Legacy of Hero: Rise of Kairon

Boots hit the worn sidewalk with purpose.Broken streetlights flickered overhead.The wind was dry, and the silence felt... wrong.

Ryan:"Zen, where's the hideout?"

Zen Kagetsune (coldly):"A hundred meters from here. Be ready."

Ethan crossed his arms, growling:

Ethan:"It better be..."

Abby frowned with worry.

Abby:"Zen... why are they so much stronger?How do the Renegates have this kind of power?"

Zen sighed, weary.

Zen:"Isn't it obvious?They have outside help... from someone ridiculously strong.Stronger than all of us combined.Maybe even stronger than the top heroes of the world."

Ryan's eyes widened.

Ryan:"Stronger than Inavy, Lorien, Kelvin… and Master Darius?"

Zen nodded.

Zen:"Yeah. This guy... he's a redhead. His name is—"

Kane (cutting in, sharply):"Kai, right?"

Zen turned, surprised.

Zen:"How do you know?"

Kane responded, coldly:

Kane:"I heard you call him to open a portal in the U.S.When you attacked us."

Dante's eyes went wide.

Dante:"Kai... Kai Hayashi?"

Zen:"That's right. You know him?"

Dante looked down, memories heavy in his eyes.

Dante:"He was a hero... part of the founding of the Guild of a Thousand Lights, created by Ethan's grandfather.My dad said he died saving him from an ambush.They were best friends…"

Zen scoffed.

Zen:"Well, he didn't die.Now he's the right hand of someone called... Kairon."

A chill ran through the group.

Ryan:"Who's… Kairon?"

Zen met his eyes, deadly serious.

Zen:"A universal emperor.According to Kai, he's coming to judge humanity."

Silence fell like a stone.

Ethan (murmuring):"So… that's why they're training us so hard.The Draft. The reinforcements…"

Zen:"Exactly.They're preparing you…for a war no one dares to speak of."

Annie clenched her fists.

Annie:"I don't care who he is.We'll beat him."

Zen shrugged.

Zen:"We'll see...But if he's really what Kai says he is…not even Inavy Stormbreak can stop him."

They halted.

Zen pointed ahead.

Zen:"Here. The hideout."

He pulled out a dagger and sliced through a security camera.

Zen:"Careful. It's full of traps…"

They stepped inside.

At the far end of the room, Eliara Myne was tied up, eyes closed.Ethan dashed forward instantly.

Ethan:"ELIARA!!"

Zen (shouting):"NO!!"

TIC.

Ethan stepped down. A metallic click echoed.

Zen:"YOU ACTIVATED THE TRAP!"

The floor opened. Armed robots emerged from the walls.Eliara's necklace started flashing red.A massive bomb hummed to life, glowing brighter.

Ethan grabbed Zen by the collar.

Ethan (screaming):"TRAITOR! YOU BROUGHT US HERE TO DIE!"

Zen shoved him off with brutal strength.

Zen:"IDIOT! You ran without thinking!Your impulsiveness just endangered everyone!"

Abby (yelling):"Enough! Now is not the time!"

Dante and Kane arrived.

Dante:"Zen's right… Ethan, trust more.Or we're dead."

Ryan ran to Eliara, who opened her eyes, weak.

Eliara (whispering):"W-who are you…?"

Ryan (softly):"I'm Ryan. I came to get you out of here."

The heroes fought.One by one, the robots were taken down.

But the bomb still pulsed.

Ryan:"I need a blade!"

Ethan (tossing it):"Take it! Hurry!"

Ryan began disarming the necklace.The wires pulsed. The timer ticked.

But then—

A venomous gas filled the room.

One by one, the heroes collapsed.

Abby fell.Annie collapsed.Ethan… Ryu… Dante…Even Ryan, with the dagger still in hand… fainted.

Only Kane and Zen remained standing.

From the shadows… they emerged.

Nael. Syka. Hant.

Eyes glowing with malice.Syka held up a screen — a photo of Zen in Phoenix uniform.

Syka (spitting):"So it's true... you betrayed us."

Hant stepped forward, smiling coldly.

Hant:"Betrayal, Zen?We gave you everything.Power. Money. Trust."

Zen:"And you didn't even pay me properly.Be honest…did you really think I'd side with a bunch of losers?"

Hant clenched his fist.

Hant:"Pity...You and this brat are going to die now."

He pointed to Kane.

Zen drew his cursed blades.Kane cracked his neck.

Kane:"Finally… something interesting."

CUT TO BLACK.

📍End of Chapter 55 – The Renegates' Trap