After sealing their promise, Zazm opened a swirling portal behind him.
"I'll see you all soon," he said with a grin—and without waiting, jumped in.
Everyone watched him vanish into the glowing portal.
Miwa stretched with a yawn. "Well, we've got exams."
"Yeah," Minos added, already turning. "Gotta survive those first."
Before anyone could reply, the two vanished—gone in a flash.
Jahanox sighed and stretched his arms. "Since everyone's leaving, I guess I should help around the house. My mom's been asking me to—"
"Wait," Caspian interrupted, stepping forward.
Jahanox turned around. "What is it?"
Caspian gave him a casual look. "Instead of going home, how about doing something useful?"
Jahanox crossed his arms. "Like what?"
"Didn't Zazm tell you?" Caspian said.
Jahanox raised a brow. "Tell me what?"
Caspian smacked his forehead. "He totally forgot. Classic. Anyway, he said you should fix the arena."
"The arena?" Jahanox asked suspiciously. "Why would he ask that?"
Caspian shrugged innocently. "No clue. Just passing on the message."
Jahanox rubbed the back of his neck. "Tch... It'll take time to restore the regeneration core and the combat systems." He sighed. "Guess I'll have to make up an excuse to my mom."
With that, he vanished in a blink.
Now, only Jennie and Kiyomasa remained, standing off to the side.
Kiyomasa looked over and said, "I'm gonna grab some water." He left quietly, leaving Jennie and Caspian alone.
Caspian turned toward her with a sly grin and stepped closer. "Hey, Jennie. Can you do me a favor?"
Jennie tilted her head, curious. "What kind of favor?"
"I'm in the middle of filming a show," Caspian said, "and we're missing a female lead. I thought you'd be perfect."
Jennie blinked, then let out a small laugh. "I'm flattered, but... I'm terrible at acting. Seriously."
Caspian clasped his hands together dramatically. "Please? I'm desperate. I'd rather work with a friend than some random stranger."
Jennie hesitated. Her smile faded into a look of polite concern.
Caspian kept his big, pleading eyes locked on her.
Finally, Jennie sighed. "Okay... but just this once."
"Yes!" Caspian cheered, already pulling out his phone. "You're gonna be amazing."
Just as Jennie agreed, Kiyomasa returned, sipping from a bottle of water. "Hey, what are you two talking about?"
Caspian froze mid-celebration. "Oh, nothing! Just... you know, casual stuff."
Jennie, ever honest, smiled and said, "Caspian asked me to work with him on a movie project."
Kiyomasa's eyes lit up. "Oh! That's awesome! You'd be a great actor, Jennie. You should totally do it."
Jennie laughed nervously. "Thanks... I think I'll try it, but I'm not sure how good I'll be."
"I've been on set with Caspian a couple of times," Kiyomasa said brightly. "It's so fun there. Can I come along this time too?"
Caspian's smile twitched. "Uh... I mean, don't you have training to do or something?"
"But I've already trained today," Kiyomasa insisted. "And it'll be more fun with three of us."
Caspian sighed, clearly cornered. "Fine. But don't slow us down, alright?"
Kiyomasa grinned. "Deal!"
Caspian nodded, resigned. "Alright then—meet me back here tomorrow night. We'll head out from here."
"Got it!" Kiyomasa and Jennie said in unison before they both disappeared in flashes of light.
Caspian stood there for a moment, muttering to himself, "Great... now I've got a whole crowd."
---
The golden afternoon sun cast long shadows over the pavement as the school bell rang, signaling the end of another day. Minos stepped out through the front gates, his bag slung over one shoulder, eyes squinting up at the sky. A few moments later, Miwa bounced out behind him, arms stretched above her head like a cat waking from a nap.
"That exam was cruel," Miwa groaned dramatically. "I think my brain actually melted."
Minos let out a small chuckle. "It was just a history test."
"Exactly! History!" she snapped, spinning in place before catching up to him. "Why do they expect us to remember what some guy did in 1804 when half of us would be fighting monsters or whatever?"
Minos gave her a sidelong glance, his face calm as always. "Because some things still matter. Even if we have powers now… we're still students."
Miwa sighed loudly. "You sound like a grown-up."
He shrugged. "Someone has to."
They walked in silence for a few seconds before Miwa spoke again, her voice a little softer. "Hey... do you ever think about how fast everything changed?"
Minos looked at her. "Yeah. Every day."
"I mean, one minute we're just classmates. Next minute, we're part of some cosmic mystery team trying to save the multiverse," she said with a half-hearted laugh. "Feels like a comic book."
Minos nodded. "I still haven't fully processed it."
"I know right?" she said. "And everyone else—Zazm, Jennie, Jahanox—they seem so... sure of themselves."
"Zazm especially," Minos agreed. "It's like he's already seen the ending."
Miwa nodded, hugging her bag close. "He's cool, but kind of scary sometimes."
"He has to be. He's carrying the biggest weight."
"Yeah…" she trailed off, then glanced at him with a grin. "You know, you've changed too."
Minos blinked. "Me?"
"Yep! You used to be all serious and cranky. Now you're still serious, but... less cranky," she teased.
Minos rolled his eyes but smiled faintly. "Thanks. I think."
They passed by a familiar corner near a bakery, the scent of fresh bread briefly cutting through their thoughts. Miwa kicked a pebble ahead of her. "I'm glad we're part of this though. As weird as it is… it feels like we're meant to be."
Minos looked at her for a long second before nodding. "Yeah. Me too."
They walked on in silence again—this time, the comfortable kind.
As they reached the corner near Miwa's usual turn, Minos glanced at her. "Hey… my parents are out today. They had some dinner event to attend."
Miwa tilted her head. "Oh? Fancy."
He ignored her teasing tone. "So I was thinking... instead of heading home, wanna study at my place?"
Miwa grinned. "Free snacks?"
"Obviously."
She nodded immediately. "Then lead the way, boss."
A short walk later, they stepped into Minos's house—neat, quiet, and filled with the subtle scent of clean wood and fabric softener. Miwa slipped off her shoes and stretched again. "Your house is so clean. It's suspicious."
"My mom's idea of stress relief is vacuuming," Minos said, setting his bag down and heading to the kitchen. "You want rice cakes or ramen?"
Miwa dropped her things beside the low table in the living room and replied, "Why not both? We're studying, that means calories."
Ten minutes later, the two of them sat cross-legged on the floor, textbooks open in front of them and bowls of ramen beside a plate of spicy rice cakes.
Miwa slurped a noodle and flipped through her math book. "Why do letters exist in math? It's math, not spelling class."
Minos smirked, writing something down in his notebook. "It's algebra. They're variables."
"I call them evil squiggles," she muttered.
They studied for a while, exchanging notes and solving problems, but conversation kept slipping in between.
"Hey," Miwa said between bites, "Do you think all the other Catalysts get time like this?"
Minos didn't look up. "You mean… normal time?"
"Yeah," she said, voice softer now. "Just hanging out. Studying. Laughing. Being... normal."
Minos finally looked up. "Probably not as much as they want. Zazm barely sleeps. Jennie always looks like she's worrying about someone else. Jahanox… he never really rests, does he?"
Miwa nodded quietly. "It's kinda sad."
He reached for a rice cake and added, "That's why moments like these are important. We don't know how long they'll last."
Miwa looked at him with surprise, then smiled faintly. "You've really grown up, huh?"
"Don't make it weird."
"I'm complimenting you!"
"Still weird."
They both laughed, and for a while, the sound of pages turning and chopsticks clinking against bowls filled the room. Outside, the sky deepened into a soft lavender hue, and inside, for once, the world felt calm.
Miwa stretched out her arms, shut her book with a satisfying thud, and dramatically slumped back against the couch. "Done. Finally. My brain is officially fried."
Minos glanced at the clock. "It's already evening. That took longer than expected."
"Which means…" Miwa suddenly sat up, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "We should do something else now. Let's go to the Shadow Realm! Maybe everyone's hanging there."
Minos raised an eyebrow. "Except Zazm, of course."
"Obviously. He's off doing his mysterious eighth Catalyst quest thing," Miwa replied, waving her hand like Zazm's cosmic investigation was a weekend errand.
Minos thought for a moment and then nodded. "Not a bad idea."
He lifted his right hand, focused briefly, and gave his ring a quick twist. A faint shimmer of blue light pulsed and Miwa did the same with her stone as both of them vanished.
With a quiet hum, they appeared inside the Shadow Realm's throne room.
"…It's empty," Miwa said after a moment, looking around. "Spooky, but empty."
The towering hall stood silent. Shadows danced softly along the polished stone walls, and the dim skylights poured silvery illumination onto the obsidian throne. Not even the usual echo of faint energy stirred. It was unsettling.
Minos squinted. "Guess no one's here."
"Then let's check outside!" Miwa said cheerfully, already walking toward the tall arched doors.
They pushed them open and stepped into the outer courtyard. The Realm's sky above was a surreal blend of deep purple and muted gold, like dusk and dawn merging into one eternal moment.
And then they saw them—Caspian, Kiyomasa, and Jennie, standing near the central fountain. All three were dressed sharply. Caspian wore a black dress shirt with silver embroidery and matching slacks, his hair brushed back more carefully than usual. Kiyomasa had a button-up navy shirt with a white blazer, and Jennie was in a soft, elegant beige dress that shimmered slightly in the strange light.
"Whoa," Miwa muttered. "They look… fancy."
Minos smiled and took a step forward, raising a hand. "Hey—"
Suddenly, Miwa yanked him back behind a column.
"Ow—what are you doing?" he whispered, startled.
Miwa pressed a finger to his lips. "Shhh. This is a golden opportunity."
"For what?" Minos whispered harshly. "They're our friends. Just say hi."
Miwa peeked around the corner with a smirk. "It's no fun listening to them if they know we're here. Let's follow them secretly, see what they're up to."
Minos frowned. "Miwa… that's a terrible idea."
She turned to him, eyes gleaming. "Or is it the best idea?"
"We'll get caught."
"Not if we're smart."
"What would we even gain from this?"
She gave a sly grin. "Information."
"Information like what?"
Miwa leaned in with a devilish whisper. "Information to use for fun."
Minos sighed, clearly conflicted. "You just want to tease them with whatever you find out."
She didn't deny it. "Yup."
He looked away, arms crossed. "We're supposed to be the responsible ones, remember?"
Miwa poked his cheek. "You mean you're the responsible one. I'm chaos incarnate."
"I noticed."
Still, despite his protests, he stayed beside her, crouching behind the column. Miwa gestured him to move forward quietly as the three ahead began walking toward one of the bridges that led into the quieter garden section of the realm.
Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared beside Caspian—he opened a portal without warning.
Miwa's eyes lit up in surprise. "Wait… they're going to the real world?"
Minos chuckled, arms crossed. "Well, there goes your plan to spy on them."
Miwa narrowed her eyes. "Who said I'm quitting?"
Before Minos could respond, she lifted her hand. A soft blue glow shimmered around them as she activated her telekinesis. "Hang on!" she said with a grin.
The next moment, both of them were levitating, zipping through the portal just before it closed. A sudden gust of warm city air hit them as they landed softly behind the group—hidden by the shade of an alley.
In front of them stood a massive, modern building. Its sleek windows reflected the fading sunlight, and bold letters crowned the entrance.
Minos squinted up at the sign and blinked. "This… looks like some kind of film studio?"
"Whoa!" Miwa whispered, eyes twinkling. "I wonder what they're doing here!"
They crept forward slowly, sticking to the shadows, watching as the trio of Catalysts walked along the pavement. But instead of heading straight toward the studio's grand entrance, Caspian suddenly took a sharp turn into a narrow side path.
"Huh?" Minos whispered, eyebrows furrowed. "That's not the way to the building… that path leads around the lot."
Miwa nodded, her playful grin slowly fading. "You're right. Something feels… off. Let's see where this goes."
Meanwhile, a few paces ahead, Caspian walked casually with Jennie and Kiyomasa in tow. The sidewalk narrowed as they continued down the deserted road. Cracked pavement stretched under their feet, weeds sprouting from the edges.
Kiyomasa looked around, confused. "Hey, Caspian? Why are we going this way?"
Caspian tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
Kiyomasa pointed to the desolate path ahead. "That leads toward the old industrial area. It's… empty. Nobody even comes here."
Jennie hugged her arms and glanced around nervously. "Yeah… it's kind of creepy. The more we walk, the more it feels like we're heading into a ghost town."
Caspian shrugged, smiling coolly. "I told you. It's a horror film. We need an authentic location. This place is close to the studio and perfect for a gritty shoot."
Kiyomasa blinked. "I mean… I guess that makes sense."
Neither of them saw Caspian's subtle smirk as he led the way further into the shadows—nor did they notice the two faint figures following them silently in the distance, hidden just out of view.
Two more people were tailing Caspian, and he had no idea.
The deeper they walked into the derelict industrial zone, the darker everything became—half-finished buildings, rusted steel beams, and patches of concrete cracked by time. Jennie looked around, unease mounting with every step.
"Caspian…" she began softly, "where's the set? Where are the crew members you talked about?"
Kiyomasa frowned as well, glancing behind them. The city had disappeared behind a haze of distance. "This place feels wrong. We're too far from everything. It's not safe—let's go back."
Caspian didn't answer. He just stopped walking.
He placed a hand lightly on Kiyomasa's back—almost casually—then stepped a few paces forward.
Still facing away from them, he said, almost dreamlike, "I wanted power. Wealth. Everything the world had to offer."
Jennie exchanged a quick, confused glance with Kiyomasa.
"What are you talking about?" she asked gently, stepping forward.
Caspian didn't look back. "It wasn't possible. Not with the way things are. Not with people like him in the way."
Kiyomasa grabbed Jennie's hand. "Something's wrong. Let's leave—"
"I always wondered," Caspian cut in sharply, voice growing bitter, "why do Catalysts hide their powers like they're some kind of disease? Why follow his rules so blindly?"
Jennie furrowed her brows. "Caspian… we hide because we have to. Zazm is trying to protect us."
Caspian finally turned.
His eyes were cold, almost glowing with disdain. "It's always Zazm this, Zazm that. As if the rest of us don't exist. You follow him like brainwashed dogs. Do you even think for yourselves?"
Kiyomasa stepped forward. "That's enough. We're going. You're not well—"
"You're not going anywhere," Caspian said darkly, his smile curling at the edges.
Suddenly—
BANG.
The gunshot echoed like thunder.
Kiyomasa gasped—his body jerked back, blood spurting from his gut. He was thrown to the ground, landing with a sickening thud. Jennie screamed and dropped to her knees beside him.
"Kiyomasa! KIYOMASA!"
His hands were slick with blood, clutching at the hole torn through his side. His breathing came in sharp, ragged bursts.
"Kiyo—stay with me! Please!"
"Don't move."
Jennie froze.
Caspian stepped forward slowly, calm, almost smug
Don't even think about using your powers," he said coolly. "Unless you want to watch him bleed out right in front of you."
Jennie's heart pounded. Her illusion magic fluttered at her fingertips—but she couldn't. Not with Kiyomasa in this state. He was vulnerable. Any mistake, any sudden move, and—
"He can't fight like this," Caspian continued. "You know that. His system's in shock. That bullet—specially crafted, by the way—tore right through muscle and bone. Try something funny, and I'll let him bleed."
She looked up, hands trembling.
"You're insane…" she whispered.
From the shadows around them, mercenaries emerged—armed men in black tactical gear, rifles at the ready, eyes emotionless. One of them walked up to Kiyomasa and kicked him harshly in the ribs, making him cry out in agony.
"This one's still alive," the man grunted. "Strong kid."
Jennie's breath hitched. "Don't touch him!"
Caspian held up a hand, signaling the mercenary to stop. He knelt beside Kiyomasa, watching his blood pool on the gravel.
"You don't understand," Caspian said softly. "Catalysts are built differently. He won't die right away. But he will suffer. And he'll suffer more if you resist."
He stood up and turned to Jennie.
"So. You can phase through walls, right? Turn invisible. Create illusions that no one can detect. But none of it matters… because you won't dare move a muscle while your precious little friend is choking on his own blood."
Jennie shook with fury, her eyes brimming with tears. She wanted to scream, to vanish, to fight. But she looked down at Kiyomasa's pale face—his blood-soaked clothes, the pain etched into his every breath—and she knew Caspian was right.
She was trapped.
Not by force. Not by magic.
But by choice.
And Caspian knew it.
He walked toward her with a cruel grin. "You see, Jennie… I didn't need to build a prison. I just needed him."
Jennie bowed her head slightly, tears slipping silently down her cheeks as she reached out and held Kiyomasa's hand tightly.
"Don't die on me," she whispered. "Please…"
Caspian's eyes flicked to the mercenaries. "Tie her up. Gag her if you have to. She's crafty."
Jennie didn't resist.
Not yet.
Not while Kiyomasa was bleeding out in front of her.
Not while hope was a knife twisted in her chest.
---
"Hurry up Min-Seok, we already lost them because of how slow you are." Miwa spoke as she jumped over some bushes.
"Hey we're already doing this and wha-" he looked at his side towards Miwa who was standing there with her eyes absolutely wildely opened.
Minos skidded to a halt, eyes wide as the scene unfolded in front of him.
Blood stained the cracked concrete. Kiyomasa lay limp and unmoving in a dark puddle, barely conscious. Jennie was on her knees, her hands bound, face streaked with tears. Dozens of armed men stood scattered around the zone like predators, guns pointed, ready to shoot.
And at the center of it all—Caspian.
Grinning.
Laughing.
Miwa's expression dropped as she took a single step forward. But in that moment—
Crack.
She staggered—then collapsed. A dark blur struck the back of her head and sent her crumbling to the ground. Her vision spun, ears ringing. She reached weakly toward Minos before her limbs gave out.
"Miwa!" Minos yelled, rushing to her side—but he stopped short when a group of mercenaries suddenly surrounded him, rifles aimed directly at his chest.
Caspian strolled forward, his footsteps casual. His smirk widened as he raised a brow at the new arrivals.
"Well, well…" he drawled. "This really is my lucky day. You kids are making this easier than I imagined."
Jennie looked up with burning eyes. "Why are you doing this?! Why would you betray everyone like this?"
Caspian chuckled. "Why else?"
He stepped over a piece of broken concrete, lifted the rifle, and pointed it straight at Miwa's barely moving form.
"Power."
His voice rang out cold and sure. "First I kill her. Then the rest of you. And just like that… freedom."
The moment stilled.
Jennie screamed, "NO!"
Minos clenched his fists, trembling with helpless fury.
And then—
The atmosphere changed.
The air grew dense, heavy like gravity itself had thickened. The mercenaries stiffened. One looked around, his hands tightening on his rifle.
"What the hell is—?"
A soft chuckle echoed across the space.
From beneath Miwa's crumpled form—where her hand had clenched into a fist just before passing out—a faint ripple of darkness pulsed outward.
And then—
Shadows exploded.
Black tendrils of warped space twisted upward like smoke tearing through the fabric of the world, and from within the shadow—
Jahanox stepped out.
Cloaked in a storm of writhing darkness, his eyes scanned the carnage. And when they landed on Miwa's collapsed body, on Kiyomasa's bleeding form, on Jennie's bruised face—
They widened. Then narrowed.
Rage unlike anything Caspian had ever felt radiated from Jahanox's very being. Not loud, not wild. But quiet. Controlled. Deadly.
"…You."
His voice was low. Barely audible.
But it silenced the entire battlefield.
Even Caspian instinctively lowered his rifle, caught off guard. "What—how—?"
"She sent me a message," Jahanox said quietly, stepping toward Miwa. "Before she fell."
He knelt down beside her gently, brushing the blood from her forehead. Her eyes barely opened—and she smiled faintly.
"You're late…" she mumbled.
"Not anymore," he whispered.
Then Jahanox rose. And when he did, the world seemed to lean away from him.
He turned to face Caspian, eyes glowing with a slow-burning fury that chilled the bones of every mercenary watching.
"You shot Kiyomasa."
He took a step forward. Shadows crawled at his heels.
"You bound Jennie."
Another step.
"You nearly killed Miwa."
Caspian took a nervous step back. "You think you scare me?"
Jahanox tilted his head. "No."
He lifted his hand—and darkness rushed toward him like the ocean drawn to the moon.
"But you should be."
Jahanox didn't hesitate.
With a flick of his wrist, the air howled. Every single mercenary was ripped from their place and thrown back like ragdolls—some slammed into the concrete, others skidded across the broken ground with screams of pain. The entire battlefield was cleared in seconds.
He didn't even look at them.
Jahanox raised his hand again, and a soft pulse of power brought Jennie, Minos, and Miwa gently toward him, resting them beside the barely breathing Kiyomasa. In his other hand, shadows gathered, forming a small glowing orb. He pressed it gently against Kiyomasa's wound, and a faint hum filled the air.
"Don't move," Jahanox said softly, voice trembling with controlled rage. "It'll heal the bleeding… just wait. Don't worry."
And then—his hand gripped Caspian's neck.
With a guttural yell, he slammed Caspian into the ground—not to harm him, but out of fury. Fury at the situation. At himself. At what Caspian had done.
The ground cracked beneath Caspian's body.
Jahanox turned to Caspian, darkness swirling around him like a second skin.
"You betrayed us," he hissed. "Why?"
But before Caspian could speak, he casually pointed toward one of the few mercenaries still standing—shaking, holding up a phone.
Jahanox glanced at the screen.
His breath caught.
A picture of his parents. Bound. Beaten. Alive.
Caspian's smile widened. "Think again, Jahanox."
Shadows reared behind Jahanox, ready to tear through everyone.
But he didn't move.
"If you so much as blink," Caspian said coldly, "they'll die. Right now. One order."
Jahanox's hands clenched. His entire body screamed to move—to rip Caspian apart.
Instead, he threw Caspian back in frustration, sending him skidding across the ground, and shouted, "What do you want?!"
Caspian rose, laughing. "You think you have power, but you're still a slave to your emotions. That's why you'll always lose."
Jahanox, breathing heavily, slowly raised both hands into the air. Shadows coiled and trembled around him, barely held in check.
"What do you want," he growled again.
Caspian walked up and without hesitation—kicked Jahanox in the face.
Jahanox stumbled back but didn't strike.
"I've always hated that face," Caspian sneered. "Acting like you were above me. Giving commands like you're better. Smarter. Stronger."
He punched Jahanox again.
"And I had special plans for you, Jahanox. I was going to break you slowly."
Another punch—this time to the gut.
Jahanox fell to one knee, blood dripping from his mouth—but his hands stayed in the air. Shadows hissed around him, itching to explode.
Then Caspian turned.
Walked over to Miwa—barely conscious.
He grabbed her by the collar and yanked her up, her feet dragging.
"She thought she could play the hero," Caspian said mockingly. "Sending you a message. And now look at you. You can't even move."
He laughed darkly, raising the gun and pressing it to her forehead.
"And Zazm won't be coming. She can't even call him now."
Jahanox's voice was low. Broken.
"Don't you touch her."
Caspian smirked. "Make me."