The forest was silent, save for the rasping breaths of Wooin and his sister. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting eerie shadows on the ground as Wooin guided Haeji deeper into the safety of the trees. His mind churned with anxiety, trying to suppress the vivid images of the chaos at the barn. He had to ensure Haeji's safety before he could think of anything else.
They finally reached the secluded cabin Gyeo had prepared years ago—a hidden retreat deep in the woods. Wooin had only been here once, but its remote location made it the safest place for Haeji.
"You'll be safe here," he said, ushering her inside and barring the heavy wooden door.
Haeji clutched his arm, her eyes wide with fear. "You're leaving again, aren't you?"
Wooin hesitated. He wanted to reassure her, to promise he'd stay, but the questions gnawing at his mind wouldn't let him rest. "I need to figure out what's going on. But I'll come back for you. I swear."
Haeji's lips quivered, but she nodded, trusting him despite the terror that lingered in her gaze.
---
Wooin's legs carried him back to the barn, each step weighed down by dread. By the time he arrived, dawn was beginning to creep over the horizon. The barn loomed like a dark sentinel, its battered structure silhouetted against the pale light.
What he found inside made his blood run cold.
The barn was a warzone. Splintered wood and scorched earth littered the floor, evidence of a battle far fiercer than he could have imagined. Gyeo's simple tools were scattered across the ground, some bent or broken, while the air still reeked of blood and burnt metal.
But there were no bodies.
Wooin searched desperately for any sign of his mentor, his chest tightening with each passing second. "Gyeo!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty space. "Master, where are you?"
There was no answer. Only silence, and the haunting remnants of the battle.
He dropped to his knees, his hands clenching the dirt as frustration and grief threatened to overwhelm him. Gyeo had saved him and Haeji, risking his life to fend off Jin-Seok and his men. But now, Wooin was left with nothing—no mentor, no guidance, and no answers.
As the morning light filtered through the barn's shattered planks, Wooin's resolve hardened. He had only one lead left: Hak Yon's legacy. Whatever secrets Gyeo had been protecting, they had drawn the SK Group's wrath and thrust his family into danger.
If Wooin wanted to protect the people he loved, he needed to uncover the truth.
---
Back in the city, Wooin ensured his mother's care was secure. He paid the healers all the money he had saved to guarantee her safety for the next few weeks and made arrangements for Haeji to visit her under a false name. It was a fragile setup, but it was all he could manage for now.
With his family temporarily safe, Wooin turned his focus to the smithy. He spent an entire day securing the shop, leaving behind a note for the rare customers who might come looking for him. Then, he descended into the basement, where Gyeo's greatest secret waited.
The stone gate loomed before him, a massive slab of rock etched with intricate carvings of flames and blades. Wooin had always thought it was a mere decorative relic—something Gyeo had built to honor Hak Yon's memory. But now, he understood its true purpose.
As he pushed against the gate, a deep rumble filled the air, the stone grinding against itself as it slowly slid open. A gust of cold air rushed out, carrying with it an almost sentient weight.
Wooin froze as a strange sensation coursed through him. It was as if the world around him had shifted, the very air charged with a warning and a promise.
Once you step through, nothing will ever be the same.
Taking a deep breath, Wooin stepped inside.
---
The chamber beyond the gate was vast, its walls lined with glowing symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat. At the center stood a pedestal holding a small, unassuming but grandeur book. A single inscription ran along its cover:
"Only the worthy may wield the fire of the forge."
As Wooin approached, the book began to glow, its light illuminating the chamber. The air crackled with energy, and the floor beneath him shifted. Suddenly, the pedestal disappeared, and the room transformed into an endless expanse of fire and steel.
The first trial had begun.
---
Day 1: The Forge of Will
Wooin found himself surrounded by towering pillars of flame. The heat was suffocating, each breath burning his lungs. A deep, resonant voice echoed through the inferno:
"Prove your resolve. Forge a weapon from the fire of your soul."
An anvil appeared before him, along with raw materials. His hands moved instinctively, years of blacksmithing guiding him. But the flames licked at his skin, and the pain threatened to break his concentration. Each strike of the hammer tested his endurance, forcing him to confront his doubts and fears.
After hours of grueling effort, Wooin emerged with a gleaming blade—a symbol of his determination.
---
Day 2: The Abyss of Memory
The fire vanished, replaced by a vast, dark void. One by one, figures from Wooin's past appeared—his mother, Haeji, Gyeo—each accusing him of failure.
"Face your guilt. Accept your past, or be consumed by it."
The voices cut deep, their words pulling at old wounds. Wooin fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he confronted the weight of his mistakes. But as the darkness closed in, he found strength in his love for his family.
"I won't fail them," he whispered, his voice trembling but resolute.
The void shattered, and Wooin stood taller than before.
---
Day 3: The Labyrinth of Shadows
Wooin was thrust into a twisting maze, its walls shifting and alive. Creatures of darkness stalked him, their glowing eyes piercing the gloom.
"Find the light within."
The labyrinth tested his resourcefulness and courage. Armed only with the blade he had forged, Wooin fought the creatures while navigating the maze's ever-changing paths. At its heart, he found a flickering flame—a fragment of hope that banished the shadows.
---
Day 4: The Trial of Truth
A mirror appeared before him, its surface rippling like water.
"Know yourself. Speak your truth, or be lost."
Wooin stared into the mirror, which reflected not his face, but his doubts, fears, and failures. It whispered his insecurities, questioning his worth and his ability to protect those he loved.
Summoning his courage, Wooin spoke. "I'm afraid. But fear won't stop me. I'll fight for my family, no matter what it takes."
The mirror shattered, and the shards dissolved into light.
---
Day 5: The Crucible of Endurance
The final trial was a relentless storm of fire and steel. Blades rained from the sky, and the ground itself erupted with molten lava. Wooin's body screamed for rest, his injuries and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him.
But he pressed on, his mind focused on one thought: For Haeji. For Mother. For Gyeo.
Each step forward was agony, but he refused to give up. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the storm ceased, leaving Wooin battered but standing.
---
When the storm cleared, the room shifted once more. Then wooin came up to the book on the pedestal and as soon as he was about to try to open the book his body gave out and he fell down in front of the pedestal as his body gave out weighed down by the exhaustion of the rigourous trials for 5 simultaneous days. Then suddenly after sometime he woke up to a low rumbling sound. The glowing symbols on the walls dimmed, and a massive door at the end of the chamber had creaked open.
Wooin staggered forward, his body trembling but his spirit unbroken. As the door swung wide, a blinding light filled the chamber, revealing a silhouette standing on the other side.
"Welcome," the figure said, their voice deep and resonant. "You've earned the right to inherit Hak Yon's legacy."
Wooin squinted against the light, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Who… who are you?"
The figure stepped closer, their features still obscured by the glow. "I am the keeper of Hak Yon's truth. And you, Wooin, have much to learn."
Before Wooin could respond, the light flared, swallowing him whole.