Chapter 20: The Puppeteer's Shadow
The storm intensified, lightning flashing in the sky as Jin-Seong, So-Ra, and Yeon-Hwa stood facing the new figure. This presence wasn't like the puppets they had just fought—it was something far more sinister, exuding a cold, suffocating energy. The rain poured down in sheets, but Jin-Seong's focus was locked on the figure cloaked in darkness.
"So, the rumors are true," the voice said, cutting through the storm's roar. "The chosen of Ara walks the earth once more."
Jin-Seong's grip on his sword tightened, his gaze never leaving the figure. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled softly, stepping forward. The rain seemed to bend around him, as if nature itself recoiled from his presence. His face remained hidden beneath his hood, but his voice carried an otherworldly echo.
"I go by many names, but you may call me Lord Avenis," the figure replied, his tone dripping with arrogance. "I serve those far beyond your understanding, Jin-Seong."
So-Ra, standing a few feet to Jin-Seong's left, was already analyzing the situation. She could sense the overwhelming power coming from this man—Lord Avenis. He wasn't just another enemy; he was something else entirely, something connected to the constellations.
"What do you want?" So-Ra demanded, her eyes narrowing. "You send your puppets to attack us, but you show up in person now? What's your game?"
Lord Avenis tilted his head slightly, as though amused by So-Ra's bravado. "My game? You misunderstand. This is not a game. This is the beginning of a new order. You see, Jin-Seong, I've been watching you for some time. Your connection to Ara has drawn attention, and not just from me."
Jin-Seong felt a chill run down his spine at the mention of his constellation. Ara, the constellation he was contracted to, had always been distant, mysterious. But now, it seemed that even its name carried weight beyond anything he'd imagined.
"What do you want from me?" Jin-Seong asked, his voice steady but cautious.
Lord Avenis took another step forward, the ground beneath his feet crackling with dark energy. "It's quite simple. You have something I need—the key to unlocking the true potential of Ara's power. That chasm you encountered? It's merely the first of many cracks forming in the veil between this world and the one beyond. Ara's connection to you makes you… useful."
Yeon-Hwa, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. "And if we refuse?"
Avenis laughed, the sound devoid of warmth. "Refuse? You misunderstand your situation. You can refuse, but it won't matter. The wheels are already in motion."
Suddenly, Jin-Seong's mind raced as the pieces began to click together. The voice from the chasm, the revelation about the constellations being more than they seemed—it all pointed to something larger at play. A grand design, centuries in the making.
"Enough talking," So-Ra growled, stepping forward with her sword drawn. "You think you can intimidate us with riddles and cryptic nonsense? Let's settle this now."
Jin-Seong raised a hand to stop her, his eyes locked on Lord Avenis. "Wait, So-Ra. He's baiting us."
Avenis's lips curled into a smile beneath his hood. "Smart boy. Ara chose well."
Without warning, the air around them shifted. Jin-Seong felt it—a sudden, oppressive force, as if reality itself was warping. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the village around them seemed to fade, replaced by a vast, dark expanse.
"What… what's happening?" Yeon-Hwa gasped, looking around frantically.
"This is his domain," Jin-Seong muttered, his senses on high alert. "He's manipulating the battlefield."
Avenis raised his arms, and the darkness swirled around them, forming into towering figures made of shadow—twisted, nightmarish versions of the puppets they had fought earlier. Their forms were distorted, their movements erratic, as if they were barely held together by whatever dark force animated them.
"So-Ra, Yeon-Hwa," Jin-Seong said, his voice calm despite the rising tension. "Stay close. This isn't a normal fight."
The shadow creatures lunged forward, their elongated arms reaching for the group with unnatural speed. So-Ra moved first, her sword slicing through one of the creatures with a burst of wind, but to her shock, the creature reformed almost instantly.
"They regenerate!" So-Ra shouted, retreating back toward Jin-Seong.
Yeon-Hwa, her spear at the ready, thrust her weapon into another shadow, but it too reformed, its grotesque shape twisting and writhing as it advanced.
"They're just illusions," Jin-Seong said, his mind racing to figure out Avenis's strategy. "They're meant to wear us down."
Avenis watched from a distance, his expression unreadable. "You're clever, Jin-Seong, but cleverness won't save you from the inevitable."
Jin-Seong's eyes narrowed as he focused on the swirling energy around Avenis. There was something off about it—something unstable.
"So-Ra, Yeon-Hwa," he called out. "Focus on defense. I'll deal with Avenis."
Without waiting for a response, Jin-Seong charged toward the cloaked figure, his sword glowing with the azure hue of the Azure Blade technique. Avenis didn't move, his eyes gleaming with amusement as Jin-Seong closed the distance.
But just as Jin-Seong swung his sword, Avenis vanished, dissolving into the shadows like smoke. Jin-Seong skidded to a halt, his eyes darting around the dark expanse. Where had he gone?
"Looking for me?" Avenis's voice echoed from all directions, mocking.
Suddenly, a dark tendril shot out from the shadows, wrapping around Jin-Seong's arm and pulling him off balance. He gritted his teeth, struggling against the force as more tendrils emerged, trying to ensnare him.
"You think you can fight the darkness itself?" Avenis taunted, his voice filled with contempt.
Jin-Seong's mind raced. He couldn't fight this with brute force. Avenis was playing with him, controlling the shadows at will. But there had to be a way to break the illusion.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy around him. Ara's constellation—the light that had always been a distant guide—now pulsed within him. It was faint, but it was there. He could feel its power.
With a deep breath, Jin-Seong summoned the energy of Ara, channeling it into his sword. The azure light intensified, cutting through the darkness around him. The tendrils recoiled, dissolving as the light pushed them back.
"Impressive," Avenis's voice echoed again, this time tinged with a hint of frustration. "But it won't be enough."
Jin-Seong opened his eyes, the glow of his sword illuminating the darkness. "Maybe not," he muttered, "but it's a start."
He could feel it now—the weakness in Avenis's illusion. It wasn't invincible. And if he could find the source, he could break it.
"Stay sharp," he called out to So-Ra and Yeon-Hwa. "This fight's not over yet."
The storm raged on outside, but within the dark expanse, Jin-Seong knew the real battle had only just begun.