Chapter 5- Shadows in the Void

Jihwan drifted in a vast, empty space, where time felt suspended. Around him was a strange paradox of light and shadow, a place filled with both vivid colors and shades of gray, where joy seemed tangled with sorrow, and memories blurred with oblivion. He felt oddly weightless, as if he existed without truly being there.

Then, from the mist, a figure emerged, neither clearly man nor woman, young nor old. It was cloaked in a flowing, dark robe that seemed to absorb the surrounding light, its face shrouded in shadows that shifted with each movement. The figure's eyes, however, glowed with an otherworldly intensity, two flickering flames that seemed to peer into Jihwan's soul.

The figure regarded him in silence, and then, with a faint, almost amused tone, spoke a single word: "Interesting."

Before Jihwan could respond, his entire being was pulled, as if by an unseen force, back into his own body. The serene void shattered, replaced by a sudden rush of pain and sensation, the familiarity of his flesh grounding him once more.

Jihwan's eyes blinked open. He was lying on a straw bed in a dimly lit room, with walls of rough stone around him. Nearby, he saw the old man, sitting with his back against a wooden pillar, his face lined with exhaustion and bruises covering his arms and face—yet somehow, the wounds appeared faded, already in the late stages of healing.

The old man's lips turned up in a slight smile when he noticed Jihwan's movement. "Ah, so you're awake… descendant of the Ryu."

Jihwan's mind reeled at the title, but he kept his expression neutral. Playing along, he let his brow furrow with feigned confusion. "Ryu? I… I don't remember anything," he replied slowly, his voice deliberately unsure. He hoped his act would buy him time to understand more about this strange, hostile world—and about himself.

The old man let out a small chuckle, his eyes narrowing slightly as though assessing Jihwan's sincerity. "Convenient," he muttered, though the humor in his voice didn't quite reach his eyes. "You slept like a rock for ten days straight. Honestly, I thought you might never wake up, not after the backlash from that power surge."

"Ten days?" Jihwan echoed, eyes widening as he sat up, feeling a wave of dizziness. Sharp pains prickled along his limbs, each movement making him acutely aware of his body's fragility.

"Yes. Your body wasn't prepared for the strain," the old man explained, his tone somber. "Your blood vessels nearly burst from the sudden awakening of your qi. Normally, no one your age could withstand it. If it weren't for a particular artifact she possesses…" He inclined his head toward the girl, who was sitting quietly across the room, her gaze a mix of caution and curiosity.

The girl's hand moved subtly, drawing Jihwan's attention to a pendant around her neck—a small, crimson stone encased in an intricate silver lattice. The stone pulsed faintly, as if resonating with her heartbeat.

The old man continued, "That stone kept your qi from tearing you apart. It stabilized your energy, accelerated your healing, and saved you from the brink. But your condition is still precarious; your body is recovering, but it will take time before you can tap into that power again without severe repercussions."

Jihwan processed this, feeling a surge of relief mixed with dread. That terrifying power was his—yet it was as much a threat to himself as to any opponent. He glanced at the girl and nodded in silent gratitude, though a thousand questions about the artifact and its purpose bubbled beneath the surface.

As Jihwan shifted uncomfortably on the straw bed, a whirlwind of questions flooded his mind. Why had these strangers saved him? What reason did they have to go to such lengths for someone they'd barely met? He clenched his fists, a tangle of gratitude, confusion, and doubt filling his chest.

The girl, sitting across the room, met his gaze as if sensing his inner turmoil. Her face softened as she spoke. "I... I understand if you're confused," she began, her voice gentle but laced with sadness. "But the truth is, I know what it feels like to be lost, to need help, even if you don't fully understand why."

Her words struck a nerve, and a flicker of empathy crossed Jihwan's face. Before he could respond, the old man cleared his throat, his voice steady and calm. "She is right. And there is more to this story than you know."

The girl took a deep breath, her eyes dropping to the crimson pendant around her neck. She clutched it as if drawing strength from its steady pulse. "This artifact… it's been in my family for generations," she explained. "I was born into a hidden sect, one devoted to guarding it from those who would misuse its power. My guardians were the last of my kin, protectors who swore to keep this pendant safe." Her voice faltered, a distant pain glinting in her eyes. "But they were killed, slaughtered by the very cult that now hunts us."

Her hands trembled as she continued, the memory raw and fresh. "They didn't just want me. They wanted this." She lifted the pendant slightly, its glow casting a faint red light that danced along the walls. "The Fallen Serpent Cult seeks to harness its energy for their twisted purposes. But something… something has changed. Ever since I met you, Jihwan, the pendant's been acting differently."

The old man's gaze sharpened at her words, his eyes flicking between Jihwan and the pendant. "Let me inspect it," he murmured. "If the artifact is reacting to him, it may reveal why."

The girl hesitated, her grip tightening around the pendant, but eventually, she nodded. She stood and walked over to the old man, her footsteps quiet on the rough floor. As she drew closer, the crimson stone began to glow, faintly at first, then with a strange, mesmerizing intensity. A soft yellow light seeped from its core, mingling with the crimson hue and casting their faces in an eerie, golden glow.

Jihwan's eyes widened as the light seemed to respond to his very presence, growing brighter the closer the girl came to him. Finally, when she stood right next to the old man, who was seated only an arm's length away from Jihwan, the pendant suddenly broke free from her grasp, floating upward. The crimson stone hung suspended in mid-air, pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat, directly above Jihwan's head.

The room fell into silence, each breath held in anticipation as Jihwan instinctively reached out, his fingers trembling. The pendant hovered just out of reach, yet he felt its energy radiate toward him, a powerful, almost magnetic force pulling at his very being.

With a sudden surge, the energy erupted outward, spilling over Jihwan like a tidal wave. His breath hitched as a radiant, purple aura burst from within him, blending with the yellow light of the artifact in a swirling, chaotic dance. The two colors clashed and intertwined, the energy so intense that it felt like the very air was vibrating.

A powerful current surged through his veins, wild and relentless, filling him with an otherworldly strength. He gasped as the pendant's light grew blinding, its energy no longer confined to the small, crimson stone. The glow expanded, enveloping him entirely, as though it were trying to meld with his very essence.

And then, with a crackling sound that echoed through the room, the pendant shattered into a thousand shimmering particles. The fragments spiraled in the air, dancing around Jihwan before shooting straight toward his chest. He braced himself, feeling a surge of heat as the remnants of the pendant embedded themselves into his skin, marking him with a faint, glowing symbol over his heart.

Pain seared through him, fierce and consuming, yet beneath it was an undeniable exhilaration—a rush of power unlike anything he'd ever felt. He could feel the energy settling within him, mingling with his own qi, and he realized that the pendant's power had fused with his very soul.

When the light finally faded, he sat there, gasping for breath, his body trembling as the last of the energy settled. The old man and the girl watched him in stunned silence, both awe and fear reflected in their gazes.

"What… what just happened?" Jihwan managed to whisper, his voice raw from the intensity of the experience.

The old man staggered back, then quickly rose to his feet, eyes wide with shock. Without a second thought, he stepped closer to inspect Jihwan's chest, his gaze locked onto the faint, glowing mark that had seared itself into his skin. A tremor ran through his hands as he raised one to hover just above the mark, his expression one of awe and disbelief.

"No… it can't be," he whispered, his voice barely audible, thick with wonder. "I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes… the crest of the Ryu family."

Jihwan looked down, trying to make sense of the intricate symbol now embedded in his chest—a mark that radiated with a strange, otherworldly energy, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat. The emblem was like nothing he had ever seen: a coiling dragon encircling a mountain peak, with flames and lightning entwining along its body, symbols of power and protection intertwined. And at the center of it all, a divine aura seemed to emanate from within, faint but unmistakable.

The old man swallowed hard, his voice now thick with reverence and a trace of fear. "This is the legendary crest, the very symbol of the Ryu family—once the most powerful martial clan in all of Murim. It is said to be a blessing from a divine being, a mark bestowed only upon those chosen to wield its strength."

He shook his head, almost as if trying to convince himself this was real. "The Ryu family's crest was more than just a symbol. It was an ancient legacy, a seal of unmatched power… a sign of those destined to rule. With it came the blessings of a divine force that no other family could hope to match. This is why the Ryu family reigned over Murim, feared and respected by all—until they disappeared into myth."

The girl looked between Jihwan and the old man, her eyes wide with newfound understanding. "Then… does this mean that Jihwan is…"

"Yes," the old man breathed, his gaze never leaving the crest on Jihwan's chest. "He is a descendant of the Ryu family, and he bears the power they once wielded. This pendant has reawakened it, merging with his qi… becoming part of him. And if the stories are true, he has inherited the blessings of a power beyond comprehension."

Jihwan's heart pounded as he absorbed the weight of the old man's words, the mark on his chest still radiating a quiet, powerful warmth. He could feel the energy within him, thrumming beneath his skin—a power he didn't yet understand, but one he sensed would be both his greatest weapon and his greatest burden in the battles to come.