Kill That Boy First

Seojin and Ethan were locked in a heated battle with the men in black, when suddenly, Ethan heard two familiar voices in his head. It was Shadow and Oliver, both speaking at once. "Behind you... He's ahead... Duck!"

Trusting them completely, Ethan moved with precision, dodging attacks and staying one step ahead of his enemies. Seojin, however, wasn't as fortunate. As he fought, a sharp pain shot through his body when one of the men struck him from behind. His vision blurred, and blood spilled from his mouth. The leader of the men in black let out a cruel, mocking laugh as he watched the two struggle. "It's useless to resist. No matter what you do, the ending of this story is already written. You can't change it."

Seojin wiped the blood from his lips, his body trembling. But his spirit wasn't broken. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to stand tall and face the enemy again. "This isn't over yet," he growled, defiance shining in his eyes.

With a quick glance over his shoulder, he called out to Ethan, "I need time, Ethan!" He didn't have to explain further. Ethan understood immediately what Seojin was about to do. Though their friendship was still new, they had a connection that allowed them to communicate without words.

Seojin's hand clenched into a fist as he began to summon the fire within him, his strongest attack, something he wasn't ready to fully control yet. His father's warning echoed in his mind: "Never use this unless your life is truly in danger, Seojin. You're still just a beginner Awakened—you have so much left to learn." But this was one of those moments. He couldn't hesitate.

Seeing Seojin preparing for the attack, Ethan knew he had to act fast. He quickly dispatched the enemy in front of him, then rushed to stand in front of Seojin, facing the leader of the men in black. His voice was steady and firm. "You won't get past us," he declared, his eyes sharp with resolve.

As the leader of the group sneered at him, Ethan focused inward, remembering something Shadow had once told him: "For a newly Awakened, imagination is everything. If you can imagine it, you can make it real." With that thought, Ethan's mind filled with a vision of an electric barrier forming around Seojin, protecting him from any incoming attacks. He focused on the image, and slowly, bolts of electricity began to spark around him, forming a shimmering shield that encased Seojin. The surrounding students gasped in amazement at the sight, their eyes wide as they watched the scene unfold.

But Shadow and Oliver's voices quickly filled his mind again, this time laced with concern. "Master, you can't sustain this. You're still not strong enough to use your power more than this!"

Ethan's face tightened, but his eyes remained determined. "I know," he replied quietly. He knew his limits, but right now, protecting Seojin mattered more. 

Meanwhile, off to the side, a tall boy with brown hair stood watching the fight unfold, his fists clenched. His expression was one of frustration, unable to just stand by any longer. "I can't just sit here and do nothing," he muttered under his breath.

The boy's servant, standing nervously beside him, panicked. "But, Your Majesty Dong Hae, if you intervene, they could hurt you... or worse, kill you!"

Dong Hae laughed darkly, shaking his head. "So what? Whatever happens, happens. But if I don't step in, I'll never be able to live in this world again. And no one will follow a weak heir." His words sent a chill down his servant's spine. The world of the Awakened had its own brutal code, and Dong Hae understood it all too well. Swallowing hard, the servant bowed his head in submission. "Be careful, Master."

At that moment, the leader of the men in black, visibly angered by Ethan's display of power, barked an order to his subordinates. "Kill that boy first! Now!" His words were filled with venom as every one of the men in black turned their attention away from the other students and charged straight at Ethan.

Just as they were about to strike, the ground beneath them started to tremble. Vibrations shook the air and the earth, creating seismic waves that cracked the ground in every direction. The students gasped again, as a tall, muscular figure stepped forward, his presence commanding attention.

It was Dong Hae. He moved with confidence and stood between Ethan and the oncoming attackers, looking them dead in the eye. His voice rang out, cold and defiant. "Who's killing who?"

Ethan, standing behind him, was shocked. He hadn't expected someone else to join the fight. As he watched Dong Hae stand in front of him, unwavering, a question formed in his mind: Who is this guy?