Currently...
The two sit down on a bench in the park. The sun is shining brightly and the birds are chirping. Luna offers a macchiato that she bought earlier to Ryu. The coffee is still warm and has a sweet aroma.
"Thanks. I haven't eaten breakfast yet." Ryu says and expresses his thanks for the coffee. He takes a sip and feels the caffeine kick in.
"No problem. It was me who caused you trouble, I should do this much." Luna replies. She smiles nervously and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
"So.. I'll get to the point. I'm here right now to try to recruit you as a member of our team. Normally, we would just register you as a surfer and let you go on your way but Mr. Woo-Jin seems to have taken a liking to you." Luna explains, letting Ryu take his time to think. She hopes that he will accept the offer and join them.
Ryu thinks for a while. A lot has happened for Ryu in these past days and he's trying to connect everything to understand what's going on. He remembers the strange dreams, the monsters, the surfing, and the mysterious Mr. Woo-Jin. He wonders what it all means and what he should do.
" You don't need to give an answer right now. It's actually surprising how fast you are adapting, you can just take it slow." Luna says, giving Ryu the freedom to think. She can see the confusion and curiosity in his eyes.
" As you can tell, there is a whole different world than what people know. And the seal between these two worlds is becoming looser by the years. I don't want to scare you but the monster you saw in the dream is capable of coming into this world if left alone." Luna says and taps Ryu's shoulder. She tries to sound serious and convincing.
Ryu removes Luna's hand from his shoulder and says," I'm going to be honest with you, I'm no hero. I am not the type of person that could sacrifice myself for the cause you have. " The disappointment in Luna's face is visible as soon as she hears what Ryu says. She feels a pang of sadness and regret.
"But, I do have my self-interest and right now I'm interested in this surfing-thing. Please take care of me." Ryu reaches his hand to Luna for a handshake. He gives her a smirk and a wink. He is not sure what he is getting into, but he is willing to take the risk.
Luna's expression brightens up quickly and shakes Ryu's hand. "Yes, thank you! Do you have time? Mr. Woo-Jin is waiting for you!" She says excitedly. She is relieved and happy that Ryu agreed to join them.
After some preparation, they are now heading to the association's building. Luna calls Mr. Woo-Jin to let him know that Ryu is coming back with her and he seems to be excited. He tells them to hurry up and meet him at his office.
They take some detour and eat on the way. They stop by a small restaurant and order some noodles and dumplings. They chat about their hobbies, and their dreams.
And now an orange ray coming from the setting sun is painting the whole sky. Ryu rolls down the window to get some fresh air. He feels like the past year he lived is nothing compared to what he has experienced in these past days. He feels a surge of adrenaline and anticipation.
Luna glances at Ryu and she can tell that a lot of things are running inside of Ryu's mind. Ryu looks at the side, his and Luna's eyes meet causing Luna to feel embarrassed from getting caught glancing at Ryu. She blushes and quickly looks away.
"Ehem.. Look at the time, it's half an hour before 7. I really like to hear some music at this time of the day." She says, embarrassed from what just happened. Luna then turns on the radio and randomly picks a station. A catchy pop song starts playing and Luna hums along.
As they drive towards the association's building, they hear a breaking news on the radio. A sudden thunderstorm is brewing not far from them. It is reported that it happened in a forest near Seoul. The weather forecast did not predict such a phenomenon and the authorities are investigating the cause.
Luna looks at Ryu. She knows that this is not a natural occurrence. It is a sign of a Lucid Creature's presence.
Before she can say anything, Luna's phone rings. It is Ms. Eun-Ha, the association's secretary. She sounds urgent and worried.
"Luna, where are you? We have a situation. A Class A Lucid Creature broke out and is wreaking havoc in a forest near Seoul. The swat team has successfully sealed off the area. But we need to act fast before it causes more damage. Mr. Woo-Jin is already on his way. Can you join him?" Ms. Eun-Ha says.
Luna nods and says, "Yes, of course. We are not far from the location. We will be there soon. Please keep us updated."
She hangs up and turns to Ryu. She says, "Sorry, we have to change our plans. There is a Lucid Creature in the forest and we need to stop it. Are you ready for this?"
Ryu nods and says, "Yes, I guess so. I don't know what to expect, but I trust you. Let's go."
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Luna smiles and says, "Thank you. Don't worry, I will protect you. Just follow my lead and do what I say."
She steps on the gas and drives faster. She turns on the GPS and follows the directions to the forest. She also grabs a pair of sunglasses from the glove box and hands them to Ryu.
"Put these on. They are special glasses that allow you to see the Lucid Creature's true form. Without them, you will only see a normal dog. But trust me, it is not a normal dog. It is a dangerous beast that can create illusions. We have to be careful and alert." Luna says.
Ryu puts on the glasses and says, "Wow, this is amazing. How does it work?"
Luna says, "It is a secret technology that the association developed. It uses a special frequency to detect the Lucid Creature's energy and reveal its shape. It also blocks any interference from the Lucid Creature's illusions. It is a very useful tool for surfers like us."
They soon arrive at the forest. They see a large fence and a gate with a sign that says "Restricted Area". There are several police cars and vans parked outside. Luna shows her ID to the guard and he lets them in.
They drive into the forest and see a scene of chaos and destruction. Trees are uprooted, rocks are shattered, and lightning is flashing. They hear a loud roar and a howl. They see a large, black, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes and spikes on its back. It is surrounded by several surfers who are wearing similar glasses and holding weapons. They are shooting at the creature with guns, lasers, and rockets. But the creature seems to be unfazed. It dodges and deflects the attacks with ease. It also counterattacks with its sharp claws. It is a fierce and formidable foe.
Luna and Ryu park their car and get out. They join the other surfers and greet them. They recognize some of them as their colleagues and friends. They also see Mr. Woo-Jin, who is leading the operation. He is wearing a black leather jacket and a pair of sunglasses. He is holding a large sword. He is one of the most experienced and skilled surfers in the association. He is also Luna's mentor.
Mr. Woo-Jin sees Luna and Ryu and nods. He says, "Good, you are here. We need all the help we can get. This is a Class A Lucid Creature, one of the most powerful and rare ones. It is called a Storm Wolf. It can control the weather and create storms. It is also very fast and agile. It is not easy to catch or kill. We have to work together and use our best strategies. Are you ready for this?"
Luna says, "Yes, sir. We are ready. What do you want us to do?"
Mr. Woo-Jin says, "You and Ryu will join me and form a team. We will try to get close to the creature and strike it with our swords. The swords are made of a special metal that can pierce the creature's skin and disrupt its energy. They are the most effective weapons against Lucid Creatures. The others will provide cover and distraction. They will keep shooting at the creature and try to weaken it and slow it down. We have to coordinate our moves and timing. Are you clear?"
Luna and Ryu say, "Yes, sir. Clear."
Mr. Woo-Jin says, "Good. Let's go."
He runs towards the creature, followed by Luna and Ryu. They dodge the creature's attacks and look for an opening. They see a gap in the creature's defense and charge in. They swing their swords and aim for the creature's neck, chest, and legs. They hope to hit a vital spot and end the fight.
Mr. Woo-Jin is surprised at Ryu's performance. He knows that it's Ryu's first Lucid Subjugation but he can follow and cooperate with the team's attack. He smirks and feels excited knowing that Ryu has big potential.
Despite this, the creature is not so easy to defeat. It senses their approach and reacts quickly. It jumps back and avoids their swords. It then unleashes a powerful blast of wind that knocks them back. It then follows up with a barrage of lightning strikes that explode on impact. It then roars and charges at them with its fangs and claws.
Ryu is caught off guard and injured by the creature's attacks. He falls to the ground and drops his sword. He is in pain and bleeding. He tries to get up and fight back, but he is too weak and slow compared to the Storm Wolf. He sees the creature looming over him, ready to finish him off.
Just as the Wolf pounces at Ryu, Luna reacts quickly by throwing a sword at the Wolf, hitting its side. It sends the Wolf back but unfortunately it doesn't leave a scratch on it. The creature then jumps back at Ryu, baring its fangs, trying to finish him off. Ryu quickly picks up the sword that was thrown by Luna and stabs the Wolf straight through his mouth.
The Wolf's extraordinary senses react to this and manage to tilt its head and avoid a vital blow. It is left wounded and blood is rushing down from its mouth. Mr. Woo-Jin sees an opportunity to strike and quickly slashes his sword at the neck of the insane wolf. Because of its injury, it flinches just before it can react to Mr. Woo-Jin's attack. Despite being able to hit the wolf at its blindspot, it only leaves a wound. It still manages to get up and roar.
"Get him back and recover!" Mr. Woo-Jin shouts at Luna. Luna immediately follows Mr. Woo-Jin instructions and drags Ryu from the rear.
And then, they hear another roar and a clash. They look behind and see Mr. Woo-Jin standing in front of them, blocking the creature's attack with his sword. He is also injured and tired, but he is still fighting. He pushes the creature back and stands between them and the creature. He protects them and faces the creature alone.
He says, "DOUBLE TIME! I will handle this."
He then raises his sword and charges at the creature. He engages the creature in a fierce and epic battle. He matches the creature's speed and strength. He dodges and parries the creature's attacks. He also strikes back with his own attacks. He cuts and stabs the creature with his sword. He also uses his own abilities as a surfer. He stomps on the ground and all of a sudden, the ground turns into ice.
The wolf is surprised and accidentally slips before it can jump back. One of the team immediately shoots a grappling hook at the feet of the creature, trying to immobilize the wild beast. It tries to get up and whenever it does they pull the rope causing the wolf to slip. Luna and Mr. Woo-Jin rush to the beast. Luna jumps trying to strike it from above while Mr. Woo-Jin slides in the ice with ease trying to cut it horizontally.
The wolf makes its last ditch and releases a huge amount of lightning hitting everyone's heads. The two are sent flying and rolling in the ground. Mr. Woo-Jin is barely holding onto himself while Luna is lying in the ground unconscious. Some manage to dodge the attack but their glasses aren't going to work anymore. While some take a direct hit, they are now either unconscious or dead due to high voltage. The canine releases a thick fog trying to cover everyone's sight. No one expects such a terrifying thing to happen. It only takes one move for the whole battle to turn upside down.
"Shit! Everyone, gather up! Bring the injured with you!" Mr. Woo-Jin commands everyone and ceases to chase the wolf.
While everyone is in a state of chaos, Ryu is confused. He knows what has happened. He sees it all. He realizes that his glasses aren't even on in the first place. He is confused as to why he can see the monster clearly even without the glasses. And what's more...
" Why.......why is everyone gathering up.....when the enemy is standing right in front of them?" Ryu asks himself, his voice shaking, fear starting to kick in. The wolf is quietly standing in front of them, glaring at Mr. Woo-Jin's face. As if it is waiting for everyone to gather and kill them at the same time. It is waiting...following everyone, making up illusions and guiding them in one spot.
Ryu notices its scheme and immediately acts on it. He picks up a sword and slowly walks towards everyone. He's conserving his energy as much as possible. Rather than attacking the wolf, he kneels down where everyone is gathered. He knows that even if he attacks the canine right now, it would be futile as he saw that even Mr. Woo-Jin's attack only wounded the wolf.
Mr. Woo-Jin walks towards Ryu while carrying Luna in his arm. He puts down Luna and talks to Ryu. "I'm sorry, kid. I dragged you into this. I was overconfident and thought it would be a good learning lesson for you. Who would've thought that an anomaly will show up-" Mr. Woo-Jin is stopped mid sentences when Ryu suddenly stabs him.
He looks at Ryu and then looks at the place he was stabbed. There's blood but he can't feel any pain. He notices that the sword went between his arm and waist. Mr. Woo-Jin is confused as to where is the source of the blood. He looks behind him and a normal dog is stabbed in its mouth, with the sword piercing through its skull. It coughs up blood and collapses. Ryu also collapses and falls into Mr. Woo-Jin's arms. No one is able to speak for a whole minute. Everyone knows that if it weren't for Ryu, they all could've died.
Mr. Woo-Jin looks at Ryu's unconscious face and says, "Kid, you're one hell of a rookie."