The village of Hanam was a quiet place, nestled in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. Its people lived simple lives, tending to their fields and livestock, far removed from the chaos of the Murim world. For Jin Ha-Ru, it was the only home he had ever known. An orphan raised by the village elder, Ha-Ru was a kind-hearted young man with a strong sense of justice. But there was something unusual about him—something even he couldn't explain.

Ha-Ru was different.

At just eighteen years old, he possessed strength and speed far beyond that of a normal person. He could lift boulders twice his size, run faster than a galloping horse, and his reflexes were so sharp that he could catch an arrow mid-flight. Yet, despite his extraordinary abilities, Ha-Ru never boasted or sought attention. He used his strength to help others, whether it was repairing a neighbor's roof or fending off wild beasts that threatened the village.

But deep down, Ha-Ru felt a strange emptiness, as if a part of him was missing. Sometimes, in his dreams, he saw flashes of a life he didn't recognize—a life filled with bloodshed, power, and a darkness that threatened to consume him. He would wake up drenched in sweat, his heart pounding, but the memories would fade like smoke, leaving him with more questions than answers.

It was a peaceful morning in Hanam. The sun had just risen, casting a golden glow over the village. Ha-Ru was helping Elder Kim repair a broken fence when a loud commotion erupted near the village gates. A group of travelers had arrived, their faces pale and their clothes torn. They were refugees from a nearby town that had been attacked by bandits.

"Those damn bastards came out of nowhere," one of the refugees said, his voice trembling. "They slaughtered everyone—men, women, children. We just barely escaped with our lives."

The villagers gathered around, their faces filled with fear. Bandits were a common threat, but this group sounded particularly ruthless. Elder Kim, the village leader, turned to Ha-Ru.

"We need to get prepared," the elder said. "If they come here, we must be ready to defend ourselves."

Ha-Ru nodded, his expression grim. He had always protected the village, but something about this situation felt different. A cold knot of dread formed in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. He couldn't afford to be afraid—not when the lives of his friends and family were at stake.

That night, the bandits came.

They descended upon the village like a swarm of locusts, their torches lighting up the darkness. The villagers fought bravely, but they were no match for the bandits' numbers and brutality. Houses were set ablaze, and the air was filled with the sounds of screams and cries for mercy as steel clashed against steel.

Ha-Ru fought with everything he had. He moved like a whirlwind, his fists and feet striking with precision and power. He disarmed one bandit after another, his movements fluid and instinctive, as if he had been training for this moment his entire life. But no matter how many he defeated, more kept coming.

"Ha-Ru!" a voice cried out. It was Yun Seo-Rin, his childhood friend. She was holding a sword, her hands trembling but her eyes determined. "We can't these bastards off much longer!"

Ha-Ru's heart ached as he saw the fear in her eyes. He wanted to protect her, to protect everyone, but he was only one person. The bandits were too many, and the village was falling.

Then, something inside him snapped

As Ha-Ru watched the bandits cut down the villagers, a surge of anger and despair overwhelmed him. His vision blurred, and the world seemed to slow down. He felt a strange energy rising within him—a dark, overwhelming power that he had never felt before. It was as if a dam had burst, releasing a flood of memories and emotions that he couldn't control.

He remembered.

He remembered a life of endless battles, of standing atop a mountain of corpses. He remembered the fear in his enemies' eyes as they called him the Heavenly Demon. He remembered the power—the intoxicating, destructive power that had once made him invincible.

And then, he let it out.

A wave of dark energy erupted from Ha-Ru's body, engulfing everything in its path. The bandits were thrown back like leaves in a storm, their bodies crumpling to the ground. The flames that had consumed the village were extinguished, replaced by an eerie silence.

Ha-Ru stood at the centre of the devastation, his breathing heavy and his eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. He looked down at his hands, trembling as he realized what he had done. The power he had unleashed was beyond anything he had ever imagined—and it terrified him.

The surviving villagers stared at Ha-Ru in awe and fear. They had always known he was different, but this… this was something else entirely. Even Seo-Rin, who had known him since they were children, took a step back, her sword lowering as she struggled to comprehend what she had just witnessed.

Elder Kim was the first to speak. "Ha-Ru… what are you?"

Ha-Ru didn't have an answer. He felt a deep sense of guilt and confusion. He had saved the village, but at what cost? The power he had unleashed was dangerous, and he didn't know if he could control it.

As the villagers began to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, Ha-Ru made a decision. He couldn't stay in Hanam—not after what had happened. He needed to find answers, to understand who he truly was and why he possessed this power.

With a heavy heart, he said goodbye to Seo-Rin and the others, promising to return one day. As he walked away from the village, the memories of his past life continued to resurface, guiding him toward a destiny he could no longer escape.

The Heavenly Demon had returned.

And the Murim world would never be the same.

To Be Continued…