Chapter 0: A World on the Edge
The world Jin-Seong and his companions inhabited was vast, ancient, and teeming with secrets. At its heart lay the delicate balance between light and shadow, order and chaos—one that had been meticulously maintained for centuries but was now slowly tipping.
This was a land where towering mountain ranges met sprawling cities, and ancient forests hid relics of forgotten power. The land was divided into several territories, each governed by powerful sects and clans, their influence stretching far and wide. The Azure Peak Sect, where Jin-Seong trained, stood as a beacon of discipline and tradition, rooted in the ways of Celestial Essence —a mystical energy drawn from the stars themselves.
However, the world was not as simple as it appeared.
The Power of Celestial Essence and Heroic Qi
In this world, power came from two main sources: Celestial Essence and Heroic Qi. Both were vast reservoirs of energy that warriors and masters tapped into to perform miraculous feats, shaping the very reality around them.
Celestial Essence, tied to the stars and the heavens, allowed its users to draw strength from constellations, manipulating energy in ways that seemed impossible. However, the use of Celestial Essence required emotional balance. A user too driven by anger or hatred could be overwhelmed, consumed by their own power.
On the other side stood Heroic Qi, a volatile energy born not from the stars but from the wielder's ambition and ego. This power resonated with desire—the more one craved glory and fame, the stronger their Heroic Qi would become. But Heroic Qi came at a cost. Many who wielded it found their humanity slipping away, twisted by their own thirst for recognition.
The land was home to both Celestial Masters—those who walked the path of balance—and Heroic Knights, warriors who embraced the chaotic power of Heroic Qi. The two forces coexisted, but tension was growing.
Relics of Power and Cursed Blades
Throughout the land, powerful relics of the past lay hidden, waiting for those brave enough to seek them out. These relics, ranging from Arcane to Mythical and Heroic in strength, granted incredible powers to their users. But many were dangerous, tainted by dark energies and cursed by the very forces that had forged them.
Among these were the cursed blades, weapons of great power but terrible consequence. These swords, forged with ancient, forbidden rituals, pulsed with malevolent energy. They fed on the souls of their wielders, corrupting them with each swing of the blade. Legends spoke of a mysterious swordsmith who had created these cursed weapons, but no one knew their true identity.
Jin-Seong himself had already encountered such a sword. Though not fully cursed, his blade had begun to show signs of corruption, its dark aura growing with each battle. The power was seductive, but he knew it would come at a heavy price.
Sects, Clans, and the Hero Council
The world was governed by powerful sects and clans, each with their own philosophy and source of strength. The Azure Peak Sect, where Jin-Seong trained, was one of the few that still upheld the traditional path of Celestial Essence, rejecting the use of Heroic Qi.
But not all sects were as honorable. The once-noble Crimson Tiger Sect and the influential Silver Phoenix Clan had begun to fall from grace, corrupted by ambition and a desire for power. Some sects had even begun dabbling in Heroic Qi, abandoning their ancient teachings in pursuit of strength at any cost.
At the center of this growing storm was the Hero Council, a powerful organization that had once been a symbol of hope but had since grown corrupt. The Hero Council promoted the use of Heroic Qi, seeing it as the true path to dominance. Their warriors, the Heroic Knights, were renowned for their strength and ruthlessness, but they had lost their way, becoming more concerned with their own interests than the welfare of the world.
The Hero Council's influence was spreading, and their ambitions were clear—they sought control over all the sects and the entire world.
Cursed Relics and Dark Mysticism
In recent years, cursed relics had begun to appear more frequently. These artifacts, tainted by dark forces, unleashed chaos and corruption wherever they went. No one knew who was behind the release of these cursed items, but one thing was certain—something dark was rising from the shadows.
The world was also beginning to see a rise in dark mysticism. Ancient rituals, forgotten gods, and long-buried entities were stirring, brought back to the surface by the increasing chaos. Some believed that the cursed relics were tied to these dark forces, that a war from an ancient era was about to begin anew.
The balance of the world was shifting, and it was unclear whether it could be restored.
A World in Peril
Jin-Seong, a young warrior from the Azure Peak Sect, stood at the crossroads of this chaotic world. As the forces of light and dark clashed, he would be forced to choose his path. With the looming threat of the Hero Council, the rise of cursed relics, and the dark mysticism creeping into the world, the time for action was drawing near.
But the true question was not whether Jin-Seong would fight. It was whether he could retain his humanity in a world where power and ambition consumed everything in their path.
The balance was tipping, and soon, the world would plunge into chaos. Jin-Seong's journey was only just beginning, and the battles ahead would test him in ways he could never have imagined.
Welcome to the world of Ascension of the Dark Sword