"The end of the hallway… but which of these doors is the right one?" thought Maria, her eyes scanning the cracked, soot-covered walls.
Without a word, Kevin turned left and pushed open the first door.
The moment it creaked, two monsters leapt at him, roaring like starving beasts.
Instinctively, Kevin countered with a swift cross-slash — his movement was so fast it sliced through the air.
The creatures dropped instantly, lifeless, their blood soaking into the stone floor.
"One single strike…" Maria murmured in shock. "He's really strong…"
Kevin stepped forward, surveying the room.
In the center, a man in a torn lab coat — stained with blood — was chained to the wall.
Thick shackles bound his wrists and ankles, glowing faintly with demonic symbols.
Beside him stood another man, pale-skinned, red-eyed, dark-haired — expression cold, as if he was only there out of duty.
When Maria saw the prisoner, she froze. Her eyes clouded — a storm of rage and fear.
"Little Maria… you came to set me free?" the chained man stammered, voice trembling in desperation.
"Thomas!" she cried, tears streaming down her face. "After everything you did to us, you still want to be saved!? You deserve to die here!"
The scientist smiled, but it was a broken, empty smile.
"Ungrateful… all of you!" he roared. "I saved your lives! Took you out of hunger, out of misery! I gave you shelter, food, purpose! And this is how you repay me!?"
The red-eyed man stepped forward, his deep voice slicing through the air.
"Stop lying. Everything you 'gave' us was just what you stole first."
Kevin watched in silence.
"So this is Thomas Reveler…" he thought. "Executing him would be easy… but maybe the right thing is to let him rot in one of my kingdom's cells…"
Before he could finish the thought, the red-eyed man lunged, his fist slicing through the air.
Kevin caught the attack, twisted his body, and leapt back a few meters.
"So we're fighting now, huh?" Kevin asked, raising his fists. "Just tell me one thing first — why are you here?"
"Because life sometimes forces us to do what we hate," the man said, looking away.
Before Kevin could respond, Thomas began to laugh — a broken, manic laugh that echoed across the chamber.
"It was Ray!" he screamed. "He destroyed everything I had! Made my own 'children' chain me here! I never should've sealed his soul!"
Kevin glanced at Maria. She stood paralyzed in terror, unable to move.
Then, four greenish chains burst from Kevin's back — one wrapping around Maria's waist, pulling her to a safe corner.
A fight's about to start, he thought. And I'm not letting anyone else get hurt.
The man before him began to change. His skin darkened to metallic gray, his muscles tensed, and his eyes grew feral.
"I've been ordered to eliminate anyone who enters this place," the warrior growled. "You're no exception."
Kevin grinned confidently.
"Then come on… just don't whine when I put you down."
The iron-skinned man charged like a wild beast, hurling his body forward.
Kevin leapt aside at the last second — and a thunderous impact shattered the wall behind him, leaving a massive crater.
"Just as I thought… this guy's ridiculously strong physically," Kevin realized, pivoting to face him.
But before he could react, the air shifted.
He turned — too late.
A crushing punch slammed into his face, hurling him into the ground with brutal force. The impact left a crater beneath his body.
"Tch… did you really think I wouldn't notice the Hagan in you?" the man taunted, his red eyes glowing like embers.
Kevin staggered to his feet. His clothes were torn, his face swollen, blood dripping from his lips — along with two broken teeth.
"My enchantments trigger through physical power," the man continued. "That's why you can't predict my movements."
Kevin steadied his breath, weaving through a flurry of blows.
"He's all brawn… I can win this," he thought, dodging left and right.
"Are you just gonna hop around like a frog?" Thomas jeered from the corner. "Fight back, boy, or you'll die!"
Kevin stepped back and manifested a weapon in his hand.
But instead of his usual light-forged sword, a translucent green scythe took shape — identical to Ruby's.
Thomas narrowed his eyes, startled.
"That scythe… I've seen it before…"
"Kevin!" Maria shouted. "The only way to defeat Grock is through enchantments! Don't hit him physically!"
Kevin gave a faint smile — which quickly vanished as reality struck.
"Damn… I can't use enchantments…" he muttered through clenched teeth.
Grock's strikes grew heavier, shaking the entire bunker.
Kevin dodged each one, but the ceiling groaned — cracks spreading fast.
A faint blue light began to glow from Kevin's body. Grock lunged with a frontal punch, but Kevin blocked with his scythe.
The collision sent sparks and smoke flooding the room.
Each clash grew faster — steel versus light, power against skill.
When Kevin finally leapt back, the scythe's blade was shattered, and his shirt hung in tatters.
"Tch… my body hurts like hell… his hits are slowing my healing…" he whispered, spitting blood.
"I warned you," Grock said, stepping closer. "Your stupidity will kill you."
The air around the giant shimmered with yellow energy.
He dashed forward, landing a crushing blow that sent Kevin crashing into the wall.
The explosion shook the ground.
"KEVIN!" Maria screamed.
When the dust settled, Grock emerged, holding Kevin by the neck.
He lifted him high, then hurled him skyward — jumping after him.
The punch that followed broke through the ceiling, revealing the moon above.
Below, Maria fell to her knees.
"No…"
Thomas smirked cruelly.
"The boy's done for. Died like an idiot… protecting someone as worthless as you."
"Shut up!" Maria cried. "I… I should kill you now. But death would be too easy. You need to live — to pay for everything."
Thomas chuckled lowly.
"You came for Sara, didn't you? Planning to escape with her?"
"Yes…" Maria whispered, trembling. "Do you know where she is?"
"Look around, foolish girl," Thomas said coldly. "All that remains here is ruin and regret. They all met the same end. Even your friend."
Silence hung heavy in the air.
Outside, in the forest, Kevin's body lay motionless, blood flowing like a river.
Believing him dead, Grock turned and began walking back toward the bunker.
But then, a voice called out:
"Grock! Our fight's not over!"
He spun around — and froze.
The boy's body was gone.
Before him stood a dark-skinned girl with long hair, wearing Kevin's tattered clothes.
"Who are you!?" Grock roared.
The girl smiled softly.
"Just a normal guy… nothing special."
She pressed her hands to the ground. Instantly, green and blue cracks spread beneath Grock's feet, and spectral chains burst upward, binding him tight.
He struggled — but couldn't move.
"Neo Jutsu: Radiance of Purification — Celestial Strike!"
A concentrated beam of pure light erupted from the girl's hands, striking the enemy head-on.
Grock screamed in agony as translucent green flames engulfed him, searing his metallic body.
The chains glowed brighter — and then all went still.
Only his charred body remained.
The girl exhaled deeply.
"I did it… my first enchantment…" she whispered weakly. "Thank you… Melissa…"
Her strength faded, and she fell to her knees.
The chains dissolved, and Grock's body hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Kevin — now in a female body — felt a familiar presence.
"This energy… I recognize it…"
A gentle hand helped him up. Opening his eyes, he smiled faintly.
"Ruby… thanks for helping me… but… what happened to you?"
Ruby looked her up and down. Her feline ears twitched; sharp fangs gleamed.
"Sorry, miss… do I know you?"
"What? It's me — Kevin!"
Ruby raised an eyebrow.
"Don't mess with me. My friend Kevin's a guy. You're clearly… not." She pointed at his chest. "And pretty… exposed, I might add. You should cover up."
Kevin glanced down — and froze. He was shirtless.
His face turned crimson. He tried to cover himself with both arms, curling up in embarrassment.
"Stay here. I'll find you something to wear later. I've got urgent matters to deal with," Ruby said, walking away.
Kevin watched as she disappeared into the forest.
In his mind, only one question echoed:
> "What's happening to me…? Why… is my body a girl's now…?"