Jaeho's mind buzzed with the revelations from his meeting with Dr. Jiwon. He had barely stepped outside the lab before his phone buzzed again. This time, the message was from an unknown number.
Unknown: "Meet me at the old factory on the outskirts of Seoul. It's time to learn the truth."
Jaeho's instincts flared. The message was cryptic, but it sounded too important to ignore. His grip tightened around the phone, and a small sense of dread settled in the pit of his stomach. He knew he couldn't afford to wait any longer. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit, but he still had too many unanswered questions. Someone else knew about the power he was wielding, and they wanted him to know more.
He glanced back at the bustling streets of Seoul, the chaos of everyday life continuing unabated. But beneath it all, there was something else—an undercurrent of tension. The dungeons, the beasts, and now the strange people watching him. Everything was connected, and it wasn't just about survival anymore. The stakes were higher than he could have ever imagined.
With a deep breath, Jaeho began making his way toward the meeting point. The journey was long, taking him through some of the more desolate parts of the city. The factory loomed ahead, a hulking structure of rusting metal and cracked windows, the remnants of an era long past. It was quiet, almost unnervingly so, and the air felt heavier as he approached.
Jaeho felt the familiar hum of his beasts beside him. The Gorgorath, ever vigilant, kept to the shadows, its eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. The hybrid variant fluttered softly behind him, its glowing wings a faint presence in the dark. Even the smaller creatures, though hidden, seemed to be on edge.
He reached the entrance of the factory, the metal doors hanging slightly ajar, a sign that someone had been here recently. A low, guttural growl echoed from within, and Jaeho instinctively summoned his creatures closer, ready for whatever lay ahead.
Pushing the door open, he stepped inside. The factory was dark, but the faint glow of his beasts provided just enough light to see. The walls were lined with old machinery, now abandoned, and the air smelled of rust and decay. But there, standing in the center of the room, was the last person Jaeho had expected to see.
"You've come," the voice said, smooth and calm. "I wasn't sure you would."
It was a woman, dressed in a long, flowing black coat that seemed out of place in the dilapidated factory. Her hair, dark as midnight, cascaded around her shoulders, and her eyes, sharp and calculating, met his with an intensity that sent a chill through him.
"I'm surprised you know who I am," Jaeho replied, trying to mask the tension in his voice. His hand subtly reached for his phone, prepared to summon his beasts if necessary. "Who are you?"
The woman smiled faintly, an almost knowing smile. "I'm someone who knows more about you than you think, Jaeho. And more about the power you've awakened."
Jaeho's heart skipped a beat. How could she know that? He hadn't told anyone about his abilities, not even Dr. Jiwon.
"You're not the only one who's been marked by this power," the woman continued, her voice unwavering. "There are others, just like you, who have been chosen by the same force. And I'm here to help you understand what that means."
Jaeho's mind raced. He had heard rumors, whispers about people who could summon beasts and control powers that no one understood, but this was the first time someone had outright confirmed it.
"Help me?" Jaeho asked, his eyes narrowing. "Why would you help me?"
The woman took a step closer, her gaze never leaving his. "Because you have a choice, Jaeho. You can either join us, or you can continue down this path alone, without knowing the full truth."
Jaeho felt a surge of unease. "What truth?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if considering his question. "The truth about the world you've entered. About the creatures you tame, the power you possess, and the forces that are at play behind it all. You're not just a biochemist, Jaeho. You're part of something much larger. Something that's been brewing for centuries."
Jaeho took a step back, his mind spinning. This wasn't just about survival anymore. This wasn't just about creatures and dungeons. It was about something far deeper.
"And if I don't join you?" he asked, voice steady despite the knot in his stomach.
The woman's smile faltered, but only slightly. "Then you will become a pawn in a game you don't understand. The forces behind this power will stop at nothing to control it. And you, Jaeho, will be one of the pieces they use."
The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, and Jaeho felt a cold sense of inevitability settle over him. He wasn't just a player in this world anymore—he was part of something much larger, something that was far beyond his understanding.
"What do you want from me?" Jaeho asked, his voice low.
The woman stepped closer, her presence now overwhelming. "I want you to stop running. I want you to accept your place in this world. You have the power to change everything, Jaeho. But first, you need to stop pretending that you can do this alone."
Jaeho felt his pulse quicken. Every fiber of his being told him to resist, to push back against this strange woman and whatever she represented. But there was a part of him, a deeper part, that couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he accepted her offer. Could he really control the power within him? Could he change the course of what was happening in the world?
Before he could say anything more, the factory doors slammed shut behind him, and a deep, rumbling growl echoed through the darkness.
The woman smiled, unfazed. "I think we've just been joined by some friends. Let's see if you're ready to truly understand the power that's awakening."
Jaeho's beasts bristled at the new presence, their growls mixing with the distant echo of something larger moving through the shadows. Whatever was coming, he knew one thing for sure—there was no turning back now.
The game had truly begun.