Shing.
Master Khun struck his sword down.
I closed my eyes. Ready for whatever comes next, if there's a next.
"…"
Silence.
Not the kind that brought peace, but the kind that froze your blood.
I didn't feel pain. 'Was that... a dream again?' My eyes fluttered open.
The katana gleamed—hovering just above my forehead.
What...?
I tilted my head, confused, staring at Master Khun as if the laws of time had bent in my favor.
Did someone stop time?
For a split second, I let my imagination soar.
But that hope vanished as quickly as it came.
Master Khun retracted his blade without a word, his eyes unreadable.
Master Asha strolled forward, her smirk widening. "You are one lucky squirrel!"
Squirrel?
I blinked.
"You were given a second chance. You can live… for now," she said, giggling like this was all a game.
"So I can go back to my daily life?" I backed away instinctively, trying to measure my distance from their shadows.
"Unfortunately, not." Master Khun's smile returned, calm and polished like a dagger in velvet. "You will be following us instead."
"Where are we going?" I asked, just as Master Jay locked a cold bracelet around my wrist. My skin prickled under its weight.
I fiddled with it.
Bracelet?
"You'll see," Master Asha replied, brushing imaginary dust from her nails.
They turned and began walking. The moment I hesitated, the bracelet yanked my entire body forward. I stumbled to catch up. "Hey—!"
I tried to undo the latch. It tightened.
"You should stop that," Master Jay warned, flicking my hands away. "Doing that would only make it worse."
"Oh yeah? What could be worse than this now?" I snapped, shaking the bracelet at him.
He gripped my wrist. His voice was quiet but firm. "Your wrist might snap."
"…You're kidding me, right?"
Master Jay said nothing. He looked forward.
"…" My eyeballs rolled back. I nearly fainted.
We moved through the dark in silence, my escape attempts increasing with every step—and failing just as miserably. After each one, Master Khun would scold me. The way he spoke, calm yet exasperated, reminded me of Ma.
It made my chest ache.
[Llyne's House]
The Doctor gently set his tea down. "Is the child alive?"
I peeked from behind Master Jay. The Doctor smiled. "You got my message before you sliced her in half. Wonderful!"
"You have impeccable timing, The Doctor. As always," Master Asha said, settling onto the couch and powdering her nose.
"Is everything done, The Doctor?"
"Ah, yes, Master Khun. Though I must say—asking a doctor to handle an engineering task? Quite the gamble."
"It was just an installation job," Master Khun replied mildly. "And since you stayed behind, I thought a genius like you could handle it."
"Well, if you say so, Master Khun. I do hope it functions properly."
Master Khun moved to the center of the room. He raised his hand, pressing into the air like he was swiping at invisible glass.
"…What is he doing?" I whispered to Master Jay. "Playing with the air?"
"Each of us has a specially designed system," Master Jay explained without looking at me. "Only Scorpions can use or see it. Features vary by department and rank. IT handles mission assignments and data. Higher ranks unlock more options. We all have some base functions—personal info, inventory, points, that sort of thing."
My eyes lit up.
Just like the RPGs I love...
Suddenly, light erupted in the center of the room. A swirling black hole formed mid-air, radiating an eerie hum.
"It seems the portal device was installed properly," Master Khun said, pleased. "Shall we, now?"
I was speechless.
A portal? In real life?
Before I could react, Master Jay hoisted me like a sack of rice and stepped into the void.
I squeezed my eyes shut, clutching my breath—
—
I opened them again.
Sunlight. Birds. A bustling market. The sharp contrast blinded me for a second.
We landed right in the center of chaos. The market buzzed with life—shouts of sellers, the clatter of coins, the aroma of spices and street food. But no one came near us.
They kept a wide berth like we carried death in our pockets.
"Why are they standing so far away from us?" I whispered.
"'Cause no one wants to make Master Khun angry," Master Jay said casually. "Once he's mad, heads roll. Only the Grand Master can stop him."
"Ouish~" I immediately shuffled behind Master Jay.
As we moved through the crowd, I scanned the market stalls—fresh vegetables, clothes, herbs, jewelry. People bargained like their lives depended on it. Sellers laughed, buyers cheered. It was alive.
Then, unexpectedly—
"That boy, he's with you, right?" Master Jay asked.
I tilted my head. "You mean Lyndall?"
"Llyne!" Lyndall popped out of nowhere like a mischievous sprite. "You called me?"
"Lyndall! You're here!" I exclaimed, my heart easing.
"Lyndall? That's his name?" Master Jay grimaced like he tasted something sour.
"You got a better one? He wanted my name in his, too."
Master Jay didn't answer. His eyes never left Lyndall.
Strange.
"Lyndall? I got something to ask."
"Sure, sure!" he said, face stuffed with food like a chipmunk.
"Where did you get the mon–no, never mind. Recognize that red-haired gunman?"
Lyndall shook his head. Nothing.
I glanced at Master Jay again. He was checking his gun.
He's been acting strange ever since Lyndall appeared…
We soon arrived at a massive gate made of steel, guarded by dozens of armored soldiers. No one passed without getting checked. I watched one traveler get pulled aside and vanish behind the walls.
"The wall is soundproofed," Master Asha said with a grin. "No one hears what happens inside."
She knew exactly what I was thinking.
I broke out in cold sweat.
"Just ignore her," Master Jay said, ruffling my hair.
I looked around. The wall stretched endlessly left and right, metallic and dark, gothic in its design.
"The wall's stood since the beginning. It's never fallen," Master Khun said. "We don't even know what material it's made of. Some kind of ancient alloy."
Then he swiped through his system again.
"Well. Time we split up," he said. A towering brute stepped forward.
"Ouiii?" I shrank back.
"I'm not going with you?!"
"No. Only Scorpions can enter through the gate," Master Khun replied.
He passed through. Master Asha followed.
Master Jay grabbed my hand. "Try not to die, brat." He let go and walked off.
I looked down—something was in my hand. He gave me… a token?
Then the brute grabbed me.
"Hey! Where are you taking me!?" I yelled.
"Somewhere worse than hell, kiddo. HAHAHA!" He laughed like a villain out of a horror movie.
My face drained of color. I fought—bit, kicked, yelled. Nothing worked. No one helped.
Then I spotted it—a glint of metal on a passerby.
Bingo.
When the brute wasn't looking, I snatched a knife. My fingers closed around the hilt.
I didn't stab. I don't know why.
My vision blurred for a moment. The world went dark—and then I saw it.
A tunnel ahead, wide and yawning like the mouth of a beast.
I tightened my grip on the blade.
Oh boy. This ain't good at all.