Chapter 238: The Age Of Superhero
Unknown Earth – Year 2126
In this world, the age of miracles didn't begin with gods. It began with a fall.
Not from the sky.
From orbit.
The first was a shard—metallic, black, humming with strange resonance. It crashed into the Nevada desert at 3:42 a.m., August 17, 2089. No one knew what it was. Not even now.
But the fallout… changed everything.
Radiation that wasn't radiation. Energy that didn't register on any scale. They called it Spectra. One pulse swept across the globe. Most people didn't feel a thing. But a few—
A few changed.
They called it Resonance Syndrome at first. But it was more than a syndrome. It rewrote you. Not immediately. Slowly. Over days. Months. Sometimes years.
And when it did, they weren't normal anymore.
They were called Resonants.
At first, it was chaos. People developed powers that didn't make sense. A girl in Brazil could phase through glass but not metal. A man in Nigeria could shape dust into blades, but only when angry. A teenager in Germany could amplify pain by looking into your eyes. Nothing followed a rulebook.
It took years before they classified it.
The world had changed.
Governments fell behind. Corporations filled the gap. Some tried to regulate. Others tried to own. But in the middle of it all, one group rose above the noise.
THE VAULT
The Vault was the first superhero group. Official. Sanctioned. Respected. And most importantly—watched. Created by the World Accord Committee in 2102, they had a single mission:
"Maintain the balance."
They weren't perfect. But they kept the world from tearing itself apart.
Members of the Vault weren't gods. Just people with abilities. Each trained like elite soldiers. Some had years of combat. Others were still learning. But together—they worked.
The Current Lineup:
Solar Warden (Elias Knox) – Team leader. His body stores sunlight like a battery and discharges it as plasma. Can fly short bursts. Can overheat if he pushes too far.
Kairo – Moves with slowed time perception. Not actual time control—just enhanced neurology. His brain operates 300x faster than a normal human when focused.
Gravemaid (Lucia Vale) – Can increase or decrease local gravity in a 2-meter radius. Uses it to create crushing zones or leap impossible distances.
Arcfall (Toma Yuen) – Generates electric currents through muscle movement. Needs to stay moving to charge. Slows down, and he becomes normal.
Redlace – Unknown origin. Moves between shadows. Can't travel through light. Believed to be ex-assassin.
They were called "heroes" by most. Tools by others.
But not everyone believed in The Vault.
Not everyone believed in order.
From the ashes of the first wave of chaos came those who embraced the disorder. The ones who believed Resonance was evolution—not an accident. They rejected governments. Rejected peace.
They called themselves—
THE FRACTURE
An ideology. Not just a villain group.
To them, Resonants were the future. The old world had to die. Fracture cells operated in shadows, cities, wastelands, anywhere they could spark chaos. Their goal was simple:
"Break the illusion of control."
Each Fracture unit was built like a small cult. Every cell had a Herald. A figure of fear and vision.
The most infamous?
Nullbreed.
His face was never seen. Always in armor. Always in black. But his words spread faster than fire. He believed the Resonant gene was divine proof of selection. He preached that The Vault and the government were suppressing the next step of human evolution.
And people listened.
Whole districts in old countries fell to his cause.
Nullbreed wasn't a tyrant. He was patient. He let the Vault chase false leads. He let chaos grow like cancer.
His power?
Unknown.
Rumors say he can absorb powers from other Resonants temporarily. Others say he's just a figurehead—an idea given flesh.
But one truth remains:
Every Vault member who's ever fought him directly… never came back.
The World's State
Borders still exist. But they're fragile. Cities are the new kingdoms. Some ruled by local governments. Others ruled by Vault-enforced peace. Others are autonomous sectors—gray zones where Fracture thrives.
Technology evolved fast.
Resonant-related tech led to Limiter Bands, Power Stabilizers, and ScanGates. All designed to keep abilities contained. But nothing is perfect. You can't scan for intention.
The worst villains are the ones that never show power at all.
Resonants are categorized by three metrics:
Flux Control (F): How well they control their abilities.
Zone Impact (Z): How far their powers can affect space.
Threat Intent (T): How likely they are to use them with lethal force.
Someone like Gravemaid is F7-Z6-T2.
Someone like Nullbreed?
Unrated.
The Strongest Superhero?
Depends on who you ask.
Some say Solar Warden—because he's saved more lives than anyone else.
Some say Kairo—because no one can catch him.
But those who've seen the hidden reports?
They whisper another name.
Nyra.
She's not part of the Vault. Not registered. Not political.
She lives in Sector 6—Old Tokyo Zone.
Her power?
Unknown.
She's saved Vault members. Fracture units. Civilians. Doesn't talk. Doesn't stay.
Only appears when the system starts to collapse.
And when she moves?
Reality bends.
Not powerfully. Not loudly.
Just… precisely.
She doesn't have flashy attacks. She just walks into danger—and danger ends.
The Strongest Villain?
Still Nullbreed.
Not because of strength.
Because of belief.
He doesn't want power.
He wants collapse.
He once told a Vault negotiator:
"When the old world shatters, the new ones walk from the cracks. I am just the hammer."
Why Do People Get Powers?
Still not fully known.
But every Resonant shares one common trait:
Exposure to Spectra Pulse.
Some were near the first shard.
Others—born from parents who were.
Some researchers believe the pulses are still coming. That the Spectra isn't a one-time event.
That something still drifts in the void beyond the sky.
Watching.
Seeding.
Not aliens.
Not gods.
Just… something.
Superheroes.
They're not all beloved.
The Vault has critics.
Fracture has supporters.
Cities run anti-Resonant campaigns. Others worship them. Some churches see Resonants as divine messengers. Others call them demons in human skin.
The world is tense.
Always on edge.
Because anyone—anyone—can awaken.
One moment, you're a kid in a market.
Next, your skin becomes steel, and you crush the street you were walking on.
And Yet…
Some still wear the suit.
Some still fly—when they know they could fall.
Some still run into burning buildings, even when the world spits on them.
Because the world might be broken.
But someone's got to hold the pieces.