The Chains of Destiny

Chapter 64: The Chains of Destiny

Hyun's consciousness snapped back like a violent wave crashing against the shore. His body ached, his limbs felt sluggish, but the cold, oppressive air forced him to stay alert.

Where was he?

Dark stone walls surrounded him, chains rattling softly in the dim, eerie glow of torches. He was trapped.

Then—

A soft, broken sob.

His head jerked up, and his breath caught in his throat.

Yuna.

She was bound to the far wall, her wrists shackled, her hair cascading over her face like a curtain. Her entire body trembled as she struggled against the restraints, desperation etched into every movement.

Hyun tried to stand, but the moment he moved, a searing pain shot through his chest, forcing him to his knees. He gritted his teeth. He couldn't stop now.

A slow clap echoed through the chamber.

Hyun's eyes darted to the source of the sound. The shadowy figure from before emerged from the darkness, his face still obscured by the flickering flames.

"Still so determined," the man mused, amusement lacing his voice. "Do you truly believe you can change fate?"

Hyun clenched his fists. "Let her go. Whatever this is, it has nothing to do with Yuna!"

The man chuckled. "Oh, but it does. She is the key, after all. And you…" He took a step closer, tilting his head. "You are the mistake that should have never existed."

Yuna's eyes snapped open. "No! Don't listen to him, Hyun! He's lying!"

Hyun's chest burned with fury. "I don't care what you think I am. I will not let you take her."

The man smirked, lifting a hand. "Then try and stop me."

A sudden force slammed into Hyun, pinning him against the cold ground. He gasped, struggling against the unseen power pressing down on him. The air crackled with raw energy as the man turned toward Yuna, reaching out a hand toward her restrained form.

"No!" Hyun roared, his own energy surging in response. The golden light that had once saved him flickered at his fingertips.

The man hesitated for a split second. It was enough.

Hyun summoned every ounce of strength he had left and launched forward, breaking free from the invisible hold. His fist collided with the man's chest, sending a shockwave through the chamber.

The ground trembled. The torches flickered wildly.

The chains around Yuna shattered.

Yuna collapsed forward, gasping as Hyun caught her in his arms. "I've got you," he whispered.

But the moment was short-lived.

The man emerged from the shadows, completely unscathed. "Interesting," he mused. "Let's see how long you can keep defying destiny."

The walls of the chamber began to collapse, reality itself fracturing around them.

Chapter 65: Breaking the Chains of Fate

The chamber erupted into chaos.

Massive stone pillars collapsed around them, shattering into dust and debris as reality itself trembled. The air crackled with raw energy, currents of golden light clashing violently against tendrils of darkness. The world was coming undone.

Hyun didn't hesitate.

With Yuna still in his arms, he pivoted sharply, dodging a massive chunk of falling stone. The enemy's eyes gleamed with amusement as he lifted a hand, summoning a barrage of dark spears that shot toward them at blinding speed.

Hyun reacted instantly.

Summoning his remaining strength, he wove through the storm of projectiles, twisting and shifting his weight to shield Yuna from the assault. The golden energy surrounding him flickered with each movement, his body screaming from the strain.

One spear grazed his shoulder, slicing through flesh. He gritted his teeth against the pain but never slowed down.

Yuna's voice was a desperate whisper. "Hyun, you can't—"

"I won't let him win!" Hyun growled, eyes blazing as he finally skidded to a stop.

The enemy smirked. "Impressive. But you can't run forever."

Hyun exhaled sharply, gently setting Yuna down. Then, he straightened, his stance firm.

"I don't need to run."

Golden flames ignited around his fists, the warmth radiating with newfound intensity. The room quaked as Hyun summoned every ounce of power he had left, the sheer force of it cracking the stone floor beneath him.

The enemy's expression shifted—just slightly.

"You're still fighting? How foolish. You don't even know what you're up against."

Hyun clenched his fists. "I don't care who you are. I don't care what fate says. I will end this."

Without warning, Hyun lunged forward.

The golden light around him erupted, his body moving faster than thought, faster than reason. The enemy barely had time to react before Hyun's fist slammed into his chest, unleashing a devastating shockwave that tore through the chamber.

The force sent the shadowed figure flying, crashing through the crumbling walls and into the darkness beyond. The entire space trembled violently, as if the world itself was rejecting his presence.

Hyun staggered, his vision blurring. The power had drained him, but he didn't falter. He turned back to Yuna, who was staring at him, eyes wide with something between fear and awe.

"We need to go, now!" he shouted, reaching for her hand.

She didn't hesitate.

Fingers intertwined, they ran through the collapsing ruins, dodging falling debris as the battlefield crumbled behind them. The golden energy guiding their path flickered, barely holding on as the remnants of the world shattered piece by piece.

The enemy had been defeated—for now.

But something told Hyun that this wasn't over.

Not even close.

Chapter 66: A Shattered Escape

The ruins trembled beneath their feet.

Hyun gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on Yuna's hand as they sprinted through the collapsing world. Every step sent another crack through the fragile remnants of reality, golden light flickering desperately around them. The once-grand chamber was crumbling, swallowed by an abyss of nothingness.

But something felt wrong.

A chill ran down Hyun's spine.

Then—

A shadow flickered in the corner of his vision.

Before he could react, a monstrous force slammed into his back, sending him crashing to the ground. The impact stole the air from his lungs, his vision exploding in white-hot pain.

"Hyun!" Yuna's scream pierced through the chaos.

He tried to push himself up, but an unbearable weight pinned him down. His heartbeat thundered as he turned his head—

The enemy was back.

Emerging from the abyss, his form was different now—twisted, shifting, something barely human. Darkness coiled around him like living shadows, his eyes burning with an unearthly glow.

"Did you really think you could run?" his voice dripped with amusement, but beneath it lurked something far more sinister.

Hyun clenched his jaw. His body ached, his strength wavering, but he refused to give up.

Yuna tried to reach him, but the ground beneath them split apart, forcing her back. "Let him go!"

The figure only laughed. "He belongs to the abyss now."

Then, before Hyun could react—

A blade of pure darkness pierced through his chest.

Pain. Cold. An unbearable void swallowed him whole.

Yuna's cry shattered the air. "HYUN!"

His body trembled, golden light sputtering like a dying flame. His fingers twitched, reaching for Yuna one last time.

The last thing he saw was her desperate, tear-streaked face—

Before the abyss consumed him entirely.