A Hundred Years Later
In white coats with transparent badges on their chests, two men stood before a glass wall, their hands tucked in their pockets.
On the other side of the transparent barrier lay a pale, bony, white-haired man.
"Do we have to let him go? He did a lot for the planet," murmured Ben, a gray-haired man, softly.
"He's been in a coma for a century. It's time for him to rest in peace. Besides, if New Era had lost, another team would have represented us. He's nothing special in the world of titans," scoffed Michael, the second doctor, who looked younger.
"Still... why would the manager of New Era make us do this when he's the reason they're at the top of the Galaxy?"
"Because they've tried keeping him alive for a century, but there are better talents out there. Martial arts techniques have improved. His Jörmundgandr shot isn't anything impressive. He was only good in martial arts, but the game of titans has changed. Every titan has an ability, even if Blaze wakes up now. How is he going to compete? He's no longer useful to New Era."
As Micheal left the room, Ben exhaled. He had been a fan of the young man who had been sleeping for a century after being shot by an assassin.
The news had been the trend for months, with revolts and protests shaking the world. However, with time, his name faded away.
And soon, so would he.
With a bitter smile, Ben turned. The door automatically slid open, and he walked out, unaware of the invisible figure that entered simultaneously.
The moment the door closed, the invisible figure flickered and materialized into a man dressed in a sleek black suit.
His polished shoes reflected the bright lights, and he held a briefcase in his hand.
His smile vanished when he saw the sickly man lying on the bed. His eyes widened as he perceived the gas filling the confined space.
With a smirk, he produced a device resembling a pen and cut a human-sized circular hole, indirectly halting the flow of the gas. Stepping back, he kicked the severed part, creating an opening through which he swiftly entered.
The white lights shifted to red, and alarms blared. Gazing at Stefan's peaceful face, the mysterious man chuckled. "You lack a smirk," he muttered, revealing a red serum.
"A gift from your number one fan. It's time for Blaze to return," he announced, injecting the serum into Stefan's arm.
His ears twitched at the sounds of people searching for him, approaching this floor, sharpening his focus.
Removing the needle, he concealed the shot in his pocket, substituting a fake in the briefcase. Turning invisible, he left the room with a pre-planned card, a scheme he had been plotting for three decades.
Since he first heard about the top-tier resource obtained from the core of a dying planet in the unexplored universe, with its overpowering ability to restore youth and heal all human defects, Blaze had come to mind.
Their world couldn't stand out as a top contender in the galaxy without Stefan's efforts.
The elevator opened, and two men in black suits barged into the room. "Where is that traitorous bastard!" one yelled.
"I don't know what issue he had with that guy, but he might have come this planet to finish him off," the second man remarked.
"If that's the case, why would he come to a hospital?" A pleasant voice chimed in, and a woman with waist-length brunette hair and bangs covering her forehead, along with transparent specs shielding her golden eyes, entered the room.
Clad in a sleek suit that emphasized her prominent hourglass figure, she exuded authority. "Who's this?" Eva inquired, striding through the entrance and fixing a piercing gaze on Stefan.
Her golden eyes meticulously scanned his body, searching for the tiniest clue. "Captain, he might have led us here to deceive us. Why would a highly trained federation official visit a hospital?" the bald man countered, utilizing his background to evade Eva's wrath.
"He's merely unconscious," Eva replied calmly, turning to face the bald man.
"That makes no difference to me," the man retorted, his hands trembling slightly as he maintained eye contact with Eva.
"Captain, we've located him. The serum is still in the briefcase," a voice came through Eva's electronic earpiece. Swift as a blur, she departed the room, followed by both men.
As Eva headed for the exit, her phoenix-shaped eyes dilated for she caught a glimpse of movement from Stefan's fingers the moment she dashed away.
Slowly, a pair of crimson eyes fluttered open. "W...Where am I?" he croaked, his voice hoarse and strained.
The door slid open, and the same doctors entered, stunned by the state of the room, and more shockingly...
Their gazes locked with Stefan's.
"W...Who are you?" he asked, tilting his head and staggering down. "Mr. Anderson, I'd advise you to stay in bed," Michael, the second doctor suggested, flashing an amicable smile.
"Why? So you can try to kill me again," Stefan retorted, his deadpan expression and blunt words surprising both doctors.
"H-How did you know?"
"You were preoccupied with thoughts about how he survived the untraceable poison," Stefan responded, advancing towards them.
"But I never said that aloud!" the second doctor blurted out, visibly confused as Stefan appeared to have reverted to looks before the incident.
"Mr. Anderson, welcome to 2150," Ben greeted, extending his hand for a handshake, not dwelling on Stefan's ability to walk or talk properly. After all, there had been numerous unexplainable occurrences since he fell unconscious.
"2150! How did a hundred years pass in just a short nap?" Stefan exclaimed, hissing at the memory of events before he lost consciousness, causing his eyes to widen in shock.