The café went deathly silent as the cloaked figure stood in the doorway, his glowing eyes locked on Jinwoo. The tension in the air was palpable. Donghyuk and Hyeri, who had been casually sipping their drinks moments earlier, were now sitting upright, their gazes shifting between Jinwoo and the mysterious stranger.
"Who's this guy?" Donghyuk muttered, already bracing himself for a fight.
Hyeri's eyes narrowed, her instincts telling her something was off. "He doesn't feel like a regular Ascendant."
Jinwoo stood up slowly, his heart pounding. The figure radiated an aura that was unnatural, sending chills down his spine. He knew this was no ordinary encounter.
The figure took a few steps forward, the dim light of the café casting eerie shadows across his cloak. His voice was smooth but unsettling. "Jinwoo Han, reborn as the Limitbreaker. You think you can rewrite your fate, but you're just playing into their hands."
Jinwoo's eyes widened. "How do you know about that?"
The figure chuckled darkly, pulling back his hood to reveal a pale, angular face. His eyes glowed with an eerie blue light. "There are many eyes watching you, Jinwoo. I'm just one of them."
"Watcher?" Jinwoo's mind raced. Was this the work of the Mystery Guide? Or perhaps one of the Dungeon Sovereigns it had hinted at?
The man raised a gloved hand, dark energy swirling around his fingers. "You've disrupted the balance, and that can't go unnoticed. The system that governs our world isn't as simple as you think. You've crossed into a realm of power you can't comprehend."
Jinwoo tensed, his senses on high alert. He didn't fully understand what the figure was talking about, but he knew one thing for sure: he wasn't about to be intimidated. Not anymore.
Donghyuk stood up beside Jinwoo, cracking his knuckles. "Look, pal, I don't know what your deal is, but you're starting to piss me off. If you're here to fight, then bring it!"
Hyeri stayed seated but raised her hand subtly, preparing a barrier spell. "We don't want any trouble, but if you're threatening us, you'll regret it."
The figure smirked. "Threats? No. Warnings."
In a blink, the air around them grew dense. The café's lights flickered, and the temperature dropped as a dark, oppressive energy filled the room. Other patrons backed away in fear, and some fled entirely.
Before Jinwoo could react, the figure vanished—then reappeared behind him in an instant, his cold breath against Jinwoo's ear. "Your journey's just beginning. But don't forget, Jinwoo Han, there are forces in this world far beyond your control."
Jinwoo spun around, swinging his arm, but his hand passed through empty air. The figure had vanished again, leaving nothing but a fading shadow.
"Where did he go?!" Donghyuk shouted, spinning around and searching the room.
Hyeri stood up, her face tense. "He's gone. But that was no ordinary Ascendant."
Jinwoo clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. This wasn't just a random encounter—this was a warning. But from whom? And why now? His rebirth had given him a second chance, but it was clear that not everyone was pleased with his newfound power.
The tension in the air eased as the oppressive energy dissipated, but the group remained on edge. Jinwoo sat back down, his mind racing. Whoever that was, they knew about his rebirth—and about the Limitbreaker system. But how?
"We need answers," Hyeri said, breaking the silence. "That guy... he wasn't normal. And the way he talked—it's like he knew something we don't."
"Yeah, no kidding," Donghyuk muttered, sitting back down with a huff. "I don't like this. First we're training, now we're being stalked by some creepy dude with glowing eyes. What's next?"
Jinwoo remained quiet, deep in thought. He had suspected that his return from the brink of death would attract attention, but this was different. It wasn't just about dungeons or levels anymore. Something larger was in play—something far more dangerous.
After a long silence, Jinwoo stood up, determination in his eyes. "We can't ignore this. If someone is watching me—or us—then we need to be ready. We need to train harder and find out what's really going on."
Donghyuk nodded. "I'm with you, man. We'll get stronger, together."
Hyeri folded her arms, her expression serious. "Agreed. But we have to be smart about it. Whoever that was, he wasn't some random thug. He's connected to something bigger."
Jinwoo knew they were right. They had to prepare for whatever was coming. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The rebirth, the Limitbreaker system, the cryptic quests—it was all part of something far greater, something he didn't fully understand yet.
And the shadows were watching.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Quest Updated: Break the Shackles of Fate
New Objective: Uncover the identity of the Watcher.
Bonus Objective: Defeat the Watcher in combat.
Time limit: Unknown.
Jinwoo blinked at the sudden system message that appeared before his eyes. "Uncover the identity of the Watcher, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
Hyeri noticed the change in his expression. "Another quest?"
"Yeah," Jinwoo said. "We've got a new target."
Donghyuk grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Now we're talking! Let's track this guy down and show him what happens when you mess with us!"
Hyeri shook her head. "We need to be careful. Whoever this 'Watcher' is, he's powerful. We need more information before we go charging in."
Jinwoo agreed. "Let's gather intel first. There's got to be someone who knows more about this 'Watcher'—someone in the Ascendant world who deals with shadowy figures like him."
Hyeri's eyes lit up as an idea struck her. "I might know just the person. She's an information broker who deals with rare intel about Ascendants and dungeons. If anyone knows about this Watcher, it's her."
Jinwoo nodded. "Good. Let's meet her tomorrow. For now, we rest. But stay alert—there's no telling when the Watcher might return."
As the three friends left the café, the streets of Seoul seemed eerily quiet. Jinwoo couldn't help but glance over his shoulder, the feeling of being watched lingering in his mind. The game had changed. The stakes were higher now.
But no matter what, Jinwoo was ready to face whatever shadows lurked in the darkness.
End of Chapter 3