A pale, scrawny kid with long brown hair lay face-down in the muddy schoolyard.
Rain pelted the ground, soaking his clothes. Behind him, an older boy strolled up, his grin as cruel as the boots he planted squarely on the kid's back.
"That'll teach you not to flirt with my girl, you bastard."
A few more kicks for good measure, then the older boy slung an arm around a purple-haired girl and strutted off.
Kairo slowly pushed himself up, coughing up mud and blood.
"I didn't even know she had a boyfriend, dumbass," he muttered, wiping his mouth. "Maybe try making sure your girlfriend isn't a who—"
A loud honk from the nearby road cut him off.
A black SUV idled at the curb, its window rolling down to reveal a scowling middle-aged man.
"Kairo! Get your ass in the car before I make you walk home!"
Flushed with embarrassment, Kairo grabbed his muddy backpack and sprinted over, yanking the door shut behind him.
"Another fight?" his father asked, exhaling through his nose. "You keep this up and you're gonna screw up your entire futu—"
"I know that, Dad," Kairo muttered. "Just take me home."
His father grunted and turned the ignition. Silence filled the car, broken only by the soft thrum of rain on the windshield. Kairo stared at the racing droplets, watching them blur the world outside.
They pulled into the driveway of a small red-brick house. Before the engine even stopped, Kairo was out, heading straight to his room.
His father watched him go, eyes heavy with something between frustration and sadness.
Kairo plopped down on his bed and pulled out a small notebook, his face lighting up instantly.
He flipped through the pages, pausing at a sketch of a caped figure. Underneath, in messy handwriting:
"Flux Anomaly: Thermo-Warping," he'd written beside it. Kairo chuckled. It sounded so official.
It all started a few hundred years ago, when random people started gaining extraordinary abilities called Flux Anomalies. No one knew why it happened just that the world had changed forever.
People have many theories as to what happened, but the main one is that some kind of distortion in another dimension caused an anomaly to enter this one.
Of course, as superpowers started showing up more and more, the government tried its hardest to control it.
This obviously backfired, and the superpowered individuals rioted, leading to a massive increase in crime. So what could the government do to combat criminals who could potentially nuke the planet at any time?
They made heroes. Not only would they act as protectors, but they'd also calm the general public.
At this point Kairo knew the story by heart.
God, I'm such a nerd, Kairo thought as he rolled over on his bed, flipping through more pages, each filled with sketches of different hero costumes.
"I wish I could fly. To soar through the sky with all the freedom in the world," he daydreamed aloud.
'At least it's Friday. I should be able to avoid that guy.'
Getting up from his bed, Kairo headed to the bathroom to wash off the mud still clinging to him.
***
"I don't know what to do with this kid, Julie. I already wasn't cut out to be a dad before his mom died, and now…"
Kairo's dad sat on a stool, leaning over the kitchen counter. A phone, showing a black-haired woman as the wallpaper, was on a call.
"Ever since she died, I haven't stepped into our old bedroom. Every time I look at Kairo—at my own son—I just get reminded of how I failed to save her."
Tears streamed down his face as he tried in vain to wipe them away.
"John…" A woman's voice came softly through the phone, heavy with sadness.
"I know I shouldn't feel this way—that it isn't my fault—but… God, I don't even know what I'm saying."
John broke down in tears just as Kairo stepped out of the hallway.
He quickly tried to wipe his face.
Kairo looked at him blankly, then turned and walked out of the house, sketchbook in hand.
***
Outside, Kairo walked in silence. The only thing interrupting it was the rain pattering on the sidewalk.
"I'm so useless. I can't even tell Dad that everything's going to be okay."
He walked a bit further down the street, finally stopping at a graveyard.
Taking a deep breath, he walked through the open gate and scanned the area for a bit before finding what he was looking for.
He kneeled down in front of a gravestone that read the name: Leah Halden.
"Hey, mom. I know it's been a while since I've been here but...I can't even think of an excuse."
Kairo put his face into his hands to wipe away the tears prickling the corner of his eyes.
"But I brought you something."
He continued as he pulled out his sketchbook from his backpack.
"I remember how you used to smile when I showed you these. Even when I said heroes were dum-."
His voice hitched at the end of his sentence as he struggled to find the right words to say.
"Umm but I think I finally see the appeal...of heroes and stuff like that. God this is so awkward, why am I even trying to talk to a grave stone."
"It's not like you can even hear me."
After a few moments, he'd stand up and dust himself off.
"I'll try to talk to you more, okay? I'll see you next week Wednesday."
Walking away, Kairo felt more hollow than before, he thought that trying to talk to her would "fix" him. That he could return to the same person he was before but...it just made it worse.
BOOM
An explosion erupted from a house next to the graveyard. The air shimmered. Heat rippled around the collapsing house like a mirage, then he stepped out, tall, muscular, with six fire-wrapped arms flowing like serpents.
Heart hammering, Kairo dove behind a tombstone, mud squelching under his palms.
"I thought that woman would have finished the suit by now." The man would speak as he scratched the back of his head.
"It's a shame that she had to die, smart people like her are hard to find."
'Is that a villain?!'
"I've got to get out of here before a her-"
"Before a what?"
The villain was interrupted as a shadow loomed from above him.
Kairo's eyes shined with recognition. Flipping through his notebook, he'd come to a page that read the name...
"Aegis Vanta: The Black Guardian" — scribbled boldly under a striking silhouette of a cloaked figure with obsidian armor and glowing blue eyes.
The hero landed hard, shattering the pavement beneath him. A metallic black cape fluttered in the wind, streaked with glowing lines like constellations in the night.
The six-armed villain flinched. "Aegis Vanta?! You've gotta be kidding me."
"Ashborn, wanted for 7 counts of armed robbery, 2 counts of first degree murder, 6 counts of second degree murder, and 2 counts of arson...I suppose that it's 3 counts now."
"You are effectively the fire departments worst enemy."
Aegis took a single step forward — and the wind pressure alone sent debris skidding.
Wasting no time, Ashborn lunged, fists blazing, but Aegis Vanta was faster.
One punch. Just one, and the man with six arms crashed through a cemetery wall.
He lay there for a few seconds, writhing in pain. He looked for anything, anyone that he could use and that's when he spotted him.
"Wai-"
Kairo's voice cut of as without a second thought Ashborn dashed towards Kairo and grabbed him by the neck.
Aegis recoiled in surprise, but he kept a relatively calm disposition.
"Put the kid down, Ashborn."
Ashborn just chuckled in response.
"Only if you promise to let me go, and don't even think about coming after me."
"If you do I'll let out a blast so powerful that not even this kids bones would remain."
Aegis would start getting worried, and reluctantly put his hands up.
Nodding, Ashborn would throw Kairo to the ground.
Oof
Eyeing Aegis, Ashborn would back up until he reached a good distance away.
"Sorry about this kid but I can't leave any witnesses."
Suddenly fire would return to all 6 of his arms.
At that moment Ashborn let loose 6 large fireballs. Aegis would manage to block 5 of them but the 6th one would hit it's mark.
Kairo's life flashed before his eyes. A single tear fell — then the fire hit. His body slammed against the gate..
Aegis would immediately rush over to him and completely ignore the fleeing Ashborn.
"Shit, I gotta get this kid to a hospital." Carrying Kairo on his back Aegis would hover into the sky and would dash through the sky.
***
Info cards
Aegis Vanta: The Black Guardian
Flux Anomaly - Construction: Aegis can create energy-based constructs from nothing. The strength, shape, and complexity depend on his imagination and stamina. Known constructs include: energy shields, binding chains, his armor, and even temporary weapons.
Threat Level: S-Class
Known Weaknesses: Overuse of energy leads to construct instability.
Affiliation: Government commissioned hero(Official)
Time spent with Affiliation: A new hero that started her work under the government 5 months ago. He is still incredibly new to being a hero but has quickly gained a lot of popularity.
Favorite Food: Black bean ramen
***
Kairo's vision blurred. His body screamed in pain. In his mind, however…he saw something.
A small blue gem that shined with the brilliance expected from a star.
Slowly, Kairo would begin reaching out for it, his hand beginning to burn as it got closer.
"I need this, please, I WANT TO LIVE!"
Kian pushed forward his entire body burning, his hands were within reach of the gem. Just a little bit closer and...
Waking up in a cold sweat, Kairo would find himself in a hospital room. His entire body hurts and half of his face felt absolutely horrible.
Looking over to a mirror next to him, Kairo would see the cause, a burn mark covered a bit of the right side of his face.
But that wasn't what he cared about...he felt nothing under him. Looking down Kairo's eyes would go wide.
He was floating...
Suddenly a doctor would walk into the room , looking down at his clipboard.
Lazily the doctor would look up and his eyes would bulge.
"The patient is awake! And they're... floating."
A massive grin would spread across Kairo's face.
He dropped unceremoniously to the bed with a loud thud, yelping in surprise.
"What the hell?!"
The doctor rushed over, checking vitals and muttering, "Impossible… No recorded Flux signature. He shouldn't have an Anomaly."
Kairo barely heard him. His whole body was buzzing, not just from the fall, but from something deeper — like his cells had been rewired.
"I... floated," he whispered, then grinned wider. "I floated!"
The doctor stepped back warily. "Kid, do you feel any pain? Nausea? Hearing voices? Anything unusual?"
Kairo shrugged, still staring at his hands like they weren't his. "No voices. Just... energy. Like I swallowed a lightning bolt and it's trying to punch its way out."
The door burst open. Aegis Vanta walked in, helmet off now, revealing a tired but youthful face — dark skin, short dreads, and sharp, calculating eyes.
"You're lucky to be alive," he said. "Ashborn's fire could've incinerated a tank."
Kairo sat up straighter. "Did you catch him?"
Aegis shook his head. "He vanished. But that's not why I'm here."
He tossed something onto the side table: a broken, charred sketchbook — Kairo's sketchbook.
"Found this next to you," Aegis said. "You drew me... even the armor details were accurate. How?"
Kairo flushed. "I—I've been a fan since your debut. I just… pay attention."
Aegis studied him for a long moment. "Alright then, your father has been contacted, I've informed him of the situation and your new abilities."
"How you didn't even know I had them till like a minute ago."
Completely ignoring Kairo, Aegis would walk towards the rooms door.
"I guess that this is goodbye... I have a feeling that I'll be seeing you around kid."
***
Info cards
Ashborn - Flames of disaster:
Flux Anomaly – Pyrokinetic Fury: Ashborn can generate and manipulate intense flames from his six fiery arms, which he can use both offensively and defensively. His flames can reach extreme temperatures, capable of incinerating nearly anything in their path. Additionally, Ashborn can launch blue fire when enhanced by his battle suit. (Which is currently unfinished)
Threat Level: B-Class(Becomes A-Class when enhanced.
Known Weaknesses: Overuse of his powers leads to exhaustion, as his body can only handle a limited amount of intense heat for extended periods. His flames are less effective in environments that disrupt his concentration or cool the air too quickly.
Affiliation: None (Freelance Villain)
Time spent with Affiliation: Ashborn works alone, operating primarily as a freelance villain. He has no long-term allegiance but will sometimes cooperate with others for mutual benefit, though his main goal is personal gain and destruction. Began villainy 9 months ago.
Favorite Food: Unknown