The rift shimmered ominously above the Five Savior Statue, casting long, distorted shadows over the surrounding plaza. Crowds gathered cautiously, murmuring among themselves as they stared up at the pulsating tear in reality. In the distance, Gok Sun Ji caught sight of two figures moving toward the statue.
The first was a massive man—or rather, a creature—cloaked in a black shroud, his towering frame radiating an aura of ancient strength. Beside him walked a smaller figure, his gait confident, his outfit—a panda-themed costume—clashing with the gravity of the situation.
Gok's blood ran cold.
He slammed his pen down on his desk, grabbed his jacket, and stormed out of his office, barking orders to his aides to secure the area. This was too unusual to ignore.
By the time he reached the plaza, the crowd had thickened, forming a semicircle around the two strangers. Gok pushed through, his voice cutting through the chatter.
The Confrontation
Gok (shouting):
"I'm Prime Minister Gok! Who the hell are you two?!"
The two figures stopped in their tracks, turning to face him.
The smaller one—the panda-costumed man—tilted his head, his expression unreadable beneath the mask. The larger figure pulled back his hood, revealing a scarred, simian face with glowing red eyes.
Monkey Zodiac:
"Well, well... the great Gok Sun Ji. Still barking orders, I see."
Gok's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. The face was unmistakable.
Gok:
"You... You're the 13th Zodiac. I defeated you decades ago!"
The Monkey chuckled, his voice deep and resonant.
Monkey:
"And yet, here I stand. Death didn't suit me, so I thought I'd try something new. But don't worry, I'm not here to pick a fight... unless you give me a reason to."
The panda-costumed man stepped forward, raising a hand to diffuse the tension.
Whitepalm:
"Easy, old man. We're not here to cause trouble. My name is Whitepalm, and this is my... associate. We're here for the same reason you are—to figure out what the hell is going on with this rift."
The Rift Stirs
Before Gok could respond, the rift above the Five Savior Statue began to pulsate violently, its light intensifying. The air grew thick with energy, and the ground trembled beneath their feet.
The crowd gasped as a massive, ghostly blossom tree began to emerge from the rift, its branches spreading out like veins across the sky. Pink petals drifted down, glowing faintly as they fell to the ground.
Gok:
"What in the hell is this?"
The Monkey Zodiac's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening.
Monkey:
"This... is not natural. That tree—it's connected to something ancient. Something dangerous."
Whitepalm knelt, picking up one of the glowing petals. It disintegrated in his hand, leaving behind a faint, otherworldly residue.
Whitepalm:
"It's not just energy—it's a signal. Someone or something is calling us."
An Ominous Arrival
Suddenly, a tear within the rift widened, and from its depths, a figure emerged. Dressed in ornate, otherworldly armor, the figure radiated power. Its face was obscured by a zodiacal mask, similar to the ones described in Hansoo's dream years ago.
The figure raised an arm, speaking in a voice that seemed to echo across dimensions.
Masked Figure:
"Humans. You stand at the precipice of annihilation or evolution. The choice is no longer yours."
The ground cracked beneath them, and a deafening roar filled the air as more figures began to emerge from the rift, each wearing a mask representing one of the 13 Zodiacs.
Gok:
"You've got to be kidding me... not again."
Gok turned to Whitepalm and the Monkey Zodiac, his expression grim.
Gok:
"You wanted answers? Congratulations. You've got them. Now tell me—can you fight?"
The Monkey grinned, baring his sharp teeth.
Monkey:
"You didn't chain me to the ground because I was weak, Gok. Let's see if you're still as strong as the stories say."
Whitepalm adjusted his mask, his voice steady.
Whitepalm:
"Looks like Korea just became the frontline. Let's make it count."
As the masked Zodiacs descended from the rift, the three figures—Gok, Whitepalm, and the Monkey Zodiac—stood together, preparing for the battle that would determine the fate of humanity once again.