Chereads / .The Progenitor / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Shadows of the Past

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Shadows of the Past

The Progenitor

Chapter 4: Shadows of the Past

The sky outside was a murky gray, the faint light of dawn struggling to pierce through the heavy storm clouds. Yun Tae-min sat on a battered stool in the ruined diner, his knuckles white as he gripped the journal. Across from him, Seol leaned casually against the counter, the faintest hint of a smirk on his face.

"Let me make this clear," Tae-min began, his voice low but firm. "I'm not leaving this place until you tell me everything you know. Who are you, why are these things after me, and what the hell is the Progenitor?"

Seol studied him for a moment, then sighed as if disappointed. "Fine. You want the truth? Here it is: the Progenitor isn't just some title. It's a role, a keystone in a war that's been raging for centuries—a war you're now a part of."

"A war?" Tae-min's brow furrowed. "Between who?"

"Between those who want to rewrite reality and those who want to preserve it." Seol's expression darkened, his casual demeanor vanishing. "The Progenitor isn't just some random figure, Tae-min. It's the first spark, the catalyst that sets everything into motion. And unfortunately for you, you're the one holding the matches."

Tae-min's grip on the journal tightened. "You're saying this… this thing," he held up the journal, "is some kind of weapon?"

Seol chuckled humorlessly. "A weapon? Sure. A curse? Definitely. The journal is tied to you. It feeds on your decisions, your thoughts, your will. It's the reason the Wraiths are after you. They can smell it—smell you."

Tae-min's stomach churned. "Why me? I didn't ask for this!"

"Of course you didn't." Seol's eyes glimmered with something unreadable. "But destiny doesn't care about what you want. It only cares about what you are."

The words hung heavy in the air. Tae-min wanted to scream, to demand answers that made sense, but the truth was becoming painfully clear: his life was no longer his own.

Before he could respond, a low, ominous hum filled the room. Tae-min froze, his instincts screaming at him to move.

Seol straightened, his hand drifting to the hilt of his blade. "They're here."

The air grew cold, and the shadows in the room seemed to ripple unnaturally. Tae-min's eyes darted around, searching for the source of the disturbance.

Then they emerged.

Four figures stepped through the broken windows, their forms wreathed in a shroud of darkness. Unlike the Wraith from before, these creatures were fully humanoid, their movements precise and deliberate. Each one wielded a unique weapon—a curved scythe, a pair of jagged daggers, a massive war hammer, and a spear that crackled with energy.

"Hunters," Seol muttered, his jaw tightening. "They're not like the Wraiths. These things are smarter, deadlier."

Tae-min's pulse quickened as the Hunters fanned out, their soulless eyes fixed on him. "Can we take them?"

Seol smirked, drawing his blade. "I can. You, on the other hand, might want to pray."

One of the Hunters lunged, the dagger-wielder moving with blinding speed. Tae-min barely managed to duck as the creature's blades slashed through the air, the force of the attack splitting the table he'd been sitting at moments ago.

Seol was already in motion, meeting the scythe-wielder head-on. Their weapons clashed in a burst of sparks, the sound reverberating through the ruined diner.

"Tae-min, focus!" Seol shouted as he deflected a strike. "You've got the journal! Use it!"

Tae-min glanced down at the journal, his mind racing. He didn't know how to control its power, but if he didn't act, he was dead.

Another Hunter charged, the spear-wielder thrusting their weapon with terrifying precision. Tae-min dodged, the tip grazing his side and leaving a burning sensation. He stumbled backward, clutching the journal as the words on its pages began to glow.

Without thinking, he opened it.

The page was blank for a moment, then filled with text:

"The dagger is your key. Wield it, and the shadows will obey."

Tae-min's eyes darted to his dagger, now lying on the ground where he'd dropped it. The spear-wielder advanced, readying another attack.

He lunged for the weapon, grabbing it just as the spear came down. The blade in his hand flared to life, a dark, shimmering energy coating its surface.

The spear-wielder hesitated, their movements faltering. Tae-min felt a strange pull, as if the dagger was guiding him. He swung it instinctively, and a wave of shadow erupted from the blade, striking the Hunter and sending them crashing into the wall.

"Not bad," Seol called out, his tone laced with approval.

But there was no time to celebrate. The war hammer-wielder charged at Tae-min, their weapon raised high. He braced himself, channeling the same energy as before.

When the hammer came down, Tae-min parried with the dagger, the impact sending shockwaves through the room. The energy surrounding his blade flared brighter, forcing the Hunter to stagger back.

Seol finished off the scythe-wielder with a precise slash, then turned to the remaining two. "I'll take care of the big guy. You handle the other one."

Tae-min nodded, his confidence growing. He faced the dagger-wielder, who seemed to appraise him with cold calculation.

The fight was fast and brutal. The Hunter's dual blades moved like lightning, but Tae-min's enhanced reflexes allowed him to keep up. Each strike of his dagger sent waves of energy rippling through the air, forcing the creature to stay on the defensive.

With a final, desperate slash, Tae-min drove his blade into the Hunter's chest. The creature let out a guttural hiss before dissolving into a cloud of ash.

Seol finished off the war hammer-wielder moments later, his blade dripping with dark ichor. He glanced at Tae-min, a rare look of approval on his face. "You're learning fast."

Tae-min collapsed against the counter, his breaths ragged. The journal rested in his lap, its glow dimming.

"What now?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seol sheathed his weapon and stepped over the debris. "Now? We move. The Hunters were just the beginning. If they're here, that means the bigger players aren't far behind."

Tae-min swallowed hard, the weight of his situation settling over him once more. He didn't know how much longer he could survive this, but one thing was clear: the fight was far from over.

As they stepped out into the stormy dawn, the journal trembled in his hands. When Tae-min opened it, a new message awaited him:

"The shadows will follow, but light is within your reach. Seek the Gatekeeper."

Seol peered over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Looks like your next move has already been decided."

Tae-min clenched his fists, his determination solidifying. If the journal wanted to guide him to answers, he'd follow it—but only on his terms.

The storm raged on, but Yun Tae-min walked forward, ready to confront whatever awaited him next.