Silence.
Not a whisper.
Not a breath.
The entire battlefield millions of shadow soldiers, beasts of Itarim, the Apostles, the world watching through flickering screens froze.
Because he moved.
Sung Jin-Woo stepped forward.
One step.
That's all it took.
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
The sky above darkened unnaturally.
And then
Shadow Domain: Activated.
Reality twisted.
The battlefield shifted into his world an endless void of black mist and ash. The rules changed. Gravity warped. Space itself bent to the will of the King.
Gojo gasped. "This isn't cursed energy… it's something older."
Yuji shivered. "We're not in our world anymore…"
The Apostles of Itarim laughed.
"You cloak yourself in tricks"
CRACK.
The first Apostle's head exploded.
No warning.
No charge.
Jin-Woo had appeared in front of him, eyes glowing purple, fist already stained in shadowed blood.
The Apostle's body hit the ground seconds later.
The others reacted, surrounding him in a triangle.
They launched attacks from every direction voidfire, soul-piercing shrieks, temporal blades.
Sung Jin-Woo didn't move.
Instead he snapped.
Snap.
The void shattered.
All three Apostles were flung back like broken dolls smashing into their own army, their bones twisting unnaturally.
"Impossible," one hissed, coughing ichor. "You're not just a monarch…"
"I'm your end," Jin-Woo replied coldly.
He raised his hand.
"Arise."
The ground beneath the fallen Apostles cracked open.
Shadow arms reached up grabbing the Apostle corpses before they could regenerate.
Screams echoed.
In front of the entire world, Sung Jin-Woo turned the enemy's own into his slaves.
He looked into the sky, where cameras were still rolling.
"Watch closely," he said.
"This is the price of war against me."
And as the Apostles screamed in rage and horror, the Shadow Monarch walked through them like a storm unbothered, untouched, unstoppable.
----
Sung Jin-Woo stood still, his back to the group.
He didn't need to say more. His presence alone commanded their attention.
"Listen." His voice echoed, calm but firm, cutting through the silence like a blade.
Yuji, Gojo, Megumi, and Yuta exchanged looks. For a moment, none of them moved.
But then Gojo took a step forward, shaking his head as if to clear it. He was still processing what just happened the total annihilation of the Apostles in the blink of an eye. The godlike power Jin-Woo had wielded was a weight in the air. He didn't want to confront it, but he had to.
"Fine," Gojo said, his tone more reserved now, the usual cocky smile replaced by something more solemn.
"We'll listen. But I'll tell you this, Jin-Woo… this world isn't as simple as yours. Don't think for a second that you've seen everything."
Jin-Woo simply nodded, his gaze unwavering.
"Let's go," Yuji said, his voice tentative but determined. "We need food. After everything that happened, I could really use something to eat."
The group began walking towards the nearest restaurant, the weight of the world seemingly lifted from their shoulders, yet the air around them was heavy with uncertainty.
But the moment they stepped out onto the street, everything froze.
People civilians were staring. Their eyes widened, whispers spread.
They recognized him.
The news coverage of the battle had reached every corner of the world. Sung Jin-Woo's face was broadcast on every screen, his power showcased for all to see. And now, he was here, in the flesh, walking through their streets.
"Is that him?!" one person whispered in awe. "That's the guy who killed those demons, right?"
"Didn't he just… erase them?" another muttered, a mix of fear and admiration.
Within moments, a crowd began to form, some cautious, others awestruck. Phones came out, cameras flashing as people crowded around.
Sung Jin-Woo's calm demeanor didn't change. He didn't acknowledge the growing crowd, didn't flinch.
But the attention was becoming overwhelming.
"Hey, that's him!" a man shouted, pointing. "The Shadow Monarch!"
In the distance, sirens began to wail.
"Wait… the police?" Yuji blinked in surprise.
Gojo, sensing the tension, sighed.
"They'll probably want to question him, or worse, try to contain him. This is a mess."
Moments later, the police arrived, several squad cars screeching to a halt in front of the restaurant. Officers in full gear jumped out, weapons drawn.
"Step away from the crowd, sir!"
one officer shouted, his voice shaking.
"We've received multiple calls about a potential threat!"
Gojo stepped forward with his usual grin.
"Relax. He's not a threat. Just a guy trying to grab lunch."
The officer looked at him, clearly confused, and then back at Sung Jin-Woo.
"We've got orders to take him in for questioning,"
The officer said, clearly nervous.
Sung Jin-Woo didn't move, his expression unchanged. The atmosphere around him shifted again, growing tense. Even the officers hesitated.
With a flick of his wrist, his shadow soldiers began to manifest in the background silent, like statues, watching. A few policemen froze, eyes wide, but their instincts kept them at a distance.
"Enough," Jin-Woo finally said, his voice carrying authority. "I am not your enemy. But if you come any closer, I will treat you as one."
The officers stood rooted, unsure of how to proceed.
Gojo's voice rang out again, louder this time.
"Don't worry. He's not gonna hurt you. Just… let us go eat."
The officers exchanged nervous glances. After a tense pause, one of them gave a slight nod.
"We'll have to escort you," the officer muttered, clearly unsettled.
Sung Jin-Woo's expression softened only slightly but it was enough for the officers to understand that he had no interest in further confrontation. They made way, allowing the group to pass.
The restaurant was a quiet haven compared to the chaos outside, but even inside, the weight of the world seemed to hang in the air. The group gathered around a table, the atmosphere heavy with the knowledge that they were no longer dealing with ordinary enemies.
As the group settled down, the clink of silverware was drowned out by the silence that followed Sung Jin-Woo's presence.
Finally, it was Yuji who spoke, his voice filled with curiosity.
"Jin-Woo... you said you're here to save the world. But what does that really mean? We've seen your power... But we don't understand. What's all this about Itarim? And why are you telling us all this?"
Sung Jin-Woo sat back in his chair, his eyes scanning the group with a calm, piercing gaze. The look in his eyes was no longer one of just a warrior, but of a being who had seen the ends of realities.
"There's more to this world than you can imagine,"
he began slowly, his voice steady.
"You've encountered curses, sorcerers, and powerful beings... but you're about to learn that what you've faced is a mere fragment of the true multiverse."
Yuji and the others exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of where this was heading. But Gojo, ever confident, leaned in, his curiosity piqued.
"Multiverse?" Gojo repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Are you saying there are other worlds... like ours?"
Sung Jin-Woo nodded.
"Yes. But not like you think. There are realms beyond your comprehension. Universes created by Outergods. These gods are not the same as the ones you encounter in your world those beings are far beyond the likes of even me."
He paused for a moment, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in.
"The most dangerous of these beings is Itarim. He is not merely a god or a monarch. He is an Outergod a being who transcends all the laws of physics, space, and time. Itarim is the creator of countless universes, each one connected in ways you cannot begin to understand."
Yuji felt a shiver run down his spine. He was no stranger to the abnormal, but this… this was far beyond anything he had ever faced.
"You mean to say," Yuta spoke up, his voice quiet but filled with concern, "that Itarim created all the universes? And... we're just... in one of them?"
Jin-Woo's eyes grew distant as he spoke.
"Yes. Itarim's existence is absolute. Every universe, every world, every star, every soul created from his will. But not in the way you might imagine. His power does not create life directly. Rather, Itarim shapes the essence of everything in existence, weaving them into countless threads that form the multiverse. His influence is vast. His creations are endless."
Gojo's expression shifted from curiosity to something far darker.
"So you're telling us there are other worlds other gods that Itarim controls?"
"That's right,"
Jin-Woo replied.
"And these gods... they are not benevolent. They seek to dominate the universes they create, manipulating them for their own purposes. The Apostles you've seen those monstrous beings are his emissaries, created to bring his will to every corner of existence."
The group was silent, processing what they had just heard. Gojo broke the silence first.
"So, what does this mean for us? For Earth?"
Sung Jin-Woo's gaze hardened.
"Itarim is not content with creating universes. He wants to consume them. And your world this universe is next. The Apostles you faced were only the beginning. The true danger comes when the Outergods wish to break the boundaries between worlds... and pull everything into their void."
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes glowing with an intensity that made everyone around the table shift uncomfortably.
"If Itarim succeeds in breaking the barriers between realms, all of reality will collapse into chaos. And once that happens, there will be no hope for any of us."
Yuji looked down, digesting the enormity of the situation.
"So... what can we do to stop him? To stop Itarim?"
Sung Jin-Woo's expression softened, though there was no comfort in his words.
"I alone cannot stop him,"
he said solemnly.
"But I can fight him. The war between us has already begun. The Apostles you faced were only pawns in a much larger game. They will return, but this time, they will bring far greater power and they will not be alone."
He stood up, his shadowy aura swirling around him like a dark storm. He looked at each of them in turn, his voice growing more resolute.
"But you have to understand one thing. The path ahead is not easy. If you want to fight this war alongside me, you must be prepared to give everything. This is a battle not just for Earth, but for the entire multiverse."
Gojo, ever the optimist, smiled grimly.
"Sounds like a lot of work... but we're in. Right, guys?"
Yuji nodded, his face set with determination.
"Yeah. We'll do whatever it takes."
Yuta and Megumi exchanged glances, and then nodded as well.
Sung Jin-Woo finally spoke again, his voice quieter but just as powerful.
"Then prepare yourselves. Because the fight for your world is only the beginning."
The group sat in stunned silence, each of them absorbing the gravity of Sung Jin-Woo's words. Outside, the world continued to move on, unaware of the invisible forces gathering in the shadows. But here, in this small restaurant, a new reality was taking shape.
Sung Jin-Woo took a deep breath and continued, his eyes never leaving the group.
"You've encountered powerful beings before,"
he said, his voice a low rumble,
"but none of them compare to what is coming. The Apostles you faced were only servants, pawns in a game much larger than you can comprehend. But even they are dangerous enough to change the fate of entire universes."
Yuji spoke up, his voice quieter now.
"How can we even begin to stop something like that? You said you can fight Itarim... but what does that mean for us? Are we supposed to just... keep fighting these Apostles and hope to stop them?"
Sung Jin-Woo's gaze sharpened, his eyes glinting with the weight of the centuries he had lived.
"Your world is at the edge of destruction, Yuji. The Apostles will only be the beginning. Itarim's true power lies in his ability to bend the very fabric of existence. He controls reality itself."
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in.
"But we will not fight him with only power. The key to stopping Itarim lies in understanding his nature and his origin. He is not a god of this world. He is an Outergod an entity beyond comprehension, a being whose influence spans across countless realms and universes."
Gojo leaned forward, his casual demeanor faltering for the first time.
"You said Itarim is the creator of these universes. Does that mean he controls them? Every universe, every world?"
Jin-Woo nodded.
"Yes. He creates them, shapes them, and then consumes them. His goal is not merely to rule. He feeds off of the energy of the worlds he creates. And when a world is fully consumed, it ceases to exist."
Yuji's eyes widened.
"So, that's why the Apostles are here. They're... preparing the world for consumption?"
"Exactly,"
Jin-Woo replied.
"The Apostles are just the vanguard. They are sent to weaken the structure of the worlds, to sow chaos, and to break down the walls between dimensions. Once the walls are broken, Itarim can devour everything in a blink."
The room grew tense. Megumi crossed his arms, his brows furrowed as he processed the implications.
"And we're supposed to fight against that?"
"Not just fight,"
Jin-Woo said, his voice steady and filled with resolve.
"You will need to understand the essence of these Outergods. The power of the Apostles is one thing, but the true nature of an Outergod is far beyond anything you've ever faced. To defeat Itarim, we must gather information, strengthen ourselves, and prepare for what's to come."
There was a moment of quiet as the weight of his words hung in the air. Gojo broke the silence with a bitter laugh.
"Sounds like we're going to need some serious backup then. You think the sorcerers and curses we've been fighting will be enough for this?"
Sung Jin-Woo's expression darkened.
"No. You cannot rely on your old methods. The sorcerers in your world even your strongest are nothing compared to the power that's coming. Itarim is beyond your cursed energy, beyond even your Six Eyes, Gojo."
Gojo, never one to admit defeat, gave a half-smile.
"So we're talking about something worse than even me?"
Jin-Woo's gaze grew cold.
"Yes. Far worse."
Yuji stood up, determination flooding his veins.
"Then we'll have to do whatever it takes. We'll fight, we'll train, and we'll protect our world."
Gojo nodded slowly.
"Guess we're all in this together, then."
Jin-Woo gave a single, approving nod, but then his expression turned serious again.
"But there's one thing you need to understand, something that is crucial to all of this."
He paused, making sure all their eyes were on him.
"The Apostles are not just following Itarim's orders blindly. They are here because they believe in his cause. They are devout followers of a being who promises them ultimate power and a place in the new reality he will create. Some of them may even be stronger than I am. We cannot afford to underestimate them."
Yuta's voice was filled with concern.
"So... we'll face beings just as strong as you? Maybe even stronger?"
Jin-Woo's face softened slightly.
"Yes. But I will be with you. I will guide you. We'll fight side by side. But you must understand that I am not invincible. Even I can be overwhelmed if we're not prepared."
Yuji's expression hardened.
"Then we'll get ready. We'll train until we can stand with you. And we won't back down."
Gojo smiled, his usual cockiness returning.
"Now that's the spirit. Alright, let's prepare then. We've got work to do."
Sung Jin-Woo stood, his towering figure casting a shadow over the group. He turned to the window, his eyes distant once again, as if he were looking far beyond this world.
"We have no time to waste. The Apostles are already gathering their forces. Itarim will not wait. The time to act is now."