The village where Reindhardt was born no longer existed.
Long ago, it had been reduced to nothing but ruins and ashes. The night it fell was the same night the Hyonan descended in overwhelming numbers. They did not come to conquer, nor to negotiate—they came only to destroy. The villagers stood no chance. Screams echoed through the burning streets as the Hyonan slaughtered everyone without mercy.
Amidst that chaos, a young boy ran.
Reindhardt, still just a child, sprinted desperately through the collapsing village. His small lungs burned with every breath as he ran alongside a young girl—Lyina. Their hands were tightly clasped together, as if letting go meant certain death. Behind them, the monstrous growls of the Hyonan grew louder, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
They ran past burning homes, shattered walls, and fallen bodies. The once warm and lively village had turned into a nightmare.
But no matter how fast they ran… it wasn't enough.
Eventually, they reached the edge of a raging river. The current roared violently, crashing against jagged rocks below. There was nowhere left to go.
Reindhardt stepped forward, instinctively placing himself in front of Lyina. His body trembled, but he still spread his arms slightly—as if trying to shield her from what was coming.
"I'll protect you…" he tried to say, though his voice shook.
But then—
A sudden force pushed him.
His eyes widened in shock as Lyina's small hands shoved him backward. His footing slipped instantly, and before he could react, his body fell into the freezing, violent current below.
"Goodbye, Reindhardt."
Those were the last words he heard before the river swallowed him whole.
—
Reindhardt's eyes snapped open.
He gasped for air, his body jolting upright as if he had truly just escaped death. His breathing was uneven, his heart pounding violently against his chest. Sweat clung to his skin as fragments of that nightmare lingered in his mind.
"…again…" he muttered under his breath.
It wasn't just a dream.
It was a memory.
A memory that refused to fade, replaying itself over and over like a curse he could never escape.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm himself, before letting out a long, slow breath.
"I hope you're still alive…" he whispered quietly, his hand tightening into a fist.
"I'll find you, Lyina. No matter what."
Only then did he realize something—
His alarm had been ringing for quite a while.
"…damn it. I'm late again."
Still half-dazed, he forced himself out of bed. His movements were sluggish at first, but urgency quickly took over. He rushed through his morning routine, quickly washing up and getting dressed for the day.
Before leaving, he paused.
From a small drawer, he took out a necklace.
Inside it was a tiny photo—him and Lyina, smiling together in a time that no longer existed. It was one of the few things he had left of her… a fragment of a past that had been stolen away.
He stared at it for a moment longer than usual, then carefully placed it inside his bag.
—
The academy Reindhardt attended was no ordinary place.
Known as one of the most frequently targeted locations by the Hyonan, it should have been destroyed countless times by now.
And yet—it still stood.
The reason was simple.
Reindhardt.
—
As the academy gates were about to close, a figure dashed forward at full speed.
With precise timing, Reindhardt leaped cleanly over the gate, landing smoothly on the other side without alerting the guards. He straightened his posture as if nothing had happened and casually walked toward his classroom.
Then—
Pinch.
"Ow—"
He flinched slightly as someone pinched his back.
Turning around, he found Ranshia standing behind him, arms crossed with an annoyed expression.
Ranshia was not just his classmate—she was also his childhood friend and partner within the organization known as SM. A highly talented combat mage, she wielded both fire and lightning elements with exceptional control.
She was also… someone who cared far more about Reindhardt than she ever openly admitted.
"This is the 'Spear' of Slashing Monster everyone talks about?" she said sarcastically. "I don't think they need an agent who's always late."
Reindhardt blinked, confused.
"…You're late too?" he asked.
"I'm not," Ranshia shot back immediately. "I was waiting for a certain lazy idiot named Reindhardt."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Why would you wait for me? Am I really someone worth waiting for like that?"
"I-I'm not saying that!" she stammered, her face turning red. "I just—ugh, forget it!"
Embarrassed, she turned and quickly walked—almost ran—toward the classroom.
"…she's weird," Reindhardt muttered, sighing as he followed behind.
—
By the time he entered the classroom, Ranshia was already seated beside him, pretending to focus on preparing her materials.
"Stop running to class like a kid," Reindhardt said casually as he sat down. "You might slip one day, you know."
"Mind your own business," she replied bluntly, refusing to look at him.
"…right."
Classes began shortly after.
But Reindhardt wasn't paying attention.
His mind drifted… back to that dream. That memory. That voice.
"Goodbye, Reindhardt."
His fingers tightened slightly against the desk.
Beside him, Ranshia noticed immediately.
This wasn't like him.
Normally, he would at least react to her teasing—but now, he was completely silent, staring blankly ahead.
"…what are you thinking about?" she murmured softly, almost to herself.
But before she could ask—
BRRAAAKKK!!!
A massive explosion shook the entire academy.
The walls trembled violently, and the windows shattered into countless pieces, scattering glass across the classroom floor.
Screams erupted instantly.
"W-What was that?!" "An earthquake?!" "No—it came from outside!!"
Even the teacher froze for a moment before shouting, trying to regain control.
"Everyone stay calm! Remain in your—"
DUUUMMM!!!
A second impact.
Closer.
Stronger.
The floor vibrated as if something enormous had just landed nearby. Dust began to fall from the ceiling.
Ranshia immediately stood up, her expression shifting completely.
No more annoyance.
No more embarrassment.
Only focus.
She rushed to the cracked window and looked outside—
And her eyes widened.
"…that's impossible…"
Standing in the academy courtyard was a massive Hyonan.
Its body was pitch black, covered in armor-like scales that reflected faint light. Its size rivaled the academy building itself. Two glowing red eyes burned with an insatiable hunger for destruction.
It growled lowly… before slamming its arm into the ground.
BOOOOM!!!
The earth split. Trees collapsed.
"…a Hyonan," Ranshia whispered.
The classroom descended into chaos.
Students panicked, some crying, others rushing blindly toward the exit. Desks overturned, footsteps echoed, and fear spread like wildfire.
"ALL STUDENTS! EVACUATE NOW! DO NOT PANIC!" the teacher shouted desperately.
But amidst all that chaos—
Reindhardt remained seated.
Still.
Silent.
His hand slowly clenched.
The past overlapped with the present—the river, the voice, the loss.
"Reindhardt!" Ranshia called out. "We have to go—now!"
He slowly raised his head.
"…yeah, I know," he replied flatly.
His tone was calm. Too calm.
He stood up, grabbing his bag without urgency. Amidst the chaos, his composure felt almost unnatural.
Inside his bag, his fingers brushed against something.
The necklace.
He took it out briefly, staring at the small photo.
"…I haven't found you yet," he whispered.
Then he put it away.
"Get everyone out of the building," he said as he walked past Ranshia.
She froze for a moment.
That tone—
She knew it well.
"This isn't something you handle alone—we should wait for SM instructions—" she protested.
Reindhardt stopped.
Without fully turning, he spoke:
"They're always too late."
A simple sentence.
But enough to silence her.
"Take them to the rear field. Keep them away from the impact zone."
"Reindhardt—"
He kept walking.
"…don't die, idiot," she muttered softly before turning to help evacuate the students.
—
The hallway was even worse.
Students ran in every direction, some falling, others pushing past in desperation. The emergency alarm blared throughout the academy.
WEEEOOOO—WEEEOOOO—
Reindhardt walked through it all… calmly.
As if he didn't belong to the same world.
DUUUMMM!!!
Suddenly—
Part of the courtyard floor collapsed.
Debris exploded outward as a massive black arm burst through, clawing violently at the air.
Screams echoed again.
Reindhardt stopped.
His gaze locked onto the monster's arm.
"…finally," he muttered.
He took a deep breath.
The air around him shifted.
An invisible pressure spread outward, subtle but suffocating. Nearby students instinctively felt it, their bodies freezing for reasons they couldn't understand.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.
One step forward.
Then another.
From a distance, Ranshia glanced back—
And her eyes widened.
"…he's starting."
Reindhardt exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders.
"My five-minute break…" he muttered lazily.
He raised his head, staring directly at the approaching Hyonan.
"How long are you going to keep doing this?"
His eyes sharpened.
"Hey."
He suddenly appeared behind the creature's tail.
The Hyonan instantly turned, letting out a furious roar as if it had just spotted prey.
Reindhardt didn't flinch.
No fear.
No hesitation.
He stood alone in the разрушed academy corridor, facing a towering monster.
Then he exhaled.
"…in that case," he said quietly.
A faint smirk formed on his lips.
"Let's finish this quickly."