The eerie silence that followed Ashura's disintegration hung heavily in the chamber. The oppressive darkness that had filled the air was gone, but a strange tension remained. Jinwoo, Hyeri, and Donghyuk stood in the aftermath of the battle, catching their breath.
Hyeri slowly lowered her hands, her barrier fading as the magical energy in the room settled. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her breathing still heavy from the immense power she had unleashed.
"That was... too close," she muttered, her voice shaky.
Donghyuk shook out his arms, still buzzing with leftover energy. "Tell me about it. That guy hit harder than any dungeon boss we've faced before."
Jinwoo, however, remained silent, staring at the spot where Ashura had been. Even though they had stopped him, his words echoed in Jinwoo's mind.
The Watcher will come for you...
He couldn't shake the feeling that something far worse was on the horizon. Ashura might have been sealed away, but the truth was now out there: they were caught in the middle of a game played by forces far beyond their comprehension.
Jinwoo turned to Hyeri and Donghyuk, his voice grim. "We need to get out of here. Whatever's coming next... we need to be ready."
Donghyuk raised an eyebrow. "You think the Watcher's gonna come after us now?"
Jinwoo nodded, his expression tense. "Ashura wasn't lying. The Watcher knows about me—about us. And after what we've just done, there's no doubt we're on his radar. We have to be prepared for anything."
Hyeri looked troubled. "But how do we even fight something like the Watcher? He's not like the usual monsters we face in dungeons. He's one of the cosmic beings that governs the balance of the Ascendant world."
"We fight by getting stronger," Jinwoo said, determination filling his voice. "If the Watcher is going to come after us, we need to be ready to face him head-on. We need more power."
Donghyuk cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. "I'm all for getting stronger. I've still got a few tricks I haven't tried out yet."
Hyeri, though still anxious, nodded in agreement. "Then we'll need to train harder, find better dungeons, and get stronger. But we also need information. If the Watcher's involved, we need to understand what we're up against."
Jinwoo looked around the now-empty chamber, his mind racing. "The first thing we do is leave this place. After that... we find Jihoon."
Donghyuk raised an eyebrow. "You think Jihoon knew all this was gonna happen?"
Jinwoo's eyes darkened. "He knew enough to send us here. He's been pulling strings from the shadows for a while now. If anyone has answers about the Watcher and why we're being targeted, it's him."
The group made their way back through the dungeon's labyrinthine corridors, careful not to trigger any lingering traps. The air was noticeably lighter now that Ashura's presence was gone, and the ominous glow of the runes had faded into a dull shimmer. Even so, Jinwoo couldn't shake the feeling that something—someone—was watching them.
As they neared the exit portal, Donghyuk glanced over at Jinwoo, a question on his mind. "So, what's the plan after we find Jihoon? If he's been playing us, how do we know he's not just leading us into more trouble?"
Jinwoo's expression was cold. "We don't. But if Jihoon is working with or for the Watcher, we need to know what he's after. If he tries to trick us again, we'll make him talk."
Donghyuk chuckled. "Can't say I don't like the sound of that."
Hyeri, however, looked more concerned. "Let's not jump to conclusions just yet. Jihoon's always been... secretive, but if he's involved with something as big as the Watcher, we need to tread carefully. We can't afford to make enemies of everyone around us."
Jinwoo nodded, though his resolve didn't waver. "We'll be smart about it. But we won't hesitate to act if we need to."
They stepped through the portal, emerging back into the cold night air outside the dungeon. The stars glittered above, and the wind felt refreshing after the stifling atmosphere of the dungeon. But even the open sky felt constricting, knowing what awaited them.
Back at the Guild
The group returned to the guild's headquarters, where the familiar sight of their guildmates greeted them. The buzz of activity inside the building was as lively as ever, with adventurers chatting, training, and preparing for their next quests. However, the three of them headed straight for the back office, where Jihoon usually kept to himself.
"Are we doing this now?" Donghyuk asked, already raring to confront their mysterious guild leader.
Jinwoo nodded. "The sooner, the better."
Hyeri took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever revelation was about to come. "Let's just hope he's ready to talk."
They pushed through the doors and into Jihoon's office. The man himself sat at his desk, as calm and composed as ever, surrounded by stacks of paperwork and magical artifacts. He looked up when they entered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Back so soon?" Jihoon said, his voice smooth. "I take it the dungeon wasn't as easy as expected."
Jinwoo's eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. "Cut the act, Jihoon. You sent us there knowing it wasn't an ordinary dungeon. You knew we'd find Ashura."
Jihoon's smile didn't falter. "Ah, so you met Ashura, then. I had a feeling you'd encounter something... significant."
"Significant?" Donghyuk barked, stepping forward. "That guy nearly killed us, and he's talking about the Watcher coming after us. What's your game, Jihoon?"
Jihoon leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepling as he regarded them calmly. "It's not a game, Donghyuk. It's survival. The Watcher's attention has been drawn to you all because of your abilities, and if you want to survive what's coming, you'll need more than just raw power."
Jinwoo took a step forward, his voice cold. "Then tell us what we need to know. Why does the Watcher care about us? Why did you send us to that dungeon?"
Jihoon's expression grew serious, his gaze sharp. "Because the Watcher sees you as a threat, Jinwoo. You and your friends possess the potential to upset the balance of power in the Ascendant world. You're Limitbreakers—beings capable of surpassing the boundaries of what's considered possible."
Hyeri's eyes widened. "But why us?"
Jihoon stood up from his desk, walking to the window as he spoke. "Because the Watcher fears what Limitbreakers can do. And you, Jinwoo, have more potential than any of them. He sees you as a wild card—someone who could either save this world or destroy it."
Jinwoo clenched his fists. "Then why didn't you tell us any of this before?"
Jihoon turned, his gaze steady. "Because I needed to see if you were ready. Now that you've faced Ashura, you understand how high the stakes are. The Watcher isn't your only enemy. There are others who want to use you for their own gain. I've been trying to guide you from the shadows, but now... it's time for you to make a choice."
Hyeri frowned. "What choice?"
Jihoon's expression darkened. "To either fight the Watcher and the forces that seek to control you—or submit and become another pawn in their game."
Jinwoo's resolve hardened. "We're not pawns. And we're not running. We'll fight."
Jihoon smiled faintly. "Good. Then it's time for you to prepare for war."
End of Chapter 7