Jahanox groaned softly as he pushed himself up from the floor, dusting off his clothes. His face was its usual calm, blank state — like almost dying underground was just another Tuesday for him.
Jennie quickly scrambled up too, smoothing her skirt frantically, her heart still hammering.
She peeked at Jahanox from the corner of her eye — He's so cool... she thought miserably, feeling her cheeks heating up again. No, no! Play it cool, Jennie! Act normal!
But "normal" and "newly lovestruck" did not mix well.
Jahanox turned toward her, noticing how she was standing stiffly like a soldier, staring way too hard at the wall.
"…You okay?" he asked, raising a brow.
Jennie practically jumped. "W-WHO, ME? I'm perfectly normal!!" she squeaked, her voice shooting up an octave.
Jahanox blinked slowly at her.
Jennie, realizing she had just outed herself as suspicious, coughed loudly into her hand and tried to act casual.
Which somehow meant shoving both hands into her pockets and rocking back and forth on her heels like a five-year-old trying to look innocent.
"…You're acting weird," Jahanox said bluntly, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"N-NO I'M NOT!!" Jennie barked, way too defensively.
Silence.
Jahanox just stared at her, expression unreadable.
Jennie broke into a nervous laugh. "Hehehe… uhhh... maybe I hit my head when I fell! Y-Yeah! That's it! Little concussion, nothing major! Haha! Haha… ha…"
Jahanox continued staring.
Feeling the pressure mount, Jennie randomly picked up a small rock from the floor and waved it in his face.
"LOOK! A ROCK! Isn't it neat? Hahaha!"
"…Are you sure you didn't actually hurt yourself?" Jahanox asked, starting to frown in genuine concern now.
"Nope! All good! Totally fine! Just a little — uh — emotionally traumatized! But who isn't, am I right?!" she said, laughing again, this time sounding like she was about to start crying from embarrassment.
She realized she was still holding the rock up like a trophy and quickly threw it over her shoulder.
BANG.
Somewhere in the distance, something shattered.
Jahanox blinked again, slowly turning his head to the sound.
"…You definitely need rest," he said, a little more firmly.
"You're not acting normal at all."
Jennie immediately stood at attention.
"I'M NORMAL! Look, I can do jumping jacks!"
Before Jahanox could protest, she started doing frantic, chaotic jumping jacks — her arms flailing at different speeds from her legs — looking more like she was being electrocuted than exercising.
Jahanox just stared, his expression growing more and more confused.
"…You're hopeless," he said flatly after a moment.
Jennie collapsed to her knees dramatically, covering her burning face in her hands.
"I'll just die here. Leave me. It's fine," she whimpered.
Jahanox crouched next to her, his voice dropping softer for the first time.
"Jennie. Seriously. Are you hurt? Or… scared?"
Jennie peeked through her fingers at him — and her heart immediately betrayed her, thump thump thump.
He was way too close. She could see the faint scars on his knuckles, the steady calmness in his gold-colored eyes.
She quickly slammed her face into the floor with a muffled "NOPE! TOTALLY FINE! NOTHING WRONG HERE!"
Jahanox sat back a little, watching her.
"…Maybe I dropped her too hard," he muttered to himself seriously, rubbing his chin.
Jennie, still face-down on the ground, bit back a hysterical laugh.
'He's so dense…!' she thought, 'GOOD FOR MEEE'
She squeezed her eyes shut, vowing silently: 'I have to hide this. I have to! Or he'll think I'm crazy!!'
Meanwhile, Jahanox stood up again and offered her a hand.
"Come on. Let's go back. You're probably dizzy or something."
Jennie, cheeks blazing, took his hand like she was touching pure gold.
As he pulled her up effortlessly, she swore she heard her heart squeal like a fangirl.
God help me, she thought miserably.
They walked back through the shadow realm Jennie stumbling every few steps, still completely pink-faced, while Jahanox walked ahead in perfect, blissful ignorance.
---
Zazm walked down the bustling streets of Korea, the golden afternoon sun painting everything in a warm glow.
He had just turned the corner to the familiar school when his sharp eyes caught sight of two figures stepping out among a crowd of students —Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok.
Zazm relaxed his shoulders slightly, blending into the scenery like just another passerby.
Leaning casually against a wall, he watched quietly as the two laughed and talked with a few other students probably school friends, he guessed.
They looked so natural, so lighthearted, surrounded by simple, ordinary happiness.
A soft, almost invisible smile tugged at his lips different from his usual cocky or mischievous grin.
There was something… nostalgic swirling in his obsidian black eyes.
'I used to be like that too,' he thought to himself, memories creeping in.
Hanging out with friends all day… going to different places… staying out until the night set in…
He had been free, wild, careless — the kind of soul who would race bikes down streets and dive into rivers with nothing but laughter. But then everything changed.
When the powers came… When the Catalyst duty dragged him in deeper and deeper…
High school ended. And so did that golden, fleeting time.
Zazm looked down at his feet, a small heaviness pressing on his chest.
'I hope they don't think I hate them or anything,' he thought, remembering the friends he hadn't called in months.
'I'm just... busy. But it must seem like I abandoned them.'
He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, following quietly behind Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok as they wandered off, chatting animatedly with their group.
Still lost in thought, a few words escaped his mouth without thinking:
"Life's hard. I wish I could go back."
Zazm immediately froze, blinking in surprise. "Did I just say that out loud?"
A small chuckle escaped him, the sound light but almost… bitter. 'Man, look at me,' he thought, amused and a little sad. Getting sentimental.
He lifted his head, his silver earring catching the sunlight.
A more determined smile stretched across his face now — softer, but stronger.
He looked at Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok again, then beyond them — as if he could see all the Catalysts standing there too, every friend he had now, every friend he once laughed with.
It's fine, he thought. I'll protect them all. I'll protect this world, fix this stupid broken system… and then…
He rolled up his sleeve slightly, revealing the shiny dark mark burned into his forearm, a reminder of the burden he carried.
He clenched his fist.
Then, he promised himself, "I'm going back. Back to a simple life. Back to laughing with friends. Back to just being Zazm Mystic, not some superhero."
The determination in his eyes was unwavering now, burning like a small but fierce flame.
Ahead, Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok turned the corner, entering a bustling restaurant — the kind of place packed with smells, chatter, and laughter.
Zazm knew better than to follow them inside. It wasn't time yet. Instead, he leaned back against a streetlamp, pulling up his hood and blending in with the flow of people — patient, relaxed, but a glint of cunning still in his eyes.
Everything's in motion now, he thought, smirking.
The game had only just begun.
---
Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok stepped out of the warm, smoky restaurant into the bustling street.
Their friends followed behind, laughing and teasing them, nudging Myeong-hwa playfully.
"Hey, you two sure you're not dating?" one of them joked.
Myeong-hwa puffed her cheeks and smacked the boy's arm with a playful glare while Min-Seok just shook his head, muttering, "Idiots…" under his breath.
After a few more playful shoves and loud laughs, their friends waved goodbye and melted into the evening crowd, leaving Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok to walk alone through the busy streets.
The sun had dipped lower, throwing long shadows between the buildings.
But suddenly a commotion broke out up ahead.
A huge ruckus.
People shouting, cars honking, and a thick crowd clogging the middle of the street.
Myeong-hwa, ever the curious one, unwrapped a lollipop and stuck it into her mouth as she tried to peer over the crowd.
She tugged Min-Seok's sleeve. "Let's go through the alleys instead! It'll be faster!"
Min-Seok immediately shook his head.
"No way. It's dangerous. Thugs, creeps—"
But before he could finish, Myeong-hwa had already darted into a narrow side alley without a second thought, humming like she was strolling through a park.
Min-Seok groaned loudly, clicking his tongue in frustration.
"Seriously…" he muttered, running after her.
The alley was dark and narrow, the air damp and filled with the smell of old garbage.
Min-Seok kept looking around, half expecting someone to jump out any second.
He kept whispering, "Let's go back. Myeong-hwa, I swear, if we get mugged, I'm blaming you—"
But suddenly, Myeong-hwa froze mid-step.
Min-Seok's heart jumped. He rushed up to her side."What? What is it?" he asked urgently.
She pointed at something on the ground with a trembling finger.
It was…
A tiny, crumpled lollipop stick.
"The… the stick… I dropped it ten minutes ago…" she whispered, her voice quivering.
Min-Seok blinked, feeling a chill down his spine.
"What? No, that's—no way—you're hallucinating or something!" he said quickly, but even his own voice wavered with doubt.
Without another word, they started walking faster.
Then even faster.
The dark alley stretched endlessly, every corner looking identical, oppressive.
Finally, when they dared to glance around —
They froze.
They were standing exactly where they had started.
Same broken crate.
Same flickering light.
Same lollipop stick on the ground. Both of them started sweating bullets.
What the hell—?!" Min-Seok shouted, turning in circles, scanning the walls like a trapped animal.
"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?"
Myeong-hwa was too terrified to speak, clinging tightly to Min-Seok's sleeve.
Then a voice.
Casual, calm, distant. Floating through the alley like a ghost.
"Well, well, took you two long enough."
Both Min-Seok and Myeong-hwa spun around, their eyes wide with terror.
There, sitting leisurely on a broken bench with one arm thrown over the back, was a boy.
The faint streetlight caught on the silver earring in his ear — unmistakable.
It was him.
Zazm Mystic.
Min-Seok immediately shouted across the alley, his voice high with panic, "HEY! DID YOU DO THIS?!"
Zazm smiled, relaxed as ever, and nodded. With a voice as casual as if he was talking about the weather, he said,
"Yeah. I collapsed space in this alley. Both ends. No matter how far you run, you'll just circle back to where you started."
Myeong-hwa's hand tightened around Min-Seok's sleeve.
Min-Seok's fingers immediately gripped hers tightly in return, protectively, as a cold sweat slid down the back of his neck.
This wasn't just some weird guy. He was something else. Something dangerous.
Min-Seok found his voice, shaking with anger and fear as he shouted, "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THIS?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"
Zazm stood up from the broken bench leisurely, brushing some imaginary dust off his jacket.
Then, he started walking toward them.
Step by step.
Calm.
Patient.
Inevitable.
Every step he took, Min-Seok and Myeong-hwa instinctively took one step back.
Myeong-hwa's heart hammered in her chest, and she felt Min-Seok's grip tighten even more around her trembling hand.
Zazm stopped in his tracks when he noticed them inching backward, terror painted across their faces.
He slowly raised one hand, palm open in a calming gesture.
"Relax," he said, voice light and almost lazy. "I don't wanna hurt you. I just wanna talk. That's all."
Min-Seok, still shielding Myeong-hwa slightly behind him, clenched his teeth.
"LIKE HELL WE CAN TRUST YOU!" he shouted, voice shaking."You've already done...."
He looked around, eyes darting at the distorted alley they were trapped in. "...whatever THIS is!"
The walls looked endless. The air itself seemed thicker, dreamlike.
He turned to Myeong-hwa, about to say something — but she tugged his sleeve gently, her voice so small he almost didn't hear it.
"This is all just a dream, right?" she whispered, wide-eyed.
Min-Seok's heart twisted painfully.
He squeezed her hand tightly, keeping his glare locked on Zazm.
Then .....Zazm smiled. Not cruelly.
Not kindly either.
Just a simple, amused widening of his lips that sent a cold chill straight down Min-Seok's spine.
"If I wanted to kill you..." Zazm said casually, shrugging one shoulder, "...it would've taken me less than a minute. And honestly? Less effort than blinking."
Min-Seok instinctively pulled Myeong-hwa a step back.
But Zazm stayed where he was, keeping a careful distance, hands still lazily stuffed into his hoodie pockets.
He spoke again, his tone shifting to something almost businesslike:
"Look. I'll tell you something. All you gotta do... is answer."
Min-Seok narrowed his eyes."What kind of questions?"
Zazm raised one finger, like a teacher about to explain a simple math problem.
"First, what you're seeing right now? This isn't magic. Or witchcraft."
He smiled mischievously. "It's my abi—no. My superpower."
Min-Seok blinked, his mind racing.
"What... what the hell are you talking about?" he demanded.
Zazm simply shrugged again. "Exactly what you heard. I can control time and space however I want. That's how I made this place."
Myeong-hwa finally found her voice, even if it shook with fear.
"Superpowers... aren't real," she stammered.
"This isn't possible—"
Zazm casually snapped his fingers.
Instantly,Min-Seok and Myeong-hwa froze mid-breath. Frozen like statues.
Time itself gripping them.
Zazm walked around them leisurely, inspecting them like a painter admiring his work.
Then he snapped again — and suddenly they could move, gasping for breath like they'd been plunged into ice water.
Min-Seok immediately nodded rapidly, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"OKAY! OKAY! We'll do whatever you want!" he blurted.
Zazm chuckled under his breath. "Man, you make me sound like a thief or something."
He shook his head, sighing dramatically, before continuing:
"Anyways, listen up."
He pointed right at them, his silver earring flashing in the light.
"I have powers. And..." he dramatically swung his finger to point at them both, "so do you two. You just haven't awakened yet."
Min-Seok felt his knees almost give out. "What the hell do you mean?!"
Zazm grinned wider. "Exactly the hell you heard."
He gestured toward them grandly, trying to say their names but absolutely butchering them in the process.
"Min-Sock? Miyo-Hana?"
Both Min-Seok and Myeong-hwa stared blankly at him.
Zazm paused awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Uh... whatever. You get the point."
He shoved his hands back into his pockets again, eyes sharp now despite the smirk on his face.
"You two... you're special. And that's what concerns me."
Min-Seok took a slow step back, keeping Myeong-hwa slightly behind him.
"What do you mean… we're special?" he asked cautiously, eyes darting toward any possible exit.
Zazm casually shrugged.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Just like us...." he gestured vaguely to himself."you two have supernatural powers."
Myeong-hwa, still trembling slightly but finding her voice, asked in a shaky whisper, "'Us'? Wait, what do you mean us? Are there… more people with powers?"
Zazm's gaze sharpened for the first time since he started speaking. He looked her dead in the eyes, voice suddenly flat:
"I can't answer that, unless you answer my question first."
Min-Seok's eyes narrowed. "Fine. What question?"
Zazm held up two fingers, like a game show host announcing the final round.
"You get two choices."
"One: join me, help me save the multiverse."
"Two: reject the offer and walk away."
Both of them stared at him.
Myeong-hwa's voice cracked slightly as she gathered her courage:
"And… if we reject you… what's the guarantee you'll let us go?"
Zazm gave her a gentle smile and snap.
The air shifted. A subtle ripple passed through the alley like the world had exhaled.
Zazm pointed toward the mouth of the alley.
"Check for yourselves."
Hesitantly, still wary, Min-Seok and Myeong-hwa turned and peeked around the corner.
This time, the alley was normal. No looping. No space-bending madness.
Just a regular, trash-strewn path leading back to the street.
Before they could process it, Zazm had walked up right behind them.
"I'm sorry if I scared you earlier," he said, hands in pockets, posture relaxed.
"That wasn't the goal. I just wanted your honest answer."
He grinned again. "If you say no, that's cool. You walk away. Pretend this never happened. No strings."
Min-Seok wasn't buying it.
He raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say earlier that just knowing about powers could get us in danger? And now you're okay with two random people just walking off with that knowledge?"
Zazm let out a short laugh."Good point."
Then he leaned closer, grinning slyly.
"But imagine you did tell someone. Your parents. Friends. The internet. What do you think they'd say?"
Myeong-hwa blinked. Her voice was quiet, but she understood. "They'd think we were crazy."
Snap. Zazm pointed at her like a magician finishing a trick. "Exactly."
He stepped back again, still giving them space, letting the decision hang in the air.
Myeong-hwa looked down for a second, then raised her hand nervously. "…Would we also get, like… cool powers?"
Zazm gave a confident nod.
She looked to Min-Seok, then back at Zazm with a new, curious glimmer in her eyes.
"Then what reason do we have to say no? I mean, sure, it's freaky, but…"
She grinned faintly. "…I don't mind a little adventure."
Min-Seok spun toward her, face tightening.
"Have you lost your mind?! We're not doing it----!"
Zazm cut him off with a raised hand, his tone suddenly serious for the first time.
"If you choose this path... your life can never go back to normal."
He looked straight at them, no grin now.
"No more pretending to be ordinary. No more simple walks home or lazy days. Every Catalyst faces danger, responsibility, and loss."
He gave them a moment. "...But they also get purpose. And power. And a shot at protecting everything they love."
He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms.
"So. What's it gonna be?"
Min-Seok didn't hesitate. "No. We want no part in this." His voice was sharp, protective, final.
But before he could continue his lecture, Myeong-hwa jumped in, eyes sparkling.
"I do!" she blurted. "I mean—come on! Supernatural powers? That actually sounds kinda fun!"
Zazm's smirk twitched upward at her enthusiasm.
"Sure, it can be fun…" But his voice trailed off.
For just a brief moment, his eyes darkened. His grin faded into something hollow. A shadow of grief, maybe even guilt, passed over his face as he glanced down.
"…at first," he muttered.
Both Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok caught the sudden shift.
The air felt heavier. Even the alley seemed to fall silent.
Before either could speak, Zazm clapped his hands together, snapping right back to his casual self like flicking a switch.
"So!" he chirped, a grin back on his face. "What'll it be, kids? A normal boring life? Or a fun, absolutely dangerous one?"
Myeong-hwa stepped forward without hesitation. "I want it. Supernatural powers. Adventure. I'm in!"
Zazm gave her a two-finger salute with a knowing smirk.
Then he turned to Min-Seok, raising an eyebrow. "And you, Mr. Grumpy Guardian? What's your answer?"
Min-Seok folded his arms, clearly annoyed."You already know it."
Zazm grinned wider. "Just wanted to hear you say it." He spun dramatically on his heel, excitement visibly rising.
"Alright, one yes, one no....classic start! Let's see how long that lasts."
He cracked his knuckles, his eyes sparkling like someone about to take two kids on a rollercoaster and deliberately not explain the safety rules.
"Get ready, you two. Your world's about to change."
As soon as Zazm finished his sentence, the space in front of them began to shimmer, like reality itself was tearing at the seams. A soft hum filled the air as glowing golden threads of energy spun outward in an intricate spiral. The ground vibrated gently beneath their feet.
Then fwshhhh a portal tore open.
It wasn't just a circle of light. It pulsed with shifting shadows, layers of moving space folded into themselves. A glimpse inside revealed a swirling void, vast and unknowable, and yet somehow... welcoming.
Myeong-hwa's jaw dropped.
"No freaking way…" she whispered, eyes wide. "Is that... an actual portal?!"
Min-Seok blinked slowly. "What the hell am I looking at?"
Zazm smirked, clearly enjoying their shock. "You're looking at the entrance to what I like to call the Shadow Dimension. Trademark pending."
You made that name up just now," Min-Seok muttered, still trying to process.
"Doesn't make it less cool," Myeong-hwa shot back, already inching closer to the portal.
Zazm walked through the golden edge like he was stepping through a curtain, turning around mid-step with a grin. "Well, come on in. Let's give the newcomers a tour."
Min-Seok hesitated. "Wait, what happens if we get stuck in there?"
"Then I'll laugh and leave you there forever," Zazm replied nonchalantly.
Both of them stared. "…I'm kidding. Probably."
Myeong-hwa didn't wait, she grabbed Min-Seok's wrist and pulled him forward.
"I want to see what's inside!" she beamed.
With a sigh and his usual click of the tongue, Min-Seok followed reluctantly.
The moment they stepped in, the world shifted.
It was as if they had walked into the underside of reality. The sky above them was a deep indigo, with drifting stars and wisps of shadow-like clouds that pulsed and danced. The land was vast and surreal—mountain peaks floating in the distance, glowing flora scattered like bioluminescent paint on a black canvas.
And at the center of it all stood a towering obsidian castle, sharp and jagged like it had grown out of the very void. Enchanted lanterns floated along its walls. The air here felt thick with power, but oddly calm.
Myeong-hwa's mouth hung open. "This place is like like a dream... or a video game level."
Zazm turned back toward them, arms spread. "Welcome to our base of operations. Cool, right?"
Min-Seok was still staring at the castle. "…I feel like this place is going to kill me."
"Only if you provoke it," Zazm said cheerfully.
They followed him toward the castle, eyes darting in every direction.
"What even is this place?" Myeong-hwa asked, spinning in a slow circle. "It's dark, but it's not creepy. Just... intense."
Zazm nodded. "This place is disconnected from the real world. It's like a different space and this was made by another catalyst."
Min-Seok muttered, "Of course someone made a freaking castle. Why wouldn't they?"
As they reached the front gate, Zazm turned around.
"This castle isn't just for show," he said.
"Inside, you'll find rooms for every Catalyst. It adapts to your energy and builds itself around it. Yours are still dormant, so it'll take some time to react."
"Wait… every Catalyst?" Myeong-hwa asked. "So there are more like us?"
Zazm's expression softened just slightly.
"Yeah. You're not alone."
He walked ahead, motioning for them to follow inside.
"There are others with powers, just like you. Each one different. Each one struggling. We're all a small little family which you're now a part of too."
"Who are they?" Min-Seok asked.
Zazm smirked. "You'll meet themSome are chaotic, some kind, some annoying.....very annoying, but they all matter. And now, so do you."
Myeong-hwa practically bounced with excitement. "So I'll get powers too?! Like actual powers?"
The castle's corridors stretched endlessly, lined with glowing etchings that pulsed faintly with violet-blue light. The air was cool, filled with a quiet hum—as if the structure itself was alive and listening.
As they walked, Zazm casually placed his hands behind his head and said, "Before we hit the main hall, it'd be smart to figure out your powers first."
Myeong-hwa practically bounced. "Wait, already?! How?! Is there like, a superpower test? Or like a special training room?!"
Min-Seok frowned, though even he couldn't hide the curiosity in his eyes. "How are we even supposed to know what our powers are?"
Zazm smirked, that same mischievous glint flickering in his eyes.
"Well," he began, "all living things emit threads. Like... spiritual strands of their existence. Normal humans give off very faint, static threads. But Catalysts? They're different. Their threads twist, shift, pulse with potential. That's how I found you two."
He turned to glance at them as they walked, then added, "And if I examine those threads, I can find the irregularity. That little flicker in your soul that hints at what your ability is. Once I find it, I'll just give it a small push—and boom. Your powers awaken."
Myeong-hwa blinked slowly. "Okay… that sounded super cool. But also confusing."
Min-Seok gave her a side glance. "I didn't understand any of that."
Zazm chuckled. "Don't worry about the details. That's my job."
He stopped in one of the wide corridors, just beneath a glowing arch with floating crystals suspended around it like a crown. The space darkened slightly, quieting everything else.
"Alright," he said, turning toward them, "stand still. This'll only take a moment."
He took a step closer, and his gaze shifted.
His irises shimmered, glowing softly at first, then bursting with complex golden spirals and marks—like ancient symbols spinning slowly across his eyes. The Nexus's Gaze had activated.
Instantly, both Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok flinched. Instinctively, they took a step back as the pressure in the air shifted.
"Whoa—wait, what's happening to your eyes?!" Myeong-hwa gasped, shielding her face slightly.
"Is this safe?" Min-Seok said, narrowing his eyes, his hand subtly moving in front of Myeong-hwa.
Zazm raised his hands slowly. "Relax. It's just something I made. A technique to see threads more clearly. Before this, it used to take me hours. Now I just look."He stepped even closer, now face-to-face with Min-Seok. The glowing spirals in his eyes reflected on Min-Seok's face.
"…What do you see?" Min-Seok asked cautiously.
Zazm didn't respond at first. His expression turned serious, almost meditative. He wasn't just looking—he was navigating something deeper, reading the very essence of their existence.
Zazm's eyes quickly turned normal as his smirk widened, his eyes filled with intrigue as a subtle word escaped his lips that felt like he himself wasn't aware he said it.
"Interesting!"
____________________________