Luna Arcwell stood at the doorway, arms crossed, brow arched in theatrical annoyance.
"Well, if it isn't my Lily's beloved big sister," she said with a dramatic sigh. "Truly, what an amazing day."
Astra blinked, halfway between smiling and panicking.She had not expected this level of hostility—or jealousy.
Before she could defend herself—
"BIG SISTER ASTRAAAA!"
Lily burst from behind Luna, launching herself into Astra's arms like a missile.
Astra staggered back, nearly losing balance."O–Oh! Lily! Hello!"
Luna's eye twitched.Rose stepped into view, smiling serenely.
"Astra dear, come in. Don't mind Luna, she's… being Luna."
Astra walked inside, still carrying Lily, who refused to let go.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Arcwell Living Room
Astra sat on the couch with Lily on her lap. Luna plopped into the seat beside her with exaggerated sighs.Rose brought tea and snacks, while the soft hum of the Arcwell estate filled the room.
Lily cupped her hands around her mouth.
"I'LL GO CALL BIG BROTHER!"
Her tiny legs pattered across the floor, and she vanished down the hallway.
A moment later—
Raze appeared.
And paused.
He blinked.
Astra sitting in his living room.Lily hugging her tightly.Luna glaring like a jealous dragon queen.Cookies on the table.
"…Did I die and wake up in a confusing dream?" Raze muttered.
Astra laughed lightly."No, you're awake."
They all sat around the table, a strangely domestic scene forming between tea cups and pastries.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Reason Astra Came
Once Lily finished bragging about their last outing and Luna finished being dramatic, Astra finally leaned forward.
"Raze… I came to ask about something important."
Both Raze and Luna turned serious.
"It's about the Nightveil," Astra continued quietly."And the name… Fray."
The room stilled instantly.
Raze lowered his gaze.
"…I don't know anything."
Astra frowned softly. "Not even a little?"
He shook his head.
"Father never told me anything about the Fray incident. Or the Nightveil. I only know what the rest of the world knows."
Astra looked disappointed, not at him—at the mystery growing deeper.
"Your father is hiding something," Astra whispered.
Luna scoffed."That man hides EVERYTHING until he decides to drop truth bombs on us out of nowhere."
Rose placed a gentle hand on Astra's shoulder.
"Child… some truths are difficult. Painful. Dangerous. Roland will speak when he believes it is time."
Astra nodded slowly, though concern clouded her golden eyes.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Conversation Drifts
The tension eased slightly as conversations shifted.
Luna leaned forward, eyes narrowed at Astra.
"Sooo… you went out with my siblings, hm?"
Astra froze.Raze groaned loudly.
"Luna—"
"No no, I want details," Luna insisted.
"It wasn't a date!" Astra sputtered. "We just spent the afternoon—Lily wanted ice cream—"
"And Raze agreed IMMEDIATELY," Luna said.
Astra turned red.Raze covered his face.
Lily proudly added, "Big brother listened because I am the BOSS!"
Rose nearly choked trying not to laugh.
◆ ◆ ◆
Returning to the Mystery
When the jokes subsided, Astra became serious again.
"Raze… what will you do now?"
Raze looked at the floor.
"Tonight, when Father returns, I'll ask him directly. I need answers."
Astra's gaze flickered with quiet trust.
Luna nodded firmly."Yes. Dad can't hide this forever."
Rose brushed a strand of Astra's hair behind her ear gently.
"Stay calm, child. We will find the truth together."
Astra smiled faintly.
"…Thank you."
Then—
The front door clicked.
Footsteps echoed through the hall.
Lily perked up.Rose turned.Luna straightened in her seat.
Raze exhaled slowly.
Because Roland Arcwell had finally come home.
A man who held more secrets than the Hero Association itself.
The one person who knew the truth behind the name Fray…
And Astra, Raze, and Luna all turned toward the hall—
just as Roland stepped into the living room.
His expression was unreadable.
*************************
Roland Arcwell returned home earlier than usual.
The moment he stepped into the living room, he froze for half a second.
Raze.
Luna.
Lily.
Rose.
And Astra Noire sitting among them like she had always belonged.
A slow grin stretched across his face.
"Well, well," he said with mock surprise, "seems I have three daughters now. When did that happen?"
Luna rolled her eyes.
Astra nearly choked on air.
Lily clapped happily.
"You do, Papa!"
Raze sighed. "…Dad, please don't adopt people without warning."
Roland laughed and headed upstairs to change.
◆ ◆ ◆
When he returned, dressed casually and looking far too relaxed for someone holding world-shaking secrets, all eyes turned toward him.
Raze stood first.
"Dad. No running away today. We want answers."
Luna crossed her arms beside him.
"About the name Fray. About what happened twenty years ago. About Nightveil."
Astra sat quietly but attentively.Even she felt the pressure of the moment.
Roland raised his hands defensively.
"No. Absolutely not. You three—and Astra—are far too young to hear the full truth. It is not something to be told lightly."
Raze frowned.Luna scowled.Astra leaned forward.
And Lily…
"Daddy, tell us the storyyy!"
Roland exhaled.
He was defeated.
All of them stared with stubborn determination, even the six-year-old.
"…Fine," he said finally. "But listen carefully."
He sat down.
Everyone leaned in.
"I will tell you who they are," Roland continued. "But you will not—must not—ask what happened to them. Or why Vesper Fray calls himself the last surviving Fray."
Raze exchanged a glance with Luna.
Astra's breath caught.
Even Rose, who already knew parts of the truth, watched quietly.
Roland folded his hands.
"Let us begin… two hundred years ago."
◆ ◆ ◆
The Origin of the Frays
"You all know the story of the Abyss Crater," Roland said."The meteor that changed humanity forever."
They nodded.
"But what few people know," he continued, "is that several large fragments were scattered across Fraxen. Pieces of the meteor that held concentrated radiation far stronger than what the world absorbed."
Astra's listened closely.
Roland's voice deepened.
"One such fragment landed in a remote region. Fifty years after the crater event, a man built a home on that very land… not knowing what lay buried beneath."
Luna's brows furrowed.
Raze's eyes sharpened.
"Generations lived there," Roland went on. "And every child born in that house… awakened Nexas far beyond what normal humans could achieve."
Astra whispered, "So that's why…"
"Their abilities," Roland said, "were unmatched. Unparalleled. Compared to the rest of the world, they were monsters of talent. A dominant bloodline."
"Then… the Frays were that family?" Raze asked quietly.
Roland nodded once.
"They were considered the peak of humanity's potential."
A hush fell across the room.
"But there was a cost," Roland added.
"Abyss radiation affects adults differently. Once they awaken Nexas, their bodies cannot handle the fragment's direct presence. While living in that house, the adults became… weakened. Sickly. Vulnerable."
"But for some reason, they still lived there with their children"
"but they spent most of the time away from home"
Astra blinked. "So, That's why Nightveil is so powerfull?"
"Exactly," Roland replied. "But once the adults left the house's radius…"
Luna leaned forward.
"…they became unstoppable."
Roland nodded again.
"The farther they were from the fragment, the stronger they became.… the Fray adults turned into living natural disasters."
A tense silence followed.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Bloodline That Ruled in Shadows
"Fifty years ago," Roland continued, "the Fray bloodline was considered the apex of all Nexas. Some feared them. Some revered them. Some sought their power."
He paused.
"Until the incident."
Astra's heart tightened.
Raze felt his pulse quicken.
Luna whispered, "Dad… what happened?"
Roland closed his eyes.
"That story…"His voice grew quieter."…is for another time."
Luna groaned. "Dad—!"
"No," Roland said firmly. "You asked who the Frays were. I told you. But what happened to them… is not something I will discuss. Not now."
Astra bit her lip.Raze clenched his jaw.Luna looked frustrated.And Lily… fell asleep on Astra's lap.
Roland stood.
"That is enough truth for today."
◆ ◆ ◆
Dinner and Departure
Even though frustration lingered, Rose smiled warmly.
"Astra dear, stay for dinner. It's been a long day."
Astra blinked.
"Ah—yes! I mean—if it's okay, then I… I'd love to."
Luna muttered something about "stealing her sister" under her breath.
Dinner was warm.Lily clung to Astra the whole time.Raze asked more questions, but Roland dodged all of them.Luna monitored every interaction like a jealous hawk.
When the night grew late, Astra stepped outside.
The wind lifted around her.
She looked back at the Arcwell family—smiling, loud, chaotic.
"…They're strong," she whispered."And yet… this secret scares even them."
She rose into the night sky.
"What really happened to the Frays…?"
Then after that Astra flew upward until her silhouette disappeared into starlight.
And one thought echoed in her mind—
What kind of tragedy creates someone like Nightveil?
**************************
A Powerful declaration:
Astra flew home through the quiet night sky, Roland's words echoing in her head.
"A dominant bloodline… until the incident."
"The last surviving Fray."
The cold wind brushed against her face as she soared over Nexara's shimmering skyline. Everyone she passed waved at her—children pointing excitedly, adults smiling with newfound admiration.
But Astra barely registered any of it.
Her mind was stuck on one thought.
What really happened… to the Frays?
And more importantly—What kind of tragedy creates someone like Nightveil?
◆ ◆ ◆
A Nation Holds Its Breath
Days passed.
News channels replayed the Nightveil broadcast endlessly.Reporters speculated.Citizens worried.Governments scrambled.
But no one—absolutely no one—forgot that a villain just walked into the Hero Association headquarters, hijacked the entire nation's screens, mocked their security, and vanished without a trace.
For the first time in decades… people felt unsafe.
Shops closed early.Parents kept children indoors.Hero patrols increased tenfold.
Students across Lionel Academy were sent home until further notice.
But then—on a calm Saturday morning—
every major news channel switched to a live broadcast.
Principal Ricardo Leonel stood in front of a row of high-ranking heroes, including Grand Hero Titanheart himself.
His voice carried the weight of an entire nation.
"To all citizens of Vornis."
"The Hero Association would like to reassure you—We are not afraid."
A murmur rippled across living rooms and cafés across the country.
Leonel continued:
"Nightveil's attack was bold, but it revealed something valuable:Our weaknesses.Our blind spots.And now that we know them, we will correct them."
Behind him, Titanheart folded his arms, expression carved from stone.
"Effective immediately," Leonel declared,"the rest of the Dawnforge Tournament will continue as originally planned."
Cameras flashed.
Crowds gasped.
"The academy will operate under full surveillance and absolute protection," he said."Top-ranked heroes, including S-class operatives, will guard the premises."
He lifted his chin.
"If anyone threatens the safety of our students—We will respond with full force."
With unwavering confidence, he finished:
"Do not fear.Our heroes will protect the people.No matter what."
The broadcast ended.
And slowly…
People exhaled.
The tension gripping the nation loosened—just a little.
"For now," they whispered,"…things might go back to normal."
◆ ◆ ◆
Starbreaker: Evolution
Meanwhile, inside Arcwell Technologies…
Raze Arcwell stood in the center of a sealed, reinforced chamber.
The walls were an alloy mix designed to survive even high-grade radiation output from the Abyss alloy in starbreaker.
(Abyss alloy is used in the making of starbreaker along with Arcsteel.)
A digital voice echoed:
[TEST CHAMBER SEALED.][RADIATION LEVELS STABLE.]
Raze lifted his hands.
The Starbreaker Suit responded instantly—veins of cobalt light crawling up his arms.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's try this slowly."
He touched his palm to the center of his chest plate.
click—
A faint hum vibrated through the room.
Abyss Alloy energy rippled through the suit—soft, controlled.
Low-level radiation.
It shimmered like faint fog around his frame.
"Good… good. Stable."
He exhaled.
Then increased output.
click—
Medium-level radiation.
Blue-white energy pulsed outward, making the chamber lights flicker.
The radiation didn't harm him—but Raze could feel the raw power pressing against the walls.
He steadied his breathing.
"…And now for the hard part."
click—
High-level radiation release.
The entire suit flared—glowing brighter than ever, hum intensifying into a roar.
Warning sirens gently beeped.
[CAUTION: RADIATION OUTPUT APPROACHING UPPER LIMITS.]
Sweat trickled down Raze's forehead.His muscles tensed.His heartbeat quickened.
But he held the power steady.Contained it.Controlled it.
Not a single flicker escaped his command.
After ten long seconds—
He deactivated it.
The light dimmed.
The chamber fell quiet again.
Raze exhaled deeply, chest rising and falling.
"I can handle it now," he whispered.
He looked down at the Starbreaker Suit, fingers brushing against the armor.
"…I'm getting closer."
To what?
To his limits?
Or beyond them?
◆ ◆ ◆
Warmth at Home
After training, Raze walked into the living room where Lily sat surrounded by plush toys.
The moment she saw him—
"BIG BROTHER!!!"
Lily launched herself at him like a missile.
Raze staggered but caught her easily.
"You're heavy," he teased.
"No! I'm super tiny!"
Luna entered the room with a snack tray.
"You're both loud," she muttered, cheeks slightly smiling.
The three of them spent the afternoon playing, laughing, and forgetting—for a moment—the villain watching them from the shadows.
At dinner, Rose asked gently:
"Are you nervous about the tournament resuming?"
Raze shook his head.
"No. I'm ready."
But inside, he wondered—
Was he?
Astra would be his opponent.
A girl who stopped a meteor.Who moved faster than sound.Who could crush steel with her bare hands.
Could even the Starbreaker keep up with that?
◆ ◆ ◆
The Countdown Begins
The rescheduled tournament date approached.
One day…
two days…
three…
Until finally—
Lionel Academy sent a message to every student:
"THE DAWNFORGE TOURNAMENT — ROUND TWO BEGINS TOMORROW."
Astra read it and smiled softly.
Raze read it and clenched his fists.
The world waited.
Because this time—the battles wouldn't just be fights.
They would be declarations.
Of power.Of evolution.Of destiny.
And lurking in the shadows…
Nightveil watched quietly.
Waiting for his next move.