Chapter ; 7.
(As Hokan was heading home after hearing the King's speech, with Mena by his side, a mysterious masked man suddenly stood in front of them and began to speak.)
The Masked Man: Hokan, come with me. I need to talk to you about something very important.
Hokan (With surprise): Who are you? And how do you know my name?
The Masked Man: There is no time for these talks right now. Your life and your mother's life are in danger.
Hokan: What are you saying? Who is going to kill me and my mother?
The Masked Man: I will tell you everything. First, come with me. And you, Mena—will you come with me too?
Mena: How do you know both of our names?
The Masked Man: Come with me first. I promise I will tell you both everything and I will not cause either of you any harm.
Hokan: If it's true that someone is going to kill me and my mother, then I will go with you.
Mena: I will also come with you.
(The man led Hokan and Mena to a secret underground room far from the city.)
Hokan: Where have you brought us? What kind of place is this?
(The masked man removed his mask, and he was none other than Doctor Suhon.)
Doctor Suhon (With affection): Look, Hokan. I am a scientist friend of your father, Hong. I have called you here so I can tell you that the King of this city is a fake King, and he wants to have you and your mother killed.
Hokan: If you are my father's friend, then tell me... why do these people dislike my father even though he saved their lives by giving up ten years of his own? And how is the King of this city a fake? Tell me everything!
Doctor Suhon: Four hundred years in the future, when humans had created everything they needed and technology had made human life extremely easy... it was then that because of a Demon—who wanted your father's heart—everything changed. Your father killed that Demon, but before dying, the Demon said to the people: "I am sending you all to the timeline of 400 years ago. In that timeline, you will all become weak, and my ten million Titans will crush you. If you all want to go back to your own timeline, then cut out the heart of this Demon girl, Suha, and crush it. You will return to your timeline."
Doctor Suhon (Continuing): As soon as your father heard this, he killed the Demon right then, but it was of no use. As soon as the Titans created by the Demon screamed, a white light appeared before everyone's eyes. When they opened their eyes, the sight before them was a world from 400 years ago. Because of that Titan's scream, humanity from 400 years in the future had arrived in the timeline of 400 years ago, when humans had no technology.
Hokan: But why did that Demon send all of you to the timeline of 400 years ago?
Doctor Suhon: The Demon's purpose was to finish us all by making us weak. In the timeline we were living in, we had modern weapons through which we might have been able to stop the Titans at the cost of some humanity. But that Demon wanted to kill everyone, especially Suha. That is why, before dying, he lied to the people that to return from the timeline of 400 years ago, Suha's heart must be crushed.
Doctor Suhon (Continuing): As soon as we came back 400 years, we all got scared seeing those ten million Titans in front of us. But your father did not worry about the rest of the world. He used a power he received from Suha called the "Power of Creating," through which he could create any non-living thing. In exchange for creating a massive object, he had to lose ten years of his life. Seeing those ten million Titans, Hong did not care about the ten years of his life and created a very large and powerful Wall, which encircled the Japan of 400 years ago. All of us Japanese people were saved from the torment of those Titans.
Doctor Suhon (Continuing): Then, everyone prepared to kill Suha. But your father took the responsibility of protecting Suha upon himself. He told the people that whoever touched Suha would be killed. He made the people believe that killing Suha would not take us back to our timeline. But the man who has become King today was a rich and greedy man from 400 years in the future. He was not from a royal family. Because the people of this city knew him, he tempted them with greed, saying that if we all return to our timeline, he would make everyone wealthy with his riches. After your father's death, he spent ten years winning the people's trust. He told the people: "If you choose me as your King, I will take you back to our timeline and make you all rich. But for that, we must kill Suha." By saying this, he turned the people of this city against you and your mother. It is possible that today he will send his soldiers to capture you and your mother to hang you in front of everyone tomorrow.
Hokan: But how did you get so much information about the King?
Doctor Suhon: A spy of mine is very close to the King. It was he who informed me today that the King will try to catch you and your mother tonight. But do not worry; the man who captures you will be my spy. Whatever he says, do not take his words badly. No matter how he behaves with you, do not do anything, because you also have some dangerous powers inside you like your father.
Hokan: Do I also have powers inside me?
Doctor Suhon: Yes, you have powers, but I do not know what kind of powers they are or how they work. Only your mother knows that. I cannot tell you everything.
Hokan: So, when the King is hanging me and my mother, what will we do?
Doctor Suhon: Tomorrow, when they bring you all before the people for the hanging, I will attack that King along with my other men. We will kill the King and save you and your mother. I am doing all this because I made a promise to your father that I would protect his son and your mother. Because after coming back 400 years, your dad had seen everything that was going to happen in the next 100 years. But he only told us about the things for 10 years. While taking his heart's last heartbeat, he said: "My son will handle everything." That is why you are now the last hope for this remaining humanity, Hokan. So everyone will have to protect you.
Mena: So Hokan really has powers, but Hokan himself doesn't know how they work. Okay, tell me about me too. Who is the man raising me?
Doctor Suhon: The man raising you is Hokan's grandfather, and you are the daughter of the brother of Hokan's grandfather, Chayon. They did not tell you this because they hated your father, whose name was Takeshi. Your father Takeshi was number one on the list of the top 5 richest men in the city 400 years in the future, and Hokan's grandfather was at number two. That is why Hokan's grandfather hated your father. The day we came back 400 years was the day of your birth. But your parents were killed by the Titan's scream. Hokan's father took the responsibility to raise you without telling anyone. And he hates Hokan because his son Hong married a Demon girl, Suha, and gave birth to Hokan.
Hokan: So that means that man is my father's father, and Mena's father's brother.
Mena: Thank you for giving me all this information.
Doctor Suhon: Now both of you go to your homes, and trust me—I will save both you and your mother.
The Execution Day
(And now, the next day, Hokan and his mother were taken for the hanging. Then the soldier who was bringing Hokan opened Hokan's hands and whispered in his ear.)
The Soldier: Act as if your hands are tied.
(Then Hokan did exactly that act. Mena had been taken away by Hokan's grandfather and was standing among the people waiting for the King's arrival. Then, as soon as the King arrived and saw Suha—who was unconscious—he began to say to the people before hanging her and her son.)
The King: Today, we all will kill this Demon girl and her son and go back to our timeline! And after going back, we will also finish this Wall with our modern weapons! we cannot kill this Demon girl by hanging, but for this, we will hang her and then take out her heart and crush it right here and go back to our timeline! So, are you all ready?!
(All the people screamed loudly: "YES! WE ALL ARE READY!")
(Hearing the noise of the people and the King's words, Hokan went mad with rage, and a red-colored light began to come out of him.)
The Soldier (Suhon's Spy, speaking with fear): What are you going to do? Stay calm! Wait for Doctor Suhon! They must be coming!
(But Hokan had gone mad with rage. He released his hands from that soldier, sat down, and the nails of his hands became very long. Then, as soon as the King turned back and saw Hokan in this condition, he got scared and said:)
The King: Oh no! This boy's Demon power is awakening! Kill him right now!
(As soon as the King said this, Hokan reached the middle of the people standing there with the speed of lightning in a different way. And in no time, all the people there, including the King, were killed before Doctor Suhon's arrival. And those who survived were Hokan's grandfather, Mena, and the soldier who was Doctor Suhon's spy. And the heads of all the rest of the people were lying on the ground.)
(On the execution gallows, Hokan's mother, Suha, lay unconscious, completely unaware of the unfolding carnage. Hokan's grandfather, Mena, and Doctor Suhon's spy—who had miraculously survived Hokan's terrifying assault—stood in a state of absolute shock and immense pressure. Approximately 5,000 people, who were living happily in their timeline 400 years in the future, had been slaughtered 400 years in the past... all at the hands of an 11-year-old boy.)
(As Doctor Suhon's gaze falls upon this horrific scene, he falls to his knees, thinking with intense dread and anxiety:)
Doctor Suhon (Thinking): Oh no... what has happened? we only planned to kill the King, but here, every single person has been killed. Only Hokan's grandfather, Mena, Suha, and my spy have survived. Everyone else is dead...
(Doctor Suhon's companions, who had joined him on this mission, saw him on his knees and sensed something was wrong. One of them spoke up:)
Companion 1: Doctor Suhon, what happened?
(As he looked at the scene ahead, he gasped in terror and shock.)
Companion 1: Oh no! Who could have done this?
Doctor Suhon (Trembling with fear): Only one person could have done this... it could only be Hokan. Only four people are left alive there—Hokan's grandfather, Mena, Suha, and my spy. Everyone else is gone. But where is Hokan? There is no sign of him.
Companion 2: Doctor Suhon! There is a child lying here, soaked in blood!
(Hearing this, Doctor Suhon rushed to the child and checked his pulse.)
Doctor Suhon: It seems he used his power to kill every human here, and due to the immense pressure of that power, he has lost consciousness.
Companion 1: What are you saying? Where did such massive power come from in such a small child?
Doctor Suhon: He is Hong's son. Undoubtedly, he possesses powers even more formidable than Hong's—powers that only his mother knows about. Listen, Bakoun, take this child to a safe place. I will investigate this horrific scene and follow you shortly.
Bakoun (The strongest among Suhon's companions): Yes, Doctor Suhon. I will take the child to a safe place right now.
(Doctor Suhon then approached Hokan's grandfather, Mr. Chayon.)
Doctor Suhon: What happened here that caused all these people to be killed, leaving only four survivors?
Mr. Chayon: I knew it... my son married a Demon girl and gave birth to another Demon. This Demon child did all of this. He cannot have a human heart inside him!
Doctor Suhon: If he didn't have a human heart, he would have killed everyone here. Look! He didn't kill his own people. He didn't kill Mena, his mother, you, or my spy. He did all this to save his mother's life. But tell me one thing, Mr. Chayon... you knew this King was a fake and not from the Royal Family—your family is the Royal one. How were you deceived by him?
Mr. Chayon: I knew this man claiming to be King was a greedy liar. I wasn't deceived. He wanted to kill Suha to return to our timeline, and that's why I didn't raise my voice against him. You also know that if Suha's heart stops beating, we can go back to our timeline!
Doctor Suhon: It is not like that at all. That Demon lied just to get Suha killed. Crushing her heart won't take us back.
Mr. Chayon: What do you mean? Was that Demon lying to the whole world?
Doctor Suhon: Yes. That Demon wanted to kill Suha first, and then the whole world. In that Demon's eyes, even if Hong saved the city from the Titans, the Demon wanted Suha to be killed by the very people Hong saved. That's why he told that lie.
Mr. Chayon: Do you think I will believe whatever you say?
Doctor Suhon: Eleven years ago, the day Hokan was born was his father's last day. Before dying, Hong saw everything that would happen in the next 100 years. He told us Suha would die in the next 15 years and her heart would stop, but we still wouldn't be able to return to our timeline. He said only his son would save the remaining humanity.
Mr. Chayon: That is a lie! His son just sent 5,000 people to their deaths. How will he save humanity?
Doctor Suhon: Only time will tell if he saves humanity or destroys it. I must go now. Even though the people of Japan are in the timeline of 400 years ago, they are still alive and well because of your son—don't forget that. I will personally take Hokan to court. His life will be decided there—whether he lives or dies. The fake King is gone, but the court will demand an account for the 5,000 lives Hokan took.
(Doctor Suhon took Suha and his spy to the secret underground room.)
Doctor Suhon: Has Hokan regained consciousness?
Bakoun: No, he has been unconscious since we arrived.
Doctor Suhon: Fine, Bakoun. Take the horses outside to graze.
Bakoun: Alright, Doctor Suhon. I'm going.
Doctor Suhon (To his spy): Now, tell me every single detail of what happened when Hokan slaughtered those 5,000 people.
(The spy recounted every detail. Suddenly, another companion, an informant, arrived with urgent news.)
Informant: Doctor Suhon! The Government of the city has received news of today's massacre. They have ordered Hokan and his mother to appear in court!
Doctor Suhon (To himself): Oh no. If the Government issues an order to kill Hokan, it will be impossible to keep him alive. And Hokan is the last hope for humanity.
(To the informant): Fine. I will take them to court myself. I will fight their case as their lawyer.
(After a while, Suha opened her eyes and saw Suhon.)
Suha: Doctor Suhon? How are you here? Where am I? Where is my son? Was he hanged? If so, I will not leave that King alive!
Doctor Suhon: Calm down, Suha. Your son is perfectly fine, though he is currently unconscious.
Suha (Worried): Why? What happened to him that made him lose consciousness?
Doctor Suhon: I will tell you everything from start to finish.
(After Suhon finished the explanation, Suha spoke with deep concern.)
Suha: What I feared has happened. The powers my son inherited from his father's DNA and my Kaluter DNA are very dangerous. So far, only two of his forms have unlocked; three remain. The first form is Light Speed—he can travel at the speed of lightning. The second is the power to transform any part of his body into a deadly weapon. The remaining three are yet to unlock. I knew as soon as I felt his first two powers that if he ever got angry, he would destroy everything in his path. The first two powers activate only when he is consumed by madness and rage.
Doctor Suhon: If that's true, why did he spare you, his grandfather, Mena, and my spy when he killed 5,000 people?
Suha: I believe my son's heart is human, not a demon's. That is why he did not take the lives of his own people during the attack.
(Suddenly, Hokan opened his eyes.)
Hokan: Where am I? Oh, this is the same place Doctor Suhon brought me and Mena before.
Doctor Suhon: Yes, son. This was a secret place for your father and me. We used to do our planning here.
Hokan: What kind of planning did you and my father do?
Doctor Suhon: Just planning for small tasks...
Hokan (Noticing his mother): Mom! What are you doing here? You should have been at home. How did you get here?
Doctor Suhon (Thinking): It seems Hokan has forgotten everything—that he took 5,000 lives. It's better if he doesn't know.
(Aloud): Oh, have you forgotten? Your mother fell ill today, and while bringing her to me, you lost consciousness yourself.
Hokan: Oh, really? I don't feel like I did that.
Suha (Sternly but lovingly): Be quiet and come to me. I want to hug you.
(Hearing this, Hokan forgot everything and happily hugged his mother.)
Hokan: Okay, let go now, Mom! I really need to use the washroom!
(Suha let him go, laughing.)
Hokan: Where is the washroom, Doctor Suhon? Tell me quickly!
Doctor Suhon: Go straight and then to the left.
(After Hokan left...)
Doctor Suhon: It's good he doesn't remember. But there is a massive problem. The Japan Government has summoned you and Hokan to court today. They know about the 5,000 lives he took. They will decide if you two deserve to live.
Suha: What are you saying? This can't be! If an order is issued to kill my son, what will I do? You know he is the only one who can fix humanity—my husband said so!
Doctor Suhon: I know. That's why I will fight your case. But the problem is Hokan doesn't remember— Oh, son, you're back from the washroom?
(Hokan stood there. His eyes were shadowed, and his face looked strangely cold.)
Suha: Son, what's wrong? Why do you look so sad?
(Suddenly, Hokan began to laugh loudly. With a chilling, devilish smile, he spoke:)
Hokan: So... all those people died by my hands after all? Hahahaha! I remember everything now! I remember exactly how I slit their throats! Anyone who makes me angry will have to taste the flavor of my torment!