"Looks like we've got a little mouse hiding here,"
Archie said with a loud laugh.
From behind the box, the boy stepped out. When Commander Archie saw him, surprise filled his face as he said:
"So this is the child you spoke of, General. Seems we share a similar thought—sooner or later, I would have brought him into the organization myself."
One of the guards asked,
"Commander, do you know this child?"
Archie nodded.
"Yes. He's the boy the exploration team found in the Abyss last time. His name is Lounis."
At the mention of the Abyss, the guards immediately changed their stance, entering battle-ready mode. But Archie raised a calming hand.
"Relax. He's just a normal human child, not a monster. Settle down—you're frightening him."
The high-ranking guard, Eikos, turned toward the commander with a serious expression.
"Commander, how can you be so careless? Anything that comes from the Abyss is dangerous. That makes this being a monste—"
Before he could finish, Archie cut him off sharply, his face dark with anger.
"Eikos, be silent—or leave."
Saros stepped forward and addressed Eikos with a calm but firm tone.
"Don't be like that. You shouldn't speak to a child that way. Even if he possesses abilities far beyond his age, he is still human. And I can confirm that myself."
Eikos stayed quiet for a few moments, then left in frustration.
Archie walked closer to the boy. Now that he was up close, Lounis could clearly see his gray hair, his deep blue eyes that shimmered like the sea, and the lined features of an old man.
Though Archie held no supernatural powers, nor was he a warrior anymore, every guard—regardless of rank—respected and admired him deeply.
He was the founder of the Guardians' Organization, a place that had become both refuge and home for many guards.
Archie gently patted the boy's head and said:
"From now on, you'll live with me—under my care."
Tears welled up in Lounis's eyes. Without thinking, he threw his arms around Archie in a tight embrace, his voice trembling:
"Thank you… Thank you for loving me."
The nearby guards smiled, watching the scene like a touching moment between a grandfather and his grandson.
Then Archie raised his voice and gave a clear command:
"The city lies in ruins. It's time for us to rebuild. Spread out and help with the restoration. Dismissed!"
The guards quickly dispersed and began working.
And so, Lounis went to live with Commander Archie under one roof.
Later, this tragedy would be forever remembered as The Black Night.
---
[Ten Years Later]
---
(Somewhere in the Abyss)
Two mysterious men stood in the shadows.
"Old man, how long will you keep waiting? You know he's not coming. Accept it—he's dead. We killed him. Just stop resisting."
After a long pause, a calm yet determined voice replied:
"He will come. He made me a promise. And until that time, I will stand against you."
Their auras clashed violently, wild and overwhelming—monstrous forces pressing against each other in silence.
---
(Back on the Surface)
While Lounis was walking through the city streets, greeting everyone along the way, it was clear he had become well-known among the townspeople. Some girls were even whispering about him.
"Oooh, look, look! What a handsome guy—with his black hair, black eyes, and muscular body. He's like my dream man!"
In a sudden moment, Lounis felt an overwhelming and powerful aura press down on him, then vanish just as quickly.
That strange feeling made Lounis speak to himself.
"What was that?! This aura… I feel like I know it, but at the same time, I don't... Argh! Every time I try to remember, my head starts to hurt."
He took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Alright… I think I've finally calmed down. Even the headache is going away."
Lounis checked the time. It was already 11:30 a.m.
"Oh no! I'm late. I need to hurry!"
With one leap, he landed on the rooftop of a five-story building. Then he dashed across the rooftops, as fast as a cheetah.
Finally, he reached the meeting spot—a café with a fancy front.
As he stepped inside, he quickly spotted his two friends, Isabella and Adam, sitting at a table.
Isabella looked stunning—her shiny blonde hair like gold, her golden eyes glowing. She was wearing a silver dress.
Adam, on the other hand, had thick brown hair, and his eyes hadn't changed. They were as empty as the night of that incident. Since then, he hadn't smiled even once. It was as if he had become a lifeless doll.
Doctors had tried everything to help him, and even the Explorers Organization got involved—but nothing worked. No treatment could fix his condition.
Lounis sat at the table and saw that Isabella was angry. He understood immediately and said,
"I know… I know, I…"
Before he could finish, Isabella yelled in his face.
"You're sooooo late! How can you be this bad at keeping time, you idiot?!"
"Have mercy, Isabella. I just didn't wake up early… Alright, alright, I'm sorry."
In an instant, her angry face changed into a bright smile full of kindness.
"Apology accepted. Now, let's enjoy some drinks."
They had some drinks together, then went out to walk around and chat.
As they were strolling through the city, Lounis noticed something strange. The people around them didn't seem aware.
To be more exact, it looked like they had no emotions. Their eyes were empty, just like Adam's. But unlike Adam, they could still speak.
Lounis didn't think too much about it and told himself it was probably just exhaustion playing tricks on him.
But he remained doubtful about it, so he asked Isabella:
"Isabella, don't you think people around us are acting strange, like they have no emotions?"
"You noticed it too?"
"So I wasn't just hallucinating after all..."
Suddenly, Adam began to scream and struggle with himself, clutching his head.
"Ughhhh... ughhh—Lunis... save them... save... them..."
Right after those words, Adam collapsed and fell to the ground, unconscious.
Both Lounis and Isabella were shocked. They never expected Adam to speak after all these years.
Lounis acted quickly and said to Isabella:
"Isabella, take Adam and go to Commander Archie's house. Wait for me there, and don't try to leave."
Then he tapped her forehead and Adam's, and rushed off.
He ran as fast as he could, hoping to reach the orphanage in time.
But on his way there, disaster had already begun to unfold.