had great swords. “Why do most Heroes have swords?”

  FIFI began to beep a few seconds, “that’s how your souls are interpreted as.” I looked at my chest, touching it with my palm.

  “You mean souls shape like weapons for the Heroes?” It shook side to side. “Fragmental Essence is a gift, along with it, it evolves with the wielder, such as any of the Hero race reaches higher authority.”

  “But that doesn’t answer my question.” I said as I lifted the file. “Swords are sharp, deadly, and even are symbolized much as a weapon by guardians. From what I have heard by those who study mysticism, it shows how your souls are shaped if they were to become real.”

  FIFI blinked, then opened the next file. Mia, the strongest female Hero of the Tokyo Faction.

  “A scythe?!” FIFI nodded. “Quite the one-of-a-kind specimen.” Turning the page, I began to wonder why she was mostly black inked.

  It was rather strange, her powers, her Fragmental Essence. She was quite the unique Hero truly. The page turned, there I found a piece of information rather interesting.

  Taking in the information, I began to understand my position in this battle. If I were to face her, I won’t even be able to lift my sword before she strikes me down.

  Then I went to the next file, the one I felt I shouldn’t open as to respect Master Grey. Her student, Sword Saint, was known to be an incredibly quiet Hero, only speaking to them and to the Great Saint.

  The file I opened was the one that was more black ink than what the others had shown. Even his name was covered in black. He was known to have the black hair that many Cypherlings had admiration and awe to. From what I could read of his file —or how much black ink there was— it was scary how much this kid knew.

  Lifting the page to the light, I couldn’t see anything. “That’s a special ink that makes the letters fade with it. You won’t be able to see anything.” FIFI giggled as she said this.

  I scoffed. “I knew that.” FIFI tilted, almost as questioning my words. Taking a look at the next page, there was one word that I was surprised to see.

  “MIA.” I said softly. That was strange. “FIFI, why does it have MIA on the current status of the Sword Saint?” The small robot peeked, then glanced at a blank wall. There, she projected a strange picture.

  The picture was of the same place where the two saints were supposed to be. “The remains of the two Heroes are unknown of their whereabouts, along with any traces or even clue to where they might have gone are unknown to this day.”

  She snapped another picture, this one even darker. There’s strange warrior clad in rusty armor shown to have no head at all. The blood all around the place, the demolished structure, the slashes from the weapons and dark smudges from magic blasts, all of it showed a bloody battle.

  “There is something that is strange.” I told FIFI. Pointing at the stones where there were slashes and even blood stained with some magic blasts. It was strange that one single point was the most tattered.

  The robot tilted, confused. Then it jumped. “Correct. That place is the most inflicted with damage.” As I scanned the picture, I noticed one thing, only the two sides of the stone had blood dripping from it. As if, the one being attacked had been cut or had lost their limbs.

  “Peculiar, the blood isn’t spread around like the rest. Do you believe there were signs of torture?” FIFI asked me.

  Nodding, I began to wonder how they didn’t notice this in the past century. “Why hasn’t anyone analyzed the scene.” FIFI hopped, almost as shrugging or even swing her hands in the air and placing them back down.

  “In this war, there was a reason why most of the people even soldiers couldn’t reach this place as it is the border to the Abyss. The Abyss is known to house creatures mighty enough to put even the finest knights to the test. So, they send a droid that would explore for the whereabouts of the two saints. But when arriving, it was only an empty grave.”

  “Why didn’t they send the Heroes?” FIFI took a moment before she could say anything. “They left to venture the forgotten lands. The frozen and broken continent that is the neighbor below of the Abyss.”

  This was only making me have more questions than answers. The files being in black almost made me want to know more of the pupil of Grey. The pages that I had left were covered in ink as well.

  I let go of the pages onto the table. “Why would they hide everything about him? Aren’t these supposed to help us in knowing and to improve?” I shouted. “It’s because it was a forgotten Hero.”

  I turned to look at FIFI. “What?” FIFI nodded once. “The people who met and followed him have become old or have passed on to the afterlife. The people these days only hear him as a fairytale, some even as a figure to become a great knight. But apart from that, they don’t desire to learn more about him like the other Heroes of his generation.”

  The words that came out of her mouth made me understand some part. “But why cover his name and powers?” FIFI sighed. “It was the decision of the former King and my friend.”

  “He wanted to hide it. Why?” FIFI floated quietly for a moment, then began to hum with mana. As she floated, she began to release particles that began to mute everything around us.

  Why is FIFI nullifying sound? Then she spoke. “The Heroes of Tokyo, my friend the king began to suspect something. He began to find weird differences at first, then, it became clear.”

  FIFI took the file of the Sword Saint. “He wanted to know the exact details of the Sword Saint, along with the ones of the other Heroes.” I stared down at the files.

  “Of his classmates or the previous Heroes?” FIFI floated silently.

  “All of them. He needed them, which my friend never gave them to him. If he ever tried to obtain them, he won’t be able to know the information, even if he is a Hero, he can’t find the truth of all the Heroes.”

  I had one question in mind. “What exactly is Great One looking for?” I wanted to know. If we can understand the motives or goals, we can have an advantage.

  “We don’t know. We only know is that he has been hunting Heroes of the previous generations and has been looking for allies. That’s all the intel we have.”

  I massaged my temple. The files are only a few pages of what the Heroes were known for, the powers being the basics and their abilities, that was terrifying.

  “If the Tokyo Hero files are this big, how big are of the previous generations?”

  FIFI began to calculate. “There are 12 generations, each one has had multiple Heroes, and in total have 21,422 pages of all the Heroes. But what resides in them is actually far more valuable than all the gold in Joyce.”

  “Why would he need the files, any theories?” FIFI sighed. “One of the biggest theories I have is a simple one.” She looked at me, the small bot staring intensely. “He wishes to know the Chosen One.”