A BRIGHT MORNING
His eyelids felt heavy. Slowly, Dzeth opened his eyes. Sunlight streamed through the hospital window, making him squint slightly. The rhythmic beeping of the ECG machine beside him confirmed that he was still alive.
"He's awake!!"
A voice echoed through the room.
A moment later, familiar faces surrounded him RenX, Akanza, Syiro, Razou, and Hwang. Each of them had different expressions. RenX let out a sigh of relief, Akanza gave a small smile, Syiro crossed his arms and shook his head, Razou looked satisfied, and Hwang seemed on the verge of tears but held back.
"Bro, you're insane... You fought Crimson Paladin and survived?" Razou chuckled, patting Dzeth's shoulder.
Dzeth tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his abdomen made him stop for a moment. He lifted his hospital gown slightly and saw a scar, nearly healed.
"How long have I been out?" Dzeth's voice was hoarse.
"A week," Akanza answered.
Dzeth froze. Seven days... He recalled his fight against Crimson Paladin those devastating sword strikes, the overwhelming pressure, and finally, the Heavenly Heatwave that ended it all.
"You really are crazy, Dzeth," Syiro laughed. "Do you know that the whole city saw the explosion you caused? Everyone thought a meteor had crashed!"
Dzeth gave a small smirk. "I don't think I won… If I had, why am I here?"
RenX flicked his forehead. "You won, but at a heavy cost. If I had been a second late pulling you out of that blast zone, you'd have been reduced to ashes."
"I need to get out of here," Dzeth said seriously.
Everyone was stunned.
"You just woke up, and you already want to leave? Do you even realize how close you were to dying?" Hwang said, disbelief written all over his face.
"But I'm still alive," Dzeth replied with a sly grin.
RenX sighed deeply. "Fine, but promise me you won't do anything reckless again."
Dzeth simply smirked and nodded.
-
A NIGHT OF STUDY
After getting permission to leave the hospital, Dzeth wasted no time. He went straight to his usual training spot and started exercising. His body still ached from his injuries, but he pushed through the pain.
Punches, kicks, dodges every movement was sharp and precise. He had to get stronger. He had to be ready for whatever came next.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Dzeth finally stopped, his breath heavy but controlled. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he headed home.
That night, he sat on his bed, flipping through an old book titled "The Origins of the Paladin Organization."
"Paladin… just who are they?" he muttered.
The book detailed the rise of Paladin, their deep connection to Curses, and how they were not just a group of monsters but something far more dangerous.
As he read, his eyelids grew heavy. Eventually, without realizing it, he drifted into sleep, the book slipping from his fingers.
-
FACING THE ACADEMY'S JUDGMENT
Morning arrived, and Dzeth prepared to return to the academy.
As soon as he stepped onto the academy grounds, whispers and murmurs filled the air.
"He just got lucky..."
"I heard someone helped him defeat Crimson Paladin..."
"Without help, he would've died..."
Dzeth clenched his fists slightly but ignored them. He had no time for meaningless opinions.
"Hey, Dzeth!"
Hwang ran up to him with a wide grin.
"I got promoted to Grade C!" he announced proudly.
Dzeth raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? That was fast."
"I took a mission to hunt a Grade B Cursed with a team. Everyone nearly died, so I had to activate Awakening: Beast Body," Hwang explained.
Dzeth smirked. "Good. Now you're in the same class as me, Akanza, and Syiro."
Hwang clenched his fists. "I'll surpass you, Dzeth!"
Dzeth only chuckled.
-
THE MISSION TO THE SCIENTIST'S BASE
That afternoon, their teacher gathered them in a small meeting room.
"I have a mission for the four of you," he said seriously. "A scientist has been experimenting with Curses in a hidden facility. Your task is to investigate and capture him."
Dzeth, Akanza, Syiro, and Hwang nodded.
"Alright. We move out tonight," Dzeth said firmly.
-
THE SCIENTIST'S HIDEOUT
A decayed building stood before them, its walls covered in moss and dried bloodstains.
They moved in cautiously. The dim lights flickered, casting eerie shadows.
Suddenly
Grrrhhhhh!
Human-like Curses emerged from the darkness.
"Grade A?!" Akanza exclaimed.
A brutal fight broke out. Akanza unleashed long-range attacks, Syiro relied on his speed, and Hwang used Beast Body to slash through enemies. Dzeth wielded Heavenly Dagger, moving at blinding speed.
But the numbers were overwhelming. They started to tire.
"I can't keep going..." Syiro panted.
Akanza and Hwang were also exhausted.
Yet, Dzeth pressed forward. He reached a massive door but it wouldn't budge.
Tuk!
The door opened on its own.
Inside, a man in a lab coat smirked.
"So, you've finally arrived, Dzeth..."
-
HELLFIRE CURSED – THE ARRIVAL OF A GRADE EX MONSTER
BOOM!
Flames erupted, engulfing the surroundings. The air grew unbearably hot. From the inferno, HellFire Cursed, a Grade EX Curse, emerged.
"Congratulations on making it this far… but this is the end!"
HellFire Cursed swung its arm, unleashing a wave of fire that burned everything in its path.
Dzeth charged, but his attacks had no effect.
"What the hell...?" Panic crept into his voice.
HellFire Cursed laughed and sent Dzeth crashing into a wall.
Seeing Dzeth in pain, Akanza, Syiro, and Hwang got back up, ignoring their exhaustion.
Hwang roared, "AWAKENING: BEAST BODY!"
But with a single slash, they were all knocked unconscious.
The scientist chuckled. "You never had a chance, Dzeth."
-
THE UNLEASHING OF EXCHANGE HUNTER TECHNIQUE
Dzeth gritted his teeth. His hands trembled.
"I... I won't lose again..."
He closed his eyes.
Suddenly, his irises turned golden.
"EXCHANGE HUNTER TECHNIQUE"
Two figures materialized Emperor Cursed and Crimson Paladin with Divine Cange.
The scientist's smirk disappeared.
"WHAT?! How can you summon Grade S Curses?!"
Without hesitation, Emperor Cursed and Crimson Paladin tore through the scientist's Grade S Curses.
Only HellFire Cursed remained.
Dzeth activated Limitless Energy and lunged forward with Emperor and Crimson.
An intense battle raged. Explosions of fire and raw power clashed violently.
Finally
Dzeth gripped Heavenly Dagger tightly.
"Atomic Slash!"
A blinding light filled the space.
HellFire Cursed's body trembled, its atoms destabilizing.
"NOOOO!!!"
It disintegrated into nothingness.
-
VICTORY AND A FINAL SURPRISE
The scientist tried to flee, but Dzeth caught him.
They returned to the academy, where their teacher thanked them.
"Well done," the teacher said, patting Dzeth's shoulder.
News of their victory spread rapidly. Everyone knew Dzeth's name.
That evening, they walked through the city, smiling.
But suddenly
Swosshhh!
A powerful gust of wind swept past them.
A mysterious figure appeared.
To Be Continued...