CHAPTER 1

The Age of Heroes

Jason Steele lifted the weight bar with a grunt, his muscles flexing as he pumped iron. The gym was his sanctuary, a place where he could escape the monotony of his life. He was focused on the upcoming game, one his team had never won. But he welcomed the challenge, eager to prove himself.

As he racked the weights, his gaze drifted towards the entrance. That's when he saw Axel, his best friend, walking towards him with an uncharacteristic frown etched on his face. Axel was the embodiment of sunshine, always ready with a joke or a teasing quip to lighten the mood. Jason often found himself on the receiving end of those jokes, with Axel chiding him for being too serious.

But today, Axel's expression was different. His brow was furrowed, and his eyes seemed troubled. Jason's curiosity was piqued. What could be bothering Axel?

Jason racked the weight bar and sat up, wiping his brow with a white towel. "Hey, bro, what's up?" he asked, smiling at Axel.

Axel leaned against a nearby machine, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Miss Esther wants to see you in her office."

Jason's smile faltered, and he frowned. "Did she say why?"

Axel sighed, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I think it's about our tests. Maybe she's psychic, like that goddess... what's her name again?" He snapped his fingers, pretending to try and remember, but his smirk betrayed him.

Jason rolled his eyes, unamused. "I'll go see what she wants."

As he stood to leave, Axel called out, "Hey, bring back some goodies!"

Jason knocked once on the wooden door before entering. Inside, he was taken aback by the presence of two people. The second, a short figure, was easy to overlook, but Jason noticed arms tucked into pockets while seated. However, his attention was drawn to the first person - Matthew Burke, the star quarterback, notorious for his short temper. Jason had kept his distance from Matthew to avoid becoming a punching bag.

"Mr. Steele, how nice of you to join us," Miss Esther said, her voice breaking into Jason's thoughts. She exuded an aura of perfection, as if she had divine heritage. "Miss Faye and Mr. Burke here were caught fighting in the hallway. As Hall monitor, I expect you to mete out detention."

Jason nodded, releasing a held breath. From his vantage point, he saw Matthew shooting glares at Miss Esther, but she remained impassive.

Jason nodded respectfully. "I'll see to it, Miss Esther." He watched as Emily Faye and Matthew Burke left, then nodded to Miss Esther and walked out of her office.

[P.R.M.F]

Meanwhile, in the music room, Sofia Vergara sat at the piano, her fingers poised over the keys. She sighed, opened the hatch, and began to play a haunting melody that seemed familiar yet elusive. Lost in the music, she didn't notice the door open behind her.

"I thought I'd find you here," a voice said, making her jump. She turned to see Christopher Dallas, his expression neutral, his eyes fixed on her.

"You scared me, Chris," Sofia said, smiling.

"Call me Chris, not Christopher," he replied, his tone deadpan. "Music Teacher sent me. We're performing a duet at the Opal City Music Festival."

As he spoke, he sat beside her on the bench, his hands strumming the keys. "I'm glad I got to tell you myself. Your surprise is priceless."

Sofia's smile softened, but before she could respond, screams echoed down the hallway. They exchanged a concerned glance and took off running, their hearts pounding in unison.

[P.R.M.F]

Meanwhile, in another part of the school, a golden-tinted portal materialized, emblazoned with Emperor Mordred's runes. Twisted, nightmarish creatures emerged, their bodies a mass of dark, scaly flesh, with jagged teeth and claws perfect for close combat. Tattered black armor seemed to grow from their skin, allowing for maximum mobility. Their silence was unnerving, punctuated only by occasional grunts as they moved with a singular purpose: to find a certain goddess tracked to the school.

[P.R.M.F]

In a nearby classroom, Jason sat at his desk, bored, while Matt and Emily sat across from each other, their animosity temporarily forgotten. Jason tried to focus on his novel, but the sudden scream from Emily shattered the calm. Matt's horrified gaze met Jason's as he turned to see what was happening. Before he could react, Jason was sent flying across the room, crashing into a desk. Dazed, he struggled to stand, seeing Matt kick one of the creatures, which dissipated into smoke. Emily wielded a desk like a weapon, smashing two more creatures, which also vanished. As Jason stumbled forward, two new students burst into the room, joining the chaos.

Sofia stumbled to a halt, causing Chris to collide with her. He glared, trying to see what had made her freeze. Meanwhile, Jason dodged a creature's swipe and kicked it in the torso. Sofia's eyes widened as she took in the chaos: Jason, Emily, and Matt fighting for their lives – and surprisingly, holding their own. She and Chris stood frozen, surrounded by the mayhem. Then, in an instant, the creatures vanished in a burst of light.

The five students turned to face their teacher, Miss Esther, standing in the doorway with a soft smile. "Please, don't be alarmed," she said. "Follow me, and I'll explain everything." She tapped a device on her wrist, and a shimmering door materialized in the room, adorned with the insignia and rune of Janus, the god of Doors. Without hesitation, Miss Esther walked through the door, expecting the five students to follow.