The last couple of minutes had been an emotional rollercoaster for Sana. First it was a blind date with an arrogant and insensitive man, and then a near-death experience.
Just when she thought she was going to be buried in the rubble, her biggest regret in life flashed before her eyes. The decision she made at 17 reminded her of what she lost every time she met one of the suitors her family arranged for her.
And now… out of all people, the one who pulled her from death's grip was the very man she once abandoned.
"Jay… is that you?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she recognized his back even after six long years.
But his answer cut colder than the dust-laden air.
"I've never met her before."
The words slammed into her chest harder than the debris could. She froze, then gave a hollow laugh at her own foolish hope. How could she expect warmth after what she had done?
His cold and distant voice made her realize he wanted nothing to do with her, a stark contrast to the caring person she once knew.
She wanted to tell him everything; the sleepless nights, the guilt that had eaten away at her for years. But she knew the words would only make her seem like a desperate woman who had abandoned him at his lowest point and returned now that he had risen higher than she ever imagined.
So she swallowed her voice. Even as her heart ached, a strange relief washed over her, and though he had erased her from his world, she was still glad to have seen him again.
As Sana wrestled with her tangled emotions, her gaze caught Jay raising his free hand toward a blocked exit. The heaps of rubble sealing it suddenly lifted, fragments of stone splitting cleanly in midair before sliding neatly to the sides.
Gasps rippled through the survivors. To their eyes, it was nothing short of a miracle. Their view of the world shifted as they witnessed supernatural abilities with their own eyes.
For many, what they once thought impossible had unfolded before them. Yet compared to carrying all that weight, this didn't seem all that magical.
"You all can go out now," Jay's voice rang out in a calm but commanding tone. "Don't rush. Move in three lines."
Slowly, the trapped crowd began to move through the cleared passage. Some walked in stunned disbelief, as if they were still waiting to wake from a nightmare.
Others, sensible ones, pressed their palms together or bowed slightly to thank Jay and Dante as they passed. The children, however, couldn't hide their excitement, their faces glowing with admiration.
One boy, no older than twelve, tugged on Dante's armored wrist. "Armor Uncle, you should train harder! Look at Suit Uncle, he's holding the whole mall by himself!"
Dante's mouth twitched. 'Damn brat… if only you knew how terrifyingly strong that man really is.'
The boy then turned to Jay, tilting his head with innocent curiosity. "Thank you for saving us, Suit Uncle. Can you teach me how to be strong like you?"
Jay's lips curved faintly, not at the question itself but at how easily the child had gotten under Dante's skin. He tapped the boy lightly on the forehead. "We'll talk when you turn eighteen. You'll know how to find me then."
The boy blinked as a subtle warmth spread through his mind, though he couldn't explain what had changed. Before he could ask more, his father hurriedly pulled him back, bowing gratefully to Jay before joining the stream of evacuees.
Jay exhaled softly, shaking his head with amusement. His attention drifted briefly to a cluster of teenagers in the corner, their phones raised slyly.
They thought they were capturing history. At least they thought they did. One by one, every photo and video vanished, deleted by MJ the instant they were recorded.
Jay wasn't worried about anyone exposing what happened. Once they left the mall, all they would remember was barely making it out alive. Nothing more.
The only ones whose memories he left untouched were his Ex and that Boy.
It had been pure coincidence that he crossed paths with her today, but Jay had no intention of letting her walk away thinking the past was forgiven. Perhaps it was petty. But some wounds, no matter how deep time buried them, never healed.
The boy, on the other hand, received something else entirely. Jay slipped a gift into the boy's mind: fragments of his own training, not full memories but instincts shaped like intuition.
They would guide him in balance, movement, and discipline, letting him grow with a natural feel for martial arts. It was the kind of gift that would quietly take root and only reveal its true worth years later, when it had become his foundation.
But Jay also made sure of one thing: neither Sana nor the boy could ever speak of what happened. He placed subtle locks on their minds, ensuring they would never be able to reveal what they had seen. Even if they tried, their voices would fail, their tongues freezing mid-sentence.
Sana walked out of the exit, hesitating only once to glance back at Jay. The sight of him, alone under a crumbling structure, filled her with emotions she couldn't name. Then she stepped outside, only to be greeted by the very man she had come with.
"Sana! Thank god you're safe. I searched everywhere! If the pillars hadn't held up part of the ceiling, I would've…"
Her eyes narrowed in disgust. He had run when the ceiling fell, and now he was spinning a story, pretending he hadn't abandoned her. She didn't bother responding, and simply brushed past him with cold detachment.
But as she moved through the crowd, she grew confused when she heard people recounting their experiences inside.
"We were so fortunate the roof didn't crush us all."
"Thank heavens the exit wasn't blocked."
"Unbelievable that we made it out alive."
Not a single voice mentioned Jay, Dante, or the miracles they had performed. Every word was twisted into luck, chance, or simple coincidence.
Sana's pulse quickened. She approached a couple and tried to ask about the man who saved them—but her throat closed up. The words wouldn't come. She stood frozen, dumbfounded, until she tried to speak about something else. The words flowed normally.
Panic flared, yet when she tried to speak of something else, her voice came back perfectly.
Her eyes widened. 'What's happening to me?'
She staggered, dumbfounded, then turned back toward the half-collapsed mall.
'Was this your doing, Jay?' she thought, an ache rising in her chest. 'Compared to holding up a mall… this doesn't seem impossible.'
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Author Note:
The first chapter of my Manhwa adaptation for EARTH's ALPHA PRIME is now publicly released on WEBTOON!! You can simply search the book title and find it.
It would mean a lot if you could subscribe, leave a like, and maybe drop a comment with your thoughts in Webtoon. Every bit of support helps increase its reach!
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Due to ongoing piracy concerns, the final 22 chapters of Volume 3 (Ch.351 to 372) are not posted publicly. They are exclusively available through:
📘 Amazon Kindle – Volume 3 eBook & PATRE0N
👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRQNP1ZS
📅 Chapter Release Schedule
A total of 4 chapters every week, with 2 chapters / week for each book:
Earth's Alpha Prime – Volume 4
🗓️ Wednesday & Saturday
ALTER REALITY: Online – 1st Side Story of EARTH's ALPHA PRIME
🗓️ Monday & Friday
📖 Go check this new book out if you haven't already!
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Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
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Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :
https://discord.gg/EmqX6fh9cV
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