Chapter 42 – The Man Who Caught a Bullet
(Volume 4: Ascendancy of the Dragon Monarch)
The first light of dawn crept through the massive windows of Lee Hwan's villa, casting golden streaks across the polished floors and ancient relics that decorated his home. A soft breeze rustled the curtains as birds chirped in the distance—an ordinary morning, the kind Earth hadn't offered him in a long time.
Lee Hwan slowly opened his eyes.
His body was sore—exactly how he liked it. The memories of last night's brutal training session still echoed through his limbs. Ten thousand push-ups. Every single rep had brought him closer to clarity, closer to the roots he had almost forgotten.
He rose from bed, muscles flexing as he stretched. A short shower followed, then a quiet breakfast of eggs, rice, kimchi, and grilled fish. He cooked it himself—he didn't trust anyone else to be inside his home anymore. Not after all he had been through.
Lee took his time, sipping black coffee by the balcony, eyes scanning the horizon of Seoul. He could feel it—something wasn't right. A slight disturbance in the flow of air, the faint pressure lingering too long in the corners of his senses.
"So they found out," he muttered.
"Didn't take long…"
After breakfast, Lee stepped out into the villa's private yard. Birds flew overhead. The trees swayed gently. He walked toward a wide-open clearing that overlooked a cliff, his hands tucked in his pockets, his demeanor calm and passive.
But then—BOOM!
A soundless whisper.
A vibration in the air.
Lee's eyes narrowed. Something was wrong.
Time slowed.
His instincts screamed.
He jerked his head slightly to the left—and a sniper bullet cut through the air, brushing the strands of his hair, barely missing his temple.
The sound arrived half a second later—a sharp CRACK! as the high-velocity round struck a large stone pillar behind him.
The stone exploded.
Debris flew in all directions.
A clean, precise shot.
"Oh?" Lee smirked, slowly turning his head toward the direction the bullet came from.
"You're either desperate… or really stupid."
A second bullet came.
This one aimed straight at his heart.
But Lee didn't move.
Instead, his eyes glinted with golden aura.
At the last second—his hand snapped up with inhuman speed.
CLINK!
The bullet stopped.
Right in the center of his palm.
Not just stopped—caught.
The air trembled with the residual force of the shot. His hand stung for a brief moment, but the bullet, now lodged in his aura-infused grip, did not move.
Lee raised an eyebrow.
The bullet was infused with mana… a high-caliber anti-tank enchantment layer.
"Nice craftsmanship," he said, inspecting the shell.
"But I've fought dragons."
He closed his hand.
A small flare of blue energy surged into the bullet, converting it into a glowing aura projectile. His eyes sharpened. Lee channeled energy into his arm—Void Flame, Aura Precision, and Kinetic Focus—all layered in perfect synchronization.
He didn't aim.
He didn't need to.
With one fluid movement—he threw the bullet back.
No windup.
Just a flick of his wrist.
The air ripped apart as the glowing bullet roared back toward the mountain ridge from where it came.
A second later—
KA-BOOOOOOM!
A massive explosion erupted halfway across the mountainside. Trees splintered. Rocks shattered. Half the mountaintop was instantly obliterated, reduced to burning rubble and smoke. Birds flew from the scene in a chaotic frenzy.
Lee stood calmly, watching the destruction unfold.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device—an old communication crystal he used only in emergencies.
"Run a scan," he spoke into it. "Mountain ridge, 3.2 kilometers northwest. One sniper nest, possible squad. Give me names."
The crystal buzzed, and a voice returned a moment later.
"Confirmed target: classified agent from The Reclaimers. They've put a kill order on your head, Lee Hwan. Reason: 'Potential Threat to Human Control Structure.' They saw your Tower clearance logs."
Lee smirked.
"So, they're scared."
He turned and walked back into the villa. But halfway there, he paused. His aura flared subtly—barely noticeable to a normal person, but enough to sweep the entire area with raw presence.
He felt the shift.
More enemies.
At least six of them—approaching from different directions.
"Tch. Should've expected a follow-up squad."
Lee didn't enter the villa. Instead, he leapt onto the roof in a single bound, and scanned the forest surrounding the property. Shadows moved—subtle, but sloppy.
"Elite, but not Rankers. Not even close."
Three attackers burst from the trees, each dressed in stealth tech suits. Their movements were fast—ordinary assassins wouldn't stand a chance against them.
Lee didn't even blink.
They moved in unison. One threw smoke bombs, the second used a chain-sickle, and the third activated a high-frequency blade. They rushed at him with military precision.
Lee stood still.
"Three… two… one—"
As they entered his striking range, Lee moved.
Just once.
A single pivot of his foot, and his palm slammed into the ground.
A ring of pressure exploded outward like a shockwave, throwing all three assassins high into the air, weapons flying from their hands. The force was so strong that it snapped trees in a 20-meter radius.
One assassin coughed blood mid-air.
The second lost consciousness before hitting the ground.
The third activated a teleportation rune.
Lee extended his hand, and a chain of Void Flame lashed out, wrapping around the assassin's leg, yanking him back violently.
"Running won't help."
Lee tossed the man to the ground and crushed the rune under his boot.
"Who sent you?"
The assassin coughed, bleeding from the mouth. "I… I can't…"
Lee's eyes flickered with dragon's fury.
"I'm not going to ask again."
"…Th-The Reclaimers! They… they said you were a threat to balance… that you were chosen by the Tower!"
Lee's smirk vanished.
"Balance? You mean control."
He turned and walked away.
"Tell them this—next time they send someone… they better send gods."
With a pulse of aura, he knocked the man out cold.
Later that evening, Lee sat once again on his rooftop, gazing at the moon.
The world believed he was a hero. Others believed he was a monster.
But tonight… the Reclaimers had just declared war on him.
And he would answer.
Not with armies.
Not with diplomacy.
But with power.
Raw, unstoppable, dragon-born power.
"Chronos… Flame Monarch… Reclaimers…"
"Doesn't matter who you are."
"You all made one mistake."
His eyes burned with quiet fire.
"You thought I'd play by your rules."
[End of Chapter 42]