DARAN"Oh, you're back already? I hear you're on a trip with your betas."I was visiting Evangelista at her shop. She seemed to be busy forging a sword. I thought it was an order from someone extraordinary."Well, we checked the magic seals at the border. I had to work hard because you refused my assignment, Eve. How outrageous. You are the commander-in-chief of our pack. But, you are also the hardest dissident to control."Eve just chuckled.She was wearing a dark grey jumpsuit. She took off her jumpsuit top and only wore a tank top. Then she tied the sleeves of the jumpsuit around her waist. While talking to me, Eve didn't even look at me. She focused on the blazing fire before her to forge the sword."Why did you bother forging all that iron? You can use your magic abilities, can't you?"Sparkling embers."Something produced by shortcuts, then its useful life can't last long. No matter how great the magic ability, nothing can beat the pleasure of working on forging these weapons di
JONEAMarilyn dragged me to a bar which is about 15 minutes walk from campus. The place was very crowded, like most bars. The difference is tonight was dominated by students from our department."Goddes, look! They were drunk even before coming here," whispered Marilyn.I grumbled as I started to enter the bar. Countless students had almost lost consciousness. They are all drunk.I even saw lovers almost shamelessly making out in some dark corners.Marilyn kept pulling my hand. It seemed she feared I would disappear again like the last time we were at the club."Watch your step, Jonea! Don't keep looking around. You will be mistaken for a cheap girl.""Who came up with the ridiculous idea to organize a welcoming event like this?""Of course, the student head in our department. Who else do you think? I heard they are also holding this party to welcome someone.""Who?" I ask."Dunno; we'll also find out later when they announce it."The girls from our batch assemble in one place, talkin
JONEAHunter's hand caught in the air. I saw someone come and grab him.Everyone who was there gasped, including me. He appeared and prevented Hunter from touching me."You don't see how uncomfortable she is? Watch your attitude and don't carelessly touch other people, especially without asking permission first.""Owen?" I snapped out of the shock."Who are you? What business do you have with us?" Hunter gave Owen a look of hostility and hissed.I could see Owen gripping Hunter's hand very tightly. It seemed Hunter was also enduring the pain but trying to keep a straight face in front of us all.I put my hand on Owen's arm and asked him to stop.Owen let go of his grip. The two men now acted as if nothing had happened.Owen immediately turned to me and spoke softly. "You are okay? I'm looking for you everywhere. It seems you are here."Owen's appearance was like a saviour god. I am curious to know how he got here. Now he even bowed and became a separator between me and Hunter.I thoug
OWENI can't be free to manoeuvre because I must consider Jonea's safety. I firmly grip the steering wheel and continue to spur the car with the maximum speed permitted by this country's rules.Next to me, Jonea screamed in fear. I can't spur even faster because it will trigger alarm danger to us. But they continue to pursue it. I have to direct them to a place far from the supervision of Blue Sapphire.I glance at every road sign and pay attention to every surveillance camera that actively monitors all road users' movements."Damn it! I can only spur up to the maximum limit allowed by the rules. And they are getting closer, almost following us.""What creature exactly are they, Owen?" Jonea shouted."Supernatural creatures sent by someone." I looked at the windshield of the car. "Tonight is the night of hunting. Most werewolves will go to the forest and return to their respective packs to hunt. While the magicians usually release their creatures to practice.""You mean ... practising
JONEA"Purifying and eliminating unnatural, supernatural energy is our job. That's why you can use our abilities, Jonea."They are the Jeverics who live in this forest. Because none of them I recognize. There is no Roka, Moka, or Koka. Although their body shape is at first glance the same, there are some prominent differences. The jeverics in this forest have little wings behind their legs.What should I do? These shadow wolves kept appearing even more in numbers. I can't fight them alone, either. Wait, Owen? Where is he?I frantically look for Owen. I didn't realize we were separated. And I need to find out where he is now. I was utterly alone, and the shadow wolves surrounded me like swarms of bees. They got closer while showing their fangs. Their growls were loud in the cold air."Make your decision right now, Jonea!" herd leader Jeverics insisted.I closed my eyes to calm down and reason. What decisions should I make right now?I heard Daran's voice echo inside my head. Is this re
JONEA"The blood of the red moon's sacred is like a limitless reserve of magic power. However, the body that is the vessel for the holy blood is very fragile."It was as if the man was talking to me instead of Daran.This is the first I've heard of something like this. I tried to look back to see and confirm this man's face. Again he held me and did not allow me to see his face."Only by living can you absorb and produce such powerful magic energy. Why do you think wizards, werewolves, Jeveric, and other supernatural beings keep circling around and trying to get to you? Because you radiate powerful spiritual energy, Jonea.""Your energy lured them all to come. In the end, your body will not be strong enough to face and accept it. Suppose you so passionately want the wolf inside you to be awakened. In that case, that will culminate all the magical power accumulating within your body. As well as the pinnacle of your life.""What do you mean?""Awakening your wolf and breaking the seal w
HUNTER"Sorry, I can't accept your feelings. Next time, avoid falling in love quickly, especially with a famous person like me. You will only get hurt later."She is a gorgeous girl with curly blonde hair. She is one of the most popular girls in this university. This morning she suddenly stopped me and asked to speak in private for a moment.I refused her request. Because I know what she wants to tell me. This girl is persistent. I was even in the university parking lot when she told me she was in love with me and wanted me to be her boyfriend."You… you're so mean, Hunter!" shouted the girl with a face ready to cry."Why do you call me evil if you choose to fall in love with me yourself, miss? There is no crime in rejecting the love of someone I do not love."She clenched her fists tightly, and her body shivered. I know the rejection I gave was very painful. But it would hurt even more if I lied and accepted her one-sided love."Sorry, I have to go. I still have lectures I have to at
DARAN"How desperate. You don't care if she dies or gets resurrected, right?""She will not die and has no intention of dying. Because I bought her expensively."The hybrid squinted at me. He seemed to resent my answer about my decision to keep Jonea by my side."You're just a lowly creature who can never return to being a full-fledged lycan or return to being a spirit and end your endless life in this world. Do you think buying humans is justifiable?"I clucked at him. "What do you know about Jonea? Human, you say? You don't seem to like auctions, do you? Then why are you still following me to the Blue Sapphire? Have you run out of work at Blackstone yet? Or maybe… Do you also want to get Jonea? So, who is the cunning and haughty here?"There was the sound of approaching footsteps. I just took a quick glance back. I'm currently on the page. Some time ago, I felt a strange presence after leaving Jonea in her room. When I checked the courtyard, apparently, these hybrids were still foll
JONEAI was sitting in what felt like endless darkness. No sound except the echo of my own breath, no movement except the shadow of myself fading on a pitch-black floor like cracked glass. I knew it was just a dream, but it felt so real, like a trap I couldn’t escape.Suddenly, a voice broke the silence—cold and familiar.“Jonea,” it called, echoing through the void. “I know you can hear me.”Luke Draken.My body tensed, but I couldn’t see him. Just his voice, flowing with power and certainty.“Surely you’re starting to understand the dragon blood flowing in your veins,” he continued. “You can’t deny it, Jonea. Our bodies were bound long before the red moon rose.”In the dream, I touched my own body. My hand brushed against something that shouldn’t be there—hard, sharp scales covering half of me. I gasped, choking on a sob. What had happened to me?Luke chuckled softly, mocking. “I will live inside you forever,” he said, his voice drawing closer, as if whispering directly into my ear.
JONEAIt seemed like Luke noticed something off about my body. He grinned widely and tossed Hunter to the ground like a rag doll. Then, in a swift move, he picked me up and laid me down on the marble altar.Why? What’s happening to me? My chest felt tight, my whole body burning. I was so thirsty—desperately craving someone’s touch, someone to soothe me.Without realizing it, I started moaning and gasping at the same time. Luke gently lowered me onto the altar, then climbed over me with a calculated ease.“Union,” he whispered. “You’re breaking the seal. And when the crimson moon reaches its peak, your pure blood will be mine!”I couldn’t control my body or my thoughts anymore. Pain surged through me as I let out a scream. My eyes flew open, my head tilting back to stare at the dome’s opening. The full crimson moon stared back.“Ahhh!” I cried out as sharp fangs pushed out of my mouth, piercing my lips.Luke leaned closer, his eyes glowing bright red—the eyes of a dragon. He kissed me,
HUNTERI turned around to see one of the shadow creatures loyal to me in this secret mission. Its black eyes glinted under the moonlight."The werewolf forces are ready," it said shortly.I nodded. "Make sure no one knows the plan until the very last moment."The creature bowed and disappeared into the shadows.My thoughts drifted back to when everything began to fall apart.We used to be an unbeatable group—Beast Four. Me, Aland, Edison, and Elmar. Together, we protected the Sapphire Blue with strength and unbreakable friendship. But the Red Dragons destroyed everything.One by one, my friends fell. Edison and Elmar vanished into the darkness of the shadow world. Jonea, broken and battered, chose to hide. Aland—he was captured by Luke Draken. Back then, I didn’t understand why Luke targeted Aland specifically, my closest and most different friend.I remember that night vividly. Aland was locked in the dragon’s prison, his body covered in wounds. I knew he hated me for joining the Red
MILLERNever in my life did I think I’d witness something like this—a scene straight out of a legend. Standing before me were humans from the shadow hunter ranks, werewolves, lycans, dragons, and even jeverics, creatures that had been at odds for as long as anyone could remember. And yet, here they were, side by side, united by a single purpose: finding Jonea before it was too late.The sky was gloomy that day, heavy gray clouds mirroring the tension hanging over us. From the hilltop, I watched the valley below where thousands of figures had gathered, awaiting final orders before the search began.“All of this… it’s for Jonea,” I murmured to myself.Arabel stood beside me, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd with her usual vigilance. “They understand what’s at stake, Miller,” she said firmly, her voice calm but resolute. “If Jonea falls into the wrong hands, it’s not just her life that’s at risk. The whole world is.”I nodded, swallowing the fear creeping into my chest.On the human sid
DARANI’m losing my mind. There’s no other way to describe how I feel right now. My entire body feels like it’s on fire—an intense mix of anxiety and rage. I’ve been searching for Jonea for days, but there’s no trace of her.I’ve scoured every corner of this island, plunged into shadow realms, and even crossed the borders of the Blue Sapphire lands. It’s like she’s been erased from existence, like the wind leaving a faint trail only to vanish without a trace.“Jonea!” I shout, breaking the silence of the night.But only my own echo answers me.Frustrated, I press on, crossing boundaries I’m not supposed to. I find myself at the edge of the Dragon Valley, the gateway to the Land of the Blue Dragons. This is my last shot. If she’s not here, I don’t know where else to look.I’m furious.“JONEA!” I roar again, my voice echoing off the steep cliffs. My rage is so intense that the plants around me wither and die, drained by the destructive energy radiating from my body.But it’s not Jonea w
JONEAI froze, my heart pounding erratically as Luke’s words sank in.“The last time we met was at a graveyard, right?” he asked, a faint smirk playing on his lips, making my blood boil. “More accurately, I saw you. You knew I was there, but you chose to ignore me.”My eyes widened. A graveyard? I racked my brain, trying to make sense of his words. Only one graveyard stood out in my memory—the one where my parents were buried. The day I stood at the edge of a fresh grave, feeling the world crumble beneath my feet. The day I auctioned off my freedom for something far worse.“So,” I murmured, almost in disbelief, “you were there? Watching me?”Luke’s smirk widened. His face was calm, but his eyes hinted at something much darker.“You looked so fragile that day,” he said, stepping closer. “Just a little girl who’d lost everything. It was… entertaining to watch.”Rage bubbled in my chest, but my body refused to move, as if his presence alone was a chain binding me in place.He reached out
JONEAI stared out the hospital room window from my bed for what felt like the hundredth time. The white blanket covering me felt unbearably heavy—not because of its weight, but because of what lay beneath it. Black, cold, hardened scales covered parts of my body. It felt like I was trapped in an unending nightmare.This was the first time I had absorbed magical energy, and I never imagined the consequences would be this severe. My body, my mind, even my heart—all felt different. Yet, in a strange way, I didn’t regret it. The baby dragons had been saved. They were just like me—alone and scared, facing a ruthless world.Miller stopped by yesterday and explained everything. It turns out Aland brought me here, to this special hospital for hunters. Daran and Aland had a heated argument over where I should be treated. Aland insisted I stay under his watch, while Daran wanted to take me back. In the end, Miller mediated, and this hospital became the compromise.According to Miller, Aland wa
DARANI ran as fast as I could, my body trembling from both exhaustion and panic. The wet sand of the beach made every step heavier, but I didn’t care. In front of me, the dark ocean stretched endlessly. Waves crashed hard, as if reminding me that I was racing against time. Jonea was out there somewhere, and I couldn’t let her slip away.“Jonea!” I screamed with all my strength, my voice hoarse. But only the wind and waves responded.My body nearly lost balance when my foot suddenly hit a rock. I almost fell, but a strong hand steadied me.“Uncle, are you okay?” Owen’s voice was full of concern. He grabbed my arm, steadying me. “You’ve used up too much energy earlier. You need to rest.”“Let go of me!” I shoved his hand away. “I need to save Jonea!”“You won’t save her if you pass out here,” Owen said firmly but gently. “Calm down, Uncle. We’ll look for her together.”But I didn’t have time for his reasoning. Adrenaline pushed me forward even though my body was nearly at its limit. My
JONEAOwen stepped forward, his body morphing into a massive, intimidating lycan form. “I’ll try to hold them off. You guys figure out how to break their spell.”Without waiting for a reply, Owen lunged at the first beast, determined to stop it before it could cause more destruction. Meanwhile, Arabel and Miller began chanting spells, attempting to trace the dark magic controlling the dragonlings.I stood frozen, unsure of what to do. But when I saw the second dragonling start to move, I knew I couldn’t just stand there. Hesitantly, I approached it. “Hey, you don’t have to do this. We’re here to help you,” I whispered, even though I wasn’t sure it could hear me.The first beast fought back viciously against Owen. Their battle left the hall in even worse ruins. Eve, who was usually composed and cold, finally unsheathed her sword. “I’ll back Owen up. Protect Jonea,” she told Daran before leaping into the fray.I tried to get closer to the second dragonling, but an invisible force held m