Five Clans

The leader of the black-clad men glared at the scene before him, his anger simmering until it finally erupted into a sneer of contempt. "So, His Majesty Dong Hae has finally graced us with his presence," he mocked, his voice dripping with venom.

Ethan's heart raced as the boy, who seemed about his age, stood before them, calm yet imposing. Prince? Ethan thought, his mind spinning with disbelief.

Sensing Ethan's confusion, Oliver stepped in to explain. "Yes, Ethan, he's the heir to the throne, part of the Baek clan—one of the five great clans."

Ethan's eyes widened in shock. "The world of the Awakened has a prince?"

Oliver let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Ethan, monarchies have been the backbone of every civilization throughout history. The world of the Awakened is no different. The only twist here is that their monarchy never fell—it's still very much alive."

Ignoring the menacing presence of the black-clad leader, Dong Hae turned to Ethan. "You protect him, and I'll make sure nothing happens to you," he said, his voice steady and full of assurance. His calm demeanor snapped Ethan back to reality. Nodding, Ethan reaffirmed his grip on the situation, continuing to shield Seojin, who stood by his side.

Dong Hae then turned his sharp gaze toward the leader, his expression hardening with determination. "Byung, you should really learn when to keep your mouth shut." He didn't seem to notice how Byung's eyes darkened with rage and continued in a mocking tone, "Did you really think I wouldn't recognize the tenth most wanted criminal on the list just because you're hiding behind a mask?"

Byung's face twisted with fury at Dong Hae's casual taunt. He roared, "Kill them all, now!"

In an instant, chaos broke loose as attacks came from all sides. But Dong Hae stood his ground, manipulating the vibrations in the air and earth with expert precision. Every movement was calculated, every counterattack perfectly timed. He defended himself and Ethan, skillfully parrying the relentless onslaught.

But the strain on Dong Hae's body was becoming evident. His energy waned, exhaustion creeping into his bones, but he refused to yield.

Byung's eyes gleamed with madness as he cackled, "It's only a matter of time before you fall."

At that moment, Dong Hae felt a sharp sting as something struck his shoulder. Pain surged through him as blood trickled from the wound. He gritted his teeth, but before he could react, Seojin's voice rang out, "Move!"

Without hesitation, Seojin unleashed a powerful wave of heat toward Byung. Dong Hae and Ethan barely had time to dive out of the way as the intense firestorm engulfed everything around Byung in flames. The air thickened with heat, the roar of the blaze drowning out all other sounds.

As the smoke began to rise, Dong Hae and Ethan exchanged a quick, understanding glance. They didn't need words to know what the other was thinking. This wasn't over. They were caught in something much bigger than they had anticipated, and they would have to find a way to survive.

Seconds later, Byung emerged from the flames, unscathed. His gaze locked onto Seojin, who was clearly weakened from the attack. Byung sneered, "I underestimated you. I'll handle this myself."

Seojin's breath hitched as he realized his peril. Smiling bitterly, he looked at Ethan and Dong Hae and said, "Run."

Ethan refused to let his first friend die like this. "I can't force you to stay," he said to Dong Hae, his voice resolute, "but I'm not leaving my friend behind."

Dong Hae was taken aback by Ethan's words. The concept of friendship was distant and foreign to him, but before he could respond, Byung lunged at Seojin. Without thinking, Ethan dashed in front of his friend, trying to activate his powers again to shield him. But this time, his power faltered, and he took the full force of Byung's attack.

In that moment, Shadow and Oliver cried out in unison, "Ethan, no!"

Dong Hae's eyes widened in shock as he watched Ethan take the hit. Would someone really do that for a friend? he wondered, his heart stirred by the unfamiliar emotion.

Meanwhile, far away from the chaos, a shadowy figure materialized in front of Jinwoo, the president of the academy. The man spoke urgently, "Sir, the academy is under attack."

Jinwoo's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly composed himself, snapping into action. "We leave now. Alert the clans and summon all nearby Shadows. Do we know who's behind the attack?"

The shadow bowed his head, responding gravely, "Not yet."

Jinwoo nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He strode out of the room with purposeful steps, his mind racing with worry. "Please, be safe, Seojin... and Jin-seo."

In powerful families like these, they were protected by elite warriors known as Shadows—men and women who would lay down their lives without hesitation. Bound by unbreakable oaths and intense hypnosis, betrayal meant instant death. The moment the academy's attack reached the five great clans, they wasted no time dispatching their Shadows to the battlefield.

The war had only just begun.