Chapter 17: The Eyes of the Stars
The enemy force crept closer, their movements blending with the rhythm of the forest, but Jin-Seong could sense them now, every step they took stirring the ground beneath his feet. It wasn't just the small group So-Ra had scouted earlier—there were more. A far larger force than expected. His connection to Ara, the constellation of the Altar, gave him an instinctive awareness of the land, and through it, he could feel their numbers.
"They've doubled their ranks," Jin-Seong muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "This isn't just a scouting party."
So-Ra, standing by his side, glanced over at him, her expression unreadable. "How many?"
"Too many for a simple ambush," he replied, unsheathing his blade. The faint azure glow of his sword hummed to life. "It's more like a full-on assault. And they know we're here."
Yeon-Hwa stepped up, her face resolute, though her grip tightened around her weapon. "Then they underestimate us."
Jin-Seong couldn't help but smirk at her bravado. She was right—they had prepared for this. The three of them, together, could hold their ground, but something still gnawed at him. The suddenness of it all, the precise movements of their enemies—this wasn't just about the Hero Council or a simple power grab. It was something larger, something hidden beneath the surface.
"They're trying to flush us out," So-Ra said, scanning the treeline. "Whoever they are, they're moving tactically, like they've studied us."
"That means there's more than just foot soldiers," Jin-Seong added. "There are strategists behind this."
As if on cue, the first wave emerged from the forest, a squad of masked warriors dressed in dark, sleek armor, their weapons reflecting the morning light. They moved in unison, a disciplined force. But what caught Jin-Seong's attention was not their formation, but the strange markings on their armor—constellation symbols, unfamiliar and foreboding, etched into the black steel.
"They're using celestial energy," Yeon-Hwa observed, her voice low. "But those constellations... I don't recognize them."
Neither did Jin-Seong. The symbols were unlike anything he had ever seen. He had studied the known constellations, understood their powers, their blessings. But these—these were foreign, unknown, and the energy they radiated was dark, like shadows hiding beneath the starlight.
"It doesn't matter," So-Ra said, stepping forward, her wind-infused blades gleaming in the light. "We fight them just the same."
Jin-Seong nodded, his mind racing. He needed to make sense of this later. For now, they had to survive. He could feel Ara's blessing surge through him, strengthening his connection to the earth below. With a deep breath, he extended his hand, and the ground began to shift.
The cliffs responded to his will, jagged rocks rising like sentinels from the earth, forming barriers between them and the oncoming force. The enemy would have to fight through narrow, treacherous paths to reach them now. They had the high ground, and Jin-Seong would make sure to use it.
"They'll be funneled here," he said, gesturing to the narrow gorge between two rock formations. "We hold this position. Let them come to us."
So-Ra smirked. "Good. I hate chasing."
The first of the enemy warriors entered the gorge, their movements swift and calculated, but Jin-Seong was faster. With a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath them shifted violently, causing the leading warriors to stumble. So-Ra was on them in a flash, her blades cutting through the air with deadly precision, each strike reinforced by the gusts of wind swirling around her.
Yeon-Hwa followed, her sword movements a blur as she danced between the attackers, her strikes clean and lethal. Her connection to Virgo gave her an almost supernatural grace in combat, each step purposeful, each blow precise.
But more kept coming. The enemy seemed endless, pouring out of the forest in waves, and with each passing moment, Jin-Seong could feel the pressure mounting. Whoever had sent them was determined to see them crushed.
Jin-Seong summoned the power of Ara again, this time raising pillars of stone from the ground to block the enemy's path, slowing their advance. The cliffside trembled under his control, and the battlefield shifted with his will.
But even as he fought, something tugged at the edge of his senses—something watching. His gaze flickered upward, toward the sky, and for a brief moment, he swore he saw it. A star, brighter than the rest, hanging low on the horizon. And then, it blinked out.
The sensation sent a shiver down his spine. It wasn't a natural star. No, this was something else. The constellations themselves were watching this battle, but not just Ara—others. Forces beyond their understanding. Was this what Hyun had warned him about?
His momentary distraction cost him. One of the enemy warriors broke through his defenses, lunging at him with a jagged blade. Jin-Seong barely managed to parry the strike, the force of the blow reverberating through his arm.
"You're losing focus, Jin-Seong!" So-Ra called, slicing through another attacker.
He gritted his teeth, pushing the enemy back with a surge of Celestial Essence. "I know. Something's wrong. These constellations—they're not ours."
"I noticed," So-Ra replied, her voice strained as she deflected another strike. "But we deal with that after. Right now, we survive."
Yeon-Hwa was silent but efficient, cutting through another wave with deadly accuracy. But even she couldn't hide the unease in her eyes. The strange symbols, the dark energy—it was all too foreign, too wrong.
The enemy was relentless, but Jin-Seong, So-Ra, and Yeon-Hwa held their ground. With every passing minute, the tide of battle seemed to shift in their favor. The earth, the wind, the stars—they all responded to their will, guiding their strikes, empowering their defenses.
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the enemy halted. The remaining warriors stepped back, their movements cautious, as if waiting for something.
Jin-Seong narrowed his eyes. "What are they doing?"
Before anyone could answer, a figure emerged from the shadows of the forest, dressed in a flowing black cloak adorned with constellation symbols even more intricate than the others. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but the power radiating from him was undeniable—he was no mere soldier.
The figure stopped just before the gorge, his presence alone commanding silence. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, yet it carried over the battlefield with an eerie resonance.
"You've proven yourself worthy, Jin-Seong of the Azure Peak Sect," the figure said. "But this is only the beginning."
Jin-Seong's grip tightened on his sword. "Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand, and the symbols on his cloak began to glow with a faint, ethereal light. The constellation symbols. Unknown, yet familiar.
"I am but a messenger," the figure said at last, "of powers greater than you can comprehend. The stars have chosen you, but not in the way you think."
Jin-Seong felt a cold dread creep into his bones. The stars. The constellations. Hyun's warning. It was all connected.
"What do you want?" Jin-Seong demanded, his voice firm despite the unease growing inside him.
The figure lowered his hand, and the light in the symbols faded. "Soon, Jin-Seong, you will see. The constellations are not as they seem. And when the time comes, you will have to choose."
With that, the figure turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving Jin-Seong and his companions alone on the battlefield, surrounded by the still bodies of their enemies.
The air was heavy with the weight of the encounter, but Jin-Seong's mind was racing. The stars had been watching. And now, more than ever, he knew that this battle was only a prelude to something far greater.
Something was coming, and the stars were hiding their true intentions.
"Jin-Seong," So-Ra said, her voice cutting through the silence. "What just happened?"
He didn't answer immediately, his gaze still fixed on the spot where the figure had disappeared.
"I don't know," he finally replied, his voice low. "But we need to find out. Fast."