"Dubh's childhood was filled with hardship and sorrow… He grew up in a poor, marginalized neighborhood, in a family with humble means, barely scraping by to survive."
Inside an old, crumbling house, its walls cracked and leaking from above, with all the pots and pans rusted, an eleven-year-old Dubh watches as a grown man walks out the door. The boy is crying, his mother arguing with the man.
"You're leaving now?! We don't even have money for food! Are you really going to abandon your son in these conditions?" Dubh's mother shouts.
"Don't misunderstand me, dear, I'm not abandoning you," the man (who we now know is Dubh's father) says, slinging a backpack over his shoulder and adjusting his hat. "When I become the Chosen One, I'll get us out of this situation…"
The woman slaps her husband across the face.
"How can you even think about becoming the Chosen One when you see how we're living?!" she yells, more furious than sad. "We have nothing; the house is falling apart, and Dubh is about to be kicked out of school. Give up on those stupid dreams and face reality!"
"Dear, I will become the Chosen One! We'll rise out of poverty; you just have to believe," the man insists.
Dubh's mother shakes her head, unable to believe the audacity of the man she married. She begins to cry, her gaze falling to the floor, her expression one of helplessness. She has given up.
But Dubh approaches his father, hugging his leg.
"Daddy, are you leaving us…? I'm so hungry," Dubh stammers, tears streaming down his face.
"No, son…"
The man kneels, placing his hand on his son's head, trying to reassure him with a radiant smile.
"When I come back as the Chosen One, I'll buy you all the food and toys you want! Okay?" his father promises with confidence. "We'll never go without again; you'll go to a good school, have a proper uniform, and we'll live somewhere better. I promise."
"Really?" Dubh asks, his eyes shining with hope.
"Of course, son."
Hearing his father's words, Dubh stops crying and calms down, clinging to a newfound hope.
"Daddy! You're amazing!"
With nothing more to say, Dubh's father bids them farewell and leaves the house. His mother holds her son tightly, tears pouring down her face. She knows she won't be able to hold on for much longer.
"Dubh clung to his father's words, that blind faith helping him endure the harshness of his childhood. He would wait for him every day, sitting at the edge of a pit, always smiling and swinging his legs. Even when the other kids gave him odd looks, he never cared."
The future CEO chats animatedly with other kids his age, speaking excitedly about how incredible his father is.
"Did you guys hear? My dad's going to become the Chosen One and bring me tons and tons of toys!" Dubh exclaims, unable to hide his smile, his legs bouncing with excitement.
However, the others don't see things the same way.
"Did you actually believe him? Your dad left because he didn't want to see you anymore," one of the kids says.
"Yeah, mine said the same thing, but he tricked us. He left because he couldn't afford to keep the house," another adds.
"But guys, my dad was serious! He even smiled at me!" Dubh protests, trying to push back against their disheartening remarks. "Besides, he's super strong! His Crystal is black—I know he can defeat the Chosen One!"
One of the boys places his hand on Dubh's shoulder, pitying him. He decides to tell him what he needs to hear.
"Dubh, your dad isn't coming back. Accept it, and learn to survive on your own…"
Dubh refuses to accept it, forcing an awkward smile and shaking his head.
"Don't say that, guys. I know my dad will come back…" Dubh replies, on the verge of tears.
*
Back at home, late at night, Dubh sits on the worn-out couch while his mother cooks a broth in a heavily rusted pot. The house looks in far worse condition than before.
"The family's situation grows increasingly dire. Hunger becomes unbearable, the electricity has been gone for some time, and his mother struggles to bear the burden alone. Yet, young Dubh doesn't lose faith."
Someone knocks at the door. Dubh jumps up from the couch as his mother moves to answer.
"It's Dad! Dad's here! He's back, I knew he would come back!" Dubh exclaims, his excitement palpable.
When the door opens, Dubh and his mother find not his father but an elderly man—their neighbor—standing in the rain, soaking wet.
"Mr. Charles! It's so good to see you. What brings you here?" Dubh's mother asks politely.
Mr. Charles clutches his worn-out cap in his hands, his expression weighed down with sorrow. His mustache droops lower than usual. His gnarled fingers tremble slightly as he prepares to deliver important news.
"Ma'am, I recently heard some news about your husband. I came to let you know," Mr. Charles begins.
"Do you know something about my dad?" Dubh interrupts eagerly.
"Ma'am, I regret to inform you that your husband has…"
The teacup in Dubh's mother's hands slips, shattering on the floor. She covers her mouth with both hands, her face frozen in shock. Her eyes reveal the life draining out of her.
"What? No… That's not true…" Dubh says, shaking his head in denial.
"It happened during the Trial of Wisdom," Mr. Charles explains. "A group of scoundrels attacked him all at once. I know this is difficult, but when I saw his face and his shattered Crystal, I didn't want to believe it. My deepest condolences…"
Overwhelmed by the weight of the news, Dubh's mother collapses to her knees and lets out a heart-wrenching sob. Dubh begins to cry as well, pounding his small fists against the elderly man's legs in a fit of childish rage.
"Don't lie to me, Mr. Charles! My dad promised he'd come back! He couldn't have died…" Dubh stammers, shaking his head, tears streaming down his cheeks.
The child's hopes have crumbled, along with the life and dreams of his father.
"Not long after, Dubh's mother took her own life. The poor boy was abandoned, left to survive the rest of his childhood by stealing and sleeping on the streets.
At night, in the bustling streets of the capital, the boy could often be seen—thin and filthy—leaning against a wall on the sidewalk as passersby walked by indifferently. Though he was on the verge of collapse, no one paid him any mind. It was there, during those grim nights, that young Dubh finally understood the harsh reality behind dreams… in the most brutal way.
Fortunately, Dubh proved to be highly skilled at earning money. He formed a gang, amassed a small fortune, and became a well-known and respected criminal. Thanks to his growing influence, he forged connections with powerful individuals who gave him the chance to rebuild his life.
Before long, he became a wealthy and highly respected man. Dubh used his fortune to establish Curie Industries and, in the shadows, to execute the sinister plan he had been crafting for years: the creation of Royal Mechanic."
*
We return to the present. Bredgy lies sprawled on the ground before her father, incapacitated. No matter how hard she tries, she cannot stand. Geal, Mathias, and Uruta share her plight.
"If your grandfather had stayed home instead of chasing that useless dream, he would still be alive," Dubh says, forcing himself to recall memories he'd rather bury. "And so would my mother."
Overcome by his emotions, the CEO steps several meters away from his daughter.
"That's what no one tells you about dreams, Bredgy. Not all of them can come true, and if you chase the wrong one, it can lead you straight to the grave," he states. "Dreams are nothing but fantasies, distractions from reality. Your grandfather thought achieving his dream would lift us out of poverty, but it didn't. If only he had faced the reality in front of him, things would have turned out differently."
Overwhelmed, Dubh stamps his foot firmly on the ground and stretches his arms wide, as if showcasing his own greatness.
"That's why I created Royal Mechanic!" he shouts. "Together, we'll build a fairer society where Crystals no longer exist. We'll destroy those ridiculous dreams of theirs and ground people in reality—the way the world was always meant to be!"
Bredgy struggles to stand, but Dubh strikes her with a lightning bolt that paralyzes her leg. She is powerless. Her father approaches her with slow, ominous steps, the silence so profound that every step resounds like a thunderclap.
"I've told you before, Bredgy. How many times do I need to repeat it? Don't trust your own judgment. Do you honestly believe what Geal says is true? Please! You're insane!"
With each step Dubh takes toward her, Bredgy's resolve fractures further.
"Insane… insane… insane," the CEO repeats.
Each word from his mouth stabs into Bredgy's back like a dagger. She breaks down, crying uncontrollably. She has given up, resigned herself to yet another punishment. There is no escape, no hero to save her. She simply lies there, accepting her fate. Until...
Summoning all his strength, Geal leaps forward, shield in hand, and places herself between Bredgy and Dubh. She stands face-to-face with the man, her rage burning brighter than ever. She rises like a knight, lifting her shield to her chest, even though it is falling apart. She doesn't care.
"You don't know anything about Bredgy!" Geal exclaims with great effort.
Dubh halts and raises an eyebrow, curious enough to listen to his victim before finishing her off.
"Bredgy isn't insane! She's a kind, sweet girl who only wants to be normal and happy, but she suffers because of you! You treat her like a tool, like she's your property!" Geal accuses.
"Watch your words, child," Dubh warns, his pupils sharpening like blades.
"The only person insane here is you!" Geal shouts with the last of her strength.
Dubh takes three steps back, astonished. Never before has anyone dared speak to him with such insolence as the girl now standing before him.
Meanwhile, Bredgy gazes at Geal's back. In it, she sees not just a friend but something she had never believed herself worthy of. Something she had longed for her entire life yet never thought she had the right to ask for: a hero.
Tears stream down Bredgy's face, but they are no longer tears of sadness. They come from something far deeper.
"I never thought… I never thought someone would go this far for me," Bredgy thinks. "I spent my whole life wishing for this… and I've finally found it."
She covers her mouth with her hand, sobbing joyfully, closing her eyes as a tender smile graces her face.
"I've found someone I can call friend!"
There is no trace of fear in Geal's body. She doesn't care if this is the end—she stands proudly for her friend! But Dubh has had enough, and it shows in his expression.
"You have no right to tell me how to raise my daughter!" Dubh roars, electricity surging through his arms. "Die!!!"
Enraged, the CEO leaps at Geal with incredible speed, his electrified fist ready to strike. Geal shuts her eyes and braces herself, praying for survival. But just before the impact…
"Excalibur!"
With unmatched agility, the blade of a legendary sword intercepts Dubh, halting him before he can even touch Geal. The powerful aura of the magnificent hero who has arrived shifts the very atmosphere. Magnius is here! The Chosen One has arrived to turn the tide.
"Sir Magnius!" Geal gasps in shock.
"You! What the hell are you doing here?" Dubh demands, incredulous.
"When young Mathias confirmed that you were the mastermind, I didn't want to believe it. But now, I have no doubt," Magnius says, his voice tense but composed.
With the bearing of a true hero, Magnius offers the children a reassuring smile, his expression and presence radiating calm. His grand scarlet cloak evokes serenity with just a glance.
"Don't worry, kids. Everything is fine now," Magnius says, smiling warmly.
Dubh charges at Magnius. A grave mistake: the Chosen One sends Dubh flying with a single punch. Dubh crashes into the wall with such force that several lights and lamps fall, plunging the room into brief darkness.
Dubh is in disbelief.
"His punch… it pierced the force field around my body! He's unbelievably strong!"
Magnius brandishes his sword, pointing it directly at Dubh. There is no mercy in his eyes for the villain.
"Now I see the kind of person you truly are, Dubh," Magnius declares gallantly. "Your blood will stain my Excalibur!"