Legacy of Hero: Rise of Kairon

— "Yan, have you seen this?!" — Annie's voice came through the communicator, a mix of frustration and surprise.— "We didn't end up in the same guild! And worse… I got paired with that annoying Kane!"

On the other end, Ryan sighed.

— "Dang, Annie… I really wanted us to be together too. But I heard some missions will be joint."

— "I hope so…" she murmured, before going quiet for a few seconds.

There was hesitation in her silence. Then, with sudden courage, she asked:

— "Yan… would you go to the Guild Gala with me?"

Ryan blushed deeply.

— "R-Really? Of course I will!"

Annie smiled like she'd won a battle.

Before they could continue, Ryan's communicator buzzed again — another incoming call.

— "Annie, it's Ryu and Ethan… they're calling me."

— "They can't wait?"

— *"Not sure… they're being really persistent."

With her permission, Ryan answered.

— "Yo, guys!" — Ryu's energetic voice exploded through the comm.— "Do you know which trio is going to be the greatest in history? Ours! Man, I'm so hyped!"

— "Can't wait for the missions," Ethan added, full of his usual fire.

— "Finally... I'm going to be a real hero," Ryan said with conviction.

— "And our team name?" Ryu teased.

— "The Trinity of Phoenix," suggested Ethan.

— "Nice... but how about The Big 3 of Hero City?" Ryan said.

— "YO! That name hits hard," Ryu replied. "I'm starting a poll on HeroGram right now!"

Minutes later, the poll went viral — and The Big 3 of Hero City won by a landslide.

— "By the way, who's our sensei?" Ryan asked.

— "Darius. My uncle," Ryu replied.

— "Darius is hilarious… especially when my dad's around," Ethan laughed.

— "Can't wait," Ryan said, just before hearing his mom call him.

He ended the call and walked into the living room.

— "Sweetheart, I got you a surprise."

She held out a galaxy-blue suit, shimmering like a sky full of stars.

Ryan was stunned, eyes wide with emotion.

— "It's amazing, Mom… thank you!" — he hugged her tightly.

💃 The Guild Gala

On the big night, Ryan arrived at the Halloway mansion in a high-tech limousine.Roses in hand, suit shining, he rang the doorbell.

The door opened to Mrs. Penny Halloway, elegant and powerful.

— "Ryan Valeborn, right? Annie will be down soon. You were excellent in the Draft."

Annie descended the staircase in a breathtaking red dress. Ryan was speechless.

— "Yan, how do I look?"

— "I-Incredible… you look beautiful."

He handed her the roses.

— "Just a gift… for becoming a real hero."

— "My favorites…" she murmured, touched.

Before leaving, Mrs. Halloway snapped a photo of them — a radiant young duo with a shining future.

They arrived at the event under a rain of flashes and applause. Ethan, Kane, Ryu, Ryan… they all drew attention.

On stage, Lorien Valtier took the mic:

— "Ladies and gentlemen… welcome to the Guild Gala!"

A timeline lit up the screen: Lorien as the first ever Pick #1, followed by Inavy, Ron… and now, the present.

— "With the first pick of the Phoenix Guild… Ethan Stormbreak!"

💥 Thunderous applause. Ethan walked up in a sharp black suit, donned the Phoenix hat, posed for photos, and descended with confidence.

— "With the second pick… Ryan Valeborn!"

The crowd rose to their feet. Ryan, in his galaxy-blue suit, stepped onto the stage.Lorien embraced him with pride. It was a moment of coronation.

🏅 Final Picks:

🥇 Ethan Stormbreak – Phoenix Guild

🥈 Ryan Valeborn – Phoenix Guild

🥉 Kane Jayson – Guild of a Thousand Lights

4️⃣ Ryu Nox – Phoenix Guild

5️⃣ Annie Halloway – Guild of a Thousand Lights

6️⃣ Williem Frost – Thunder Guild

7️⃣ Abby Fountier – Guild of a Thousand Lights

8️⃣ Flynn Eldara – Leviathan Guild

9️⃣ Arnie Johnson – Thunder Guild

🔟 Jerome Liander – Thunder Guild

Lorien gathered the entire next-gen lineup for an epic photo — Tomorrow's Heroes.

☠️ In the Shadows...

While the world celebrated, an old TV played the gala in a dark, forgotten place.

Hant, sitting in silence, clenched his fists.

— "They think they're heroes… but they're just frauds in suits."

A figure stepped from the shadows.

— "Yo."

— "Who are you?" Hant asked, tense.

— "Someone like you… a forgotten hero."

The man emerged — Kai Hayashi, right hand of Kairon… and former member of the Guild of a Thousand Lights.

🔥 End of Chapter 29