After three days beneath the Vermilion dome, half the tournament's participants looked ready to end their lives, having lost billions of credits, while the other half radiated a fury so raw it could tear through anyone nearby.
Kang Jihan paced before the entrance to the fiftieth floor, communicator clenched in his hand. When Ryu Seonyeong had written, "Come. I think they plan to deal with me," he'd assumed it was an exaggeration. But seeing the hollow, predatory eyes of the losers prowling the corridors, he realized the warning hadn't been unfounded.
He knew Seonyeong wasn't weak, but the worry wouldn't leave his chest. And then—almost as if mocking that fear—Seonyeong appeared in the violet-lit hallway, alive, calm, and smiling that light, habitual smile.
He wore a white polo and a pale rose suit; in this neon world, he stood out like a flower growing through ash. His brown hair shimmered beneath the lamps, and his steps were steady, unhurried. Jihan exhaled, barely audibly.
Oh, Lei, I told you not to dress him like that…
Seonyeong walked beside an older man, speaking animatedly. When he spotted Jihan, he stopped naturally, as if by coincidence, and said his farewell:
— Be careful on your way back.
— Yeah, yeah, see you at the Central Domes, — the man replied with a laugh.
They shook hands, and the older man left toward the elevator with his guards. A few people tried to approach, but one glance from Jihan's eyes sent them scattering.
For a while, the two walked in silence down the glass corridor. Only when the hallway emptied completely did Jihan finally ask:
— Who was that?
— An old investor. Said he'd visit us if he survived long enough.
Jihan frowned but didn't respond. Seonyeong added casually:
— By the way, you look younger than usual.
Jihan blinked. In his gray hoodie and dark jeans, mask on his face, hair falling over his forehead, he really did look younger — almost vulnerable.
— If you've got guards now, why'd you call me? — he muttered irritably.
— Because I missed you.
The simple answer hit Jihan like a strike. He looked away, but the tips of his ears turned red. Seonyeong noticed and smiled faintly.
When they turned into a side hallway, the door behind them shut. Silence pooled, thick and heavy.
Then Jihan suddenly turned, stepped forward, and pressed Seonyeong against the wall.
The vampire barely had time to draw breath before Jihan's lips found his. The kiss was hot, direct, deliberate.
The shock made Seonyeong's back hit the cold metal — but he didn't push him away.
The taste was like bitter coffee after a sleepless night.
Their hearts beat too loud.
When Jihan finally pulled back, his voice came rough:
— I missed you too.
Seonyeong just stared at him for a few seconds, then murmured evenly:
— Don't do that so suddenly.
— …Yeah.
Jihan rubbed the back of his neck, unsure what to do with his hands. The awkwardness was almost endearing, and Seonyeong couldn't help a quiet laugh.
***
They reached sector 4904. The moment Seonyeong knocked, the door swung open and Lo Dan shouted,
— The champion has arrived!
Inside, Oh Lei, Yi Hoon, and Seo Raon sat at a table. They all stood, greeting him like a returning hero.
— It's nothing special, — Seonyeong said with his usual composure.
— You outdid everyone, Mr. Ryu, — said Oh Lei warmly. — Who would've thought you'd take first place?
— Seems our meeting you wasn't a coincidence, — Seo Raon added.
Seonyeong smiled lightly but studied their faces. He noticed how Jihan — no, Kang Jihan now — stayed behind, as if guarding him.
That meant the others didn't know why he'd flown to the Domes. Good. That was better.
— So where's the ticket? — Lo Dan demanded eagerly. — Show us already!
— Sure, — Seonyeong replied and pulled from his inner pocket the black box bound by a red ribbon.
Seo Raon untied it and froze.
— It's… a phone?
— A flip phone, — Seonyeong clarified. — They said all future information will come through it. I've already received a message.
On the screen flashed the words:
"Congratulations on receiving special access to Project Mirror. We'll contact you soon to arrange a meeting."
— That's how they lure people in, — Lo Dan muttered. — Looks more like a party invite than an invitation to hell.
— Clever, — Yi Hoon said. — Old frequency band. No trace system.
— I'll check it later, — Lo Dan added. — But it probably doesn't have GPS.
Jihan's hands tightened into fists.
The name Koo Lirean burned through his mind like a blade.
— I'll kill him, — he said quietly.
The air thickened — like the weight before a storm. Yi Hoon nodded; the others stayed silent.
— If this came from Kim So-dan, then it's genuine, — Seo Raon concluded. — We have time. We should prepare.
He looked at Seonyeong.
— I heard you've decided to stay and work with us. Thank you.
Everyone turned toward him.
Seonyeong held their gaze for a moment, then nodded.
— If such a monster exists, standing aside is pointless.
The tone was calm, but something in his voice made them all fall silent.
Jihan watched him — caught between fear and awe.
Seonyeong turned toward the window.
Beyond the glass, the city dimmed under neon, sinking as if beneath a quiet sea.
— I think I'll rest a bit, — he said softly. — Three days of noise is enough. See you tonight.
He was about to leave when Jihan caught his wrist.
Seonyeong turned.
— What is it?
— Wait. I wanted to say… about that day. About your work. I'm sorry.
Seonyeong froze for a heartbeat, then gave a small, tired smile.
— That's behind us. Don't bring it back.
He pulled his hand free and walked down the corridor — without looking back.