Powerlessness, and Resolve
After dinner, I returned to the dormitory with the kids. From then on, we spent time together. Playing with the kids, laughing, looking out for each other—daily life gradually took root. My body was almost fully recovered, and I was able to resume classes and training. Mornings and afternoons were for training. The rest of the time, I spent with Psi, Dmol, and the little ones. Day by day at the Awakener Academy. I was growing, steadily and surely.
That peaceful time continued for a while. But quietly, in the shadows, darkness was creeping in.
A few days later, I was in the middle of training. Sweat pouring, breath ragged—then, from afar, BOOM—!!! An enormous explosion rocked the air.
“...What the hell?”
I snapped my head up on reflex. The area around me erupted in murmurs. But KABOOM!! CRASH—!!! The blasts didn't stop. If anything, they were getting closer. Continuous thunderous roars. The air itself trembled.
“...This ain't right.”
Then the speakers crackled with an emergency broadcast.
“Unknown intruders have been detected.”
“...Intruders?”
“Students, proceed immediately to safe zones.”
“Instructors and faculty, assemble at the explosion sites.”
The training ground froze in an instant. I moved right away.
“Gotta get the kids first.”
Psi and Dmol. And Kent, Compi, Compf, Compa. I bolted straight toward where the kids were.
Psi and Dmol had already sensed something was off.
“...Dad.”
“...Something's wrong.”
I said curtly, “Head back to the dorm first.”
They nodded immediately. The other students started moving in the same direction too. Chaotic footsteps everywhere. We pushed through the crowd.
That's when it happened. KABOOOM—!!!
Right in front of us. A massive fireball crashed down.
“...!”
Dead center in the path. Flames erupted, completely blocking the way. The heat stabbed at my skin. I skidded to a halt.
“...Damn it.”
The moment I tried to back off, a man slowly emerged from the smoke.
Crackle, crackle. Parting the flames.
“...Trash.”
A low, gravelly voice. Familiar. I narrowed my eyes.
“...No way.”
But Psi reacted first.
“Dad...”
Her body trembled. And in that instant, she shifted from human form back to her dinosaur shape. Battle ready.
'That's the guy.'
Psi's voice echoed in my head.
'The assistant instructor who attacked you, Dad.'
“...Ah.”
I remembered. That face. That killing intent. The man smirked.
“Yeah.”
“Looks like you remember now.”
He tilted his head slowly as he spoke.
“I still don't get it.”
His eyes flashed.
“When I tried to clean up trash like you,”
“shouldn't you be grateful?”
The air turned ice-cold. The man's voice grew rougher.
“What I've done for this academy,”
“and all I did was touch one loser like you,”
“and they kick me out?”
“Strip my Awakener license?”
His breathing grew ragged. Rage plain as day. After a moment, he forced himself to calm down and laughed awkwardly.
“Ha... ha...”
Then his eyes changed completely.
“But.”
“It's fine.”
He muttered low.
“Thanks to you,”
“I met some better people.”
A strange energy rippled around him.
“...?”
I narrowed my eyes. The man looked up. His lips curled into a slow grin.
“Thanks to them,”
“...I've gotten stronger.”
The air grew heavy. The explosions had stopped, but the real danger was just beginning.
The man moved first.
“Die.”
With that word, KABOOM!!! A massive fireball hurtled toward me.
“...!”
I twisted away on instinct. Pulled the Synchro Sword from my bag and blocked in front.
CRASH—!! The impact shot up my arms.
“Ngh...!”
I gritted my teeth and held. Then I yelled,
“Dmol!”
“Take Kent, Compi, Compf, Compa and fall back!”
Dmol reacted instantly.
“...Got it!”
She gathered the kids protectively and retreated.
I caught my breath and activated my ability.
“Jurassic Field.”
In that moment, an invisible domain spread out around me. Thirty-meter radius. The air shifted.
I glanced at Psi and said,
“Psi.”
“Keep moving to the side, away from the fight.”
Psi nodded.
“Got it.”
Right then. KABOOM!! KABOOM!! KABOOM!!
The man unleashed a barrage of fireballs like a madman.
“Hahaha!!”
I moved with Psi, quickly putting distance between us. But...
“...This.”
It was different from before. The fireballs were bigger, faster—noticeably so.
“Yes!”
The man laughed unsteadily.
“This is it!”
“Trash like you,”
“belongs crawling under my feet!”
Mad cackling. I gritted my teeth.
“Psi!”
“Feather Missile!”
Psi launched into the air. Her tail glowed red, and dozens of razor-sharp feathers sliced through the sky.
Whoosh!!
But
“Ha.”
The man raised his hand. Red flames swirled around him. The feathers burned to ash before they even touched.
“...What?”
“That trick doesn't work on me anymore.”
The man sneered.
“Thanks to them,”
“I got a new power.”
Red flames enveloped his body. Not ordinary fire.
“Knew it.”
“Power”
“rules everything.”
KABOOM!! Another fireball flew at me. I gritted my teeth and swung the sword.
CRASH!! Impact. Heat. My skin burned.
“Ugh...!”
My arms screamed in agony. Mild burns spreading.
“...Damn it.”
My mind raced.
'Can't keep this up.'
'Need a way.'
That instant. KABOOM!! Another fireball.
“...!”
I barely dodged.
“No daydreaming.”
The man growled low. Then sneered,
“Or you die?”
KABOOM!! Again. Relentless assault. No room to breathe.
“Huh?”
The man tilted his head.
“Make it”
“more fun.”
His lips curled.
“Entertain me”
“more.”
I gritted my teeth. Gripped the sword tighter.
'If I keep getting pushed...'
'It's over.'
The air scorched. No path to victory in sight. No matter how I thought, no answer.
I endured, teeth clenched. Psi was at her limit too.
Behind us. Dmol, Kent, Compi, Compf, Compa. They couldn't join the fight, just watched helplessly. Powerlessness gnawed at them.
Then Kent looked up. And said quietly,
'...We'll be fine.'
Compi, Compf, Compa nodded too.
'Go... help Dad.'
Dmol hesitated a moment. Then nodded.
“...Yeah.”
Her body glowed. She shifted to dinosaur form and took to the skies. Kent and the triplets hurried to hide. In a corner. Safe spot. But their eyes never left me.
'I want to help.'
That feeling united them all.
KABOOM!! I blocked another attack.
“Ngh!”
The limit loomed. Then a cry from the sky.
“Kreeeek—!”
“...Dmol!”
I glanced up, creating some distance. Psi fell back with me.
“Dmol!”
I panted. “The kids?”
'Safe! No problems!'
“...Good.”
I looked up again.
“Oh ho?”
The man laughed.
“What’s this.”
“Different from last time.”
“Something new?”
His gaze locked on Dmol.
KABOOM!! Attacks poured again. I gritted my teeth.
“Dmol!”
“Sky Leader!”
In that instant, the air changed. My body felt lighter. Speed surged. The man's movements slowed subtly.
“...Now.”
I gritted my teeth. But 'Not enough.'
My mind spun wildly.
'Can't win like this.'
'Gotta break through that fire.'
A way. A way. A way.
That moment. “...?”
Behind the man. From the smoke, someone emerged. A mask. A woman hiding her face.
“...”
She said coldly,
“Enough.”
“Finish it.”
“No time.”
She glanced at the man and added,
“We've got what we came for.”
“...Understood.”
The man bowed his head. Raised his hand.
ROOOAR—!!! A fireball on another level formed. Massive.
“...!”
I widened my eyes.
“It's over.”
The man grinned. The fireball plummeted toward my head.
“...Damn it.”
I turned. Psi. Dmol.
“Fall back!”
I stepped in front, shielding them. Raised the sword.
'Block it.'
I squeezed my eyes shut.
...That instant.
“...?”
No heat. I slowly opened my eyes. The fireball was gone.
And. A low, angry voice from behind me.
“In my academy.”
“Attacking my student”
“...is not allowed.”
I turned.
“...!”
There stood Principal Yoon Sera. One hand raised, standing calmly.
“And.”
Her gaze shifted to the masked woman.
“The item you took.”
“Return it.”
Brief silence. The masked woman clicked her tongue.
“...Tch.”
And said,
“We're out.”
“That's it.”
The man gritted his teeth.
“...Pity.”
But he turned. Glanced at me with a grin.
“See you next time.”
“Then,”
“you won't survive.”
With that, the two vanished into the smoke.
Silence. I stood there.
“...It's over?”
My strength gave out. I collapsed to the ground.
“Ha...”
A long breath escaped.
“...I survived.”
Then the hidden kids rushed over. Compi. Compf. Compa. And Kent.
I looked at them and said,
“...We made it...”
But my chest felt heavy.
“...”
I bowed my head. Did I win? No. They just fled. In the end, I needed help.
“......”
Frustrating. Utterly humiliating. I clenched my fist.
“...I want to get stronger.”
Small, but clear.
“Stronger than anyone.”
I looked up.
“So I can protect.”
Psi. Dmol. All the kids.
“...Never again.”
My eyes hardened quietly.
“This kind of situation.”
“...Won't happen.”
In that moment, I felt it clearly. This fight wasn't over—it was just beginning.