I, The Dragon Overlord

“Daddy, daddy, I’m scared…”

“Don’t be scared, sweetheart. Daddy’s right here.”

In the ruins of a residential area in Seoul, South Korea, a man in his thirties held his young daughter tightly. Both of them were covered in dust, their faces smeared with dirt. Every breath they took was laden with dust particles, making it difficult to breathe.

“Daddy, promise you won’t leave…”

“I promise. Daddy won’t leave. I’ll stay right here with you.”

The man’s voice wavered with emotion, but he forced himself to remain calm, holding back his tears. He feared that if he started crying, he would not only frighten his daughter but also risk attracting the attention of the monsters lurking outside.

After the earthquake that shook Seoul, countless people were trapped under the debris. Some died instantly, while others, like this father and daughter, were lucky enough to survive. Although they were dirty and bruised from the collapse of the building, they hadn’t suffered any major injuries. Amid such devastation, they were fortunate to be relatively unharmed.

A cluster of steel beams and concrete had formed a small shelter around them, creating a narrow cavity just large enough to hold them. Nearby, several steel rods jutted out dangerously, but none had pierced their bodies. A small gap in the rubble allowed air to flow in, preventing suffocation. Through that gap, they could see what was happening outside, and the sight was terrifying.

Shortly after the earthquake, the sky and earth turned a deep crimson. In one corner of Seoul, a mysterious portal opened, and from it emerged countless horrific creatures—vulture-like beasts that flew through the sky and ghouls covered in oozing sores. It was a scene straight out of a nightmare, only worse because it was real.

The man had initially thought these creatures would attack them, but to his surprise, they stayed near the portal, performing some kind of eerie ritual. From within the portal, they could hear horrifying screeches and wails. The sound alone was enough to make the man’s head throb with pain, and blood trickled from both his and his daughter’s noses. Yet, though the noise was unbearable, it wasn’t immediately fatal.

“Daddy, I’m hungry…”

The little girl’s voice was weak.

“Daddy’s got a few sausages left, you can eat this first” the man replied, fumbling for a small bag of packaged sausages he had grabbed in a panic during the earthquake. It had been a stroke of luck that he’d thought to bring some food and water with them. Though some of the supplies had been lost in the chaos, the few that remained were enough to sustain them for a while.

With these few supplies, they could at least survive for a few more days in this dire situation, extending their fragile hope of survival. Although the man doubted they could truly make it through such circumstances, the instinct to cling to life is strong, and people will do whatever it takes to keep going.

He tore open the package and handed the sausage to his daughter. She devoured half of it quickly, her hunger overpowering her usual daintiness. Then, clutching the remaining half, she looked up at him and said, “Daddy, you should have some too.”

“I’m not hungry, sweetie. You go ahead and eat.”

In the faint light filtering through the rubble, the man forced a smile. He was hungry, of course, but he had read enough about survival during disasters to know that as an adult, he could endure hunger longer than his daughter. It was essential to keep her as nourished as possible.

“Here, take a sip of water. Drink slowly, okay?”

He carefully opened a bottle of water and let his daughter drink a little. In normal times, they wouldn’t have worried about spilling a few drops, but now every sip was precious.

After she finished, the man took a small sip for himself. Food could wait, but they couldn’t go without water. It was their lifeline in this dire situation.

“Daddy, where’s Mommy? Why haven’t we seen her?”

At her innocent question, the man’s expression darkened with sadness and guilt. He kept his voice steady as he replied, “Mommy’s resting, sweetie. Let’s not disturb her.”

The little girl nodded, sensing the gravity of his words but not fully understanding.

“Now, sweetheart, let’s stay quiet and save our strength. Rescue will come soon.”

“But, Daddy… there are so many monsters outside…”

“Trust in our soldiers. They’ll defeat the monsters.”

Even as he said it, the man’s voice broke. Could he believe the military would save them? The streets outside were swarming with monsters, and it seemed impossible for any rescue team to get through. And even if they did, how long would it take? By then, they might have starved or been crushed by the unstable rubble.

He thought about the last broadcast he had heard on the radio before it went silent. The South Korean president had addressed the nation, urging citizens to stay strong and telling the truth about what had caused the disaster. It wasn’t just the earthquake—it was the result of a cult leader named Lee Uijin and the widespread worship of false gods. South Korea had become a breeding ground for evil, and now the country was suffering the consequences.

The man couldn’t help but blame his wife. She, too, had been involved in one of these cults, and now their daughter was paying the price.

“If it weren’t for you,” he thought bitterly, “Our little girl wouldn’t be going through this…”

But even as he seethed, he knew deep down that placing all the blame on his wife was just a way to cope with his helplessness.

“Daddy, Daddy!”

His daughter’s excited voice snapped him out of his dark thoughts. She tugged at his sleeve, her tone filled with hope.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Look outside! Is that an angel?”

“An angel?”

The man shifted his position and peered through the gap in the rubble. The once-dark sky was now illuminated by a radiant light. In the middle of that light, a young woman, seemingly in her early twenties, hovered in the air. She had glowing wings on her back, and as she spread them wide, a rain of light fell from the sky.

The man stretched his hand through the gap, catching a droplet of the glowing rain in his palm. Instantly, he felt his exhaustion and hunger melt away. His aches and pains vanished, replaced by a surge of vitality.

For the first time since the disaster struck, he broke down into sobs. His daughter, standing beside him, tried to comfort him, her small hand patting his shoulder.

“Come, sweetheart. Kneel with me and pray. The angel has come to save us! We’re saved!”

Together, they knelt and began their prayers, their faith rising like invisible threads, reaching up to the heavens.