New Divine Hero

"Davis is clean," Damon finally announced, withdrawing his hand. "But I must say, the Super Serum had quite the effect on him. His body is evolving rapidly."

"Oh…" Dominic muttered, his eyes narrowing with intrigue.

On the other side, both Vahn and Noel exhaled in relief.

But deep inside, Vahn sneered at their ignorance:

"Humph..You dared to probe my soul…? The soul tempered through endless battles and the passage of time? How naive."

He had no doubt they would fail to detect the truth—that Davis' soul had been replaced. At most, they might notice minor changes in his physique. But that alone wasn't enough to raise serious suspicion. Not yet.

His transformation was progressing gradually, from the inside out. By the time anyone noticed the full extent, it would be far too late.

For now, he had passed their test. And that was all that mattered.

"Alright, now that that's settled, I have an urgent announcement for all of you youngsters," Dominic said, his tone suddenly growing serious.

"What is it, Uncle? Just tell us already," one of the cousins asked, their curiosity piqued.

Instead of answering directly, Dominic's expression shifted. "Actually… it's better if you see it for yourselves."

He raised his hand slightly, signaling one of the attendants nearby.

Moments later, a large mana-infused screen lit up on the wall—its design sleek, like an evolved television.

Vahn watched it, his fists tightening at his sides, suppressing a familiar, bitter anger.

"Someone must have gotten their hands on my original diary. And they must used it to develop these Mana Technologies like Earth."

Mana-integrated tech devices powered by ambient magical energy. A fusion of science and sorcery.

He had even happily helped to develop a few devices back when he was still celebrated as a Hero.

Back when he believed in this world.

But now? Now, seeing it so casually used by the very people killed him and her … it made him wanting to puke.

Still, he kept his expression neutral as the screen flickered to life, displaying a neatly dressed news anchor who began to speak:

"Breaking News! Breaking News!" the anchor announced urgently, her voice sharp with excitement.

"Today, we bring you a shocking development straight from the Capital! A historic announcement is underway, and it's already stirring waves across every major city. Without further delay, let's go live to our favorite reporter on the scene!"

The screen flickered, shifting to a majestic courtyard outside the Royal Castle. The camera focused on a young woman with a bright smile and windswept hair, standing amid a sea of guards and nobles.

"Hello, viewers! It's you favourite reporter Z. Today I'm reporting live from the Royal Castle of Lunaria," she began, her voice brimming with energy. "And the young man you're about to see… is destined to reshape this era."

The camera panned smoothly.

There, at the center of the royal dais, sat a young man on an ornate cushion.

He was tall, strikingly handsome, with radiant white hair that glowed under the sunlight. A divine aura clung to him like a second layer, bathing him in a soft, holy light.

His posture was regal, effortless. And a confident smirk played on his lips, as though the world itself danced in the palm of his hand.

"Viewers, I present to you—The new Divine Hero: Leonis Magnus, blessed by the Divinity of Light."

"What!!!"

"Impossible!"

Gasps erupted across the hall. Every member of the Blackwell family, except Dominic and the old patriarch, rose to their feet in disbelief. The atmosphere turned electric with tension.

And it wasn't just the Blackwells. All across the world, panic, mayhem, and disbelief spread like wildfire. Kingdoms halted council meetings. Nations froze their broadcasts. Leaders and citizens alike scrambled for their communication devices, desperate to confirm the truth.

If the news was genuine… if a new True Hero had emerged… the implications were enormous. The delicate balance of power could shift overnight. The Lunaria Kingdom had become the center of global attention.

"The Divine Hero has returned? After all this time?"

The murmurs filled the Blackwell estate, echoing the collective uncertainty of a world caught off guard.

Dominic nodded solemnly. "Yes. We have confirmed the news directly from the capital of Lunaria. There is no doubt."

Their eyes widened. But some narrowed with suspicion.

"But, big brother," Damon spoke up, stepping forward, his expression grim, "that title belonged to the Wicked Hero, Vahn. After his death, we waited for a thousand years… but the Blessing never descended again. So why now? What changed? Why has the Light Divinity chosen someone after so long?"

The room fell silent.

Then the eldest among them, the family's patriarch, finally spoke:

"Damon is right. Something doesn't feel right. Divine blessings do not return without reason. Especially not this blessing... not after it rejected our world for a millennium."

"Something must have happened for it to return among us... We need to find it out," he added with solemn expression.

To this, Dominic's elder brother raised an objection.

"But Father, isn't this a matter for the Royals and the Hero Association? Why should our mercenary group concern itself with such affairs?"

The old patriarch turned his stern gaze on his eldest son, disappointment etched deep into his lined face.

"You never learn, Dylan," he said coldly, "that is exactly why I chose Dominic over you."

A visible twitch crossed Dylan's cheek. His face flushed with shame, as he was humiliated in front of his wife and son.

But as always, he swallowed his pride and remained silent.

"Dominic, you explain to them," the old man ordered curtly.

Davis' father nodded. "Big brother, if we can uncover the cause behind this Hero's emergence, it could strengthen our ties with the Royal family. That alone would benefit our group immensely. It means access to better contracts like sending our men to war fronts, elite missions, intelligence sharing, and more."

Dylan, along with others, gave quiet nods of understanding.

Noel stepped in, her tone sharp and energetic, hands confidently placed on her hips:

"Not only that, this could also lead to the discovery of the Fallen Hero or even the Dragon Monarch's remains. Am I right, Father?"

Dominic gave her a small smile of approval. "Yes, Noel, you're absolutely right. But there's one more thing."

Dominic raised a single finger.

Then added with a solemn expression:

"The appearance of the new 'Divine Hero' might also indicate something darker. Like a new extinction-level threat could be rising. We must be prepared for that possibility as well."

As he spoke, his eyes lingered on Noel with a rare softness. She was smart, strong, and courageous. If only she had been born as his eldest son… then he could've stepped down without worry.

But his son, Davis, had always been a disappointment. His future as the Blackwell heir was still uncertain, especially with his Mana Core awakening unconfirmed.

Vahn, standing in the midst of it all, merely watched in silence.

But behind those calm, clear eyes, his mind churned with dark amusement and strategic thought:

'So… the "Divine Hero" has appeared. Hah. That was unexpected. But not enough to change the outcome.'

'Leonis Magnus… you have no idea what path you've stepped onto. You think you've been chosen to save this world? No... you've been chosen to be broken by me.'

'Let the game of good and evil begin.'

'But I will be the one smiling at the end...'