Lee Do-hyeon, Reina, and Aknan examined the temple once more.The strange phenomena within the temple could no longer be ignored.Those with weak mana or little inner energy were suffering from auditory and visual hallucinations, and a dark aura was steadily engulfing the entire temple.
They descended into the depths of the temple.
In a deep chamber, lined with massive stone carvings on the walls,they discovered an ancient and weathered door.
Strange characters were inscribed on the door, along with remnants of an old seal.The lingering mana emanating from it was unusual—though ancient, the seal still retained a faint trace of power.Upon opening the door, they were met with a room adorned in mysterious patterns and ancient relics.
At the center stood a broken stone pillar,its surface etched with unfamiliar magic circles.
Do-hyeon sensed something peculiar.This wasn't just a magical sigil—it was a sealing formation.
Reina pressed her hand against a wall and muttered,"This wasn't just a temple. It was a place built to imprison something."
The moment her hand touched the wall,the old surface trembled, and a sinister aura seeped out from within.
And then—
❝Was it you… who woke me…?❞
A deep, resonant whisper echoed from nowhere.It wasn't a human voice.
It felt as though the earth itself was rumbling, a massive force wrapping around the lower depths of the temple.Cracks formed along the walls, and the floor began to quake.
Aknan urgently examined the carvings.After reading them for a while, his face hardened.
"This… this is the Seal of a Titan."
Do-hyeon and Reina turned to him simultaneously.
Aknan sighed deeply and explained:
Long ago, during the war between the gods and the Titans,some Titans who had been defeated were sealed away.To prevent their resurrection, the gods created powerful seals.But over time, those seals weakened, and the Titans' influence was slowly spreading once more.
Do-hyeon clenched his jaw."So by restoring this temple… we've weakened the seal."
Reina crossed her arms, falling into silence."Then there's only one option—we must seal it again."
But Aknan shook his head."The problem is, we don't know how to reconstruct this seal."
He pointed toward the sealing formation.Parts of the magical circle were already destroyed.It likely required divine power—mere magic or martial skill wouldn't suffice.Worse still, they lacked the knowledge to understand the seal itself.
Aknan narrowed his eyes and added,"But… this seal is unique."
Do-hyeon asked,"In what way?"
Aknan pointed to a part of the sigil."This pattern is strikingly similar to ancient Elven markings."
He spread out a map of the surrounding area and referenced historical records.
Not far from this temple was an Elven settlement.The Elves had long been tied to the war between the gods and Titans.Their people had studied ancient magic and sealing arts,so there was a strong chance they held knowledge about this seal.
Do-hyeon folded his arms and fell into thought."Then we need to seek the Elves and ask for their help."
Aknan, however, looked troubled."The problem is, they may not welcome us so easily."
Do-hyeon frowned."Why not?"
Aknan sighed shortly and explained:"The Elves consider themselves noble beings. To them, humans are lesser creatures."They believed humans lived short, corruptible lives and were prone to decay.In the past, numerous conflicts had erupted between the two races.As a result, the Elves chose to live in seclusion and rarely allowed humans to enter their lands.
Reina crossed her arms and said,"Then we'll have to persuade them."
Do-hyeon nodded."We can't leave this seal unchecked. If a Titan awakens, not just the temple, but the entire city could be in danger."
Aknan, still visibly uneasy, eventually nodded."Very well. But we must tread carefully. The Elves may not be inclined to receive us kindly."
And so, once their preparations were complete,they set off toward the Elven settlement.
***
Chapter : The Elven Forest – Trials for the Strangers
Lee Do-hyeon, Reina, and the bard Aknan made their way toward the Elves' dwelling.The path ahead was no ordinary trail.It was a deep forest infused with ancient magic, untouched by human footsteps for generations.
"Elves despise humans,"Aknan began."They see us as greedy, short-lived creatures.To them, humans are fleeting insects."
Reina spoke calmly."Then, do I truly count as human?"
Aknan glanced at her."Hm… someone who retains the body of her twenties even after eighty years—to them, you might be more of a research subject."
Lee Do-hyeon let out a sigh."Then can we even persuade them?"
Aknan shook his head."That, I don't know. But Elves see themselves as noble beings.They don't welcome outsiders lightly."
As their conversation continued, the atmosphere of the forest began to shift.Leaves rustled even though there was no wind.With each step they took, the forest seemed to resist their presence.
"Be careful,"Reina said softly."Someone's watching us."
In that moment—the air trembled.
Whssh!
Dozens of arrows tore through the air.These were no ordinary arrows—they shimmered with magical energy.
Beams of enchanted light rained down from the canopy above.Do-hyeon swung his sword.The Aether Tracker reacted, reading the flow of magic.But that alone wasn't enough.
"Leave it to me."
Reina moved.Her steps were as light as wind,her Gyeonggong so precise it allowed her to run atop the arrows themselves.
Tapseolmuheon – No trace upon snow.
She leapt from arrow to arrow,moving through the air as if traversing nothingness.
"Such movement…!"A sharp voice rang out from above.
Elven warriors stood poised on tree branches, bows drawn.They resembled humans,but carried a sharper, more elegant presence.
Aknan sighed and stepped forward."This could be troublesome…"
He pulled a small stone inscribed with runes from his pouch.Infused with magic, the stone floated in midair and glowed as he cast it upward.
"We didn't trespass here with ill intent."His voice carried through the forest, amplified by magic."I am Bard Aknan.We came in search of ancient records held by your people.These humans are not mere intruders.They are connected to your history."
The Elven warriors remained tense,but murmurs began to spread among them.
"Bard Aknan… is he a descendant of House Aknan?""Then it's not so simple to just slay them…"
Aknan offered a faint smile."Will you still reject us?We came to uncover truths your people hold dear."
But the Elven warriors had made their decision.
"This is our forest.Outsiders must prove their worth to pass."
At that moment,Do-hyeon adjusted his grip on his sword.
Elven archery was no mere marksmanship.Each arrow carried magic,and their movements flowed like divine grace.
"Strangers,you shall be judged for tainting this forest."
They unleashed another volley—more powerful this time.
But Do-hyeon was already raising his blade.
Aether Tracker.
His eyes lit up,tracing the arrows' trajectories in advance.
With swift movements,he narrowly dodged the incoming magical arrows.
"I'm not just going to stand here and take it,"he muttered, slicing through the air.
Reina leapt into the trees.Her Seven Sword Dance carved through the canopy,pressuring the Elves with sweeping arcs of sword energy.Startled, the warriors quickly retreated into the branches.
"This human… knows swordplay?"
And then—a dark blur flickered past their vision.
Seven Sword Dance – Illusion Blade.
Reina's blade weaved between the Elves' defenses,not striking once,but merely revealing the flow of her sword.
The Elves hesitated.Instinctively, they understood.
This woman… was no ordinary human.
Then, the forest parted,and a presence emerged.
A figure of immense gravitas.
The leader of the Elves.
He appeared like wind itself,his gaze carrying the weight of centuries.
He looked down upon the humans and spoke in a calm voice:"You are no ordinary mortals.Especially you…"
His eyes turned to Reina.
"A human who has lived eighty yearsyet bears the body of a woman in her twenties…"
His voice remained quiet,but among the Elves,those words sparked a deeper curiosity—perhaps even unease.
They instinctively feared those who approached immortality.
Aknan let out a low chuckle."Told you she wasn't ordinary."
The Elven leader studied Reina for a long moment,then turned to Do-hyeon.
"You too… a human who's learned the sword of this world."
After a brief pause, he nodded slowly.
"There is much to discuss.Come with me."
And so,Lee Do-hyeon and Reina were led into the Elven village.
****
Chapter : To the Elven Sanctum – Hidden Knowledge and Lost History
Lee Do-hyeon, Reyna (the Heavenly Sword Demon King), and Bard Arknan journeyed with Silverion, leader of the elves, to the Elven Sanctum.
This was not just a library—it was a sacred place where ancient wisdom was preserved, a repository of this world's forgotten history. Even among the elves, only the chosen could approach its gates.
Silverion stood before the massive wooden doors of the sanctum. As he raised his hand, waves of mana rippled through the air. In response, the ancient doors glowed faintly, and enormous sigils began to rotate slowly.
A strange magical circle spun in the air, causing the surrounding energy to tremble. The tree groaned and twisted, as if breathing.
When the doors opened, a soft blue light poured out. Inside, ancient tomes and scrolls were stacked in dense, sacred order.
This was not a mere archive. It was the place where the elves had hidden the truth of the world.
Bard Arknan carefully picked up one of the oldest books. The thick leather cover crackled, sending a puff of dust into the air. As he flipped through the pages, aged script revealed itself.
"In the primordial age, Titans were born of darkness…""They created light, forged the stars, and birthed life.""But with the birth of gods came conflict between Titans and gods.""In the end, the gods drove out the Titans and sealed them away."
Lee Do-hyeon quietly laid his hand on the page."The fact that the gods had to drive them out… means they feared them."
Reyna crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes."So the Titans weren't just beasts—they were equals to the gods."
Arknan turned to the next page, lowering his voice.
"Three keys were one method of sealing the Titans.""But the gods left behind another.""It was a seal using flesh.""By offering a powerful living body as a sacrifice, the Titan's power could be bound like chains."
Lee Do-hyeon and Reyna's expressions stiffened.
"Using a body as a seal…?" Do-hyeon murmured.
Reyna traced a finger along the passage."For this to work, the host would need energy on par with a Titan."
Arknan swallowed and nodded."Yes. One of the gods' sealing methods required a mighty being to bind the Titan with their own body—becoming the chain."
Silverion added, stroking his chin."But this method is dangerous. Most who carried out the sealing… either died or were forever fused with the Titan."
Do-hyeon clenched his fist quietly."So we have two options."
One: find the keys and seal the Titan the old-fashioned way.Two: use the flesh-binding method.
He exhaled heavily."But the second method… means someone must make the sacrifice."
Reyna met his gaze and gave a slow smile."So that's why you're looking at me like that?"
He flailed his hands awkwardly."N-No, I wasn't—!"
"I'm joking," she said with a light laugh."But one thing is clear—this method was left behind by the gods."
She pointed at the record."That means even they didn't trust the keys alone. So they created a contingency."
Arknan sighed."In the end… we have to choose one."
At that moment, Silverion pulled out another book.As he opened it, he spoke quietly.
"There's information here about the dimensional gates."
Do-hyeon's eyes lit up."Dimensional gates…?"
Silverion nodded."During the ancient war, the gods created gates that connected to other dimensions. But the gates were too dangerous, and so they sealed them."
Arknan leaned in with interest."Then if we can reopen one of those gates… there's a chance Do-hyeon could return to his original world."
Do-hyeon clenched his fists silently.Why did I come here? Was it truly by accident? Or… was I led here by someone?
He sank into deep thought."Can we find where that gate is?"
Silverion paused, then replied."Not here. But perhaps in the place known as the 'Ancient Temple,' you may find a clue."
Silverion turned to Reyna, and asked gently,"How long have you lived?"
Reyna smiled softly."Eighty years."
The elves fell silent.By their standards, an 80-year-old human should be frail and elderly. But Reyna still bore the youthful appearance of someone in their twenties.
Silverion asked again,"But… you look no older than twenty."
Arknan answered for her."Reyna has transcended human limitations through martial cultivation. Repeated tempering of her body and inner energy eventually slowed her physical aging to near stasis."
Silverion gazed at her with fascination."To think a human could approach immortality through training… This is the power of Murim, is it not?"
He studied her for a long moment, then murmured,"Now I understand. You're not just any human. You may be walking a 'different path'—one we elves lost long ago."
Reyna offered a light smile."Then perhaps, our paths were always meant to converge."
Silverion gave a quiet nod."Perhaps they were."