Chapter 3: Whispers of Power
The following day, Jin Woo couldn't focus. His Echo Sense, usually a faint hum in the background, now felt like a roaring storm beneath his skin. The shard pulsed faintly in his pocket, its presence tugging at him like a magnet.
The vision from the night before lingered in his mind—the barren landscape, the towering gates, and the figure that looked like him. He replayed the confrontation with the Awakener's Association agent over and over, his frustration growing.
"You don't want to know."
Jin Woo slammed his fist against the desk in frustration. "But I *do* want to know!"
The sound startled his classmates. A few turned to stare, snickering under their breath. Kang Min Jae, sitting a few rows ahead, didn't miss the opportunity.
"Wow, look at that. The F-Class loser finally grew a spine," Min Jae sneered. "Careful, Jin Woo, you might hurt yourself with all that rage."
The laughter that followed stung, but Jin Woo barely noticed. He was too consumed by the questions swirling in his mind.
---
That evening, Jin Woo returned to the abandoned corridor, unable to resist the pull of the shard. The room was empty, but the faint energy of the pedestal lingered.
He stood in the center, the shard in his hand, and closed his eyes.
"Show me," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
At first, nothing happened. Then, a faint warmth spread through his palm, and his Echo Sense surged. The room around him blurred, and for a moment, he thought he might faint.
When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in the academy.
He stood in a dense forest, the air thick with fog. Shadows flickered between the trees, and the faint sound of whispers echoed around him.
"What is this place?" Jin Woo muttered, clutching the shard tighter.
The whispers grew louder, forming words he couldn't quite understand. Then, a figure emerged from the mist—a towering creature with glowing eyes and a jagged, monstrous form.
Jin Woo froze. The creature stared at him for a moment before kneeling.
**"My king,"** it rumbled, its voice like grinding stone.
Jin Woo's breath caught in his throat. "What... what did you call me?"
The creature didn't answer. Instead, it extended a clawed hand, pointing to the shard in Jin Woo's grasp.
Before Jin Woo could react, the vision shattered. He was back in the abandoned room, his knees buckling beneath him.
---
As he struggled to catch his breath, a familiar voice echoed behind him.
"You don't listen, do you?"
Jin Woo spun around to see the Awakener's Association agent standing in the doorway again, his expression colder than before.
"You were warned to stay away," the man said, stepping into the room. "But you've gone and made things worse."
Jin Woo staggered to his feet, gripping the shard defensively. "What's happening to me? What is this thing?"
The agent sighed, his gaze flickering to the shard. "That's not for you to know. Not yet."
"That's not good enough!" Jin Woo snapped. "You can't just keep me in the dark while all this—"
Before he could finish, the agent raised his hand, and a pulse of energy shot toward him. This time, Jin Woo's Echo Sense reacted instinctively. He dodged, the blast missing him by inches.
"Stop attacking me!" Jin Woo shouted, his voice trembling.
The agent frowned, lowering his hand. "That shard is dangerous. It's not meant for someone like you."
"Then why is it calling to me?" Jin Woo demanded.
The agent hesitated, his cold demeanor faltering for the first time. "Because... you're not ordinary. But you don't understand what that means. And if you're not careful, you'll destroy everything."
---
The agent stepped closer, his tone softening. "Listen to me, kid. I don't know why the shard reacted to you, but if you want to stay alive, you need to hand it over. Now."
Jin Woo hesitated, the shard pulsing faintly in his grip. He didn't trust the agent, but he couldn't deny the truth in his words. The shard was dangerous—he could feel it.
But it was also the only lead he had.
"No," Jin Woo said, his voice firm. "I'm keeping it."
The agent's eyes narrowed. "Then you're a bigger fool than I thought."
Before Jin Woo could respond, the agent turned and walked toward the door.
"Stay out of trouble," he said over his shoulder. "Because next time, I won't hold back."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Jin Woo alone with the shard and a growing sense of dread.
---
Back in his apartment, Jin Woo sat on his bed, the shard resting in his palm. He couldn't shake the memory of the creature in the forest—or the way it had called him "my king."
"What am I?" he whispered to himself.
The shard didn't answer, but its faint glow seemed to pulse in response, as if waiting for him to uncover the truth.
For the first time, Jin Woo felt a flicker of hope. Whatever was happening to him, he wouldn't face it passively.
If the world wanted to treat him like he was nothing, he would prove them wrong.
---
*End of Chapter 3*