The morning sun slowly emerged from the horizon, casting its warm glow over the school grounds that were gradually filling with students. The atmosphere seemed ordinary, as if nothing had ever happened. But for some, today wasn't just the first day back after the break—it was the beginning of a new chapter, filled with tension.
Standing at the school gate, Seung Min remained still. His uniform was neat, but his gaze held something different. The wounds on his face had almost healed, leaving only faint scars. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, greeted by the stares of students still whispering about the major incident that occurred weeks ago.
"Hey, Seung Min!" a familiar voice called out.
Dae Hyun jogged over, followed closely by Jin Ho, Jae Hoon, and Yoon Ha Rin.
"How are you? Ready for the first day?" Dae Hyun asked with a wide grin.
Seung Min nodded slightly. "I'm fine."
Moments later, Lee So Mi appeared, patting her brother's shoulder.
"Try not to be so serious. It's just school."
"Yeah... a school full of problems," Seung Min muttered but managed a faint smile.
As they walked toward the auditorium for the opening ceremony, the atmosphere shifted when Jin Seok passed by. Their eyes met briefly, but Jin Seok walked on without saying a word.
"Is he still angry about what happened?" Yoon Ha Rin whispered.
"I don't think it's anger… it's something more complicated," Jae Hoon replied.
The ceremony began, but Seung Min's attention drifted when he spotted Lee Joo Hyun standing on the upper balcony of the school building, gazing down at them with a faint smile. Even after being exposed as the mastermind behind the chaos, his strong position on the school's foundation board kept him untouchable by the law.
"He's still here…" Seung Min murmured, his jaw tightening.
After the ceremony, Seung Min pulled Dae Hyun and the others aside into a quiet corner.
"We need to stay alert. That match was just the beginning. I'm sure Lee Joo Hyun isn't done yet."
"What are you planning?" Jin Ho asked.
"I'm going to find stronger evidence. There's still something hidden," Seung Min replied firmly.
On the surface, the school appeared normal, but behind its walls, a new game had begun. Seung Min looked ahead, eyes filled with determination. This time, he promised himself—no one else would get hurt.
In the classroom,
The morning atmosphere felt heavy. Seung Min, Jae Hoon, Dae Hyun, and Jin Ho sat at their desks. Jin Ho grumbled while examining his broken glasses.
"Ugh! These were the only ones that felt comfortable," he complained in frustration.
Jae Hoon glanced at him casually and said, "You should just throw them away. They're beyond saving."
Jin Ho scoffed, "Easy for you to say! You think I have money lying around?"
Meanwhile, Seung Min remained silent, his empty gaze fixed on the whiteboard. In his mind, he thought, "I have to prove to the real Seung Min... that I, Hae Jin, transmigrated into this body to help him. I can't back down now."
Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the classroom. Students began whispering in panic. Their phones simultaneously buzzed with the same notification—the sound sending chills down everyone's spine.
[DEATH CARD GAME - NEW ROUND STARTS NOW]
Seung Min's eyes widened. "This game... isn't over?" He quickly grabbed his phone, staring at the screen with sharp eyes.
Dae Hyun swallowed hard. "I thought we were done with this... Why is it back?"
Jin Ho clutched his hair in disbelief. "This is insane! Didn't the game end when Seung Min—"
Before he could finish his sentence, the classroom door swung open with a loud bang. Do Jin, Tae Hwan, and Ki Seok entered, their cold aura silencing everyone.
Do Jin strode casually to the front of the class, his gaze sweeping the room like a blade. "Because of Seung Min," he said, stressing his name with a mocking tone, "our ranks have all been reset to rookie."
Tae Hwan added, "Even Jin Seok... is starting from the bottom."
The entire class fell silent, the tension suffocating. Seung Min clenched his fists under the desk.
Ki Seok continued, "That means everyone has to work harder. The first battle starts today. Be ready."
Chaos erupted. Some students panicked, while others seemed excited, as if eagerly awaiting the fight.
Seung Min stood up slowly, locking eyes with Do Jin. "Is this all Lee Joo Hyun's doing?" he asked, his voice low but sharp.
Do Jin merely grinned. "Find out for yourself."
Meanwhile, in Lee So Mi's classroom,
Lee So Mi sat, staring at her phone. Her face turned pale as she read the same notification.
Beside her, Yoon Ha Rin murmured, "I thought this was all over... Why is the game back?"
So Mi clenched her fists. "I won't let Seung Min face this alone."
From the back of the class, a student whispered, "Did you hear? Today's battle is supposed to be crazier than before. They say there's a real punishment for the losers."
So Mi stood up. "I need to find them," she said firmly.
Ha Rin grabbed her arm. "So Mi... are you sure you want to get involved again?"
So Mi met her gaze with burning determination. "If I sit back, people will get hurt. I can't just watch."
Ha Rin hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "In that case... I'm coming with you."
Outside the classrooms, the school bell rang loudly, marking the start of the new round of the Death Card Game—more dangerous, more brutal, and this time... their lives were on the line.
That day, the atmosphere at school was filled with a suffocating tension. Cheers and shouts echoed from every corner, creating an unusual sense of excitement and anxiety. Students gathered in front of their classrooms, eagerly anticipating the fights that had become an obsession—a means to prove strength and dominance.
Inside one of the classrooms, Jae Hoon stood face-to-face with Ki Seok. Their eyes locked in a fierce stare, neither uttering a word. The room was packed with students, some shouting encouragement while others held their breath in silence.
At the back, Jin Ho, Dae Hyun, Seung Min, Do Jin, and Tae Hwan sat tensely, watching the scene unfold. Seung Min, though still not fully recovered, couldn't take his eyes off the fight.
"Jae Hoon... don't be reckless," Dae Hyun murmured under his breath.
The fight began. Jae Hoon moved lightly, recalling every technique Seung Min had taught him. Ki Seok smirked and lunged first. His swift attack drew gasps from the crowd, but Jae Hoon dodged skillfully, countering with a punch aimed at Ki Seok's stomach.
However, Ki Seok wasn't an easy opponent. He blocked the strike and shoved Jae Hoon back. Their fight escalated—each blow echoing throughout the room. Some students pulled out their phones to record, adding to the chaotic atmosphere.
Elsewhere, on the school rooftop, a completely different scene unfolded. Jin Seok stood calmly, holding a cigarette that burned down slowly. The afternoon breeze swept through his hair. Opposite him stood Shin Kyung, his face unreadable.
Suddenly, the rooftop door slammed open. Lee So Mi burst in, breathing heavily, her eyes burning with emotion.
"Why are you doing this?!" she demanded, struggling to hold back her anger.
Jin Seok didn't answer right away. He took one last drag from his cigarette before tossing it to the ground and crushing it underfoot. Turning toward her, his gaze was calm yet piercing.
"I told Seung Min," Jin Seok said flatly, "don't mess with my father, don't interfere with the rules... or everything will fall apart."
So Mi clenched her fists. "You call this rules? Forcing people to fight like this? You really think this is right?"
Shin Kyung, silent until now, finally spoke. "This isn't about right or wrong... It's about surviving in this world."
Jin Seok nodded. "You think this school is a place to learn? No... it's an arena. And anyone weak gets trampled."
So Mi glared at them, anger burning in her chest. Yet deep down, she knew this was more than just a school fight—something far darker was at play.
Back in the classroom, the fight raged on. Sweat dripped down Jae Hoon's face, but his eyes remained unwavering. Ki Seok, panting, still wore a grin.
"Come on," Ki Seok taunted. "Show me what you've got."
With one well-aimed counterstrike, Jae Hoon delivered a powerful punch to Ki Seok's jaw, sending him crashing to the floor. The room fell silent for a moment before erupting in deafening cheers.
Yet amidst the commotion, Seung Min sat still, his gaze distant. His heart whispered—this was just the beginning. Something much bigger awaited them all.
The sky turned a warm shade of orange as the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. The earlier chaos had faded, replaced by tired sighs and hushed conversations about the fight that had taken place. Jae Hoon walked out of the classroom, Dae Hyun giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"Good job out there," Dae Hyun said with a faint smile.
Jae Hoon let out a breath. "I just... didn't want to lose."
Behind them, Jin Ho groaned, stretching his arms. "Just watching drained me. Seriously, is this a school or a boxing ring?"
Lee So Mi walked ahead without a word, her mind replaying the rooftop confrontation with Jin Seok. Yoon Ha Rin quickened her pace to catch up, concern evident in her eyes. "So Mi... are you okay?"
"I don't know," So Mi replied softly. "Something about all this feels... wrong."
Eventually, they reached Seung Min's house. As the door swung open, an unexpected sight awaited them.
In the modest living room, an elderly man sat calmly on the sofa, both hands resting on a cane. His face was lined with wrinkles, but his gaze was piercing. Seung Min instinctively stopped in his tracks.
"Who... are you?" Seung Min asked hesitantly, brows furrowed.
Lee So Mi snapped her head toward him in disbelief. "What the heck, Seung Min?! That's... that's Grandpa Yoo Sang Hyuk!"
Seung Min blinked, confusion spreading across his face. "Grandpa?" he muttered under his breath. Hae Jin, standing nearby, hadn't known Seung Min had a grandfather.
Yoo Sang Hyuk let out a soft scoff before fixing his gaze on Seung Min. "Did you forget your own grandfather?" His voice was firm but laced with sadness. "You look... different. You used to be quiet. Even your aura isn't the same. But your uncle, Hyun Woo, told me... you've gotten yourself involved in something dangerous at school."
Seung Min fell silent. Lee So Mi, still upset, added, "How can you not remember, Seung Min? He used to visit us when we were kids."
Dae Hyun and Jin Ho exchanged awkward glances but stayed quiet in the background.
Yoo Sang Hyuk sighed deeply. "I've already lost your father... I won't lose you two as well." His gaze hardened. "Is fighting and chaos what you think matters now? Life isn't just about who's the strongest."
Seung Min clenched his fists. "I didn't ask for any of this. But if I just stand by, they—"
"You can choose another path!" Yoo Sang Hyuk's voice boomed, cutting him off. "A real fight isn't about fists and punches. You need to understand what you're truly fighting against."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Finally, Seung Min lowered his head. "I... I don't know what's right or wrong anymore."
Yoo Sang Hyuk reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a worn envelope, holding it out to Seung Min. "Inside is something you need to see. Maybe... it'll help you remember who you really are."
Lee So Mi stared at the envelope, a mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes. "What is this?"
"Answers to the questions you've been avoiding," Yoo Sang Hyuk replied. "Including why you're caught in the middle of all this chaos."
The atmosphere grew heavier. Outside, the sky had turned pitch black. Thunder rumbled in the distance, lightning flashing across the clouds as if echoing the tension in the room.
Seung Min gripped the envelope tightly. Something was waiting to be revealed—something that could change everything.
But the real question was...
Were they ready to face the truth behind it all?