Neo-Seoul was a city on edge, its neon-lit streets buzzing with panic as news of the United States' impending strike sent citizens into a frenzy. Protests clogged plazas, signs decrying war and Genesis's terror swaying under flickering mana shields. The Korean government, still reeling from their scapegoat ploy, scrambled to fortify defenses, while Minister Jae-hoon Lee's fire affinity blazed in private, his labs on high alert for any chance to seize Min-jun Park's Black Heart. The Korean SDF, led by Commander Hyeon-soo Choi, worked tirelessly to de-escalate, dispatching envoys to Washington with proof of Genesis's manipulation. Meanwhile, the U.S. SDF branch, under their telekinetic commander, mirrored the effort, pleading with their government to stand down. Both SDF factions fought a desperate battle to avert war, their peacekeeping mandate strained against the tide of global mistrust.
In Tokyo, Aiko Tanaka's Eclipse Collective uncovered a bombshell: three to five U.S. citizens—high-ranking officials and a rogue SDF operative—were embedded in Genesis, orchestrating the Times Square attack to frame Korea and Japan. The Collective leaked the evidence—encrypted comms, mana signatures, and financial trails—to the U.S. government and SDF, bypassing diplomatic red tape. The revelation hit like a shockwave. The U.S. Secretary of Defense, faced with proof of internal betrayal, halted the planned strike. "Attacking Asia now would be a declaration of war—on our own soil's traitors," he announced, redirecting resources to hunt Genesis operatives domestically. The move bought breathing room, but the world remained a powder keg, with Genesis's "Exodus" looming.
At Haneul Academy, Min-jun Park and his Recruit Squad—Ji-hoon Kim, Soo-jin Han, and Hye-jin Moon—felt the weight of their sidelined status under Third Division Captain Soo-jin Lee's command. School life was a facade of normalcy, with envious glares and half-hearted apologies trailing Min-jun like shadows. Ji-hoon's kinetic bursts sparked restlessly during training, his frustration palpable. "We're stuck here while the world's about to blow," he muttered, shattering a practice target. Soo-jin, emboldened by Hye-jin's encouragement, stayed close to Min-jun, her illusions softening the tension around him. Hye-jin, ever the instigator, teased, "Captain, if you don't notice Soo-jin's glow soon, I'll blast you with sound waves myself."
But Min-jun's focus snapped to a new mystery. During a quiet moment in the library, an anonymous message pinged his encrypted SDF communicator. The words chilled him: *"We are not the bad guys here. Sure, our methods may be viewed as evil, but for change to happen, it is necessary. Our goal is to break down the government system and end their evil ways. I'm sure you've faced what the government is capable of—scheming to gain authority over us. The SDF protects and keeps peace, but for how long? You've seen the government's power moves. What is the SDF doing? They're tasked with good, but what about the harm governments inflict in secret? You may feel safe with the SDF, but what happens if you lose control, or other countries discover your worth? We know what you have and have the resources to train and protect you from any threat. You're only using leaked Black Heart energy—come to us, let us help you tap its true power, and together we'll build a peaceful world."*
The message, signed with Genesis's fractured-heart symbol, sent Min-jun's thoughtful mind into overdrive. Was this Captain Lee's ploy, leveraging his Black Lotus ties? Or Genesis itself, sensing his power's potential? The Black Heart stirred, its whispers of blood and chaos tempting him, but his grandfather's mantra—"Control your heart"—held firm. He shared the message with Ji-hoon, whose eyes blazed. "They're trying to recruit you, man. Screw that—pact still stands. You lose it, I'll stop you, but no way you're joining those psychos."
Soo-jin, overhearing, gripped his arm, her illusions flickering with worry. "Min-jun, don't even think about it. We're your squad—we'll protect you." Hye-jin nodded, her sound powers amplifying her voice. "Genesis is playing you. They're drowning cities in blood for their 'peace.' Stay with us."
The squad's loyalty anchored him, but the message's truth gnawed: the government's labs, the SDF's traitor, the global chaos—could Genesis exploit his Black Heart better than the SDF could protect it? Third Division's next mission loomed, a Genesis-linked operation that could pull Min-jun deeper into the traitor's web. As the world braced for more attacks, his shadows coiled, ready for the inevitable gore.