Iseul, Mi-cha's mother a beautiful and elegant lady with astonishing golden iris and raven Black Hair, she was dressed in a prominent attire, was starting to get worried. She and her husband, Gunhee- a Huge man with a scar near his eye and brown eyes with dark hair, had been searching for Mi-cha everywhere, but she was nowhere to be found.
"Where could she be?" Iseul asked Gunhee, her brow furrowed with concern.
Gunhee shook his head. "I don't know. We've looked everywhere. Maybe she's with her friends?"
Iseul nodded. "Maybe. But she always tells us where she's going. This isn't like her."
Just then, one of the school staff members approached them. "Excuse me, are you Mi-cha's parents?"
Iseul and Gunhee exchanged a hopeful glance. "Yes, we are. Have you seen her?"
The staff member nodded. "Yes, I saw her earlier. She was with Muhan, one of the students. They were dancing at the party"
Iseul's expression softened. "Oh, that's a relief. We were worried sick."
Gunhee smiled. "We'll go find her. Thank you for telling us."
As they made their way to the party, Iseul turned to Gunhee. "You know, I think it's time we met this Muhan boy. He seems to be quite important to Mi-cha."
Gunhee nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's go meet him."
As they arrived at the party, Iseul and Gunhee scanned the area, but couldn't find Mi-cha and Muhan. They decided to take a stroll outside, where they stumbled upon the couple sitting on a bench. Muhan was chatting away, while Mi-cha gazed at him adoringly, clearly captivated by his features.
Iseul and Gunhee approached them, and Mi-cha, startled by her parents' sudden appearance, jumped up and made the introductions. "Dad, Mom, this is Muhan, my boyfriend."
Gunhee's eyes narrowed, his gaze intense. "So, this is the boy you're always talking about," he said, his voice low and serious. "Is he strong?" His eyes gleamed with a bright, dark red light, a hint of his powerful aura.
Iseul placed a gentle hand on Gunhee's back, intervening before he could intimidate Muhan. "Honey, give the boy a break," she said with a chuckle. "And I can see he's quite handsome." Her face flushed slightly, betraying her own reaction to Muhan's charm.
Muhan, undaunted by Gunhee's intense gaze, stepped forward and took Iseul's hand. He kissed it gently, like a true gentleman. "It's an honor to meet Mi-cha's prominent family and beautiful mom," he said, his smile disarming.
Iseul's eyes sparkled with amusement. "He's a gentleman, and quite the charmer," she said, laughing. "I can see why you can't stop talking about him, Mi-cha."
Mi-cha rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Well, Mom…" She exchanged a knowing glance with Muhan, both of them aware of the effect his charm had on the people around him, including her mom now.
Gunhee, still eyeing Muhan intently, asked, "What sect are you from, boy?" His tone was gruff, but his eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity.
Muhan's thoughts racing, "Ohh shit, we're screwed."
Mi-cha's eyes closed, her mind pleading, "Oh no, I can't bear to be separated from him, please Dad, please."
Muhan's voice steady, "I'm a Jonjae, Sir."
Gunhee's face calm, but his eyes blazing with intensity, walked over to Muhan, grasping his shoulder with one hand. "Boy, you do know what sect we are?" he asked, his voice low and menacing.
Muhan's gaze dropped, acknowledging the unspoken threat.
Gunhee's voice took on a slightly softer tone. "Not that I don't like you, boy, but if she's placed in danger because of this relationship, can you protect her?", what will you do when an opposing sect wishes to get rid her.
Muhan's confidence unwavering, "Yes, I can protect her."
Mi-cha's tears welled up, knowing her father wouldn't let Muhan off easily. Iseul's reassuring hand on her shoulder offered little comfort.
Gunhee's eyes glinting with challenge, "If you can put a scratch on me, then I'll let you be with Mi-cha."
Muhan's response cut off, "Sir, with all due respect."
Gunhee's gesture abrupt, "Come along, boy. Let's see what you're made of."
The group followed Gunhee to the school's sparring ground, the air thick with tension. Mi-cha's heart racing, she knew her father wouldn't go easy on Muhan. Iseul's supportive presence beside her offered little reassurance.
As they arrived at the sparring ground, Gunhee turned to Muhan, his eyes flashing with anticipation. "Let's see if you're worthy of my daughter."
With a fierce determination burning in his eyes, Gunhee cracked his knuckles, ready to put Muhan to the test. Muhan, undaunted by the daunting challenge ahead, steeled himself, his mind racing with strategies to counter Gunhee's formidable strength.
As the two faced off on the sparring ground, the air was electric with tension. Mi-cha's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes fixed anxiously on Muhan. Iseul's reassuring presence beside her offered little comfort, as she knew her husband's incredible power.
"Let's begin," Gunhee said, his voice low and menancing.
You know, Mi-cha told me a lot about you, sir, I heard that you were among the number of prominent nobles that were contending for the position of Demi-god in the realm of Aethoria said Muhan with a smirk, Gunhee replied his voice laced with a hint of amusement; Oh, I see you've done some digging on me, however.... Before he could continue, Muhan replied; You know my Dad, Han Lockhart, is among the contestants, so basically he's your rival. Gunhee smiled; I know your Dad, not long ago me and and him where struggling for rulership on a certain Galaxy, in the universe called Glacier, that put both the Lockhart family and the Lawson family at a terrible conflict, and being that where both from rivalling sects, it added to the conflict.
I see, but what caused for the contending of the position of Demi-god, Muhan asked.
Gunhee replied; You see the Demi-god of our realm was quite the lazy one, he couldn't attend duely to the needs of the realm.
I understand sir, I'll prove to you that I can protect Mi-cha, Muhan said his confidence unwavering
You're quite interesting, alright let's get on with it, said Gunhee
As Gunhee charged towards Muhan with lightning-fast speed, Muhan charged back, determined to defend himself. However, just as Muhan was about to land a punch on Gunhee, he realized it was an after-image. Gunhee casually hit Muhan from behind, sending him crashing to the ground with incredible force. The impact was so strong that it broke a small part of the sparring ground.
As Muhan struggled to get back up, Gunhee effortlessly held his head up with one hand. Muhan's head was bleeding, and his eyes glowed dimly blue, a clear indication that he was being easily overpowered.
Gunhee then released Muhan, who looked over at Mi-cha and Iseul. Iseul was encouraging Mi-cha, who cried softly. Gunhee's expression turned serious as he said, "You see, you might think you're strong, but you haven't seen anything. Just imagine an army of Jonjae or Pjeonjaeham, each one as strong as me, or an assassin threatening Mi-cha's life. You are not yet strong… so, sorry kid."
Muhan's gaze met Mi-cha's, and he saw the tears and love in her eyes. She telepathically whispered to him, "You can do this… prove to my Dad that you're strong enough to protect me, and…"
Before she finished, Muhan replied telepathically, "Your Dad's right… I'm not strong enough yet to protect you."
But Mi-cha's words poured out, uninterrupted, "I can't bear to be separated from you… Muhan, I… I love you too much."
Muhan's heart ached, and he knew he had to make a choice: walk away and abandon Mi-cha or find a way to become stronger and prove himself worthy of her love and protection.
Mi-cha's telepathic voice echoed in Muhan's mind, "Muhan, do it! Show him you're not a kid. Show my Dad that you can protect me… please."
Gunhee gazed at Muhan, who struggled to get up, his aura bursting forth in a calm, blue radiance. Gunhee's expression turned thoughtful, "I admire your fighting spirit, however, this is a one-sided battle, and…"
Before he could finish, Muhan vanished and reappeared in front of Gunhee in less than a feptosecond. With a swift motion, Muhan unleashed his skill 'Extreme Punch', wrapping his hand with Aether. The empty space around them began to distort, as if reality itself was bending to accommodate the attack.
The Aether energy manipulated the space, creating a pocket dimension that transcended the vast expanse of a Hyperverse. Muhan, Mi-cha, Gunhee, and Iseul were enveloped within this dimension, where the laws of physics and space seemed to be defied.
As the punch hurtled towards Gunhee, he dodged it with ease, the attack sending shockwaves throughout the pocket dimension. Gunhee's smile hinted at his interest, "Interesting."
Muhan's eyes flashed with determination as he punched again, this time faster. His Aether energy surged, colliding with his dark blue aura, which lined his body like a intricate art. His hair flashed red, as if electrified, before returning to its normal black color. Two strands of hair fell forward, framing his face, as his iris glowed with a bright, neon-lit blue light.
Muhan's aura surrounded his body, shining with a brilliant blue radiance. With a mere thought, he halted the flow of time within the pocket dimension, his calm expression a stark contrast to the turmoil around him. He locked eyes with Gunhee, the air thick with anticipation.