Night draped over Seoul like a heavy curtain. In a quiet alleyway, where even the streetlights seemed to have given up, the world stood still. Not a single soul was in sight. Only the occasional rustle of wind disturbed the eerie calmness.
At the far end of the alley, near an overflowing dustbin, sat a cat. A brown and white ball of fur—round, fluffy, and unapologetically fat. The cat was undeniably cute, its chubby belly spilling over the edge of the bin as it lazily licked its paw.
And then—
Flash!
A brilliant burst of light shattered the darkness.
When the light subsided, a man appeared. He was tall, with disheveled dark hair and a face that would've turned heads under normal circumstances. But now, his handsome features were marred by blood and injuries. His white formal shirt was torn, soaked in red, and his body trembled as he barely managed to stay on his feet.
"Huff... Huff... What the hell is happening? How did I end up here?" the man muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the alley, disoriented. "I was surrounded by 50 world rankers. And also, I'm sure I was going to die. So, what's happening now? Anyway, I need to hide. Those bastards... How dare they ambushed me with 50 world rankers. But even if I hide anywhere, they will find me. It will take me so many days to recover."
His name was Cairos. A name known across the world—a name feared by the strongest.
Cairos's gaze landed on the fat cat, still lounging atop the dustbin, blissfully unaware of the commotion.
"Yeah… Although I didn't try this technique even one time, but I need to do it now," Cairos said, stepping towards the cat with staggering steps.
He reached out his hand and touched the cat.
And then—
Flash.
---
Hongdae High School – Class A
The bell rang, marking the end of the school day. The classroom, moments ago bustling with chatter, quickly emptied as students rushed out to enjoy the evening. Among them was Eun Woo, a quiet boy who preferred the background, blending into the ordinary rhythm of life.
As usual, Eun Woo walked the familiar route home, his steps unhurried. On his way, he paused near an alley where a group of stray cats waited, tails swishing expectantly. With a small smile, he reached into his bag and pulled out packets of cat food.
"Eat up," he said gently, placing the food down.
The cats meowed, crowding around the feast. It was a ritual Eun Woo never skipped.
After feeding them, Eun Woo continued towards home. But as he turned a corner onto a busy street, his eyes widened in horror.
A child had wandered into the middle of the road, right into the path of an oncoming truck. The headlights illuminated the boy's frozen face, paralyzed with fear.
Time slowed.
In that brief instant, Eun Woo's body reacted faster than his thoughts.
He dashed forward.
The world blurred as his legs propelled him with inhuman speed. In less than a second, Eun Woo reached the child, scooped him into his arms, and rolled to safety as the truck roared past, missing them by inches.
The child, still clutching onto Eun Woo, stared up in awe. "What the? How did you do that, big bro? That was so cool… Can you teach me that?"
Eun Woo's mind raced. (Shit… I can't stay here. I should go quickly.)
Without a word, he set the child down and bolted away.
"Hey big bro… Wait!" the child shouted, but Eun Woo was already gone.
Moments later, the child's mother came running. "Hey… Rohan… Are you okay, my boy?"
But the boy wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the direction where Eun Woo had vanished. "Mom… A big bro saved me. But he ran away after that."
---
Eun Woo didn't stop running until he reached home. He slammed the door behind him, breathing heavily.
"Huff... Huff... That was close. I was about to get caught. Anyway, I saved a person with my power. I'm so happy today."
A rare, warm smile spread across Eun Woo's face.
---
Meanwhile, in the same house, somewhere in a cozy corner, something stirred.
Cairos's consciousness slowly returned.
His vision was blurry at first, but as it cleared, he found himself lying on a soft cushion. He lifted his hand—or what he thought was his hand.
"Huh? What is this? My hand… it's like a cat. Oh… Yeah, I tried that technique. But it worked."
He looked around, trying to get his bearings.
"Anyway… Where am I? I'm sure I was in the middle of a road. In a quiet area. How did I end up in this house?"
The house was surprisingly spacious. A large table stood in the center of the room, a sofa behind it, and a sleek television mounted on the wall. The décor was simple yet elegant, with a staircase leading up to the second floor in the corner.
Then, a voice called out.
"Hey… You're awake. How are you doing? Feeling better? You were in a bad condition when I picked you up." Eun Woo entered the room, smiling gently.
He bent down and scooped up Cairos in his arms.
"Wow… You're so cute."
Cairos's eyes widened in shock, his fur bristling with indignation.
"How dare you?! How dare you take me in your arm?! Release me this instant!"
Eun Woo blinked, looking around. "Huh… Who is talking this loudly?"
Cairos, now fuming, bared his teeth. "You bastard… It's me. Release me."
Eun Woo slowly looked down at the feline in his arms. His expression turned into one of disbelief.
"Did this cat just talk?"
"What are you doing? Release me now."
"Huh… Oh… Ok…"
Eun Woo gently placed Cairos on the floor.
Cairos stretched his small body and flicked his tail with authority. "Hey boy… Bring that chair in front of me."
"Huh… Okk…" Eun Woo responded, still processing what was happening.
He hurriedly dragged a chair over and set it in front of the cat.
Cairos leaped onto the chair, sitting with a regal posture. His sharp gaze locked onto Eun Woo.
"So, what's your name, boy?"
Eun Woo was frozen, staring blankly at Cairos. The shock hadn't worn off yet. He didn't answer. He didn't even seem to register the question.
Cairos's tail flicked in annoyance.
"Hey… Can't you hear me? I'm asking you, what's your name?"
"Oh… Sorry… I didn't notice… I'm Eun Woo."
To be continue...