The broken sword screamed in Do-hyun's grip as he parried Choi Yeong's strike, shadows and steel clashing in a shower of sparks. Every movement sent agony up his arm—the relic wasn't just cutting through flesh; it was carving pieces of his soul away.
Lady Han's voice cut through the chaos: "The sword feeds on your spirit! Don't let it consume you!"
Too late.
The blade pulsed crimson, drinking his pain.
---
The Duel in the Dark
Choi Yeong fought like a man possessed—because he was. His void-filled eyes leaked black tears as Gyeonma's voice tore from his throat:
"Your father begged at the end, little Jin. Will you?"
Do-hyun's next slash severed Choi's sword—and a shockwave of shadow hurled the captain through the wall. The butcher's shop groaned, shelves collapsing.
Ji-hoon grabbed Do-hyun's shoulder. "We have to go—now!"
But Do-hyun stared at his petrifying fingers. The sword's hilt had fused to his skin, veins blackening like ink spreading in water.
---
The Scroll's Secret
In the alley, Lady Han unrolled the burned parchment. The hidden layer beneath shimmered— a map of the palace sewers, leading to the Mirror of Echoes.
"The second relic," she panted. "It shows the truth of the past. My family hid it after the massacre."
Ji-hoon's eyes narrowed. "Why help him?"
Her hands trembled. *"Because the Dowager murdered my mother for resisting Gyeonma. This vengeance is mine too."
A guttural roar echoed from the shop. Choi Yeong lived.
---
The Price of Power
Do-hyun's knees buckled. The sword clattered to the ground, its glow fading. His right hand was stone up to the wrist.
Ji-hoon cursed. "The relics reject unworthy wielders. Your body is turning against you."
"Then I'll be dead before they catch me,"Do-hyun rasped.
Lady Han seized the map. "The mirror can undo this. But we have to move—they'll burn the slums to find us."
As they fled, Do-hyun glimpsed Choi Yeong crawling from the rubble—his mask shattered, his human eyes briefly visible.
"Kill me," the man whispered. "Before It makes me hurt more innocents."
Do-hyun hesitated. Then ran.
---
The Dowager's Wrath
Beneath the palace, the Dowager slashed her palm over Gyeonma's altar.
"The sword has awakened," she hissed. "Find the boy. Bring me his *heart*."
The blood sizzled. The five relic chains trembled. And in the darkness, something laughed.
---