“”

EXT. FOREST OF DEATH — DAWN

WEATHER: Morning mist. Dew on broken leaves.

SOUND: Distant birds. Faint sirens far away.

MUSIC: Low, somber piano — slow, reflective.

WIDE SHOT

Wes and Donnie are restrained by glowing suppressor cuffs, escorted away by HERO AGENCY OPERATIVES.

Luke sits on a fallen log, breathing hard.

Tyler leans against a tree, stone armor crumbling off his arms like dust.

Liam stands apart, staring at his hands.

Northern light flickers — then fades.

LIAM (quiet)

…I almost lost control.

Luke looks up.

LUKE

But you didn’t.

Tyler cracks a tired grin.

TYLER

And you saved us. Again.

Liam doesn’t smile.

EXT. HERO SCHOOL — MAIN GATE — MORNING

CAMERA — LOW ANGLE

A massive campus rises from the hills — steel, glass, and stone blended into the landscape.

TEXT ON SCREEN:

HERO ACADEMY — RESTRICTED ZONE

Students whisper as the trio walk through the gates.

Some stare in awe.

Others step back.

STUDENT (whispering)

That’s them… the forest team.

STUDENT #2

They fought real villains.

Luke straightens his posture.

Tyler rolls his shoulders.

Liam keeps his hood up.

INT. HERO SCHOOL — EVALUATION HALL — DAY

WEATHER: Sunlight through tall windows

SOUND: Quiet murmurs. Boots on polished floor.

The boys stand before a PANEL OF INSTRUCTORS.

Holographic footage replays:

— Tyler stopping the earth mid-crush

— Luke’s light locking Wes solid

— Liam’s Northern Pulse dropping Donnie

Silence.

An older instructor leans forward.

INSTRUCTOR

You were told this was a survival test.

Another taps the table.

INSTRUCTOR #2

Instead, you engaged high-level targets… and won.

Liam speaks up.

LIAM

They were hunting us.

A pause.

INSTRUCTOR #1

And that is why this changes everything.

The lights dim.

A new hologram appears.

ANDREW. KEVIN. PETER. WES. DONNIE.

INSTRUCTOR #1 (CONT’D)

These weren’t random villains.

They were searching for one man.

Luke’s eyes widen.

LUKE

…Charlie.

INT. HERO SCHOOL — PRIVATE CHAMBER — LATER

The room is quiet. No guards. No cameras.

Charlie stands near the window, coat draped over a chair.

He looks… tired.

CHARLIE

I hoped I had more time.

The boys step in.

TYLER

They came because of you?

Charlie turns.

CHARLIE

They came because of what you’ll become.

Liam clenches his fists.

LIAM

Then stay. Help us.

Charlie walks closer, placing a hand on Liam’s shoulder.

CHARLIE

If I stay… they’ll never stop coming.

Luke swallows.

LUKE

So you’re just leaving?

Charlie shakes his head.

CHARLIE

I’m going where the war started.

He pulls out a worn emblem — cracked, ancient.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

This school will train your bodies.

He meets their eyes, one by one.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

I trained your hearts.

Silence.

Tyler finally speaks.

TYLER

When do we see you again?

Charlie smiles — small, but real.

CHARLIE

When you’re strong enough that I don’t have to protect you anymore.

He turns toward the door.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

Until then… survive.

The door closes.

EXT. HERO SCHOOL — ROOFTOP — SUNSET

WEATHER: Clear sky, orange and violet

MUSIC: Slow rise — hopeful but heavy

The three stand overlooking the city.

LUKE

So… hero school.

TYLER

Think they’re ready for us?

Liam looks at the horizon.

Northern light flickers faintly around his feet.

LIAM

Doesn’t matter.

He turns to them.

LIAM (CONT’D)

We stick together.

No matter what comes next.

Luke nods.

Tyler bumps fists with him.

CAMERA PULLS UP

Far away — on a distant rooftop —

A SILHOUETTE WATCHES THE SCHOOL.

Eyes glowing faint gold.

EXT. HERO ACADEMY — MORNING

WEATHER: Clear sky, cool breeze

SOUND: School bell echoing across campus

MUSIC: Light but uneasy — like something waiting to snap

WIDE SHOT

Students flood the campus paths. Uniforms vary by division — combat gear, tech suits, cloaks.

Liam, Luke, and Tyler walk together.

Tyler stretches his arms.

TYLER

So this is it. Actual classes. No forests. No villains.

Luke smirks.

LUKE

Give it ten minutes.

Liam adjusts his bag. Dark circles under his eyes.

TYLER (noticing)

Did you sleep?

LIAM

…A little.

Northern light flickers under his sleeve — gone instantly.

INT. HERO ACADEMY — CLASSROOM A — DAY

CAMERA — PAN

Tiered seating. Reinforced walls. Floors etched with glowing runes.

Students whisper as the trio enter.

Some stare.

Some glare.

A tall instructor steps forward.

INSTRUCTOR: PROFESSOR VALE

Gray hair. Steel posture. One cybernetic arm.

PROFESSOR VALE

Seats. Now.

The room snaps quiet.

Liam sits between Luke and Tyler.

Vale studies them.

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

You three are the Forest Team.

Murmurs ripple.

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

Survival tests are meant to expose weakness.

You exposed threat.

He taps the board.

TEXT APPEARS:

POWER THEORY & CONTROL

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

Power without control destroys cities.

Power without restraint destroys people.

His eyes lock on Liam.

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

Especially speed-types.

Liam stiffens.

INT. CLASSROOM — LATER

MUSIC: Low, tense hum

A hologram shows a human body overloading — cracking, tearing.

PROFESSOR VALE

Multi-aspect abilities are rare.

Chains. Light. Transformation. Velocity.

He gestures.

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

Each power taxes the nervous system.

Tyler raises a hand.

TYLER

What if the power… keeps growing?

Vale pauses.

PROFESSOR VALE

Then the user either evolves…

A beat.

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

…or burns out.

Luke exhales slowly.

INT. TRAINING ANNEX — MIDDAY

WEATHER: Sunlight through reinforced glass

SOUND: Impacts, energy bursts, commands

MUSIC: Rhythmic, controlled

Students practice in divided zones.

ZONE 1 — LUKE

Yellow light flickers as he focuses — forming a solid barrier.

INSTRUCTOR (O.S.)

Hold it!

Luke grits his teeth. The light stabilizes.

ZONE 2 — TYLER

Earth plates form around his arms. The ground cracks.

TYLER

Okay—okay—too much!

The plates retract.

ZONE 3 — LIAM

Professor Vale watches closely.

PROFESSOR VALE

Speed Gear?

LIAM

Gear 10.

PROFESSOR VALE

Move. Then stop.

Liam vanishes — reappears instantly.

The floor trembles.

Vale raises a hand.

PROFESSOR VALE (CONT’D)

Again. Slower.

Liam nods. Moves — stops clean.

Northern light pulses faintly, controlled.

Vale’s expression tightens — impressed, but wary.

EXT. HERO ACADEMY — COURTYARD — EVENING

WEATHER: Wind picking up

MUSIC: Quiet determination

The three sit on the steps.

LUKE

Charlie’s gone. Villains are hunting us.

TYLER

And now we’ve got homework.

Liam looks at his hands again.

LIAM

We train harder.

He looks at them.

LIAM (CONT’D)

Not just to survive.

Northern light glows softly.

LIAM (CONT’D)

But to be ready.

The bell rings again.

CAMERA PULLS BACK

High above the academy —

security drones rotate.

Somewhere beyond the city…

Something watches.