The White King

ROARRRRRRRR!

The Void Stalkers let out blood-curdling screams as they writhed in agony, their insides seared not by fire, but by blinding lightening.

Even Ironclad, the mastermind behind this devastating strategy, flinched at the sight of these colossal beasts thrashing in pain.

Their massive forms crackled with arcs of electricity, and moments later, as the storm subsided, charred remains lay strewn across the battlefield, blackened carcasses that emitted a strangely enticing aroma.

"Enjoy," Ironclad said to Tempest with a gentlemanly gesture and a grin.

Tempest managed a weak smile, her face pale from expending nearly all her energy on that formidable attack.

Together with Ironclad's efforts, they had decimated almost all of the Void Stalkers.

Suddenly, Nova Blaze, Lumina, and Shadow Step appeared beside them.

"Look! The portal is closing!" Lumina exclaimed, pointing toward the distant rift.

They turned to see the portal slowly sealing shut.

"Damn! Finally!" Ironclad sighed in relief.

But then....

BOOM!

A tremendous shockwave erupted from within the portal, accompanied by an ear-splitting roar.

The sheer force razed everything within a three-hundred-kilometer radius to the ground; Ironclad's metal walls were sent flying like paper as buildings crumbled around them.

Tempest and her fellow heroes exchanged terrified glances as fear gripped their hearts.

"What... what was that?" Lumina stammered, trembling visibly.

Even Shadow Step, who typically kept his emotions hidden, looked grave.

"Something big is trying to escape!" he warned in a low voice filled with dread.

"We can't let that thing out! Everyone unleash your ultimate attacks on the portal until it closes!" Tempest commanded as she dashed toward it.

The others followed suit with grim determination etched on their faces.

"Lightning Strike!" Tempest summoned an immense thundercloud overhead; this time three bolts of lightning thicker than tree trunks shot down into the portal below.

"Flame Cannon!" Nova Blaze extended her arms toward the rift; fiery rings spiraled around her limbs before coalescing into a massive cannon shape.

A fireball as large as a football formed at its mouth and shot forth, a blazing beam radiating intense heat that created sonic booms in its wake!

"Shadow Split!" Shadow Step unsheathed his long black katana and raised it high; tendrils of darkness enveloped his weapon as he slashed toward the portal. Sharp-edged shadows flew forth like deadly projectiles.

"Metal Spikes!" Ironclad manipulated nearby metallic debris into a gigantic spear that hurtled towards the rift with unstoppable force.

"Light Beam!" Lumina stretched out her hands to channel pure energy into a brilliant beam of light aimed directly at the portal.

In an awe-inspiring moment, five brilliantly colored attacks, radiating intense energy and power, surged toward the portal simultaneously.

BOOOOOM!

An earth-shattering explosion echoed through the air as the attacks collided with the portal, sending shockwaves that rippled through space like waves in water.

ROARR!

A deafening roar filled with pain and fury erupted from within, and a massive violet eye emerged from the portal, locking onto Tempest and the others with a gaze brimming with rage and lethal killing intent.

"Waaaaah!" Tempest and the others paled at the sight, blood spilling from their mouths in shock.

Fortunately, the portal slammed shut just in time, vanishing completely before anything could emerge.

"What was that monster? It was terrifying! Just one glance made me feel like I was staring death in the face," Nova Blaze gasped, wiping blood from her lips as lingering fear gripped her heart.

"Whatever that creature is, we dodged a bullet, if it had come through, we'd be completely toast" Ironclad said grimly.

"At least we've managed to avert this disaster," Tempest remarked, her gaze sweeping over the chaos that lay before them.

The remnants of destruction were everywhere, a stark reminder of the battle they had just fought.

"Finally, we're done with this wave," Lumina chimed in, relief evident in her voice. "And thank goodness no villain showed up to complicate things further!"

"Yeah, really lucky," Shadow Step replied, his tone suddenly somber as he fell into silence.

"I can't help but wonder when our country will establish its own hero organization. If this keeps happening, we won't be able to handle it on our own," Ironclad said, shaking his head in frustration.

"But isn't the Global Hero Association supposed to help?" Lumina countered.

"The Global Hero Association? They don't do much beyond providing information and keeping the heroes in check," Nova Blaze scoffed, disdain flickering in her eyes. "They can't command us."

"The reason other countries have successful hero organizations is that they have leaders who earn respect and inspire loyalty. What about us? Who has earned our trust over the past fifty years? Only one person could have built a hero organization for our nation, but he's gone now," Tempest lamented, shaking her head sadly.

A heavy silence fell among them as various emotions played across their faces at Tempest's words.

"I just hope there's someone out there who can step up and build a hero organization for our country," Lumina said earnestly.

"If not, why don't we just start one ourselves?" Nova Blaze suggested confidently.

"Easier said than done," Tempest replied with a wry smile.

The five heroes stood atop a high vantage point overlooking their city, now nearly reduced to ruins.

From every corner of the horizon, rescue vehicles and personnel poured in like an army responding to a call for aid.

Armed helicopters whirred overhead as they tended to the civilians who had survived this monstrous attack.

"Come on! Let's get out of here; our job here is done," Tempest urged as they swiftly vanished from their positions.

Only the orange sun hung high above them, casting its evening glow over the shattered landscape below.

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"Humph! Really lucky," scoffed a figure clad in dark armor from a small hill miles away before disappearing into thin air.

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"Hmmm! Interesting heroes indeed," mused a figure standing in an advanced command room filled with towering holographic screens displaying live updates from Zenith City.

"Eldolon, prepare," commanded the figure with authority.

"Yes Sir," came an electronic voice echoing through the room as the holographic screens dimmed into darkness.