The wide double doors of the Chairman's office creaked open as Auren stepped in, the heavy sound of his footsteps echoing in the silent hallway behind him. An eerie calm lingered in the air, almost like the eye of a storm. Chairman Kazehaya Tenjin, seated behind his mahogany desk, slowly looked up, the morning light catching on his silver-framed glasses.
"You've arrived," Tenjin said, voice low but firm. "I'm glad you responded quickly to the announcement."
Auren nodded, stepping forward with a controlled curiosity.
"You're being hunted," Tenjin began, folding his hands together. "By a creature not of this world. An elite gentleman bunny from the Society of Neo World."
Auren's expression didn't flinch. "You already told me that," he said calmly.
Tenjin's eyes narrowed. "Yes. But what I didn't tell you was this: that bunny… that underworld knight… has been on Earth for the past forty years. The last time it appeared was fifteen years ago—when it killed your grandfather."
Auren froze. His voice came out barely above a whisper. "My… grandfather?"
Tenjin nodded solemnly. "It was the only time your grandfather faced something he couldn't defeat. This creature is not just a contract assassin. It is a symbol of death—sent to extinguish the flames of those who meddle too deeply with the fabric of realms."
The air grew colder.
"And now," Tenjin said, rising from his chair, "it's after you."
Auren clenched his fists. "Why me?"
"Because you're a Gatewalker," Tenjin said. "And this creature... it only comes when the gods believe a human has become too powerful."
A heavy silence followed.
"But you won't face this alone," Tenjin added. "There's another Gatewalker. Someone close to you. Your best friend—Zorin Akagami."
Auren blinked. "Zorin? The son of the richest man in Hanzora?"
Tenjin nodded again. "Also the Vice President of the Elite Club at Namsu. Ask him yourself."
Auren took a deep breath. "I will."
Tenjin's voice softened as Auren turned to leave. "Thank you… for saving my daughter."
Auren paused, lips curving slightly. "You're welcome."
---
Back at Namsu University, lunchtime approached. Auren and his friends descended the stairs into the courtyard, laughter briefly escaping their lips—until a sudden shift in atmosphere silenced everything.
Three distinct groups blocked the pathway ahead, clad in sleek black uniforms with different insignias. The Elite Clubs.
Among them stood a familiar face—bruised and bitter. The same boy Auren had defeated days ago.
Before anyone could speak, he grabbed Auren by the collar.
Students started gathering, their voices buzzing like bees. The tension was palpable.
Auren's fists trembled. He was seconds away from retaliating… until Tenjin's words echoed in his mind:
"You're under my protection—for now. But no more fights. Not unless absolutely necessary."
He exhaled. "You want to hit me? Go ahead."
The gang leader sneered, pulling back his arm—
Thwack!
The sound of a punch reverberated through the courtyard—but it hadn't come from Auren. A new figure stood between them, fist still extended.
Zorin Akagami.
Effortlessly stylish, his open shirt fluttered with the breeze, his eyes sharp and focused. He looked like a model out of a fantasy RPG—yet there was deadly calm in his demeanor.
"This guy bothers you?" Zorin asked, cracking his knuckles.
Before Auren could answer, the gang leader lunged—and chaos erupted.
The three elite gangs rushed forward. Fists collided, bodies spun mid-air, knees cracked ribs, and power moved like lightning between fists. Students screamed and scattered, shielding their heads as tables crashed and dust swirled.
Zorin danced through the chaos like a shadow in a storm. A single kick sent two gang members flying. One tried to grab Auren—only to be slammed into a tree trunk by Zorin's elbow.
The battle lasted only minutes—but left an impression for years.
By the end, all three elite groups were on the ground, groaning. Zorin turned to Auren with a smirk. "You okay?"
Auren blinked. "Since when were you this cool?"
Zorin grinned. "Since forever."
---
Classes resumed in an awkward silence, professors trying to restore normalcy. After lectures, Auren found Zorin waiting for him outside.
"Come home with me," Zorin said.
They traveled in silence, riding through the upper districts until they reached a massive estate. Zorin's home was a mansion wrapped in glass, stone, and quiet elegance.
Inside, Auren asked the question weighing on his heart. "Are you… really a Gatewalker?"
Zorin nodded. "Yeah. I've been one for years."
He walked to a drawer and retrieved a worn piece of paper. "When my parents died in a car accident, I was saved by a stranger. He handed me this."
It was an old, folded card. Auren took it and saw strange markings glowing faintly.
"The man told me," Zorin continued, "that when I meet the right person at the right time… this would shine."
"And it did… the day I met you."
Auren's mind reeled. "What happened next?"
Zorin opened a case containing a small, metallic cube. "This box took me to the other world. I leveled up… fought creatures you can't imagine. I reached S-Rank within months. And now… I'm here to protect Earth too."
Auren sat in silence, processing everything. The puzzle pieces of his fate were falling into place—but the full picture remained hidden.
---
That night, Auren returned home. As he approached his gate, something caught his eye.
A card.
Its edges were sharp, perfectly cut. Black with red symbols.
At the center, a single word burned into the paper:
KILL
He snatched it up, eyes darting around. No one. Not a sound. Just the endless dark.
Auren rushed inside, bolting every lock. His heart thundered in his chest. Who left it? Was the assassin nearby? Was this just the beginning?
Suddenly, his phone rang.
He jumped.
The screen lit up with a name: Rei
He answered shakily. "Hello?"
Rei's voice was excited. "I found him. The old man you were looking for—the one from the portal. Meet me tomorrow. Bring the payment."
Auren sat on the floor, card still in hand, blood roaring in his ears.
The assassin was real. The danger was growing. But so was the mystery.
---
After dinner, Auren climbed to the rooftop. The stars above looked like distant fires. Cold wind brushed his hair as he lay down and stared at the sky.
He clutched the card tightly, fingers trembling.
Why now?
Why me?
Somewhere far away, thunder cracked without clouds. Somewhere beneath the ocean, a presence stirred. Something ancient… watching.
Tomorrow would change everything.
---
To Be Continued...