The serpent's body lay motionless at Ji Hyun's feet, the crimson blood pooling around it. His hands were trembling, still holding the sword that had struck the creature down. His mind was reeling from the sheer shock of what had just happened. Time—his time—had been rewound.
For a moment, the world around him was still, as though the very fabric of reality was holding its breath. Everything felt wrong, like the past and present had merged into a single, indistinguishable moment.
Ji Hyun stared at his hands, his chest heaving. This couldn't be real, could it? He had just died, hadn't he? He had felt his life leave him, and then, out of nowhere, time had simply reset.
Suddenly, the voice of Kim Tae-Hyun broke through his thoughts.
"You still don't understand, do you?" Tae-Hyun said, his tone both calm and measured. He was standing a few paces away, arms crossed, observing Ji Hyun as he collected himself.
Ji Hyun's mind raced, trying to process everything. How did Kim Tae-Hyun know?
"You… knew about this?" Ji Hyun asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Tae-Hyun didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked forward, his eyes scanning Ji Hyun as if appraising something much larger than just the boy standing before him.
"I didn't know exactly how it would manifest, but I knew you'd be different, Ji Hyun. You were always special—I saw it in you the moment I started following your progress."
Ji Hyun's confusion deepened. What did he mean by that? Special? He had always been a low-tier hunter, barely scraping by in the dungeons. No one had ever given him a second glance, not until today, when everything had changed in an instant.
Kim Tae-Hyun's gaze softened slightly. "The time-reversal… it's not something anyone can handle. And it's not a gift. It's a weapon, and you are its wielder now."
Ji Hyun felt a chill run down his spine. "Weapon? Why? Why me?"
Tae-Hyun chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in it. "Because the gods are manipulating the world, Ji Hyun. They've set their game in motion, and you—you are the piece they never expected."
Ji Hyun's heart skipped a beat. The gods. The very beings who controlled the dungeons, whose games had driven so many hunters to die. What did they have to do with him?
Tae-Hyun continued, "You've been given this power by a higher force—one who is fighting back against the corruption of the gods. But that doesn't mean you're safe." He stepped closer to Ji Hyun, his presence looming over him. "The gods don't take kindly to mortals meddling in their games."
A Moment of Silence
Ji Hyun looked at the dead serpent, the reality of the situation settling over him. The time-reversal ability… it was as if he were caught in a battle far larger than he could understand. He had the power to turn back time, but at what cost? What was he really supposed to do with this gift?
He turned back to Tae-Hyun, his voice stronger now. "If the gods are the ones pulling the strings, why don't you stop them? Why don't you—"
Tae-Hyun raised a hand, cutting him off. "You don't understand yet, Ji Hyun. I can't stop them. No one can. But you… you might be the only one who can break free."
The Price of Power
Ji Hyun clenched his fists. The gods, this mysterious higher force, time manipulation—it was all too much to process. Yet, it was impossible to deny what had happened. He had died, and now he was alive again. But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was the feeling of power that surged through him, the desire to control it, to never be weak again.
"What do I do now?" Ji Hyun asked, his voice filled with frustration and uncertainty.
Tae-Hyun's expression grew serious. "Now, you learn the true cost of your powers. Time reversal isn't without its consequences, Ji Hyun. Every time you die and come back, you lose a part of yourself. Your humanity will slip away with each revival until you become nothing more than a tool in the gods' game. You will either burn out or become something more powerful than you ever imagined. But remember this—the price of power is your soul."
Ji Hyun's stomach churned. His thoughts raced. What did that mean? What would happen to him, to his friends, to the world around him, if he couldn't control this power?
Tae-Hyun looked at him, his eyes piercing. "And the real question is: Do you want to win their game, or do you want to break free? That's the choice you'll have to make. Eventually, the gods will notice you. They'll try to manipulate you, like they do with everyone else. But you…" He paused. "You have the power to destroy them, if you can control it."
The Path Forward
Ji Hyun looked up at the sky above him, the clouds drifting lazily by, unaware of the storm brewing in his heart. The weight of the choice ahead of him felt like an anchor tied to his chest. Could he really challenge the gods? Could he control this power without losing himself in the process?
"You'll need allies," Tae-Hyun said, breaking Ji Hyun from his thoughts. "And you'll need to keep moving. The dungeons are just the beginning. This world is bigger than you know."
Ji Hyun nodded slowly, still trying to process everything. But he knew one thing for sure now—his journey had just begun. The dungeons were only the start, but the true battle was against the gods, and it was a battle Ji Hyun was willing to fight.
To Be Continue...