The sun had climbed high in the colored sky by the time Instructor Vex called for sparring pairs. The training field was dusted with fine white powder that kicked up with every step, and the air hummed with the sound of fists hitting padding.
Bomin watched as pairs faced off—some moving with practiced grace, others stumbling through clumsy blocks. Then Vex pointed a red-gloved hand at him.
"Seo! You're up against Park!"
A boy built like a mountain stepped forward—broad shoulders, thick arms, and a grin that looked more like a snarl. Bomin's Search Bar flickered to life:
Park Jin-woo
Affiliation: Southern War Gods
Abilities: Enhanced Strength, Damage Resistance
"Good luck," Dohwan muttered from the sidelines. "He's been using everyone as a punching bag. Looks like the Hulk if the Hulk traded green skin for neon orange tattoos."
Bomin nodded, stepping onto the mat. Jin-woo cracked his knuckles, and the sound echoed across the field. "Don't worry," he rumbled. "I'll go easy on you—for the first few hits, anyway."
Vex barked an order. "Begin!"
Jin-woo lunged forward, his fist aimed straight at Bomin's face. Instinct kicked in before Bomin could think—he dropped low, activating Stealth without realizing it. His body blurred slightly, and the punch sailed past his ear, sending a gust of wind that ruffled his hair.
"Interesting," Vex said, her eyes narrowing.
Jin-woo spun around, looking confused. "Where'd you go?"
Bomin stayed low, moving quietly around the edge of the mat. He's strong—way too strong to fight head-on, he thought. Like a different version of that Hulk character Jae-min loved to watch. All brute force, no finesse. If I let him hit me even once, it'll be over.
He activated Search Bar, focusing on Jin-woo. Words appeared in golden light:
Weak Point: Right knee—old injury, movement restricted when pressured
Bomin's gaze flickered to Jin-woo's right leg. Sure enough, there was a faint scar running down the kneecap, and the orange tattoo around it looked faded, almost cracked.
Jin-woo spotted him and charged again, this time swinging a wild hook. Bomin ducked, then slid forward on the dust-covered mat, his hand shooting out to press against the scarred knee.
Jin-woo cried out, stumbling forward as his leg buckled. Bomin used the momentum to push him off balance, sending him crashing to the mat with a thud that shook the ground.
"Stop!" Vex called, holding up a hand. "Seo wins."
The field fell quiet. Jin-woo pushed himself up, rubbing his knee, his grin replaced by a scowl. "You cheated. You didn't even punch me."
"Cheating is using abilities outside the rules," Vex said, walking over to stand between them. "Seo used his head. He identified your weakness, used his Stealth to avoid your strength, and ended the fight without a single blow landed. That's not cheating—that's strategy."
She turned to Bomin, her glowing eyes studying him closely. "I've been watching you. You move like you're used to carrying weight—like every step takes effort. But you think before you act. That's rare in new recruits. Most of them charge in like Jin-woo here, relying on brute force alone."
She clapped a hand on Bomin's shoulder—hard enough to make him stagger. "But don't get comfortable. Strength still matters. Tomorrow, we start weapon training. Be here early. I'll be teaching you how to turn that caution into a real advantage."
As the group dispersed for water breaks, Dohwan jogged over, grinning. "Hulk vs. Ninja—who would've thought? That move with his knee was perfect. How'd you know where to hit?"
Bomin wiped sweat from his forehead, his mind still replaying the spar. "Search Bar showed me his weak point."
"Seriously?" Dohwan's eyes lit up. "That's even better than I thought. We could really do some damage with that—if we can figure out how to combine it with my tracking gear." He paused, glancing at Jin-woo, who was glaring from across the field. "Though you might want to watch your back. He doesn't take losses well."
Bomin looked over at the big recruit, who was already talking to a group of other Southern War Gods affiliates. I don't have time for grudges, he thought. I need to get stronger. For them.
He pulled out his water bottle, his fingers brushing the badge in his pocket. The seven rays of the Northern Gods glinted in the colored light.
Tomorrow was weapon training. He'd need every advantage he could get.
That evening, Bomin sat on his bed in Room 317, cleaning the dust from his clothes while Dohwan tinkered with a small device that beeped and flashed. Outside the window, the academy spires glowed with soft light as students moved between buildings, some heading to the library, others to the combat simulation rooms.
"You know," Dohwan said without looking up, "most recruits from the Northern Gods group don't last a week. They're too… quiet. Like they're still carrying whatever got them killed in the first place." He glanced over his shoulder. "But you're different. You're not just carrying it—you're using it."
Bomin didn't answer, but he thought of the ocean, of his friends' faces. He was carrying more than weight—he was carrying a promise. And he'd keep it, no matter what.
"Trust me on this," Dohwan said, leading Bomin through a narrow passageway tucked between two academy towers. "Most recruits don't even know this place exists—found it when I got lost trying to fix a broken teleport pad last week."
They climbed down a spiral staircase made of smooth crystal, each step glowing faintly under their feet. The air grew cooler as they descended, carrying scents of damp earth, sweet nectar, and something sharp and spicy Bomin couldn't place.
"Where are we going?" Bomin asked, his Search Bar flickering to life but showing no labels—whatever this place was, it wasn't in the system's database.
"Just wait." Dohwan pushed open a heavy metal door at the bottom of the stairs, and a wave of warm air washed over them. "Welcome to the Under-Garden."
Bomin stepped through and froze.
Below the floating academy, a vast cavern stretched out like a hidden world. Bioluminescent plants lined the walls and ceiling, casting the space in shades of blue, green, and soft purple. Streams of starwater wound through the ground, feeding beds of flowers that glowed like tiny lanterns. Some plants had leaves that shimmered like metal; others bore fruit that looked like clusters of tiny moons.
"Whoa," Bomin breathed, walking toward a bed of flowers with petals that opened and closed in slow waves. "I've never seen anything like this."
"Me neither, and I've been tinkering with magical plants since I was a kid back on my world." Dohwan knelt beside a patch of low-growing green bushes with silver veins running through their leaves. "These are Voidmoss—they absorb excess corruption energy. The academy uses them to keep the grounds pure, but they grow way faster down here where no one disturbs them."
He plucked a small silver berry from one of the bushes and tossed it to Bomin. "Try this—tastes like honey and rain."
Bomin caught it and bit into it. Sweet liquid burst on his tongue, followed by a cool aftertaste that made his head feel clear. "That's… good."
"Right? And they help boost focus too." Dohwan stood up, gesturing around the cavern. "There's more—see those tall ones with the red flowers? That's Flamebloom—their petals can be used to make fire-resistant potions. And over there—" He pointed to a cluster of plants that looked like floating feathers. "—those are Whispergrasses. If you whisper a question to them, they'll point you toward what you're looking for."
Bomin walked over to the Whispergrasses. As he got close, the feathery blades began to sway, pointing toward the far end of the cavern. He activated Search Bar, focusing on them:
Whispergrass
Ability: Guides to objects or people of emotional significance to the user
Rarity: High—only grows in places with strong life energy
Dohwan laughed when he saw the golden text appear. "See? Told you your ability was useful. What are they pointing to?"
Bomin followed the direction of the swaying blades. At the far end of the cavern, tucked behind a curtain of glowing vines, was a small clearing. In the center grew a single tree with bark like polished wood and leaves that sparkled like stars. At its base lay a smooth stone, carved with what looked like three intertwined figures.
He walked over and knelt beside the stone. The carvings were rough, but he could make out the shapes of three people—one with hair like his, one with braids that looked like Hana's, one with a ponytail just like Jae-min's.
Dohwan stood quietly behind him. "I didn't see that last time I was here."
Bomin reached out and touched the stone. The moment his fingers made contact, warmth spread through his hand, and a soft voice echoed in his mind—not his own, not the gods', but one that felt like home.
We're waiting for you.
He pulled his hand back, his heart racing. The Whispergrasses behind him stopped swaying.
"What did you feel?" Dohwan asked gently.
Bomin shook his head, still staring at the carved stone. "They're waiting. My friends—they're waiting for me."
Dohwan nodded slowly. "The Under-Garden is connected to something bigger than the academy. I think it grows from the hopes and promises of every missionary who's ever been here. Your wish… it's strong enough to make things grow here."
He clapped Bomin on the shoulder. "Come on—we should head back before curfew. But we can come back here whenever you want. I've been meaning to collect some Voidmoss for a project anyway—might help us in training."
As they made their way back up the crystal staircase, Bomin glanced over his shoulder at the hidden cavern. The star-leaf tree glowed faintly in the distance, and he could still feel the warmth of the stone in his hand.
His friends were waiting. And he'd find a way to keep his promise—even if he had to fight through every corrupted world the gods sent him to.
Back in their room, Dohwan pulled out a small pouch of Voidmoss he'd collected and spread it on his desk. "I'm thinking I can weave this into some armor padding—help absorb any corruption energy we might run into during missions." He looked up at Bomin, who was staring out the window at the academy spires. "Hey—you okay?"
Bomin nodded, touching the badge in his pocket. "Yeah. I just… know what I'm fighting for now. Not just for the wish. For them."
Dohwan grinned, turning back to his work. "Then let's make sure you're strong enough to win."
Bomin woke to the sound of Dohwan's gadgets beeping in unison. Through the window, the colored sky was shifting from deep purple to gold—dawn over the Crossroads.
"Something's up," Dohwan said, peering at a glowing screen. "My corruption sensors are picking up a blip—small, but unusual for this close to the academy."
Bomin swung his legs out of bed, pulling on his training uniform. "Should we tell someone?"
"Maybe. But let's check it out first—could be nothing, or it could be a chance to test what we've got." Dohwan stuffed a few gadgets into a bag, along with a pouch of Voidmoss. "Plus, I want to see if your Search Bar can track it better than my sensors."
They slipped out of the dorm before the morning bell rang, moving quietly through the academy halls. Most students were still asleep or heading to the mess hall for breakfast—leaving the lower corridors nearly empty.
Dohwan led the way to a maintenance hatch tucked behind a tapestry of woven starlight. "This leads to the tunnels that run under the academy grounds," he whispered, prying the hatch open. "My sensors say the blip is down there."
The tunnels were dark and cool, lit only by patches of Glowmoss on the walls. Bomin activated his Search Bar, focusing on the faint energy signature Dohwan's gadgets were tracking. Golden text appeared in front of his eyes:
Corruption Signature: Weak
Location: 200 meters ahead—near the old storage chambers
Type: Minor Spawn (unformed)
"Unformed?" Dohwan asked, following the glowing path Bomin was pointing to. "That means it hasn't taken shape yet. If we catch it now, we can stop it before it becomes a problem."
They rounded a corner and found themselves in a large chamber filled with crates and old equipment—weapons, uniforms, and what looked like broken mission gear from decades past. In the center of the room, a dark mist was swirling on the floor, twisting and coiling like smoke with teeth.
Bomin felt a cold weight settle in his chest—the same feeling he'd had in his apartment the night he died, but sharper, more malicious. This is what we're supposed to fight, he thought.
The mist pulsed, and a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in its center.
"Stealth," Dohwan hissed, pulling out a small device that crackled with blue energy. "We don't want to startle it—unformed spawns can get violent if they feel threatened."
Bomin activated his ability, his body blurring slightly as he moved around the edge of the chamber. He focused his Search Bar on the spawn, and more text appeared:
Weak Point: Core of the mist—vulnerable to purified starwater or Voidmoss
Threat Level: Low (for now)
He signaled to Dohwan, pointing to the spawn's center. Dohwan nodded, tossing him a small vial of starwater he'd pulled from his bag. "On my count—you get close, splash the core. I'll keep it distracted."
Dohwan activated his device, and a beam of blue light shot out, striking the wall beside the spawn. The mist twisted toward the light, its red eyes narrowing.
"Now!"
Bomin moved forward quietly, staying in Stealth as he crept up to the swirling mist. He raised the vial, then poured the starwater directly into its center.
The spawn shrieked—a sound like grinding stone and breaking glass—and recoiled, the dark mist sizzling and shrinking. Bomin pulled out a handful of Voidmoss and pressed it against the remaining core. The plant glowed bright silver, absorbing the corruption until nothing was left but a pile of dry, gray dust.
Silence fell over the chamber.
"Nice work," Dohwan said, grinning as he walked over. "That's the first corruption spawn I've ever taken down without getting scratched."
Bomin let his Stealth fade, looking at the dust on the floor. "It felt… hungry. Like it was looking for something to feed on."
"All corruption is hungry." A voice echoed from the tunnel entrance. They turned to see Instructor Vex standing there, her arms crossed. "You two are up early. And you didn't report a corruption signature—against academy rules."
Dohwan shifted nervously. "We were going to—we just wanted to check it out first."
Vex walked into the chamber, kicking at the dust with her boot. "Unformed spawns near the academy are rare. This one didn't just appear out of nowhere—it was drawn here by something." She paused, looking at Bomin. "Did you feel it? The pull?"
Bomin nodded. "It felt like… emptiness. Like it was looking for somewhere to fill."
"Exactly." Vex's glowing eyes scanned the room. "This chamber used to be where we stored personal items from missionaries who didn't come back. A lot of loss here—perfect food for corruption." She turned back to them. "You broke the rules by acting alone. But you used strategy, worked as a team, and stopped a problem before it could spread. So here's my verdict—extra drills for breaking protocol, but full credit for handling it right."
She gestured toward the hatch. "Now—let's get back to the academy. Weapon training starts in fifteen minutes, and today we're working with blades. If you're late, those extra drills will be twice as bad."
They followed Vex back up to the academy grounds, where other recruits were already gathering on Training Field Beta. Rows of practice swords—made of weighted crystal—lay on racks along the edge of the field.
"Today," Vex called out as the group assembled, "you'll learn that a weapon is only as good as the hand that wields it. Strength matters, but precision wins fights. And for some of you"—her gaze settled on Bomin—"stealth combined with a blade can be more deadly than any brute force."
She picked up a crystal sword and tossed it to Bomin. "You first. Show me what you've got."
Bomin caught the sword, its weight surprising him—it was lighter than it looked, but balanced perfectly. He held it in both hands, remembering how Jin-woo had moved in their spar, how the corruption spawn had twisted and coiled.
Vex stepped forward, holding a practice sword of her own. "Come at me. No holding back."
Bomin took a deep breath, activating Stealth as he moved. He didn't charge—instead, he circled her, looking for an opening. His Search Bar flickered to life, analyzing her movements:
Instructor Vex
Fighting Style: Aggressive but predictable—relies on power to overwhelm opponents
Weak Point: Left side—she favors her right arm
He lunged forward, his blade aimed at her left side. Vex blocked easily, but he'd expected that—he spun, using the momentum to swing at her legs. She jumped back, a small smile touching her lips.
"Better," she said. "Now let's see if you can keep it up."
They sparred for several minutes—Vex pushing him hard, Bomin using every bit of speed and strategy he had. He didn't land a single hit, but he didn't get knocked down either. When Vex finally called a stop, she nodded approvingly.
"Most recruits try to match my strength. You use your advantages instead. That's the mindset of a real missionary." She looked out at the rest of the group. "Everyone pair up—practice what you've just seen. And remember—corruption doesn't fight fair. Neither should you."
As Bomin paired up with Dohwan, who was already testing a crystal sword he'd modified with small metal plates, he thought back to the Under-Garden, to the carved stone with his friends' shapes.
This was why he was here. Not just to learn to fight—but to make sure no other world lost the people they loved.
And somewhere in the distance, a dark mist was stirring again.
CHAPTER 3
That afternoon, as Bomin and Dohwan were cleaning their practice swords, a messenger from the registration hall ran onto the field. "Instructor Vex!" she called out, her voice breathless. "The Captain's have sent a message—there's a corruption surge in a nearby world. They want a team of recruits to assist on a reconnaissance mission."
Vex's eyes lit up. "Reconnaissance. Perfect timing." She turned to the group, scanning their faces until she stopped on Bomin and Dohwan. "You two—pack your gear. You're going on your first mission."
TO BE CONTINUE...