The valley had no name in official records.
To the locals, it was simply known as "The Place Where Reflections Lie."
Jagged cliffs ringed it like broken mirrors, each surface casting warped versions of reality. Jiwoon — still in his child form — stood at its center, where the ground shimmered like water though it was solid stone.
He wasn't alone.
The Featherless Cult Arrives
One by one, the robed figures emerged from the mist. Eyes still closed. Feet never stumbling.
And then — their leader appeared.
A woman, draped in pale feathers, none of which belonged to any known bird. Her eyes were sewn shut, but her voice cut through dimensions.
"Han Jiwoon. Child of sin. Puppet of balance."
"You've come."
Jiwoon stepped forward. Calm. Curious.
"You called me."
"No," she said. "The world did."
The Pact Offer
She raised a hand, revealing a mirror-like shard hovering above her palm.
"This is a fracture from the Echo Realm — the origin of your system."
"If you take it, you sever your connection. You'll no longer be the system's vessel… but you'll no longer be its hunter, either."
Jiwoon stared at the shard.
His small hand trembled… but his voice did not.
"Why offer this?"
"Because our future has too many gods. And none of them bleed."
Kravein and Qilin Intervene
Suddenly — shadow cracked through the sky. Kravein descended, blades drawn.
"Step away from him."
From the opposite ridge, Qilin stormed through, armored hooves scorching the land.
"You will not unmake what has already become divine."
The cult didn't move. The leader merely tilted her head.
"You can't protect him from choices."
Jiwoon Decides
He stepped between them all. Voice clear.
"I will not shatter the system…"
"But I won't be ruled by it either."
He reached into his chest — not literally, but through will — and pulled out a sliver of crimson data.
"I'll forge a third path."
"Neither pawn, nor destroyer."
"Just… Jiwoon."
The moment he said it, the shard in the Oracle's hand cracked — and dissolved.
System Update
[Pact Denied]
[New Path Created]
Title Unlocked: The Sin Divergent
Stability fluctuating…
Preparing next evolution.
The Oracle bowed her head.
"Very well. Then walk it with caution… because those who break the script must write their own ending."
End Scene
And above them, the mirrored cliffs no longer showed twisted reflections — but Jiwoon's face, hundreds of times, all of them smiling differently.