Dawn at Cheongeom Mountain
Time: Two days after the battle with Blood Wolf, 5 AM
Faint dawn light began seeping into the northern valley of Cheongeom Mountain. After two days of forced march, they had finally arrived at this place, which was more desolate than expected. A deep valley that no one visited, and at its end, a mysterious energy could be felt.
"Finally... we've arrived."
Jin-ho exhaled roughly as he looked ahead. At the end of the valley stood a massive rock wall, and in its center, an artificially created stone gate was visible.
But this stone gate was different from ordinary tomb entrances. It was entirely covered with blood-colored patterns, and a subtle red light pulsed like a heartbeat. Like a living heart.
"That must be... Ancestor Kang Cheon-hyeol's tomb."
Lee Hyeon-su exclaimed in admiration. But his voice contained more fear than awe.
"Even after 113 years, such vivid energy..."
Han Mu-jin muttered as he gazed at the stone gate. Complex emotions crossed his expression. Awe, fear, and... guilt.
'Kang Cheon-hyeol... Is what you left behind salvation or a curse?'
Just as Jin-ho was about to approach the stone gate, Han Mu-jin quickly stopped him.
"Wait! Something's strange."
"What's strange?"
"Someone came here before us."
Han Mu-jin pointed at the ground. Clear footprints remained on the earth. Not just one, but several.
"These footprints... they're different sizes and depths."
Lee Hyeon-su examined them closely.
"At least three people seem to have been here..."
But there was something stranger than the footprints.
"What are these ice fragments?"
Jin-ho pointed to transparent ice shards scattered on the ground. It was strange ice that didn't melt even in midsummer. It wasn't just ice - some other energy was contained within it.
『Special Energy Detected』『Ice-type Energy Confirmed』『Warning: Possibility of Other Special Constitution Existence』
System messages rang in Jin-ho's mind.
"Could it be..."
Han Mu-jin's face went pale. He too realized what these ice fragments meant.
"Ice Soul Constitution!"
"Ice Soul Constitution?"
Jin-ho tilted his head. It was a term he'd never heard before.
"Like the Death Blood Constitution... it's one of the special constitutions. It awakens in extreme despair situations, and with each awakening, emotions gradually freeze."
Han Mu-jin explained with a heavy voice.
"And what Ice Soul Constitution descendants create is exactly... that kind of permafrost ice."
"So someone came before us?"
Lee Hyeon-su asked anxiously.
"It seems so. But..."
Han Mu-jin examined the stone gate closely. Blood-colored patterns were intricately intertwined, but looking carefully, there was a pattern.
"Strange. There's no trace of the gate being opened."
"What do you mean?"
"That stone gate... has a structure that only opens when special conditions are met. But there's no trace of it being opened and closed again."
Han Mu-jin carefully examined the area around the stone gate.
"So the people who came first couldn't enter?"
"Or... they might still be here."
At that moment, a chill ran down Jin-ho's spine. He felt someone's gaze.
"You've finally come."
A cold voice came from the shadows beside the stone gate.
Everyone looked in that direction. A girl emerged from behind a rock.
She appeared to be about 17 years old. Snow-white hair fell to her shoulders, and her eyes were ice-blue. A faint chill swirled around where she stood.
The most striking thing was her expression. It was completely emotionless. Cold as if emotions didn't exist.
"Who are you?"
Han Mu-jin showed wariness as he placed his hand on his sword.
"Seol Hwa-rin."
The girl answered calmly. Her voice truly had no emotion at all. It was like a machine speaking.
"A descendant of the Seol family?"
Han Mu-jin's expression became more rigid. As someone from the Thousand Hand Society, he knew about other special constitutions to some degree.
"Correct."
Seol Hwa-rin nodded. At that moment, the temperature around her noticeably dropped. Even in midsummer, their breath was visible.
"And you are..."
Seol Hwa-rin's gaze fixed on Jin-ho. Her cold eyes looked Jin-ho up and down.
"Death Blood Constitution, Kang Jin-ho. The one who will become the vessel of the Blood Heaven Emperor."
"How do you know who I am?"
Jin-ho asked warily. It was unpleasant that someone he'd never met knew his identity exactly.
"The Ice Soul Palace has also gathered sufficient information about you."
Seol Hwa-rin answered expressionlessly.
"Ice Soul Palace?"
"An organization that serves the Ice Soul Demon Emperor. It has... an adversarial relationship with the Blood Flame Cult."
Han Mu-jin showed a surprised expression at Seol Hwa-rin's explanation.
"So you're also an enemy of the Blood Flame Cult?"
"The expression 'enemy' is inaccurate. We simply... have different purposes."
Seol Hwa-rin said, looking at the stone gate.
"The Blood Flame Cult wants the revival of the Blood Heaven Emperor, but the Ice Soul Palace pursues the complete awakening of the Ice Soul Demon Emperor."
"Then why are you here?"
Jin-ho asked directly.
"For the same reason as you. To find my ancestor's secret."
Jin-ho was confused by Seol Hwa-rin's answer.
"Your ancestor's secret? You mean Ancestor Kang Cheon-hyeol?"
"No. The secret of my ancestor, Seol Bing-hon."
Seol Hwa-rin pointed to a different part of the stone gate. Looking closely, it wasn't only blood-colored patterns. Blue ice patterns were also carved together.
"This tomb is... not simply Kang Cheon-hyeol's alone."
"What do you mean?"
Han Mu-jin examined the stone gate again carefully. As Seol Hwa-rin said, there were other patterns besides the blood-colored ones.
Blue ice patterns, golden lightning patterns, and even black shadow patterns.
"Four types of patterns..."
Jin-ho muttered.
"Correct. This is a place where the common secrets of the four great special constitutions are hidden."
Seol Hwa-rin explained in a cold voice.
"Blood Heaven Emperor, Ice Soul Demon Emperor, Thunder Lightning Demon King, Dark Shadow Demon Lord. These four beings are enemies of each other, yet... they share a common denominator."
"Common denominator?"
"They were all originally one."
Everyone was shocked by Seol Hwa-rin's bombshell statement.
"Originally one?"
"An ancient being called the Infinite Great Demon God split into four demon gods."
Jin-ho's mind became complicated. Such a massive truth had been hidden.
『Important Information Acquired』『Collecting Infinite Great Demon God Related Data』『Four Constitution Correlation Confirmed』
"Then... opening this gate too..."
Jin-ho said, looking at the stone gate.
"The power of the Blood Heaven Emperor alone is impossible. At least two or more demon god powers are needed."
Seol Hwa-rin placed her hand on the stone gate. Blue ice energy erupted from her hand.
Whirr...
The ice patterns on the stone gate began to glow.
『Ice Soul Constitution Energy Detected』『Gate Opening Condition 1/4 Met』『Additional Energy Source Required』
"Jin-ho, you try too."
Han Mu-jin urged.
Jin-ho stood beside Seol Hwa-rin and placed his hand on the stone gate. Blood-colored energy flowed out and mixed with the ice energy.
Rumble...
The stone gate slowly began to open. But it didn't open completely. It stopped after opening only about halfway.
"Two isn't enough."
Seol Hwa-rin was disappointed.
"Then what do we do? Do we need to find the descendants of the other two constitutions?"
Lee Hyeon-su asked.
"There's no time for that. The Blood Flame Cult will soon catch up, and the Thunder Lightning Sect and Shadow Society have probably started moving too."
Seol Hwa-rin coolly analyzed the situation.
"Thunder Lightning Sect? Shadow Society?"
"Organizations that serve the Thunder Lightning Demon King and Dark Shadow Demon Lord. Together with the Blood Flame Cult and Ice Soul Palace, they form the four great demon cults."
From Seol Hwa-rin's explanation, Jin-ho realized the seriousness of the situation.
"So we're now targets of all four organizations?"
"To be precise, only you are the target. I... have already betrayed the Ice Soul Palace."
Seol Hwa-rin showed subtle emotion for the first time. But it was only momentary.
"You betrayed them?"
"I'm trying to prevent the complete awakening of the Ice Soul Demon Emperor. That's not what I want."
Seol Hwa-rin placed her hand on her chest.
"I realized during my third awakening. If I continue like this, I will... completely lose myself."
"Then we're in the same situation."
Jin-ho looked at Seol Hwa-rin. He had thought she was an enemy, but it turned out she had similar concerns.
"Similar but different. You still have a choice, but I..."
Seol Hwa-rin looked at her hand. Tiny ice crystals were forming at her fingertips.
"I've already reached a point of no return."
At that moment, a red signal flare burst in the distance. It was the Blood Flame Cult's pursuit signal.
"They've come."
Seol Hwa-rin said calmly.
"I propose a temporary alliance."
"Alliance?"
"Let's stop the Blood Flame Cult first, then settle things between ourselves. We can enter through the half-opened gate anyway."
Jin-ho pondered Seol Hwa-rin's proposal. Could she be trusted?
"Alright."
Han Mu-jin answered instead.
"In this situation, we need any help we can get."
"A wise decision."
Seol Hwa-rin nodded and walked toward the stone gate.
"Then let's go in. We can talk more inside."
What seeped out from between the half-opened stone gate was cold wind. That wind carried 113 years of time along with some other energy.
Jin-ho approached the stone gate first. All that could be seen through the gap was deep darkness.
"Are we really going in?"
Lee Hyeon-su asked anxiously.
"Do we have another choice?"
Jin-ho smiled bitterly. Behind them, the Blood Flame Cult was pursuing, and ahead, unknown dangers awaited.
"Jin-ho..."
Han Mu-jin placed his hand on Jin-ho's shoulder.
"Whatever happens... don't lose yourself. Remember, you are Kang Jin-ho. Not the Blood Heaven Emperor."
"I understand, Master."
Jin-ho nodded and passed through the stone gate. Seol Hwa-rin followed behind him.
Watching the two figures disappear into the darkness, Han Mu-jin had complex feelings.
'Is this choice right? Or is it the beginning of an even greater disaster?'
But the dice had already been cast. All that remained was to watch the results.
『New Party Formed』『Death Blood Constitution + Ice Soul Constitution Temporary Alliance』『Tomb Entry Complete』『Next Trial Awaiting...』
The stone gate slowly closed, cutting off the connection to the outside world. Now Jin-ho and Seol Hwa-rin had to face the secrets from 113 years ago deep within Kang Cheon-hyeol's tomb.
And the final battle with the Blood Flame Cult that would soon arrive...
Preview: Discovering Kang Cheon-hyeol's true will inside the tomb. And the shocking truth about the four great demon gods is revealed. But then the Blood Flame Cult's main force surrounds the tomb...