Yujin immediately ducked out of his reflexes. And true to how Aera had warned him, there were sharp blades that went past above him. Had he even not lied down, he would have been swiftly pierced through by those blades. After witnessing that, Yujin immediately carried Aera and swiftly dashed off to take cover beyond a large waste bin. It was large enough to cover them up but too stinky that the two of them nearly puked. Although they don’t really have much of a choice either.At this point, it would be a better option to endure the rotten foul smell coming from whatever was left inside the waste bin rather than to not be able to smell anything anymore because they were already dead.“Do you know who these people are?” Yujin immediately asked Aera.Aera, on the other hand, was still surprised upon Yujin’s gesture of actually carrying her with him as he escaped. She didn’t know why would Yujin even save her after how she attempted to actually carry out her desire to kill him from the
“What the heck did you just say?” Aera let out a faint cry. She had a hard time believing that Yujin would actually say that in front of her. She found it hard to accept it either.“What’s wrong about it? Isn’t it thatt the you fervently desired for me to instruct my system to provide us with protection?""Yes, but the way you mentioned it, it was as if our lives were in danger and that we would end up in a situation where we were about to play games with death, which is not something I had anticipated," she said. After some time, Yujin eventually responded, "No one could really anticipate their own deaths, right?”“So are you saying we’ll really have to do this no matter what?”“Don’t you want to get out of here?” "Why would you ask such an idiotic question?" Yujin said this as he couldn't believe what Aera could possibly be thinking at the moment when she just said that. He claimed he was at a loss to comprehend Aera's state of mind. In the end, he was forced to pull himself tog
The sight of Aera behaving in such a manner caused Yujin's hands to shake as he watched. He was not keen on the idea of her passing away in such a manner; in point of fact, he did not want her to pass away at all.Aera had already lost a significant amount of blood, and Yujin could not just stand by and watch her pass away like that. Yujin concentrated on keeping his composure throughout the ordeal. In this condition, he could not allow himself to be vulnerable to defeat. Because if that were to take place, he would eventually be unable to keep the equilibrium of the life energy within him.Their ability to conceal themselves would be compromised, and the fact that their adversaries would eventually find them would create an even more difficult situation for them to deal with. As soon as Yujin realized what was going on, he sped up their escape away from the location while he was still able to direct the majority of his life energy into the camouflage that concealed both of them.“Ope
As soon as Yujin opened his eyes, he was taken aback to discover that he was currently lying in a hospital bed.“Aera!” Almost instantaneously, he let out a scream while simultaneously searching the area for Aera. As more time passed, Yujin became increasingly anxious because he was unable to locate any sign of Aera anywhere in the area. Soon after, he started moving around in a hysterical manner, and it did not seem to bother him that he was inside one of the hospital rooms.“Aera?!” He shouted out in the open, hoping that Aera, no matter where she was, would hear his voice and come to him. Yujin just had this overwhelming sense that he was solely to blame for everything that had transpired with them both. If he could remember things correctly, he would have been able to recall that they were on their way to leave the area. The two of them were about to make their way out of the area as Yujin leapt from one building to another, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in doing so. N
“Hey, what did you just do?” Yujin approached the black security guard this time. He, too, was confused about what was going on. Until the black security guard eventually kicked the white man’s gun away from him before he turned around and faced Yujin to reply, “Yes, young master. I have come to serve you.”As if the black security guard’s words were not enough, he then removed his uniform to reveal a shirt with a sigil of canine graffiti art.“Wait! Could that perhaps mean—” However, before Yujin could even continue what he was about to say, "I am from the stray dogs order, young master. I’ve come to serve you as ordered by the founder.” the black security guard told him right away.Yujin could hardly believe it. He was still confused because just a moment ago this black security guard was also hunting him down and now he revealed himself as one of the stray dogs.Even though Yujin knew that the stray dogs ordemr are his loyalist, he couldn’t just simply trust this man who had ear
Yujin moved quickly and made his way to the intensive care unit, where he found a room that was being separately watched over by two additional black security guards. Yujin was finally able to see Aera, who was lying on the hospital bed unconscious, after the person who was accompanying Yujin simply signaled to the other two people that it was safe to open the door. "Why does she not seem to be conscious at this time?" After that, Yujin inquired. It came over him like an impulse to suddenly stroke Aera's cheeks with his hand. In contrast to the harsh manner in which she treated him, her skin was much gentler and more supple than he had assumed.He could not fathom how someone as frail as Aera could have achieved such a level of strength and become a champion.“After removing the blade that had struck her, the healers already attempted to treat the wound that she had received. However, because she lost an excessive amount of blood, her body is still in the process of recuperating fro
“Where are you headed, young master?” Walder had been asking Yujin a couple of times now, and he had entirely lost count of how many times he had asked. He was still following right behind Yujin, who at the moment was still persistent about walking towards the medical facility’s exit.Walder immediately made his way to stop Yujin before he could fully make his way out. “Young master, please, you can’t leave the facility.” Walder told him. His eyes look very serious about preventing Yujin.Since Yujin’s attention was already diverted towards Walder, Yujin turned around to fully face him and asked, “And why can’t I?”Yujin's brows furrowed as he also tried to contemplate what could possibly be the reason for Walder to suddenly prevent him from going. There should be a justifiable reason for Walder to actually act in such a way.It took a little while before Walder actually was able to answer him back. For some reason, there was a tinge of hesitation from the way that Walder hesitantly
“Young master, it’s not that I am questioning your order, however, may I just please be enlightened as to what could be the reason behind why you wanted me to bring you to him?” Walder mustered up the nerve to inquire of Yujin.He was wondering since what was told to him was only to stay on guard for Yujin. However, as things turned out to be entirely different from how he had imagined they would be, he had no idea that Yujin would eventually ask him to accompany him to the location where Mando might be at this very moment. In other words, this was not something that was supposed to be a part of his obligation according to what the founding head of the stray dogs had instructed him to do. Despite the fact that this might appear to be the case, Walder was unable to simply disregard Yujin's instruction right away. He did not want to disrespect Yujin by actually disobeying his orders, but given that he could provide justification on his orders, Walder might actually choose to do what Y
Yujin surged forward, his body propelled by a surge of adrenaline, as he unleashed a flurry of strikes with his energy sword, each blow resonating with fierce determination. The beast, a formidable adversary, stood its ground, its monstrous form looming before him. The clash of steel against scales reverberated through the air, a symphony of violence and defiance. Yujin's heart pounded in his chest, his every movement a testament to his unwavering resolve. In this battle of wills and strength, he refused to yield. The monstrous creature evaded with uncanny agility, a testament to its formidable prowess. Undeterred, Yujin's resolve burned fiercely as he brandished his energy sword, poised to cleave through the beast's sinew and bone.Yujin's grip tightened around the energy sword, its blade shimmering with an iridescent fury that seemed to mirror the tumultuous emotions coursing through him. The energy orb shimmered with an intensity that surpassed its previous radiance, mirroring t
The final words that Yujin uttered were barely audible before he fell into an eerie silence. It seemed as if the very air itself was holding its breath in expectation as the weight of the unspoken words hung heavy in the air. It was a steady rhythm of terror and disbelief that pounded in his chest as his heart raced. An oppressive haze of pressure pressed down on him as the weight of the terrible fate that had befallen his fellow students and even the faculty staff of the entire establishment pressed upon him like a weight. He was in a state of great shock because the gravity of the situation was so much greater than he had anticipated. The foul odor of death permeated the atmosphere, serving as a gloomy reminder of the bloodbath that had just taken place. It was a spooky sight to see dead bodies lying around the ground in such a disorganized manner. It was a massacre, the likes of which are only mentioned in the most sinister of stories in hushed tones. The beast, a hideous creatu
[INSIDE YUJIN’S THOUGHTS]Yujin stirred from his slumber as the scent of aged timber wafted through the air, teasing his senses and coaxing him back to consciousness. In the very instant Yujin's eyes fluttered open, he found himself once more within the confines of the classroom, nestled within the hallowed halls of the thirteenth colony's esteemed educational institute. To his astonishment, a sense of desolation greeted him as he stepped into the room. Not a soul could be found, not a whisper of life. The emptiness hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over his expectations.His mind wandered, contemplating the whereabouts of the other students in this moment. Yujin was left perplexed and bewildered, wondering where on earth the other students could have possibly disappeared to at this juncture. Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Yujin promptly rose from their seat and cast his gaze out through the window. In the ordinary course of events, his eyes would swiftly alight upon a mo
Aera stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, unable to fathom the words that had just escaped Doctor Karin's lips. The air around her seemed to still, as if time itself had frozen in that very moment. How could this be? How could reality twist and contort in such a way? Aera's mind raced, desperately searching for a logical explanation, but finding none. The world she thought she knew was slipping away, replaced by a surreal landscape of uncertainty and disbelief. Anticipation coursed through her veins as she yearned for the moment when Doctor Karin would, perhaps, alter her stance and align herself with her fervent desire to fix the broken pillar. Doctor Karin's inquiry ignited a flicker of hope within Aera. "Yes," Aera murmured, her voice barely audible. “Yes, it is," she added, her voice tinged with a hint of hope. The words hung in the air, a delicate thread connecting them in a moment of shared understanding. Aera's response was swift, her gaze fixing upon Doctor Karin a
The worn wooden door groaned in protest as it swung open, granting passage to Aera. She stepped into the dimly lit room, her presence casting a shadow across the worn floorboards. Doctor Karin awaited her arrival. As Aera stepped into the room, a sense of déjà vu washed over her. There, in the same spot as before, sat Doctor Karin, engrossed in a stack of books generously supplied by the stray dog headquarters.Aera pondered, her mind swirling with the possibility that it was Draken who had proposed the notion of stowing away those books within the confines of Doctor Karin's chamber. The suggestion was undeniably astute, for within the confines of that room, where Doctor Karin languished in detention, she managed to carve out precious moments to peruse those written works on a daily basis.Aera stood there, her eyes fixed on Doctor Karin, a mixture of displeasure evident on her face."It's you again," Doctor Karin, however, said, her voice tinged with a disappointment at the presenc
The question hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty. The dilemma had gnawed at their resolve.“So does this mean that no matter how fervently we endeavored to aid Yujn in reclaiming his consciousness, and restoring him to his former self, it would all be in vain? Would he inevitably succumb to his monstrous nature once more?” Robalt asked.The room fell silent, the weight of their shared apprehension palpable. Each person present grappled with their own doubts, and confusion. They had witnessed the transformation firsthand, the terrifying metamorphosis that had rendered Yujn unrecognizable. It had been a harrowing sight, one that had left an indelible mark on their minds, most especially Robalt. Yet, despite the odds stacked against them, they had refused to give up. They had rallied together, pooling their knowledge, their resources, their unwavering determination. They had delved into the depths of their understanding, seeking any glimmer of hope, any shred of insight that could
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling city streets. People hurried along, their footsteps echoing against the concrete ground.The morning sun cast a soft glow through the curtains, gently rousing Aera from her slumber. As she blinked away the remnants of her dreams, a vivid image lingered in her mind. Yujin, his eyes filled with an unspoken plea, had reached out to her, urging her not to abandon him. With a newfound resolve coursing through her veins, Aera knew that she could no longer stand idly by. The time had come to confront the formidable obstacle that stood between her and Yujin's heart—his mother. Aera's determination burned like a flame within her, fueling her every thought and action. She would not allow herself to be deterred by the countless tales of Yujin's mother's unwavering disapproval. No, she would find a way to persuade her, to make her see the depth of her love for Yujin. The path ahead was treacherous, fraught with uncertain
Aera stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. The words before her seemed too good to be true, too fantastical to be real. Doubt gnawed at her, whispering in her ear, questioning the authenticity of what lay before her. She gazed at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Are you truly awake now?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of doubt. Aera's senses returned to her, and she mustered the courage to finally ask the question that had been lingering in her mind. Her cheeks were still tinged with a rosy hue, a telltale sign of the lingering embarrassment she felt. The memory of that impulsive kiss she had shared with Yujin played on a loop in her mind, causing her heart to flutter and her thoughts to scatter. How had she allowed herself to succumb to such a reflexive act? It was as if her body had acted independently, driven by an unseen force that she couldn't quite comprehend. The intensity of the moment had left her breathless, her senses heig
Aera was still processing the evaluation that Draken had provided her with earlier in the conversation. In the isolation chamber, she was the only other person there except Yujin.Her head was cluttered with unrelated ideas at the time, and almost all of them were related to Yujin. After considering all that Draken had shared with her, Aera couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment when she realized that she had just recently begun to consider the possibility that Draken's explanation was accurate.It's possible that what Dr. Karin saw in Aera was the possibility of a love connection between her and Yujin. This possibility is what drives Aera to put her pride in danger in order to assist Yujin.Aera thought that this must be what Dr. Karin was thinking about her as a driving motive for assisting Yujin. After all, individuals who are in love are known to do the most unselfish things conceivable, and Aera believed that this must be what Dr. Karin was thinking about her.When Aera