The group pressed forward through the magical landscape of the Blossom Dimension, the energy intensifying with each step closer to the World Blossom Tree. It loomed in the distance, its immense trunk glowing faintly with a golden hue.
Wu-Ji led the way, his voice steady but somber.
Wu-Ji:
"The closer we get, the more unstable the flow of time becomes. This realm doesn't follow our rules, and the Chamber of the Blossom Tree… it's a place where even death has no meaning."
Gok glanced at Whitepalm, who seemed unnerved for the first time.
Whitepalm:
"You're saying time doesn't just pass here—it breaks you?"
Monkey (gruffly):
"He's saying we better be ready to face whatever's inside. The Blossom Tree isn't a sanctuary. It's a graveyard."
They reached a clearing just before the Chamber of the Blossom Tree. Gok stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Before him lay a vast field of graves—thousands of them, each marked with a simple wooden plaque. Inscribed on every single one was the name Sung Min Ki.
Gok's knees threatened to buckle as he stumbled forward, his voice barely a whisper.
Gok:
"What… what is this?"
Wu-Ji knelt by one of the graves, running his fingers over the inscription.
Wu-Ji:
"This is the price of the Chamber. It doesn't just trap you—it consumes you. For every path Sung Min Ki walked, for every decision he made, this place forced him to live and die again, over and over."
Deep within the Chamber of the Blossom Tree, Sung Min Ki continued his relentless battle. His body, scarred and battered, moved with mechanical precision as he faced the Sleeves—colossal samurai warriors, their 10-meter bodies radiating raw energy.
Their movements were slow but deliberate, their sheer size making each swing of their weapons a lethal threat. Sung Min Ki dodged, countered, and struck back, his blade glowing with the remnants of Void Energy he'd learned to harness.
But no matter how many Sleeves he defeated, they always returned.
Sung Min Ki (breathing heavily):
"This is pointless. No matter how many of you I kill… you'll just bring me back to fight again."
One of the Sleeves spoke, its deep voice reverberating through the chamber.
Sleeve Leader:
"There is no escape, mortal. This is your eternity. Fight, die, and fight again. Such is the will of the Blossom Tree."
Sung Min Ki gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening.
Sung Min Ki:
"Then I'll fight. Not because I want to live, but because I refuse to let this place break me."
Years—perhaps eons—had passed for Sung Min Ki. He had long since lost track of time, but his determination remained unbroken. Yet, with each battle, a sliver of doubt crept into his mind.
The Chamber of the Blossom Tree wasn't just a place of endless conflict—it was a labyrinth of time, designed to disorient and trap its victims. Sung Min Ki realized too late that he had taken the wrong path, wandering into the past instead of toward the exit.
As he stumbled upon another row of graves—this time marked with his name—he fell to his knees.
Sung Min Ki (bitterly):
"How many times have I died here? How many more times will I die before this ends?"
Back outside the Chamber, Gok stood frozen before the graves. His companions gave him space, sensing the storm of emotions brewing within him.
Gok (to himself):
"Sung Min Ki… you've been suffering here for years, while I sat in an office writing speeches. I won't let this be your end."
He turned to Wu-Ji, his voice firm.
Gok:
"We're going in. I don't care what's waiting for us—I'm bringing him back."
Wu-Ji hesitated, then nodded.
Wu-Ji:
"If anyone can do it, it's you, Gok. But be prepared. The Chamber doesn't just test your strength. It tests your will, your soul. And not everyone comes out whole."
The group approached the entrance to the Chamber of the Blossom Tree, a massive doorway carved into the trunk of the colossal tree. Strange symbols glowed faintly on the wood, pulsating like a heartbeat.
As they stepped through, the air grew thick, and a sense of foreboding washed over them. The Chamber was a place where the laws of reality didn't apply—a place where even death was meaningless.
Gok clenched his fists, his determination unshaken.
Gok:
"I think i don't have to use that."