Lee Kung's fingers finally loosened.
The crimson lightning around his body faded slowly into the morning air.
Then—
CLANG.
The Sword of the Dragon King slipped from his hand and crashed against the ruined bridge.
Lee's eyes rolled back.
His body collapsed forward immediately.
Everything went dark.
—
Soft warmth touched his face.
A calm breeze moved gently across his skin.
Then came the sound of birds chirping peacefully somewhere nearby.
Lee's eyebrows twitched.
Light forced its way through his closed eyes.
Slowly—
He opened them.
Bright sunlight poured through a large window beside him.
The ceiling above him was unfamiliar.
White.
Clean.
Modern.
Lee stared upward blankly for several seconds before his body suddenly reacted.
His eyes widened.
He instantly reached for his waist.
Nothing.
The sword was gone.
Lee shot upward from the bed violently.
"MY SWORD—!"
The sudden movement made his vision blur.
His body still felt weak.
The room itself was strange.
Large shelves filled with books lined one wall. A glowing crystal lamp hung from the ceiling beside normal electric lights. Strange symbols were carved into the corners of the room, glowing faintly blue like protective seals.
The place looked half magical.
Half modern.
Then the door opened.
Mia walked in carrying a tray with food and water.
The moment Lee saw her—
He disappeared from the bed.
"Mia!"
She barely had time to react before he grabbed her shoulders frantically.
His eyes scanned her body immediately.
Her arms.
Her neck.
Her face.
Looking for injuries.
Looking for blood.
"Mia are you hurt?!"
His hands trembled.
"I—I didn't mean to—"
He stopped suddenly after noticing tears forming in her eyes.
His expression broke instantly.
"I'm sorry…"
His voice became weak.
"I'm sorry…"
Mia looked at him silently before finally placing her hand gently against his face.
"You idiot…"
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"You almost killed us."
Lee lowered his head immediately.
Pain hit him harder than any blade ever could.
"I know…"
The memories returned all at once.
The shadows.
Kang escaping.
Harris being taken.
The rage.
Then the shockwave.
His breathing became uneven.
"I lost control…"
Mia nodded slowly.
"You did."
Silence filled the room briefly.
Then Mia gave a weak smile.
"But we survived."
Lee looked up quickly.
"What?"
Mia slowly sat beside him.
"Right before the shockwave hit us… I used a healing barrier spell."
Lee blinked.
"A healing spell?"
She nodded.
"I didn't have enough time to stop the attack completely. Your aura was too powerful… but I managed to reduce the damage."
Her eyes lowered sadly.
"Sio Jun still got injured badly though."
Lee's chest tightened instantly.
"And Harris…"
Mia's face darkened immediately.
"He's gone."
The room became quiet again.
Lee slowly clenched his fists.
Kang had taken him.
And Gin Morino too.
The name alone still felt strange in his mind.
Like destiny itself was trying to force something together.
Mia wiped her eyes before standing up.
"You've been asleep for three days."
Lee froze.
"…three?"
She nodded.
"Commander Pius found us after the bridge collapsed."
Lee frowned slightly.
"Pius?"
Mia smiled faintly.
"He believed us."
That surprised Lee immediately.
"He… did?"
"At first he didn't understand everything," Mia admitted. "But after seeing your sword… and after Sio Jun transformed in front of him…"
She sighed.
"He realized this situation was bigger than normal human understanding."
Lee slowly sat back down.
"What happened after that?"
Mia placed the tray down carefully before speaking.
"He took us somewhere hidden."
Lee looked around the room again.
"This place?"
Mia nodded proudly.
"The Hero's Lair."
Lee blinked.
"The what?"
Mia laughed softly for the first time in days.
"You should see your face."
Then she walked toward the window dramatically and pulled the curtains open wider.
Lee's eyes widened instantly.
The place outside was unbelievable.
Massive training grounds stretched across an enormous hidden compound. Some people trained with swords while others practiced magic circles and combat techniques. Futuristic buildings stood beside ancient stone towers glowing with magical energy.
Floating drones moved through the air.
Huge screens displayed combat data.
There were weapon halls.
Libraries.
Energy chambers.
Even giant statues of warriors from different eras.
The entire place looked like a secret academy built for heroes.
Lee slowly stood up.
"What… is this place?"
"The Hero's Lair," Mia repeated proudly. "Commander Pius said this place was built decades ago by people preparing for another realm-level war."
Lee stared outside speechlessly.
"So humans knew about the realms?"
"Only a few."
Mia crossed her arms.
"Apparently every generation has guardians meant to protect Earth from realm invasions."
Lee looked outside again carefully.
"So this entire place is hidden?"
"Completely."
Then Mia suddenly smirked.
"And guess what?"
Lee narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What?"
"You're going to school."
Silence.
"…what?"
"You heard me."
Lee stared at her blankly.
Mia tried not to laugh.
"Commander Pius said since we're still teenagers, we need to blend into modern society properly."
Lee looked offended.
"I fought shadow monsters three days ago."
"And now you're going to math class."
"Mia."
"No arguments."
Lee groaned loudly and fell backward onto the bed again.
"This world is torture."
—
The next morning…
Lee Kung stood outside one of the largest buildings he had ever seen.
Students walked everywhere laughing and talking while carrying bags and books.
Cars moved outside the campus gates.
The noise alone overwhelmed him.
"This place is huge," he muttered.
Mia adjusted her uniform beside him.
"You'll survive."
Sio Jun stood nearby looking equally uncomfortable.
Unlike Mia, she looked extremely tense around so many humans.
Her silver eyes kept moving cautiously.
"You sure nobody here can smell wolf?" she whispered quietly.
Mia sighed.
"You asked that seven times already."
"I'm serious."
Lee adjusted the black school uniform awkwardly.
"I still don't understand why I must wear this."
Mia looked at him.
"Because normal people don't walk around carrying dragon swords."
Lee looked genuinely disappointed.
Before he could complain again—
The school bell rang loudly.
Students immediately rushed toward classrooms.
"This way," Mia said quickly.
They entered the building together.
The hallways became even louder.
Some students stared at them immediately.
Mostly at Lee.
The reactions were instant.
Girls whispered.
Some blushed immediately.
Others openly stared.
"Who's that?"
"He's so handsome…"
"Is he new?"
Lee frowned slightly.
"Why are they looking at me?"
Mia smirked.
"You really don't know?"
Before Lee could answer, a teacher approached them.
"You must be the transfer students."
A tall woman with glasses smiled politely.
"I'm Ms. Hayashi, the homeroom teacher."
Lee bowed awkwardly.
"Greetings."
She blinked.
"…well-mannered too."
Mia covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Moments later—
Lee stood at the front of the classroom while dozens of students stared at him curiously.
Ms. Hayashi smiled.
"Class, we have a new student today."
Whispers immediately spread.
"He's tall…"
"Look at his eyes…"
"Wait he's actually beautiful—"
Several girls began giggling.
Lee looked deeply uncomfortable.
"This is Lee Kung."
Ms. Hayashi smiled warmly.
"He recently transferred here with his friends, so everyone make him feel welcome."
"YES MA'AM!" several girls answered way too enthusiastically.
Lee blinked slowly.
One guy near the back rolled his eyes.
"Of course."
"Lee," the teacher continued, "you can sit beside Gin."
Lee froze slightly.
Gin?
A boy sitting near the window lazily raised his hand.
"Yo."
The moment Lee looked at him—
Something inside him shifted instantly.
That face.
That voice.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
But impossible.
Gin looked completely normal.
Black hair.
Relaxed posture.
A casual smile.
Just another student.
Yet Lee felt strangely certain he knew him somehow.
He slowly walked toward the empty seat beside him.
As he sat down—
Gin smirked.
"You're pretty popular already."
Lee kept staring at him carefully.
"…have we met before?"
Gin blinked.
"Huh?"
Lee frowned.
"No… maybe not."
But something about him felt undeniable.
The way he talked.
The way he moved.
Even his energy.
Gin leaned back casually.
"You fight?"
Lee looked at him.
"…what?"
"You look strong."
Gin grinned.
"Like ridiculously strong."
Lee stayed silent.
Gin pointed toward his arms.
"Built like that and you're telling me you don't fight?"
Mia quietly watched from across the room.
Her expression slowly changed.
She sensed it too.
Something strange connected Lee and Gin.
But she couldn't explain it.
Gin suddenly smirked wider.
"There's a fighting ring behind the school."
Lee blinked.
"A ring?"
"Underground student fights."
Gin rested his chin on his hand lazily.
"You should come tomorrow."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"A guy built like you probably has some skill."
Lee stared at him silently.
Then somewhere deep inside his mind—
The Dragon Sword whispered quietly.
"The final piece…"