“You have done well, Ji-Hoon. Your dedication to the cult is truly touching,” the voice resonated with an authority that silenced the clearing. A chilling aura enveloped the space as the just member stood frozen, disbelief etching his face before it was marred by a sudden gush of blood. His head fell to the ground, painting a grim picture.
Jeok-Myung Jin's mind was in turmoil. 'This isn't supposed to happen. This changes everything!' The man responsible stood amidst them, his presence overwhelming. Dressed like a low-middle ranking member of the cult, yet his aura suggested he was no ordinary follower. He seemed like a harbinger of death, capable of extinguishing lives in a blink.
The bald leader, usually unshakable, hesitated before this enigmatic figure. Jeok-Myung Jin could sense the bald man's internal struggle, his eyes darting between the newcomer and the fallen just member.
Jeok-Myung Jin’s heart pounded against his chest. 'Could he be one of the cult’s guardians? But they never leave the cult’s grounds...' He noticed the red fabric on the newcomer's sword. ‘Wait, that sword, the fabric that is hanging down from the hand of the blade, its red! Now I remember! Shit, I guess i'm going to the cult either way now, then might as well make my life a bit better so I can at least survive longer’
With calculated respect, Jeok-Myung Jin bowed deeply. “All hail to the great heavenly demon, may the heavenly demonic flower rise once again!” His voice echoed with feigned reverence, a desperate bid to blend in. “I welcome the 12th star of the Shadow Monarch!”
The bald leader, taken aback, quickly mimicked Jeok-Myung Jin. “I welcome the 12th star of the Shadow Monarch!” His voice was tinged with a mix of awe and fear.
Jeok-Myung Jin recalled his brother's slurred ramblings about the Shadow Monarch.
Jeok-Myung Jin recalling his rambling.
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‘Youn….gerrrrrrr brotherrrrrr did you know those demonic bastards actually have their own secret forces as well? Huh did you? I bet you didn’t’ while smirking
‘Well, I had expected that, come on, every faction has them-‘
’Na uh uh lil bro, those bastards have a force called the shadow monarch, they are apparently only the most talented individuals especially since that bastard with the red band had gone and tried to slaughter the whole poison clan.'
'L-L-Like can you imagine that? Only a demon would try that and survive. To think that he’s the last of the group; the 12th. Master told me to be worry of when doing missions now.’
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'Heh, Middle brother, your drunken tales might have just saved me.'
The members, including the bald leader, kneeled in unison, their voices rising in a chorus. "We welcome the 12th star of the Shadow Monarch!" The air was heavy with tension, the gravity of the situation palpable.
A silence enveloped the scene, broken only by the 12th star’s inquisitive tone. "How did you come to know of my affiliation with the Shadow Monarch?"
Jeok-Myung Jin, grasping at straws, replied with a confidence he did not feel. “Your remarkable Qi and youthful demeanor led me to suspect your extraordinary origins. The Shadow Monarch is known for its prodigies.”
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“And what led you to conclude that I am the 12th?” the 12th star probed, his eyes piercing through Jeok-Myung Jin.
Panic clawed at Jeok-Myung Jin’s mind. 'He's onto me. Think, Jeok-Myung, think!' He clung to his hastily concocted story. “The red band on your sword... it’s a well-known symbol among those who are aware of the Shadow Monarch’s hierarchy.”
“Ho this is quite interesting, I could’ve sworn that only the cult members knew that, and even then not many know. So, how are you, an outsider who’s yet to enter the cult know of such information?”
‘Fuck, im caught aren’t I? Damn it, I should’ve made up something that isn’t as strange.’
“Hey kiddo, why are you like that? HAHAH, come on your face is priceless right now being scared shitless”
A random voice started to speak, Jeok-Myung Jin couldn’t look around freely since the 12th star was looking directly at him, then just then-
“Ay kid, you won’t be able to find me no matter what. Let’s just say im you, but better” with a superior tone.
‘Me? Do you honestly think that I would believe that?’
“Hmmm I guess that could be hard to believe then what if I tell you something only you would know, Jeok-Myung Jin? Or should I call you Jeok-Myung Jin 2.0?”
Jeok-Myung Jin skipped a beat, this, this isn’t something that anyone should’ve known. What the voice was saying must be true, but if that’s true then is he considered as Jeok-Myung’s subconcience? Or something more.
“Listen up here buddy, we dont have time so just say as what I will say, trust me sometimes you need to grow a pair and risk everything!”
‘Hey wait, lets discuss this more-‘
“Too late”
“Truth to be told, I’m a descendant of the great Heavenly Demonic Flower cult!”
The 12th star’s expression remained stoic, yet there's hints of surprise on his face. Jeok-Myung Jin was prepared to tell the fabricated story with more confidence.
“My Father had actually fought in the 12 year war, he was in the white tiger squad. Soon after my father visited Zillion after getting heavily injured, someone found him and treated his wounds. But soon my father got accused of being from the heavenly demonic cult but then that person who had been taking care of my father stepped in and protected him, and that person was my mother.”
Jeok-Myung Jin tried his best to look as sad as possible but also tried to look determined with his eyes fixed on the 12th star’s blade instead of his eyes. He had been watching his blade for any sudden movement.
“My father felt ashamed that he couldn’t return to the cult due to his injuries and so he had trained me as a member from the cult”
“Heh, I remember how when he trained me I was whining due to how intense the training I received as a 5 year old kid. Every time I whined he would lecture me on how Ven woon hin wouldn’t even cry when he practiced and how I would constantly get compared to him” while smirking as if recalling a fond memory.
‘Haha, wow you are something kid. I can’t believe it, you look actually genuine as if you experienced all of that’ his persona while laughing
“That’s interesting, then why didn’t your father send us a message? Even if he was injured he could have sent one to the cult.”
“Ah that’s because he felt too ashamed to admit that he, a member of the white tiger squad had been deeply injured to the point of losing his martial prowesses”
The 12th star is looking at Jeok-Myung Jin while rubbing his chin. His eyes never left the eyes of Jeok-Myung Jin as if he was seeing if he was lying or not but then he smirked.
The 12th star listened, his gaze unwavering. After a moment, he nodded in acceptance. “Very well then, since you have the cults blood running in your veins we shall take you into the cult and welcome back a lost brother”
Relief washed over Jeok-Myung Jin, though he dared not let it show. 'I've bought myself some time.'
The 12th star turned his attention to Ji-Hoon. “Escort the children and our newly discovered brother to the cult. Ensure their safety. The path ahead is perilous, but I trust in your abilities.”
‘Jeok-Myung Jin… What an interesting kid, the whole time he told his story he wasn't looking at me but rather looking at the direction of my blade’ the 12th star smirked.
As they chorused their loyalty to the heavenly demon, the 12th star vanished with a gesture that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. His departure left an indelible mark on Jeok-Myung Jin’s psyche, the weight of his presence lingering in the air.