The creature circled Jiwoon like a memory refusing to fade.
Its limbs jerked unnaturally, bound by threads of ancient code and rotting energy. The jagged mouth split wider — not to speak, but to scream.
And Jiwoon… felt it in his chest.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"You were the first to be marked,"
"The one who ran from judgment."
Vera raised her spear. "What's it saying?"
Jiwoon's voice was low. "It thinks it knows me."
Kaelya hissed, "That's impossible."
But the System responded.
⸻
[System Alert]
Entity Name: Mirror of the Forgotten
Relationship to User: Classified
Sin Value: Unmeasurable
Warning: Emotional interference may destabilize manifestation.
⸻
The creature's shadow spread along the walls — growing mouths, limbs, even old system tags that glitched and flickered.
Jiwoon stood firm.
"You think you know what I am?"
"Let's find out what I've become."
⸻
Sin Surge Detected
Points: 998 / 1,000
Manifestation Condition: Critical
⸻
The temple began to shake.
The beast lunged — faster than before. Jiwoon raised his arm, and a new pattern flared across his chestplate — a second eye, vertical and glowing.
A streak of black fire erupted.
Vera shouted, "Jiwoon!"
Too late.
The two collided.
⸻
Silence.
For one long second, there was no movement.
Then the ground split in a perfect circle — ash flying.
Jiwoon hovered midair, suspended by energy, both hands glowing crimson.
The beast was pinned to the wall — not dead, but frozen, its sins playing in looping echoes around its body.
Kaelya whispered, "That's not just power. That's… control."
Jiwoon's eyes burned bright.
"I don't run anymore."
The system chimed.
⸻
[Threshold Reached]
Sin Points: 1,000
Avatar Manifestation: Authorized
Demon Form – Phase 2 Available
Awaiting Emotional Trigger…
⸻
But Jiwoon didn't activate it.
Not yet.
He descended slowly, landing between Vera and Kaelya.
"There's more here," he said, voice tight.
Kaelya asked, "More what?"
He turned toward the dark corridor that opened when the battle ended.
"More truths."
"And maybe… more of me."