**TIME: ???**

**ABANDONED WAREHOUSE**

“…”

Inside a big, empty, concrete room was Gyuwhan. To the wall in front of him were Jamal

and Tarik, bound with chains by their wrists to the wall, and their clothes tattered. They

were mostly sitting in silence…or so it seemed. Gyuwhan had placed the two of them

under an illusion - the Endless Void Technique, the same one Satoru used on Akiro in the

Tournament, though that had been an incomplete version. Endless Void is an illusionary

world of the user's creation, where the flow of time can be altered to the user's desire.

Days, months, and even years can pass within seconds in real time inside this world. It is

only an Illusionary world, meaning persons inside will not necessarily age after spending

any length of time there; their minds might age, but not their bodies.

Inside the illusion, the sky had a red tint, and there were no clouds. In the ground were

erected two Crosses about 4 meters high, and strung up on them were Jamal and Tarik,

impaled at their wrists with large nails and tied by their ankles. They were bloodied all

over…after having been killed by Gyuwhan over, and over, and over. Everything being

an illusion, meant that they could not be killed in that world; their injuries would simply

be healed, although the pain was still ever-present. The two have had their throats

slashed, eyes gouged out, limbs chopped, suffered disembowelment; Gyuwhan

murdered them constantly...yet each time, they revived. They were in what seemed like

the darkest pit of hell. Had it been days? Months? It felt like eternity.

*weak breathing*

*wheezing*

They woke up once more to the same sight - blood running down their bodies, and

Gyuwhan standing in front of them.

“…”

“please…”

Jamal started speaking, weakly. His head remained bowed, and his voice sounded as if

he didn't even have a throat.

Gyuwhan walked up to him, and slit his throat again.

“Speak up. I can't hear you.”

After that, as if nothing ever happened, his wound was healed. But the pain abode still.

“Why…why are you doing this…?” he asked, voice still weak.

Gyuwhan was unresponsive for a moment, and turned his back, walking away.

“Who knows?...What would you like to hear - that I planned this, or I'm doing it on a

whim? That I want to start a war, or I'm trying to achieve peace? For revenge…or for no

reason at all?”

“JUST ANSWER US!!” Tarik yelled out angrily, lifting his head.

Immediately, Gyuwhan threw a Kunai knife straight into his brain. This too, later

appeared as if nothing ever happened.

“I'll ask you first before I answer: what do you guys know about Dragons?” he asked.

“…That you're all a bunch of assholes.” – Tarik was the first to respond. Jamal didn't

have anything to say.

“I see…well, I'll share a story with you guys. About a man named Hellam Ryūjin.”

“…The ancient sorcerer?” Jamal knowingly asked, recalling what he learnt from the

Academy.

“That's right, Jamal Sanjuro. The very same Hellam…the founder of the 9 Dragons;

Public Enemy No. 1.”

“We learnt enough about him before…and how the Ryūjin Clan was destroyed by some

natural disaster. Why do we need to need to hear it all again?!” Tarik interrupted,

irritated. He was angered by the fact that the Dragon had been torturing them for

seemingly no reason, yet desired a conversation with them.

“If you keep quiet for a moment, you'll understand…I know you two aren't dumb,”

Gyuwhan responded to him as he formed a hand sign with both hands.

The scenery underwent a change - they were now in some sort of village. The two boys

were still on their crosses, but in front of them they saw a big Dojo, with a gathering of a

group of individuals. Two sat up on the porch, and all others were turned toward them.

“…What is this,” Jamal asked, squinting his eyes because of the sunlight.

“See that kid up there on the porch?” Gyuwhan directed their attention to the boy sitting

next to a man on the porch.

“That's him…Hellam Ryūjin.”

The child was light-skinned, and wore a red Montsuki gown. He had short black hair,

with a few streaks of red within it. His irides were also a dark shade of red. Sitting next

to him, was his father.

“…That kid?” Tarik asked as he looked at him.

“Hellam was the son of the Ryūjin Clan Head. They were a family of Sorcerers and

Religious Believers,” Gyuwhan explained as he seated himself between the crosses.

“Hellam was a prodigy…a true genius among his kin. Even at this age, he'd mastered the

use of advanced Magical Spells, and even started creating Spells of his own. Everyone

admired him. He was destined to be a legendary figure in years to come.”

The scenery changed again, and they were now in a field, where Hellam was exploring.

“He lived for the world of magic…he was infatuated with the history of the entire world,

how all things came into creation through 9 Ancient Dragons. Every day, he committed

himself to research on ancient spells and techniques, and even mythical creatures that

once existed.”

“But…his interest wasn't exactly limited. He was captivated by the knowledge of

Forbidden Arts - certain practices within the Sorcery World that aren't morally accepted.

Hellam didn't believe there should be any discrimination when it comes to Sorcery…he

saw all forms of magic as one, and believed that isolating some of them away because of

ideals, will only impede our ability to move forward as Sorcerers.”

“His parents, the Clan Heads, tried to change his outlook many times,” he explained as

the scenery again changed, to the inside of a Dojo where Hellam sat before his parents.

“But, the older he got, the more heated their conversations became.”

“How can we strive to be great Sorcerers while we bound our own hands with chains?” he

asked them.

“Son, the practice of Forbidden Techniques is exactly what it is: Forbidden,” his father

responded.

“Hellam, we've been over this ever since you were a child. There are many evils that exist

in this world, especially within Sorcery! We must not associate ourselves with wicked

practices!” his mother asserted sharply. He remained silent, but he was angry.

*sigh*

“My son…keep this up, and you'll only get yourself in trouble,” his father informed him.

“But, he didn't plan on becoming like his parents, or any of his Clan Members” Gyuwhan

continued. “He kept studying forbidden rituals, spells, and incantations…he had eventually

learned the art of Necromancy - raising of the dead. Unfortunately for him, that was the

final straw for the Ryūjin Heads…they were informed about his practices, and Hellam was

subsequently banished from his Clan, at the age of 15.”

The scenery changed once more to a camp site in the forests, where Hellam had started

to live.

“He had an elder sister, named Rika. She wasn't necessarily supportive of his beliefs,

but she looked out for him. As much as she could, she visited him with food and other

necessities. Occasionally, she'd even spend days with him if she had the time. She loved

her little brother, and he loved her like a mother.”

“…Then, one evening, while she was on her way to see him after making him a robe, she

was followed by someone. They snuck up on her…and stabbed her in the heart. She

didn't die, and she wasn't bleeding either…but, something changed.”

She arrived where he was, and he was about to welcome her…but she was crying.

“Rika!...Are you ok?”

She responded with tears streaming, and a small smile,

“…Run, Hellam.”

She approached him with a dagger, and impaled his stomach.

Jamal and Tarik could only watch in shock and confusion, as Rika screamed out - her

face sunken in her seemingly dead brother’s shoulder.

“She pulled out the dagger, and took a step back…but Hellam was still standing,” Gyuwhan

narrated.

“Brother?...” she muttered, face red from crying.

Suddenly, something changed. Rika felt different…there was a pain in her stomach. She

felt dizzy…she felt like she was losing blood.

“…What is…this?”

She came to her senses; the Hellam that she stabbed, disappeared. She was standing in

the same place where she was when she told her brother to run. He was looking right at

her from his same position.

Rika looked down…to see the dagger lodged in her stomach.

Hellam had casted an Illusion, and she unwittingly stabbed herself.

“…Hellam?...”

“Rika…why?...why?...” he couldn't move from his spot, and his eyes were like

saucers. His hands trembled.

As Rika’s hands let go of the blade’s handle, she started leaning to the side, while she

muttered:

“It…told me…kill…”

She fell to the ground.

“When she was stabbed in her heart, a spell was cast on her,” Gyuwhan started to

explain. “The spell instructed her to ‘Kill Hellam Ryūjin’…and it was placed by none

other than one of the Ryūjin Clan’s higher ups. Hellam’s parents ordered his

assassination.”

Hellam himself picked up on this after examining the stab wound in her heart, in

addition to hearing her last words.

“And, after that…” Gyuwhan left off as the scene changed; Hellam stood at the gate of

Ryūjin Clan, with a few guards facing him. They were not made aware of the

assassination order.

“What's your business here?” they asked him.

“…”

He stooped to the ground, and rested down a bleeding hand, as his cold, red, sore eyes

glared into theirs:

“Summoning."

There was a huge cloud of smoke, and there emerged a gigantic Dragon, towering over the

village. It roared like thousands of lions, and rained down fireballs the size of boulders. This

was the truth behind the Ryūjin Clan’s Downfall.

Amid the screeching and wailing that erupted from the village, Gyuwhan summarized

for the two boys watching:

“He massacred the entire Ryūjin Clan on that night.”

Jamal and Tarik were left speechless, and horrified. They forgot all about the pain they

felt after being tortured for what felt like days, as their pain was replaced by that of the

long-dead victims of that night.

Having remained silent for a while, Tarik was the first to speak:

“…Why are you showing us this?” he asked.

The scenery of the void reverted to a pitch-black plane, with a single white light in the midst.

“…The two of you are a lot like Hellam,”

“Even though he was opposed by everyone…even though you two are the weakest…you

two, and Hellam Ryūjin, you both pushed past all oppositions, for the sake of having

your way.”

“How do you even know about us?...” Tarik thought of asking.

“I've been observing you two, since the tournament,” he responded.

“!!” – They were both alarmed at hearing this.

“I know all about you both…the fact that you're both unbalanced, the fact that you're the

Heads’ sons, I know. You were my targets all along.”

“Tch…I don't care if you try to compare us to that guy, we're not like him! We're not

killers!” Tarik defended.

“That's actually really funny…because, just like Hellam, you killed off the one person

you loved the most.”

Their hearts dropped when they heard that, and a screw popped loose in Tarik’s head.

“Wh…What are you talking about? DON’T SCREW AROUND! YOU KILLED HAYAMI!!”

“What made Hayami follow you guys?” Gyuwhan immediately asked in response.

“…Huh?”

“For whose sakes did Hayami give her life?”

“Whose stubbornness gave Hayami a reason to sacrifice herself?”

“Whose selfish drive led to Hayami’s death?”

Gyuwhan drilled these questions into their heads…their hearts raced within them. Their

thoughts spiraled out of control. Jamal couldn't find the strength to speak, and Tarik

desperately grabbed after strings, looking for a response.

Stepping closer to them, Gyuwhan rehearsed the eye-opener:

“Hellam’s stubborn drive led to Rika’s death…and your stubborn drives led to

Hayami's. It's your own fault.”

“…Ultimately, I played a part in her death. But, this was simply to prove another point.

Some people get lucky…but remember this: being different from the norm will end in

betrayal.”

“…What the hell are you talking about…?” Tarik asked with his head hung down, tears

running down his face.

Coming closer to his ear, Gyuwhan explained:

“Hellam pursued what nobody else did, and his own parents ordered his execution. The

two of you decided to become Hunters even though you're exactly like civilians, and

Hayami died because of that. And the end result of Hayami's death…is that nobody will

come rescue you.”

Tarik immediately lifted his head, and shouted at him:

“You're lying!! My Father, Gadō-sama, Uncle Emir, Steffan-sensei, they're all coming to

save us!!”

“I'd love to see that,” he responded sarcastically. “If the two of you only get people

killed…what good would there be in saving you? Wouldn't it be better to just throw out

the trash?”

“No…shut up…” Tarik spoke quietly.

“Your father’s one of the strongest persons in the world, yet he didn't come save his own

son.”

“Shut up…” he said quietly once more.

Turning to Jamal, Gyuwhan added:

“…Your father didn't even know what happened last night.”

“SHUT UP!!!”

They were absolutely broken…in mind, body, and spirit. They no longer had words. As

they hung there on their crosses, tears streamed from Tarik's face, and Jamal was silent,

but internally dead.

Gyuwhan sat looking at them, and let out a sigh.

Illusion Release. • 幻術解 (Gen-jutsu Kai)

The Endless Void Technique was undone, and they returned to the real world; inside the

concrete room, where the two were still chained to the wall, sitting against it with their

bodies slumped. He didn't want to speak, but he felt he didn't have a choice:

“What exactly do you want with us…?” Jamal was the one to ask. Tarik was completely

broken down.

“…As it turns out,” Gyuwhan started, “You two aren't as useless as it might seem.”

“…Some centuries ago, in that Dragon War, there were Two Warriors who singlehandedly

put an end to that war, taking on the 9 Dragons themselves. They were the predecessors

of the Founders of the Two Clans.”

“This is honestly a hunch…but, long story short, there's one single source of information

that points to the likelihood of those two warriors being born Unbalanced.”

Jamal lifted his head slightly, looking at him.

“Obviously, that's where the two of you come in…there's also the fact that you two are

the first recorded Unbalanced persons among your Clans. That supports the notion. If

that power truly lies dormant inside the two of you…I'd rather keeping it nearby, on this

side,” he explained.

“…If it turns out to be true…couldn't we just turn against you with that power?” Jamal

asked.

“If you can control it…if you awaken it to the same degree,” Gyuwhan responded. He

then started to walk out of the room, leaving them alone for a while.

“…What's your name?” - Again, he didn't want to ask, but he felt that he needed to.

He turned back to him,

“…Gyuwhan Ryūjin. Leader of the Dragon-Tails.”

---------------------------------------

**11:00AM**

**FAMILY GROUNDS, WEST PARK**

**AUGUST 4, 2012**

The day after the incident, over by the Park, sat the Clan Mistresses Miri and Yura, over

by a private area where they wouldn't be disturbed. They were both still coming to

terms with the news they'd received last night, regarding their youngest sons. They

were individually taking a walk that morning, and ended up running into each other,

after which they decided to go to the park together.

As the gentle wind blew and the sunlight glistened, Yura was humming the melody of a

song.

“I remember it like yesterday…” Miri started to speak. “When they were kids, that was

their favorite lullaby…”

“At one point, Tarik wanted to learn it himself, said he wanted to sing just like me,” Yura

recalled.

“Damn it…” Miri remarked as tears welled up in her eyes.

“…How was he?” she asked her friend.

“…Well, he was always a handful. There was never a dull moment in the house with him

around…he and his brother were like oil and water, but they always looked out for each

other…moreso Satoru looking out for him,” Yura said with a chuckle. “How about him?”

“Well…he was always a quiet one,” Miri started to speak, smiling. “He was always the

best behaving, sweetest, most courteous boy. He struggled getting used to his twin

siblings at first, but they grew on him…we all loved him…” Miri broke down into tears.

Yura rested her hand on hers, trying to console her.

“They'll be ok, Miri…my Mother's Instinct doesn't lie, y'know,” she reassured her.

“They're so young…they need someone they can talk to…someone to be there for

them…” Miri sobbed.

“…It's going to be hard…but they'll just have to be there for each other.”

Yura couldn't stop the tears that were descending from her eyes either.

“Those two are strong…they'll be ok. They'll cone back to us…I know they will.”

---------------------------------------

**OUTSIDE THE HUNTERS' MEETING LOUNGE**

A meeting with the Clans’ Hunters hosted by Lords Gadō and Tenchi had just concluded,

regarding yesterday's occurrence. As the Hunters poured out of the building, there

walked together Emir, Steffan, and Katashi. Fūdo was with them as well, but he walked

ahead by himself. There was a gigantic sense of gloom in the atmosphere.

Not even Steffan, who was usually the most talkative person, wanted to say anything.

Not after his pupil was kidnapped.

“They're gonna be fine…” Emir searched for words to say. “Considering the fact that

they were captured.”

“Yeah…but, I'm just worried about what kind of bullshit they could be filling their heads

with,” Steffan responded. “And…more than that…”

They looked at Fūdo, who walked with his hands in his pockets, in silence.

“…What a day, huh…” – his best friend, Katashi, walked up next to him. Fūdo let out a

sigh, but Katashi gave him a moment before saying anything else.

“I could have saved her...I could have saved them...” he muttered.

“If only…” he didn't know what more to say.

“I know you're hurting man, trust me. But, she wouldn't want to see you like this…not

the Fūdo she knows.”

Placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, Katashi reassured him:

“We'll get the son of a bitch who did this…and we'll save those kids, too.”

Fūdo closed his eyes for a moment…and later opened them, responding,

“Just so you guys know…this ‘No Killing’ rule no longer applies to me. And that goes

double for whoever that guy is.”

“Just be careful, Fūdo…meet us at the bar tonight, alright?”

“Yeah…sure.”

---------------------------------------

**MEDICAL WARD**

On the roof of the Family Grounds’ main Medical Center stood Ilmar, hanging his body over

the railing. He along with the rest of Trainees were instructed by Chōjo to come to the

medical ward for a meeting, since both he and Miwa were being treated for injuries they

received. The meeting had not yet started, and so Ilmar went up to the roof, wanting to

have some alone time.

As he was there, the door to the roof opened, and there came Satoru.

“…You gonna stay up here forever?”

He didn't respond.

Satoru walked over to him, and stood there by his side.

“Y'know…back in the Tournament, before Jamal and I had our match…I agreed that if he

won, I'd fully support the two of them…obviously he didn't, but I kept the promise

anyway.

“…That doesn't sound like you,” Ilmar finally spoke.

“I know. But, after fighting that kid…I guess I changed my mind.”

“Listen, Ilmar…I don't know the intentions of anyone else, but remember this…me and

you, we're gonna save those two. By any means necessary.”

Turning to him, Ilmar responded,

“That's exactly what I was going to say to you.”

Smiling, Satoru said to him,

“Anyway, come on. I came to get you for the meeting. It's starting.”

---------------------------------------

**MEETING ROOM**

Inside a big room were Lords Tenchi and Gadō, Chōjo, and Miwa sitting up in their beds,

and the 14 Trainees; most of which were more quiet than usual, considering what they

went through last night.

“I'll be the first to say,” Tenchi started off, “That I take full responsibility for the tragic

occurrence of last night. It was because of my complacency as a Clan Head, that resulted

in the invading of your Training Session, the kidnapping of two of our own students, and

the death of our beloved family member, Hayami Ōriki.”

Amira broke down when Tenchi uttered that last part. Hayami was like an older sister

to both her and Gina. Gina wanted to cry as well, but she had cried more than enough

last night. Kento, being a descendant of an Ancient Clan just like Hayami, wasn't in the

brightest of spirits either. They all loved Hayami.

“…I feel bad having to talk to you all, but I wouldn't deserve to be a Leader if I didn't.”

“I want to apologize to you all as well,” Gadō added. “Especially to you two…Ilmar, Gina.

I wasn't even there to do anything…”

“I didn't alert Gadō-sama, so don't blame him,” Tenchi defended their father. “That's all

on me.”

“It's fine, Tenchi-sama…” Kinshi was the one to reassure him.

“Don't beat yourself up, Tenchi-sama,” Akiro added.

“Alright…the first thing I want us to discuss, is the identity of the assailant. Chōjo-san,

and Satoru, go ahead,” he signaled to the teacher and his son.

“Right,” Chōjo started off.

“When Tenchi-sama made contact with me, the enemy appeared in front of me immediately.

I instructed the trainees to hide, and by the time I realized it, I was under an Illusionary

Technique. I broke out of it, but he was already right next to me, and he attacked me.”

“Did you get a good look at him?” Tenchi asked.

“Even if I did, it's like I don't remember at all…but I do remember the voice. Male, and

he's a kid. Around the same age as these trainees,” Chōjo informed.

“…I see. Satoru?” he asked his son now.

“Yes. I only caught a glimpse of him after he grabbed Jamal and Tarik. His skin is as

white as Rakulli-san’s, he has long black hair, and he uses a weird Transportation

Technique where he opens a portal on a surface. Ilmar saw him at the same time I did.”

“Yeah,” Ilmar chimed in, “He's about as tall as I am…and he knows our names. He also

said, ‘I'll be borrowing your brothers’.”

“He has names, huh…” Tenchi thought to himself.

“I see, that guy Fūdo and Emir fought against. He must've been gathering information all

along…but, how long was he…?”

“Ok, it's not much information, but it's something. Listen…I know how you guys are

feeling right now, it's not easy having to deal with someone’s death and the capture of

two others at once. But, I need all of you to keep your focus on training…myself, Gadō-sama,

and the High Rankers, we'll personally take charge concerning this situation.”

“Just as I thought…so, Sato was thinking the same thing.”

Ilmar confirmed his suspicion - both he and Satoru had a strong feeling that the higher

ups would instruct them to leave the situation to the grown-ups.

“Now then…” Chōjo now took the opportunity to address his students.

“I don't want to say ‘I told you so’…but as you've all come to learn, these things can, and

sometimes will happen during missions. This incident was a bit on the extreme side, but

it doesn't change the fact.”

“I'll be saying this for the final time…If you do not wish to become a Hunter…now’s your

chance.”

There was no Tarik in the room to encourage them this time around. They had to make

a decision. Chōjo turned to Genki, who had his head faced to the floor.

“Genki…I heard what happened with you last night. I don't want to tell you to keep

going on with us.”

He frowned, but his brother Galib who was next to him said,

“Genki…I know how you feel, but try to understand. I couldn't forgive myself if

something were to happen to you,” as he put his hand on his shoulder, to which he

remained silent.

“Remember what I told you all on the Entrance Test?” Chōjo asked them. “You guys

could pursue other professions…you could become instructors like Miwa and I, or

personal trainers like Steffan, who trained Tarik. Or, guarding the grounds.”

“Exactly, Genki,” Galib agreed. “So please…think about this.”

“…Alright,” he finally responded.

“I think I'll quit too.”

These words came from Haruo.

“Haruo Sanjuro…you sure?” Chōjo asked him. “Your performance thus far has been

remarkable. Was last night too much for you?”

“Yes, Sensei. I think I'll just train to be an instructor, or a guard.”

“Very well, glad you decided on your own.”

“Zeke Sanjuro!” Chōjo called out.

“Huh? M-Me, Sensei??”

“Hmph…don't worry, it's not what you think; it's actually the opposite. The way you

managed to maintain your cool, and even tried to calm down a panicking teammate

in that situation, I admire that. You're definitely welcome to remain,” Chōjo complimented

him.

“Oh! Ok…thank you, Sensei.”

“As for the rest of you, no need to worry…” he said to them.

“Saki Kirishima. I’m keeping an eye on you however.”

“Y-Yes, Sensei…” she responded with her head lowered. Deep down, she was hurt by

Tarik’s kidnapping. She liked him, after all.

“Well…that’s mostly it,” Chōjo concluded. “You guys will get some time off for this week,

and we’ll continue our training after that.”

“Rest assured…we’re saving those two, no matter what it takes. Now, dismissed.”

They all slowly poured out of the room, walking through the hospital’s hallway. They

were now walking in newness of mind, having spoken with their teachers. The sadness

was past, and they now carried determination. The objective? Become much stronger.

“Amira,” Gina called to her. “You don’t mind training with me, right?”

“…Sure. Let’s do it,” she responded positively.

“Hey, Kinshi,” Zeke called to him, “You could teach me a thing or two, right?”

“Hmph…don’t worry, loser.”

“I think I could learn to use a sword,” Galib said to Kento. “Mind helping me out?”

“Not a problem.”

“Think you can keep up with me, Namiyo?” – This was Akiro.

“We’ll have to find out.”

“Let’s go, Saki.”

“…Yes, Sister.”

“…I don’t have to ask you anything, right?” - This was Satoru to Ilmar.

“Damn right you don’t,” he responded, punching his palm.

“I’ve got a Dragon to hunt down.”

---------------------------------------

**LATER THAT NIGHT**

**ABANDONED WAREHOUSE**

Jamal and Tarik laid on the ground with their backs toward each other, in the same

room. Gyuwhan removed their chains, and he gave them a big enough blanket to sleep

on. They were there in mostly silence, until Tarik broke it:

“…Do you think they’re coming for us?”

Jamal didn’t respond.

“…I see,” Tarik answered the silence.

It wasn’t that Jamal didn’t want to speak, but he was lost in thought…he couldn’t stop

remembering all the time he spent up until that point. His brothers, his sister, his

parents, his friends, they were all he could think about…until those thoughts simply

vanished. Now, the only person he thought about was his best friend…even vivid

memories from the time they were infants resurfaced.

“Our moms used to make us sleep together like this, didn’t they?” he finally spoke.

“…You actually remember that?”

“I guess…”

They laid in silence for a while longer.

“Tarik…” Jamal started.

“Don’t expect anyone to come for us.”

Normally, he would blatantly object like he tried doing with Gyuwhan…but, he gradually

accepted this. Not because he wanted to, but because it seemed like the harsh reality.

“From this point on…the only person I trust in this world…is you.”

While Jamal was saying this, unbeknownst to either of them, their bodies underwent

transformations - Tarik’s body was emitting a black aura. Tribal markings were on the

left side of his face, and his muscles contracted.

At the same time, in Jamal’s right eye…his pupil almost completely disappeared, and his

iris was bright red, emitting a small glow.

“I’ll Always Have Your Back…Brother.”

“Yeah…Me Too.”

---------------------------------------

**END OF ACT 1: HEROES REBORN**