The dust settled, and all eyes turned to Jin Woo. The swirling darkness around him faded, but the oppressive energy it left behind hung in the air.
Hana stared at him, her expression a mix of shock and fear. "Jin Woo… what was that?"
Jin Woo opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He didn't know what had just happened. He didn't know how he had done it. All he knew was the way the creature—the massive, hulking beast—had hesitated, as if recognizing him.
The ground rumbled again, and the towering creature rose to its feet, snarling. But it didn't attack. Instead, it watched Jin Woo, its glowing eyes narrowing.
"Why isn't it moving?" Dojin muttered, his voice hoarse.
Jin Woo took a cautious step forward, and the creature flinched. The other monsters, once so relentless, began to retreat, their twisted forms fading into the shadows.
"It's… afraid," Min Soo whispered, disbelief etched on his face.
Jin Woo's hands trembled. The weight of what had just happened bore down on him like a physical force. He wasn't supposed to be powerful. He wasn't supposed to be anything. And yet, the monsters feared him.
"Jin Woo!" Hana's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "We need to finish this. That thing is still standing."
Jin Woo nodded, forcing himself to focus. Whatever had just happened, he couldn't let it distract him now.
---
The team regrouped, their movements more coordinated now. Hana and Dojin launched a combined assault, her energy blasts and his shield strikes driving the creature back. Min Soo set up barriers to protect them, his focus unwavering despite the chaos.
Jin Woo moved with them, his blade slicing through the creature's defenses. The energy he had unleashed earlier still lingered within him, a faint hum beneath his skin.
The creature roared, lashing out with a massive claw. Jin Woo ducked under it, his body reacting faster than his mind. He struck at the creature's leg, his blade cutting deep.
Hana seized the opportunity, her hands glowing with golden light. "Jin Woo, now!"
Jin Woo didn't hesitate. He leaped into the air, his blade aimed at the creature's exposed neck. For a moment, time seemed to slow. He could see the creature's eyes, wide with a mixture of rage and fear.
With a final, decisive strike, Jin Woo's blade found its mark. The creature let out a guttural roar before collapsing, its massive form crashing to the ground.
The silence that followed was deafening.
---
The team stood amidst the wreckage, their breaths heavy. The gate's energy had stabilized, its once-chaotic glow now a faint shimmer.
"We did it," Hana said, her voice filled with relief.
Dojin lowered his shield, shaking his head. "No. He did it."
All eyes turned to Jin Woo.
He shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. "It was a team effort," he muttered.
"Don't be modest," Min Soo said, his tone curious. "Whatever you did back there… it wasn't normal."
Jin Woo looked away, his thoughts racing. He didn't have an answer for them. All he knew was the power he had felt—the power that wasn't supposed to be his.
"We should head back," Hana said, breaking the tension. "The headmaster will want to know what happened."
---
Back at the Academy, the team was debriefed by Headmaster Baek. The report was straightforward: the gate had been stabilized, the monsters defeated. But there were questions—questions Jin Woo couldn't answer.
Later that evening, Hana found him in the training arena.
"You've been avoiding me," she said, her arms crossed.
"I'm not avoiding you," Jin Woo replied, though he didn't meet her eyes.
Hana sighed, stepping closer. "You don't have to tell me everything. But I need to know… are you okay?"
Jin Woo hesitated. "I don't know," he admitted. "Everything feels… wrong. Like I'm someone else."
"You're still you," Hana said firmly. "Whatever this is, we'll figure it out. Together."
Jin Woo finally looked at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thanks, Hana."
---
That night, Jin Woo dreamed. He stood in a vast, empty throne room, the air thick with power. Shadows danced along the walls, their voices whispering incomprehensible words.
At the center of the room stood a throne, massive and imposing. It was carved from black stone, its surface etched with glowing runes.
As Jin Woo approached, a voice echoed through the chamber.
**"You cannot run from what you are."**
The shadowy figure appeared before him, its form more solid than before.
"What do you want from me?" Jin Woo demanded.
"To remind you of the truth," the figure said. **"You are not a pawn in this game, Jin Woo. You are the king."
Jin Woo shook his head. "I don't want to be a king. I just want to live my life."
The shadow's laughter was cold and hollow. "A king does not choose the throne. The throne chooses the king. And soon, you will have no choice but to sit upon it."
The figure faded, and Jin Woo woke with a start, his heart pounding.
The words echoed in his mind, refusing to be ignored.
---
**End of Chapter 12**