The hours before Min-jun Park's trial ticked away like a countdown to doom, the weight of Neo-Seoul's neon-lit chaos pressing down on everyone involved. In his mana-suppressing cell, Min-jun meditated, his cool-headed mind a fortress against the Black Heart's restless whispers. The government's trap—branding him a murderer through staged civilian casualties—had painted him as a public menace, and their labs awaited, scalpels gleaming for his unique power. The Special Defense Force (SDF) scrambled to save him, but their Recruit Squad Program needed a fourth member to grant Min-jun captaincy and full SDF immunity. With the trial mere hours away, desperation gripped his allies.
At Haneul Academy, Ji-hoon Kim was a storm of frenetic energy, his Asta-like enthusiasm fraying into near-panic as he pored over student data in the library. His kinetic bursts crackled, papers fluttering as he cross-referenced mana aptitudes, searching for the elusive fourth recruit. "Come on, someone's gotta step up," he muttered, sweat beading on his brow. His smarts were stretched thin, haunted by his childhood pact with Min-jun—to stop him if the Black Heart took over. Failure now meant losing his best friend to government labs or worse.
A voice cut through his focus, teasing yet familiar. "Jeez, look at you acting all smart. It doesn't suit you—I mean, you looking like a clown wearing glasses to act smart." Ji-hoon spun around, heart skipping, to see a girl leaning against a bookshelf, her smirk sharp and playful. Hye-jin Moon, with jet-black hair and eyes that sparked with mischief, stood with her arms crossed, her sound manipulation powers subtly vibrating the air. She'd had a crush on Ji-hoon since elementary school, her bold personality a constant in their childhood games before she moved to Incheon during middle school.
"Hye-jin?" Ji-hoon blinked, stunned. "What the—when did you get back?"
She grinned, tossing a crumpled transfer notice. "Sorry, I'm a bit late. I promised to help you anytime you needed it, remember? My transfer to Haneul got delayed—paperwork nonsense. Hope it's not too late to save your boy Min-jun." Her voice softened, but her confidence held. Hye-jin's sound powers could disrupt mana flows or amplify attacks, making her a perfect fit for the squad—and her history with Ji-hoon added a spark of trust.
Ji-hoon didn't hesitate, dialing Klara Weiss, the SDF's telepathic "instructor." "Klara, we got her—Hye-jin Moon, sound affinity, just transferred back. She's in for Min-jun's squad." Klara's voice crackled through: "Bring her to the base, now. We've got minutes to formalize this."
At the SDF base, Second Division Captain Ji-yeon Kim and Vice Captain Seung-ho Han finalized the squad paperwork: Min-jun as captain, Ji-hoon, Soo-jin Han, and now Hye-jin Moon. "It's a gamble," Ji-yeon said, her earth powers steadying her nerves. "But with four, we can claim Min-jun as an SDF asset. The government won't like it, but international law's on our side."
Meanwhile, Aiko Tanaka, barred from the squad by diplomatic restrictions, worked frantically from her dorm. Her Eclipse Collective contacts in Tokyo had dug up evidence—encrypted chats linking Black Lotus to government operatives who staged the "civilian" attack. She sent it to the SDF, hoping to delay the trial, but the response was slow. Her wind powers rustled restlessly, her feelings for Min-jun tangled with guilt over her limited role.
Soo-jin Han, fresh from her visit to Min-jun, stood with Seung-ho at the courthouse gates, her illusions ready to cause a distraction if needed. Her crush on Min-jun burned brighter, her resolve to see him free outweighing the public's scorn. But as she scanned the crowd, she caught Hye-jin arriving with Ji-hoon, their easy banter stirring a pang of jealousy—not for Min-jun, but for the history Hye-jin shared with her friend.
The courthouse loomed, a cold monolith swarming with reporters and government drones, their cameras primed to capture Min-jun's downfall. Inside, the trial began with brutal efficiency. The judge, a stern woman with telepathic powers aligned with Minister Jae-hoon Lee, presented the case: "Min-jun Park, charged with unlawful mana use and endangering civilians, resulting in grievous harm." The prosecution played the doctored footage—shadows tearing through "innocents," blood soaking the scene—ignoring Black Lotus's role. Min-jun stood in mana cuffs, his handsome face composed, his thoughtful eyes scanning the room for allies.
Ten minutes in, as the judge prepared to deliver a swift verdict, the courtroom doors burst open. SDF troops marched in, led by Ji-yeon Kim and Seung-ho Han, their mana auras flaring—earth, illusions, lightning from trailing First Division Captain Min-soo Kang. Ji-hoon, Soo-jin, and Hye-jin followed, their presence a bold statement. Ji-yeon's voice cut through the murmurs: "Min-jun Park is an SDF asset, captain of a newly formed Recruit Squad under our Recruit Squad Program. As a full member, he's granted immunity under international SDF law, exempt from civilian prosecution."
Gasps echoed. The judge faltered, her telepathic probe brushing Ji-yeon's resolve. "This is irregular," she snapped. "The government has jurisdiction—"
"Not over an SDF member," Seung-ho countered, illusions making his words resonate. "Check the treaty, Article 17. His squad is formalized: Ji-hoon Kim, Soo-jin Han, Hye-jin Moon, with Min-jun as captain."
The prosecution scrambled, but Aiko's Eclipse Collective evidence hit the SDF's channels, leaked to reporters outside: proof the "civilians" were government plants. The crowd erupted, cameras flashing as the narrative shifted. Jae-hoon Lee, watching from a secure feed, burned with fury, his fire mana scorching his desk.
The judge, cornered by law and public pressure, relented. "Charges dropped. Min-jun Park is released to SDF custody." The cuffs fell, shadows flickering briefly as Min-jun stood free, his cool gaze meeting Ji-hoon's relieved grin, Soo-jin's tearful smile, and Hye-jin's approving nod.
But as they left the courthouse, Min-jun sensed eyes on him—government drones, Black Lotus spies, and Aiko, watching from a distance, her wind powers stirring the air. The SDF had won this round, but the Black Heart's shadow loomed, and the government's labs waited, hungry for their prize.