Ming looked down at Reon's bloodied, battered body and laughed—a cold, mocking sound that echoed through the empty classroom.
"Oooh, I'm so scared," he sneered, clapping his hands slowly. "Please, spare me, great king."
But as the sarcasm dripped from his lips, the laughter gradually faded. His smile twisted into a hard, dangerous expression. Ming stepped forward, his sharp eyes locked onto Reon.
"But seriously—do you really think you can beat me in this condition?"
Reon didn't answer. He wasn't listening anymore.
His mind wasn't on himself.
His entire focus was on the two girls tied up behind the broken desk—his sister and Nyra.
Tears streamed down their faces. Their bodies trembled with fear.
Reon's shattered ribs didn't matter. His barely moving left arm didn't matter. The blood pouring from his temple and mouth didn't matter.
All that mattered was protecting them—even if it killed him.
Slowly, painfully, Reon took a limping step forward. His foot dragged heavily on the floor, each breath wheezing through cracked lungs.
On the way, he bent down and picked up a broken rod lying on the ground.
Ming smiled cruelly.
"You look like a dying dog," he spat. "And yet… I still feel pity for you."
He sighed and shook his head.
"No matter what, you were once our leader."
Reon's voice cut through the tension like a knife.
"Cut the crap."
He raised his bloodied, bruised eyes—fiery with defiance.
"If you're going to fight me… then stop hiding behind your words."
A brief silence fell.
Then Ming smiled again—a villain's smile, cruel and confident.
"I won't lie," he said. "Even like this, you could still beat me. I'm not that foolish."
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small silver whistle.
"What the hell are you doing?" Reon muttered.
Ming held the whistle to his lips.
"I told you," he said softly, "I brought a gift."
Then—
Fweeeeeeee—!
The whistle's sharp sound echoed across the empty school halls.
Ming's whistle was still faintly ringing when something strange happened.
From his side, a man began to materialize out of thin air—like mist unraveling in reverse.
A cloaked figure, lean and silent, appeared.
Reon's eyes widened in shock.
What the hell? Magic?
He instinctively stepped back, eyes darting toward the translucent figure now solidifying beside Ming.
"How did he do that?" Reon muttered, stunned. "Was he… invisible this whole time?"
Ming turned with a smug grin.
"Shocked? You should be," he said. "Didn't I tell you I brought someone from one of the Seven Great Clans?"
He chuckled low and evil. "They can do more than just punch. Some of them… can disappear."
But Reon didn't flinch.
Instead, he glared at Ming and growled, "Stop hiding behind cheap tricks. If you're so brave, fight me yourself."
"Oh, Reon…" Ming shook his head mockingly. "I don't need to fight you."
He turned to the invisible man. "Go ahead. Just don't kill him yet."
The cloaked fighter nodded silently—and vanished again, scattering like air.
"Where did he go—?!" Reon spun around frantically.
Suddenly—
Slash!
A blade sliced across Reon's leg from nowhere.
He cried out in pain, collapsing to the floor, clutching his bleeding shin.
Before he could react, a fist slammed into his jaw.
CRACK.
Blood flew from his mouth as he slumped sideways.
Where is he?! I can't see him!
Reon tried to crawl backward, but—
WHACK!
A rod struck his head, sending him crashing to the ground, motionless.
Ming's grin stretched wide.
"Hahaaaaa! Look at him! Our former king, now lying half-dead on the floor!"
Behind them, Nyra and Reon's sister screamed, struggling desperately against their binds.
Tears streamed down their cheeks as they cried out for him, their voices filled with horror and helplessness.
But Rony and Jack held them back firmly.
"Reon!!" Nyra's muffled scream echoed through the room.
Ming approached slowly, mock bowing toward Reon's prone form.
"Tie him up," he ordered the invisible man. "We're taking him to the real leader."
The cloaked figure reappeared beside Reon's back and moved to bind his arms—
CRACK!
Suddenly, a rod smashed into the cloaked figure's spine from behind.
He screamed as his body flew across the room and slammed against the wall, finally fully visible.
He lay still—unconscious.
Ming's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You were awake?!" he gasped.
Reon struggled to his feet slowly, breathing heavily, blood still dripping from his chin.
He gave a dry, pained chuckle.
"Surprised?"
[Flashback — Moments Ago]
When the invisible man punched Reon in the face, Reon realized something critical.
He was fast… but not strong.
The punches hurt, but they weren't deadly. This wasn't some overpowered demon—it was just a man using a trick.
And when Reon noticed a rod floating slightly before it struck—
He acted.
Just as the rod hit, he lowered his head slightly.
The impact grazed him instead of smashing him.
He collapsed deliberately, faking unconsciousness.
All he needed was one clean hit.
And now—he had taken it.
Back in the present—
Reon stood tall, battered but defiant.
Ming stepped back, stunned, sweat beading on his forehead.
What do I do now…?
Just then—
DING!
Ming's phone buzzed.
He pulled it from his pocket and read the message.
Suddenly, a grin returned to his face.
A dangerous grin.
"Oh… oh, Reon…"
He looked up slowly, eyes glowing with a sinister glint.
"You're still going to die."
Scene Shift — Gun's Side
A few minutes earlier…
Right after Reon told him to call for help, Gun sprinted toward the auditorium.
I need to find someone—anyone! I have to tell them what's happening!
He dashed through the empty hallway, eyes locking onto the tall double doors of the auditorium.
"There it is!"
He ran faster, legs burning, and grabbed the metal handles.
Without thinking, he yanked hard—
SLIP!
His hands slipped off the smooth handles, and momentum slammed his forehead into the heavy iron doors.
BANG!
Gun flew backward, crashing to the floor with a painful grunt.
"Ahhh… damn it!" he groaned, clutching his head as pain throbbed through his skull.
"Shit… that gate is locked from the inside!"
He looked around desperately.
I don't see anyone here… no teachers, no students… No one's around?!
His eyes darted left, then right.
"Shit! There's no one here!"
He stood shakily, limped back to the gate, and took a deep breath.
"I don't have a choice…"
With all his strength, he launched a kick straight at the iron door.
THRAM!!
The sound echoed like thunder—but the gate didn't budge.
Inside the auditorium, the guest speaker—a high-profile businessman—was delivering his speech. The crowd applauded politely. The thick walls muffled all outside noise.
Back outside, Gun kicked again.
BANG!
And again.
BANG!
His foot ached and his knuckles scraped, but he didn't stop.
"Come on! Someone—anyone—hear me!!"
He panted, breath ragged.
Huff… Huff…
His leg throbbed. His palms bled.
Still, he kept going.
Because somewhere behind him, Reon was still fighting alone.
"This isn't working…"
Gun stepped back, breathing heavily.
His eyes scanned the surroundings desperately for anything he could use.
That's when he spotted it.
Lying beside the auditorium gate was a massive iron baseball bat, half-buried under some equipment crates.
His eyes lit up.
Perfect!
Without hesitation, he rushed over, grabbed the heavy bat, and grinned.
"Oh, now let's see who wins—me or this stupid gate."
He backed up a few steps, took a stance like a batter preparing for a home run, and charged forward at full speed.
"RAAHH!!"
He raised the bat high and swung with all his strength—
DING!
His phone buzzed.
Huh?!
The notification distracted him for half a second—and that was all it took.
CLANG!!
The bat missed the gate completely and slammed into the concrete wall beside it.
The harsh metallic bang rebounded violently.
"GAHH!!"
The recoil slammed the bat back into his hands, jarring his fingers. Pain shot up his arms as he stumbled backward.
He dropped the bat, clutching his wrist.
"Shit! I forgot… metal rebounds, idiot! Physics 101!"
He glared at his phone.
"This phone is the root of all evil…"
But then—
A lightbulb flicked on in his head.
Wait a second…
He stared at the phone.
I… I have a phone. Why the hell didn't I call someone inside?!
Groaning, he reached into his pocket and quickly unlocked it.
"Alright, time to fix this mess…"
But when he grabbed his phone and was ready to call, he noticed a message that had just arrived.
His phone slipped from his hand, dropping to the ground.
He stared at the screen, shocked to his core.
He didn't believe what he was seeing.