The battlefield was a storm of chaos and destruction, but even in the midst of it, Layla's voice cut through the comms with a calm concern.
"How are you guys holding up?" she asked.
Vilex stood in the middle of the battleground, loosing arrows with deadly precision, dispatching beasts and clearing space for his teammates. A small smirk tugged at his lips despite the tension.
"As you can see, we're doing good," he replied, his voice tinged with sarcasm.
"Just caring, huh? As the commander?"
"Exactly," Layla responded, a slight chuckle in her voice. "Just caring."
"The higher-ups want to send back up". Layla said to Vilex
Vilex's tone hardened, determination flashing in his eyes.
"Tell the higher-ups not to bother. We don't need their backup. Do we look like we're faltering? We'll handle this ourselves. When we win—and we will win—the entire world will remember one name... the Hero Squad."
What he didn't know was that Layla had been broadcasting the entire conversation live to the high officials. They listened in silence as she turned to face them.
"I know many of you still doubt this team," she began. "Even I had my doubts. We only knew much about Timothy and Raymond. But after watching them fight today... this team is going to be unstoppable."
---
Ultra City – Battle Zone
Superbolt zipped through the collapsed buildings, pulling unconscious civilians from the rubble with intense focus.
"That's the last of them. I'll be back in the fight soon."
Above, Thunderstorm ascended into the stormy sky. Clouds twisted and cracked with lightning; thunder boomed like the roar of a furious beast. The skies cried rage.
Lightning struck the enemy beasts relentlessly—dozens fell, writhing in crackling arcs of raw power.
Hi-Tech, grounded amid the rubble, raised his hands toward the sky, targeting a massive boulder descending like doom itself. A pulse beam fired from his gauntlets, disintegrating the stone into dust and particles.
"See that, Sultan?" he shouted. "Your rock is now nothing but dust."
Thunderstorm hovered, eyes glowing electric blue.
"We've got the advantage now. Just give us a little more time, Sultan—and you're finished!"
Sultan stood tall and unshaken, his voice cold as stone.
"Is that why you're happy? Because you stopped one rock?"
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath them. Golems of stone and earth erupted from the cracked earth, towering and radiating a dark, ominous energy. Two more massive boulders hovered, casting deadly shadows.
"You'll need more than half your power for these," Sultan said, his eyes locking onto Hi-Tech.
"They're stronger. More destructive."
The golems roared and charged. Thunderstorm struck first, chaining bolts of lightning that lanced through stone and soil. Hi-Tech fired a barrage of beam blasts, the battlefield erupting in explosions of light and debris.
---
Elsewhere – Sage vs. Sun
Sun floated above the shattered street, a swirling constellation of portals orbiting him like deadly stars. His gaze was fierce, hardened by a lifetime of pain and survival.
"You thought you had the upper hand," he said, voice low and biting, "but the tides are shifting."
Sage stood his ground, clenching his hands tightly. His voice was calm but unwavering.
"Heroes never fall. They rise—no matter the darkness."
He began chanting an ancient incantation, his words weaving through the chaos like a spell of hope:
"By the power of Eldor and the blessing of sorcerers of old... Ommranti Invantos!"
A monumental wave of arcane force surged from Sage's hand, rippling outward like a tidal wave. The street beneath shattered, buildings groaned and cracked, glass exploded in a dazzling spray of shards.
Sun's eyes flickered suddenly, shadows passing over his expression.
—Flashback—
A dusty, war-torn village long ago. Two small boys huddled in the dim alleyway, faces streaked with dirt and tears. The elder, Sun, gripped a broken wooden stick like a sword, standing protectively in front of the younger boy—Wukong.
"Stay behind me!" Sun growled, muscles tense.
A cruel man wielding a whip advanced toward them.
The man lashed out, but Sun dodged with desperate speed, grabbing a loose brick and hurling it with fierce protectiveness.
His heart pounded, tears burning behind clenched teeth.
"One day, I'll make sure no one can hurt you again," young Sun whispered fiercely, clutching his brother's trembling hand.
—End Flashback—
Back on the battlefield, Sun's lips pressed into a thin line. The memory steeled his resolve.
He threw open another portal and vanished in a blink, narrowly escaping the collapsing rubble. Reappearing behind Sage, Sun unleashed a relentless barrage—dozens of portals erupted around him, each releasing beams of blazing energy like piercing stars.
Sage's hands moved in a practiced blur, weaving shield after shield—magical barriers glowing and shimmering under the onslaught. With a quick incantation, he cast a reflection spell, sending several beams hurtling back toward Sun.
Sun barely dodged the mirrored blasts, his breath quickening.
"You're relentless," Sage panted, sweat beading on his brow. "But you won't break me."
Sun's eyes flashed, the battles and scars of his past fueling a quiet fury. With a guttural growl, he opened more portals—one erupted beneath Sage's feet.
Sage teleported upward, narrowly evading the trap.
Time seemed to slow, magic thickening the air. Sage seized the moment, dashing forward with graceful speed. With a cry, he summoned a cage of pure arcane light, bars snapping shut around Sun like chains forged from starlight.
"Stop resisting," Sage commanded, urgency ringing in his voice. "I must aid my friends."
Sun struggled within the glowing prison, eyes blazing with fury and desperation.
"You don't understand... I'm not just fighting you—I'm fighting for him."
His voice cracked, the weight of his past and fierce love for his brother bleeding through.
Sage's eyes softened for a fleeting moment, sensing the storm beneath Sun's rage. But duty remained clear.
"Then let your fight end here—for the sake of everyone."
The cage pulsed with power, magic tightening its hold.
Sage's gaze darted toward the chaos beyond, the fate of many hanging on the edge of this battle.
---
Nearby – Dark Flame vs. Skull
The air grew hotter. The earth cracked beneath their feet. Skull stood facing the prince of flame, a wicked grin etched across his face.
Their battle... was just about to begin.