Chapter 3: Which Path Will You Walk?

The sun peeked over the rooftops of the quiet city, casting warm light across the Kurogane household. Birds chirped gently, the breeze rustled the trees, and for once, all seemed peaceful.

Ash Kurogane opened his eyes.

His body was calm, but his soul… wasn't.

Dreams of war still echoed in his mind—visions of battlefields soaked in blood, a throne left behind, and a promise never fulfilled.

He sat up and stared at his hand, clenching and unclenching his fingers.

Eight years old.

Too young to hold the fate of a world.

But Kaelen had done more with less.

Downstairs, breakfast sizzled. Nao hummed a soft tune, and Rin argued with their dad about using the last of the milk. It was loud, messy… and perfect.

Ash smiled slightly, letting the warmth of this new life settle in.

But peace never lasted.

Not for him.

Later that day…

Ash walked through the city with his father, Akio, on the way to the local guild branch. It was bustling with activity—mages, swordsmen, and aspiring heroes moving in and out of the sleek building.

"Why are we here?" Ash asked.

"You're ready for more than just training," Akio replied. "You need real-world experience. And there's someone I want you to meet."

Inside, the guild buzzed with noise—battle-scarred veterans swapping stories, newcomers posting mission forms, and digital boards flickering with urgent quests.

At the front counter stood a woman in a long coat, arms crossed. Silver hair, sharp gaze, and an aura of authority that turned heads.

She noticed Ash and Akio approaching.

"You're late," she said bluntly.

Akio scratched his head. "Traffic."

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Who's she?"

The woman stepped forward. "Name's Yura Ayanami. Rank A hero. I owe your dad a favor. He says you're special."

Ash narrowed his eyes. "And you don't believe him?"

Yura smirked. "I believe in results. So I'm taking you on your first field mission. Let's see what kind of prodigy you really are."

Mission: Missing Children. Danger Level: B.

They traveled to the edge of the city, where the woods grew thick and whispers of strange disappearances had shaken the nearby village.

Yura briefed them coldly. "Four children vanished in the last week. No signs of a monster. Locals are terrified."

Ash scanned the trees. Something felt… off. The wind carried a heavy scent—iron, like blood.

"I'll scout ahead," Ash said.

Yura frowned. "Don't wander off alone. You're still a kid."

Ash didn't listen. His instincts were screaming.

He moved quickly through the forest, blade at his side, senses alert.

Then—he heard it.

A faint whimper.

He followed the sound to a clearing—and froze.

A massive black beast stood there, easily twenty feet tall. Its body was like smoke and shadow, eyes glowing with crimson hate. Caged behind it were the missing children, huddled in fear.

Ash didn't wait.

He charged.

The sword lit up with lightning, slashing through the mist-like creature—but it reformed instantly, growling low.

"What is this thing?" Ash muttered, dodging a claw swipe.

The beast roared, sending out a shockwave that blasted him back into a tree.

Ash stood slowly, wiping blood from his mouth. "You're strong…"

He grinned.

"Good."

Back at the village, Yura felt the pressure in the air shift.

"He's fighting something… alone."

She sprinted into the woods, faster than most could follow.

By the time she reached the clearing, she saw Ash, standing firm, bleeding but unafraid. His sword was coated in lightning, his eyes glowing gold.

The beast lunged.

Ash let go of all hesitation.

"Kaelen's Wrath—First Form: Lightning Fang!"

He vanished in a blur of light.

Slash!

The beast howled as its body tore apart, dissolving into smoke and ash.

Silence fell.

Yura stared in disbelief. That wasn't the power of a normal boy. That was…

Legendary.

Ash turned, panting. "The kids are safe."

Yura walked toward him slowly. "Who… are you really?"

Ash just smiled faintly. "Just a boy… who remembers too much."

That night…

Ash sat alone outside, watching the stars again.

He didn't fear the darkness.

He was the storm that tore through it.

But deep inside, he wondered… if this was just the beginning… what would the end look like?

Far away, unseen by anyone, in the shadows of the city, a man in a white coat watched a flickering screen.

On it—Ash Kurogane's face.

"He's awakened… sooner than expected."

Behind him, dozens of glowing pods lined the walls. Creatures stirred inside them.

"Release Protocol: Phase One," the man said coldly. "Let's test the reincarnated prince."

And across the city…

The storm truly began.

Shibuya Hero Academy – Class 1-A

In a world where heroes were worshipped and strength defined worth, Class 1-A was home to the elites.

They were children of power. The chosen. The next protectors of Japan.

But among them sat one boy who didn't smile, didn't speak, and didn't care about being a hero.

His name was Ash Kurogane.

They called him Hero.

Because though he ranked as the strongest

He saved no one.

"Ash. Wake up."

The voice was calm and familiar.

Ash opened his eyes. He wasn't sleeping—just avoiding conversation.

His roommate, Rin Kisaragi, was already up, dressed in his sleek black-and-red hero uniform.

"The rankings are out," Rin said. "You're number one again. Shocked?"

Ash sat up.

"Expected."

Class room 1- A

Ash. Wake up."

The voice was calm and familiar.

Ash opened his eyes. He wasn't sleeping—just avoiding conversation.

His roommate,Rei Tsukihara, was already up, dressed in his sleek black-and-red hero uniform.

"The rankings are out," Rei said. "You're number one again. Shocked?"

Ash sat up.

"Expected."

Class 1-A Homeroom

"Morning, class!" said Kaoru-sensei, their homeroom teacher, her energy sharp and commanding.

"No lectures today. Starting now, you'll be entering live missions. Real combat. Real criminals."

The class lit up.

"Finally, hero work!"

"I bet Ash will finish it solo again."

"He's barely human…"

Ash sat in the back.

He wasn't there for glory.

He was there for power.

And revenge.

Training Field – Combat Assessment

Two students entered the arena: one from a powerful hero family, wielding advanced combat gear. The other—Ash.

"Begin!"

The noble launched at him with high-speed kicks and flash gear.

Ash didn't move.

One step forward. One blow.

The opponent hit the ground—unconscious.

Ash turned his back without a word.

Kaoru-sensei sighed.

"No mercy. As usual."

Later – East Wing Rooftop

Rei and Ash sat watching the clouds drift.

"You know… you could be a real hero."

Rei didn't reply.

"You're the top of Class 1-A. You've got the power, the name, the presence. You could lead us."

Rei's eyes were cold.

"I'm not interested in saving people."

Ash frowned. "Why?"

Rei looked up at the sky.

"Because when I needed saving… no one came."

Flashback – 7 Years Ago

A burning house. Blood on the floor. His sister crying. A man screaming for help. A shadow towering over them.

No heroes came.

Only silence. Only death.

Back on the Rooftop – Present

Ash looked at Rin for a long moment. The wind carried the quiet between them.

"I don't care about being a hero," Rei said. "But I'll become the strongest. So that never happens again."

Ash nodded slowly.

"Same."

They didn't need to explain further.

Two broken souls. Two different pasts. One shared path:

Become the strongest. Burn the system down. Rewrite the meaning of 'hero.'

Meanwhile…

Deep within an underground lab, the man in the white coat reviewed live footage from the arena.

Ash Kurogane.Rei Tsukihara. Aira Minazuki. Class 1-A.

"Phase One is complete," he muttered.

"The real story… begins now.

Home

The front door creaked open.

Ash Kurogane stepped inside, his heavy footsteps muffled by the soft carpet. The familiar warmth of home wrapped around him like a familiar coat, but something in the air was off. Tense. Heavy.

He quietly placed his bag by the door, slipped off his shoes, and walked into the dimly lit living room.

The television flickered in the corner, casting pale blue light across the walls. An emergency broadcast was in progress.

[BREAKING NEWS – TRAGEDY IN TOKYO]

Smoke and flames poured from the screen—images of a charred school bus, twisted metal, and scattered shoes. Rescue teams and heroes rushed through the wreckage, their faces streaked with soot and desperation.

A reporter's voice filled the room.

"A blast rocked Tokyo earlier today, causing the deaths of three children. Several others are in critical condition, with multiple injuries. Heroes on-site were unable to save the majority of those trapped."

Ash's golden eyes fixed on the screen. His jaw tightened. But his mind… it was somewhere else. Somewhere deeper.

Rin Kurogane sat on the couch, back straight, face pale. She was gripping a glass of water in both hands, knuckles white. Her long black hair framed a face filled with fury and fear. Despite her calm posture, her body trembled subtly.

She turned as Ash entered.

"You saw it, didn't you?" she said, her voice low, sharp. "The kids… they couldn't save them. They didn't even get there in time."

Ash didn't respond.

The reporter's voice continued, indifferent and clinical.

"The explosion, suspected to be caused by a villain, came without warning. Despite the presence of several high-ranking heroes, the efforts to save the children were unsuccessful."

Rin let out a shaky breath and bit her lip.

"What's the point of being a hero," she muttered bitterly, "if you can't even stop something like this? They failed them."

Ash turned away from the screen and walked slowly to the window. The sky outside was dark, tinged orange with the city's glow. He stared out in silence, hands in his pockets. His reflection in the glass looked distant. Hollow.

"It wasn't just an accident," he said quietly.

Rin blinked. "What do you mean?"

Ash turned to her, eyes calm—too calm.

"Someone sent a message," he said. "Heroes are too slow. Too weak."

Rin's grip on the glass tightened.

"What? Ash, don't—"

"I'm not saying they didn't try," he cut her off. "But the world is getting more dangerous, Rin. The truth is… heroes can't protect everyone."

His voice was cold. Detached. Too composed for a boy who had just watched a tragedy unfold.

Rin's throat tightened. She wanted to scream at him. Tell him he was wrong. That he was being cruel. But she couldn't. Because she saw it too—in the footage, in the news, in the lifeless eyes of the kids on the screen.

And in Ash's voice, she heard not hate. Not even anger.

Just truth.

"So what then?" she asked quietly. "What are we supposed to do? Just give up on being heroes?"

Ash's eyes never left hers.

"I'm not giving up," he said. "I'm just seeing things for what they are."

Silence stretched between them.

Rin looked away, her jaw clenched. He wasn't just the strongest among them anymore. He was changing. Becoming something else. Something harder. Colder.

But he was still her brother.

She drew a shaky breath and stepped closer.

"You're not alone in this, you know," she whispered. "If you're going to walk this path… I'll walk it with you."

For a moment, Ash's lips curled into the faintest smile.

"I know."

And then the TV continued to scream.