CHAPTER 1: Shin Lee Young (1)

Living a quiet life was one of humanity's unattainable dreams. True peace of mind—a day without the weight of problems—was a luxury beyond reach.

Before the man stood a large screen, reflecting his black hair and silver eyes, his face neat, bordering on handsome. Or perhaps, he was just average.

Yes, that's me.

"Confirming Identification: Shin Lee Young

Age: 20 Years old

Birthday: 3/14/2020

Sex: Male

Blood Type: B

Weight: 75 kg

Height: 173 cm

Other: Half-Korean, Japanese, and Filipino.

Date of Confirmation: 3/16/2040

Please sign here:_______________________"

The screen flashed my identification. I placed my finger on the scanner, signing off my identity.

"Signature confirmed. Thank you very much. Please have a nice day."

*Vroom!*

A blue sports car screeched to a halt before me, the window rolling down to reveal a man with blue hair and black eyes.

"Long time no see, Junior," he greeted me, his smile radiating good cheer.

"Oh... My freaking Senior..." I muttered under my breath, sighing.

"Yeah, it's been 18 months, 2 days, 3 hours, 25 minutes, and 10 seconds, senior."

He stared at me with an incredulous look, then opened his car door and spread his arms wide, expecting a hug.

I scoffed and slid into the passenger seat instead.

This was Fin, my senior. He had helped me suspend my university enrollment when I was called for service for 18 months. He was like an older brother to me, although our relationship didn't run that deep. But I could tell he cared for me as if I were his little brother.

"So, where are we going, Senior Fin?" I asked, tossing my bag onto the backseat.

"I'm graduating in two days. I came to pick you up so I can flaunt my achievements and introduce you to my girlfriend," he bragged, his tone light.

"Do you know my sometimes motto?" I asked.

"To see is to believe."

"Yeah, that's it."

"So, you're not believing your senior yet." He sighed dramatically but was pretending.

"Let's cut the jokes. Your admission is right after my graduation. It involves extensive physical exams, and you need this." He pointed his right thumb to his head, while his eyes were on the road.

"Don't worry, senior. I won't tarnish your reputation," I said, gazing at the passing scenery.

"Haha, I knew you'd say that. But remember, whatever you go through, I've walked that path too." His encouraging words always resonated with me, his voice as warm as the music I'd listened to in high school and during my service.

Fin was my savior. He didn't just help me; he gave me the tools to forge my path.

***

The university Fin attended was farther than I imagined. We drove for six hours, including breaks, and then took a bullet train. As I zoned out on the train, the majestic castle-like structures captured my attention. The atmosphere was grand, with buildings connected by long bridges and a towering tree resembling a World Tree.

"Hey, senior, what kind of university is this?" I asked bluntly.

"Haha, it's a good one," he replied, smiling.

"No, seriously... It looks more like an ancient castle."

He smiled and said, "That's your university soon. You'll get used to it." He patted my shoulder.

"That's El de Ryu Academy. Students come from all over the world to study here."

"... I see... I might be an outcast there, won't I?"

He scoffed at my worries. Suddenly, Fin vanished, and a child, about the height of my stomach, stood before me.

"Don't worry about it," the child spoke gently.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my composure.

"I'm Long. Nice to meet you, Brother."

Huh? Did he just call me brother?

The child's figure was unrecognizable, their voice neither distinctly male nor female, but robotic and emotionless.

"Long, right? Where are we?" I asked nervously.

"No need to worry. We're just in your dream."

"Dream?"

"Yes. You're Shin, right? Do you believe in magic, aliens, and supernatural beings?" Long asked, gazing at me.

"If I say no, would you be mad?"

"Haha, no. But you must answer. Do you believe?"

"No, I don't."

Our surroundings froze. The sounds disappeared, replaced by silence, broken only by Long's voice.

"That's too bad. You must believe, as you're going to attend that Academy."

Then, Long faded like dust. The bullet train's sound returned, and Fin was beside me, babbling about his life at the Academy.

"Shin, I'll watch your exam, so you must succeed, okay?" He smiled.

I nodded, giving him relief.

"Ah, I'm relieved. This is for your sake," he added gently.

A faint memory surfaced: two blurred figures atop a mountain, speaking in silence. I couldn't hear their voices, except for the emotionless tone from earlier. "Brother," it had said.

***

"Ahh! You're awake now. Seriously, why did you suddenly pass out like that? You made me worry." Senior Fin's voice was sharp, though his frustration softened into a sigh as he extended a hand to help me up.

Blinking, I tried to gather my bearings. I was lying on the floor of the bullet train, but something was off. The kids who had been here were gone, and the usual hustle and bustle had returned. Yet, there were no other passengers with us now.

"What happened?" I asked, scanning the empty train car with confusion.

"—Sigh, is that your little brother who's going to attend the academy?" a voice interrupted from behind.

"Haha, please don't be like that, Professor," Senior Fin replied, attempting to lighten the mood.

Turning, I saw her—a woman with long, fiery red hair and striking golden eyes. She wore long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, her hair neatly tied up in a bun. Her presence was commanding, her voice rough yet authoritative.

"How could I not? Students required for the Academy not to be a weakling, you know?" she retorted. Despite Senior Fin's efforts to remain calm, or perhaps his slightly foolish demeanor, his soothing tone seemed to mollify her, and she eventually walked away.

"Hey, stand up now. We've arrived at El De Ryu Academy. Welcome." Senior Fin extended his hand again. Though still disoriented, I accepted his help and got to my feet.

As he pulled me up, the memory of the kid who had been with me earlier resurfaced. I had been heading to the bathroom when a strange, fleeting memory overwhelmed me, causing me to faint.

"How long was I out?" I asked, my voice unsteady.

"For about thirty minutes," Senior Fin replied, looking slightly puzzled himself.

"That long?"

"Yeah... It's alright. You might be tired. Why don't we head to my dorm inside the academy? I can give you a tour if you'd like."

I mulled over his offer for a moment before shaking my head. "I'm gonna pass. You need to prepare, right?" I didn't want to inconvenience him or risk getting lost if he had to leave me in the middle of the tour.

"Well, fine. Then I'll leave you in a room for the time being."

We agreed, gathered our luggage, and stepped off the bullet train together.

"By the way, Senior, why were there no passengers earlier?" I asked, my confusion still lingering.

He paused, considering my question. "Ahh... While you were out, they started to disembark."

"I see..." His answer resolved some of my curiosity, but something still felt off. The train was immaculate—no trace of shoes or litter, not even a wrapper, despite the children who had been there earlier.

For now, I decided to set aside my curiosity and follow Senior Fin.

***

Inside the boys' dorm, the room was remarkably luxurious, akin to a noble's quarters. The furniture was of the highest quality, and even the floor gleamed with meticulous cleanliness.

"You don't need to do anything. Here's a remote for the TV. You can watch something until I get back. Feel free to leave the room, but don't go out of the building, okay?" Senior Fin's tone was hurried, his mind seemingly preoccupied.

I nodded in agreement, sensing his urgency.

*Creak... Clank!*

The door closed with a soft thud as Senior Fin stepped out, leaving me alone in the opulent room.

.

.

.

.

.

I waited patiently inside the room it was 6:30 PM and I, fighting against my growing curiosity to venture out. The surroundings were quiet, despite the bustling activity I'd seen earlier—students with noble-like auras walking the grounds, flanked by their followers.

Unable to sit still any longer, I stood up from the couch and stretched, not wanting to let my muscles grow stiff from inactivity.

*Boom!*

A loud explosion occurred somewhere in the academy. I rushed to the window and saw something astonishing. Flying objects dotted the sky, moving with the grace of birds but the size of dragons. There were twenty of them, five spewing fire from their mouths.

I was stunned, my fingers frozen for a moment. A sudden surge of danger jolted me into action. I kicked the door open and sprinted down the hall. My room was on the fifth floor, and I took the stairs two at a time.

'What the heck is that?' I wondered, pulling out my phone and frantically searching for Senior Fin's number.

[The contact cannot be reached.] The automated response came after several rings.

*Tap! Run! Tak! Tak!*

Panic clawed at my mind. I had no idea what was happening, and my concern for Senior Fin grew with each passing second. Desperate for answers, I grabbed the arm of a passing student.

"Hey! What's happening?" I demanded.

"The heck!? There's a dragon attack! We need to get to the evacuation center and arm ourselves to hunt down the dragons," he replied, his eyes wide with fear.

His explanation made my head spin. "Dragons? Hunt?" I echoed, my mind struggling to comprehend the situation. What was happening to this place?

"For now, I need a weapon," I muttered, releasing the student's arm. "I need to find Senior Fin and figure out what's happening."

I followed the student as we ran towards a building marked with a cross and a gun sign. Suddenly, attackers appeared before us.

"—Dragons! Retreat!" a student at the front shouted. Chaos erupted as they tried to flee, only to be caught by the dragon's massive claws.

"It's a fucking dragon," I breathed, stunned by its immense size and aura. A shimmering blue energy wrapped around the beast as it unleashed a breath of black fire.

"—Fuck! Keep running, brats! That's a Kuroi Ryu—don't let the fire touch you!" another student yelled, bolting in a different direction.

I ran as fast as I could, retreating in the opposite direction of the evacuation center. I knew I needed a weapon, but getting there directly was too dangerous. My heart pounded, adrenaline surging through my veins as the world around me descended into chaos.

I darted through corridors and down staircases, trying to put as much distance between myself and the dragons as possible. The sound of roaring and explosions echoed through the academy, a constant reminder of the danger.

When I found a momentary refuge in a small alcove, I paused to catch my breath and strategize.

Gathering my resolve, I planned my next move. Once the immediate threat had passed, I would make my way to the evacuation center, arm myself, and then search for Senior Fin. For now, staying alive was the priority.

Dragons were mighty and intelligent, but that intelligence was reserved for those at the highest ranks. For a dragon like this, it had no real intellect and moved purely on instinct. In other words, low-rank dragons were impatient creatures, much like humans.

As I ran, this thought gave me a sliver of hope. If I could outsmart its instincts, I might have a chance. I just needed to stay calm and strategic.

*Swish...

The dragon's wings flapped powerfully as it began to ascend. It seemed to sense that there was no more prey nearby and started to move away from the evacuation center.

Seizing the opportunity, I accelerated, sprinting as fast as I could toward the building. My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn't slow down until I reached the door. Grabbing the knob, I pushed, and it swung open to reveal a cache of firearms and melee weapons.

Without hesitation, I grabbed what I could carry: a sniper rifle—heavy, but manageable for me—a pistol, and three daggers. I quickly filled a bag with ammunition and holstered the weapons.

"Sniper, pistol, three daggers," I muttered to myself.

*Inhale... Exhale...*

I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. Then I sprinted forward, maintaining my speed despite the weight of the weapons and the small bag of ammunition at my side.

I headed towards the commotion where more dragons were gathering.

***

Upon arriving at the site, a grim scene awaited me. The ground was littered with corpses, both human and dragon, the air thick with the stench of smoke and blood. Mangled bodies and twisted limbs painted a haunting picture of the battle's ferocity.

I tightened my grip on the sniper rifle, my heart heavy but resolute. There was no turning back now.

"There's seven dragons out," I muttered. "Where in the hell did Senior go?" I asked myself.

"—Hey! Run!"

A faint voice called out. I turned and saw Senior Fin running toward me, a rifle in his hands. His clothes were stained with the green and red blood of both dragons and his fellow students.

"—Why the hell did you come here?" he shouted.

I just smiled, relief washing over me knowing that Senior Fin was still alive and fighting.

*Roar!!!!

In the brief moment of our reunion, a deafening roar echoed from the sky. Three dragons hurtled toward us at the speed of a sports car.

But even in the face of this, Senior Fin and I managed to lean on each other and speak.

"Shin, go for the left. I'll handle the right one, and then we'll deal with the middle one together. Got it? And don't let their fire touch you." He then sprinted off.

His words echoed in my mind. He meant I had to survive, no matter what. With his confidence fueling my determination, I moved to the left, drawing the attention of two dragons. I needed to deal with them quickly to help with the one in the middle.

I gripped the rifle tightly, aimed, and held my breath, waiting for the perfect moment. As one of the dragons opened its mouth to unleash a torrent of fire, I focused my sights on its maw, ready to take the shot.

A small fire began to gather in the dragon's mouth, but before it could fully form, the thick bullet I had found in the evacuation center tore through its mouth with ferocity, piercing through and emerging from the back of its head.

"Fuck! How did that happen!?" I exclaimed, stunned by the precision of the shot.

With the first dragon down, I dropped the rifle and swiftly drew both my dagger and pistol.

I couldn't dodge to the left or right now; the remaining dragon was charging straight at me, its gaping maw threatening to swallow me whole. My only option was to act.

"Hup!"

Summoning all my strength, I leaped onto the dragon's head. With my dagger in hand, I drove it deep into its skull, aiming for a vital spot.

A sudden rang bell of from the highest tower. It caught my attention but eventually snapped out.

As I turned to check on Senior Fin, dread gripped my heart like a vise. There he was, surrounded by five monstrous dragons, their jaws dripping with his blood as they tore into his flesh, rending him apart piece by agonizing piece. Each of their razor-sharp teeth sank deep into his limbs, tearing muscle and sinew, while their claws dug into his skin, leaving deep gashes that oozed crimson.

Senior Fin's face contorted in pain, his eyes wide with shock and fear, yet also holding a glimmer of defiance. His breath came in ragged gasps, the sound mixing with the guttural roars of the dragons as they feasted on their prey. I could hear the sickening crunch of bones breaking under their powerful jaws, and the wet, tearing sound of flesh being ripped apart.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as I stood there, helpless and paralyzed by the horrifying sight before me. Every fiber of my being screamed to rush to his aid, to fight off the dragons and save him from this gruesome fate. But my limbs refused to move, rooted in place by fear and shock. Tears streamed down my cheeks, blending with the blood and sweat that coated my face, as a gut-wrenching sense of guilt and helplessness washed over me.

All the strength I had left wasn't gathering in my will. It was pooling in my limbs, my body vibrating with the intensity of my emotions. My limbs felt like they were on the verge of exploding from the sheer force of my rage.

"Fuckers!" The words erupted from the depths of my soul, a primal scream that tore through the air. My eyes burned red with fury, tears streaming down my cheeks. But these were not ordinary tears; they were tears of blood, a physical manifestation of the anguish tearing me apart from within.

"I'll fucking kill you all! You'll be my fucking prey!" I screamed, my voice raw with fury and determination. Every fiber of my being was consumed by a burning desire for vengeance.

CHAPTER 1: Shin Lee Young

Vol 1.