[Sky – En Route to Home]
As Kevingu and his stepmother Martha flew through the sky in a sleek glider vehicle, the world beneath them blurred into a streak of lights and clouds. The air was cold at this altitude, but their suits kept them warm—and a special comm device allowed clear communication in air, space, or sea.
Suddenly, Martha broke the silence.
"Son… do you hate me?"
Kevingu blinked. "Wow. That was… unexpected. No. I don't hate you."
She looked at him, waiting.
"Then why don't you come home?" she asked softly.
Kevingu's eyes gazed forward, distant but calm.
"I know the government forced you and Dad to marry. But even if they hadn't... I would've asked him to remarry."
"After Mom passed, he was alone. Broken. When you and your daughters came into our lives, everything got warmer. Happier."
He turned toward her, voice cracking just slightly.
"You loved me more than any mother needed to. Honestly, I feel like… I don't deserve it."
Martha's eyes welled with tears.
Without a word, she reached out and hugged him tightly, arms trembling as she held him in midair.
"Thank you, my son... but you must know—you're not a burden. You deserve every bit of love we've given you."
Kevingu smiled, softly.
"No… it's I who am grateful for yours, Mom."
Their moment of silence was unshakable. High above the world, in the chill of wind and light, they flew together—bound not by blood, but by something stronger.
---
[Zone 19 – Desert Region]
In Desert Zone 12, the blazing sun was finally beginning to set. A squad of 100 S-Ranked Superhumans—some of the strongest on Earth—was setting up camp for the night.
Tents were half-built, gear half-unpacked, when a strange figure emerged from the dunes. It walked with eerie calm, its entire body cloaked in thick mist, obscuring its shape and face.
The squad leader narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.
"Identify yourself!"
No reply.
Suddenly, without warning, the figure raised its hand and unleashed a fireball—a massive one, radiating so much heat that even the sand began to melt beneath it.
The team reacted instantly—dashing, teleporting, and shielding in flawless synchronicity.
They dodged. Barely.
The sheer force of the attack rattled their nerves. In perfect discipline, the 100 split into four 25-member tactical teams, surrounding the figure in a box formation.
The battle began.
But after only 10 minutes of engagement, something changed.
The creature slowly lifted the mist from its face.
And in that moment—just a single instant—all 100 Superhumans collapsed to the ground.
Silent. Motionless.
Dead.
---
🏢 [HATE Headquarters – Emergency Control Division]
A young security technician burst through the sliding door of the main office.
"Sir! We have a problem!"
The Security Boss looked up, annoyed.
"Calm down. What is it?"
"The life signal device—it turned grey."
The boss raised a brow. "So? That happens sometimes. Whose signal?"
The guard swallowed.
"The group of 100 S-ranked Superhumans, sir."
The Security Boss shot up from his seat.
"What!?"
He didn't wait for clarification. Slamming a hidden button beneath his desk, he was instantly teleported to the control room.
Dozens of holographic monitors flickered across the room. One wall displayed a series of life-status indicators—all turned grey.
No signals.
No vitals.
No survivors.
He turned to the operations team.
"Deploy recon squad. Stealth-only. No combat. I want visuals before we recover anything."
The order was clear: no one approaches until they understand what killed 100 of Earth's elite.
Then he activated a secure line and began relaying the incident to the higher-ups.
Something more dangerous than a Dragon might have just awakened.
---