The Unraveling Power

Chapter 8 : The Unraveling Power

The smell of blood and burnt flesh lingered in the cold night air. The once-roaring fire had dwindled to embers, casting long shadows across the wounded and exhausted party.

Seojin stared at his hands. His breath was ragged, his body aching, but something was off. His wounds—deep slashes that should've left him barely conscious—were closing on their own. His blood was vanishing, as if it had never spilled.

Aera, resting against a fallen log, was watching him. Her wounds had also begun to heal, but she wasn't relieved—she was unsettled. "What… are you?" she whispered.

Seojin's fingers twitched. I don't know.

Misa had been sitting close to him but now shifted slightly away, her eyes searching his face, filled with questions. Do-yun, silent as ever, stared at him like a puzzle that didn't fit.

Ji-ho, breaking the awkward silence, forced a smirk. "Well, whatever the hell happened back there, it kept us alive. So thanks for that, I guess."

Chae-won, however, wasn't so quick to brush it off. She flipped a dagger in her fingers, her expression unreadable. "Seojin… you're not telling us something."

Seojin clenched his jaw. I wish I knew.

Then, a new system notification popped up in his vision.

> [ERROR: ANOMALY DETECTED.]

[SYSTEM RESTRICTIONS PARTIALLY LIFTED.]

[New Sub-Skill Unlocked: [REDACTED]]

His vision blurred. A sudden wave of dizziness hit him, and his entire body felt hot, like something was unraveling inside him.

Then—

A rustle in the trees.

The hairs on Seojin's neck stood on end.

They were not alone.

---

A slow, deliberate footstep echoed in the darkness.

Then another.

Then—he emerged.

A tall man, draped in flowing golden robes, stepped into the dying firelight. His golden eyes glowed unnaturally, like they weren't reflecting light but radiating it.

His presence was unsettling.

Not just because of how he moved—fluid, silent, controlled—but because the moment Seojin saw him, something deep in his chest twisted.

As if he recognized him.

As if this man had always been waiting for him.

The stranger's gaze swept across the party before settling on Seojin. His lips curled into a small, knowing smile.

> "You shouldn't exist."

The words struck Seojin like a blade.

Chae-won and Ji-ho immediately raised their weapons. Do-yun's stance shifted, ready to attack at any moment.

Misa shivered. "Who… are you?"

The man didn't answer. He simply studied Seojin, like he was reading something unseen.

Then he spoke again, but his voice didn't match the movement of his lips.

> "An error… no, an opportunity."

A flicker of amusement danced in his golden eyes.

Seojin's fingers tightened around his sword. Who is he? Why does he know about me?

But before anyone could act—

A deep, guttural growl rumbled from the darkness.

Something huge was coming.

---

The trees behind the golden-robed man split apart, branches snapping like twigs as a massive form emerged.

At first, it was just a shadow.

Then the moonlight hit it.

Seojin's blood ran cold.

It wasn't a Scenario Cleaner.

It was something worse.

A massive, hulking beast covered in black armor-like scales stepped forward, its elongated skull twisted into something inhuman. Its eyes were slits of burning red, its mouth lined with jagged, mismatched teeth.

Its breath was visible in the air, hot and humid.

Misa gasped. "That's… not a Cleaner."

Chae-won cursed. "What the hell is that?"

Do-yun whispered under his breath. "A predator."

> [NEW THREAT DETECTED.]

[RANK: ???]

A question mark.

The system didn't recognize it.

Which meant it wasn't part of the programmed threats.

Which meant they weren't supposed to be fighting it.

Which meant it wasn't bound by the same rules.

Seojin's hands felt cold and sweaty. What the hell is this world turning into?

The golden-eyed man gave Seojin one last look, then took a single step back.

He wasn't going to fight.

He was going to watch.

---

The beast moved first.

A single bound and it closed the distance instantly. Its claws raked across the ground, carving deep trenches where Seojin had stood moments ago.

Seojin barely dodged. Too fast. Too strong.

"Spread out!" Ji-ho shouted.

Aera, despite her injuries, raised her hands. A barrier formed just in time to deflect the monster's second attack, but the impact sent her flying backward.

Seojin gritted his teeth and lunged, his blade flashing. He aimed for its neck.

CLANG!

His sword bounced off.

Like steel against steel.

The beast turned its head slowly, its burning eyes locking onto him.

Then—it laughed.

A deep, guttural, mocking laugh.

Seojin felt a chill crawl up his spine.

It was intelligent.

And it was playing with them.

---

The beast lunged, and Seojin knew—this time, he wasn't fast enough.

The claws swung toward him.

And then—

Something snapped inside him.

A pulse of black energy surged outward.

His vision darkened.

His heartbeat slowed.

A new notification appeared.

> [Demonic Synchronization: 18%]

[New Effect Unlocked: ???]

Seojin's body moved on its own.

He sidestepped effortlessly, like he had seen the attack before it happened.

A split-second advantage.

The beast's claws missed him by inches.

And for the first time…

It staggered back.

As if it had sensed something new.

Something dangerous.

Something it hadn't expected.

The golden-eyed man tilted his head.

Then he smiled.

> "Now… you're starting to wake up."

TO BE CONTINUED…