The portal's swirling light dimmed slightly as Renji and Chaewon stepped through, the cool night air replacing the stifling heat of the dungeon interior.
Renji glanced back at the gate. "You're leaving it alive?"
Chaewon shook her head. "It's not going anywhere. That thing's more exhausted than we are and without the guild leader, it's got no reason to fight."
"Still breathing," Renji muttered. "Which means still dangerous."
Chaewon gave him a firm look. "Right now, that's not the priority. The Association needs to know what Scarlet Fang was doing in there experiments, captive hunters. We can't keep that quiet."
Before Renji could reply, the cool night air hit them, carrying the scent of steel and damp earth. A ring of portal guards straightened the moment Chaewon stepped out, their eyes widening at the sight of her emerging with someone else.
"Contact the Association," Chaewon ordered without breaking stride. "Tell them we need medical units, containment, and an investigation team. Priority one."
One of the guards hesitated. "Is the boss dead?"
"Alive but neutralized," she said sharply. "Don't touch it. No one goes in until backup arrives."
The guard snapped a salute and began speaking urgently into his comm.
Just beyond the guard line, four figures broke from the shadows Sakura at the front, with Yunjin, Kazuha, and Eunchae close behind. They'd been waiting outside the portal for hours, knowing Chaewon had gone in alone.
"Chaewon!" Sakura's voice carried a mix of relief and tension. "We thought " She stopped short when she saw Renji beside her, blood-spattered but calm. "Who's this?"
"Long story," Chaewon replied, brushing past her to address the group. "Inside, we found imprisoned hunters. Some are in critical condition. Scarlet Fang's leader is dead. And..." she glanced at the guards still on comms, "...there were experiments. The Association needs to hear everything, fast."
Yunjin's jaw tightened. "Experiments? What kind?"
"Fusion experiments," Renji said before Chaewon could answer. His voice was flat, but the weight behind it was unmistakable. "They were forcing hunters to merge with the monsters twisting them into something that wasn't human or beast."
Yunjin's face went pale. "That's insane."
Kazuha's eyes narrowed. "Then we'd better make sure this doesn't get buried."
From here, the conversation shifted as Eunchae's eyes darted between Chaewon and Renji.
"So this is the guy?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
Yunjin smirked. "Yep. The 'mysterious returner' from the files. Captain had us dig up his background last night."
Chaewon gave them a sharp look. "Background checks are for safety. Don't turn it into gossip."
Kazuha stepped closer, her tone calm but probing. "Still you never said he was this skilled. First dungeon run and you two clear it like that?"
Renji raised a brow. "First dungeon run, yes. First fight... no."
Eunchae tilted her head. "Right, because you're a returner from the Origin Realm," she said. "We've had a few come back over the years but none with your record."
Renji didn't confirm or deny, just met her gaze with an unreadable expression.
Yunjin's smirk widened. "Captain, you really have been looking after him since the day he woke up, huh?"
Chaewon crossed her arms. "He needed someone to keep him from getting into trouble."
Renji chuckled quietly. "And yet here we are."
Kazuha's lips curved in a small smile. "You two sound like you've known each other longer than just a few days."
Chaewon turned toward the Association staff. "Enough questions. We have a report to file and it's not just about the dungeon. Those fusion experiments inside are worse than anything I expected."
Her squad exchanged glances, each of them silently noting the unspoken closeness between the two.
Renji stopped in front of a high-rise building, its glass façade catching the city's neon glow and scattering it across the skyline. The building was tall and sleek, the kind of place where every window looked like it belonged in a magazine spread.
Chaewon hadn't offered much when she handed him the address, just a keycard and a short instruction. " Stay here for now. I might not be back by tonight so make yourself at home" Renji recalled upon giving him the keycard to her apartment for him to stay
The lobby was quiet, the marble floors polished to a mirror shine. Soft background music hummed from hidden speakers, and the air carried the faint, clean scent of lilies. A uniformed concierge gave him a polite nod, eyes flicking briefly to the sword case slung over his back before returning to his desk.
Renji crossed to the elevator, the hum of the cables filling the silence as it carried him upward. On the top floors, the hallway was lined with warm lighting and minimalist décor. Her unit sat at the far end. He swiped the keycard; the lock gave a soft click, and the door swung open.
The apartment was spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering sprawl of Seoul. Everything inside was clean, ordered an intentional contrast to the chaos of a dungeon.
He set his bag down in the corner and let his gaze roam over the place. It was quiet, almost too quiet, the kind of silence that made you aware of every breath. Somewhere across the city, Chaewon and her team would already be at the Association headquarters, digging into the fusion experiments hunters altered with dire wolf traits, victims left behind in dark corridors.
Renji drifted into sleep, and the city faded away.
The sky above the border fortress of the Crimson Throne burned a deep orange, the horizon thick with smoke from villages already claimed by the Veythar Dominion. Siege horns wailed in the distance, growing louder with each passing heartbeat.
Sir Kaelen, vice commander of Renji's forces, stood by him on the battlements, silver armor dented and bloodied. "Their forward army is less than a league away. Scouts say they're bringing war beasts. If the fortress falls, the capital will be next."
Renji's eyes were hard, fixed on the crimson banners flapping in the wind. "Then it won't fall. We'll break their vanguard here, before they reach the gates."
Lyra, her violet mage robes scorched at the edges, approached with her staff. "Renji I can seal the eastern pass for a few hours, but not without draining my mana. If the Dominion breaks through before I recover—"
Renji cut her off, his voice firm but not unkind. "Do it. Every moment we buy is another life saved inside the capital."
A sudden thud shook the walls a Dominion siege bolt slammed into the outer gate, splintering the wood.
Taron, the youngest of the group, rushed up the steps two at a time, bow in hand. "The enemy's skirmishers are already inside the forest line! If we don't send a squad now, they'll surround us before the main army even arrives!" His voice cracked, but his grip on the bow never wavered.
Renji placed a steadying hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're with me. We'll face them together. No one fights alone today."
In the distance, the war drums of the Veythar Dominion pounded like a beating heart.
Sir Kaelen raised his blade. "For the Crimson Throne!"
Lyra and Taron echoed the cry and Renji joined them, his voice cutting through the chaos as the Dominion's banners emerged from the smoke.
The dream bled away into darkness...
A hand gripped his shoulder.
Renji's eyes snapped open, but the battlefield still clung to him. He moved before thinking seizing the wrist, twisting, and yanking the figure toward him. His other hand reached instinctively for a weapon that wasn't there.
"Renji! It's me!"
Chaewon's voice cut through the haze, firm but steady.
He blinked, breath ragged, the smoke of war replaced by the muted light of her apartment. Behind her, three figures stood in the doorway, Eunchae, Kazuha, and Yunjin, each wearing a different mix of surprise and caution.
Yunjin raised a brow. "Well that's one way to say good morning."
Realization hit. Renji released Chaewon slowly, his grip loosening until her arm was free. His gaze darted around the room, scanning corners as if expecting soldiers to burst through the walls.
Chaewon didn't step back. Instead, she studied him for a long moment. "You were dreaming," she said, not as a question.
Renji exhaled and leaned back against the couch. "Not a dream," he muttered. "A memory."
Kazuha's voice was soft but edged with curiosity. "That didn't look like a good one."
Chaewon cut in, her tone shifting to business. "We need to talk. My team went through the office connected to the dungeon entrance. We found evidence of the direwolf-human fusions you saw. And something else" She glanced at Eunchae, who produced a small sealed bag with an insignia inside a crest burned into metal.
Renji's eyes narrowed. "I know that symbol."
And for the first time since waking, his voice carried the weight of the battlefield again.
Chaewon tilted her head. "How do you know the symbol Renji?"
He took the bag, turning the insignia so the light caught its jagged edges a spiked crown split in half, wreathed in fire. "The Veythar Dominion," he said slowly. "The same nation that tried to crush the place I stayed at while in the Origin Realm. They were waging war against all the nations on the continent"
Kazuha frowned. "So... whoever's behind these experiments has ties to the Origin Realm?"
Renji's grip on the crest tightened. "No they're not just tied to it. They're bringing the war here."
Before the tension could deepen, a voice rang from the kitchen.
"Breakfast is ready!" Sakura's cheerful tone sliced cleanly through the heavy air. "And if you people don't eat now, I'm eating your share!"
Chaewon sighed, almost smiling. "We'll talk more after we eat. Come on, Renji."
He set the insignia on the coffee table, but his eyes never left it. Even as he stood to follow them, the spiked crown seemed to burn in his thoughts. While sharing breakfast, Renji talked with them about the Veythar Dominion.
The Veythar Dominion a name that carried the weight of a thousand battles and the cries of fallen comrades. In the Origin Realm, their advance was like a tide of iron and fire, swallowing kingdoms one after another. For years, Renji had fought at the Crimson Throne's borders, holding back their relentless armies. The Dominion's banners, black and crimson, had become a symbol of unending war and now, that same crest had surfaced here, in the his home world.
It wasn't coincidence. The Dominion didn't move without purpose. If their insignia was tied to the grotesque fusions Chaewon's team had uncovered, then this was more than just an invasion of monsters. It was a foothold, a testing ground. The first ripple of a storm he thought he had left behind.
Memories pressed against the edges of his mind the clang of steel against steel, Kaelen's unyielding stance against an oncoming charge, Lyra's magic searing through enemy ranks, Taron's arrows finding marks no one else could see. They had bled together to hold back the Dominion's tide and Renji had vowed never to let their sacrifices be in vain.
Now, the war he thought was sealed away in another world had found its way to this one. And if the Veythar Dominion was truly here, then the Crimson Throne wasn't the only realm in danger anymore.
The clink of cutlery faded as the team finished breakfast, plates pushed aside. Conversation was light at first, but the undercurrent of Renji's revelation still lingered in the air. Sakura stretched, rolling her shoulders like a predator limbering up.
"So," she said, leaning back in her chair, "you've been through a war in another world, fought armies, faced things most people can't even imagine..." Her eyes narrowed with a spark of challenge. "But can you handle me?"
Chaewon sighed, sipping her coffee. "Sakura, this isn't the time."
"Oh, it's exactly the time," Sakura countered. "If he's going to work with us, I want to know if he can keep up. Closest thing we've got to a stress test."
Renji glanced at her, his expression unreadable, then set his cup down. "Fine."
The team exchanged looks, a mix of anticipation and curiosity. Within minutes, they were in the Association's training hall a wide, polished space echoing faintly with the hum of mana-infused wards. Sakura rolled her neck, her stance already shifting into something fluid and dangerous.
"No weapons," she said. "Just you and me."
Renji stepped forward, his stride unhurried. He loosened his shoulders, exhaled once, and let his weight settle naturally. He didn't posture, didn't even raise his guard in the same way Sakura did his body language was almost relaxed, yet each step was perfectly balanced.
The moment the signal was given, Sakura lunged first. Her speed was sharp, her footwork honed from years of combat. Her fist shot toward his head and Renji tilted just enough for it to pass by his cheek. No wasted movement. No panic.
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she shifted into a low sweep, her leg cutting for his ankles. Renji simply lifted his foot, letting her momentum pass beneath him before planting it back down. His counter was minimal a light palm to her shoulder that disrupted her balance without pushing too hard.
She recovered quickly, stepping in with a flurry of strikes. Renji's arms moved almost lazily, deflecting each blow with the smallest possible adjustment, as if he'd fought opponents twice as fast and strong before. To the onlookers, it was strange Sakura was moving at full speed, yet Renji seemed untouched.
Finally, she feinted left and drove a punch toward his midsection. Renji caught her wrist mid-strike, turned with her momentum, and gently almost politely set her on the ground. He didn't slam her, didn't humiliate her. Just ended the exchange in a way that left no doubt who had control.
Sakura lay there for a second, staring up at him, chest rising and falling. "You're better than I thought."
Renji extended a hand to help her up, his voice calm. "I've fought people faster. Stronger. But you've got discipline and that's rarer than raw strength."
As she took his hand and rose, the rest of the team exchanged looks. They'd just seen a man who didn't need to prove himself because he already knew exactly what he was capable of. Chaewon's team had been watching from the sidelines, and now their reactions spilled out at once.
"Did you see that? He barely moved!" one of the hunters muttered, eyes wide.
"It's like he knew exactly where every strike was going before it even landed," another added.
"More like he was fighting in slow motion while she was at full speed," the third said, shaking his head.
Eunchae, the youngest in the group, practically bounced forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Renji! That wrist catch you did and the way you shifted your balance can you teach me that? Please?"
Renji blinked, slightly caught off guard by her enthusiasm. "It's not something you learn overnight. Takes more than just drills."
"I don't care," Eunchae insisted. "Even a little would help! I've never seen moves like that before."
Chaewon stepped in, crossing her arms with a thoughtful expression. "Actually you might be onto something, Eunchae." She turned to Renji. "Most close combat hunters here rely on raw strength and speed. You fight like someone who's seen decades of battle and knows how to conserve every ounce of energy."
Renji tilted his head slightly. "Meaning?"
Chaewon gave a small, knowing smile. "Teach. Not just Eunchae, but a few of the close combat hunters in the Association. Even a handful of your techniques could save lives in the field."
The rest of the team nodded in agreement, some looking at Renji with new respect.
Renji glanced at them, then at Sakura, who was still catching her breath but smirking in defeat. He exhaled slowly. "I'll think about it."
Chaewon grinned faintly. "That's not a no. I'll take it."
Renji couldn't argue back as the crowd around them erupted in cheers, some clapping, others already tossing playful jabs at Sakura for losing. He just chuckled, shaking his head, the sound low and almost nostalgic. For a brief moment, the noise faded, replaced by memories of the Origin Realm training grounds under crimson skies, the clanging of steel, and the determined voices of his subordinates.
He could almost see Sir Kaelen correcting a rookie's stance with a firm hand, Lyra scolding Taron for getting too cocky during sparring. Back then, every lesson was carved into them through sweat, blood, and the unshakable will to survive.
The present came rushing back as Eunchae tugged on his sleeve, still brimming with excitement. "You have to show us some of those moves! I've never seen anything like them!"
Renji gave a faint smile, though there was a glint in his eye. "We'll see."
The cheers only grew louder, and even Sakura smirked in defeat, muttering something about a rematch. Chaewon crossed her arms, clearly satisfied, but there was calculation in her gaze. She'd gotten exactly what she wanted.
Several districts away
In a dimly lit office overlooking the city, Minister Jang Seong-min leaned back in his leather chair, the glow of his computer screen reflecting off his sharp, calculating eyes. The latest Association report lay open before him the Scarlet Fang Guild's leader found dead, their base raided, and worst of all, their hidden labs uncovered.
The document detailed horrors that would make the public riot if leaked hunters dissected like lab rats, civilians infused with unstable mana crystals, experimental mutations caged like beasts.
Jang's lips curled, though not in disgust. "Idiots. They moved too fast, drew too much attention." He tapped a finger against his desk. "Now the Association's sniffing around."
From the far corner of the office, a man in a tailored black coat stepped forward, the faintest glint of a spiked crown pendant hidden beneath his collar. "Shall I handle the witnesses?"
Jang's gaze sharpened. "No. Not yet. The Dominion doesn't need panic it needs control. The Scarlet Fang was expendable, but their work" His smile turned thin, predatory. "their work will continue. Quietly. Through the right hands."
The man bowed slightly, his voice low. "And if the Association digs too deep?"
Jang's fingers drummed on the desk. "Then we give them something else to chase. Something big enough to blind them to the truth."
Outside, the skyline gleamed under the setting sun, but beneath that light, the Dominion's roots wound deeper into the Earth Realm's underbelly patient, coiled, and ready to strike.