The journey to the hidden temple was shrouded in silence. The thick forest surrounding the mountain seemed to swallow the sound of their footsteps, and the deeper they went, the heavier the air became. Heeseung could feel the weight of the impending confrontation pressing down on him with each step, but he stayed close to Moonhae and Jihoon, knowing that whatever lay ahead, he couldn't face it alone.
The three of them had left the city at dawn, following a narrow, winding path that seemed almost forgotten by time. The mountains loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, their peaks hidden in swirling clouds. Moonhae led the way, her eyes focused and determined, though Heeseung could tell from the way her fingers tightened around the hilt of her blade that even she wasn't immune to the fear that clung to the air.
Jihoon, walking beside Heeseung, kept glancing behind them, his expression tense. "We should've brought more supplies," he muttered. "I don't like the idea of being out here without a backup plan."
"Backup won't help us where we're going," Moonhae said without turning around. "The Kolektor's power reaches far beyond what we've seen. If he wants to find us, he will. Our only chance is to move quickly and stay hidden until we reach the temple."
Heeseung didn't argue. He knew Jihoon was right to worry, but Moonhae's urgency made it clear that their situation was far more dangerous than any of them fully understood. He couldn't stop thinking about the temple and what it meant for him. If what Moonhae had said was true, then his forgotten memories—the ones the Kolektor had stolen from him—were locked away in that place. And those memories could be the key to stopping the Kolektor from unleashing chaos with the Memorabilia.
"What exactly is in this temple?" Heeseung asked, breaking the tense silence. "How is it going to help me unlock my memories?"
Moonhae slowed her pace slightly, glancing over her shoulder. "The temple is ancient, built by those who once guarded the Memorabilia. It's said to be a place where time itself is distorted—where the past, present, and future can all be accessed. If you can connect with that power, it might help you regain what was taken from you."
Heeseung nodded, though doubt gnawed at him. Time distortion? It sounded impossible, even with everything he had witnessed so far. Still, he had no choice but to trust Moonhae. She had gotten them this far.
As they continued deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew darker, and an unnatural chill settled over them. The trees, once towering and majestic, now seemed to twist and contort into unnatural shapes, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal hands. Heeseung shivered despite himself.
"We're getting close," Moonhae said quietly. "The temple is just beyond this ridge."
Jihoon looked around uneasily. "I don't like this. It feels too easy."
Almost as if in response to his words, the ground beneath them rumbled, and a low, menacing growl echoed through the trees. Heeseung's heart skipped a beat as shadows began to move in the distance—dark, shifting figures emerging from the mist, their forms barely visible but radiating a palpable sense of danger.
"What the hell is that?" Heeseung asked, his voice tense as he reached for the knife he carried.
Moonhae's face darkened. "The Kolektor's minions. He's sent them to stop us."
Jihoon pulled out a small dagger from his belt, his eyes scanning the approaching shadows. "We're going to have to fight our way through, aren't we?"
Moonhae nodded, her hand tightening around her weapon. "Stay close, and don't let them surround you. They're fast, but they're not invincible."
Before Heeseung could respond, the shadows lunged toward them, moving with unnatural speed. He barely had time to react as one of the creatures darted at him, its glowing red eyes locked onto him like a predator hunting its prey. Heeseung swung his knife, slashing through the air, but the creature dodged with lightning-fast reflexes, its body shifting and twisting in the darkness.
Moonhae was already engaged in battle with two of the creatures, her movements precise and deadly as she sliced through them with her blade. Jihoon fought nearby, his dagger flashing in the dim light as he fended off the attackers, his expression grim but focused.
Heeseung felt a surge of panic rise within him. These creatures weren't like anything he had ever fought before. They seemed to flicker in and out of existence, their forms shifting like smoke, making it nearly impossible to land a solid hit.
Just as one of the shadows leaped at him, its claws outstretched, Heeseung felt the familiar pulse of energy stir within him. Without thinking, he thrust his hand forward, and a shockwave of raw power erupted from his palm, sending the creature flying back into the trees with a shriek.
Heeseung stared at his hand, his heart racing. The power was back—stronger than before, more controlled. He didn't fully understand it, but he could feel it coursing through him, begging to be unleashed.
Another creature charged at him, but this time, Heeseung didn't hesitate. He focused the energy within him and released it, sending a blast of force that shattered the creature into a cloud of dark mist.
"Keep going!" Moonhae shouted, slashing through the last of the creatures. "We're almost there!"
Heeseung and Jihoon sprinted after her as the last of the shadows dissolved into the mist. The ridge loomed ahead, and beyond it, Heeseung could see the faint outline of an ancient stone structure hidden among the trees—the temple.
They reached the entrance just as the first light of dawn began to break through the fog. The temple was massive, its stone walls covered in intricate carvings and symbols that seemed to shift and change as Heeseung looked at them.
Moonhae stopped at the entrance, breathing heavily. "This is it. The temple of time."
Jihoon looked up at the towering structure, his face pale. "Now what?"
Heeseung took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him. He didn't know what awaited him inside, but he knew that this was where it all began—the place where his forgotten memories, the truth about his past, and the fate of the Memorabilia would finally be revealed.
With a final glance at Moonhae and Jihoon, Heeseung stepped through the ancient stone doorway and into the unknown.