Baek Mu-Jin stood amidst the swirling snow, his breath visible in the cold night air. The years had shaped him into a warrior, but not just any warrior—one that struck fear into even the most seasoned martial artists. Yet, even after all these years, he remained nameless in the eyes of the world.
No master had given him a title. No sect had acknowledged his strength. He was a phantom, a blade forged in solitude.
But that would soon change.
---
Seven years ago.
After escaping the slaughterhouse that had raised him, Mu-Jin wandered from one battlefield to another, surviving by selling his sword to the highest bidder. He had no honor, no loyalty—only the will to live.
His reputation grew in whispers. A lone swordsman with no name, cutting through enemies like a beast hunting prey. But no matter how many lives he took, no matter how much blood he spilled, something remained missing.
Vengeance.
He didn't just want to survive. He wanted to erase those who made him a monster.
And so, his search began.
---
It led him deep into the martial world, to a place known as Shrouded Moon Fortress—a sect infamous for its dealings in the black market. The same sect responsible for the massacre of his village.
They weren't just martial artists. They were brokers of death.
They didn't kill for honor. They killed because it was profitable.
Mu-Jin had no intention of challenging the fortress head-on. That would be suicide. Instead, he did something far more dangerous.
He joined them.
---
For three years, he buried himself within their ranks, pretending to be just another nameless warrior. He followed orders, executed targets, and proved himself in countless battles.
But every kill brought him closer to the truth.
He learned the fortress had been hired by someone to wipe out his village. They were not the masterminds—they were simply the executioners.
The real enemy was still in the shadows.
Mu-Jin needed more power.
More time.
So, he waited.
---
The Night of the Rebellion.
When the time came, Mu-Jin did not hesitate.
He struck down the elders one by one, his blade cutting through the very organization that had raised him. Those who once called him "brother" fell to his sword without mercy.
The fortress burned.
By dawn, the Shrouded Moon Fortress no longer existed.
But even then, Mu-Jin did not feel satisfaction.
Because the true enemy was still out there.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
Present Day.
Baek Mu-Jin tightened his grip around his sword as he faced Jin Tae-Hyun. The battle had already begun, but his mind was still trapped in the past.
Jin Tae-Hyun's presence, his knowledge, his existence—everything about him felt too controlled, too calculated.
Mu-Jin had spent years fighting against fate itself.
But now, for the first time, he was beginning to wonder…
Was he just another pawn in someone else's game?