MTLNOVEL Chapter 18: Jeju Island
With renewed determination, Zion grabbed his pen and started drafting a checklist. The next month would be grueling, but he was ready to endure every second of it.
One Month Later
Time passed quickly, but the scars left behind by the tragedy still lingered. In just a month, nearly 40% of Germany had become an unrecognizable battlefield, torn apart by relentless conflict. Despite the chaos, over a hundred students from various schools across Germany had willingly signed up for the Kitler Youth Program, hoping to gain the strength necessary to survive or perhaps, to seek revenge.
Surprisingly, the training itself wouldn't happen in Germany. Instead, the program was relocated to Jeju Island, South Korea, under the supervision of Korea's elite hunters and strategists.
Aboard the Final Plane to Korea
Zion sat quietly near the window on the last of the transport planes, his fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the armrest. Beside him, Yin was fast asleep, her soft breathing barely audible over the steady hum of the engines.
Zion slowly opened his palm, whispering a single word under his breath.
"Lock."
A dark, shifting energy began to swirl in his hand, pulsating with raw, untapped power. The formless void flickered, occasionally shifting into the shape of a chain, then dissolving back into smoke. Zion's eyes narrowed.
"So this is the power you wielded, Master…" he thought, memories of his fallen mentor flashing through his mind.
For the entire month, Zion had relentlessly trained with Lock, trying to grasp even a fraction of its potential. From manipulating pebbles to attempting to restrain wild animals, he pushed himself to the brink. Yet no matter how much he tried, mastering it felt impossible.
"No wonder you only managed to ascend it… This power isn't something just anyone can control." Zion clenched his fist, the dark energy dissipating into thin air.
Arrival at Jeju Island – South Korea
The planes touched down smoothly on the runway, the salty breeze of the sea mingling with the distant scent of grass and soil. As the students stepped out onto the tarmac, they were greeted by a group of S-Class Hunters standing in formation. Their aura alone made the air feel heavier.
A single man stepped forward from the line his towering figure clad entirely in medieval full-plate armor, with twin swords crossed on his back. His helmet, shaped like a roaring lion, made his presence even more intimidating.
"Welcome, everyone," the knight's voice echoed through his helmet, cold yet filled with authority. "I am Mighty Knight, South Korea's only SS-Ranked Hunter."
The students whispered among themselves, some intimidated, others skeptical. Mighty Knight ignored them, raising a gauntleted hand and gesturing toward a massive structure just beyond the runway.
It was a warehouse, but unlike any warehouse they'd ever seen. The structure was almost entirely overtaken by nature thick tree roots crawling up the sides, patches of grass and moss covering the walls, and vines hanging like curtains over the entrance.
"This," Mighty Knight declared, "is where you will train. Mr. Ozin designed every inch of it, down to the smallest detail. Consider this your new home."
As the heavy gates creaked open, the students got their first look inside. Instead of training facilities, sparring areas, or advanced equipment, they saw rows of cold, metallic prison cells lining the walls, stacked on top of each other like some dystopian fortress.
The students erupted in confusion.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Are we training… or being imprisoned?!"
"I knew it! This program was a cover for something!"
Zion stood at the back, arms crossed, silently observing the chaos. His brow furrowed as he scanned the facility.
"This place… It's either a test, or Ozin's preparing us for something far worse than we expected."
His mind briefly wandered back to Andrea — the fiery girl he had fought beside during the initial tragedy.
"Looks like Andrea didn't join. Probably went back home to Korea…" He sighed. "Damn. Didn't even get her number."
As the shouting and protests continued, Zion stepped inside the warehouse, his footsteps echoing off the steel floor. Whatever lay ahead, this was only the beginning.
As they walked further, the facilities and sparring rooms came into clearer view, each detail becoming sharper the closer they got.
"This area is where you'll do your daily basic training," Mighty Knight explained, his voice echoing slightly in the open space. "Some sections are still under construction — after all, one month is barely enough time to set everything up."
"So he basically lied when he said everything was done down to the last detail..." Zion muttered, disappointment flickering across his face.
They continued walking until they reached a dead end — or so it seemed. Suddenly, a hand scanner emerged from the wall. Mighty Knight removed his metal gloves, placing his bare hand on the scanner. As the machine read his palm, the wall shifted, intricate patterns glowing as a hidden entrance slid open.
"Wow… just like my old hideout," Zion thought, nostalgia mixing with bitterness. "Though mine's probably nothing but rubble now."
The newly revealed passage led to a staircase shrouded in complete darkness, stretching downward like a path into the abyss itself. The air grew heavy, an unsettling sensation crawling across their skin as their body hair stood on end.
"And now… this is the best part," Mighty Knight said, a grin audible even through his roaring lion-shaped helmet.
They descended, step after step, deeper into the consuming blackness. The oppressive atmosphere wrapped around them, making each breath feel heavier. Eventually, they stood before a massive door, its surface etched with ancient carvings.
With a sharp clap of his hands, Mighty Knight summoned a bright light, illuminating the entire area. The door slowly creaked open, and the students' eyes widened in awe at what lay beyond.