A blast shook the air.
Children screamed. Parents ran in every direction, calling out names. Smoke rose as panic swept through the park.
Near the swings, a young mother was trapped — the metal frame had collapsed on her legs. Her child stood nearby, crying, while she screamed at him through tears:
"Run! Get away!"
Arin saw it all.
And in that moment, he remembered.
His aunt.
The blood.
Her final words: "Run, Arin… Live. For me."
A monstrous figure emerged through the smoke — tall, hunched, its body pulsing with shadow. It lumbered toward the crying child, claws raised.
Arin's chest tightened.
Not again.
Not this time.
CRACK!
A blur of gold struck the monster with a powerful punch.
The creature flew across the park and slammed into a tree with a deafening crunch.
Arin stood where it had been.
His breath was heavy. His jacket was torn. His eyes glowed faintly with golden light.
He turned to the swing, lifted the metal frame with ease, and freed the mother.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
She nodded, wide-eyed. "Y-yes… thank you. You saved my child's life."
Arin didn't smile. He looked toward the gate, still glowing.
The air shimmered.
More monsters were coming.
"It's not over," he said.
"More are coming."
Two creatures charged him.
He dodged one, struck the other in the chest, then twisted aside as claws slashed past his face. He countered with a heavy punch to the stomach — it staggered the creature, but it wasn't enough. They recovered quickly and lunged again.
Before they could strike, the ground trembled.
The monsters paused… and stepped back.
The boss had arrived.
It stepped through the gate — massive, armored, golden-eyed. Silent. Its sword shimmered with deadly energy. It didn't speak. It didn't need to.
It attacked.
The first swing came like lightning — Arin barely ducked. The second nearly took his arm off.
He's faster… stronger. I can't get hit.
One blow from that thing, and I'm dead.
But he couldn't stop.
I promised her… I'd live. And I'll do more than that.
I'll fight.
Golden energy surged through him.
He met the boss head-on. Their attacks collided — fists against steel. Arin's punches landed hard. He pushed past pain, past exhaustion.
But the boss wouldn't fall.
It turned, heading back toward the gate — retreating.
Arin stood there, body shaking, lungs burning.
This was his chance.
If he let the boss escape, more people would die.
He was outmatched. Every breath hurt. His vision blurred.
But he remembered her.
"Live."
He clenched his fist. Golden light blazed up his arm.
He knew what he was about to do could kill him.
He did it anyway.
He took the risk.
With a roar, he launched forward — and smashed a powerful punch directly into the boss's face.
CRACK!
The impact shook the park. The ground split beneath them. The boss dropped, buried in a crater of broken earth.
But it wasn't over.
The creature stood again, blood dripping from its mouth.
"Kill him," it growled.
Dozens of monsters surged through the gate behind it.
Arin staggered back.
He was alone.
He was exhausted.
Too many. I can't—
Two monsters rushed at him.
SLASH.
Their heads dropped.
Three new figures appeared — a girl and two boys, blades glowing with blue-white light.
They moved fast — cutting down seven creatures in seconds.
The girl turned to Arin.
"We're Elarions," she said. "You're not alone."
She tossed him a sword — sleek, silver, engraved with glowing runes.
"Take it. End the boss. We'll handle the rest."
Arin caught the sword. His hands trembled.
The boss was limping toward the gate — trying to flee.
No. Not this time.
With one last burst of strength, Arin moved.
Faster than ever.
He reached the boss just before it crossed the threshold.
SHHK!
He drove the sword straight into its back.
Light exploded from the wound.
The boss let out a strangled scream — then fell.
The gate behind it pulsed… and shattered.
Silence.
Ash drifted through the air.
Arin stood over the fallen creature, chest heaving.
Then—
His knees gave out.
He collapsed.