Jeong dreamed again.
But this time, it wasn't the same void.
He stood in a vast, endless darkness, but the silence felt heavier than before. The air itself seemed to press down on him. His footsteps echoed even though there was no ground beneath him.
Then—
A massive shadow moved.
Not fast.
Not loud.
Just inevitable.
Its form was unclear, like darkness folding into itself, towering far above Jeong. He couldn't see its face, yet he felt its gaze.
"You are far too weak for this power."
The voice wasn't angry.
That scared him more.
Jeong's chest tightened. "Then why did it choose me?"
The shadow didn't answer.
Instead, the darkness around him began to expand—walls of black closing in from every direction. Jeong turned and ran.
Faster.
Harder.
But no matter how much he ran, the void didn't let him escape.
That's when he realized—
"This… this place is infinite."
The moment the thought formed—
Jeong screamed.
He jolted awake, gasping, sweat soaking his clothes.
"AH—!"
A blur of movement jumped off the bed.
"What happened, stupid?!"
The cat landed on the floor, fur puffed up, eyes wide.
Jeong clutched his chest, breathing hard. After a few seconds, he shook his head.
"Nothing… just a bad dream."
The cat stared at him silently.
Bad dream, huh?
Your heartbeat says otherwise.
Morning – Echoes of Fear
The morning air felt cold.
Jeong walked down the road to school, hands in his pockets, eyes unfocused. His body was present—but his mind was still trapped in last night's dream.
You are too weak.
A familiar voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
"Walk together?"
Jeong looked up.
Haeun was running toward him, slightly out of breath, waving.
For a split second—
The dream flashed in his mind.
The shadow.
The pressure.
His steps slowed.
"Jeong?" Haeun asked, concerned. "Are you okay?"
He forced a small smile. "Yeah. Just tired."
But the fear hadn't faded.
School Corridor – Something Is Wrong
The corridor buzzed with noise.
Students crowded around one direction, whispering loudly.
Minho jogged up to them. "Did you guys hear?"
"Hear what?" Haeun asked.
"Someone broke into our classroom last night," Minho said. "Desks smashed. Windows cracked. Total mess."
Haeun blinked. "Seriously?"
Minho turned toward Jeong. "Hey—where were you zoning out again?"
Jeong snapped back. "Huh? I'm here."
"You've been weird lately," Minho muttered.
Jeong shrugged. "Let's go see the classroom. You guys go ahead. I'll come slowly."
Minho hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."
As they walked away, Minho leaned toward Haeun. "Something's off with him. He was never like this before."
Then, changing the topic, Minho brightened.
"Oh—my dad bought me a new gaming console Are you both free this weekend?
Haeun smiled. "We'll see."
Behind them, Jeong stood still.
I don't understand this power at all, he thought.
It's why I couldn't sleep.
The Broken Classroom
The classroom was worse than expected.
Desks overturned.
Whiteboard cracked.
Glass everywhere.
Some students looked excited—unexpected vacation incoming.
Others looked annoyed—exams delayed.
The announcement soon followed.
"Classes will be suspended for repairs. Vacation will start early."
Mixed reactions spread across the room.
Some students cheered.
Others groaned.
Because for some—
Vacation meant going home to places they didn't want to be.
Evening – The Store
Night fell quietly.
Jeong stood behind the counter of his mother's small store. Minho and Haeun were there too, helping with customers.
"You don't need to do this," Jeong's mom said gently. "You're guests."
"It's fine," Minho said. "We don't mind."
Haeun nodded. "Yeah."
A gruff voice interrupted.
"Where's my food?"
Haeun turned quickly. "I'll bring it right now."
She rushed toward the counter—
and tripped.
Time slowed.
Minho froze, eyes squeezing shut in panic.
A man sitting at a nearby table leaned back abruptly, startled.
Instinct moved before thought.
The shadow beneath Jeong's feet stretched unnaturally.
A thin veil of darkness formed—soft, silent—catching Haeun before she hit the ground.
She landed safely.
Everyone froze.
Jeong's heart hammered.
The darkness faded instantly.
Minho exhaled shakily. "That… was close."
The man stood up angrily. "Watch what you're doing! If my clothes got ruined—"
"I'm so sorry," Haeun bowed quickly.
Minho tried not to laugh.
Jeong stepped back, hands trembling.
The cat's voice echoed in his mind.
You reacted without thinking.
Elsewhere – The Game Shop
Kael Veyra stepped into a dimly lit game shop.
Screens glowed everywhere.
The air smelled like energy drinks and dust.
A teenager snapped at him. "Hey, what are you staring at? Wanna play? Go find a free monitor."
Kael said nothing.
He simply stared at the screen, trying to understand the game.
The teenager lost his match.
"What the—!" He slammed the desk. "It's your fault! Pay up or I'll beat you."
Kael smiled.
That smile was wrong.
"You think this is funny?" the teenager snarled.
More boys gathered.
They dragged Kael into an empty alley.
The teenager laughed nervously. "Not smiling now, huh?"
Kael's expression went cold.
"You will all die here."
Laughter erupted.
Someone blew cigarette smoke into his face.
Kael's eyes lit up.
Night – Walking Home
Minho and Haeun walked home from the store together.
Streetlights flickered.
The road felt unusually quiet.
A stranger helped Haeun cross a puddle.
She thanked him, feeling oddly flustered.
Minho noticed. "Huh. Someone's popular."
She rolled her eyes.
Far away—
Screams echoed.
The Slaughter
The boys tried to run.
They couldn't.
A barrier crackled around them.
Kael stood in the center, bow formed from pure lightning.
"Humans are fragile," he said calmly.
Thunder arrows flew.
Three heads exploded.
Panic spread.
"Please! We're sorry!" one screamed.
Kael enjoyed the fear.
"Lightning Art: Judgment Spiral."
One strike.
The remaining bodies disintegrated mid-air.
Silence.
Kael turned sharply—alert.
Nothing.
Above, the sky was clear.
A distant voice spoke.
"Master… will you not stop him?"
Another voice replied calmly.
"Not yet. Just observe."
A man around twenty-three years old slurped ramen on a rooftop, eyes half-lidded.
"The time is close," he murmured.
Then the man stood up at the counter.
The girl, slightly blushing, spoke softly,
"Sir, for the ramen and for sitting here, the total comes to ₩9,500. Will you be paying by card or cash?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Isn't that a bit expensive? Don't you have some kind of discount?"
The girl froze for a second, then glanced at her coworkers. After a brief whisper among themselves, she turned back, trying to stay calm.
"W-We can give you a 45% discount, sir."
"Oh?" He gave a faint smile. "Then I'll pay in cash."
As he turned to leave, the girl whispered excitedly to her friend behind the counter,
"I wish I could get his number… What if he's some kind of celebrity?