Chapter 21: The Rise of the Heroes’ Era

  A few years before the present time—

  With D and his family absent from the world of battles and bloodshed, those who had once lived in fear began to rise again. Criminal syndicates, warlords, rogue entities—every force that had been suppressed slowly crawled back into the light.

  The world grew darker with each passing year.

  And just when it seemed as if humanity had reached its breaking point—when cities burned and hope itself felt fragile—something unexpected happened.

  Humans, warriors, and other super-powered beings began to emerge.

  Their arrival reignited hope among common people and governments alike. But the few who rose were never enough to protect the entire world. Recognizing this, governments began promoting these beings publicly while secretly attempting to replicate them—creating artificial super-powered agents through experiments and enhancement programs.

  To governments, they were soldiers.

  Assets.

  Guinea pigs.

  But to the people—who had finally found something to believe in again—they were called only one thing:

  Heroes.

  And thus began the Era of Heroes.

  Across the globe, individuals with extraordinary abilities stepped forward. Some allied themselves with governments in exchange for protection, resources, or influence. Others were secretly captured, imprisoned, and experimented upon in the name of national security.

  The fear was simple:

  They did not want another D.

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  To them, D was not a savior—but an uncontrollable force, an entity they had once been forced to submit to.

  ---

  One of the most prominent heroes to rise was an American citizen turned soldier—someone who could no longer endure the atrocities inflicted upon him and his family. His rebellion against the system turned him into a national symbol.

  From this defiance emerged the Elite Soldier Organization (ESO).

  Composed of war veterans and new recruits alike, the ESO spread rapidly across America. Their discipline, structure, and efficiency set them apart. Backed by the people, funded by the wealthy, and officially recognized by the government, they became the most organized hero faction in the world.

  With government approval came access to cutting-edge super-weapons—experimental technology designed to rival even the strongest enhanced beings.

  ---

  Around the same time, India witnessed the rise of a hero known only as Guruji.

  A sage who had transcended human limitations, Guruji was said to have attained enlightenment deep within the Himalayas—guided by an unknown entity people later came to call God. Possessing abilities far beyond comprehension, he embodied justice, peace, and balance.

  To many, he was not merely a hero—but a living ideal.

  ---

  China followed with its own answer to the rising era:

  The Modern Kung Fu Society.

  Blending ancient martial arts with advanced technology, its members were enhanced humans wielding traditional weapons embedded with modern engineering. With heightened senses and disciplined techniques, they became highly effective protectors—symbols of harmony between tradition and progress.

  ---

  Heroes continued to emerge across the world.

  Australia gave rise to Kangaroo Man and Koala Girl—siblings blessed with the powers of their respective animals by native gods of their homeland.

  Europe shocked the world when its heroes emerged not from governments, but from the Mafia.

  Initially distrusted, these vigilantes proved themselves time and again. Though far from righteous, Europe’s Mafia heroes maintained order in their own ruthless way—operating in the gray space between justice and crime.

  Africa, too, produced formidable heroes—many drawing power from ancient magic passed down through shamans, witches, and forgotten gods whose names lingered only in old stories.

  ---

  Soon, every major nation possessed its own heroes—natural or artificial, controlled or independent.

  Ironically, this abundance created a new problem.

  There were now more heroes than crises.

  Each country confined its heroes within its borders. Cooperation dwindled. Unity never formed. When peace arrived, it was fragile—and when it broke, the chaos that followed was worse than before.

  Powerful beings continued to rise, but not all chose the path of good.

  And in a time when heroes needed unity most, there was no common enemy…

  No leader to guide them.

  That was when something new was born.

  ---

  Anjali Rai, a young Nepali girl with dreams of becoming an archaeologist, earned admission to one of Egypt’s most prestigious institutions—Cairo University. Exceptionally talented and fiercely curious, she believed her future lay in uncovering the past.

  Instead, she became its victim.

  Kidnapped by tomb raiders, Anjali was used as a test subject during a reckless expedition. But fate had other plans.

  She bonded with an artifact the raiders weren’t even searching for—an ancient relic that granted her the combined power of the Egyptian gods and goddesses.

  At first, she didn’t understand her abilities. She didn’t know how to use them—or why she had been chosen.

  But heroes are born in moments of suffering.

  Unable to ignore the pain of the world—far beyond her own—she rose.

  People began calling her

  ANRA, mistaking her name during early encounters. The name spread. It stuck.

  And she never corrected them.