Central Seoul – 10:58 a.m.
Kang Hyun-woo stretched his arms as he stepped out of the school gates, sunlight bouncing off the tall glass buildings around him. Class had ended earlier than expected, and the sudden freedom felt too good to waste.
"Need to play a few games before going home," he muttered with a grin, already turning toward the street where his favorite computer store waited.
His sneakers tapped against the pavement in a steady rhythm as he walked past the busy crowd. Office workers hurried with coffees in hand, delivery bikes cut between cars, and the usual chaos of Seoul moved around him. But Hyun-woo had only one destination in mind.
By the time the glass doors of the PC room slid open, he could already feel excitement buzzing through him. Rows of glowing monitors and the faint smell of instant ramen filled the air. It was the kind of place that made hours vanish without warning.
He dropped into his usual seat, cracked his knuckles, and whispered to himself, "Five hours to the PC. Twelve, please." A smile tugged at his lips as the login screen lit up in front of him.
The screen was still loading when a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Gonna play that game again?"
Hyun-woo glanced back. The owner leaned against his chair, cigarette in hand, her casual T-shirt loose around her frame and a pair of short denim shorts that made her look more like a college kid than someone running a PC room. A couple of piercings on her ear glinted under the monitor's glow.
"Oi, you didn't ditch class just to hang out here, right?" she teased, narrowing her eyes at him.
Hyun-woo chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, class ended early. I'm still a good student, don't worry."
She smirked, clearly unconvinced, before tapping the back of his chair and heading back to the counter.
Hyun-woo's eyes trailed after her for a moment before he caught himself staring. The owner—Ji-eun Park—always stood out. He'd heard rumors she used to be a judo black belt, the kind of athlete who could toss a guy twice her size without breaking a sweat.
So why's she running a PC store? he thought. Well, not my problem.
Before he could turn back to the screen, her voice cut through his thoughts.
"Hey…" she said, leaning on the counter with a smirk. "Are you checking out my butt right now?"
Hyun-woo froze, choking on nothing but air.
"What? No! I was just—uh—thinking about… the game!" His ears burned as he fumbled for the mouse.
Ji-eun laughed, the sound low and teasing, before waving him off. "Yeah, sure. Just keep your eyes on the monitor, student."
"Yeah, yeah…" Hyun-woo muttered as he clicked on the icon for Legends of Fighters.
The login screen flashed, and his lips curved in a grin. An MMORPG where you can build your character from scratch… no wonder half the students I know are addicted to it. He typed his ID, the familiar theme music pumping in his headset as the world loaded in.
But while Hyun-woo was setting up for another long session, somewhere far from the glowing monitors of a PC room—an urgent voice echoed inside a high-security guild facility.
"S-Sir! Multiple gates detected!"
A tall man in a sharp military coat stood before a large, holographic map that displayed Seoul and its surrounding districts. His name carried weight in every government meeting: General Kang Dae-hyun. Once a front-line soldier, now one of the highest-ranking commanders in the Korean Gate Response Division.
Dae-hyun's eyes narrowed. "What?" His voice was low but carried authority that silenced the entire room.
The operator swallowed nervously, pointing at two glowing marks on the map. "Sir, two gates appeared almost at the same time. The first is here—in Central Seoul. Classified as E-rank, nothing unusual so far."
"And the second?"
The room fell quieter.
"The other one is in Neo-Seoul District—a little outside the central area. Officially classified as C-rank… but it's emitting a dangerous current." The operator's hands trembled slightly as he added, "Sir… we believe it has the potential to evolve into an S-rank."
General Dae-hyun's jaw tightened, the faintest crack of tension appearing in his calm expression.
General Dae-hyun's gaze swept across the glowing map like a hawk sizing up prey. His voice came out cold, clipped, yet undeniably commanding.
"Mobilize every available hunter within range. I want boots on the ground in Neo-Seoul District immediately. That gate must be suppressed before it escalates."
The operator hesitated, adjusting her headset. "B-but, sir… what about the one in Central Seoul?"
Dae-hyun's eyes narrowed. His reply cut like steel.
"Leave it. At worst, an E-rank gate coughs up a handful of slimes. Hardly worth mobilizing a strike force. There's no need to squander resources on a trifle."
The operator bit her lip, uncertain, then pressed again. "But, sir… what about the civilians? They won't even know there's a gate. Shouldn't we issue a public—"
"Enough."
Dae-hyun's voice thundered, slamming through the control room like a whip. He stepped forward, his shadow looming over her console.
"Are you telling me how to conduct a command right now?" His tone dropped to a lethal calm, every syllable deliberate. "We're weighing a nuisance against a catastrophe. Which do you think is more pressing? A pitiful E-rank trickling out vermin… or a volatile C-rank surging with energy strong enough to erase an entire city?"
The operator froze, her throat tight. Dae-hyun's glare lingered only a moment longer before he turned back to the map.
"Deploy to Neo-Seoul. Now."
General Dae-hyun's glare softened just enough to shift into something colder—measured, pragmatic.
"And don't worry," he said firmly, his tone brooking no doubt. "There are a few hunters stationed near Central Seoul as well. A mere E-rank gate will not be a problem."
The operator blinked. "Hunters? But sir, they're—"
"At D-rank at best, I know." Dae-hyun cut in, his voice as sharp as the edge of a blade. "Even so, it's more than enough to swat down the kind of trash an E-rank gate spills out. Stop wasting your breath on trivialities and focus your attention where it matters—on the one that threatens to swallow a city whole."
His words struck with such finality that no one else in the control room dared to speak. The only sound was the low hum of the holographic map and the echo of orders being relayed through comms to the hunters en route to Neo-Seoul.
"Ahhh, damn it—why's this boss so hard?" Hyun-woo muttered under his breath, eyes locked on the screen. His fingers moved with practiced precision, but his mind was running calculations faster than his hands.
If I put too much distance between us, he'll throw up a barrier. But if I stay close, he'll just unload a barrage of punches until I'm wiped out.
"Damn it…" He groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
Then suddenly—thmp. A soft weight pressed down on his head. Hyun-woo blinked and glanced up.
It was Ji-eun. One hand rested lazily on his head as she leaned over his chair, cigarette tucked between her fingers.
"You need to switch it up, kiddo," she said, eyes flicking to his screen. "Change your gear. Focus on speed equipment." Her lips curled into a smirk. "And not on my chest."
Hyun-woo's face went red. "Wha—! I wasn't—!"
Ji-eun chuckled, tapping him lightly on the head. "Take it as a bonus for coming to this tiny shop instead of those fancy chains. Free advice, free view."
Ji-eun exhaled smoke, flicking her cigarette cleanly into the trash before lowering herself right onto Hyun-woo's lap.
"W-what the—why are you sitting here?!" Hyun-woo's voice cracked as his whole body tensed.
"Relax, kiddo," Ji-eun said, settling in like it was nothing. "It's just us here, and the counter's boring. Deal with it."
Hyun-woo's pulse spiked. She smells… way too good. And up close—she's got… damn, she's curvy. He tried to look at the screen, but his thoughts betrayed him.
Ji-eun smirked, not missing a beat as she clicked through his inventory. "Oi, you're not checking me out right now, are you?"
"N-no!" Hyun-woo stammered.
"Good," she said, her tone sharp but playful. "Because if you get funny while I'm sitting here, I'll break that thing of yours without a second thought."
Hyun-woo's jaw dropped. "T-then why sit on me in the first place?!"
Ji-eun just gave him a sideways glance, lips curving into a sly grin, before turning back to the screen and continuing to rearrange his gear.
"Done," Ji-eun muttered as she clicked the final piece of equipment into place. She leaned back slightly, her eyes flicking to Hyun-woo's face.
His cheeks were crimson, practically steaming from how flustered he was.
Ji-eun raised a brow, lips tugging into a grin. "Why are you so embarrassed, kid? Don't tell me this is your first time having a girl sit on your lap."
Hyun-woo groaned, his hands flying up. "You didn't just sit on my lap—you invaded my whole space!"
"So?" Ji-eun tilted her head, expression deliberately innocent. "Is there a problem with that?"
Hyun-woo shot up from his chair slightly, voice cracking. "You've done this before, haven't you?!"
Ji-eun blinked, then laughed under her breath. "Nah. First time. What's the big deal?"
Hyun-woo nearly choked on his own words. "T-then why me?!"
Ji-eun only smirked, eyes glinting mischievously as she turned her focus back to the screen.
Ji-eun leaned back a little, still perched on the chair. "Just consider this my thanks," she said casually. "For always coming here and wasting hours in my tiny, humble shop instead of those big fancy ones."
Hyun-woo went stiff, his face practically glowing red. Calm down, my inner self… calm down, he screamed in his head, fists clenched on his knees like he was about to enter battle.
Ji-eun raised an eyebrow at his expression. "What's wrong with you? You look like you're defusing a bomb."
"I—I'm fine!" Hyun-woo blurted, voice cracking.
Ji-eun smirked, clearly entertained, and turned her eyes back to the screen. "You're such a weird kid."
In the middle of Central Seoul Park—
The ground trembled. At first, it was so faint that people thought it was just the subway rumbling beneath their feet. But then, the air itself began to twist.
A perfect circle formed in the air above the fountain, glowing faintly before bursting into a brilliant blue light. The wind shifted unnaturally, pulling in leaves and dirt as if the circle was inhaling the world itself.
Then—BOOM!
A violent shockwave blasted outward, knocking benches over, shattering glass, and sending dozens of people sprawling to the ground. Mothers clutched their children, workers dropped their coffees, students screamed in confusion.
"It's… it's a gate!" one civilian shouted, pointing at the unstable, swirling oval of blue energy. "Call the Hunters, quick!"
But before the crowd could even move, another man's voice rang out, trembling with terror. "W-wait… that's not a gate to enter…" His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple as his knees buckled. "It's… it's a gate that releases monsters!"
The words barely left his mouth before the sound came—shrieks, high-pitched and blood-curdling, echoing from within the vortex.
Giiieeeekkk! Kyakkyakkyak!
Dozens of small figures emerged from the swirling blue surface. Green skin, crooked backs, jagged teeth glinting in the sunlight—goblins.
They poured out in a wave, clutching crude weapons—rusty daggers, clubs, chipped axes—eyes glowing yellow with hunger. Some leapt onto park benches, snarling. Others immediately lunged toward the nearest screaming civilians.
Chaos erupted. People scattered in every direction, screams filling the park as the goblins shrieked in delight at the hunt.
---
But this wasn't the first time.
Thirty years ago, the world had changed forever...
On a day like any other, reality itself had faltered. Time froze—people, cars, birds in the sky—everything stopped for a handful of seconds. The world felt like it had… glitched.
And then, the first gates appeared.
From them came monsters. Creatures that defied imagination, ranging from weak pests to catastrophic beings capable of destroying entire cities.
Over years of research and bitter battles, two kinds of gates were identified:
Ingress Gates — dungeons that Hunters could enter before the monsters inside spilled into the world.
Outbreak Gates — far more dangerous. They opened without warning and immediately unleashed hordes of monsters into cities, towns, and streets.
But gates weren't the only change. Alongside their arrival, some humans began to awaken mysterious powers—abilities that allowed them to stand against these monsters. These people became known as Hunters.
And so, nations adapted. The Hunters Guild was formed, with branches across the globe, each country nurturing its own Hunters to protect its people from annihilation.
The goblins shrieked as they swarmed toward the fleeing crowd.
But then—
BAM!
A goblin's head snapped back as a massive fist, wrapped in steel, crushed its skull. Blood splattered across the pavement.
"Hiyahh!" the man roared, his gauntlet gleaming under the sunlight. He was a Brawler—one of the frontline Hunters known for turning their own bodies into weapons. His armor was minimal—shoulder plates and shin guards—but his presence alone was enough to make the goblins hesitate.
Another goblin lunged, swinging a crude axe. The Brawler didn't flinch. He raised his forearm, blocking the strike with sparks flying off the steel. Then, with a sharp breath, he wound back his fist.
"Haaahh!"
His punch slammed into the goblin's face, caving it in with a sickening crack. The creature dropped instantly, lifeless.
"Run!" the Hunter bellowed at the scattering civilians, veins bulging in his neck. "Leave this to us!!"
The crowd didn't need to be told twice. People bolted toward the park exits while the Hunters stepped in, forming a defensive line.
From behind, another voice shouted: "Covering fire!"
A Hunter with a longbow drew his string tight, aiming straight at the sky. His eyes glowed faintly blue as energy coursed into the arrow. With a deep exhale, he released.
Fwsshhht—!
The arrow vanished into the sky, then split into hundreds of shimmering lights. A second later—
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!!
A rain of arrows poured down from above, piercing the goblins like a storm of death. Screeches erupted as monsters dropped one after another, their bodies riddled with shafts.
But still, more goblins crawled out of the glowing blue gate, shrieking wildly as the Hunters braced themselves for the next wave.
The screams of civilians echoed. A group of them—families, students, office workers—were cornered by goblins near the shattered fountain. The Hunters were too busy holding back the waves pouring from the gate to break formation.
The goblins grinned wickedly, raising their jagged weapons.
And then—
Shhhkt!
A cold gleam flashed across the air.
The goblins froze. For a heartbeat, it looked as if nothing had happened. Then—fwup, fwup, fwup!—five heads toppled into the grass, their bodies collapsing in unison.
A young man stepped into view, his dark blue hair brushing lightly against his sharp jawline. In his hand, a katana shimmered faintly, etched with the glowing mark of a coiled dragon. The blade gave off a bluish sheen as if it were alive, breathing with restrained power.
"Stand behind me," he said calmly, his voice firm but steady, almost detached.
The civilians gasped in relief, clinging to his presence like a lifeline.
Hunters from the line turned briefly, their eyes widening.
"T-that's…!" one of them muttered.
The young man raised his blade, flicking the last drops of black blood onto the ground. His stance was flawless, his posture sharp.
Ryuhei. A D-rank Hunter—yet feared and respected because of his rare class.
Class: Sword Saint.
He exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing on the wave of goblins rushing toward him. "Come," he whispered, almost inviting them.
The dragon mark on his blade glowed brighter, the steel vibrating as if eager to taste blood again.
One goblin screeched and leapt, its jagged claws raised high.
Ryuhei didn't even blink. His katana blurred— shhk-shhk-shhk-shhk! —a dozen slashes in the space of a breath. The goblin never touched the ground again. Instead, it fell apart midair, its body reduced to ragged pieces that scattered like butchered meat.
The others shrieked in fury, rushing him in a swarm. Dozens at once.
Ryuhei exhaled, lowering his stance. The dragon mark on his katana flared, glowing brighter with each passing heartbeat. He dashed forward, his blade cutting through the air so fast it left streaks of azure light behind him.
Vrrmmm!
In the blink of an eye, the park was filled with afterimages of his blade. A thousand slashes tore through the goblin horde. Heads, limbs, and weapons were shredded apart, falling like rain across the grass.
The surviving civilians could only watch, jaws dropped, as the battlefield became a storm of blue light.
And then—silence.
Ryuhei stood tall in the center of the carnage, his katana humming faintly. He drew a slow breath, then slid the blade back into its sheath with a single, fluid motion.
Click.
"—Skill: Blade Tempest."
The moment the words left his lips, the last wave of blood erupted behind him, goblin bodies collapsing in shredded heaps.
The park was still, save for the faint crackle of the glowing gate.
Crash!
The glass door of the PC café shattered inward. Four goblins shuffled inside, snarling and sniffing like stray dogs. Their beady yellow eyes darted around the rows of humming computers, their crooked blades scraping against the counters.
Behind one of the desks, Ji-eun had already yanked Hyun-woo down to the floor, pressing his back against the wall. "Shh—don't breathe loud," she whispered, her tone razor-sharp.
Her body pressed close as she locked her legs around his neck to hold him still. Unfortunately for Hyun-woo, this meant his face was squashed against something… overwhelmingly soft.
Hyun-woo's eyes went wide. Oh my god. I've always dreamed of this moment…
The goblins' guttural voices echoed through the shop as they stomped between the rows, knocking over chairs.
Meanwhile, Hyun-woo's mind spun out of control.
But wait. I didn't think ahead! What if I actually die here? What a stupid way to go—death by suffocation… He swallowed nervously, his face buried. …Well… at least it's a dream fulfilled. Guess I can die happy.
He twitched helplessly, his thoughts turning darker but funnier. My ancestors are watching me from above like: "This idiot."
Ji-eun shot him a glare, whispering so close her breath tickled his ear. "Move one muscle, and I'll knock you out myself."
The goblins prowled closer, their guttural chatter sounding almost like crude words as they sniffed around the glowing monitors.
Hyun-woo's heart pounded. Ji-eun's grip tightened. And the four goblins circled—like predators hunting prey that didn't know it was already cornered.
At that moment, a shadow slipped into the café. A small cat padded across the broken tiles.
Meow.
The goblins shrieked, their heads snapping toward it. One lunged, jagged blade raised high—
"Oh no you don't," Ji-eun growled.
She shot forward like lightning, grabbing the goblin's wrist mid-swing. With a sudden twist of her body, she spun and slammed the monster into a desk with a bone-crunching crack. The desk splintered under the impact, the goblin twitching on the floor.
The three goblins swarmed Ji-eun, claws raking across her arms as they forced her back against the counter.
"What the—?! These creeps!" she spat, thrashing against their hold.
With guttural laughter, one of the goblins grabbed at her shirt, its filthy claws tearing fabric with a sharp rrrip. Ji-eun's eyes widened in fury as her clothes ripped apart at the shoulder.
"You disgusting little—!" She slammed her knee into one of their guts, but another shoved her harder against the wall, drool dripping from its twisted grin.
"Kiddo, run!!" Ji-eun roared, straining to break free.
But Hyun-woo… didn't move.
His vision blurred, his mind locking up in shock. He couldn't even hear her voice clearly anymore—it echoed like he was underwater, distorted and distant.
Rip. Another piece of fabric came loose. Ji-eun's scream cut through the static in his ears, piercing his chest.
And then—
[ System Message ]
Are you going to run away again?
The glowing window floated in the air before Hyun-woo. The words weren't Ji-eun's. They rang inside his skull, cold and merciless.
"…What…?" Hyun-woo muttered, trembling.
[ Just like before. ]
His eyes widened. Before?
The window pulsed again:
[ Decision Required ]
Fight—or Run.
Hyun-woo's eyes narrowed at the luminous screen floating before him.
"Are you asking me… or ordering me?" he muttered, voice trembling.
The screen pulsed once. Silent. Waiting.
"Tch…" he grunted. "Fine. I need to help her… no—save her."
[ User Registered: Kang Hyun-woo (Present) ]
In that instant, the ground quaked and a sword buried itself before him, its steel humming with unseen force. The system's voice resonated in his skull—calm, yet absolute:
[ If salvation is your intent, then will it into reality. ]
Hyun-woo tightened his grip on the sword, his pulse hammering. The goblin snarled, drool dripping from its fangs.
"This feels just like a game," he muttered under his breath, trying to steady his nerves. "No—think. If I panic, I'm dead. Games always have patterns. If I die here… there's no respawn. That's the only difference."
The goblin lunged.
Hyun-woo sidestepped clumsily, swinging the blade. The strike only grazed its shoulder, drawing a shallow cut.
"Tch. Too shallow. That means its guard is weak when it commits to a leap… I just need to time it."
The creature screeched and charged again. Hyun-woo exhaled sharply, braced himself, and slashed toward its neck. This time, the blade bit deep—blood spraying warm across his hands.
The goblin staggered, choking on its own breath. Hyun-woo's eyes narrowed, his mind racing.
"Don't hesitate. If this were a raid boss, you finish the combo."
With a final swing, he cleaved through its throat. The goblin collapsed, lifeless.
Hyun-woo stood panting, sweat dripping down his temple. His stomach twisted, but he forced a smirk, whispering to himself:
"See? Just like a game… only bloodier."
The second goblin shrieked and hurled itself forward, its jagged stone axe glinting under the neon glow of the shop signs.
Hyun-woo's hands moved almost on their own. Steel rang as his sword rose to meet the swing—edge against crude stone, sparks skittering into the dark like fireflies. The force rattled his arms, but he held firm.
What… is this? His pulse thundered in his ears. Why does it feel like my body remembers this, even though I've never fought in my life?
The goblin bared its fangs, pushing down with feral strength. Hyun-woo gritted his teeth, twisted his blade, and let the axe slide off its edge with a screeching scrape. He stepped inside the monster's guard before it could react.
CRACK—his elbow shot forward, smashing into the goblin's jaw. The impact jolted up his arm, but the creature reeled back, dazed.
Hyun-woo didn't stop. His knee bent, muscles snapping tight, before he drove a front kick square into its chest. The goblin stumbled backward, crashing into a desk with a guttural howl, knocking a monitor to the floor in a spray of glass.
Hyun-woo steadied his breathing, sword raised again, sweat dripping down his brow.
This isn't luck… it's like my body knows how to fight. But why…?
Ji-eun twisted the goblin's arm until the bone snapped like dry wood, then swung its body over her shoulder and drove it into the floor with a thunderous crack. The creature lay limp, lifeless, blood pooling beneath it.
Hyun-woo, chest heaving, stared at the carnage in disbelief. His sword was still slick with gore, his hands trembling from adrenaline.
Ji-eun dusted her palms together, eyes flicking toward him with a crooked grin. "Kiddo… looks like you've awakened."
Hyun-woo blinked, confused. "Awakened…?"
She jabbed her thumb at him. "Yeah. That rush you felt? That strength that let you stand toe-to-toe with those things? That's the mark of an Awakener—the first step to becoming a hunter."
Her tone was casual, almost teasing, but her gaze was sharp. "You're not just some kid who plays games anymore. You've crossed the line. Ordinary people don't get up after staring death in the face."
The word hunter echoed in Hyun-woo's head, heavy and unreal. His knuckles tightened around the sword hilt as if to reassure himself it was still there.
Hyun-woo caught his breath, staring at Ji-eun as she stood over the fallen goblin.
"How about you, Miss Ji-eun?" he asked.
Ji-eun tilted her head, then suddenly laughed. "Miss? Don't make me sound old, kiddo. And me? Awakened? Not a chance."
Hyun-woo's jaw dropped. "What!!??? But… you just crushed those things like nothing!"
She shrugged, brushing dust off her shirt. "My family's… different. That's all you need to know. But I'm not awakened, so don't overthink it." She sighed, looking around at the broken screens and smashed desks. "Damn it… my shop, my home. All wrecked. Where am I even supposed to sleep now…"
Hyun-woo hesitated, then said quickly, "If you want… you can stay at my place. I live alone. It's pretty big, enough room for more than one."
Ji-eun blinked, then gave him a playful smirk. "You serious, kid? You okay with that?"
He nodded firmly. "You saved me. I owe you my life. Let me return the favor."
Ji-eun chuckled softly. "You've got it backwards, kiddo. I should be the one thanking you."
Just as Ji-eun exhaled in relief, a whistling sound cut through the air.
—whoosh!
A stone axe spun toward her back with deadly speed.
Hyun-woo's eyes widened. "Watch out!" he roared, throwing himself forward. He raised his battered sword in desperation—
CLANG!
The rusted blade split apart on impact, shattering into fragments. The force slammed into his shoulder instead.
"Grahh!" Hyun-woo staggered back, pain flaring through his arm.
"Kid!!" Ji-eun screamed, her eyes flashing with rage.
A chorus of twisted laughter erupted around them—high-pitched, guttural, and grating to the ears.
"Kiii-kii-kikikiiik!"
"Graaagh-hee-hee-hee!"
The sound was maddening, like nails scraping glass, mixed with the shriek of hyenas. Ten… no, perhaps more than ten goblins stepped out from the broken shadows of the shop. Their yellow eyes gleamed, drool spilling from jagged fangs as they tightened the circle, claws twitching in anticipation.
Ji-eun clicked her tongue, lowering into a stance. "Tch… damn it. Just where the hell are the hunters when you actually need them?"
In the Middle of Central Seoul Park..
The battlefield was chaos incarnate. The blue gate pulsed in the heart of the park, its surface rippling like a living wound. With every heartbeat, another wave of goblins surged forth.
A brawler, his steel gauntlets drenched in gore, drove his fist through a goblin's chest and kicked the corpse aside. He spat, panting hard. "Damn it! Just how many are pouring out of this thing!?"
Across the field, Ryuhei moved like a phantom. His dark blue hair stuck to his forehead with sweat, his katana singing with each strike. One swift draw—shing!—and three heads spun into the air, blood raining down like a crimson mist.
His chest heaved, his grip tightening on the hilt. Steady… don't lose focus. His thoughts were calm, but his breath betrayed the strain.
"Don't… get irritated," he muttered low. "Be grateful this is only an E-rank infestation. Anything higher, and we'd already be corpses."
Yet the fatigue in his limbs told him the truth—the tide wasn't slowing, and his strength was fading.