The Gathering Storm

Jin-Ho landed softly on a rooftop, his body emerging from the shadows as if he had always been one with the darkness. His mind raced—if high-rank hunters were already sniffing around, it meant he was making waves. Too many waves. He needed to decide: lay low or push forward.

His instincts told him there was no turning back.

Glancing down at the city below, he let out a slow breath. Seoul was a battlefield, and the guilds were its warlords. He had no intention of serving under them. He would carve his own path.

A sudden buzz from his phone broke his thoughts. A message from Jisoo.

[You need to meet me. Now. It's serious.]

Frowning, Jin-Ho disappeared into the night.

When he arrived at the rendezvous, Jisoo was already there, pacing. Her expression darkened when she saw him.

"The guilds are putting out feelers," she said without preamble. "Your name's coming up too often."

Jin-Ho's jaw tightened. "Who's leading the search?"

She hesitated. "The Celestial Fang Guild."

Jin-Ho cursed under his breath. They were among the top five guilds in Korea. If they were interested in him, he had even less time than he thought.

Jisoo lowered her voice. "You need to be careful. They don't just recruit—they consume."

Jin-Ho nodded. "Then I'll make sure they choke."