The next day after the town was attacked, the town's people were busy reorganizing things from the wreckage.
"Grandpa, I'm hungry," Melkai told his grandpa.
"Alright, you wait here. I'll go get something for us to eat."
The kid sat down in the corner and nodded. After a while, he noticed a beggar trying to lift something from the debris. But the beggar was too skinny and twice the age of his grandpa, which made it hard to lift the object.
"Hey lady, what are you doing?" Melkai asked.
"I'm looking for food," answered the beggar.
All of a sudden, a voice shouted, "Hey kid! Where is the old man?" Melkai turned around and saw Yuno running towards him.
"He's looking for food."
"Great! I'm starving, I hope he gets here soon. Hahaha."
"Hey lady, if you can wait, I can share you my food when Grandpa gets here," Melkai told the beggar.
"No! You eat your food full. I'll share mine instead," Yuno insisted.
"Hmmmm… you, I think I've seen you somewhere," pointing to the beggar.
"Of course… I'm always around," the beggar smiled.
"Little Melkai, I don't have money to pay for the food you offered. But I can tell you a story if you'd like."
"Wow! Really!" Melkai's eyes glittered. "Yes please, tell me a story."
Narration starts...
Long ago, in an age of myths and legends, an omnipotent being walked the mortal world. His power rivaled the heavens; his might overwhelmed the gods. His name was Zeros.
Unlike the gods, he never ruled from above. He walked among all beings as their equal. Because of this, he was loved by many, respected by rivals, and feared by evil.
But not all welcomed his presence. A group of power-hungry gods grew envious. At the same time, corrupt mortal leaders felt threatened.
Together, they plotted to destroy Zeros. Yet the gods could not act openly—for if they failed, they would face divine obliteration, a punishment worse than death.
So the gods preyed on humanity's corruptible nature—the very race Zeros cherished most. They planted seeds of fear and doubt, whispering that Zeros was a wolf in sheep's clothing. That his power, if ever unshackled from goodwill, could annihilate them in an instant. Other races, too, fell victim to the gods' deception. Thus, a military alliance was formed: the Mid-Earth Allied Forces.
Unbeknownst to all, Zeros, with divine clairvoyance, knew what was happening. Yet he chose not to interfere. Instead, he allowed events to unfold as they would.
The scene shifts.
Zeros stood on the peak of a skyscraper-like mountain, gazing down upon a sea of clouds and endless mountain ranges.
"Aio…" Zeros whispered.
A glowing orb of white light appeared behind him.
"You're going to tell me you're bored again, aren't you?" the orb spoke gently.
"That's part of it," Zeros replied.
"Do you not get bored at all?"
"I do not experience the concept you call boredom," Aio answered.
Zeros and Aio were supreme beings of unknown origin. Aio, for lack of a better word, was a great spirit—passive and formless. Zeros, however, had a physical form, able to experience the world's sensations.
Aio knew Zeros was undergoing an existential crisis. Every goal he set, he achieved. Every desire he had, he obtained with ease. Zeros was all-powerful—an existence above the heavens. Thus, his life had become dull. Without challenge. Without excitement. Without satisfaction.
For a long time, Aio remained silent, unwilling to interfere. But one day, Zeros said:
"I feel like something is missing."
"Oh, the great and mighty Zeros is feeling lack?" Aio teased.
"And I know what it is."
"Do tell," Zeros pleaded.
"You want to taste defeat," Aio said.
Zeros turned to face him.
"Why do you think you cherish humans so much?" Aio continued. "It's because they have something you don't — weakness."
"Humans are the weakest of all races, and that weakness gives them room to grow. That very struggle eliminates boredom."
Zeros began to chuckle. Aio went silent. The chuckle turned into full-blown laughter—louder and louder, until it became uncontrollable, laughing like a madman.
"This is the first time I've seen you like this," Aio muttered.
"Thank you, old friend," Zeros said, calming down.
Alas, the day of the great battle arrived.
The Mid-Earth Allied Forces marched forth.
Inside the Fortress of Akasha, Zeros stood among his loyal followers.
"Today, the fortress shall crumble and fall," he declared. "I ask your forgiveness for this selfish request of mine. Today is the day I die."
Everyone knelt.
"Please, stand up."
Zeros bowed his head.
"Thank you. It was a great honor to live with you in this lifetime. Now, go!"
Zeros knew his guardian force could annihilate the invading army with ease. So he placed a limiter on their combat capabilities—to make the battle challenging for both sides. In the end, he instructed them to lose deliberately and leave him as the final boss.
On the third day, Zeros waited anxiously, contemplating how to make his fake defeat convincing.
At last, five surviving warriors reached him. The battle shook the earth. For hours they clashed.
By morning, Zeros was satisfied with his "acting performance." However, he saw the five surviving opponents almost all out of breath. Wanting to laugh out loud, he held himself—because he needed to maintain his act.
In his thought was, "Look at these mortals, I should be the one in a dying state."
Zeros snapped his fingers and in an instant, time froze.
He walked towards the one kneeling with both hands down on the floor.
"This one's literally knocking on death's door. Haha."
"They might die before I finish the final act," he muttered.
He inspected them. They each carried a glowing gem.
"Right... these are the 'sealing stones' meant to suppress my power."
He picked one up. Smelled it. Licked it. Gently bit it.
"This little pebble is supposed to defeat me? How I wish it could… but you were scammed," he chuckled. "Those gods sent you here to die. But don't worry. I'll play along."
After returning the gem, Zeros raised his right arm and saw his five fingers cut off. He then approached the knight who had severed his fingers in battle. He patted him on the shoulder to acknowledge his strength.
"To injure me like this... I'd say you're the strongest one here."
He picked one severed finger, crushed it in his left hand, turning it into glittering dust.
"When I'm gone, the world will need heroes like you."
He released the dust into the knight's nostrils. Then did the same with the others—granting each a sliver of divine power.
"Consider this my parting gift."
He snapped his fingers again to unfreeze time.
They gasped, rising slowly back into their battle stance.
But the battlefield was silent.
In the distance, Zeros was seen kneeling—petrified and lifeless.
From that day on, those five came to be known as The Five Legendary Heroes.
Narration ends...
"Hey, that was not the story I heard from Grandpa. But I like it better!" Melkai shouted with joy.
"As for you, young man. Take this, it's the least payment I can give you." The beggar, holding a scroll, passed it to Yuno.
Yuno chuckled and took the scroll. "Don't tell me it's a treasure map."
"I don't think I need this piece of crap." Yuno was about to return the scroll, but the beggar was nowhere to be seen.
"Yuno!" The old man appeared, shouting in anger.
"Hey old man, what's for breakfast? Or is it lunchtime?"
"You damn brat, where have you been?!"