"Where am I…? Where am I?!"
Tiger's voice echoed in darkness.
The echo didn't return immediately. It came back delayed… like something in the dark was listening first.
He was breathing heavily. Everything around him was black. Not normal darkness — it felt deep, endless.
It didn't feel empty. It felt occupied. Like something was standing just outside his vision.
He couldn't see clearly.
Then suddenly—
A blurry image appeared.
The figure raised its hand.
A familiar ring flashed in the light.
Then blood hit the floor.
A shadowed figure was killing someone.
The victim tried to say something. A single word. But the sound broke apart before it reached Tiger.
Tiger tried to focus, but the scene was distorted. His vision shook. The image shifted.
Now he saw something bigger.
A massive creature.
It struck someone down.
Blood.
The blood didn't fall normally. It spread unnaturally… like it was being pulled somewhere.
Then—
Tiger woke up instantly.
He sat up, breathing fast. His chest rose and fell sharply.
He walked toward his door and opened it. The entire floor of the building where he lived had glass walls, so even from inside his room he could see outside.
Morning had already arrived.
Staff members were working downstairs. One of them noticed Tiger standing still and came up carrying a tray.
"Sir, is everything okay? You don't look well. Are you in a hurry?"
Tiger hesitated. "No… I'm fine. Thank you for asking."
"If you need anything, please let me know."
Tiger nodded. The staff member left.
Tiger picked up a glass of water and began drinking slowly while staring at the sunlight reflecting through the window.
"What was that dream…?"
He kept thinking.
"Was that… someone I knew?"
He finished the water but didn't realize he was still holding the empty glass.
"…Could that be my fath—"
His chest tightened before he could finish the word.
The glass slipped from his hand.
Before it hit the ground, Tiger caught it with his foot and quickly grabbed it again. He placed it back on the table.
"No. That's stupid. Why am I thinking like this?"
But the thought had already planted itself. And it refused to leave.
But his thoughts didn't stop.
"Ever since those monsters… those past dreams… it feels real."
He clenched his fist.
I think that creature killed my father before I even started school…?"
Tiger sighed deeply.
"But who was that creature…?"
He paused.
"…It was that Tigor."
The same presence from before. The one that felt familiar… and wrong at the same time.
Suddenly he looked at the time.
"Damn. I'm going to be late."
He quickly packed his things and rushed out.
As he stepped outside his room, he froze.
The broken glass from his fight with Leon…
It was repaired.
Not even a scratch remained. As if the damage had never existed.
Completely normal.
Tiger stared at it for a moment.
"…What?"
For a second, he questioned his own memory. Did that fight even happen the way he remembered?
But he didn't have time. He left for school.
He barely avoided being late.
When Tiger reached the training class, everyone was already practicing.
His trainer noticed him immediately.
"Tiger. Are you okay?"
"Yes, sir. I'm fine."
"If you're fine… then shall we begin training?"
"Yes, sir."
The trainer crossed his arms.
"Today, you won't fight anyone."
Tiger felt slight relief.
But then—
"You'll fight me."
Tiger blinked. "What? Who decided that?"
"I did."
The trainer turned his back slightly.
"Battle start."
Suddenly, he attacked.
The floor cracked slightly under the trainer's step.
The air pressure changed.
Tiger dodged instantly.
"Oh?" The trainer smirked. "You dodged. That wasn't even 1% of my power."
Tiger stayed silent.
He's right. That wasn't even 1%.
The air around him felt heavier when he said that. Not because of force… but because of confidence.
My Swiga is telling me… if he uses 30% of his power then, he could destroy this entire school.
And yet… why does he feel restrained? Like he's holding back more than just strength?
The trainer rushed again.
This time he pretended to punch.
"Ah—!" Tiger reacted instinctively.
But instead of hitting him, the trainer grabbed Tiger's hand firmly.
The grip was strong. Breaking free felt impossible.
Yet Tiger didn't panic.
In one swift movement, he stepped onto his trainer's shoulder and twisted his arm, freeing himself.
"Interesting," the trainer said quietly.
His eyes didn't show amusement. They showed calculation.
Tiger landed back on the ground.
"Stop."
The trainer raised his hand.
"You did well. Or maybe… more than well."
The class went silent.
"For today, that's enough. One day, when you graduate… or when you decide to leave this school… our final fight will happen."
He turned away, but inside his thoughts were different.
I couldn't measure his power at all.
Since the day he enrolled… no one has been able to defeat him.
And that might not be the most dangerous part.
And maybe… no one ever will.
Out loud, he said, "You may leave, Tiger."
"Yes, sir."
That night, Tiger returned home.
He lay down quietly.
His eyes closed slowly.
And the darkness returned.
But this time… it didn't feel like a dream.