20 – A Quiet Day Before the Storm

Moon slowly opened his eyes.

His green eyes shimmered with a strange clarity—like they had been polished by sleep.

For the first time in what felt like years, he had slept peacefully. No battles. No running. Just… calm.

He got up lazily, brushing his teeth, taking a long hot shower, and slipping into his usual: a plain black t-shirt, black pants, and a pair of flip-flops. Comfortable. Minimal. Moon-style.

As he walked downstairs, he spotted Kai and James already at the breakfast table, quietly eating.

Moon didn't waste a second. Without a word, he casually jumped down straight from the first-floor and landed beside them like it was nothing.

Moon: "You guys started without me? Rude."

He turned to the kitchen area and called out.

Moon: "Uncle! Over here, too!"

The old chef nodded at him with a slight smile and placed two plates of freshly cooked steak — made from exotic beast meat. Rich in energy, soft yet dense with flavor.

Moon didn't speak. He just devoured both plates like it was a snack, even though he wasn't even that hungry today.

After finishing, he moved to the living room, plopped down on the couch, and turned on the TV.

It was a show he used to watch during childhood — nostalgic, animated, a bit silly.

He was fully zoned out… until James came in.

James: "Sir, come on! You promised you'd train me today."

Moon made a face. The kind of expression a man makes when someone asks him to push a boulder uphill.

Moon: "Seriously? Today? …Ugh. Fine."

With exaggerated drama, he pulled himself off the couch and dragged his feet toward the basement.

---

Meanwhile... Upstairs

Kai sat quietly in the study room, completely absorbed in books — not storybooks, but thick guides written by legendary hunters.

Titles like "Survival Without Supplies", "Killing Without Being Seen", and "Water in the Wasteland" filled the table.

Kai read quickly but carefully. He was learning when to attack, when to hide, how to extract water, and how to eat what others might consider poison.

He wasn't wasting time. He knew the world they lived in wouldn't forgive weakness.

---

Back to the Basement

Moon: "Alright. Start with palm strikes. Same as yesterday."

James nodded and got into position.

He tried again, hitting Moon's open palm. Again and again.

But just like yesterday, he could only do 26 clean strikes.

James stepped back, frustrated, panting.

Moon: "No problem. Progress is slow, but real."

Moon pressed a button on the wall, and a training robot walked out from the side.

Moon: "Try beating this. No kicks allowed. Just hands. And it's set to your level."

James instantly went for a kick.

Moon caught his leg mid-air and flipped him sideways without effort.

Moon: "Did I stutter? No kicks. Hands only."

James nodded, got serious, and slipped into a boxing stance.

The robot mirrored him. What followed was a clumsy but intense exchange of jabs, hooks, and near misses.

After a solid few minutes of swinging, blocking, and ducking — James won.

He stepped back, sweating and surprised.

Moon: "…Huh. I didn't expect you to win."

James: (smiling) "Maybe I didn't train hard enough before.

Or maybe… you weren't my teacher back then."

At that exact moment, another robot's head fell from above — smacking James right on the skull.

Moon smirked. "Cheesy lines don't work on me."

Both of them burst into laughter. The rest of the training session was filled with sweat, some yelling, and a lot of playful insults.

After an hour, James collapsed on the floor, exhausted.

James: "Can we turn on the AC at least while training?"

Moon: "AC?"

He tilted his head, clearly unaware.

Actually A.C. was hidden inside the wall, this made the place more premium.

Moon (tapping James's head): "Sweat is good for your skin."

Then without another word, he ran upstairs and straight into the shower. The water was cold, and it hit like heaven.

Moon stepped out in a bathrobe, rubbing his hair with a towel, when—

DING DONG.

The doorbell rang.

Five minutes later — it rang again.

Kai, who was still upstairs, sighed. "Where are these two idiots?"

He got up, went downstairs and opened the door.

A sharply dressed man stood outside.

Manager: "Good evening, sir. I'm the manager of Zenith Vista. I've been sent by our chairman and CEO."

He handed Kai a sleek black and gold card, something like a futuristic credit card.

Manager: "Yesterday, two of our most premium villas were purchased — both on the same day, or I should say one more villa aside from this. To celebrate this rare event, the higher-ups are hosting a small party for all villa residents. This is a humble invitation."

He bowed politely and left.

Kai stared at the card, shut the door, and immediately called out.

Kai: "James! Come here."

James ran downstairs in his usual chaotic way.

James: "What happened?"

Kai handed him the card.

Kai: "Some guy called himself Zenith Vista's manager gave this."

James examined it, scanned its code.

James: "It's legit. Let's see the location… Oh."

He looked up.

James: "Nova Lumina Grand Central Mall."

Kai's eyebrows raised. "That's… the biggest mall in Nova Lumina, right?"

James nodded. "Yup. Real big. Real rich."

Then he paused.

James: "Wait… do you and Moon even have proper clothes?"

Kai shook his head.

Without wasting a second, James pulled up a virtual screen and ordered three full outfits.

One all white.

One all black.

And one in full pink.

Kai stared.

Kai: "You're spending too much."

James: "Shh. Style over savings."

Kai brushed off the feeling of exploiting the kid and simply asked, "What time?"

James: "9 PM to midnight."

Kai yawned. "I'll nap till then."

He left, and James walked toward the stairs — then stopped by the kitchen and told the chef not to cook dinner tonight.

---

Evening – Upstairs

James knocked on Moon's door.

Moon: "Yeah?"

James peeked in.

Moon was playing a game on the room's private screen.

James: "Hey! That's my favorite game too!"

He ran in and joined. They ended up playing together for hours.

Moon won. Barely.

Moon: "Still a kid."

James: "You only won by one point! And you had 3 HP left out of 1000!"

Moon: "Still a win."

Then Moon's eyes spotted something — a golden card lying near the bed.

Moon: "What's this?"

James froze.

"Oh crap… that's why I came here!"

He checked the time. It was already 8:45 PM.

Kai called just then. He was fully ready.

James explained everything quickly, handed Moon the black outfit, and practically shoved him toward the shower.

---

9:00 PM – Departure Time

Moon stepped out — clean, composed, glowing in his black outfit. A silver watch on his wrist. His messy black hair fell around his green eyes like shadows.

Kai waited downstairs, dressed in white and black — sharp, elegant, styled perfectly.

James, meanwhile, rocked a full pink suit with a white shirt. Surprisingly… It worked for him. His 5'9" frame held it well, even though he stood shorter than Moon (6'0) and Kai (6'1).

The three of them walked out of their villa.

Different styles. Different energies.

But all of them, at that moment… looked like they belonged.

---

To Be Continued...