The village was small, surrounded by farmland and old wooden homes. After days of constant movement, Gohim almost couldn't believe they were finally stopping.
Kael rented a small room from an elderly couple near the edge of the village. The room was simple, with two mats on the floor and a small lantern hanging from the wall, but to Gohim, it felt like luxury.
He dropped onto one of the mats and let out a long breath.
"This might be the best day of my life."
Kael stood near the window, watching the streets outside.
"Rest. Not comfort."
Gohim groaned. "You really know how to ruin peaceful moments."
Kael ignored him.
As night slowly approached, Kael prepared to leave.
"Where are you going?" Gohim asked.
"To gather information."
"About what?"
"Routes. Enemy movement. Rumors."
Gohim sat up. "Then I'm coming."
"No."
Gohim frowned. "Why?"
Kael looked at him.
"Because your body is still recovering."
Gohim wanted to argue but couldn't deny how sore he still felt.
Kael walked toward the door.
"Stay here."
Then he left.
Gohim laid back down for a while, trying to rest, but eventually boredom won.
He stepped outside and began walking through the village.
At first, everything seemed normal.
Children ran through the streets.
Merchants sold food.
Families laughed outside their homes.
Everything looked peaceful.
But the longer Gohim watched…
…the stranger things became.
One man stood near a fruit stand for too long without buying anything.
Another kept glancing toward rooftops.
A woman carrying baskets walked the same path three times.
Gohim narrowed his eyes.
"That's strange…"
He quietly followed one suspicious man into a narrow street.
Then he heard voices.
"The target is confirmed."
"Wait for the signal."
"Capture him alive."
Gohim's eyes widened.
He stepped backward—
CRACK.
A piece of wood snapped beneath his foot.
Silence.
Then every disguised man slowly turned toward him.
One of them smiled.
"Well… that makes things easier."
Their disguises vanished.
Masked fighters surrounded him from all directions.
Gohim slowly drew his sword.
"I'm not running."
One attacker rushed him instantly.
Gohim blocked the strike.
The impact pushed him backward, but he stayed on his feet.
Another attacked from behind.
He dodged.
Kael's training immediately kicked in.
He moved faster than before.
He dodged incoming strikes.
Countered with precise punches.
Used his sword only when necessary.
He managed to knock one attacker into a wall.
Then another onto the ground.
His breathing grew heavier.
But he was fighting.
Actually fighting.
"I can do this…"
Then their leader stepped forward.
Everything changed.
The spiritual pressure from this man alone was overwhelming.
Gohim's legs trembled.
"You are incomplete," the man said.
Before Gohim could react—
SLASH.
A blade cut across his shoulder.
Blood spilled instantly.
Gohim screamed.
Another strike hit his side.
Then his back.
Then his leg.
He crashed into the ground.
His sword slipped from his hand.
His vision blurred.
The masked fighters surrounded him.
One stepped forward.
"Capture him alive."
Gohim tried to stand.
His body refused.
Pain consumed him.
Fear crept in.
Then came anger.
He thought of his father.
The promise he made.
The training.
The people in the village hiding in fear.
"I can't lose…"
His body trembled violently.
Then—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion of blue spiritual energy erupted from within him.
The street exploded.
Buildings cracked.
Windows shattered.
Masked fighters were thrown into walls and rooftops.
The ground beneath Gohim split apart.
He rose slightly above the ground as uncontrolled energy exploded around his body.
His eyes glowed bright blue.
He screamed in pain.
His own body was struggling to contain the power.
Far away, Kael suddenly stopped moving.
His eyes widened.
"That energy…"
He disappeared instantly.
Back in the village, panic spread among the masked fighters.
"What is this?!"
"He awakened too early!"
"We need to retreat!"
But the energy continued growing wildly.
Blood flowed from Gohim's wounds.
His skin began cracking from spiritual overload.
Then Kael arrived.
He stared at the destruction.
And at Gohim.
Kael's expression changed completely.
"You fool…"
He rushed forward and placed his hand on Gohim's chest.
"Calm down!"
The energy resisted violently.
Kael gritted his teeth.
"If this continues, your body will destroy itself!"
He released his own spiritual energy into Gohim's core.
Slowly…
The eruption weakened.
The blue energy began fading.
Gohim's body dropped.
Kael caught him before he hit the ground.
The surviving masked fighters stared in fear.
"We were not prepared for this…"
"Retreat!"
They disappeared into the night.
Silence returned.
Only smoke and destruction remained.
Kael looked at Gohim's injuries and immediately realized how serious they were.
Deep wounds covered his shoulder, side, back, and leg.
His breathing was weak.
Kael carefully laid him down.
"He pushed his body far beyond its limit."
Kael tore part of his robe and wrapped Gohim's wounds to slow the bleeding.
Then he placed both hands above Gohim's body.
A soft green light formed around his palms.
"This technique…"
His expression grew distant for a moment.
"…was something I learned during my years as captain."
The healing energy entered Gohim's wounds.
The bleeding slowed.
The deeper cuts began closing slightly.
Not completely healed.
But enough to save his life.
Kael's breathing became heavier.
"This is only temporary…"
He continued until Gohim's condition stabilized.
Finally, Kael lowered his hands.
Sweat rolled down his face.
"He'll live."
Then—
Slow footsteps.
Kael immediately looked up.
Villagers slowly began stepping out of their homes.
Men.
Women.
Children.
Their expressions carried fear and relief.
An elderly man stepped forward.
"Thank you…"
Kael frowned.
"For what?"
The old man looked toward where the masked fighters fled.
"For driving them away."
More villagers stepped forward.
"They've been terrorizing us for weeks."
"Taking supplies."
"Threatening families."
"Forcing silence."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"But when we arrived, everything looked normal."
A middle-aged woman lowered her head.
"They forced us to act normal."
"They said if we warned travelers…"
Her voice shook.
"They would kill us."
Kael's expression darkened.
"So this village was under their control."
The villagers nodded.
An elderly woman looked at unconscious Gohim.
"That boy fought to protect people he didn't even know."
Another villager began crying.
"He saved us."
Kael looked down at Gohim.
"He nearly killed himself doing it."
The elderly man bowed deeply.
"Please… allow us to help him recover."
Soon, the entire village bowed.
"We owe him our lives."
Kael stayed silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"One night."
The villagers quickly prepared a safe place for them.
Kael carried Gohim through the village as people watched with gratitude.
As he entered the house prepared for them, Kael looked at Gohim's unconscious face.
"You're reckless…"
He placed him down carefully.
"But perhaps that recklessness is what makes you worthy."
Outside, the village slowly began rebuilding.
But unknown to them—
far away on a distant cliff—
the hooded figure watched everything.
"The first uncontrolled awakening…"
He smiled beneath his hood.
"And he survived it."
He slowly turned away.
"This story is becoming far more interesting."
The figure vanished into darkness.
And deep in his unconscious state—
Gohim saw a strange vision.
A massive sword buried inside endless darkness.
And glowing blue eyes watching him from the void.
Then a voice echoed.
"Find me…"
Gohim's eyes suddenly opened.