Chapter :- 116

Arc 7 - Chapter 1: A New Dawn, A New Threat

The battlefield was eerily silent, the scent of blood and burned earth lingering in the cold morning air. The war had been won—at least, for now. Scattered remnants of fallen enemies lay across the torn ground, their weapons shattered, their bodies lifeless. Jae-min stood among the wreckage, his dark eyes scanning the horizon as the first rays of sunlight stretched across the ruins.

His body was sore, his muscles tight from the relentless battles, but his mind remained sharp. Every victory came at a price, and this time was no different. They had survived the onslaught, but something in his gut told him that the real storm was yet to come.

A gentle gust of wind swept through the field, carrying with it the faint whispers of the past. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, allowing himself a second of stillness before the inevitable chaos that would follow.

"Jae-min," a familiar voice called from behind him.

He turned to see Seol-ah approaching, her long silver hair swaying slightly as she walked. Her usually composed expression was tinged with exhaustion, but her violet eyes held the same unwavering determination. She had fought alongside him through every battle, her faith in him unshaken despite the growing dangers.

"You're still here," she noted, crossing her arms.

Jae-min exhaled, his breath visible in the morning chill. "Just making sure it's really over."

She glanced at the distant mountains, where the last remnants of darkness were slowly fading into the light. "For now, maybe. But the council is waiting. They want to speak with you."

Of course, they did. He had expected this the moment the battle ended. The council had been watching him—evaluating his every move. His growth in power hadn't gone unnoticed, and neither had the changes in the world itself.

"What do they want this time?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

Seol-ah's gaze darkened slightly. "They didn't say much, but something feels off. They seem... uneasy."

That was enough to tell him everything. If the council was uneasy, it meant there was another threat on the horizon—one they hadn't foreseen.

Jae-min rolled his shoulders, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue. "Then let's not keep them waiting."

Seol-ah nodded, and together, they began their walk toward the capital. The battlefield behind them was proof of how far they had come, but as Jae-min stepped forward, he knew—this was only the beginning of a new war.

A war that would push him beyond his limits.

A war that would decide everything.