Ripples in still water
The gates of the Outer Sect groaned open as Squad Nine returned, bloodied but alive.
Other disciples stared as they passed—at Soo-yeon's cracked sabers, at Han Do's bruised arms, at Tae-hyun's blank expression and faintly glowing dagger.
Min simply walked ahead without a word.
Yul lagged behind, eyes lost in thought.
News had already reached the sect.
Word spread like wildfire.
"A corrupted core purged?"
"An entire domain zone… cleansed?"
"Who led them?"
"A transfer from Earth, they say. A forsaken."
Tae-hyun ignored the whispers.
But he felt them crawl across his skin.
> [Merit Report: Squad Nine – Rank Elevated to #17 (Outer Roster)]
[Individual Note: Tae-hyun – Preliminary Flag Raised by Inner Disciple Council]
---
Master Byung, their squad overseer, waited at the mission hall.
He stared at the report crystal in his hand.
"Explain how five outer disciples neutralized an E+ ranked Devourer Host."
Soo-yeon bowed. "Squad coordination. Planning. Execution."
Han Do grinned. "And guts."
Byung's eyes narrowed. "Don't insult me."
He turned to Tae-hyun.
"You led this?"
Tae-hyun nodded. "Yes."
Byung studied him. Not with doubt. With calculation.
"…You're dangerous," he said. "But I can use dangerous."
He tossed a small medallion onto the table.
"Temporary squad leadership status. You've earned it. For now."
---
Back at the quarters, the group was silent.
Until Min spoke. "They're going to test you now."
"Who?" Tae-hyun asked.
Yul looked up. "Everyone."
---
Later that night, the System buzzed.
> [Trait Progression Available: Mindlock Resistance I → II – Spend 1 Trait Point?]
[You have 1 Trait Point.]
Tae-hyun didn't hesitate.
> Confirm.
> [Trait Upgraded – Mindlock Resistance II: +25% Resistance to Mental Interference, +10 Focus]
A second prompt appeared.
> [Fragment of Will – An unknown artifact bound to spiritual awakening. Do you wish to absorb it? Warning: Irreversible.]
He stared at the screen for a long moment.
Then whispered:
> "Yes."
---
Pain flared.
Not in his body—but in his soul.
He saw visions—shattered worlds, screaming stars, something ancient clawing toward the light. Then a voice.
"You are not ready. But you will be."
> [Fragment Absorbed – Dormant Connection Established]
[New Passive: Vein of the Unknown – ??? (Locked)]
The glow faded.
Tae-hyun sat there, breathing hard.
The world was still again.
But something inside him had shifted.
He looked at his hand.
> "This is only the beginning."
---
Far above, in the Inner Sect's upper tower, a young woman stared into a reflecting pond.
Her silver eyes shimmered.
"That boy… he moved like the wind but struck like judgment."
A man beside her, robed in white, scoffed.
"He's a flicker. Nothing more."
She smiled.
"Flickers start wildfires."
---
The Outer Sect's duel arena thrummed with tension.
Disciples packed the edges, whispering, speculating.
The name "Tae-hyun" had spread like wildfire after the Graywood Basin mission.
And now, someone meant to snuff that flame.
> Challenger: Kang Jinho (Outer Rank #14)
Defender: Tae-hyun (Outer Rank #17)
The challenge was official. Honor-bound. Impossible to ignore.
Han Do muttered, "Typical. Someone climbs a few steps, and the wolves come sniffing."
Yul stayed quiet, eyes narrowed. "Jinho's not just a wolf. He's been stuck at #14 for months. He sees Tae-hyun as a shortcut."
Tae-hyun stood calm, blade at his side.
He didn't care about numbers.
But he cared about messages.
This was one.
So his answer would be one, too.
---
Kang Jinho waited in the center, bare-chested under a tattered robe. His arms were knotted with muscle, his Qi flaring red and violent.
"New blood should know its place," he said. "I'll make sure you remember yours."
Tae-hyun's grip tightened on his dagger.
> "Then I'll carve a new place for myself. In your memory."
The match overseer raised a hand.
"Begin."
---
Jinho struck first—fast and heavy.
A shockwave boomed as his fist hit stone where Tae-hyun had stood.
Tae-hyun ghosted behind him, blade flashing for the ribs.
Clang—Jinho twisted, arm deflecting the blow with a burst of hardened Qi.
> [Fangsteel Dagger Mastery: 54%]
[Strike Deflected – Qi Clash Detected]
[Health: -3]
Tae-hyun staggered slightly. He's reinforcing his body. Not just skin-deep—bones, maybe even organs.
The crowd gasped at the speed of the exchange.
Min, watching from the shadows, said softly, "He's reading him already."
---
Jinho grinned. "You're fast. But not enough."
He surged forward, footwork wild and erratic—a style meant to overwhelm.
Tae-hyun dodged once—twice—then took a shallow hit across the chest.
Pain flared. Blood dripped.
> [Health: -6 | Qi: 13/24]
But Tae-hyun smiled.
> [Qi Flow Active – Phantom Step: Blink Reset]
[Initiate: Flow Reversal]
He vanished from Jinho's line of sight—and reappeared behind him, low and angled.
> [Fangsteel Dagger – Infused 80% Qi]
He drove the dagger into Jinho's shoulder, twisting.
CRACK.
The older disciple screamed, staggering back.
---
Jinho's eyes were wide. "You… bastard."
He slammed his palm to the ground—Qi surged outward like a burst dam.
"Red Wall Break!"
Tae-hyun's system flared in warning.
> [Incoming Technique – Wide-Area Impact: Stamina Drain Risk]
But Tae-hyun didn't retreat.
Instead, he stepped into the storm.
The crowd gasped.
Soo-yeon shouted, "Tae-hyun!"
---
He moved like a shadow through the chaos.
Each step was calculated.
Each breath—measured.
> [Phantom Step Mastery: 41%]
[Condition: Soul Sync Threshold Reached – +5 Reaction for 10 seconds]
He closed the gap again—and struck Jinho's uninjured side with precision.
Not brute force.
Control.
Jinho buckled.
The technique faltered.
---
Silence fell.
Then a dull thud as Jinho dropped to one knee, gasping.
His Qi flared, sputtered—and collapsed inward.
> [Opponent Yield Detected – Victory Confirmed]
[+22 Merit Points | +3 Fangsteel Dagger Mastery | +2 Phantom Step Mastery]
---
The overseer raised his hand.
"Victory: Tae-hyun."
The crowd erupted—some in cheers, some in stunned disbelief.
Tae-hyun looked around, expression unreadable.
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't proud.
He was focused.
He stepped out of the ring, past Jinho, who still clutched his ribs.
"No shame in losing," Tae-hyun said without malice. "But don't challenge someone just to prove they don't belong."
---
Later that evening, the System chimed.
> [New Reputation Tier Unlocked – "Rising Fang" (Outer Sect)]
[New Skill Option Available: Qi Sunder – A blade technique focused on disrupting internal flow.]
Tae-hyun didn't answer right away.
He stared at the stars.
"I'm not fighting to climb ranks."
"I'm fighting… so no one drags me down again."
---
Far above, in the Inner Sect's tower, silver eyes watched the duel's replay through a scrying mirror.
"That footwork," the woman whispered. "He learns during battle. He's not just climbing."
"He's evolving."
---