Hyon Hyun, a bright-eyed nine-year-old, stands beside his space bike, a gleaming marvel of technology. His small hands fiddle with its controls, adjusting settings with practiced ease. “How are the preparations? We don’t want Uncle Hosup getting a trace of what I’ve been cooking.”

Inside his head, the soothing electronic female voice of Cube AI responds to his query.

"All preparations have been completed," Cube AI assures him. “Don’t worry, Kim Hosup is distracted with more urgent projects. Moreover, you’ve already created an alibi by visiting your aunt Yeonha.”

Peering out of the window panes, Hyun gazes at the distant blue orb of Earth, a mix of excitement and determination in his eyes. He knows what he's about to do is risky, but he's determined to see it through.

"Remember, Cube," he says, his voice tinged with urgency. "Be careful. We can't afford any slip-ups. I don't want anyone, especially that old bastard, sniffing around my project."

Kim Hosup is not the real problem for Hyun, but his uncle Jonghak who is literally unstoppable.

Cube AI with her super computational power and a plethora of functions, acknowledges his request with a gentle hum. "Understood, Hyon Hyun. I'll ensure utmost discretion."

With a final glance at Earth, Hyun mounts his space bike, his resolve firm. He's ready for whatever challenges lie ahead, armed with his trusty companion, Cube AI, by his side.

Hyun checks his space suit one last time, ensuring every seal is tight and secure. Satisfied, he dons his space helmet, feeling its weight settle comfortably over his head. He gives the commands to Cube AI to open the secret docks, a small launching port invisible even to the drones, and the map around Cube City. As the doors slide open with a barely audible hiss, Hyun's heart races with anticipation.

Before he can launch, however, he hears his big sister Evandel's voice crackling through his comms, her tone urgent and worried. "Hyun, don't do it! Please, you can't go through with this! I swear! I am going to tattle on you!"

Hyun's face pales with fear at the sound of her voice, knowing full well the consequences of being caught. But his resolve remains unshaken. "Big sis, don't snitch on me," he pleads, though he knows deep down it's a futile request. His sister has always been the responsible one, looking out for him even when he's determined to push the boundaries.

With a final glance back at the familiar surroundings of his secret garage, Hyun steels himself and makes the decision to go through with his plan. Ignoring his sister's protests echoing in his ears, he steps on the pedal of his space bike, feeling the thrum of energy course through him as he launches into the unknown expanse of space.

As Hyun hurtles through space, his mind is a whirlwind of emotions and memories. Vague recollections of his mother's tear-streaked face flash before his eyes intermingled with the distant echoes of pitying remarks about his father's untimely death. Despite being just nine years old, Hyun has always carried a burden of maturity beyond his years, understanding the weight of loss and the desperation of his mother's quest for justice.

The image of his sister's strained smile, a facade barely concealing her inner turmoil, tugs at his heartstrings. He wishes he could shield her from the pain, but knows that his actions may only add to her worries.

"Cube," Hyun's voice breaks through the silence of space, his tone a mixture of determination and vulnerability, "remind me again... remind me why I'm doing this."

Cube AI's response is prompt, her voice a soothing balm to Hyun's frayed nerves. "You're doing this for your family, Hyon Hyun. To uncover the truth about your father's death and to bring justice to those responsible. Your courage is commendable."

“No need to put a dressing over it—”

Hyun’s grip tightens on the bike's controls as Cube warns him of the approaching atmospheric entry. With each passing second, the blue orb of Earth looms larger in his view, a stark reminder of the world he's leaving behind and the unknown dangers that await him beyond.

“I want revenge, that’s all, Cube… That’s all…”

Hyun circulates his magic power within him, feeling the familiar surge as barriers spring up around his vehicle, shielding it from prying eyes. With practiced precision, he activates the anti-tracking pulsar of his vehicle, ensuring that no one, especially his formidable Uncle Jonghak or Uncle Hosup, can trace his movements. The space bike seamlessly transitions into stealth mode, blending into the darkness of space.

As Hyun hurtles through the atmosphere, the sensation is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. The rough ride jostles him around, but he maintains control, gritting his teeth against the impact. With a loud crash, his ride finally touches down on the sandy beach of the Korean peninsula. It's midnight, and the darkness offers him cover as he surveys his surroundings.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Hyun unbuckles his harness and steps out onto the soft sand. Despite the rough landing, he's relieved to find himself relatively unscathed. His heart pounds in his chest as he glances around, the beach deserted save for the gentle lapping of waves against the shore.

"Cube," he whispers, his voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean. "Are we safe?"

Cube AI responds reassuringly, and her voice has been a steady presence in Hyun’s mind. "We're undetected, Hyon Hyun. No one knows we're here."

Relief floods through him as he takes a moment to collect himself. But there's no time to waste. He knows he needs to act fast if he's going to… kill someone.

With determination coursing through his veins, Hyun sets off into the night, his footsteps leaving faint imprints in the sand as he ventures into the unknown.

………….

………

……

…

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Evandel storms into her brother's secret garage, her brow furrowed in frustration and worry. She casts a quick glance around the dimly lit space, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings for any sign of her younger sibling.

"Where is he?" Evandel mutters under her breath, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She strides over to the nearest console, her fingers flying over the controls as she attempts to access the security logs. But her efforts are in vain; Hyun has always been one step ahead when it comes to covering his tracks.

Hyun is quite handy with techy stuff too, since he has been personally taught by Cube AI and Hosup.

Frustration bubbles up inside her as she turns to Hyun’s accomplice, Cube AI. Evandel looks at the smartwatch strapped securely around her wrist. "Cube," she demands, her voice tinged with urgency, "where is Hyun going?"

The response she receives is not what she expects. "I'm sorry, Evandel," Cube replies with her synthetic voice seemingly calm and unwavering, "but I can't disclose Hyun's whereabouts. You'll have to figure this out on your own."

Evandel's jaw clenches in frustration at the AI's refusal to cooperate. She knows Cube is programmed to prioritize Hyun's orders, but that doesn't make her task any easier. With a resigned sigh, she knows she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands.

Determined to track down her wayward brother, Evandel storms out of the garage, her mind racing with possibilities. She knows she'll have to act fast if she's going to catch up to him before it's too late.

But with each passing moment, the knot of worry in her stomach tightens, reminding her of the possible dangers her brother might face alone. While some within Cube City have an illusion that they are superior to Earth’s denizens, that doesn’t mean Earth is an easy place.

Hells—! When the Devil Invasion War began, there were a lot of people who had shown to be sufficiently powerful even without the Nine Stars… Though Sinful has helped from behind the scenes, Evandel can fairly remember this Earth's ‘Black Lotus’ who has been quite a powerhouse.

“Wait,” Evandel realizes something. “Black Lotus is... Kim Hajin. Isn't he? That’s public knowledge within the organization, but why does it feel like I am compelled to think Kim Hajind doesn't exist… There are many Kim Hajin from different timelines… Here in Cube City alone, we have multiple Kim Hajins. Don’t tell me Hyun thinks that the Kim Hajin from this Earth is the same one he thinks who killed Dad?”

This is it! Evandel cannot believe how her usually smart brother is being so stupid! Of course, the Council has checked on that possibility and they have deemed it a negative—

If her brother has gone to Earth for the purpose of revenge, then he might be killed! The Black Lotus's Kim Hajin of this iteration of this particular Earth is not a pushover— and among the Kim Hajins, they even admitted this Kim Hajin, in particular, has been a version of themselves that they envy.

“Hyon Hyun! I swear, I am going to teach you a lesson for real this time!”