Wei opened the portal, stepping through it with Jin close behind. The portal shimmered as it sealed behind them.
"Welcome back to the Dimension of Life," Wei said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Jin raised an eyebrow. "What did you just call it?"
Wei turned to him, calm as always. "The Dimension of Life. That's the name of our dimension. Prince Ryu's dimension is called the Royal Dimension. There are 15 dimensions in total, but I haven't read all their names yet."
Jin shrugged. "Alright, whatever. I'm going to my room."
They emerged from the cave, only to spot Kai and Tony moving stealthily a short distance away, each carrying something wrapped in cloth.
Jin narrowed his eyes. "What are they up to? What's in their hands?"
Wei barely spared them a glance. "Whatever it is, it's not my concern. I'm headed to the library."
"Fine. Bye," Jin said, already walking toward Kai and Tony.
Wei waved dismissively and strode off toward the library. Meanwhile, Jin approached the two, who stiffened as soon as they saw him. In a hurry, they tried to hide the object they were carrying.
Jin folded his arms. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing," Tony and Kai said in unison, their voices almost comically synchronized.
"Don't lie to me. What is it?" Jin pressed.
Before they could answer, MyungJin appeared, his expression grim. "Hey, guys."
Jin turned to him. "What's going on? And where's Ryu?"
"He's—" MyungJin began, but Kai quickly interrupted.
"He's sleeping. Anyway, how was your training?" Kai asked, trying to steer the conversation away.
"It went well, but—" MyungJin tried again.
Kai cut him off once more. "Good to hear! So, where's Ryu?"
Jin held up a hand. "Kai, let him talk."
"Thank you, Jin," MyungJin said with a nod. "Ryu is unconscious. He's been taken to the Real EX Agency for treatment."
"The Real EX Agency?" Kai echoed, his tone shifting nervously.
"Yes, the Real EX Agency," MyungJin confirmed, narrowing his eyes slightly at Kai.
"What happened to him?" Jin asked, worry creeping into his voice.
"He was training with me earlier, but out of nowhere, he collapsed. His arm—it was burning hot, like fire," MyungJin explained.
Jin nodded, his expression firm. "Kai, go and get Wei. I'll head to the Real EX Agency with MyungJin."
Kai hesitated. "Uh... I don't know where the Real EX Agency is."
Jin sighed. "Fine, I'll call Wei. You stay here and keep an eye on things with Tony." He glanced at MyungJin. "Let's go."
As Jin and MyungJin walked off, Tony stepped forward. "I'll just take this to my room. Wait here for me," he said quickly before disappearing into the distance with the wrapped object.
MyungJin's gaze lingered on Tony's retreating figure. "What was that he was carrying? It looked like something wrapped in cloth."
Kai shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. You should ask him when he gets back."
Jin entered the library, spotting Wei seated at a table surrounded by books. Three lay stacked neatly on the table, while he was deeply engrossed in another.
"Wei, Ryu is unconscious," Jin said, urgency in his voice as he approached.
"Yeah, yeah," Wei replied absently, his eyes glued to the pages.
Jin frowned. "Come with me. We need your help."
Wei barely looked up. "He's back to consciousness. You were with me, remember?"
"Not that Ryu, the other Ryu," Jin clarified, his frustration mounting.
Wei finally glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Which Ryu are you talking about? Be precise." He turned a page without breaking his calm demeanor.
"My cousin, Ryu!" Jin snapped.
Wei straightened slightly, now curious. "Oh? What happened to him?"
Jin reached over and snatched the book out of Wei's hands. "He's unconscious. It's the same situation as Prince Ryu had earlier!"
Wei sighed, rising to his feet. "Where is he now?"
"He's in the EX Agency. The real one," Jin answered.
Wei tilted his head. "Isn't this the real EX Agency?"
Jin threw his hands up. "I don't have answers to your questions. You can ask Master Feng if you're so curious."
Wei adjusted his robes, looking thoughtful. "Fine, but how will we even get to this 'real EX Agency'? We don't know where it is."
"MyungJin will guide us," Jin replied firmly.
"MyungJin?" Wei asked, narrowing his eyes in thought. "Who's that again?"
Jin groaned, grabbing Wei's arm. "Stop asking questions and just come with me!"
They reached MyungJin, who led them to the EX Agency. The building was impressive, with a sleek design and four floors. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating the lobby on the first floor. As they entered, a boy suddenly teleported to a coffee machine, startling Kai.
"Who was that?" Kai asked, wide-eyed.
"That's Sui," MyungJin replied. "He was with me during the Titan Cerberus fight. He's part of the Agents Team EX."
Tony glanced around. "Where's Ryu?"
"He's on the second floor," MyungJin said.
"Let's head there," Tony urged.
The group ascended to the second floor and entered a room where Ryu lay unconscious. The four EX Masters stood nearby, watching over him.
"Is he alright?" Jin asked, his concern evident.
"He's stable but still unconscious," Master Kyo, the second EX Master, said. "His arm remains burning hot, and we haven't been able to cool it."
Wei stepped forward. "Let me check."
Master Rei, the third EX Master, crossed his arms. "We've tried everything. Nothing worked."
Master Feng, the first EX Master, gestured for Wei to proceed. "Let him try."
Wei knelt by Ryu's side and placed his hand on his arm, flinching slightly at the heat. It was just as intense as Prince Ryu's earlier condition. He closed his eyes and began channeling his magic.
"What's he doing?" Master Rei asked, watching intently.
"He's using his magic," Jin explained.
Master Rei raised an eyebrow. "Magic? So, he's a magician?"
"Not exactly," Jin replied, rubbing his temples. "He got his powers after killing a villain who assassinated the Prince and Princess." Jin winced. "Ugh, I think I'm getting a headache."
Master Tao, the fourth EX Master, stepped forward. "You should take a bath; it'll help clear your head. Come with me."
Master Feng nodded. "Tao, show them to their rooms for tonight. It's getting dark, and they'll stay here. Let Wei focus on his work."
"Alright, kids," Master Tao said with a kind smile. "Follow me. Let Wei handle things here."
Master Tao led the group to their rooms. Jin entered the bathroom, eager to wash off the day's stress. As he removed his shirt, his eyes fell on two black lines on his chest.
"How did those lines get there? Maybe... old scars?" Jin whispered to himself, tracing the lines with his fingers.
Shaking his head, he stepped into the shower. After finishing his bath, Jin found an Agent's uniform laid out for him—a sleek blue suit with a high-tech design, complete with a small screen display on the right arm. It looked both functional and futuristic.
Meanwhile, back in Ryu's room, Wei finally stopped channeling his magic after 30 intense minutes. He placed his hand on Ryu's arm and let out a relieved breath.
"It's normal now," Wei confirmed.
The EX Masters crowded around, each taking turns to feel Ryu's arm to ensure the temperature had returned to normal.
Ryu's eyes fluttered open, his expression groggy. "What happened?"
"You fell unconscious," Master Feng explained. "Your arm became dangerously hot while you were practicing aerokinesis."
Ryu frowned. "Is that normal during training?"
Master Feng shook his head. "No. This has never happened to anyone before."
Master Rei turned to Wei. "Can I speak with you outside?"
Wei nodded and followed him out of the room.
"Would you consider joining Agents Team EX?" Master Rei asked as they walked down the hall.
Wei hesitated, then replied, "I'll think about it. Thanks for offering me the opportunity."
Before Master Rei could respond, Master Tao appeared. "What are you two talking about?"
"I'm asking him to join the team," Master Rei said.
"Did he accept?" Master Tao asked.
"He said he'll consider it," Master Rei replied.
"And did his magic work on the boy?" Master Tao asked.
"Yes. Ryu is conscious now. If you want, you can go and check on him yourself," Master Rei said.
"Good. I'll speak with him," Master Tao said, turning to leave. He gestured to Wei. "Rei, take him to his room."
Master Rei nodded. "Alright. What was your name again?"
"Wei," Wei replied simply.
"Hmm. Wei. Follow me," Master Rei said, leading him down the hall to his assigned quarters.