At last - the landmark issue that laid the foundation for the future of the Valiant Universe, featuring the first appearance of Bloodshot! Guest-starring X-O Manowar, Archer, Shadowman, Toyo Harada, the Eternal Warrior and a cast of thousands, the next generation of Valiant heroes begins here! But just what is the Blood of Heroes? And how will it create a legacy that stretches from the modern day into the distant future?

4020 A.D. Obadiah Konishi, son of the 43rd Rai, and Takashi Nakadai, son of the 42nd have grown up side by side, sometimes friends, usually rivals. As they vie for the legacy of the Spirit Guardian of Japan, will their enmity turn deadly?

The newly minted Rai travels to the Temple of Archer in Ladakh and discovers there a sinister enemy hidden away. He'll also find an unexpected ally- Rentaro Nakadai, the one time 41st Rai and the only man alive to have once held the title, and grandfather of Takashi Nakadai, the new Rai's bitterest enemy!

Obadiah returns from Africa armed for the final showdown with his foster brother the self-proclaimed usurper to the title of Rai! Will the Obadiah Konishi be able to use the newly gained power of the Blood of Heroes to defeat the might of Takashi Nakadai's X-O Commando armor and claim his rightful place as spirit guardian of Japan?

Meet Takao Konishi, the last Rai! With the Blood of Heroes coursing through his veins, Rai will lead humanity's liberation from the all-knowing, all-powerful sentient nation known as Grandmother. But when you upset Grandmother, you must be punished.

With the very fate of Japan hanging in the balance, The Eternal Warrior of the 41st Century recruits Rai into a fight to save time itself.

With Japan in ruins, Rai must fight alone to save existence itself!

The time for games is over, as Rai brings his war, to the Japanese government's front door! But with the home field advantage, Grandmother sends Rai into the belly of the beast -- literally! It's Rai versus a gargantuan metal monster -- place your bets!

The new Rai is still learning the full extent of the secrets held locked inside him by the Blood of Heroes. But something goes deadly wrong when he explores the records of the long ago death of Bloodshot at the hands of the technopath Harbinger called Ax.

The thrilling conclusion to the epic Malev war! Rai is in thrall to the Malev emperor and his one time allies in teh Future Force come to a grim realization: To save the world, Rai must die!