Jin was on his knees, his body trembling from the absolute cold that had seeped into his bones. His breathing was erratic, his heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. Sweat trickled down his face, almost freezing in the frigid atmosphere. His mind refused to accept reality.
He had failed.
The shadow stood before him, motionless, dominating the space with its overwhelming presence. Jin could feel its gaze, even though no face was visible beneath the mass of darkness. The aura of this entity was so heavy that he felt like an insect trapped under the palm of a giant.
> "You have failed, Jin."
The voice resonated, cold and unyielding. Jin clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to protest, to scream that the test was unfair. But deep down, he knew it was just an excuse. He had fought with everything he had, pushed his limits… and yet, it hadn't been enough.
The shadow took a step forward, and an invisible force pinned Jin to the ground. His breath caught, his body refusing to move. He wanted to resist, but it was useless.
> "You have potential, but you are still far too weak."
The contempt in its voice made Jin's blood boil. His muscles tensed under the strain, his Predator's Eyes glowing with fierce light. He wanted to attack, even if just one last time. But the shadow did not give him the chance.
> "One day, you will understand that raw power is not enough."
Jin barely had time to process those words before a crushing force descended upon him. His mind wavered, swallowed by a dark, infinite void.
The next moment, he woke up violently, his back slamming against the cold stone floor of his cell.
He gasped, his frantic gaze scanning the dim, cramped space. The smell of mold and damp stone assaulted his senses, bringing back unpleasant memories. He was back.
His first instinct was to get up, but his body refused to obey. Every muscle ached as if he had been crushed under a mountain. He rolled onto his side, coughing up a thin trail of blood before staring at the cracked stone ceiling above him.
> "Tch… I'm still alive."
His voice was hoarse, weak. He hated himself for it.
He raised a trembling hand before him. His fingers were covered in cuts and bruises, but that wasn't what disturbed him. It was the emptiness he felt.
The shadow had overwhelmed him effortlessly. Jin knew he was strong, but that thing… it was on another level. He hadn't even understood how he lost.
Frustration welled up inside him, a burning fire consuming his chest. He slammed his fist against the ground, ignoring the pain shooting through his arm.
> "I refuse to be weak."
His eyes gleamed with a new light. It wasn't blind rage. It was a silent promise.
He had failed. But that didn't mean he would fail again.
Jin closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He focused on the pain, engraving it into his mind. This feeling—he never wanted to experience it again.
> "I will become stronger. No matter how long it takes."
In the darkness of the cell, an indistinct figure watched in silence.
And, for the first time in a long while, it revealed the faintest trace of a smile.
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