"And this is the training yard,” Lian Hua said, pointing towards the wide expanse of worn stone tiles, their surface scuffed and nicked from years of relentless practice, bordered by cherry blossom trees swaying gently in the breeze, seemingly unaffected by the chaos of this world.
Lian Hua had just completed her tour of the Feng family manor, speaking to Jun-Hyuk as if he had merely forgotten his surroundings due to his supposed amnesia. In truth, this was his first time here, though he dared not reveal that to her. It was clear she had no inkling of his double life, and Jun-Hyuk intended to keep it that way, at least for now.
Over the past two hours since his reawakening in post-apocalyptic China, he had absorbed everything Lian Hua shared, piecing together the rules of this strange world. If he was destined to live between two realities, he reasoned, he might as well learn everything he could. Though he hadn’t yet decided what he wanted from this life, one thing was certain: here, he had a chance to be more than the weakling he had been in his old world. And this could help even become stronger in his own world.
According to Lian Hua, the blood-red sky remained constant during the day, only shifting to a more natural hue at night. The city dome they lived in, protected by a sprawling electrical barrier, was home to over seventy-eight million people. Other smaller safe zones dotted the country, though survival outside the domes was rare. It had been thirty years since disaster struck, and only a select few humans had developed enhanced biological strength and superpowered abilities—a phenomenon Jun-Hyuk couldn’t help but link to his own sudden surge of power.
“What about my father? You said he was the head of the Feng family, but I haven’t seen him,” Jun-Hyuk asked, breaking the silence as they walked.
Lian Hua’s expression faltered, her strained smile betraying her growing fatigue from his relentless questioning. “He’s currently on a mission,” she replied, her tone carefully measured. “Several members from the five martial families have joined him to eradicate a den of sphere creatures.”
Jun-Hyuk’s gaze flicked upward instinctively toward the black sphere hanging ominously in the sky. The creatures that emerged from it, aptly named "sphere creatures," were the harbingers of this world’s destruction. The mention of them sent an involuntary chill down his spine.
“How long until he returns?” he pressed, his curiosity laced with a hint of unease.
Lian Hua hesitated, the pause heavy with unspoken uncertainty. “I’m not sure,” she finally admitted, her voice quieter now.
Jun-Hyuk nodded, though her answer did little to settle his unease. The unknowns were piling up, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that the answers—when they came—would be more than he bargained for.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden pattering of footsteps. They both swiveled around to see a young servant girl rushing toward them, her simple beige tunic fluttering as loose strands of dark hair framed her wide, panicked eyes. Behind her were two familiar figures and one unfamiliar. Jun-Hyuk recognized two of them as the older military man and girl from his first fight with a sphere creature.
“I’m sorry, young master Feng Lei. They demanded to see you,” she gushed out.
Jun-Hyuk nodded quickly, trying to hide his surprise for a second. He was still not used to his Chinese name.
Jun-Hyuk straightened, his mind racing to mask his unease. “Very well,” he said, his voice steady despite his uncertainty. He glanced at the trio, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What brings you here with such urgency?”
He aimed to sound authoritative, befitting his role as Feng Lei, yet the words felt foreign on his tongue, much like his new name.
The man stepped forward with a wide grin, his eyes glinting with mischief. A few years older than Jun-Hyuk, his tousled dark hair and relaxed stance made him appear confident, as though he'd seen much of the world—and enjoyed every moment of it. “Brother Feng! It’s me Zhao Wei!”
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The name sparked a brief flash of memory in Jun-Hyuk’s mind. The Zhao family, second only in power to the first martial family, held immense influence, while his own family ranked third. Zhao Wei, the second son, was no stranger to him. If his memory served correctly, Feng Lei and Zhao Wei had always been bitter rivals—antagonistic from their earliest days, their rivalry stretching back to childhood.
“I’m sure you didn’t come here for just pleasantries,” Jun-Hyuk grunted. “So just state what you want.” He was desperately trying to sound tougher than felt. He had to remember this wasn’t his world. Here he wasn’t known as a weakling, but someone to tread cautiously around. According to Lian Hua, he had always been a ticking time bomb, his temper as volatile as it was dangerous, ready to explode at any moment.
Zhao Wei chuckled, the sound low and almost mocking. "Take a breath and relax, will you? I'm not here to fight. We can save that for the ranking tournament in three months."
Ranking tournament? Jun-Hyuk's mind raced, making a mental note to ask Lian Hua about it later.
Zhao Wei leaned forward slightly, his smirk widening. "I just came to check on you. After that injury, it's surprising you're up and moving so easily—especially after fighting so soon."
Jun-Hyuk met his gaze coolly. "It takes more than a level four to take me out," he replied, his voice steady and calm.
Zhao Wei shrugged before turning to the two military personnel and then glancing back at him. "You know, with the leader of the first martial family, the Liang family off on that mission and my own family preoccupied, there's a unique... opportunity for us to seize control of the city. The balance of power is delicate right now, and with the right alignment, we could ensure the Feng family has a hand in shaping the future. You wouldn’t want to be left behind when everything shifts, would you?" He flashed a smooth, almost predatory grin, the words carefully measured, neither demanding nor too eager—just a suggestion with the weight of inevitability behind it.
Jun-Hyuk had to blink twice to process the suddenness of his words. Barely twenty-four hours had passed since he had come to know this world and already someone was trying to drag him into a coup.
Lian Hua’s reaction was immediate. Her hands shot toward her sword, and she surged forward, her voice sharp with fury. "What you're suggesting is nothing short of treason against the Dome's order!"
The older military man cleared his throat, his tone more measured but tinged with urgency. "Ms. Lian, this isn't just about power—it's about the safety of everyone within these walls. The military’s strength, bolstered by advanced weapons capable of far more destruction than any martial family, is being stifled by the restrictions placed on us by the five families. We're kept in the dark while the families hoard resources and control."
The girl from earlier, her gaze hard and unwavering, nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Why should we rely on swords when we have guns at our disposal?"
Jun-Hyuk felt the weight of their words, but his resolve remained firm. He had no interest in siding with Zhao Wei—he could sense the man's ambitions stretching far beyond what he claimed. But that didn’t mean the military’s frustrations weren’t valid. He cleared his throat, trying to keep his voice steady.
“I’m not the head of the Feng family, so I have no right to make decisions like that," he said, his words careful. "But I can certainly bring up the idea of allowing the military to play a more active role in protecting the city. If it comes to that."
“I’m afraid that wasn’t the answer we were looking for,” Zhao Wei replied, his tone cold and measured. Before Jun-Hyuk could fully process his words, several more soldiers materialized from the shadows, their guns trained steadily on him. The suddenness of their appearance caught him off guard, and he couldn’t help but marvel at how seamlessly they had blended into their surroundings, as if they had been part of the very air itself. Was it advanced technology? Or perhaps a skill or ability he didn’t yet understand? The uncertainty gnawed at him. His instincts kicked in, and in a flash, his hands moved toward his sword, the weight of the cold metal comforting against his palm as his heart began to race nervously.
Last time he had fought in this world it wasn’t against humans. And Jun-Hyuk didn’t understand how his strength worked here either. But what he did know was that he was a level four-martial arts master and that was considered extremely high in this world.
But before anyone could react, a masked warrior with the Feng family’s emblem emblazoned on his chest leapt down from the roof across the courtyard, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Trouble!” he exclaimed, his voice urgent and strained. “Feng Jian—your father—and the others... they’ve encountered a level seven sphere creature. And they’re losing... terribly!”