Joon-ho lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air, aimed directly for the executioner's throat. His attack was precise, calculated, lethal.
But the moment his dagger made contact—
It passed through.
The executioner's form flickered like a mirage, and a split second later, the chains moved.
Joon-ho's instincts screamed.
Clang!
A rusted chain coiled around his arm, its grip tightening like a viper sinking its fangs into its prey. A crushing force surged through him—something more than just raw strength. It was draining him.
[You are bound by the Chains of Judgment.]Movement restricted by 30%.All attacks weaken by 20%.Resistance decreases against Judgment-based skills.
"Shit."
The executioner's hollow eyes locked onto him.
It raised a second chain—this one glowing with a pale, golden light. Unlike the others, this one carried a divine aura.
Joon-ho didn't need to test it to know—this one was meant to kill.
"Fate has marked you, regressor. You will not escape judgment."
The executioner swung its arm, sending the glowing chain whipping toward his chest.
Joon-ho twisted his body, barely managing to raise his dagger in time.
Clang!
The impact sent shockwaves through his body. His knees buckled. The force wasn't just physical—it was attacking him on a deeper level.
A system message appeared.
[You have resisted Divine Judgment. Your soul endures.]
Joon-ho exhaled sharply. That would've killed me outright.
"Then let's see if your fate can keep up with me."
His eyes sharpened.
[Phantom Step – Advanced] activated.
Joon-ho's figure blurred as he moved. His body flickered between the executioner's chains, each motion perfectly timed, each movement calculated to avoid the inevitable.
The golden chain lashed out again—this time twisting mid-air, curving as though it had a mind of its own.
Joon-ho ducked, allowing it to pass inches over his head. But the rusted chain still bound his arm.
"Fine. Then I'll just break it."
He gritted his teeth, forcing his strength into his captured arm.
[Strength Surge] activated.
The rusted metal groaned, resisting for a second—before it shattered.
Crack!
Joon-ho broke free.
The executioner's head tilted slightly, its gaze unreadable behind its hollow mask.
And then—it attacked faster.
The real fight had begun.
The Watching Judges
Far above, the Seven Judges sat upon their thrones, their golden masks gleaming under the ethereal glow of the Hall of Judgment.
One of them spoke.
"He resists fate itself."
Another answered.
"But for how long?"
A third voice, deeper than the rest, rumbled through the chamber.
"Let us see if he is truly beyond judgment."
With that, the executioner's power increased.
The next instant, all the chains in the room moved.
Chains From Every Direction
Joon-ho felt it immediately.
The atmosphere shifted.
The chains no longer came from just the executioner—they erupted from the walls, the floor, the ceiling.
Hundreds of rusted links swarmed toward him from every direction.
"No time to dodge."
His body reacted on instinct.
[Shadow Veil] activated.
Darkness engulfed him for a split second, his body vanishing just as the chains struck. The floor where he had stood shattered under their crushing force.
Joon-ho reappeared behind the executioner.
This time, he wasn't aiming for the throat.
He drove his dagger into its spine.
Stab!
For the first time, the executioner staggered.
The Seven Judges watched in silence.
Joon-ho didn't hesitate. He wrenched the blade deeper, twisting it. The executioner lurched forward, its chains flaring wildly.
A system message appeared.
[Critical Strike Landed!]Executioner's form destabilizing.Chains of Judgment weakening.
"Now's my chance."
Joon-ho grabbed one of the flailing chains—this one no longer glowing with divine power.
Using all his strength, he yanked it forward.
The executioner stumbled.
He drove his knee into its chest, sending it crashing to the ground. The moment it fell, the once-rampaging chains halted.
A new system message appeared.
[Trial of the Condemned – Verdict Reached]You have resisted judgment.Your fate is unbound.Rewards granted.
Joon-ho exhaled slowly.
The executioner's form faded into nothingness, the golden chain it once wielded now lying dormant on the marble floor.
A final message appeared.
[You have obtained: Chain of the Forsaken]A weapon of judgment, once used to bind fate itself.Can be wielded or absorbed into your abilities.
Joon-ho stared at the golden chain.
Then, he reached down and picked it up.
As his fingers wrapped around the weapon of fate, he felt something change within him.
The Seven Judges watched, silent.
And then—
The great doors leading to the next chamber opened.