The Academy’s Time Stop Player

The sky was dyed with fire, and the eerie scenery was made up of skulls in every direction.

It was not an ideal landscape for a walk, but Hajoon, following Philaten's words, walked alongside her.

However, as they walked, Hajoon became increasingly enveloped in a strange sensation.

Such a scene should normally evoke discomfort, but, paradoxically, it felt strangely familiar to Hajoon.

After a moment of blankly surveying his surroundings, Hajoon asked Philaten, "What is this place?"

"This is the Imaginary Realm," she replied.

"The Imaginary Realm?" Hajoon echoed, looking at Philaten with a puzzled expression.

As far as Hajoon knew, Philaten's Imaginary Realm was not like this at all. It was supposed to be a place of clear skies and green meadows.

Hajoon probed further, "I thought your Imaginary Realm was different from this?"

To his question, she responded with a faint smile and answered, "It seems there has been some misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?"

"This is not my Imaginary Realm," she clarified, her gaze fixed on Hajoon.

She continued, "This is your Imaginary Realm."

"My Imaginary Realm?" Hajoon's brow furrowed at her words.

As if answering his silent question, Philaten elaborated, "More precisely, it was the former King Horton's Imaginary Realm. Now, it belongs to you."

Hajoon fell silent, looking around him once more.

In that silence, she simply continued to explain, "You will feel something about this place. It will prove to you that this is your world."

Indeed, as she said, Hajoon felt an eerie sense of familiarity and, strangely enough, tranquility in this grim place. It was as if he inherently belonged here, as though he was the rightful owner of this world.

However, though his body felt it, his mind could not help but find it unpleasant.

"What are these bones?" Hajoon asked.

A ground made of someone's bones was not a pleasant sight.

However, to Hajoon's question, Philaten merely shook her head.

"These are remnants of the former King, Horton's Imaginary Realm. Only he who created this world would know its true purpose, but..."

She looked at Hajoon, her expression turning solemn for a moment before she spoke, "Now, it is your world. The meaning of this world will naturally become clear to you."

"....The king? What's that about?" Hajoon asked her seriously, looking at Philaten.

It was a question he had long been curious about.

She had been unable to answer before, possibly due to some rule, but perhaps now it was okay.

And to Hajoon's question, she gazed blankly at the red sky for a moment before opening her mouth.

"You have already met two kings."

"Two kings?"

"The Soul Devourer Arang, Water King Bekarudon, and the neutral Dragon King Leanon, who remains uninvolved in the affairs of the world."

Leanon.

The identity of the character, scarcely explained in the game, was revealed through her words.

It appears that he is more than just a mere conduit of power to Lain.

Philaten gazed blankly at the crimson sky for a moment before shifting her gaze to Hajoon. A mysterious anger seemed to linger in her expression.

"There were eight kings who joined Horton. Of course, five of them betrayed Horton, who had granted them the honorary title of king."

Her anger was evident. Even Hajoon could feel the simmering fury beneath her composed demeanor.

"O new King."

She called out to Hajoon. Then, reverting to a more formal expression, she slowly began to speak, "The one you recently eliminated, Saan, bore the aura of one of the five kings, known as 'The King of Humans'."

Hajoon's expression twisted, sensing the implication of her words.

"So, you're saying those guys are here?"

"Bekarudon and Leanon were here, so it's likely that the others are somewhere in this world too."

"So, you want me to find and eliminate them?"

However, contrary to his expectations, Philaten shook her head.

"I am not in a position to make requests. I am merely informing the new king of the facts; I am, after all, just a 'guide.' I am here to inform you of the truth."

She maintained a calm and serene expression.

Her gaze lowered and her eyes half-closed, she continued, "The moment you used the Power of Destruction, they too must have become aware of your presence."

"So, they'll come looking for me."

At that, Philaten began to show a faint smile.

She smiled slightly, as if pleased or amused by Hajoon's response, and unexpectedly started to shake her head.

"There might be some who come looking. However, the first emotion they will likely feel is fear."

"Fear?"

At Hajoon's question, she extended her hand towards him.

Golden magical energy soon rose from her hand, floating in the air like particles.

The Power of Destruction.

With a slightly excited voice, she pointed to the power and said, "They will be afraid and in despair! The king they thought was dead has returned. They must have realized that a new 'Destroyer' has emerged, one who instilled fear in them in the past."

Her voice then lowered again.

"So, do not worry too much. Even if they come looking, they will be no match for the current king. However, what concerns me is..."

Philaten looked at Hajoon with a worried expression and continued, "The Power of Destruction. I hope it does not consume you with its overwhelming strength."

"Consumed? What do you mean?"

"You must have felt it, King. The inability to control your emotions every time you use the power."

'Was that what she was referring to?'

'Every time I use this power, I feel like I'm not myself anymore.'

'An uncontrollable surge of emotions.'

'H'owever, it's not that I can't control them at all, just that it's difficult.'

'It only amplifies my anger, but it doesn't make it uncontrollable.'

To Hajoon, it didn't seem like a significant problem.

As he pondered this, did Philaten read his thoughts?

She looked at Hajoon with concern and continued, "You have yet to master even half of the Power of Destruction."

"Not even half?" he questioned.

"With time, your power will fully bloom," she assured.

That was when it happened.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A massive wave of bones surged towards Hajoon and Philaten.

However, Philaten calmly observed the scene, speaking softly, "It seems our time is up. It appears that you have not fully embraced this world yet, and it's trying to expel me."

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A wave of bones, sweeping everything in its path.

In the midst of this, Hajoon faced Philaten, and she looked straight back at him, continuing to speak, "Your Majesty, I plan to sleep for a while."

"What do you mean?"

"The consumption by the Power of Destruction is not only your concern. I, too, might be affected, so I am taking some time to adapt."

Hajoon frowned and looked at her seriously.

Yet, she smiled at his concern and spoke, "Don't worry too much. It won't take long. But before I sleep, I have one more thing to say to the king..."

Boom! Boom!

The turbulent wave of bones reached close to them.

Even in that moment, she continued calmly, "Please, don't forget your true self because of the Power of Destruction."

As the giant wave engulfed Hajoon and Philaten, she smiled faintly and slowly closed her eyes, her last words lingering, "I worry about you."

With her final words, the wave of bones swallowed them both.

"..........."

Hajoon opened his eyes back in reality.

"Philaten."

Sitting up in bed, Hajoon immediately called for Philaten, gripping Maharazu.

But her voice did not answer.

He shook Maharazu a bit, but there was no response from her.

As she had said, he deduced that she had fallen asleep.

"Tch- She could have at least told me when she'll wake up."

He was a bit worried, but decided to trust her words that she would wake up soon.

Hajoon got out of bed.

It was already night, but it was only 8 PM, so it seemed he hadn't slept for too long. Taking the opportunity of being awake, Hajoon decided to go downstairs to eat something.

However, Elaine and Irian were already eating something. Maybe they had ordered takeout. Judging by the smell, it seemed like they were having chicken.

"Wow, it's so delicious, sis!"

"Right? It's not bad to order out once in a while, huh?"

"Ah, did you wake up, brother? Come and join us for some chicken."

"Um......"

Hajoon hesitated at the invitation.

Chicken did sound good, but honestly, he was more in the mood for a proper meal.

Not that he wouldn't eat it, of course.

Hajoon approached the dining table and sat next to Elaine.

As he started to eat the chicken, Irian handed him something.

"Oh, right. You got mail, didn't you?"

"Mail?"

"Yeah, from ISU. It came from a really big place."

ISU stood for the International Superhuman Union.

But why would they suddenly contact him?

There was an episode in Han Siyoung's story where ISU got in touch, but Hajoon couldn't guess why they would contact him.

"Why would they contact me?"

"I don't know. But I never expected them to. Usually, they wouldn't budge for anything minor."

As she said, the International Superhuman Union, true to its name, wouldn't move for something like a terror attack by superhumans.

It had to be an event threatening humanity itself.

For instance, they would only mobilize if a cataclysmic Immortal-level dungeon appeared.

Naturally, Hajoon couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Could it be that some awful event was about to unfold?

"When did this arrive?"

"While you were sleeping."

"So it hasn't been long."

"But, anyway, even if you open the mail, it's probably some sort of invitation. I doubt a group like ISU would contact for a mere greeting. It must be about something important."

Following Irian's assumption, Hajoon promptly opened the mail. As Irian predicted, it started with formal greetings and then requested him to come to the ISU branch for some important matter. Upon reading the contents, Hajoon frowned.

"It's annoying..."

"My guess is right, isn't it? And another guess, they probably called you for personnel reinforcement?"

Hajoon's expression grew even more irritated at her prediction.

It made too much sense upon consideration, especially since the currently bedridden sage Choi Jungwon was one of the superhumans associated with ISU.

Thus, Hajoon made a quick decision.

He put the letter back into the envelope, saying, "Is there anywhere to burn this?"

Hajoon decided to just ignore the letter altogether.