The ruins, once heavy with corruption, now lay in eerie silence. The blackened vines had withered away, leaving only the faint traces of their previous dominance. Jihoon and his team stood amidst the desolation, catching their breath after the battle.
"That was more than I bargained for," Ryujin said, leaning heavily on his sword. "We've faced threats before, but that guardian was something else."
"It wasn't just the guardian," Jihoon replied, his voice strained from exhaustion. "The artifact's influence was stronger than I anticipated. These things are growing in power—and so are their defenses."
Seojun crouched beside the shattered remnants of the artifact, poking at the broken crystal. "It's hard to believe this little thing caused all that chaos. How many more of these are out there?"
Jihoon tightened his grip on his staff, his gaze somber. "Too many. Each one corrupts the land and its people, spreading the Shadow Veil's influence. If we don't act quickly, Murim won't survive."
Sora stood and stretched, though her body ached from the battle. "Then we'll need more than just us. If these fights keep escalating, we'll be overwhelmed sooner or later."
Jihoon nodded. "You're right. We've proven what magic can do, but we need more allies. The coalition is still hesitant, and there are other sects out there who might be swayed by what we've accomplished."
Ryujin raised an eyebrow. "Swayed, huh? I'm guessing that means more battles and more proving ourselves?"
Jihoon offered a faint smile. "Would you have it any other way?"
Ryujin snorted. "Fair point."
---
As they made their way back to the coalition stronghold, the journey was marked by quiet contemplation. Each member of the group was lost in their thoughts, replaying the battle and considering what lay ahead.
When they arrived, they were greeted by Master Yun and the other coalition leaders. Yun's gaze flicked over the group, noting their injuries and exhaustion. "You succeeded, I take it?"
Jihoon stepped forward, holding up a fragment of the shattered artifact. "The corruption in the northern valley is gone. But this is only the beginning. There are more artifacts like this, and their guardians will only grow stronger."
Yun frowned, taking the fragment and examining it. "And you expect us to continue this alliance?"
"Yes," Jihoon said firmly. "You've seen what magic can do. Without it, the Shadow Veil will consume Murim. We need to work together if we're going to stand a chance."
Lady Ha-eun, another coalition leader, crossed her arms. "You speak with conviction, but conviction alone won't rally the other sects. They're stubborn and wary of anything that challenges tradition."
"That's why we'll keep proving ourselves," Jihoon replied. "One battle at a time, one victory at a time. Magic isn't just a tool—it's a way forward. And we'll show them that."
Yun studied Jihoon for a long moment before nodding. "Very well. The coalition will continue to support you, but you'll need more than our aid to win this war. Start preparing for your next move."
Jihoon bowed his head in gratitude. "Thank you. Together, we'll stop the Shadow Veil."
As the meeting ended, Jihoon turned to his team. "We've taken a step forward, but there's still a long road ahead. Rest up while you can. Our next challenge won't wait for us."
The group dispersed, each member carrying the weight of what they'd faced and what was still to come. Jihoon, however, remained outside, staring at the horizon. His dream of building a sect and uniting Murim under magic's banner felt both closer and farther away than ever.