In the dim lair of the Hero Hunter organization, silence loomed like a curse. One figure arrived, fully cloaked in black. His face was hidden behind a cold, unfeeling mask.
He knelt before the throne-like chair where the Leader of Hero Hunters sat.
"I want to join your organization," the masked man said, voice steady like steel.
The leader leaned forward, his voice heavy with suspicion.
"But why? And how do I know I can trust you?"
The man raised his head slightly, revealing a single glowing red eye beneath the mask.
"I want revenge. I want to kill every hero alive."
A pause. Then the leader smirked.
"Very well… But first, a test."
Target: A hero.
Location: Outside a school.
The hero was just an ordinary father today, picking up his daughter with a warm smile. He had no idea death was watching from the shadows.
Then… the world stopped.
"Time Frizone."
The masked man activated his ability—everything froze. The wind halted. Birds stilled in the sky. Even sound itself vanished.
In the quiet void, he walked forward.
He stabbed the hero cleanly through the heart. No struggle. No witnesses.
When time resumed, all that remained was the lifeless body—and a terrified scream from the daughter.
But the killer was already gone.
Back at the Base
The man stood before the leader once more.
"I did it," he said coldly.
The leader's eyes narrowed, impressed.
"You're amazing. From now on… you are a member of Hero Hunter."
Suddenly, two senior members stepped forward, blades drawn.
"We don't trust him," one growled, pressing his sword to the masked man's neck.
But the man didn't flinch.
With a flash—
"Flame Burst Fist: Core Strike!"
A fiery fist struck the attacker's chest, right near the heart. The man collapsed instantly, heart stopped for two seconds, gasping in terror.
The masked man stepped away.
"Know your limits."
Then he disappeared—like a phantom in the wind.
The massive gates of the Hero Guild creaked open, golden emblems shining under the morning sun. Ash led the group, his expression serious. Behind him followed Misaki with sharp eyes, Koharu clutching her spellbook, Luna quiet and alert, Kai cracking his knuckles, Drax silent like a shadow, and Kaien trailing with cautious steps.
They stepped inside.
Heroes were training, clerks rushed papers, and the air smelled of old steel and fresh ambition. But something felt… off.
"This place… doesn't feel like before," Luna murmured.
Kaien nodded. "Something's hidden."
As they reached the main hall, they were greeted by Guildmaster Renji—a man once praised as a symbol of justice.
"Ash. Misaki. Everyone," he said with a practiced smile. "What brings you here today?"
"To talk," Ash replied coolly. "About the attacks on the east border. We heard the guild refused to send backup."
Renji's smile faltered. "Misinformation."
But Misaki stepped forward, holding up a scroll. "Then why do we have proof that you sold defense plans to the enemy?"
Gasps echoed around them.
Renji's calm shattered. His fingers twitched. "So… you found out."
Behind him, shadows moved. Guards turned. The heroes they'd once admired… raised their weapons.
"It's true," Renji said, his voice now cold. "The guild has been rotting for years. I just accelerated it."
Ash drew his blade. "Then we're not standing down."
Drax's eyes glowed. "Let's end this traitor's game."
Flashback
Years ago, Renji stood at the peak of glory.
He was the youngest hero ever promoted to Guildmaster—cheered by crowds, trusted by kings, and loved by the people. His sword had saved countless lives, and his heart burned with justice.
But one night… everything changed.
He returned from a mission to find his hometown burned to ashes.
Bodies of villagers lay in the dirt—his mother, his sister, his friends. No survivors. No mercy.
He knelt in the ruins, his fists trembling. "Why…?"
A hooded man appeared behind him. "The truth hurts, doesn't it?"
Renji turned, eyes wild. "Who did this?"
"The people you serve. The higher council of the Hero Guild. They denied help because your village wasn't 'strategic enough.'"
Renji refused to believe it—but when he searched the sealed reports himself, it was all there.
Lies. Delays. Orders to ignore the request.
The people he had trusted… had sacrificed his entire hometown.
From that moment, the hero known as Renji died.
In his place rose a man with one goal: tear down the rotten system from within.
He became what he once hunted.
One month ago
Rain poured from the sky, thunder echoing in the distance.
Renji stood alone, hood covering his face. A dark figure approached from the shadows—it was the leader of the Hero Hunters.
"You came," the leader said.
Renji took a deep breath. "I'm tired of pretending. The Guild is rotten. I followed orders, watched my comrades die for politics. I'm done."
The leader smirked. "Then join us. Burn the fake system down."
Renji slowly removed his hero badge and dropped it in the mud. "From now on… I fight for justice my way."
The leader handed him a black emblem—a symbol of the Hero Hunters. "Welcome, Renji. You're one of us now."
Hero Guild – Strategy Room, Afternoon
Ash, Misaki, Koharu, Luna, Kai, Drax, and Kaien gather around a map, discussing recent mission failures.
Ash points at the board. "Three missions… all sabotaged. How does the enemy always know where we are?"
Misaki crosses her arms. "There's a mole. Someone inside is feeding them information."
Luna, thoughtful, glances at the mission reports. "These logs were handled by Renji... every time."
Koharu's eyes widen. "You don't think—?"
Drax slams his fist on the table. "We trusted him!"
Kaien growls, "I always felt something was off."
Ash narrows his eyes. "No assumptions. We find proof. If Renji really betrayed us… we bring him down ourselves."
Alley Behind the Hero Guild – Night
The cold night air brushed against Ash's face as he hid behind a dumpster, his breath shallow. The shadows masked his presence as he followed a lead… and now, his eyes widened at what he saw.
Renji stood beneath a flickering streetlight. Across from him was a tall man in a black hoodie, the unmistakable Hero Hunter logo stitched on the sleeve. His face was hidden behind a silver mask.
Ash's heart pounded. That mask…
The Masked Man spoke in a cold, mechanical tone.
"The leader told me you have evidence. And secrets from inside the Hero Guild."
Renji didn't hesitate. He lifted a black suitcase and handed it over.
"Everything's in here," he said.
The Masked Man leaned in close and whispered something Ash couldn't hear—but whatever it was, Renji nodded slowly.
Ash's hands tightened into fists.
Renji… you…
His world began to crumble as he realized: one of their own was a traitor.