Abyssal Monarch: Rebirth of the Forsaken

Jin-Su stood frozen in the academy courtyard, staring at the world around him. This can't be real... it can't be... He felt a strange numbness as if he were still trapped in some dream or nightmare. The bustling life of students moving past him, shouting, and laughing felt distant. Everything was too ordinary, too vivid. After everything he had seen—the horrors of the Abyss, the final moments of his team—it felt impossible that he could be here.

How am I here? This is... this is impossible.

He blinked, his body refusing to move. His mind reeled. Some students passing by threw confused looks his way, eyeing him as if he were malfunctioning. Others simply ignored him as they walked past, carrying large crates filled with items that seemed to fuse magic and technology—crystalline orbs buzzing with energy, metal limbs reinforced with glowing runes. The future he remembered was filled with war-torn ruins, people with mechanical augments that were designed purely for survival. But here? It was all pristine, functional. Even the technology in their hands felt like toys.

Suddenly, Jin-Su was jolted out of his trance as a student, struggling with a massive crate of equipment, accidentally bumped into him. "Watch it!" the student grumbled, continuing forward. The jolt of pain in his shoulder grounded him for a moment, bringing him back into the present.

It's real... This is real. The slight sting in his shoulder reminded him that he wasn't in some twisted dream.

He quickly fumbled for his phone. It felt archaic in his hand, an outdated relic compared to the seamless neural implants he had used in the future. Back then, communication had been a mental command, directly linked to his thoughts. But now, he had to physically dial. The sensation was unsettling, almost alien.

With shaky fingers, he dialed home.

The ringing lasted just a moment before his father picked up.

"Hey, son! How's the academy treating you so far?" his father's voice came through, cheerful, bright. Familiar.

Jin-Su felt a lump rise in his throat. Dad… you're alive...

He struggled to form words. "H-Hey... I... I missed you."

A brief silence on the other end. Then, a soft chuckle. "Missed me? We just talked yesterday, son. What's gotten into you?"

Jin-Su faltered. Right. Yesterday. But in his mind, it had been years. Years of grief and war. He cleared his throat, trying to sound normal. "Yeah, I guess I'm just... excited to be here. The academy's... big."

His mother's voice joined the conversation. "Are you sure you're alright, sweetie? You sound... different."

Jin-Su clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. How can I tell them? How can I explain that I've lived an entire lifetime without them? That in the war, I had lost both of you?

"Jin-Su! Look what I drew today!" his sister's voice suddenly chimed in, filled with innocence. His heart clenched. She was only eight here. In his future, she had grown into a warrior, fierce and powerful. They had been separated by the war, fighting on different fronts. The pain of that memory stung deeply—how he had never gotten to see her again.

"I drew a picture of all of us!" she added enthusiastically. His father laughed softly in the background.

"She's really proud of it, son. It's the whole family." His mother described the drawing in detail, filling Jin-Su's heart with warmth and sorrow all at once.

He swallowed hard. "That sounds... amazing." Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision. He could barely keep his voice steady as he continued the call, his words faltering, fumbling over emotions he couldn't share.

When the call ended, Jin-Su stood there, tears slipping silently down his face. You're alive... all of you.

But the memories of the future weighed heavily. His father had died defending his mother and sister in that war, back when Jin-Su had been at school. His mother had fallen into a coma, and his sister—his sweet little sister, Ji-Eun—had grown into a fighter, a symbol of hope. They had never been the same after the war. He remembered piecing together fragmented reports, hearing whispers of her heroics from the other side of the conflict. But they had never truly reconnected. Communication had been impossible between the divided lands.

"Jin-Su!" his father's voice echoed in his mind. You excited for the coronation tomorrow? The coronation.

He blinked, coming back to the present. The coronation... right. Tomorrow...

The academy was gearing up for the event, a grand spectacle where new students would be welcomed. Everyone was buzzing with anticipation, and he was expected to be there. But his mind was too distracted by the past. How can I focus on that when I've seen the world torn apart by war?

As Jin-Su wandered through the academy grounds, his mind reeled. Students were bustling everywhere, some in elaborate uniforms adorned with insignias that signaled their status. He noticed it right away—the disparity in rank. There were students like him, newcomers, wearing simpler uniforms, while others, the top brass, had more ornate outfits, their jackets lined with gold trim, and badges that gleamed with power. There was a clear hierarchy here.

He barely avoided a group of students passing by, one of them brushing against his arm. A flash of recognition hit him as he glanced at a figure walking by, but before he could register it, they were gone. He blinked. Was that...? No.

He continued walking until he stumbled upon a crowd. There, in the middle of a small gathering, he saw the scene unfold. A tall, broad-shouldered student—Kang-Woo—was pushing around a smaller, weaker student, the latter cowering in fear.

Kang-Woo, with his muscular frame and scarred face, loomed over the student, a predatory grin on his lips. His hair was disheveled, bronze, and his eyes held a wild, untamed glint. He was the textbook definition of a school bully, enjoying every moment of his dominance. But Jin-Su knew better.

This is him. The Paladin of the future. The hero blessed by the Goddess of Perseverance. But right now... he's a monster.

The crowd watched in uneasy silence as Kang-Woo shoved the weaker student again. Jin-Su had seen enough.

"Stop," Jin-Su's voice cut through the tension like a blade. He stepped forward, his eyes locked on Kang-Woo.

The bully turned, his eyes narrowing. "Who the hell are you?"

Jin-Su ignored the question, his gaze fixed on the trembling student behind Kang-Woo. "Leave him alone."

Kang-Woo sneered. "You must be new here. Let me give you some advice—don't get involved in things that don't concern you."

But Jin-Su didn't flinch. Instead, he stepped forward, the crowd parting slightly as they sensed the rising tension. I've fought demons. You're nothing.

"You think you can stop me?" Kang-Woo growled, stepping closer, his muscles flexing. He towered over Jin-Su, but the smaller boy didn't waver.

"I don't think," Jin-Su replied coldly. "I know."

The fight erupted quickly, with Kang-Woo swinging first. His movements were fast, but Jin-Su saw them coming from a mile away. He dodged effortlessly, his body moving with a grace and precision honed from countless battles.

Kang-Woo growled in frustration, launching another barrage of punches, but Jin-Su evaded them all, testing him, studying his movements. You're strong, but you lack control. Just like before.

The more Kang-Woo fought, the angrier he became. His fists slammed into the ground, leaving cracks in the stone as his power surged, each strike more wild and destructive than the last.

"You think you're so much better, huh?!" Kang-Woo's voice was filled with rage as he pulled out a pair of gauntlets from his bag. They hummed with energy, sparking with electricity and shimmering with a faint golden light—divine energy.

Jin-Su's eyes narrowed. The gauntlets... of course. The tools of a future Paladin.

The crowd gasped as Kang-Woo's power visibly increased, his movements becoming more erratic, more destructive. He lunged at Jin-Su with incredible speed, his fists now leaving sparks in their wake. But Jin-Su remained calm, dodging and deflecting with minimal effort. This wasn't a fight for him—it was an assessment.

He could see it now. The power from the Goddess. It's starting to awaken, but he's not ready for it. Jin-Su dodged another punch, narrowly avoiding the electrical sparks that shot out from the gauntlets.

Kang-Woo was losing control, his face twisted in anger as his attacks became more desperate. The crowd began to murmur

as the fight grew more intense. The air buzzed with electricity, both literal and metaphorical, as the crowd watched in awe and concern. Some of the more senior students exchanged uneasy glances, but no one stepped in to stop the fight yet.

Kang-Woo's attacks were relentless, his gauntlets sparking with energy that seemed almost divine. He was fast, brutal, and powerful—but sloppy. Every punch was a wide swing, every move a show of raw force with little strategy behind it. He's like an animal, running purely on rage. Jin-Su easily sidestepped another wild punch, his movements fluid and calculated. He wasn't just fighting Kang-Woo; he was analyzing him.

In the future, you'll become a beacon of hope. A Paladin, standing at the forefront of humanity's defense. But right now? You're just a blunt weapon, swinging wildly. You lack control, discipline. That's what I'm here for.

Kang-Woo's face twisted in frustration as his fists slammed into the ground again, sending cracks spiderwebbing through the stone. The gauntlets glowed brighter, and with a roar, he leaped forward, faster than before, almost too fast for the eye to follow. Jin-Su saw it coming. He's powering up, just like before. The longer this fight drags on, the stronger he gets.

But even as Kang-Woo's strength increased, Jin-Su remained in complete control. He dodged every strike, parried every punch, his body moving with the kind of ease that spoke of someone who had faced far greater threats than an enraged school bully.

The crowd began to grow anxious as Kang-Woo's power surged. The golden shimmer of the gauntlets' divine energy started to intensify, the sparks of electricity growing more frequent, more violent. Kang-Woo's movements became even more erratic, his rage fueling every action. He was no longer fighting with any real thought—he was just trying to crush Jin-Su.

And Jin-Su? He wasn't even breaking a sweat.

The future Paladin swung again, this time with a ferocity that made the crowd gasp, but Jin-Su was already moving before the punch even landed, slipping under Kang-Woo's arm and delivering a quick, sharp jab to his ribs. It wasn't enough to hurt him badly, but it was enough to show that Jin-Su was in charge. You're strong, but not strong enough.

Kang-Woo snarled, his frustration boiling over. "You think you can make a fool out of me?!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with rage. He raised his gauntlets, the divine energy crackling around them, and charged at Jin-Su with everything he had.

Jin-Su stood his ground, waiting for the perfect moment to counter.

But just as Kang-Woo's fist was about to connect, a figure suddenly appeared between them, stopping the fight cold. The tension in the air shifted immediately.

It was her.

A tall, slender woman stepped in, her long, dark hair flowing behind her as she moved with effortless grace. She was stunning—almost unnaturally so. Her sharp, elegant features seemed to catch the light in a way that made her look both dangerous and alluring. She was dressed in a sleek, form-fitting suit that hinted at power and authority, yet there was something disarming about her. Her eyes sparkled with a playful glint, and her full lips curved into a knowing smile as she glanced between Jin-Su and Kang-Woo.

The crowd fell silent, all eyes on her.

"Now, now," she said, her voice a smooth, sultry purr. "We can't have you two tearing the academy apart on your first day, can we?" Her tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an undeniable authority in it. She looked at Kang-Woo with a raised eyebrow. "Especially you, Kang-Woo. Losing control like that... tsk, tsk. What would the faculty say?"

Kang-Woo froze, his eyes wide. For a moment, the rage flickered away, and now he looked exhausted and almost falling to his knees, replaced by a look of pure fear. "P-Professor... I..."

She held up a hand, silencing him with a simple gesture. Then she turned her attention to Jin-Su. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than it should have, as if she were sizing him up. Jin-Su felt a strange unease crawl up his spine. She's more than she seems... dangerous.

Then, to Jin-Su's surprise, she winked at him—a slow, deliberate, and almost seductive gesture. "I see you've made quite the impression already," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "I'll be keeping an eye on you... Jin-Su."

Jin-Su didn't respond, his eyes narrowing slightly. She knows my name... There was something about her that set him on edge, something dangerous lurking beneath the surface of her charm. And the fact that she noticed him—that she seemed to be testing him in some way—made him uneasy.

She then turned her back to the two boys, her long legs carrying her effortlessly through the crowd as she began to leave. But just before she vanished from sight, Jin-Su heard her voice in his mind, soft and teasing.

"You can stop testing him now, Jin-Su. You've seen enough. Let him grow. After all, he's still a seed waiting to bloom, isn't he?"

Jin-Su's eyes widened. Telepathy... He hadn't sensed it before, but now he felt it—her immense power, hidden beneath that seductive exterior. She was far more than a simple teacher. Who is she? Why has he never heard of her?

As the crowd began to disperse, Kang-Woo stood there, falling to his knees, his anger subsiding completely as he looked at Jin-Su with a mix of frustration and confusion. He had been completely outclassed, and he knew it.

But Jin-Su's expression remained calm. I've seen your future, Kang-Woo. You'll become a symbol of hope, but you're not there yet. You're far from it.

Without a word, Jin-Su turned and walked away, leaving Kang-Woo to stew in his own thoughts. The fight was over, but in Jin-Su's mind, the real battle had just begun.