A group of stylish local youths blocked the street, surrounding Dongbin’s motorcycle. The guy in the lead practically threw his hands in the air, his eyes wide with awe as he eyed the gleaming, pitch-black frame.
"Man, your bike is insane! Seriously cool, bro!" he shouted, leaning down to inspect the exhaust.
"Where did you get it modded?"
Dongbin tilted his head slightly, offering a polite smile.
"Thank you. I modified it myself."
Hearing his overly formal tone, the group burst into a wave of hearty laughter.
"Modded it yourself? Bro talks like he stepped out of a history textbook!" one of them wheezed, clapping his friend on the shoulder.
Before the laughter could settle, a sharp, clear female voice called out from behind the crowd.
"That’s enough, Stev. Stop bothering strangers!"
Stev turned around, throwing his hands up in defense.
"Come on, Mei! Look at his ride, it’s ridiculously cool!"
A girl stepped out from the group and walked toward them. She wore a cropped top paired with loose-fitting cargo pants resting snugly on her hips, her wavy hair cascading softly over her shoulders.
Mei approached Dongbin, her sharp eyes scanning his features, from his crisp black comma hair down to his sharp, effortless jawline.
"Judging by your face... I’m guessing we’re from the same race," Mei said, crossing her arms with a subtle smirk.
Dongbin blinked, genuinely puzzled.
"Is that so? I was not aware."
The moment the words left his mouth, Stev and his crew doubled over, roaring with laughter once again at his bizarrely literal answer.
Feeling the awkward energy, Dongbin leaned down slightly toward Mei and whispered under his breath, "Did I say something wrong?"
"Not at all," Mei replied, her lips curving into a warm smile.
"You’re just a little old-fashioned."
---
Mei led Dongbin to their usual hangout spot, with the rest of the group following close behind. As soon as they parked, Stev eyed the sleek black machine with a wide grin.
"Yo, bro! Do you mind if I take this beast for a quick spin?" Stev asked, rubbing his hands together.
Dongbin paused for a moment. Right... these mortal vehicles usually needed a metallic key to start, didn’t they?
With a nonchalant shrug, Dongbin replied, "My motorcycle does not require a key. You may use it freely."
Stev froze, staring at him in utter disbelief. "Wait, are you serious, bro? No key at all?!"
"Indeed," Dongbin nodded calmly.
Stev smirked as he took the handlebars. No key? Man, this idiot is so naive! I’m gonna ride this straight to my garage, strip off that crazy exhaust and tiger horn, and sell ’em for a fortune!
Stev revved up the bike and sped off toward his private garage.
Once inside, Stev grabbed his toolbox and crouched beside the machine. But as he inspected the sleek frame, his brow furrowed in complete confusion.
"What the hell...?" Stev muttered, wiping his brow. "Where are the screws? Where are the bolts? How is this thing even held together?"
Frustration bubbling up, Stev grabbed a heavy wrench and tried to force the side panel open.
"ROAAAAAR!"
The engine suddenly blasted a deafening, furious dragon roar that shook the entire garage, sending Stev tumbling backward onto his rear.
"Woah! Holy crap!" Stev gasped, clutching his chest.
Furious, Stev scrambled to his feet and snatched a heavy metal baseball bat from the corner.
"You stupid piece of junk! I’m gonna smash you to pieces!" Stev screamed, raising the bat high above his head.
Before the bat could strike, the black paint on the motorcycle erupted into ripples of dark smoke. The metal frame softened, twisting and expanding violently as the temperature inside the garage plummeted.
The headlights split into two burning, crimson-red eyes. Black, razor-sharp scales ripped through the sleek bodywork, spreading across a massive serpentine body that coiled up toward the ceiling. The handlebars dissolved into jagged horns, while the exhaust pipes morphed into a gaping jaw lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth.
In a fraction of a second, the sportbike had completely vanished. In its place stood a terrifying, colossal Black Dragon hovering inches from Stev, baring its fangs in a sinister, predatory grin.
Thick, steaming saliva dripped down from its jaw, landing directly onto Stev’s pale, frozen face.
"ROOOOOAAR!"
The dragon’s deafening roar blew the garage doors straight off their hinges.
"AAAAAHHHH! MONSTER! HELP ME!" Stev shrieked, dropping the bat as he scrambled out on all fours.
-***-
While Stev was off with the motorcycle, Mei sat down beside Dongbin, striking up a conversation.
"So, Dongbin... where are you staying around here?" Mei asked, leaning back slightly as she studied his face. "And what do you do for work?"
Dongbin paused, quickly coming up with an excuse. "I just moved to the city, so I am currently looking for a new place to stay. As for my job... I actually just quit my previous position."
Yes, I officially quit being a god, Dongbin added silently in his mind, stifling a dry chuckle.
Hearing his answer, Mei felt bad for him. Since he was from the same race and clearly struggling to fit in, she decided to offer a helping hand.
"Well, if you don’t have a place yet, there’s a small rental place right next to my house. It’s available," Mei said warmly. "And if you don’t mind, I could even teach you a skill, like how to cut hair."
Dongbin smiled brightly at the offer. Feeling truly grateful, he reached out and gently clasped Mei’s hand. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you."
Mei blinked in surprise. Feeling the warmth of his hands, a soft blush quickly flushed her cheeks.
Before the moment could linger, heavy, frantic footsteps echoed down the street.
Stev came sprinting toward them, completely out of breath, his face pale as a sheet and sweat dripping down his forehead. He practically slid to a halt right in front of Dongbin, pointing a shaking finger at him.
"B-Bro... are you a wizard?!" Stev shrieked, his voice cracking in terror. "How in the hell did your motorcycle turn into a freaking dragon?!"
The entire group froze. Everyone stared back and forth between the hysterical Stev and a completely unbothered Dongbin.