Breaking News:
"Legal son of Ryuu Kwan, Ki Myeong, has been reported missing. Rumors have speculated that this may be related to the incident at the HQ of Vanity. Kwan is yet to comment on this. What is your opinion?"
"According to certain sources, Agma had gotten into power, and the recent enhancements due to the green moon may have caused Agma to think that he was capable of taking on Kwan. Thankfully, Kwan has been able to stop him, however ever since he has been rather quiet."
"We have Kevin on the scene, let's see what he has to say-"
Ryuu Kwan turned off the tv. He sat alone in an awfully large room, completely exhausted. His eyes were bloodshot red and his entire body was sore.
"Myeong. I will find you, I promise it."
Ryuu Kwan stood up and teleported to the meeting room. Almost every seat was occupied, the unoccupied ones were still out searching. Hong Youngsoo, the co-leader of Vanity, sat on the other end of the table with his hands filled with papers.
"Hong Youngsoo, Please tell me someone has found something."
"Kwan... I'm afraid to say but we have searched the entire sector and no one has seen him. We used traces of his magic power, but there are no traces of it anywhere."
"God dammit!"
"Rest assured, we are trying our hardest."
"Pftt, gramps stop sweating about it." one of the newer members interrupted. He lowered his sunglasses and stared at Kwan overconfidently.
"The all-powerful Kwan finally got stuck at a dead end," he smirked.
"... This isn't a time for jokes." Hong Youngsoo said, slightly raising his voice but it meant nothing.
"Why? The all-powerful Kwan can't take criticism? After all, it is sort of his fault in the first place, if he had worked faster and been stronger, the kid wouldn't have-?"
Kwan's hand rose towards him and within the same second, he was out of the building.
Kwan sighed.
"I need some time by myself, continue searching."
Although Kwan waved it off, the member's comments stuck in his head and echoed constantly.
"All-powerful Kwan,"
"...If only he worked faster and been stronger."
*****
24 years ago:
As I sat down, memories flooded back to me. I remembered the conversation vividly - my stepmother and teacher were talking about me. The words still stung.
"He's failing in class and influencing others to do the same. It's no surprise he's at the bottom," my teacher had said.
"I wish I could get rid of him, but I'm stuck with him until he's 16," my stepmother replied. "He's going nowhere in life."
Their cruel words echoed in my mind, reminding me of the pain and humiliation I had endured as a child. I had never felt good enough, never felt like I belonged. Their disdain for me was palpable, and I felt like a burden.
But it wasn't just school where I faced hardship. My old man was no better. I can still picture him laughing as I struggled under the weight of a boulder on my back, tears streaming down my face. "Stop crying like a baby," he would say. "This will make you stronger."
His twisted methods of tough love left me feeling broken and defeated. But despite the pain, I learned that I was stronger than I ever thought possible. I learned to endure, to persevere, and to never give up. Even though my childhood was anything but happy, I wouldn't be the person I am today without those struggles, besides it can never get any worse, right?
***
Hmm, I don't remember this well. It's just me in a classroom looking out the window??
Unless...
This was the day my life truly started. When I saw 'it' for the first time. When I awakened my powers... I can kind of see it outside the window now! I remembered feeling both terrified and exhilarated at the same time. It was the day that changed everything for me.
I shook my head, trying to clear it the thoughts. It was time to focus on the present, on the things I can control, I don't have any time to waste. Myeong needs me."
[Spirit summon: Elite Hell Wyvern]
Ryu Kwan raised his hand towards the sky and a huge red circle with an inner circle inscribed with runes emerged far above him.
The dragon-like creature landed on the rooftop and Kwan jumped onto its back as they rode into the night, eventually landing in front of a rather old building.
"Kwan... In the end, you always come back to me. It's been a while, old friend."
***
Yakuza HQ:
"...It's been a while, old friend." Seo Sangwook spoke softly, but his eyes burned menacingly with lively energy. He wore a black fedora with an iconic white strip following the whole way through, and sat behind a wooden desk in an oversized warehouse.
Yakuza is an organisation formed by Seo Sangwook, built from the ground up, it remained the biggest loan shark in all of the kingdom. It rose up the mafia clan ranks and eventually allied with the government. In exchange for immunity, they helped the police and pledged to contribute all its members to the military force when needed. The Yakuza never harmed anyone that were not debted to them; eventually it became encouraged for people to join the Yakuza rather than any other mafia clan, causing it to blow up out of proportion. It brought opportunities for its members such as better training and access to dungeons and eventually people started becoming more interested in joining the upcoming Yakuza rather than any faction.
"Only fools put their whole trust in a criminal, although he is better than the others. I won't let my guard down!" Kwan thought to himself, he extended his right arm and his large stick extended like a baton.
"Calm down, I may have some information for you." Seo Sangwook smiled deviously.
"Great, I'll just kill you for the information." Kwan came closer and closer and lifted Seo Sangwook's head to make him meet his eyes.
"I don't think you understand the measures I'm willing to take right now," Kwan said, his voice cold and steely.
"I'm not concerned," he replied. "After all, you'd be breaking the alliance between us and the government."
Kwan sneered. "You think I care about some old geezers who think they're in control of me?"
His eyes burned with rage as he continued. "Let me tell you something about business: never mess with a man who has nothing to lose. Because he has everything to give."
Seo Sangwook cracked his knuckles.
"Very well, I tried my best."
Seo Sangwook threw a clean jab at Kwan, however Kwan instantly teleported away, but Sangwook's fist was caught by an unknown figure.
"WAIT!" Dae-Hyun exclaimed.
"???" Sangwook looked over to Kwan confusingly.
"As if I was going to go alone into a Lion's den."
Sangwook chuckled.
"Very well, I'll exchange information for information."
"Depends on what you need to know."
"Well, it's related. You see, I've heard rumours on the street about the location of your son. However, there's also something I want you to confirm after you find him..."
"Get to the point."
"A source has been buying a lot of cryvallium recently. I wanted to know if the 2 were related at all. I've been trying to get hold of some but all my sellers are all out of stock."
"Hmm, fine, what's the information you've heard?"
"Well, Myeong was last spotted in the East, apparently the 6th mafia clan kidnapped him."
Dae-Hyun who was silent the entire time, slowly turned towards Kwan.
"Are we done now?"
"Indeed, let's go."
"Wait. I didn't say you could leave..."
They both turned towards him.
Sangwook smiled.
"Just kidding."
They both stared at Sangwook expressionlessly before jumping back on the wyvern.
"By the way Kwan, you sensed my Talent but you didn't stop me?"
"What reason would I have to do so?"
"Nothing, for a second I thought I managed to outdo you with my Talent."
"Be careful Dae-Hyun, you know yourself that you can't stay invisible for long."
"It was worth it."
Kwan smiled.
"You idiot."
Dae-Hyun had the exceptional talent of becoming invisible on command. Talents are unique to a specific person and can shape a person's fighting style. Although Dae-Hyun could become a stealthy assassin due to his invisibility; he chose to be a fighter and use the invisibility to make his movement impossible to predict.
The rode into the sunset, Kwan's eyes were vicious, his killing intent could be seen from a mile away, he was prepared for war.