The moon hung high over Seoul Academy, casting long shadows across the deserted courtyard. Jin Woo leaned against a stone pillar, his heart pounding in his chest. The shard rested in his pocket, its faint warmth a constant reminder of the danger he carried.
He had no idea why he agreed to meet the agent. Trusting someone from the Awakener's Association seemed foolish, but his desperation for answers outweighed his caution.
Footsteps echoed in the distance, and the agent emerged from the darkness. His sharp features were illuminated by the pale light, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"You actually came," the agent said, his voice calm.
Jin Woo straightened. "I need answers. You've been following me, watching me. What's going on? What's this shard, and why is it connected to me?"
The agent studied him for a moment before gesturing to a nearby bench. "Sit. This isn't a short story."
---
Reluctantly, Jin Woo sat down, his eyes never leaving the agent.
"The shard you're carrying is a fragment of something much larger," the agent began. "We call it a **Dimensional Core**. These cores are remnants of the energy that powers the gates—the very essence of their existence."
Jin Woo frowned. "Why is it reacting to me?"
"That's the question, isn't it?" the agent said, leaning forward. "Dimensional Cores don't bond with people randomly. They seek out those with a deep connection to the gates. Someone who resonates with their energy."
The words sent a chill down Jin Woo's spine. "I don't have any connection to the gates. I'm just an F-class awakener."
The agent's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "You keep telling yourself that."
Jin Woo's frustration boiled over. "Stop talking in riddles! If you know something about me, just say it!"
The agent hesitated, then sighed. "Look, kid. I don't know who—or what—you really are. But that shard didn't choose you by accident. If you don't figure out why, it's going to destroy you. And maybe everyone else around you."
---
Jin Woo stared at the agent, his mind racing. "Then help me. Teach me how to control it."
The agent's expression hardened. "This isn't a game. If you want my help, you follow my rules. No more running off on your own. No more reckless decisions. You listen to me, or I walk away right now."
Jin Woo hesitated. He didn't trust the agent, but he couldn't deny that he needed guidance. The shard's power was growing stronger, and he had no idea how to handle it.
"Fine," Jin Woo said finally. "I'll listen. But I want the truth—everything you know."
The agent nodded. "Good. Then let's start with this: the shard is only the beginning. If you want to survive, you'll need to find the other fragments. And fast."
"Other fragments?" Jin Woo asked, his eyes widening.
The agent stood, his coat billowing in the night breeze. "There are more cores scattered across the world. Each one is tied to a gate, and each one will draw you closer to the truth. But be warned—others are searching for them too. And not all of them are human."
---
The agent turned to leave, but Jin Woo called after him. "Wait! Why are you helping me? What's in this for you?"
The agent paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Let's just say... I have my own reasons for wanting those cores. And for now, our goals align."
With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Jin Woo alone with more questions than answers.
---
Back in his room, Jin Woo sat on his bed, the shard resting in his palm. The agent's words replayed in his mind: **Others are searching for them too. And not all of them are human.**
For the first time, Jin Woo felt the weight of the journey ahead. He wasn't just an F-class student anymore. He was connected to something far greater—and far more dangerous—than he had ever imagined.
He clenched the shard tightly, its glow reflecting in his determined eyes.
"I don't know what's happening to me," he whispered. "But I'm not running anymore."
---
*End of Chapter 5*