"Dominion"

The next morning, Seung Min and Dae Hyun headed to school together. The cool morning air made the ride pleasant, and the streets were still relatively quiet. When they arrived, they parked their motorcycle in the usual spot.

Not long after, a black car pulled up nearby. Lee So Mi stepped out casually, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket. With her tomboyish style and laid-back expression, she walked straight toward Seung Min.

"Seung Min, you left without waiting for me?" she asked flatly, though there was a hint of complaint in her tone.

Seung Min chuckled. "You took too long getting ready."

Before So Mi could respond, her father stepped out of the car and approached them. Without saying much, he handed her a book that she had apparently left behind.

"Don't forget it again," he said calmly before turning to leave. But just before getting back into the car, he patted Seung Min on the shoulder.

"Take care of your sister."

Seung Min gave a small nod, while So Mi scoffed. "Tch, I can take care of myself."

Beside them, Dae Hyun, who had been observing the man, suddenly widened his eyes.

"Whoa, daebak! Is your dad a professional boxer?!" he asked in awe, his expression full of admiration.

Seung Min let out a sigh, while So Mi gave Dae Hyun an unimpressed look. "No, he just works out a lot. Why? You want him to train you?" she smirked.

Dae Hyun still looked amazed. "Seriously, his aura feels like that of a world-class fighter!"

Seung Min patted his back. "Let's go inside before you get even more excited."

So Mi stuffed her hands back into her jacket pockets and walked ahead with a relaxed stride. Meanwhile, from a distance, some students started whispering as they watched their interaction.

During the break, Do Jin sat at his desk, casually scrolling through his phone. Not long after, a call came in from Min Joon. Dae Hyun was fast asleep at his desk, and Jae Hoon was resting with his arms crossed.

Do Jin glanced at his phone screen for a moment before answering the call. After hearing what Min Joon had to say, he immediately stood up and walked toward Jae Hoon.

"Wake up, someone wants to talk to you," Do Jin said, tapping Jae Hoon's shoulder.

Jae Hoon groaned softly, reluctant to open his eyes. "Huh? Who?"

"Min Joon."

Jae Hoon immediately sat up and stood, albeit reluctantly. He didn't want to cause a scene in class, so he followed Do Jin outside.

Outside the school building, Min Joon was smoking with Tae Hwan and Ki Seok. They looked relaxed, chatting with smug expressions.

Meanwhile, Seung Min carried a small bag as he walked toward Jin Seok's classroom. When he arrived, he found Jin Seok standing in the hallway, talking to some other students.

Without hesitation, Seung Min approached him. "I want to ask about Jin Ho's father's death," he said flatly.

Jin Seok turned to him calmly, as if unsurprised. "Why? Do you suspect something?" he asked with a faint smirk.

Seung Min stared at him unblinkingly. "You know more than you're letting on."

Jin Seok stepped closer, his eyes sharp as he studied Seung Min. But without further conversation, Seung Min pulled out some bills from his bag and handed them to Jin Seok. "Jae Hoon's debt is settled."

Jin Seok grinned. "That was fast."

Seung Min didn't reply and simply walked away. It turned out that earlier, he had borrowed money from Nina Park to help Jae Hoon pay off his debt.

Back to Jae Hoon—he was walking leisurely down the school hallway, arms folded behind his head, while Do Jin followed behind him.

Suddenly, Min Joon approached with a sneer. "So, you're really Jae Hoon?" he asked mockingly.

Jae Hoon just scoffed. But Min Joon stepped closer, took a drag from his cigarette, and blew the smoke directly into Jae Hoon's face.

"Have you paid your debt to Jin Seok?" he asked again, his tone pressing.

Jae Hoon smirked in irritation. "I will. So just relax."

Min Joon laughed sarcastically. "You're always so confident, huh? Even though you're just—"

Before Min Joon could finish, Jae Hoon cut him off. "You just transferred to this hellhole of a school, so don't act tough." He shot Min Joon a sharp look. "And remember, you're just Jin Seok's stepbrother. Don't overstep your boundaries."

Min Joon grinned widely and replied, "This school belongs to me too. I can step over my stepbrother anytime I want."

Suddenly, Seung Min's voice called out to them. Everyone turned as he approached.

"The debt issue is settled," Seung Min said flatly.

Jae Hoon looked at Seung Min in shock. Meanwhile, Min Joon just gave a small smirk and glanced toward Jin Seok, who was standing not far away.

As they walked down the hallway, Jae Hoon kept asking Seung Min, "How did you pay it off? Did you use your own money? Or did you get it from someone?"

Seung Min just kept walking without answering, leaving Jae Hoon still filled with curiosity.

Meanwhile, Lee So Mi walked casually from the cafeteria toward her classroom. With her hands in her pockets, she chewed on a piece of gum, her expression relaxed.

As she turned the corner, a group of students was gathered near the lockers, chatting loudly. She ignored them and continued walking, but just as she passed by, one of the boys suddenly called out to her.

"Hey, So Mi!"

She stopped and turned slightly, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

A tall boy with a cocky grin stepped forward. "Are you free later? Let's hang out."

So Mi smirked. "Not interested." She turned to leave, but the boy reached out, lightly grabbing her wrist.

"Come on, don't be like that—"

Before he could finish his sentence, So Mi swiftly twisted his arm, forcing him to step back in pain. She leaned in slightly and whispered, "Touch me again, and you'll regret it."

The boy winced, rubbing his arm as his friends laughed at him. "Damn, you're really something, So Mi."

She rolled her eyes and walked away, heading back to class. As she stepped inside, she noticed Seung Min sitting at his desk, looking lost in thought.

So Mi approached him and leaned on his desk. "What's up? You look serious."

Seung Min glanced at her before shaking his head. "Nothing important."

So Mi raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say." She then sat down in her seat, propping her feet up on the chair in front of her.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the break, she stretched her arms and muttered to herself, "Another boring lesson… great."

Lee So Mi frowned, still thinking about one thing. How did that guy know my name?

She didn't recall ever talking to him before, yet his tone earlier made it sound like he had known her for a long time.

As she walked down the classroom corridor, all eyes were on her. Students whispered among themselves, their voices filled with curiosity and suspicion.

"Is she really Seung Min's younger sister?"

"Seriously? I never knew he had a sister."

"Do you think she knows about the old Seung Min?"

"The old Seung Min? He's completely different now… He even holds the Ace card in the Death Card Game."

Hearing that, So Mi scoffed quietly and shoved her hands into her pockets. "That damn game again..." she muttered in annoyance.

Death Card Game.

For some reason, that name kept echoing everywhere. Like a curse that refused to fade from their lives.

And now, Seung Min was involved too. He fought yesterday, and what's next?

So Mi wasn't stupid. She knew something big was happening in this school, something deeper than just ordinary rumors. But she had no intention of getting involved.

Yet... could she really stay out of this game?

Lee So Mi had only been at this school for two days, yet she already felt like she had seen enough.

As she walked down the hallway, her eyes took in the chaos that seemed like an everyday routine here. Students smoked openly inside the building, completely disregarding school rules. The air was thick with cigarette smoke, blending with crude laughter and careless conversations. Some flashed their middle fingers at each other, treating it as some kind of inside joke.

So Mi had been to rough schools before, but this place felt different—darker.

Further down the hallway, a group of students had gathered, forming a tight circle. Even without looking too closely, she immediately recognized what was happening. Extortion.

A smaller boy struggled in the grip of a much larger student. His voice was barely above a whisper. "I told you... I don't have any money today."

The bully scoffed, tightening his hold on the boy's collar. "Do I look like I care?" He yanked him closer. "Hand it over, or you'll regret it."

The boy hesitated, eyes darting around as if hoping someone would step in. But no one did.

With a shaky hand, he finally pulled out a few crumpled bills and handed them over. The bully grinned in satisfaction before slapping the boy's face lightly, mocking him.

So Mi exhaled sharply but kept walking. Not my problem.

Just as she passed one of the classrooms, a loud noise shattered the already chaotic atmosphere.

BANG!

A classroom door burst open, almost coming off its hinges. Two young men stumbled out, shoving each other with unchecked aggression. Their eyes burned with rage.

Then, without warning—a punch.

The crowd inside the classroom exploded with excitement. Some climbed onto desks and chairs to get a better view.

"WOAH! BEAT HIS ASS!"

"GET UP, DON'T LET HIM WIN!"

The student who had been knocked down wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth before lunging forward. His fist connected brutally with his opponent's jaw, sending him crashing to the floor.

The cheers grew louder. Some even clapped as if they were watching an action movie.

So Mi observed it all with an indifferent expression.

Fights. Extortion. Chaos.

She had only been here for two days, but it already felt like she had stepped into a lawless battlefield. Even the teachers didn't seem to care—or maybe they were just too afraid to get involved.

So Mi kept walking, ignoring the scene behind her.

But in the back of her mind, one thought lingered.

This school really is hell.

Seung Min opened the classroom door, a slight grin on his face as he stepped inside. His mood seemed lighter than usual.

Daehyun was already sitting in Seung Min's seat, leaning comfortably against the wall. As soon as he saw them, he raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Where have you two been?"

Jae Hoon chuckled as he dropped into his chair. "Just wandering around. Needed some fresh air."

Seung Min sat down at his desk, resting his chin on his hand. "Yeah, the hallway's more entertaining than class, anyway."

For a few moments, they just sat in comfortable silence, until Daehyun suddenly said, "Hey... what if we go to Jin Ho's father's funeral?"

Jae Hoon turned to him, his expression turning thoughtful. "When?"

"This afternoon," Daehyun replied. "I heard he's being buried outside the city. We should at least go."

Seung Min, instead of brushing it off, actually nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Jin Ho's been through a lot."

Daehyun looked a little surprised at how easily Seung Min agreed. "So, you're in?"

Seung Min grinned. "Of course! We should be there for him. Besides, I could use a break from this place."

Jae Hoon chuckled and stretched his arms. "Alright then. After school, we'll go together."

With the plan settled, the three of them exchanged small smiles. Despite the reason for their visit, it felt good knowing they'd be there for a friend when it mattered most.

After school, Seung Min, Jae Hoon, and Daehyun headed to the cemetery where Jin Ho's father was buried.

The atmosphere was calm, with the cool breeze swaying the trees gently. The sky was starting to darken, casting a warm glow over the horizon.

Jin Ho stood silently in front of his father's tombstone, his expression unreadable.

Daehyun stepped forward first, placing a small bouquet of white lilies on the grave. "Rest in peace, ahjussi," he said softly.

Jae Hoon gave Jin Ho a reassuring pat on the shoulder, while Seung Min, as usual, couldn't stand the heavy atmosphere for too long.

"Jin Ho, your dad wouldn't want you to mope around too much," Seung Min said with a small grin. "He'd probably want you to keep moving forward and not look so gloomy."

Jin Ho let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You always have a way with words, huh?"

Seung Min laughed. "Of course. I can't let this day end on a depressing note."

The tension eased slightly, and after a few moments of silence, they decided to leave.

On the way back, Seung Min dropped Daehyun off at his house.

"See you tomorrow!" Daehyun waved before stepping out of the car.

Seung Min saluted playfully before speeding off on his sports motorcycle. The thrill of the ride always put him in a good mood, and he enjoyed the cool evening breeze against his skin.

When he got home, he threw his jacket onto the chair and flopped onto his bed with a satisfied sigh. Just as he was about to close his eyes, his phone buzzed.

Incoming Call: Nina Park

Seung Min stared at his phone screen as a call from Nina Park came in. Without hesitation, he answered it.

"Yo, Nina! What's up?" he said casually, but from the other end, Nina's voice sounded serious.

"Listen carefully," Nina got straight to the point. "I've found some evidence about the insane system running our school. It all connects to Lee Joo Hyun, the owner of the institution controlling everything from behind the scenes."

Seung Min frowned. "So he's the mastermind behind all this chaos?"

"Yes. This school isn't just a place for education—it's an experimental ground. All the strange rules, the Death Card Game, the student fights—they're all part of a system he created. He's watching our every move, controlling who survives and who gets eliminated."

Seung Min clenched his fists. "So we're just pawns in their game?"

"Exactly," Nina confirmed. "And I'm this close to bringing them down. I've gathered some documents and recordings that could serve as evidence, but I have to move carefully. If they realize I'm digging too deep, they won't sit back and watch."

Seung Min took a deep breath. "Then what do we do?"

"We need to find his weak spot," Nina said. "You're inside the system, so watch carefully. See who can be trusted. If we make the wrong move, Lee Joo Hyun could turn the tables and crush us before we even act."

Seung Min remained silent for a moment, then nodded, even though Nina couldn't see him. "Alright. I'll look for a crack from the inside."

"Don't be reckless," Nina warned. "We're up against someone who's been playing in the shadows for a long time."

Seung Min smirked slightly. "Then let's make them fall into the darkness they created."

Nina sighed. "Don't get overconfident. Be careful, Seung Min."

"Always, Miss Teacher—I mean, big sis," he teased before the call ended.

He stared at his phone screen for a few moments before slipping it into his pocket. His gaze was now filled with determination.

If Lee Joo Hyun thought he was just a pawn, then he would become the piece that escaped the board and turned the whole game upside down.

Seung Min eventually drifted off to sleep, his mind still lingering on the conversation with Nina. The weight of what they had just discussed pressed on him, but exhaustion took over, pulling him into unconsciousness.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Lee So Mi stood still, her ear pressed against the wooden surface.

She had heard everything.

Her sharp eyes narrowed as she processed the information. Lee Joo Hyun... Death Card Game... experiments... It all made sense now. The strange, brutal rules of the school, the endless fights, and the suffocating tension that never seemed to fade—it was all orchestrated from the shadows.

She clenched her fists. So this school really is nothing but a controlled battleground.

So Mi had only been here for two days, but she had already sensed that something was wrong. And now, she had proof.

She glanced at the sleeping Seung Min through the small gap in the door. His breathing was steady, his expression peaceful—completely unaware that she had been listening.

A smirk ghosted across her lips.

"Looks like things are about to get interesting."

Without making a sound, she turned on her heels and disappeared into the dark hallway.

Jin Seok walked toward his motorcycle with a calm, measured stride. His clothes were stained with blood—not his own, of course. The remnants of the fight still clung to him, but his expression remained unreadable, void of any emotion.

As his phone vibrated in his pocket, he glanced at the screen. That name appeared as expected.

Lee Soo Hyun.

His father.

Jin Seok answered the call without hesitation, his voice soft yet unwavering. "Yes, Father?"

From the other end, a cold and calculating voice responded. "Jin Seok, you haven't stepped out of line, have you?"

Slipping on his gloves with deliberate ease, Jin Seok allowed a brief silence to settle before answering. "Of course not. I'm simply playing by the rules."

A quiet chuckle came from Lee Soo Hyun. "Good. You know, in this game, your position isn't just that of a mere player. Not even the King card holds power over you. You are above it all."

Jin Seok gazed into the dark alley ahead. "I know."

In the game his father had meticulously crafted, everyone was a mere pawn, easily disposable. Even the King card was bound by the rules. But Jin Seok? He stood above it all, not just as a player—but as the force that dictated the game itself.

"Very well, Jin Seok. Don't disappoint me."

The call ended, and without a moment's hesitation, Jin Seok handed his phone to someone waiting nearby.

Shin Kyung.

The Ace card.

The one who had fought Seung Min in the old auditorium yesterday.

Shin Kyung took the phone with a neutral expression. The scars from his previous battle were still visible on his hands, but his eyes gleamed with intrigue. "So, are we starting a new round?"

Jin Seok's lips curved into a faint smile. His voice remained soft—calm, almost soothing. Yet there was something chilling beneath it. "This game isn't over yet."

Revving his motorcycle, he disappeared into the night, leaving nothing but silence in his wake.

🎵 "God's Menu" – Stray Kids