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Jin Seo dashed forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet as his blade met Queen Belarin's jagged claws. Sparks flew as the sheer force of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the monster den. Dust and debris clouded the air, but Jin Seo's heightened senses allowed him to track her movements as she danced around him with inhuman speed.

His black dagger, charged with purple energy, flashed through the air in a desperate attempt to keep her at bay. Yet, for every strike he managed, the Queen deflected with a calm precision, her movements almost graceful.

Her black, soulless eyes bore into him, but what unnerved Jin Seo more was the faint smile curling on her lips. She was enjoying this.

Blood dripped from cuts across his arms and torso, staining his hoodie and pooling beneath his feet. He gritted his teeth, panting. "So, you're enjoying it, aren't you?"

For the first time, the Queen spoke, her voice cold and smooth like flowing ice. "You're… managing," she said, her smile widening into something almost predatory.

Jin Seo's grip tightened on his blade. "Then let me give you something to really enjoy."

He activated Blade Burst. Purple energy surged through his weapon as he dashed forward, his form blurring in an instant. He appeared at her side and slashed, the force of the burst sending shockwaves through the chamber.

A shallow cut appeared on her arm.

For a moment, there was silence. Jin Seo stood breathing heavily, blood dripping from him, as Queen Belarin stared at her wound.

Then, her smile faded.

A wave of raw, furious energy erupted from her. Her calm demeanor melted away, replaced by a primal rage. "You dared…" she hissed, her black eyes narrowing into slits.

Before Jin Seo could react, she vanished.

His heightened senses barely caught a blur of movement before she reappeared directly in front of him, faster than he'd ever seen. He attempted to dash away, but his body wouldn't move.

"What the—" he gasped, looking back.

A ghostly, translucent figure had materialized behind him, gripping his arms with an iron-like strength. Its hollow, empty face stared down at him with lifeless eyes.

[System Notification]

[Queen Belarin's Secondary Ability: Slave Guards.]

[Warning: Summoned entity will restrict your movement.]

The guard's grip tightened, and Jin Seo felt his body strain as he struggled to break free.

Queen Belarin appeared in front of him, a long, jagged blade materializing in her hand. The weapon seemed to hum with energy as she raised it high.

"You fought well," she said coldly. "But strength alone is not enough."

Before Jin Seo could react, the blade plunged into his chest.

Time seemed to slow as he felt the weapon tear through him. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and pain unlike anything he had ever experienced coursed through his body. The guard vanished as he fell to his knees, clutching the blade embedded in his chest.

From the shadows, Min Jae screamed, "No! No, no, no!"

The young Harmonic's face was frozen in shock, his body trembling as he watched blood pour from Jin Seo's wound. His mind raced, paralyzed by fear and disbelief.

Jin Seo coughed, his vision blurring as he tried to focus on the Queen. But she leaned down, her face inches from his.

"I know you won't die from this," she whispered, her voice a mixture of mockery and admiration. "You're stronger than the others here. I admire your strength, human… so I'll give you this chance."

She smirked, her tone dripping with disdain. "Get stronger. Find me again. And maybe then, I'll actually feel like killing you."

With a flick of her wrist, she ripped the blade free and tossed Jin Seo's body across the chamber. He crashed into the ground near Min Jae, blood pooling beneath him.

Min Jae scrambled over, his hands shaking as he tried to lift Jin Seo's battered body. "Jin… Jin, stay with me!"

Jin Seo's eyes fluttered open, his breaths shallow and ragged. He coughed weakly, more blood spilling from his lips.

The Queen stood in the distance, her figure fading into the shadows of the rift. Her voice echoed as she disappeared, carrying a haunting finality.

"Don't disappoint me, human."

Min Jae clutched Jin Seo tightly, his fear giving way to determination. "You're not dying here. I won't let you."

But as he looked at Jin Seo's broken body, his mind raced with doubt. Who is this guy? And why did she let him live?

The rift, now eerily silent, seemed to mock his questions.

As the shadows of the collapsing rift faded behind them, Min Jae stumbled out into the open, dragging Jin Seo's limp, blood-soaked body. The sunlight hit his face, but his focus was on the figure in his arms.

A crowd had gathered—civilians, Harmonics, reporters, and Agency operatives. Their murmurs filled the air, a mixture of confusion, fear, and anticipation. Camera flashes went off, capturing the two bloodied figures who emerged from the infamous rift.

Min Jae, barely able to stand himself, lowered Jin Seo to the ground. His body trembled from exhaustion and the overwhelming weight of what had just transpired.

Jin Seo lay motionless, his blood pooling on the cracked pavement, a haunting reminder of what they had just survived.

From the crowd, a familiar figure pushed her way forward—Sae Rin. Her expression, usually calm and composed, was etched with worry. She rushed to Min Jae.

"What happened in there?" she demanded, her voice sharp but not unkind.

Min Jae looked up at her, his face pale and his eyes filled with confusion and dread. "Why… why are there so many people here?"

Sae Rin's gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained urgent. "The rift turned black, Min Jae."

His eyes widened. "What?"

"It wasn't a blue-tier rift anymore," she explained. "It turned black. You've been inside for two days."

"Two days?" he repeated, the words barely escaping his dry throat. "That's… that's impossible. It felt like hours…"

"You need to tell me what happened in there," Sae Rin said, leaning closer, her voice heavy with concern.

Before he could answer, a harsh, wet cough came from the ground. All heads turned to Jin Seo, who was sputtering blood, his body convulsing weakly.

Sae Rin's eyes locked on his face, and for a moment, her breath caught in her throat. That face—it was familiar. Memories flashed through her mind, but before she could piece them together, medical personnel surged forward.

"Get him stabilized!" one of them shouted. A stretcher was brought in as they carefully lifted Jin Seo's broken body. Sae Rin stood back, her expression unreadable, her eyes fixed on him.

Min Jae watched as the medics worked. His head was spinning with everything he had just learned. Two days? A black-tier rift? And that woman—Queen Belarin. The memory of her cold, black eyes and terrifying strength sent shivers down his spine.

"Min Jae!"

The voice of his mother snapped him out of his thoughts. She pushed through the crowd, her face streaked with tears. She threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"My baby… you're alive," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I was so scared. They said no one could survive a black rift."

He sank into her embrace, his exhaustion finally catching up to him. "Mom… I…"

"It's okay," she said, stroking his hair. "You're here. That's all that matters."

But Sae Rin wasn't done. She placed a firm hand on Min Jae's shoulder, her expression serious. "Min Jae, I need answers. What happened in there? Who was responsible for the black-tier transformation?"

Min Jae hesitated, his lips trembling. "It wasn't… us. It was her."

"Her?" Sae Rin frowned.

"There was someone—no, something—in there. A woman. She was a monster… a Queen. She…" His voice faltered as the image of Queen Belarin flashed in his mind.

Sae Rin's eyes narrowed. "A Queen? Are you saying you encountered a Black-tier ruler?"

"Yes." His voice broke. "She killed the others like they were nothing. She… she almost killed us too."

"And this man?" Sae Rin nodded toward Jin Seo, who was being wheeled away.

Min Jae swallowed hard. "He saved me. He's the only reason I'm alive."

Sae Rin's gaze flicked back to Jin Seo's unconscious form. "Who is he?" she muttered under her breath. That face—she couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him before.

As the medics loaded Jin Seo into an ambulance, Sae Rin turned back to Min Jae. "We'll talk more later. For now, get some rest."

Min Jae nodded weakly, leaning into his mother's arms as she guided him away from the crowd.

Sae Rin stayed behind, her eyes following the ambulance as it sped off into the distance. The familiar face of Jin Seo haunted her thoughts. Something was off about him—something that didn't add up.

She clenched her fists. "Where do I know you from?" she whispered to herself, her mind racing with questions.

The crowd began to disperse, but the lingering tension in the air remained.