Kai's eyelids slowly fell shut.
Somewhere else, he opened his eyes.
He was sitting in a sealed room. Old, dust-covered objects surrounded him.
He curled up in a corner, staring blankly ahead.
He didn't know why he was here.
And he didn't want to think about it.
There was only one feeling—
Exhaustion.
So tired he just wanted to sit there… forever.
Until a thin beam of light slipped through a crack in the window and landed across his face.
Kai raised a hand and rubbed his eyes.
He pushed himself up, unsteady. Step by step, he moved toward the light.
The light… was calling him.
He reached out.
But beneath his feet, black matter began to creep upward. It clung to him. Tightened around his ankles.
Darkness surged.
It flooded the room, swallowing the corner where he had just been sitting.
Then… it turned toward him.
Whispers brushed against his ears—soft, cold, coaxing.
"Don't go there…"
From the writhing black mass, a female specter slowly emerged.
Her face hid behind a Chinese opera-style mask. A frozen, grotesque smile.
She reached out and touched his chin.
Kai didn't look at her.
His gaze remained fixed on the light—dazed, like a child seeing a shining marble for the first time.
The specter paused.
Then frowned.
This time, she grabbed his face with both hands, forcing him to look at her.
Long white sleeves draped down, distorting his features, squeezing his cheeks until his lips puckered in a ridiculous way.
Kai swung his arm and knocked her away.
Without hesitation, he kept walking toward the light.
Behind him, the female specter stood still for a few seconds… then pouted, hands on her hips.
"Fine."
"Not this time. Next time, I'll deal with you properly."
She turned and drifted back into the darkness, sulking.
The light ahead grew brighter.
Kai had to raise his arm to shield his eyes.
Within that glow… silhouettes began to form.
And then they spoke.
"Kai, did you make these buns for dinosaurs? Hard as hell."
A girl in a chef's outfit stepped out of the light.
A bandana wrapped around her head. One hand on her hip. The other tossed a bun straight at the wall—THUD.
Her eyes locked onto Kai, sharp enough to tear him apart.
Another figure stepped forward.
A blonde girl with a short tomboy cut, dressed like a mechanic.
A toothpick hung from her lips as she tilted her head, looking at him with open disdain.
Her left arm was covered in a tattoo—a long, coiling creature. Something like a dragon. Or a spiked beast.
Thin black lines intertwined with bold strokes, running along her arm like something alive.
A golden pair of scissors spun lazily in her hand.
"What are you staring at?"
"Want another hit to the head?"
She smirked.
"The haircut I gave you won't get you dumped when you flirt. Go on."
Another figure appeared behind them.
Tall. Wrapped in a black cloak.
He stood with his back to Kai… then glanced over his shoulder.
A sheet of paper rested in his hand.
A perfectly round zero, written in bright red ink.
"Kai…"
He smiled.
Gentle. But cold.
"Do you want to lie down on your own… or should I help you?"
More figures appeared.
One after another.
Voices whispered, calling his name.
Their faces flickered, distorted like a broken signal.
Blurry.
But… strangely familiar.
Kai stared at them.
His heart tightened.
One man sat cross-legged on a table.
A report in his hand.
He lifted a cup of coffee, took a sip—
Then immediately spat it out.
"What the hell is this?"
"Even a cat would run to the toilet after drinking this."
He turned, looking straight at Kai.
"Go make another one."
Kai opened his mouth.
"Yes… sir… sir…"
The words got stuck in his throat.
He froze.
He couldn't remember.
Who the person in front of him was.
He couldn't remember… who any of them were.
Until—
clink
Something lightly tapped his head.
Kai flinched and turned around.
Another figure stood behind him.
Long hair. Platinum.
Her face was still distorted… but—
A smile appeared.
Revealing a pair of slightly crooked fangs.
Just seeing it… made his heart skip a beat.
At the same time—
A sharp pain exploded in his head.
Violent.
Kai collapsed to his knees.
He couldn't breathe.
"Don't forget our promise."
The voice echoed.
Clear. Almost right beside his ear.
"Promise…?"
Kai repeated, his voice hoarse.
He looked up.
The platinum-haired figure leaned down, looking at him.
Her smile remained—gentle, yet hiding something dangerous.
"I'll lend you this sword… as a gift."
Her voice stretched lazily.
"Ara ara~ don't get excited yet."
Something cold touched Kai's hand.
Like metal.
Like a promise.
"If you don't become a man strong enough…"
"This sword… will devour you."
Kai clenched his teeth.
The pain in his head hadn't faded.
But he didn't look away.
"Therefore—"
She tilted her head. Platinum hair slid down like moonlight.
"Become stronger."
A brief pause.
Her smile deepened.
"…strong enough to kill me, Kai."
BOOOOOOOOOM
The words struck like a blade.
Straight into his soul.
The dying flame within him—suddenly trembled.
Then reignited.
Behind him—
The man sitting cross-legged on the table let out a quiet chuckle.
A faint smile.
"So… do you remember now?"
Behind him, the figures appeared again.
This time—
No more distortion.
Their faces were clear.
Vivid.
Familiar.
Kai trembled.
"Captain…"
His voice broke.
They smiled.
Waved at him.
As if they had never left.
The light behind them flared violently.
Everything turned white.
An invisible force yanked Kai backward.
His body felt weightless—
Then he fell.
"Promise me."
A final voice lingered in his ear.
Soft.
Distant.
But enough to touch something deep within his memory.
Before everything shattered.
Fragments of memory scattered—
And he caught a piece.
The platinum-haired girl's voice echoed once more.
"If you lose your way… don't worry."
"I'll kill you."
A soft giggle.
"Hehe… then I'll come with you to the other side."
"Just a little late."
Her voice softened.
Sweet.
"You'll only be alone… for a little while."
Silence.
Then—
"But if one day…"
"If you find someone who can pull you out of the nightmare…"
"If you meet someone like that…"
Her voice grew quieter.
"…someone who can wake you up…"
"Then remember to tell me, okay?"
"I'll be very grateful."
CRASH
Kai's eyes snapped open.
Reality slammed into him.
His whole body went numb.
His muscles spasmed, like electricity had just ripped through him.
He staggered.
Almost fell.
"Damn it…"
An arm shot out.
Golden light wrapped around it.
Catching him.
Kai narrowed his eyes.
For a brief moment—
He hoped.
That it was her.
But it wasn't.
A man with glasses stood in front of him.
Under the rain.
His hair split cleanly into black and white.
The eyes behind those lenses… sharp enough to chill the spine.
He was saying something.
Fast.
Relentless.
Like chanting.
Like rapid-fire rap.
Kai couldn't understand a single word.
His head throbbed again.
His eyelids fluttered.
Open.
Close.
Open again.
As if trying to confirm—this wasn't a dream.
Kai gritted his teeth.
"Damn it…"