A Trip Through Time

After joining the League of Heroes, Kaldar faces a new challenge: a trip to the museum. But this isn’t just any museum visit—it’s a mission.A shadowy figure watches from afar as Kaldar and Claw walk together.Kaldar: So, Claw, what’s the point of going to this museum anyway?Claw: Two reasons. First—I believe there’s an artifact there that could help us if Sulmento ever returns.Kaldar: My parents sealed him away for a millennium.Claw: True. But he still has that corrupt crystal. We don’t know what it’s capable of.Kaldar: Fair point. What’s the second reason?Claw: To study Earth’s customs and history.Kaldar: Huh. Well, I appreciate the offer—and I humbly accept.Claw: Alright then. Let’s fly.Kaldar: Now you’re speaking my language.They take to the skies, unaware the shadowy figure is following.Kaldar: (Pointing) There it is—the museum.Claw: Finally.They land a few blocks away and detransform. The figure continues to trail them.Kaldar: So this artifact—how do you know it’s useful? Is it Heroic?Claw: Not sure. But it might hold clues to defeating Sulmento.Kaldar: How was it discovered?Claw: Ten years ago, it crash-landed on the very spot where the museum now stands.Crystal glows with excitement.Crystal: It’s the Heroic Armor of Nestrom the Second!Kaldar: Nestrom!? The brother of the First Hero?Crystal: The very same.Claw: How do you know it’s his?Crystal: Legends say Nestrom used the armor to shield a planet from a supernova. But his victory was short-lived—Archaeon, a celestial tyrant, destroyed the planet in one strike.Claw: What happened next?Crystal: They battled for months. Nestrom weakened—until his armor transformed into a giant humanoid of pure energy.Kaldar: Sounds like my Heroic Titan move.Crystal: Exactly. He believed it was a gift from the Celestial Guardian Belfrost. He used his final strength to unleash Titan’s Clap—sending Archaeon out of the Prime Dimension.Kaldar: So this armor could help me master Titan Mode?Crystal: In theory. But the move is unstable. You could destroy a city—or worse.Claw: So don’t use it unless absolutely necessary.Kaldar: Got it. Let’s go get that armor.The figure listens closely, eyes locked on Kaldar.At the Museum…Claw: We’re here.Kaldar: (Grinning) Let’s do this.Crystal: (Suddenly tense) Wait… something’s off.Kaldar: What do you mean?Crystal: I sense something unnatural. We’re being followed.Kaldar: I don’t see anyone.Crystal: It’s subtle. But real. Maybe we should wait.Kaldar: If anything’s wrong, we’ll investigate.Crystal: (Sighs) Alright. Let’s go.Kaldar: That’s the spirit.The museum doors open. The figure merges with their shadows.Museum Clerk: Welcome to the Altropolis Metropolitan Museum.Kaldar: Thanks. We’re here for the armor exhibit.Museum Clerk: Right this way.Claw: (Quietly) Stay alert.An hour passes. They reach the exhibit.Museum Clerk: Here we are. Anything else?Claw: No, thank you.Kaldar: (Waves) Bye.A distant door creaks shut.Kaldar: So where’s the armor?Crystal: Behind that metal door.Claw: I’ve got this.Claw melts the handle with his flame ability. The door creaks open, revealing the legendary armor.Kaldar: There it is.Crystal: In all its glory.Suddenly, the shadowy figure shoves them out of the room.Kaldar: What was that!?Claw: A time phantom.Kaldar: What the hell is that?Claw: A creature made from corrupted time fragments. Probably what Crystal sensed earlier.Crystal: Told you so.Kaldar: So how do we stop it?Claw: We can’t—not directly. We have to destroy its creator.Kaldar: Who’s that?Claw: Bloodfang.Kaldar: (Stunned) Bloodfang!?Claw: A warrior of chaos. He’s after the armor’s power.Kaldar: Then we stop him. The Hero!Kaldar powers up, kicks down the door, and faces the phantom.Kaldar: Heroic Sword!A glowing blade appears.Kaldar: That armor doesn’t belong to you!The phantom snarls and fires acid.Claw: Flame Wall!Swoosh!Kaldar: Tch! Heroic Rapid Slash!Energy blades strike—but the phantom blocks with a shield.Claw: We need to drive it away from the armor.Crystal: Or use a long-distance pulse to repel it.Kaldar: Good idea. Let’s try it.Crystal: Close your eyes. Visualize the armor. Find the thread. Link it to your heart.Kaldar: (Breathes deeply) Got it!The armor emits a pulse—driving the phantom back.Claw: It worked! Now to capture it—The phantom opens a portal and vanishes—taking the armor with it.Kaldar: No!Claw: Damn it!Kaldar: What now?Claw: We follow it.They sprint toward the portal.Kaldar: Echo Guard!A shield forms around them.Crystal: This is gonna be rough.Kaldar: Yeah, tell me about it.Claw: I see something up ahead!The shield begins to crack.Kaldar: That’s not good.Crystal: We’re running out of time—literally.Kaldar: Star Step Dash!Kaldar surges forward as the portal distorts around them—time bending, reality warping.Kaldar surges forward, his body glowing with Heroic energy as the portal’s pressure intensifies.Claw: Hold steady—we’re almost through!Crystal: The time stream is unstable! If we don’t anchor ourselves, we could end up in the wrong century!Kaldar: Then let’s anchor—Heroic Pulse: Temporal Lock!A burst of energy stabilizes the portal just enough for them to break through.Vuaaaaam!They tumble out onto solid ground—except it’s not the museum. It’s a vast battlefield, skies swirling with cosmic storms, and ancient ruins scattered across the horizon.Kaldar: (Panting) Where… are we?Claw: (Looking around) This isn’t Altropolis. This is… the past.Crystal: More specifically—the Age of Nestrom.Kaldar: You mean… we’ve landed in the time of the Second Hero?Crystal: Exactly. And if the armor was pulled here… it’s possible Bloodfang is trying to rewrite history.Claw: If he succeeds, Sulmento’s defeat might never happen. Your parents’ sacrifice—erased.Kaldar: (Clenches fists) Then we stop him. No matter what.A distant roar echoes across the battlefield. A massive shadow rises—Bloodfang, cloaked in corrupted energy, holding the Heroic Armor aloft.Bloodfang: (Voice booming) The power of Nestrom will be mine—and with it, time itself shall bend to my will!Kaldar: Not while I’m breathing.Claw: Ready?Kaldar: Always.Crystal: Then let’s rewrite destiny—our way.Kaldar leaps into the air, sword blazing, Claw ignites his fists, and Crystal glows with radiant intensity as they charge toward Bloodfang.To Be Continued…