Jihoon's training under the martial artist, Master Han, was grueling. His body ached from the constant drills, and his muscles screamed for rest after each session. But despite the pain, Jihoon kept at it, knowing that every strike, every movement brought him one step closer to mastering both magic and martial power.
Master Han was patient but strict. "In Murim, strength is not just physical. It's spiritual, emotional. It's the will to fight for something greater than yourself," he often reminded Jihoon. "You must have purpose, or all your power will be wasted."
Jihoon absorbed these lessons, though part of him still felt drawn to the world of magic. His orb grew stronger with every day, and he could sense the flow of energy more clearly than ever. But Master Han's teachings about the body—the discipline, the control—helped Jihoon understand that magic wasn't just about casting spells. It was about balance. Magic could be a tool, a weapon, but without strength of body and mind, it could easily be overpowered.
One day, after a particularly brutal training session, Jihoon found himself in the village's courtyard, drenched in sweat. He had just completed a series of movements that Master Han had called "The Dragon's Strike," a sequence of punches and kicks meant to build strength and fluidity. His body felt exhausted, but in that exhaustion, he found a strange clarity.
Without warning, the orb in his hand flickered, responding to his state of mind. Jihoon instinctively called upon the magic, and the orb swelled, growing in size and intensity until it erupted with a blinding flash of light.
The villagers nearby gasped as the orb shot upward into the sky, transforming into a massive storm cloud, crackling with energy. It was the first time Jihoon had ever summoned such power, and it was more than he'd ever imagined possible.
Master Han appeared behind him, his eyes wide with shock. "What... is this?!"
Jihoon looked at the swirling storm, feeling a surge of exhilaration. "This... this is magic," he murmured, still in awe of the raw power he had just unleashed.
Master Han shook his head in disbelief. "You've learned martial arts for only a short time, and yet you wield magic as though you were born to it. No one has ever done such a thing in Murim."
Jihoon's heart raced as the realization hit him: the path ahead of him was not just about magic. It was about merging the two—magic and martial arts—and becoming something greater than either alone.
"I will create a sect," Jihoon declared, his voice filled with determination. "I will teach magic to the world, and I will forge a new path for the future of Murim."