(a/n: i just changed the title and re-updated it. you can scroll to the next chap!)

Cale could only stare at the red meteorite in bewilderment.

It was... small. Smaller than what he had expected based on the dragon's description from the novel, at least.

"You..."

His calm gaze shifted towards Han Donghoon, who flinched at the call of his own name.

"Donghoon-ssi, how did you get this?"

"I..." The boy was silent for a moment, contemplating how he should explain.

"Cale Ahjussi." Donghoon lifted his head, finding the courage to look at the man straight in the eyes. "You know of the prophets, right?"

Cale blinked at the unexpected question, his expression unchanging. Then he nodded silently

At this, Donghoon bit his lip. "They... They're planning to keep this meteorite until it breaks, saying that it contains high leveled artifacts. But..." His averted his gaze, slightly furrowing his eyebrows. "But those people were suspicious."

The young man's stoic face cracked slightly.

"Those people?"

Donghoon nodded.

"Some strange group approached us in the base and made a deal. They said they're the... 'real prophets' and would help with future scenarios before asking for some items once the meteorite cracks. The others agreed, but the group-" He hesitated, biting his inner cheek, "They talked in the tent and didn't know my consciousness is still intact even when I was hypnotized. They said they were going to steal the meteorite and... get rid of something, or someone, I don't remember, but I know for certain that they're people with bad intentions."

'What...?'

Cale's eyes widened slightly.

'This is the only time I've ever witnessed him talk a lot, even in the novel.'

Anyways, that's not the issue right now.

"And how did it come in your possession?"

"The prophets gave it to me and told me to put it in my inventory the first day I was hypnotized." The teen shrugged, and he didn't see how the older man's gaze sharpened.

'Those f*cking bastards used him to store such a dangerous thing?'

Sure, they didn't know, but it changes nothing. What if the meteorite suddenly cracked? Wouldn't that put Han Donghoon at risk? Though Cale doubted they would care about someone that they regarded as a mere fictional character.

"Then, what do you need my help with?"

"I..." Donghoon's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. "I don't know. Hide it? I'm not sure... I'm guessing they'll try to find me to get it, but I'm not worried about them." He frowned. "I'm more worried about... that group. Please. I have a bad feeling. Just- please help me so they can't find it."

Although Cale's face was blank, he was surprised at the determination within the other's eyes.

"Hm... Donghoon-ssi, do you know what this is?"

He pointed at the ominous red item.

The teen tilted his head in confusion. "A... meteorite with high leveled artifacts...?"

"It's a dragon," He replied nonchalantly.

Han Donghoon's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. "... Pardon?"

"You know, The Fire Dragon? Igneel? The one who controls lava and breathes fire?"

Cale had dropped the bomb so casually that Donghoon seemed to malfunction for a brief moment.

"... Ahjussi, are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

"No, but- I mean, a dragon?!"

"Does the existence of a dragon seem so unbelievable to you?"

"Maybe...?" Donghoon wasn't sure how to respond at this point.

Cale deadpanned. "Donghoon-ah, we're literally in the middle of an apocalypse. A dragon's existence should be normal."

"...R-Right..."

'This Ahjussi is... quite hard to understand.'

Donghoon scratched the back of his head.

"Anyways." Cale stood up, holding out his hand to help the boy stand, to which Donghoon reluctantly grabbed before standing in front of him. "I said I would help you, so I will."

"R-Really?" His eyes brightened.

"On one condition."

"...What is it?"

Donghoon watched Cale walk to the table filled with food and shoved a plate towards him.

"Eat a lot. You're too thin. Oh, and put the meteorite on the bed, I'll take care of it."

The boy absentmindedly took the plate of food, unmoving with a dumbfounded expression on his face as Cale exited the tent.

As soon as he stepped out, he almost flinched at the loud yells.

"HYUNG!"

"AHJUSSI!"

He let out a grunt and almost stumbled back as two forces hit him, but the tight embrace prevented him from falling.

Cale looked to the side to see Kim Namwoon and Na Bori hugging him with enough strength to not suffocate him.

'Ah, these kids.'

His hands reached up to gently ruffle their heads.

"I'm sorry for worrying you."

"Tsk, who said I was worried?" Namwoon grumbled but buried his face further on Cale's shoulder.

"Ahjussi, you're an idiot," Bori scolded him, glaring up at the foolish man who was seemingly confused.

"What did I do?"

The two teens sighed simultaneously.

"Hyung, you're not allowed to use your skills anymore," The white haired boy said sternly.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Because you keep hurting when you use them!" Na Bori added in frustration.

Cale frowned. "I'm okay though?"

"Hyung!" / "Ahjussi!"

'But I'm really fine...?'

He didn't understand what all the fuss is about.

"Haaa, I have a regeneration ability, okay? I am not and won't be injured."

'Surely, having that kind of skill would cease their worry over me, right?' He smiled in satisfaction.

'...Then that means Hyung/Ahjussi would still feel the pain!' The teens thought as their expressions turned sour.

After all, regeneration only happens when you're hurt.

"Hyung, do you think it's fine to risk your safety every time just because you think you'll come out unscathed since you have that ability?" Namwoon asked, his voice lower than usual as he intensely bore his gaze towards Cale.

The other man suppressed a shiver. 'How vicious.'

But... Namwoon was right.

He knows he tends to run into danger, no matter how many times he tried to convince himself that it was all for slacker life. Again, he wasn't stupid, and that's exactly why he always does what he did, because he was certain that he'll come out fine.

'It probably didn't look like it to them, huh?'

< "Human, you don't like seeing anyone get hurt, do you? That's the same for us! So promise me you won't get hurt anymore!" >

Raon's voice echoed in his mind, and his smile turned soft.

'Right, I shouldn't worry the children needlessly.'

"...I'm sorry. I'll keep that in mind, okay?" He said, and it was enough to make their shoulders slumped in relief.

'I have to quickly solve this stupid power limit problem.'

He firmly decided.

• • •

The others had insisted for him to get some rest, and he easily complied. Plus, his stomach was finally full after eating. He was slow to realize that he was very hungry.

'It wasn't a lie. Yoo Joonghyuk's food is really delicious.'

Heck, he might even dare say that it beats Beacrox's cooking. After all, the protagonist has lived through hundreds (or thousands) of years. It's hard to defeat someone who has way more experience than you.

Now that he's lying in bed, he found himself unable to sleep. His attention was completely stuck on the meteorite beside him.

'It's kinda creepy,' He thought as he pushed himself to a sitting position.

Aside from its eerie appearance, there's one more important thing.

The group that Han Donghoon had mentioned.

Cale was sure that they're not people who appeared in the novel, and his gut feeling was screaming at him about something that he refused to acknowledge.

The apocalypse was enough, he didn't need another headache.

But it seems like he had no choice.

He easily figured it out. From the clues and suspicions that he gathered- the moment he spotted the strange wounds on a monster's body a few days ago, and now this, he could only come up with one conclusion.

'Those damn hunter bastards. What are they planning?'

The Hunters are here, and they're here to hunt him.

They were going to take this dragon. For what? He doesn't know, but Donghoon was right. They're definitely doing something bad.

Cale realized he had no choice but to move fast.

His troubled expression was gradually replaced with a bright smile.

"Sun God," He called out.

[Benevolent Light of Judgement is looking at you.]

Then he uttered something he never thought he would say, especially to a god out of all things.

"I need a favor."

• • •

A few hours later, a certain black haired man breathed out in relief after he finally reached the safety zone. The poisonous fog aboveground isn't pleasant at all.

Thankfully, the items he had bought from the dokkaebi bag managed to prevent the poison from affecting him. He managed to arrive safely.

'Everyone should be here,' He thought as he looked at the sign displayed above.

Gumho Station.

The place was strangely... peaceful. It made him feel a bit suspicious.

But he never got the chance to ponder about it because a flashlight suddenly blinded him.

"Hey, look! Another survivor!"

He could hear a voice, and he blinked multiple times to clear his vision. The man could finally see the long-haired woman who had quickly approached him.

"Excuse me, are you hurt?"

"Ah... No..." He replied with a shake of his head.

"Thank goodness! Come on, follow me. I'll lead you to the base camp."

The man nodded with a polite smile, following her deeper into the station, and his jaw almost dropped.

Children were laughing, some adults were resting, while a few elderly greeted him. He could also see people carrying monsters' meat and cooking...? Weapons were displayed on their hips as they scatter around to do their own set of tasks.

'What's going on?' He thought in astonishment.

This... was not how it was supposed to go, was it?

The sight wasn't bad at all, but from what he knew, people were practically filled with hopelessness and despair, at least they were supposed to.

He couldn't check his own phone to see the copy that his favorite author had sent him because he had immediately spotted familiar people talking to another man, his long silky black hair sprawled onto his back. From behind, he couldn't see the man's face, but he still walked closer to finally greet the others.

"Everyone, over here!" The woman beside him said, loud enough to gain their attention.

"Ah, Dokja-ssi!" The brown haired woman grinned.

Lee Hyunsung also chimed in, "Kim Dokja-ssi!"

"Hyung!" As well as Lee Gilyoung.

None of them noticed the way the unknown man flinched and freeze in place.

Ever so slowly, he turned around, complexion pale and his eyes widening slightly.

"... Ahjussi...?"

Kim Dokja had the same reaction.

"... Cheeky Bastard?"

---

a/n: someone pls actually stop me from writing because i haven't eaten and slept, it's like 3 a.m and i have morning class but my mind kept screaming at me to keep updating.

anyways, kim dokja is here so i'm satisfied.