The darkness lasted only seconds. Emergency power kicked in, bathing the conference center in dim red light.But those seconds were enough.Screams filled the air. Security personnel shouted orders. World leaders were being rushed to safe rooms by their guards.Baekho ran toward the main conference hall. That was where the opening ceremony was happening. Where all the leaders were gathered in one place.Perfect target.He burst through the doors and saw them.Twenty descendants standing in a circle around the stage. Their powers activated. Red eyes glowing in the darkness.And in the center, commanding them all, was Dr. Heo Gunwoo."Kim Baekho," the doctor said with a smile. "Right on time. I was hoping you would be here to witness this historic moment.""Whatever you are planning, stop now. You cannot win this.""Cannot win? Look around. I have already won. In thirty seconds, every world leader in this building will be under our control. We will make them sign documents recognizing d

One year after forming the Harmony Initiative, Baekho stood on the roof of their headquarters watching the sunrise. So much had changed. So much had stayed the same.The organization had grown to fifty members. Half descendants, half normal humans. All committed to building a better world.They had stopped seventeen major threats. Rescued forty three people. Changed countless minds about what descendants could be.But challenges remained.Footsteps behind him. Choi Iseul joined him at the railing."Could not sleep?" she asked."Too much thinking.""About what?""About whether we are actually making a difference. Or just delaying the inevitable.""The inevitable being what?""Conflict. War. Descendants and humans will always be different. Always be scared of each other on some level."Choi Iseul was quiet for a moment. "Maybe. But fear does not have to lead to hate. It can lead to understanding if we work at it.""You are always so optimistic.""One of us has to be. You are pessimistic

The old woman introduced herself as Jang Yul, the Last Guardian. She had been watching the human world for a thousand years from this island prison, holding back the nightmares that wanted to break through. "Why were you imprisoned?" Baekho asked as they sat around a fire that night. "Because the old gods feared what I knew. That the separation between the Dream Realm and the human world was never meant to be permanent. They are two sides of the same coin. Death and life. Dreams and reality. You cannot have one without the other." "But the Dream Realm is full of monsters. If the barrier falls, they will destroy everything." Jang Yul shook her head. "The Dream Realm was not always full of monsters. It became that way because of the separation. When you cut something off from its natural balance, it becomes corrupted. Twisted." Choi Iseul spoke up. "So you are saying the nightmare creatures exist because we separated the realms?" "Exactly. And now, after a thousand years, the

The word hung in the air like a curse."I am not a god," Baekho said, looking at his glowing hands. "I am just me.""You absorbed a Dream Lord's scout. A being of pure nightmare essence. That should have corrupted you completely. Instead, you purified it. Converted nightmare into pure energy. Only gods can do that." Jang Yul approached him carefully. "But you are right. You are not a god. Not yet. You are becoming one. The process has started.""Can it be stopped?""Why would you want to stop it? This is what we need. A being powerful enough to cleanse the Dream Realm.""Because I do not want to stop being human. I do not want to lose myself."Choi Iseul ran to him. She grabbed his glowing hands without fear. "You will not lose yourself. I will not let you."The white glow faded at her touch. Baekho's hands returned to normal. Well, normal for him. Still marked with permanent black tattoos."See?" Choi Iseul smiled. "You are still you."But Baekho was not so sure.They tended to the i

Baekho did not confront the traitor immediately. He needed time to think. To plan. To understand the full scope of the betrayal.When they arrived in Seoul, the city was in chaos. Gates had opened everywhere. The sky was full of cracks. Purple light leaked through like bleeding wounds.Nightmare creatures roamed the streets. Not many yet, but enough to cause panic. The Hunter Association was overwhelmed. The military was mobilized.The Harmony Initiative headquarters was a war room. Members rushed around, coordinating responses, evacuating civilians, fighting monsters.Park Hwan greeted them at the entrance. "Baekho! You are back! We need you desperately!""I can see that. What is the situation?""Seventeen Gates opened in Seoul alone today. We have cleared twelve. Five are still active. And more keep appearing." Park Hwan looked exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes. "We are losing ground.""Where is Choi Minho?""Command center. Top floor."Baekho headed up. His team followed. The