At the Edge of Despair
Northern Valley of Heavenly Sword Mountain, 4 AM
Jin-ho stood before the remains of the abandoned campsite. Just a few hours ago, four companions had been here with him. Now, only a cold campfire and scattered belongings remained as traces of their presence.
'Everyone... everyone left.'
Jin-ho clenched his fists. Seol Hwa-rin's cold gaze, Noe Jin-woon's angry expression, and Eum Mu-geuk's guilt-ridden retreating figure kept circling in his mind.
Around him lay several corpses of Shadow Society assassins scattered about. These were the enemies Jin-ho had to face alone. After his companions left, he had managed to defeat them all without awakening, but suffered severe injuries in the process.
"Urgh..."
Jin-ho clutched his left shoulder. Blood continued to flow from a deep wound. The injury was poisoned, making treatment difficult.
Thump... thump... thump-thump-thump...
His heartbeat was becoming irregular. It was the effect of excessive blood loss and poison.
'At this rate... I might die.'
Jin-ho leaned against a tree and collapsed. His strength was rapidly draining.
That's when it happened.
『Host Life Danger Detected』『Emergency Intervention Protocol Activated』『Blood Heaven Great Emperor Awakening Initiated』
'How does it feel, Jin-ho?'
A familiar voice echoed in his mind. It was the Blood Heaven Great Emperor.
'You... where have you been all this time?'
Jin-ho asked internally. Until now, the Blood Heaven Great Emperor had shown no particular response even in crisis situations.
'I was right, wasn't I? I was watching. To see what choice you would make, and what true nature they would reveal.'
There was leisure in the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice.
'And it turned out exactly as expected. Human nature is truly pathetic, isn't it?'
'They... they had no choice.'
Jin-ho weakly protested. But there was no conviction in his voice.
'Had no choice? Kuhahaha...'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor sneered.
'Eum Mu-geuk sold you all out for his 12-year-old sister. Seol Hwa-rin tried to kill a companion without even listening to reasons. Noe Jin-woon suspected you for protecting a traitor.'
'That's...'
'And in the end, they all abandoned you and fled to save only themselves. This is the truth of the camaraderie you so believed in.'
Jin-ho couldn't find words to respond. He wanted to deny that the Blood Heaven Great Emperor was wrong, but reality was proving those words.
'Seol Hwa-rin was particularly interesting. She usually acted cold while showing concern for companions, but when crisis came, she was the first to draw her sword.'
'Stop it...'
'Noe Jin-woon was even more laughable. He prided himself on having a strong sense of justice, but when he himself was suspected, he got angry and abandoned you all.'
'I said stop!'
Jin-ho shouted. But the sound didn't actually come out. He was too weak to produce a voice.
'You're feeling anger. Good. Feel that anger.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice began to sound even more sweet.
'I know you truly trusted them. I know how warm your heart was when you fought together in the tomb.'
Jin-ho's chest felt heavy. He had really thought he had found true companions at that time.
'But look. What was the result? You are now dying alone, and they each fled seeking their own survival.'
'...'
'This is the essence of human relationships. Ultimately, all humans live only for themselves. Love, friendship, camaraderie... all are mere illusions.'
Jin-ho closed his eyes. He wanted to deny the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's words, but the current situation was backing up those words.
'But I am different.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor began his proposal.
'I do not betray you. I have been with you for 3,000 years, and will be with you forever in the future.'
'You... you're trying to control me.'
'Control? No. I'm proposing cooperation.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice became serious.
'I give you power, and you lend me your body. Isn't that a fair trade?'
'What... what do you mean?'
When Jin-ho showed interest, the Blood Heaven Great Emperor began explaining.
'Simple. I lend you power, but leave your consciousness intact. You can still live as Kang Jin-ho.'
'In exchange?'
'In exchange, allow me to use your body occasionally. Of course, I won't do anything you don't want.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's proposal was more generous than expected. Usually, demon gods try to completely dominate their hosts, but this time was different.
'Why... why are you making such a proposal?'
'Living with you for 3,000 years, I've realized something. A host forced into subjugation will eventually resist. But a host who cooperates voluntarily... can display much more powerful strength.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's words made sense.
'Besides, don't you want revenge? Against those who betrayed you, against the Four Great Sects that try to use you.'
Something stirred in the depths of Jin-ho's heart. It was anger.
'It's impossible alone. But together with me... everything becomes possible.'
『Blood Heaven Great Emperor Official Proposal』『Condition: Cooperative Coexistence』『Host Consciousness Preservation Promise』『Price: Occasional Body Usage Rights Concession』
Jin-ho fell into contemplation. If he refused this proposal in the current situation, he might really die. But if he accepted...
'There's no time, Jin-ho. You must decide before the poison reaches your heart.'
Jin-ho's consciousness was indeed beginning to blur. The poison's effect was getting increasingly severe.
'Alright...'
Jin-ho finally spoke.
'But I have conditions.'
'Conditions?'
'I absolutely won't do anything I don't want to do. Especially harming innocent people.'
'Then... what about guilty people?'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor cleverly countered.
'That's... depending on the situation.'
Jin-ho answered ambiguously. In fact, he also had complex feelings about the Four Great Sects and the companions who betrayed him.
'Good. I promise. I won't force you to do anything you don't want.'
『Contract Established』『Blood Heaven Great Emperor-Jin-ho Cooperation Relationship Initiated』『New Awakening Form Under Development...』
Instantly, warm energy spread through Jin-ho's body. The poison was neutralized, and his wounds began to heal. But at the same time, he felt something else taking residence inside his body.
'Now we are true partners, Jin-ho.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor's voice sounded much closer than before.
'From now on, you're not alone. Together with me, you can do anything.'
Jin-ho stood up. Not only had his physical condition completely recovered, but he could feel that he had become much stronger than before.
However, anxiety also crept up from a corner of his heart.
'Is it really... really going to be okay?'
『New Abilities Unlocked』『Blood Demon Sword Technique 4th Form: Blood Shadow Clone (血影分身)』『Blood Heaven Great Emperor Consciousness Sharing Function Activated』『3,000-Year Memory Database Access Rights Granted』
A bloody light flashed in Jin-ho's eyes and disappeared. Now he could access the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's memories and abilities.
'First, let's understand the current situation of the Four Great Sects.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor suggested.
'Tell me what information you want. I'll share all the information accumulated over 3,000 years.'
Jin-ho thought for a moment and then asked.
'Is what Eum Mu-geuk said really true? That the Four Great Sects are actually moving toward one goal?'
'That's right. The revival of the Ultimate Great Demon God is their real purpose. Pretending to fight each other is all an act.'
'Then... then we've been...'
'Completely played. But now it's different. It's our turn to use them in reverse.'
Jin-ho's heart wavered at the Blood Heaven Great Emperor's suggestion. It seemed he could catch both rabbits of revenge and truth-seeking.
'How?'
'Go find the Blood Flame Sect. But not as an enemy... while pretending to be an ally.'
'What do you mean?'
'You're now the successor of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor. From the Blood Flame Sect's perspective, you're a welcome existence. Approach them and extract inside information.'
Jin-ho's eyes sparkled. This was a method he had never thought of.
'Won't it be dangerous?'
'Of course it's dangerous. But with your current self, you can definitely do it. And...'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor said meaningfully.
'Through the Blood Flame Sect, you can also learn news of your other companions.'
Jin-ho's heart raced. Although he was betrayed, he was still curious about how they were doing.
'Alright. Let's do it.'
Jin-ho made up his mind.
'But I'll do it my way. Without killing anyone.'
'Kuhaha, of course. You can do it however you want.'
The Blood Heaven Great Emperor laughed satisfactorily.
『Jin-ho-Blood Heaven Great Emperor Alliance Officially Started』『First Objective: Blood Flame Sect Infiltration』『Final Objective: Four Great Sects Truth Investigation』
Jin-ho looked east. It was the direction where the Blood Flame Sect's headquarters was located.
'Now it begins. I'll uncover all the truth.'
His eyes held a different determination than before. The naive boy had disappeared, and a cold strategist had taken his place.
But deep in his heart, longing for his companions still remained. Along with the hope that someday he could know the truth and meet them again.
The dawn sunlight illuminated Jin-ho's back as he stepped toward his new destiny.
Next Preview: A mysterious youth appears at the Blood Flame Sect headquarters. How will the Blood Flame Sect receive him when he says "I am the successor of the Blood Heaven Great Emperor"? And will Jin-ho's perfect acting succeed?