Five days had passed since Rat's return, and the streets of Seoul had transformed into a battleground. What was once a bustling, vibrant metropolis had now become a warzone, caught between the whims of power and the fury of rankers.
The Korean Team—the best of the best—had been decimated. Only Sung-Min-Ki remained, barely clinging to life. His body was battered and bruised, the marks of countless battles etched deep into his skin. His breathing was shallow, each gasp a painful reminder of the hell he'd endured. The city around him had become a shadow of its former self, buildings crumbling, streets littered with debris, and the echoes of battle still reverberating in the air.
---
The Silence Before the Storm
As Sung-Min-Ki lay in a shattered alley, his vision blurred, he could hear nothing but the distant sounds of gunfire and explosions. The once proud Korean Team had fallen, wiped out by an unseen hand—Rat's hand. Only Wu-Ji remained from the original force that had fought so fiercely to protect their world.
But even Wu-Ji was struggling. His body was covered in cuts and bruises, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The Zodiac Monkey form he had once wielded with ease was now more of a burden than a blessing. His strength had waned, and even his powers couldn't seem to push back the tide of chaos that Rat had unleashed.
---
Gok's Absence
One figure, the symbol of their power and hope, was conspicuously missing—Gok.
Where was he? What had happened to the legendary player who had once stood as the pillar of strength for everyone around him? In the face of Rat's assault, Gok's absence spoke volumes. He wasn't here to lead the charge, to fight back against this unstoppable force.
Wu-Ji's mind raced. He knew that Gok would never abandon them, but something had changed. Something had taken him away from the fight.
---
Rat's Revelation
Standing atop the ruins of the city, Rat looked down upon the battlefield with a mixture of satisfaction and cruel amusement. The streets were littered with the fallen, the defeated. The world was on the edge of collapse, and he was the architect of it all.
He had waited for this moment—his moment.
"You see," Rat's voice echoed through the streets, as though it were carried by the wind itself. He didn't speak directly to Wu-Ji or Sung-Min-Ki, but his words were clear, carried in the air for all to hear. "The world is a fragile thing, easily broken by the right hands. And I, Rat, have always been the right hand."
Wu-Ji's eyes narrowed, his anger barely contained. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet despite the pain. He could feel his power fading, but his resolve was unyielding. He wouldn't let Rat win. Not now. Not after all they had fought for.
Rat continued, seemingly unfazed by the defiance in Wu-Ji's stance. "You think I'm just some ranker playing at games, right? But you don't understand. I've always been more than that. You've heard the stories—the Zodiac Twelve, the great rankers who shaped the course of history. But what you don't know is that I wasn't always a player. I didn't always wear the name Rat."
---
Rat's Past
The wind carried Rat's voice to them, carrying the weight of his story.
"I was born in the streets of a broken city, much like this one, many years ago," he began, his words slow, almost nostalgic. "My world was one of survival. Deception. And above all, control. I didn't have the luxury of being born into power like some. I had to take it. Steal it."
Rat's gaze seemed to pierce the very fabric of the world around him. He was no longer just the villain; he was the product of a broken system.
"I was once just a boy, lost in a sea of corruption and lies. I learned early on that the world only cares about those who can wield power. Those who can take what they want without question. And so, I made it my mission to rise above them all. To control. To dominate."
Wu-Ji's eyes flashed with a hint of understanding. The Zodiac Twelve had once been more than just a title—they had been the elite of the world. But Rat had not simply been one of them; he had been a creator of chaos, a manipulator who had molded his destiny through sheer will and cunning.
"I found the Infinity Blade fragments early on," Rat continued, a wicked grin forming on his lips. "I knew they were the key to everything—true power. And once I had them, I never looked back. The fragments became my key to unlocking a world of limitless control."
Wu-Ji clenched his fists, his body trembling with a mixture of rage and disbelief. Rat had been playing the long game all along. He wasn't just a ranker—he had been plotting for years, pulling the strings of the world without anyone knowing.
"Your little teams, your games, your Zodiacs—all of it was just a stepping stone for me. I never needed to be the strongest. I only needed to be the one who could control it all. The world has always been in my hands, Wu-Ji. You're just too blind to see it."
---
The Struggle for Will
Sung-Min-Ki's eyes fluttered open for a moment, his battered form struggling to stay conscious. He whispered weakly, "Wu-Ji... stop him... before it's too late..."
Wu-Ji's heart clenched at the sight of his fallen comrade. Despite everything, Sung-Min-Ki had fought until his last breath. But now, it was up to him to carry the weight of the team's legacy.
Gritting his teeth, Wu-Ji took a step forward, his stance solidifying despite the pain. "You talk a big game, Rat. But power doesn't mean anything when it's not earned."
Rat's smile only grew. "Earned? Power has never been about earning, Wu-Ji. It's about taking. And I've already taken everything. Your team. Your city. Your future. Now, I'm going to take you, too."
---
The Final Battle
With a flick of his wrist, Rat summoned his power, the very fabric of the game bending to his will. The streets trembled as he unleashed a wave of energy, sending debris flying into the air. His figure seemed to distort as though the game's system itself was reshaping to accommodate his dominance.
Wu-Ji's Zodiac Monkey form flickered as he activated his remaining strength, his eyes glowing with determination. "I may not have Gok beside me," Wu-Ji muttered, "but I will stop you. For the sake of everything we've fought for."
The two figures stood, facing each other in the heart of a war-torn city, as the fate of the world hung in the balance.