The moment felt eternal.
Yuna's trembling body stood frozen in the center of the fairground plaza, her hands raised as the cold muzzle of a rifle pressed against her temple. Her driver lay unconscious nearby, blood pooling beneath him. The terrorist gang, dressed in dark paramilitary uniforms, had taken control within minutes. Screams and chaos filled the air moments ago, but now—silence. Fear reigned.
The leader of the gang, a scar-faced brute with a jagged tattoo running down his neck, barked into the microphone, "Tell your father to come here! Or you die, little princess!"
Yuna's phone, which had been thrown to the ground in the chaos, suddenly buzzed. The leader turned toward it and cautiously picked it up, glancing at the caller ID—Kazehaya Tenjin.
He sneered, then answered.
"You're late," the terrorist hissed.
Kazehaya's voice was low and steady. "Touch my daughter, and I will rain down hell upon you."
"You better start raining," the leader spat. "You've got ten minutes. Or she dies."
At that moment, a loud gunshot echoed across the plaza. Everyone flinched.
Yuna's bodyguard, who had been hiding near a pillar, staggered forward and collapsed with a grunt. A bullet had torn through his side. Panic surged again.
Auren, standing amid the terrified crowd, clenched his fists. His heart thundered in his chest. His breath shortened.
He couldn't stand still anymore.
He whispered under his breath, "Neo Reflex…"
Suddenly, the world slowed around him. His body moved like lightning. In less than a second, he dashed forward, appearing behind the terrorist leader. His fist crashed into the man's jaw with a sickening crack, sending him flying.
With one arm, he yanked Yuna backward, shielding her behind his back.
The gang's men responded immediately, raising their weapons. Bullets zipped through the air. Auren ducked, weaved, kicked one to the ground, twisted another's wrist until their gun fell—and fought like a storm.
But he was still human.
A sudden bang halted the battle. Everyone froze.
Auren stood still… blood dripping from his mouth.
He looked down—his once-white shirt was stained crimson.
"You… shot me?" he whispered.
The gang leader, now recovering from the earlier blow, laughed cruelly. "Reflex or not… You're nothing against real steel."
Auren dropped to his knees. Yuna cried out.
The leader raised his gun again. "Now die, hero."
But before he could pull the trigger—a blur shot through the air.
The shooter's gun clattered to the ground. Blood poured from his hand. In an instant, the gang leader was sent flying by a spinning kick that cracked the tiles under him.
A figure landed beside Auren.
A tall boy, shirt unbuttoned at the collar, exposing a scar-crossed chest. His physique was cut like steel—his presence commanding.
He turned toward the stunned terrorists and declared, "No matter what happens in this world… touch Auren, and you won't live to regret it."
He grabbed Auren's hand, lifting him up. Auren struggled to stand, blood still leaking from his wound.
"Who… are you?" Auren asked, barely conscious.
The boy smirked, his amber eyes glowing with sharp intensity. "Just a phantom no one remembers… and everyone fears."
Together, they fought.
The two carved through the remaining terrorists with ruthless precision. The mysterious boy moved like a predator—swift, silent, and unrelenting. No movement wasted. Every strike deadly.
Auren, despite his wound, mirrored his strength. They moved like they had trained together for years.
When the final terrorist begged for mercy and asked their names, the boy simply whispered:
"We're the riddle that ends civilizations… and the whisper that awakens gods."
And just like that—he vanished into the shadows.
Moments later, sirens wailed. The police arrived, guns drawn. The terrorists surrendered, confused and terrified. Yuna ran to Auren's side, helping him stand, her eyes wet with relief.
The next day, Auren received a call.
The mysterious boy who saved him had left a note at the gate of Auren's home.
> "Meet me at the rooftop café, 3 PM."
Auren arrived—and there he was.
The boy leaned against the railing, sipping a soda casually.
"So," he said with a grin, "still alive?"
Auren smiled faintly. "You're the one from yesterday."
The boy extended his hand. "Name's Zorin Akagami."
Auren stared. That name—it sounded familiar.
Zorin leaned back and continued, "You probably don't remember… but when you first came to Hanzora, I was the guy trying to help Yuna that day in the alley. Before the cops came."
Auren's eyes widened.
"That was you?"
Zorin nodded. "And when you got locked up, I was the one who paid your bail anonymously. You see, Auren… I've been watching you for a while."
Auren was speechless.
"Why?" he finally asked.
Zorin turned to him. "Because I believe in you. Because I know you're not ordinary. And because… I see the same fire in you that I've carried all my life."
He continued, "I've trained in Red Vein Kung-Ka, a forgotten martial art passed down by temple exiles. It's a combination of fluid strikes, acrobatic evasion, and mind-discipline. Alongside it, I mastered Valken Form, a battle style from underground rings—based on misdirection and pressure-point destruction."
Auren was stunned.
Over the next few days, their bond grew. They trained, laughed, even explored hidden places across Hanzora. Zorin would often drop by Auren's house unannounced, dragging him into crazy adventures, from street food hunts to secret sparring matches under moonlight.
Their brotherhood felt timeless—two warriors walking the same path.
But one morning, Auren stood by his window. The sea outside was… humming. A strange low pulse, almost like a chant, echoed from the depths.
Something stirred.
He shook it off and headed to Namsu University.
As he entered, he noticed police cars parked outside the administration building.
"What now?" he whispered.
He attended two lectures as usual. But then—he was summoned.
Over the intercom, a cold voice said:
> "Auren Hoshinaka. Report to the Chairman's Office. Immediately."
Whispers erupted around him. His classmates turned in surprise.
Auren stood, confused and anxious.
As he walked the long hallway to the Chairman's door, his heart beat faster.
What had happened?
Why now?
He reached the door.
Raised his hand to knock.
And then—
The world went silent.
---
To be continued.....