Dawn came slow.
The sky turned pale gold, filtering through the broken canopy above. Jiwoon still slept—his small form curled between Vera and Kaelya. His breathing, soft… but steady.
Kravein stood on watch.
Qilin lay near the cliff's edge, its silver mane swaying with the wind, ears perked like it, too, could sense what was coming next.
No words had been spoken since Jiwoon banished the Sin Clone with a single whisper. No one dared disturb the quiet peace he earned.
But the peace would not last.
⸻
System Alert
"Sin Signature Detected: UNREGISTERED."
"Proximity: 3.2 km and closing."
"Entity classified: [SIN ENTITY: APOSTATE-K]"
⸻
"Another one already?" Kaelya muttered, scanning the interface.
Kravein tightened his gauntlets. "They're hunting the child. They sense he's vulnerable."
"They'll be disappointed," Vera said, standing.
Jiwoon stirred again. His eyes opened—half-lidded, confused.
"Where… are we?"
Vera knelt beside him, brushing his hair. "Safe. For now."
Jiwoon tried to sit up. His body trembled.
"Don't force it," Kravein growled from his post. "You used more power than your frame could handle. You're still—"
Jiwoon looked up. His voice was soft, but resolute.
"I'm still me."
⸻
Suddenly, Qilin roared—a deep, ancient bellow that cracked the silence.
A wave of black fog surged into view.
From it emerged a towering figure—clad in rusted armor, its face hidden behind a cracked porcelain mask. It carried no weapon… but its body pulsed with sin.
Kaelya pulled her blade.
Kravein stepped forward. "Stay behind me."
Jiwoon watched, helpless, as the others formed a wall in front of him.
The Apostate-K raised its hand.
The sky darkened.
Power gathered—thick, suffocating—until the clouds swirled in a spiral of despair.
And still… Jiwoon could not move.
He gritted his teeth. "Let me help—"
"No," Vera said, eyes glowing. "Let us protect you, just this once."
⸻
Battle Begins
Kravein lunged, flames wrapping his fist.
Qilin summoned stormlight from its hooves and charged.
Kaelya danced through shadows, glyphs spinning at her fingertips.
Together, they clashed with the Apostate-K in a dazzling display of loyalty, fury, and desperation.
From behind them, Jiwoon watched—no longer the savior, but the saved.
And for the first time in a long while…
He cried.
⸻
But somewhere deep inside his chest, a heartbeat echoed.
Not his own.
Not yet.
But waiting.
The god inside was still alive.