Ch.334It was because it was too horrifying.

While the set was completed, unlike “Murciélago 2 (working title – Black Smoke)” which was still having script revisions, “Arkbone” was completely ready, so they immediately began preparing for filming.

The actors had arrived, the set was ready, and there were no more revisions needed for the early parts of the script.

Knock knock.

“Then shall we proceed with filming right away?”

Director Zenker immediately knocked on the door of the container where Kim Donghu was.

Normally, he could have sent a staff member for this, but how could he do that when working with Kim Donghu?

The desire to share every moment made the director’s steps light.

“Ah, you didn’t have to come yourself. I’m ready.”

“Haha, how could I just send a message? That would be disappointing.”

There’s something special about coming in person. As he said this, Director Zenker inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

‘How fortunate that Donghu Kim is a superstar with such a good personality.’

Popularity and character don’t necessarily correlate, and since diva behavior from superstars is quite common in Hollywood, Kim Donghu, who had none of that, was truly a miraculous existence.

Frankly speaking, even if Kim Donghu had thrown a tantrum here, everyone would have tolerated it because too much money was already invested.

But there was none of that, which was remarkable.

Director Zenker, convinced of his good fortune with actors, asked:

“Would you reconsider doing the stunt scenes yourself?”

As they headed toward the set, he brought up work-related matters.

The most urgent issue was the stunt work. Since Kim Donghu was famous for not using doubles, the director was concerned about preventing any potentially dangerous situations.

However…

“No, my position remains unchanged. I will definitely do it myself… my mind is made up on this.”

And I don’t want dangerous scenes to be cut because of this either. I’ll work hard until I can handle 100% of all scenes myself.

Kim Donghu’s stance was unwavering.

‘But what if you get injured…’

There were quite a few dangerous scenes in “Arkbone.”

For example, scenes of actual collisions with opposing players during American football, a perilous sequence where he falls due to suit malfunction, and bare-handed combat against armed robbers to demonstrate his background as a football player.

No matter how good Kim Donghu was at fighting, the director simply wanted to eliminate any possibility of injury.

But…

“I actually think there aren’t enough thrilling scenes. I’d like to have some more… Mission Impossible-like sequences.”

Kim Donghu went even further, emphasizing his desire to film more dangerous scenes.

Specifically, scenes that could give the audience a thrill.

“Since Arkbone is about inheriting a legacy, it needs dramatic direction. Something thrilling and desperate…”

The gap between the previous hero and his successor is inevitably large.

The previous hero rose to the pinnacle of strength before disappearing, while the successor is just a rookie beginning to sprout.

Therefore, rather than immediately showing the successor’s strength, Kim Donghu thought it was better to depict difficult situations that give the impression of “Ah, the previous hero would have solved this easily, but this one isn’t there yet!”

Then in the second film, they could reduce the previous hero’s story and naturally transition to an independent path, which Kim Donghu thought was the most appropriate way to handle generational change.

“But the process can’t be boring, so we need stimulating scenes.”

“…Even potentially dangerous ones?”

“Yes, so please reconsider what I mentioned before.”

“You mean hanging onto an airplane while it’s flying and being in a car as it flips over?”

“I think I can handle it.”

That’s exactly why it shouldn’t be allowed, what are you saying? But knowing he would ultimately lose this argument anyway, Director Zenker just nodded in compromise.

If only he could be a diva but do safe acting instead? That was the director’s small wish.

+++++

Late September 2025.

Kim Donghu wasn’t just filming “Arkbone.”

He had also shot commercials, boldly purchased several buildings, and was steadily implementing his plans for children following the polygamy bill proposal.

As time flew by, reaching mid-October…

“Finally, this arrives.”

A script arrived for Kim Donghu.

“Murciélago 2 – Black Smoke, S+”

Once again, S+.

Whether there were no higher grades or they just hadn’t appeared yet was unclear, but Kim Donghu believed it was the latter.

Because he hadn’t yet broken Hollywood’s all-time record.

‘What would come next, SS? Or maybe EX?’

Where did this grading system end?

With such curiosity, Kim Donghu immediately dove into the script, and…

Whoosh!

The first thing he saw was…

“Hmm… I guess it’s time to leave?”

Swish.

The Joker openly caressing Harley Quinn’s body.

As far as he knew, there hadn’t been such direct physical contact before.

Perhaps they wanted to show a special aspect of Murciélago’s Joker.

While enjoying Harley Quinn’s sensual body, the Joker put on the prison uniform hanging on the bars.

“Leaving? From here?”

“I’m tired of prison life now. I’ve made many friends.”

“Friends? But I’ve been with you for so long?”

“Oh, Harley, unfortunately, friends aren’t made just by sticking around.”

Isn’t it about understanding each other with just a glance?

The Joker spread his arms wide and casually walked out of the prison.

What should have been secured with six locks, making it impossible to escape alone, was opened too easily by an inside spy.

“It feels wrong to leave alone, so… everyone should leave together.”

Snap.

With the Joker’s finger snap signal…

Screech, click.

The firmly locked doors of Arkham Asylum began to open one by one.

All of them were criminals Batman had put away with his two guns.

Monsters who had been crippled but quickly recovered, and twisted beings who had been completed because they were crippled.

They smiled deeply and said:

“Thanks for everything, so I won’t kill you.”

They broke the guards’ bodies one by one. Trash not worth rehabilitating, wearing black prison uniforms under the legal judgment that they were already beyond redemption.

Those black prison uniforms escaping beyond the prison and spreading throughout Arkham Asylum resembled black fog.

“This is… truly a beautiful sight.”

The Joker wiped his mouth with a deep smile.

It’s a pleasing gift.

He wonders how Batman will receive it.

Everyone harbors hostility toward Batman, but that hostility won’t be directed solely at him.

“This time… shall we make Gotham an interesting city?”

How will you stop this spreading black smoke, Batman?

This is the homework I’m giving you.

As the Joker muttered this, at the same time elsewhere:

“…I need stronger power, Alfred.”

“Are you saying you’ll prepare that, sir?”

“Yes, I can’t yield power to anyone else… only I must wield it.”

To handle the spreading evil, Batman was accelerating the development of a new suit.

“The Helicroft Suit, if this is properly developed…”

I can gift them eternally painful days that make them wish for death.

With those words…

Whoosh!

The immersive world shattered.

Full-scale simultaneous filming was about to begin.

++++++

While Kim Donghu was busy filming in America, on the opposite side of the world in South Korea…

In a corner of a heavily guarded house…

Kim Donghu’s now 13-year-old sister, Kim Seohyun,

She currently had a major complaint.

“Polygamy… this is absurd. Does this mean I’ll have five new sisters-in-law?”

Normally, this wouldn’t concern her, but upon deeper reflection, she realized how deeply it affected her.

“No, how can my brother… get married? He should… be living with me?”

She wasn’t ready to mentally let her brother be independent yet.

Since they’d been too busy to properly spend time together recently, it was only natural that Kim Seohyun’s cheeks were puffing up in frustration.

“Eek!”

In truth, she wanted to immediately make a video call to complain and vent, but knowing how much that would interfere with her brother’s work, she had no choice but to hold back, which made her even more frustrated with herself.

‘I should just call him! But if he finds me annoying…’

Hiss.

That would be unforgivable in its own way.

‘Should I torment the new sisters-in-law instead?’

Launch a proper “Mean 13-year-old” operation?

While she was thinking this…

“Ma’am, we’re here.”

Someone suddenly visited the house.

“Oh, it’s the uncles!!!”

“Haha, at least I’m not being called mister.”

“Uncle is better, it has a family meaning.”

It was the duo of Na Kangsik and Kim Minhyeok, who regularly visited Kim Donghu’s home.

Pitter-patter.

Standing in for the busy Kim Donghu, they occasionally took on the role of playing with his sister.

“Oh my, you’re here? I’m so grateful every time.”

“It’s nothing. Seohyun helps us a lot when we’re developing games too.”

As always, they exchanged greetings and chatted briefly.

Then for a moment…

“Um… I’ll tell Donghu this later too.”

“Yes?”

Na Kangsik took a deep breath while drinking coffee at the table, then said:

“…I think I’m going to get married.”

“What?!”

The shocking news swept through Kim Donghu’s home.

Thud.

The most surprised was none other than Kim Seohyun.

Because she imagined her brother saying these words someday.

‘…I’ll definitely oppose it… I must torment all the new sisters-in-law!’

It was too dreadful to contemplate.

Even though the potential sisters-in-law were very nice people!

She was absolutely, unconditionally against her brother’s independence.