⚠️ Content Advisory
This series is rated 16+
It contains themes and scenes that may not be suitable for younger audiences, including:
Mild violence and psychological tension
Mentions of crime, corruption, and moral conflict
Occasional strong language
Emotional and mature themes related to loss, identity, and humanity
Viewer and reader discretion is advised
[ Chapter 3rd - Path ]
The morning air buzzed with the hum of life — crowded roads, the honking of cars, and a thin mist hanging low over the city. The sky was pale, touched by soft golden light breaking through the clouds after a long night. A faint chill lingered, mixing with the smell of rain and dust — a new day beginning its story.
The camera pans to Kye, walking alone along the busy street, lost in thought.
"Isn't there a single good martial arts school around here?"
Kye muttered under his breath, slightly irritated.
He kept walking, kicking at the pavement absently.
"I still don't understand what Mom and Dad must be thinking right now. I haven't answered their calls or messages since last night… Maybe I should talk to them."
He sighed. "I'll think about it once I get home."
Suddenly, Kye stopped in his tracks. His eyes caught a familiar signboard ahead.
"Wait… I think I know this martial arts school."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Of course! This is the same academy that sends its students to international tournaments. How could I forget that?"
"Let's see how much I can learn from here."
Scene shifts — Daigo and Mira.
Mira paced anxiously near the window.
"Daigo… Kye still hasn't answered any of our calls. Do you think he's alright?"
Daigo, sitting calmly on the couch, replied in a steady voice.
"Don't worry, Mira. Kye will be fine. He's grown up now."
"Next week is his college graduation ceremony," Mira said softly. "But I don't know what's going on in his mind lately…"
Daigo stood up, putting on his shoes.
"I'll be back. There's something important I need to take care of."
As he stepped outside, closing the door behind him, his expression changed.
I'm sorry, Kye… all of this is my fault. I just hope you're safe.
If he doesn't respond by tomorrow… I'll go find him myself.
Scene Shift – Kye
Kye stood before a large, modern building gleaming under the morning sun. The sign above read:
"Ryuzen Martial Arts Academy – The Spirit of Discipline."
He took a slow breath and stepped forward, his eyes scanning every corner of the grand entrance. The sound of punches and shouts echoed faintly from inside.
"Looks like this is the right place," he murmured. "Let's see what's behind this door."
The gate creaked open, revealing a vast training hall buzzing with energy.
Dozens of men and women were practicing in perfect rhythm — their movements powerful, their physiques strong and intimidating. Watching them, Kye couldn't help but whisper,
"Wow… looks like I've come to the right place. I might really learn something big here."
But as soon as he stepped in, all eyes turned toward him.
The room fell quiet — dozens of sharp gazes fixed on the newcomer.
Then, from the far side, an older man, probably in his late forties, walked up to Kye. His presence was calm yet commanding.
"Are you here to learn martial arts, boy?" he asked, his tone deep and steady.
Kye nodded.
"Yes, I am."
The man looked him up and down, assessing his lean frame.
"Doesn't look like you've got the build for it," he said bluntly. "But… fine. Come inside anyway."
Kye gave a faint smile — confident, almost amused — and walked further into the room.
Scene Shift – Hudson Tech University (Kye's University)
The atmosphere on campus was buzzing with whispers.
Groups of students gathered around, talking in low voices — all about Kye.
"Kye hasn't come to class for two days now," said Aiko, worry in her tone. "Do you think he's okay?"
Kael shrugged carelessly.
"Who cares? He's always acting like he's above everyone else."
Aiko frowned.
"Still… he's changed lately. Keeps to himself too much."
Before anyone could respond, the teacher entered the classroom, holding a piece of paper.
"Attention, everyone," he said, clearing his throat.
"Kye has submitted an official application. He's decided to withdraw from the university — effective immediately."
The room went silent.
Gasps and murmurs filled the air as everyone exchanged stunned looks.
"What…? He's leaving the university?"
And with that, the scene fades out, leaving the classroom in uneasy silence.....
Each sunrise brought grueling training sessions — endless drills, sweat-soaked uniforms, and aching muscles that refused to rest. But amidst the exhaustion, something inside Kye was awakening — a quiet determination, sharper and stronger than ever before.
That night, while he sat alone near the dorm window, his phone began to ring.
The screen flashed a familiar name — Mom.
Kye sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Mom's calling… fine, I'll pick it up."
He tapped the screen.
"Hey, Mom. What happened?"
Mira's voice, slightly emotional yet firm, echoed through the speaker.
"What happened? That's what you have to say? Kye, have you forgotten us completely? You sound like we're strangers to you now!"
Kye's tone softened a little.
"It's not like that, Mom… I've just been tired lately. Training's tough. How are you and Dad?"
"We're fine," Mira replied. "But when are you coming home to see us?"
Kye hesitated. His eyes shifted away toward the wall.
"Not anytime soon. It might take a while… so don't keep your hopes up."
Before she could say anything else, he ended the call abruptly.
On the other side, Mira stared at her phone in silence.
"Huh… what's happened to him lately? He doesn't even talk properly anymore," she whispered, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Back at the academy, Kye leaned back in his chair, a frustrated look crossing his face.
"That Brat old man… what's his problem with me anyway?" he muttered. "Why does he keep pushing me so hard? What's he trying to prove?"
He walked over to the window, his thoughts swirling with irritation — when something in the night sky caught his eye.
A faint, glowing streak of light cut through the darkness — bright, silent, and mesmerizing.
Kye blinked.
"What the… what was that? A shooting star?"
But somehow, deep inside, he knew it didn't look like one.
It was brighter. Closer.
And for a brief second, it almost felt… alive.
The next morning arrived with a heavy sky.
Dark clouds rolled above the city, and the wind carried a damp, uneasy chill. The streets were quieter than usual — fewer people, fewer cars. Even the birds seemed to have gone silent.
Kye walked alone down the nearly empty road, hands in his pockets, his jacket fluttering slightly in the cold breeze.
"Huh… something feels off today," he muttered, glancing up at the gray sky.
"The news said the weather would be clear — so what's with this sudden gloom?"
The faint drizzle began to tap against the pavement as he approached the towering Ryuzen Martial Arts Academy.
He stopped for a moment, staring at the massive building with unreadable eyes — part frustration, part determination — then sighed and walked inside.
Inside the training hall, Master Hiroshi, the stern old instructor with a weathered face and sharp eyes, looked up from the center mat.
"So… you finally showed up?" he said in his usual dry tone.
Kye smirked faintly.
"Can't you see? I'm standing right here."
"Then stop talking," Hiroshi snapped. "Start your training."
Kye's expression stiffened. He knew exactly what that meant.
Moments later, the other trainees surrounded him — not to spar with him, but against him.
And then it began.
Fists flew.
Bodies slammed.
Every hit landed on Kye — his ribs, his face, his gut. The entire room was using him as a punching bag.
He staggered back, shielding himself, anger flickering behind his eyes.
"This old man again… what kind of training is this supposed to be?" he thought bitterly.
"Ever since I showed him my power that day, he's been treating me like this — like he's trying to break me."
A flash of memory cut through his thoughts — the day he'd first joined the academy.
Kye stood on the mat, calm and confident, facing one of the academy's top students — a bulky fighter twice his size.
Within seconds, Kye's movements became a blur.
A strike to the ribs.
A spinning kick.
A single, clean hit — and the "top student" lay flat on the floor, unconscious.
That one moment had changed everything.
Since that day, Master Hiroshi's gaze toward him had turned cold and merciless.
Back in the present — a hard punch smashed across Kye's face, sending him crashing to the ground. He spat blood and glared at the group circling him.
"That old man said I can't fight back," he muttered under his breath. "He wants me to 'strengthen my body first.' Seriously? What kind of training is this supposed to be?"
He slammed his fist against the floor, fury rising.
"I came here to learn martial arts… not to get beaten to death!"
Before he could stand, a huge trainee kicked him across the face.
The others followed, rushing toward him in a brutal wave.
Kye clenched his teeth, eyes burning with rage.
"F**k you, old man!" he shouted, as another blow sent him sprawling back into the mat.
The room went silent for a moment — except for the sound of his ragged breathing and the steady hum of thunder outside.
The streets glowed faintly under flickering streetlights, and huge digital billboards cast eerie shades of blue and red across the wet roads. A storm brewed somewhere in the distance, the wind heavy with moisture and fear.
Every café, every shop, every home had one thing in common — the same news channel flashing on their screens.
In living rooms, restaurants, and even across the massive display panels atop skyscrapers, the anchor's voice echoed through the city:
"Breaking News — More than fifty children have gone missing from across the city in the past twenty-four hours.
Police have yet to find any leads or evidence.
Parents are advised to keep their children at home, and if going out is absolutely necessary — do not let them go alone."
The broadcast repeated, again and again, as worried faces gathered around the screens.
People whispered among themselves, voices trembling.
"What's happening to this city?"
"Fifty children? That can't be real…"
"Who could be doing something like this?"
Fear had wrapped around the night like fog — thick, suffocating, and everywhere.
Scene shift towards — Kye.
The streets were nearly deserted now, washed by the thin drizzle that hadn't stopped since morning.
Kye walked slowly through the lonely road, his steps unsteady, his body still aching from the brutal "training" earlier.
His breathing was heavy, his face bruised.
Each step echoed faintly against the wet pavement.
"Damn that old man…" he muttered, grimacing with pain. "This isn't training. This is torture."
The wind blew stronger, carrying the faint hum of the city's neon signs — and then he stopped.
Up ahead, in the dim light of a flickering street lamp, he saw someone lying on the ground.
A girl.
Her clothes torn, her body bruised, barely conscious.
Kye froze for a moment, his expression tightening.
He walked closer, kneeling beside her.
Rain dripped from his hair as he leaned in, studying her face. She looked young — maybe his age — with faint traces of blood on her lips and a small silver pendant clutched in her hand.
"Hey…" he said softly. "Are you okay?"
But there was no answer. Only the sound of thunder rolling far away.
Kye's eyes narrowed as he stared at her face — something about her presence felt strange, unsettling… almost otherworldly.
And with that moment of silence — the night grew colder.
Chapter 3 Ends.