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“Dusik!” Seognik Han yelled, gathering power into his hand. There was no point in civilities now that it was evident how deadset Dusik Kang is on killing Jiwoo.
As Seognik leaped for Dusik the entire room began to rumble and a bright blue streak of lightning crashed through the ceiling forcing everyone to use their powers to stop the shockwave from knocking them back.
In the middle of the crater left by the lightning stood a black-haired man, guarding the now freed Jiwoo.
‘How in the world did he interfere with my skill?’ Dusik thought angrily. In all his years as an awakened in Korea, there are very few who he has come across that could do such a thing. ‘To be exact, he completely cut off the power I was using on Jiwoo! He vocalized the main question on his mind. “Who the hell are you?”
The mysterious man did not answer him. Simply gave him a disinterested glare, as if Dusik Kang the former chairman of Baekdu was nothing but a dirty bug at his feet.
When the man spoke, it was not to Dusik, but to Jiwoo. “Jiwoo, watch and learn…”
“What?” The teen asked, but everyone seemed too fixated on the man’s next words to pay attention to him.
“...How to get rid of an enemy that stands in your way.” The man finished, his voice laced with anger.
Electricity crackled between the man’s fingers and his eyes glowed an iridescent blue. In his outstretched hand that was aimed at Dusik, blue electricity began to swirl forming a ball that crackled with an intensity that only three in the room has ever seen.
“Electricity?!”
“No way!”
Without so much of another word, the man unleashed the power in his hand against Dusik.
“Crap!” Dusik cursed. Barely having enough time, he gathered his awakened power in the vain hope of canceling out this man’s power.
‘This can’t be!’ Dusik started to realize a damning truth. ‘I can’t block his power!’ This unknown man was stronger than him.
The lightning overpowered him and shook the entire gym. The crash of the attack destroying the ceiling and wall could be heard throughout the whole academy.
Once the light of the electricity died down, the rest of the room’s occupants were privy to the wake of the destruction the attack left. Dusik disheveled on his knees with the wall behind him crumbling and giving everyone a clear of the ocean.
“What happened here…?” Miyoung Ko whispered, unable to grasp the immense power this man had that destroyed a room designed to withstand awakened powers. The rest of the instructors were as shocked as she was as they all stood wide-eyed and slacked-jawed.
‘An immense amount of energy came from here, but not from the principal or Mr. Kang!’ Suhan Kang’s thoughts were running a mile a minute as he tried to put two and two together. ‘Then who was it from?!’
Dusik coughed, dragging the instructors’ attention away from the broken wall and to his injured form. “Mr. Kang!”
More thoughts and questions filled their heads.
'Mr. Kang got injured?’
‘Does it have to do with the intense energy we sensed earlier?’
‘Who in the world hurt one of this country’s best awakened ones that badly?’
It felt as if their entire world was tilted to the side as they tried to wrap their heads around what happened.
The only answer they could come up with was that this was all the doings of the mysterious man who had appeared. But that would make no sense how could they not know of such a powerful awakened one in their country?
“Who are you?” Dusik croaked. Even he could not wrap his head around how this man was able to hurt him so badly even if he did not perfectly defend himself. He has never seen such strong electricity power in his life. The only person known to have such a strong electricity attribute is…
“Kayden.” Seognik Han finally spoke addressing the black-haired man. “What brings you here?”
The man- Kayden- did not bother to answer, just continued to look down on Dusik condescendingly.
The instructors, however, started to freak out. The idea that the person said to be the strongest awakened one in the world stood in front of them was too much.
“Kayden?”
“He’s Kayden?!”
“Why is he here…?” Inhyuk Goo pondered. ‘Does that mean the trace we found before really was his?’
“Of course, it’s you, Kayden.” Dusik huffed, struggling to keep his breathing even. “Who else could possibly have such strong power?” It wasn’t long til he started to shout. “But why did you attack me? I’ve done nothing to provoke you!”
“Yeah right,” Kayden scoffed, his eyes narrowing at the injured man. “You started it by harassing my son.”
“What are you talking about? When did I ever-” It was then that everyone in the room realized who Kayden was referring to.
‘No way…”
All eyes landed on where Jiwoo was kneeling injured with his face bright red.
“Is Jiwoo… your son?” Seongik asked in disbelief.
Kayden’s eyes widen as soon as he realized what he said. “Fuck! Apprentice! I meant apprentice! He is my apprentice.” The tips of the strongest awakened one in the world’s ears began to burn. Everyone else in the room began to sweat, if it was anyone else they would be laughing, but this was Kayden Break the Destroyer. Fearfully Kayden glanced over at Jiwoo whose face was currently still red and was staring at the ground refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
“I mean you are like a father figure to me,” Jiwoo mumbled. His face somehow grew redder.
“Wha- Kid, are, are you serious?” Kayden stuttered nervously. Jiwoo looked up, finally locking eyes with Kayden, and wordlessly nodded his head. “You know I would make a terrible dad. Or at least that’s what Kartein always said.”
Jiwoo fidgeted and looked down, unable to continue making eye contact. “You do a good job already.”
Kayden cleared his throat and brought his hand to his face, trying, and failing to cover the pink tint blooming across his cheeks. “Well, ok. Fuck it then. I’m a dad now.”
If anyone thought he sounded proud and happy as he said it, no one said anything.
He turned back to Seongik whose expression was comical. His eyes were as big as saucers and his mouth was agape. “Yup, he’s my son. And that guy tortured him. So… Seongik stay out of this.”
“Ha, this is a surprise.” Because he was too flabbergasted to say anything else.
“W-wait there seems to be a misunderstanding.” Dusik Kang started to stand.
“A misunderstanding?” Kayden repeated.
“Yes, I didn’t know he was your son.” He continued not realizing the hole he was digging. “I was tipped off that he’s a spy, so I had no choice but to-”
“Are you serious right now?” Kayden hissed. His eyes were cold and unmerciful, completely different from how they were when he was talking to Jiwoo. “Do you really think I would buy that?”
‘That bastard!’ Dusik ground his teeth but wisely did not vocalize his thoughts.
“Oh, I have a question for you.” Kayden cocked his head. “Does Baekdu have anything to do with your harassment of my son?” Dusik Kang froze. “You better think well before you answer this. I won’t back down, no matter who my opponent is, even if it’s Baekdu.” His eyes were glowing as if beckoning Dusik to say yes that Baekdu has something to do with it just so he could completely destroy it. “For the record, I’m used to fighting guys like you. I don’t even need to deal with you guys as a group. If I just take my time and break you all apart, eventually only a few leaders will be left. And getting rid of them is a piece of cake.” There was an amused lit to his voice like he was enjoying the dilemma and humiliation he is dealing out to Dusik. He had the ‘great’ Dusik Kang, ex-chairmen Baekdu, shaking at his words.
‘He’s not bluffing.’ Thought Suchan. ‘He’s used that exact method to bring down several groups. Since he was so unpredictable, groups without a match for him ended up collapsing.’
‘Crap! I didn’t know Kayden was his father!’ Dusik mentally berated his past self but accepted his faith because there was nothing else he could do. The only thing he could do was make sure Baekdu does not fall with him. “...Baekdu has nothing to do with this.” And what was probably for the first time in his life, Dusik Kang lowered his head in apology. “It was solely my fault. I misunderstood Jiwoo. I apologize… for attacking your son.”
All the instructors stared in disbelief. None of them could believe that the notorious Mr. Kang was capable of apologizing. They discovered a new kind of respect for Kayden Break who was able to pull off what was considered the impossible.
“Are you kidding me?” Kayden sneered. “Sorry doesn’t cut it. For hurting my son this badly. I’m sure you’re not the type to make apologies anyway. Just deal with this the way you usually would.” Dusik Kang looked like he was about to cry at the humiliation. “I’d also prefer it that way.”
“Wow…” The instructors muttered. All that newfound respect was lost. ‘He’s a complete bastard, just as I heard!’
“Uhm, Mr- dad…” Jiwoo spoke up, his words caused Kayden to let out a strangled noise. Despite calling Jiwoo his son the entire time, it seems like he wasn’t prepared for Jiwoo to call him ‘dad’.
He quickly recovered and cut Jiwoo off before he could say anymore. “What? You’re going to tell me to stop, aren’t you? Take a look at yourself. Do you really want me to stop?”
“Kayden, I get that you’re mad, but I think you’ve done enough,” Seongik spoke to him telepathically. “He might not get back at you, but what about Jiwoo? It’s not like you can protect Jiwoo at all times. So for his sake, you should let this slide.” He reasoned, hoping that stating the harm it could cause Jiwoo was enough to cull Kayden’s thirst for retribution. “Besides, if Baekdu becomes Jiwoo’s enemy he’s going to have a hard time living as an awakened one here since Baekdu is a powerful group in this country.”
Kayden glared at him before relenting. “Fine. Since Jiwoo wants me to stop here, I will. But I will keep an eye on you and Baekdu.”
Seongik sighed and turned to Dusik’s bodyguards. “Why are you two just standing there? Take Dusik to the medical center.”
The two bodyguards gingerly supported Dusik and began to take him out of the room for treatment.
‘I swear I’ll get him back for this humiliation…’ Diusk already started mentally forming a plan to do so.
Kayden’s voice broke through his thoughts. “If the news about me being here or Jiwoo being my son gets out, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Same goes for all the rest of you.” Kayden turned his attention to the instructors. “I’ll remember every one of your faces. If a single word gets out, you’re all dead.” And with that, he turned his attention back to his son.
Kneeling down in front of him, Kayden couldn’t help back let out an exasperated sigh. “Fucking hell, Jiwoo. You get beaten almost every single day. I swear I am going to start going grey because of you.”
“I’m sorry, dad.”
Kayden still not used to being called dad, blushed. “Well, I admit. You had a tough opponent this time.”
As Kayden picked up and carried Jiwoo to the medical center, with Seongik following closely behind, the instructors were left to gossip.
“I can’t believe he blew up this building,” Chul Young, the Hella chaperone, amazed. “It was built specifically to endure the powers of awakened ones…”
“Kayden is a powerful awakened one, just like people say,” Giwook Jang commented.
“Yeah, I thought the rumors were exaggerated but they surely weren’t… And the power he use was more impressive than I had imagined.”
“A single attack incapacitated Mr. Kang.” Seongha Park added.
“Also, he was more handsome than how people described him,” Miyoung spoke, going in a completely different direction than her coworkers. “I thought they were bluffing, but he looked hotter in person. Way better looking than I thought. Plus a DILF too.”
“Uhm… That’s… not the point right now.”