Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

‘The Shadow Monarch is a monarch and all but he was still formally known as the Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light. He was the most powerful of all. Ashborn was most notably a necromancer but there were other aspects he excelled in. That ability of his comes from within and reaches out to others. All rulers have the skill to bring out the best in others. Monarchs have an ability to oppose the ruler’s. They bring out the worst in everyone. Beings’ deepest greed, desire and selfishness, it’s what they feed off of and enhance. It’s one of the reasons they continue to wage war even when they’re tired, other than the voices they hear in their minds. Querehsha, Queen of Insects, Monarch of Plagues, she excelled in bringing out the worst far more than any other Monarch. She may not be the strongest, but her words and influence were the deadliest. Only rulers were exempt from it. Her words were like plagues, spreading fast throughout crowds and changing minds in instances. Once you left your mind weak,defenseless and fearful, she would have full control over your mind. Monarch of Corruption was an old title of hers.’

——

“Sung Jinwoo, you are nothing.”

Jinwoo’s eyes no longer widened in surprise, hearing the same words repeated to him like a broken record. The words she uttered hurt far more than any knife could inflict a long time ago (or a short time, he wasn’t sure but it felt like an eternity he wasn't quite sure how long he had been here) but now he felt nothing. Not sadness, not anger, nor fear. He painfully tilted his head up to meet the golden eyes of a person he once loved with empty eyes and emptier heart. The rulers were nowhere to be found as he knelt on the ground alone in pitch black darkness. He only saw the faint gleam of mana emitting out of the eyes of the woman. Her pale face held a darkened, cruel expression. 

‘Cha Haein, what are you getting at? What do you mean you don’t matter to me? Every moment we spent together, I treasured. Monarch of Plagues, let her go,’ were once words he grit his teeth with every word spilling out his mouth causing him to feel immense pain within him. His voice was rough and scratchy with a slight tremble to it.

‘How funny. You know, she gave me this strength. She gave me everything. When you kicked me away from your guild, bringing in some other girl into the Ahjin guild, she gave me a chance and everything I could wish for. I didn’t believe it at first but over time I realized she could give so much more than you ever could. I’m the same Cha Haein you met that day as a miner. I’ve always been this way but I never really knew it until I met my queen,’ was her response. 

For days, he silently grinded his teeth in anger, wanting to scream out. He felt anger far greater than when Jinho was beat up. The type of anger that felt deep in your bones, an unforgettable memory. He wanted to swing his fists into her face, mess her up because he fully knew he had the capabilities but he knelt bound, injured and bleeding in a space no human could enter. The anger slowly faded away into a dull, mind numbing sensation. The only warmth he had was the blood which trickled down him, pooling and hardening under his shrinking frame. 

‘You’re weak, pathetic even. Instead of working for the power within yourself, you sought out there power of a higher being because you knew you couldn’t do it yourself.’

‘You’re not much more different are you? You aren’t the first Shadow Monarch to exist.’

‘There’s a large difference between you and I. For example-‘

The words he said were, although not wrong, a mistake. He distinctively remembered the feeling of her heel of Haein colliding with his stomach, knocking his head onto the empty ground. The dirt and grime of her boot continued to dig into his stomach until he spit up blood, unable to breathe. The wound somehow bled fresh endlessly. 

‘Take your words back.’

She yanked the collar of his shirt, pulling his face in front of hers, staring him dead in the eyes.

‘Never in your wildest dreams.’

Her shoe collided with his face once again. The skin bruised black and blue with an obvious scratch in the middle. The wound was now long gone but he could feel the pain ghosting over himself. Not only that wound, but every scratch and every mark indented into his skin he could still felt fresh and open despite them not being there. 

Though his senses had long gone dim, only ever hearing crucifying words, feeling the dim sting of another hit, tasting the familiar metallic liquid, smelling dirt and grime and seeing the pitch black darkness, he could never forget the strong presence that loomed over a certain being. Lamp in hand, a horrifying creature entered his vision. For once he could see, vision completely blinded. For once he wished he couldn’t see, for he would not be able to get the horrifying sight out of his mind for days to come, if they were to come. 

Insects crawled around her skin like armor. Repulsive and disgusting. Her eyes were the only visible feature of hers. They seemed hollow but at the same time, filled to the brim with malice. The insects moved away from her mouth as she formed a wicked smile. Through the opening of bugs here skin was discolored and wrinkled. Confidently, she strode up to Jinwoo and tilted his head up to meet her scheming eyes.

“Haein, you shouldn’t beat him up too much. After all, he still has more to suffer.”

She slowly approached the young Monarch before transforming into a small, pitiful child. Black hair pooled around her shoulders and an innocent expression dawned upon her face. No trace of the nauseating foul monarch remained. She wore a blue checkered dress and a smile. 

“Have you ever heard the story of Ashborn? It's one of my favorites’

Jinwoo was reluctant to answer. If it weren’t for the ominous aura only he could feel, he would’ve believed it was just another bright child. 

“You should answer me. I want to tell you a story.”

“Jinwoo, you should answer the kid.”

The pair slowly approached the hunter. No matter how much he tried to back away, the ropes made of mana and the wounds inflicted upon his body made it impossible. Haein took him into her arms like a loving mother would do to their child. Her nails dug into his skin like claws leaving behind trails of blood. One might mistake these scratches as those of a dragon. 

“Are you going to answer her?”

Those few seconds of silence felt like an aeon to Jinwoo. The female monarch clicked her tongue in annoyance at Jinwoo's refusal. A cold voice that contradicted the sweet voice of a child rang throughout the empty space, “I guess you don’t want to hear my story. It’s not like you have a choice. Who has the power between the three of us?”

Querehsha continued speaking after the only answer to her rhetorical question was silence, “Ashborn was a good person, a hero. He sent himself into the front lines, he fought for the safety of all living beings alongside the different creatures scouring the universe. The rulers weren't the only beings fighting in the war. Civilizations grew, and corrupt people there were. He had helped and encouraged so many people, giving them families and a place to call home. Ashborn himself had a family and wherever that family was, there was home. But, every person has a few flaws, don't they? As the other rulers raised their blades against the absolute being, only Ashborn stood by their side. Rumors and words were twisted against. An entire lifetime of shunning and exile was awarded to him. Millenials of fighting side by side, blood rained upon their blades together, mattered nothing. The gifts he bestowed upon those who followed him, they suddenly meant nothing. But that wasn't the end of the story.”

She raised a hand and images flashed through his eyes. They were no longer in a void of darkness but in a field where the sky shone different colors. Haein watched in awe but what was shown was not a glorious sight. Marches of soldiers, millions of them, were heard on every side as blades clashed against one another. In the middle of it all stood the winged rulers, varying monarchs and then Ashborn who had long discarded every wing. 

"Ashborn helped the monarchs and left the side of the rulers. This relationship between the 9 were nothing but business. Us monarchs knew that the previous Shadow Monarch was powerful so in exchange for his help, we left him there, weak at the mercy of the rulers. Instead of killing him like he and I wished, they begged for forgiveness.  Ashborn had long grown tired of betrayal, understanding that rulers would bring nothing but trouble. He slew Baran to leave both sides equal before retiring entirely to darkness. He realized trust was a concept that he would never grasp, always fearing the inevitability of betrayal, whether it be him being betrayed or turning his back on a so-called friend."

Deep down, he already knew the answer to his question but he still asked, “What do you plan on doing to me?”

“History repeats itself doesn’t it? Lets see how fast the world that once sang your praise finds you dreadful and horrific. Let's see how fast strong friendships and family relationships will end with just a few simple actions. Maybe a few days or possibly a couple hours, or maybe do you think minutes?”

The color and light dripped out of the painted scene leaving only 2 figures. The monarch rose up and paced around the empty darkness, tugging on the mana ropes. It's truly strange to see a youthful child look so menacing. The words proclaimed by the said child renewed a feeling inside of the new monarch. Jinwoo seethed with fury greater than before, just like the first few days he had been trapped in here. 

“Poor Haein always stood by your side, following you loyally. But oh so evil Sung Jinwoo quickly got addicted to the bloodlust. It couldn’t be contained, you tried to kill an innocent little girl! How tragic. Many more lives followed. Thankfully the dragon emperor weakened you as she managed to hide away 5 children who were left on the battlefield for days, who feared for their lives. You never once tried to bring them out of danger. She couldn’t manage to hurt you because you threatened to hurt everyone, including both of your families if she stepped out of line. You commanded her to hide away all his wrong doings, in which you have been for months. No one was there to witness, killing everyone in sight and leaving a pathway of mass destruction. Then she got the help of other s-ranks.”

'No one would believe such utter lies, I'll be fine,' he attempted to reassure himself. As if Querehsha had known what he was thinking, she sent his past lover outside. 

“Haein, grab the necessary items,” the Monarch commanded, leaving only Jinwoo and the one who had turned his life upside down.

“Have you ever wondered why Haein betrayed you so easily? Just a single sliver of doubt is all it takes, nobody is safe from me. As long as there isn’t a bridge of trust so strong that an accusation backed with proof with billions of people believing it and there is not a single thought of doubt in that bridge of trust, my plans will unveil perfectly.”

His hands managed to touch the hilt of his gifted blades, but he as always, could never pull them out. He fiddled with the ends but ultimately, he couldn’t get them to budge. Querehsha toyed with the keys, waving it in front of his eyes like a toy. He could hear the entrance and faint footsteps of someone returning. She pushed the key through the lock. He wouldn't let her go with her plan, he couldn't. The moment the mana ropes which held him down like chains were released, he pulled the daggers from his belt onto the neck of the disguised monarch. The hair that brushed past his shoulders for quite a while felt lighter than it had in months but his body felt heavier than ever. An abundance of power surged through his entire being. It wasn’t the only thing that changed. The dark world quickly filled with color, temporarily blinding him as his eyes got used to the light, his blade stopped its motion for a second as the new atmosphere dizzied his mind. His hand, holding Kamish's Wrath, remained in its former position. A herd of footsteps coming from ahead beat against the stable ground that was no longer a place devoid of all light but instead the ruin of a former city.

A shout of help to his right, a plea to live from under him. A frightened child was beneath him but that presence, it wasn’t gone. Without a doubt it was still the Querehsha. The only thing that laid between Kamish’s Wrath and her neck was a large hand that engulfed his wrist. White hair brushed against his skin.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Jinwoo, in a split second, was slammed into the ground. He could feel himself fading in and out of consciousness, black dots appearing in his vision. A calloused hand was clutching his neck. His body twitched in an attempt to move but his actions were fruitless. He was thrown against a broken down sign, knocking over multiple figures along the way. Jinwoo was back in Korea.

“Jinwoo please explain yourself-“

"Why would he need to explain anything?"

"I trust Jinwoo."

"We've followed this road for days, he's covered in blood and perfectly fine. Don't you see what's happening? Do you think any normal person would be able to accomplish this? Are you going to let a murderer free because you TRUST him. Now if you have an excuse spit it out."

His mouth gaped but not a single word could stumble out of his mouth. He tried and tried until a weak and scratchy voice came out, so quiet and soft even people with the best hearing would miss it if they weren’t paying attention.

“M-monarch… of plagues”

His enhanced senses could pick up Haein and the children, no monsters, spewing lies that he didn’t even have the chance to refute against as his soft voice was covered. He tried to finish his words but failed as his throat still felt fresh and raw, pulsing with pain. To an outsider, it seems although he couldn’t deny a single accusation. The scars to his body were invisible to the human eye. He could already see the malicious smirk as the bugs crawled throughout her skin.

"Jinwoo, please just explain, anything."

Through his kidded gaze he could see his expression grow more cold but also more fiery every beat of silence.

"Do you really think he has anything to refute?"

The world became dizzy as fists one by one pushed against his already sore and injured body. Cuts that already began to heal were split open, blood gushing from beneath his feet. He could hear the buzzing of Haein’s fake cries. She sounded so desperate and scared, terrified and shocked but under that mask stood a devil, smiling from pure glee. Children stood and told horrific stories. That wasn’t what made Baek Yoonho act the way he did. It was the shell of a body, made so perfectly that not a single person could tell, was slump against concrete, bloodied with a stab wound through the heart. A sword stood similar to the one he had previously used at Jeju island, engraved with blue and black. Haein held the figure close to her chest, sobbing her heart out. He could only understand small bits of words spewing out the liar's mouth. Though it wasn't the only body, a trail of corpses dripped blood, painting the city red. Most of the citizens evacuated while all hunters stood on the front lines, ready for warfare. Few remained but he was sure that anyone who heed the warning of the government had their lives cut short.

“Jinah… mother… were also manipulated by… killed… father… hurt me… couldn’t kill.”

It was as if the story repeated to him just a few moments ago was playing out in front of him and he had the role of the protagonist. A protagonist constantly met with tragedy, one who feared a single concept. He tried curling up but a new pain entered his body. He felt burns searing through him. He wasn't sure how he remained living. Jinwoo couldn’t speak, his mouth remained agape, unable to move. His mind slowly became more muddled under the attacks.

‘IhavetogetoutIhavetotheyllneverknowthetruthIcantdiehereIcantIcantIcant’

He gasped, attempting to bring more air into his lungs only to inhale the fumes of the raging sea of fire. He attempted to open his eyes, keeping himself from the prevailing void, only blurred gray and bouts of orange and red could be seen. Despite being 'freed' he could still feel the claws of the mana rope which sealed every bit of energy within him. The only thing he could muster up was shadows slowly engulfing his figure. Jinwoo was transferred to who knows where. One hit with a knife and he’ll be dead if he doesn’t bleed out before then. Every inch of him was either painted scarlet, burnt to the crisp or covered with grime, a stark difference from the fake appearance just a few moments ago. His true form slowly overruled, a form which was far from what he entered the battlefield looking like. 

He bitterly laughed, barely coming out as a faint chuckle. He really lost everything this time didn’t he- the friends who he cherished, the position he worked endlessly for, the powers he gained, the father who he waited for and the person who he loved. As he choked out more laughter he felt tears form at the brim of his eyes. They fell like spring  rain, silent but in abundance. Never had he felt so utterly lost— when the world came crashing down when gates appeared, when the statues raised their weapons against him, when he watched his father die in front of his eyes, even when hell was raised upon him as he was tortured endlessly in the dark, he never cried but as he awaits his deathbed, he let everything out. He had so long to think about his impending death but part of him wished that another streak of luck would appear, like it always has. The hollow darkness that he so very much hated soon overtook. 

——

“Who’s the Monarch of Plagues?”

His mind wandered through the different possibilities. He wasn’t sure who they were but he was sure they were up to no good. This was one of few moments the hunter was serious, lost in his own conspiracies. He stared at the destroyed battlefields and barren landscapes through the balcony of one of the few standing hotels. The sounds of the news played in the background. Every channel was covered with clips about the strongest hunter. The man's defined figure, dressed in blue, perched upon the opulent chair. He couldn’t leave quite yet. 

“My closest guess is them being one of the creatures without shadows. Where’d you hear the name?” 

“Jinwoo said it, so incredibly quiet and faint I’m sure no one else heard. They can’t be any good."

"Jinwoo?"

The man didn't bother answering, instead fiddling with the functions of his phone.

‘Something isn’t adding up. The sounds of battle had grown faint over the days. Jinwoo looked better than the day he entered the battlefield despite everything just ending, yet they said he was weakened. He’s not the type who would stand by and do nothing while people mercilessly beat at his body. Why were so many people still alive? If he wanted blood everyone would long be dead. Why did he put the knife to the child’s throat instead of piercing straight through? The killing intent and overwhelming presence wasn’t his own, I had felt his true killing intent and aura before. Not many, especially those at the scene, have felt his tremendous power. But most importantly, why did everyone accept an obvious lie?’

“Keep anyone within the guild, or anyone you can, away from all the witnesses at the scene. Don’t let anyone know our actions. Something isn’t right and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”

As of right now he could trust nobody but himself and the runaway suspect. When the latter was in horrifying conditions, the man clad in patterned blue thought he was alone. He knew he should've stepped in but he wanted to see the direction of the one sided fight and now he wasn't even sure Jinwoo was alive though he was sure the hunter would never die easily.

“Even if you doubt Jinwoo for a moment, trust me. As your guild master, I should have your utmost trust, something is wrong.”

“Understood.”

There was a knock against the door and the assistant disappeared into the luxurious apartment. The echoes of her footsteps slowly faded away before returning. The hunter slowly munched on the snacks as he awaited his assistant to fill him in. The sky had long turned dark, with only a sliver of the waning moon shining upon the world.

“Hunter Woo Jinchul is looking for you.”

____

‘Querehsha is the Monarch of Plagues, able to create and plant any disease inside any creature, whether it be an ant or the Absolute Being. The amount of time, strength and effort it takes varies from each creature depending on their strength and death may not always be viable but no person can escape it. Some progress, slowly taking over the body before devouring them. Her blood is the only cure that remains.’

Chapter Text

Jinwoo had not expected to be able to open his eyes again, and definitely not towards Earth. He was vaguely aware that he was being jostled around, someone was moving him, unrestrained. It was still dark out, not allowing him to relax. He remembered the punches, the burning flames, yet he doesn't remember how he got here. He wanted so desperately to assess the situation — where was he? What did this person plan to do to him? What happened after he managed to get away? Why was he alive? —but everything hurts too bad.

It was much easier to focus on the things he could understand. He registered the fact he was dressed in something warm, the person who carried him was warm. The vicious aura that always surrounded him was no longer there, instead flared a bright aura. The monarch wasn't sure how to describe it. It was a comforting warm but not scorching fire. It was familiar, yet something he had never felt in a human prior to that day. It was unheard of to Jinwoo though it felt like home. His mind was numb, refusing to further think about his situation. The stream of constant movement stopped as Jinwoo was gently placed upon the hard ground.

The mysterious person, bulkier than his own figure, spoke with a soothing and deep voice. Most likely a man. Jinwoo couldn't understand the man's words (nor could he understand his actions), unable to pinpoint who rescued him. His eyes were too exhausted to keep properly open, let alone see detail. Red, he wore the red Jinwoo over the course of the past weeks (days? Months?) had grown to hate, only falling behind the pitch black void. The red was dark, the color of crimson. It was a color painted throughout his life but never as passion nor love (as he thought it had been at some point) but instead the blood of his enemies, his loved ones and himself.

The man tilted Jinwoo's head up, he complied, too tired to be wary nor having the strength to refuse, and water filled his mouth. A few droplets dribbled down his chin but he managed to swallow. He instinctively clutched the fur coat which strung around his body, curling into the fabric which remained far too big for his malnourished shape. His unknown savior turned and sat down beside Jinwoo. Not much time passed before the Korean was no longer in a conscious state, leaning against the shoulder of the other.

"Its a shame you didn't get to see the sight."

The other sighed, he decided to take a break in the somewhat secure area while he waited. When he found Jinwoo, his state was wretched, one might've thought it was too late. Even the one who saved wasn't too sure he would make it, fever stricken and impossibly injured, breath faint. It was a new moon that night, the sky was impossibly dark. The hunters on surveillance were troublesome but they were easy to bypass. They travelled in and out, day and night, even through the darkest alleys and broken down roads. Avoiding patrol had gotten much smoother after getting out of the main city. The leaves began to wither, swaying in the wind, turning the world into warm shades of yellows, oranges and reds. The previous greenery twirled and swirled into the air onto the hand of the hunter. How beautiful, even if the crunch under his feet was often quite bothersome and pesky to navigate around.

He picked the other up, careful not to jolt the other awake. His steps remained as quiet as the current tranquil atmosphere around him as he boarded the boat. The waves moved beneath the feet, swinging them from side to side. Normally there would be a gleam of moonlight that shone over the vast body of water, an ethereal sight to see. Today the waters were as empty as the sky but it really didn’t make the sight any less stunning. The cool wind danced upon his face. A new moon often represents a time made for reunion. A longing for home and love. In this case though, it was the start of a union that would shake the universe and a bond that would not break.

The man let his mouth curl into a small slight as he placed the other man down, “A missed festival for what? But maybe this isn’t much worse.”

____

The world was sparkling and vivid in Jinwoo's ruined vision but he preferred it that way. The world was a bit off balance, disoriented in many ways but it was much better than his expectations. He expected to wake up to the same void, the same face, the same eyes which pierced straight to his soul. A warm aura coddled his body like a soft blanket, tempting him back into his sleep. To see the sun shining over the horizon, he let a moment of relief flow through his body. It happened again, and again, and again. Jinwoo wasn’t sure how many times he roused from sleep nor did he remember much. He knew of the blank ceiling, the color was no longer that dreary shade, but instead so utterly bright. It was quite a while before he found himself able to properly comprehend and think. The monarch knew he wasn’t dead — and this person didn’t seem to want him dead yet, coming in and out to change towels and bandages. As the days passed, he never quite got a good look on his face.

It didn't change the fact he was tense, unsure of where exactly he was in the world. The hunter for sure knew that he wasn't in Korea. He spent a few minutes (or was it more?) attempting to force himself into a sitting position. Upon sitting, he glanced around the marvously decorated house. In his dazed state, he blinked his eyes in order to keep them open.

Having bandages covering the scar and cut filled arms relaxed him slightly but someone -- someone saw his body beneath the exterior he held out. Though his head still felt like it was being split open, his body felt much healthier than it had in a while. Jinwoo was quite sure that he should’ve been far more worried about where he was placed but despite basically being on death sentence, he was given a room of the highest quality adorned with various expensive products, fully healed. He wasn’t sure what exactly the other party would benefit from him unless they intended to turn him in all along. The monarch, through cloudy eyes, took a deeper look into his surroundings.

The room encompassing him was extravagant and lavish, more so than Jinwoo preferred. Even after becoming an unofficial national rank the Sung family remained in the small abode of an apartment near the center of Seoul. The room resembled a very modern and clean living space. The walls were tiled with expensive marble while a silver rug covered the cold flooring. A chandelier, hundreds of crystals hanging off, stood dead center of the room. Though the room was primarily white, there was a copious amount of gemstones and art pieces, many indicating a wealthy hunter lived here. There were long swords and greatswords hanging upon the walls among the art pieces. Not the cheap kind and neither the overly decorated expensive but almost unusable, they were weapons of the finest quality. Across from the bed which remained centered was a balcony, extra much? A curtain hung over, blocking any rays of light from shining through. A door, covered with silky cloth for most likely privacy reasons presumably led to a hallway. Even if he never dreamed of living in such an exuberant residence, he had to admit the owner of this house had great taste. The place practically sparkled and dazzled in the sunlight.

Footsteps echoed down the curtained hallway, a silhouette formed through the frame of the door. By the time he registered another person was even in the vicinity, they were already here. He tilted his head to lay his gaze on another figure, presumably the one who had saved him. As his face came into view the expensive room made a lot more sense. Currently the other was dressed in a simple white button up shirt, sleeves rolled up with an awfully nice pair of black pants.

Ryu Zhigeng? Yoo Jeukang? Jinwoo had always been terrible with names but even he would know the name of the national rank hunter yet he couldn't match a name to his face. It really had been a long time since he’s been out of that place, hasn’t it?

“Hello,” the hunter politely greeted him but before Jinwoo could attempt to utter another word, he began to speak again, "So, you've awoken and I presume you want to know what’s going on.”

Jinwoo nodded along to whatever he was saying, too exhausted to give a proper response. “Whoever is scheming this mess is currently using everything they can find to accuse you. The murder of Hwang Dongsu and his brother's group, the blades the other hunter gifted you which held blood of the victims across the cities, the traumatized children who cried calling you a murderer, and so much more. They're pulling everything they have to find you. The governments -- not the hunters -- have placed a bounty upon your head worth hundreds of millions and the price will only rise. If anyone were to oppose, a mob of people would suddenly be upon them, naming an ongoing list of atrocities you may have committed. "

His name was Liu Zhigang wasn’t it? The fact that the national rank spoke fluent English surprised him (didn't he speak in Chinese to him back then? Was his memory wrong again?) Jinwoo tried to open his mouth to reply but his throat was still raw and burning. It felt like sandpaper.

Zhigang continued ranting, or just angrily talking (maybe he sounded like this all the time?) for some minutes. The guild leader paused for a moment, realizing Jinwoo’s inability to respond. He grabbed a cup of warm tea prepared previously for him and walked over, placing it besides his bed before walking back to his previous position, leaning his head on his hands. The monarch wrapped a hand around the cup, enjoying the hot tea which poured down his throat, soothing the ache.

The Chinese then disappeared into the winding halls and returned with a bottle of medicine in hand, "I apologize for my inconsiderate behavior before. I'm not sure if they'll work on you but there are chances they may help."

He handed two colored pills to the Korean. Jinwoo swallowed them. He turned to the other, making eye contact. The actions of Zhigang mildly surprised Jinwoo. Zhigang was a prideful man, and a respected but arrogant one. Even before, he didn’t seem like an entirely bad person.

He forced a sound from his mouth, "So I'm guessing the public doesn't seem to favor me any longer."

"Unless you consider having the entire world trying to hunt you down as 'favored', then I hardly doubt it."

"Then why am I here?" Jinwoo said in a hoarse voice. He was certain it would take a while for it to heal, "You have no plans on killing me nor do you have plans on turning me in."

"Isn't it obvious? You weren't the one who created such a mess and someone exists out there who could harm even you. How bad would it be if the world is placed in grave danger once again and our only hope, you, have been lost due to the incompetence of human minds, mainly that one girl who had started it all. No one refuted the idea that the girl asserted despite the fact that most people practically worshipped you," Zhigang said as Jinwoo could practically feel the other’s frustration at the opposing party, dulled senses or not, "By doing that, they’re isolating you although they were nothing but a nuisance to you previously. I'm sure they're planning something to allow the people to tear themselves apart before destroying the rest."

The Chinese hunter calmed for a moment then proceeded in mentioning an important fact, "Not only that, Lady Selner is also gone."

Jinwoo took a moment to comprehend everything the other had said. He remained puzzled by the last statement, “Wait- Lady Selner is gone? How did you know Lady Selner?”

The Chinese man hummed and addressed Jinwoo’s question, “It would be strange for someone of my rank not to know someone valued above the highest ranking hunters and the government themselves.”

Zhigang still proceeded with the story anyways, “Back when the Kamish gate had closed, the guild I was part of was relatively small. I decided to leave, fully knowing I could achieve much more without them milking me for money. The American Bureau had tried to recruit me, offering lots of money and most importantly an upgrade. I never went through with the upgrade, instead creating my own guild. There honestly wasn’t much to the meeting. I wasn’t about to leave my own country for a few more bucks and such. I have people I know here.”

“Are we in China right now then?”

“Currently we are. This house is located on the outskirts of a remote village, and what I mean by remote is the fact that we are currently in the middle of nowhere. It’s an old village, ancient even, located in Guangxi. Someone brought us nearby from Incheon but you were originally found in Seoul. Though it is quite a distance from Qiaodong.”

Seoul? Seoul wasn’t even remotely close to where he had met with the rulers and fought against Antares in. Canada was quite the distance away.

“What’s the name of the village?” he said in a scratchy voice which made him internally cringe. He sipped further on the warm tea as he listened in.

“Well… it doesn’t actually have a name. It was always just an isolated little village, I highly doubt many people know about it now. Before I requested a road to be constructed here, in order to reach the area you had to scale mountains, taking up to hours. It’s like taking the phrase ‘when I was a kid we had to…’ and making it literal. The village did their own thing, not associating much with the other people, even if they wished to because it was a hassle.”

The concept of wasting hours to gain something essential like medicine or supplies, especially if it was an emergency, didn’t seem like a good idea. Out of curiosity, Jinwoo questioned, “If it’s so remote, then why build such a fancy home? What’s the village referred to if it doesn’t have a proper name?”

“I grew up here actually. It has quite a strange naming system and is changed in the Chinese registry every once and a while. The head of the family or in other words, a chosen resident of the town from the main family who stepped up to the position, surname is used to define it. It used to be exclusively male heads but then later changed. My grandmother, the current head, has the surname of Liu. The village’s name was previously Wei as it had been my grandfather’s surname before passing. If one of the older uncles or aunts instead of my father, the youngest of all and the only one carrying the Liu surname of the 9 children, the name goes back to being the Wei Village. My grandfather passed before the birth of my father so he adopted my grandmother’s name instead.”

Zhigang glanced out the window into the wilderness and Jinwoo followed his gaze. A few small buildings were visible in his sight, presumably the beginning of the village. Children with toys ran about the pathways and into the greenery. An older woman watched over them, rocking away on a chair as she sewed another pattern on the cloth.

“I have other homes though, this one is more like a vacation home. Living in Beijing or Shanghai makes it easier to commute. This place now is primarily for the old and the children, many of the people in their prime have gone off on adventures. I can’t say much as that's exactly what I’ve done too.”

Zhigang looked as if he was going to continue but changed his mind, “We’re getting completely off-topic. A few days ago, the ranking top 20 hunters were gathered and given information. The standings have drastically changes as many prominent figures have been killed off. To many of the non-Americans, Lady Selner along with her physic and upgrading were a secret that had recently been spilt, and it is the only reason I know of her disappearance. She apparently predicted Christopher Reed's death, asking him to contact you and now that is used as evidence against you. The exchange was meant to be private. Lady Selner had no say in whether or not the affair remained hidden.”
"She was a psychic?"
"It was her former job."

The psychic information was new to him. If Lady Selner knew something, then what could it be? His train of thought was cut off when Zhigang began speaking again.

"You see, I've been hoping you could answer one question.”
“What is it?” The least Jinwoo could do as of right now was answer his question.
“Who exactly is the true one behind this operation and what exactly is their intention? It's not that girl is it?"

Jinwoo instantly took back his previous thought. He debated keeping the whole ordeal private but in this state, he wasn’t going to get far if he chose to help the remaining people. Zhigang, a national rank hunter, could provide strength until he could recover. Being China's 7 star hunter and the top hunter in the world, he has access to information a normal s-rank would never imagine receiving. Most people would assume a normal person wouldn’t trust someone they’ve met only two times, even if they were completely on their side, especially not someone who faced the bitter face of betrayal.

He wouldn’t quite call it trust, more like a mutual deal. He hoped his decision would only impact him with benefit and if things were to change, nothing much would happen. If he chose to contact Querehsha, it could be troublesome but generally, giving him only negatives, a hunter who had worked years to hunt down gates all over his nation and the world with no visible effects of being swayed by Querehsha’s power, wouldn’t join with someone planning on ending the world. If he chose not to help him, as long as he keeps the information to himself, it wouldn’t be too bad. If he chose to expose himself to being in contact with Jinwoo, they would wonder why Zhigang didn’t turn him in or better - kill him.

Jinwoo began making air motions unconsciously while answering with a rough and scratchy voice, “The one behind this scheme, I believe, is Querehsha. She’s a monarch like I am.”

“I remember your press conference on the monarchs, can you explain more about them? You didn’t bring many specific names.”

He tried recalling all the things he had already mentioned before, hoping not to repeat himself, but to his mind it was all too far away. He began telling the story, one that was not quite his own, right from the beginning. He cleared his throat, getting ready to speak for a longer period.

“Well, 8 Monarchs and 8 Rulers existed originally, they’re the most powerful beings other than the absolute being recorded, each having a different attribute they controlled,” Jinwoo explained as he weakly let down his hand after making gestures, “They can easily take down hundreds of enemy soldiers. Like two sides of a coin, monarchs solely exist to oppose rulers because the absolute being, much like a god, found them entertaining. Ashborn, the monarch in which had chosen me as his vessel before becoming one with my soul, was known as the Shadow Monarch. Among the 16, he's claimed to be the strongest. He was originally a ruler but then later chose to become a monarch due to the death of the Absolute Being at the hands of the rulers. He ended up weak as he was betrayed by the monarchs who he had helped. Ashborn went into hiding, killing the monarch Baran in order to equal both sides beforehand.”

Though some of it had been explained before, the whole concept was abstract about Ashborn had never been heard of, not between America, China, India or any other country. It left the fellow national rank hunter with many questions but only chose to vocalize one, “The beings without shadows, they were monarchs weren’t they?”

Jinwoo attempted to answer the question as he continued stumbling over his words with his unused voice, “They were. I presumably killed Querehsha and two other monarchs back then but out of the 3, she came back, I’m not sure how. I killed them outside of Earth. Her attribute is insects and plagues though she has some sort of power that brings out the worst in people around her. For her intentions? I’m not sure. Now that she has me out of the way, without a doubt she could kill Earth though it may take time. I don’t understand why she left me alive which could’ve potentially ruined her plans unless I’m playing right into her hands. The uncertainty is too high.”

Zhigang never had any experience individually with the monarchs did he..?

“Have you ever met the monarch — it seems to be impossible as they’ve been attempting to hunt down and successfully have almost all the people except the ones I’ve interfered with.”
“...I don’t actually recall meeting one of them.”

The edge of Zhigang’s lips curled downwards, there was not a memory of him personally meeting one despite being the world’s highest ranked hunter. He still had many different thoughts and theories, many points were not adding up.

“And my powers — the powers of a king and your power that infinite grows as Madam Selner worded it — they’re those of the beings if I am correct?”

Jinwoo opened his mouth to answer, wanting to continue planning and theorizing their actions but he felt something push upwards. Blood dribbled down his chin as he spit up blood into his open palm. A moment of silence filled inside the room. He could hear (and practically see) a sigh coming from the other.

"We can talk about this another time, I shouldn't have spent so long exerting and speaking to someone in such a horrible condition."

Jinwoo didn't refute, allowing Zhigang to wipe the blood off the corner of his mouth and chin before laying him down. He felt his head softly colliding with the fluffy pillow. The ache had dulled slightly but still consistently stung. He watched the blurred colors shift around his vision until his eyes grew too heavy to remain open any longer.

Zhigang, making no sound in his movement, left the occupied room towards his office. The office was lined with shelves filled with documents stacked upon one another. Some remained illegible with spilled ink and others were torn to shreds. Many were in pristine condition, as if they had never been open. He sat upon the cushioned seat, scribbling everything he could think of. Theories, ideas, new information, just something. The hunter wasn’t exactly fond of writing nor reading but still, the thoughts flowing out of his mind seemed to compile into pages. The details were firmly recorded and each sheet of paper had information valuing more than money could buy. The papers were only to be pushed beneath the dull flames of the fireplace keeping him warm. The pile strone upon the desk slipped away, invited in by the burning light. There was only one paper left which contained a few words written red and bold.

‘Querehsha; Monarch of Plagues, Queen of Insects.’

____

Between hours and days, the world shifted around him. Sometimes he would awake, able to do nothing but stare at the blank white ceiling, wanting to return to a seamless state of sleep. Other times nightmares would plague his mind, consuming it whole. After then he didn’t quite feel the need nor want to rest. The dimly lit dungeon of a void, lamp in hand of a malicious creature. Alternatively, he would stir from his sleep, bed head on display as he let his mind run. Zhigang came often, giving him little bowls of soup, nursing him back to health. They talked at times when the world was no longer off balance. The conversations remained curt and short, just an exchange of information, maybe bits of bicker and joking.

('Wait, how old are you exactly?'
'I'm 29, you?'
'I'm younger, currently 24. In the western system, I'm 22 — 23 now.'
'You should respect your elders. Call me ge, or better, gege.'
'There’s hardly a difference between ge and gege, we’re speaking English anyways. But if we go by that knowledge, I'm Korean so shouldn't I be calling you hyung?'
'Wouldn't it be better if you called me oppa?’

Jinwoo ended up choking on the glass of water he was drinking, Zhigang's jokes were not good for his health. The other looked at him with concern before realizing he was fine and wheezing all the air out of his lungs. Querehsha wouldn't be the only person Jinwoo was waiting to claim his revenge on.

‘...I don’t believe you know how the Korean language works. You sound like all those koreaboos. I honestly forgot a lot of things coming back but I won’t ever forget the horror of those… people.’

All the other did was leave a bright smile.)

Someone shook at Jinwoo's shoulder gently as he slowly rolled his eyes open. The curtains now hung wide open, fluttering due to the wind of a nearby open window. The sun beamed at his eyes, his mind was beginning to mentally adjust to seeing color other than the same golden mana floating within the eyes of someone he loved. The wet cloth which laid upon his forehead was removed. A calloused hand outstretched towards him, beckoning for him to get up. Currently Zhigang was dressed in his normal attire he wore when clearing dungeons. His famous blades still loosely hung behind his back. He had left for the day, a meeting was held 6 hours away and it seemed as if the other also had a dungeon to clear.

"Do you think you can walk?" the Chinese man questioned. He retracted his hands for a moment, returning to his hands, crossing them against his chest.

Being honest, Jinwoo didn't feel quite as horrible as he often did rousing from his sleep. He vocalized his wish to try to move again, though Zhigang told him to go slow. He squeezed his fingers in and out, getting used to the movement of his hands. Over the past few days he had barely moved but he had gotten more used to maneuvering his hands around. He had tried to exercise his body as much as he could. His range was limited but it was getting… better. Zhigang often helped him sit up, a dizzying process. He took a moment to recollect himself, attempting to swing his feet over the edge of the bed as the other assisted.

The moment the long haired man turned around, he pushed himself with all his strength onto his own two feet. The hunter's leg felt weak as his body wobbled, his knees buckled to the rugged flooring. He expected to fall straight onto the ground, even ready to brace himself for impact but his arms wouldn't move fast enough. A calloused hand was pushed against his shoulder, halting his complete fall. Zhigang moved the Korean back onto the bed.

It honestly frustrated Jinwoo more than it should've. Going however many months lacking proper nutrients with little to no movement would take a toll on his body, Jinwoo questioned why he thought that it would be fine. It was completely reasonable to not be able to walk, or was he just rationalizing a reason for his failure? A monarch — that’s who he was supposed to be. He's had moments where he was left in hospitals, seeing nothing but the same monotonous ceiling and the rush of doctors streaming in and out around him but he was fine. The weakest hunter he was after all. He got back up after every life threatening situation, there was no other choice unless he wanted to support his mother and sister.

"If you weren't sure you'd be able to walk, you should've just said so."

A part of Zhigang's almost endless patience, treating the strongest hunter like a piece of fragile glass, annoyed him too. In his mind, he knows that he shouldn't take the kindness for granted as it's so hard to find someone who would turn against the world - solely because he trusted you (or because he could not trust the other party completely). The other gave a sympathetic smile, quite a pitying one. The Korean clenched his loose fist slightly, jaw tightening. Jinwoo wanted to snap in a fit of anger but before he could do so, he stopped himself. He simply couldn't understand his own anger and its source. For God sake he was a monarch, the monarch should feel nothing. And he has felt nothing for the longest time stuck away. He has lived and died, he has watched people fall and shadows arise. He was one who only fought those who would bring harm to him and his family. Yet he let the bubbling rage of emotions and surging waves of fury cloud his mind.

'Just calm down, Zhigang has never tried to hurt you yet and neither has he made fun of you.'

He pursued his lip, letting his emotions go unexpressed, it was for the better. He allowed himself to fall into the hold of the man. Only one pair of footsteps rang through the empty hallways. Jinwoo was visibly displeased. Though he really did try not to show it, it couldn't be masked. He was placed against a padded chair. Zhigang being the top hunter and all, just like Jinwoo had previously been, was resilient and every time a dungeon could even harm him, he would bounce right back up due to healers and his own strength.

The Chinese hunter began to speak, trying to liven the mood a bit but found himself unsure of what to talk about. He instead mentioned more details of the ongoing case, "I found something interesting, India's Hunter Association has 'found' traces of you. We were informed of multiple large gates coming from there also, though his recent gates have been slightly different. I don't think anyone besides possibly the top 20, or even less, have noticed."

"It made sense that gates still exist, though no longer the same. After all, the rulers weren't handling the creations of gates anymore, " Jinwoo said as he poked around his food. He had no interest in eating.

His arms and hands worked well enough to get by when injured. He didn't comprehend the fact that the leg situation wouldn't quite be the same. He couldn't quite think of what would happen if it were irreversible. His future, he didn't want to see it. A plate of food was bestowed upon him as the latter continued to chatter away.

“The girl, Haein was her name, was there,” Jinwoo halted his movements and thoughts for a moment, droning out of the conversation. He snapped himself back to reality as his nails dug into his skin lightly. He continued to listen in on the information being provided, “...managed to get into the first meeting as a leading role, but this time she acted as the 20th strongest in the world. I don’t think your mana is strong enough currently to leave any traces behind.”

He anxiously rubbed his skin red just at the mention of Haein’s name. Jinwoo wasn’t too sure if Zhigang actually realized or not as the older changed the subject once again speaking, "Thomas Andre went personally to the gates in India and they've been cleared with little to no casualties."

"Thomas Andre? He doesn't even show up to his own country's S-Gates."

Thomas Andre. An American who he had once called a friend. To be honest, Jinwoo would still call him his friend but friendship is a mutual idea, he wasn't sure what Thomas thought of him. He hazily remembered a large figure, a body that rivalled even Zhigang's, gazing over him. The individual made no move to help nor a move to attack. As the others relentlessly hit, he stood above. If the goliath participated, Jinwoo honestly didn't think he would’ve lived. He didn’t think that Thomas had looked at him with contempt, with a body in as bad condition as it is, he would’ve felt the pressuring killing intent from the other.

"After he left Korea, he’s been gate hunting like crazy ever since the 7 large gates, one might think he’s gone mad. Definitely hiding something but he doesn’t seem very good at hiding."

Jinwoo pondered over whether or not Thomas had an involvement with Querehsha as he made his statement, "I wonder what he knows. I don’t know what she’s planning but one of the people in the surrounding crowd I saw the day I returned might’ve been Thomas. I’m not quite sure why Querehsha had let me live instead of finishing me off and I know well enough that if Thomas participated I would have been dead 10 times over in this condition. The possibility Thomas is associated with Querehsha seems a little too high but it’s just a suspicion."

He nodded along to the words of the monarch and finding the opportunity, Zhigang questioned, "I've been meaning to ask, what are we going to do about that thing —the monarch you mentioned."
Jinwoo had anticipated the question but simply replied with, "I'm not sure yet."

Zhigang glanced at Jinwoo and met eyes, confusion shown upon the onyx eyes. The purple eyed man turned his gaze back onto the plate of fried rice in front of him, still remaining barely touched. Though he didn't doubt it tasted good, he didn't think he would be able to handle the food. Reminded him a little too much of the void, he hated that it did that to him.

"So what is it?"
"I don't know, not yet, but I will."

He felt slightly ashamed of himself. Him, a monarch, who had always been clear on his actions, didn't know what to do? It left a bitter taste on his tongue. But he was a monarch who couldn't avoid a simple betrayal, one who got angry at even the simplest things and a person who did not know the path which he planned to walk on, instead mindlessly wandering further and further. Zhigang had felt as if he had touched a sore spot, not completely understanding the doubt in his decision. But did anyone really understand what it was like to be Sung Jinwoo?

——

A butterfly fluttered around the room, wings expanding. The window leading to the balcony was left wide open, allowing the being to freely pass through. It was a beautiful being, just a little whirl of color. The wings were the color of emerald, shining bright like a gem.

“Zhigang kill it-“

It's just a butterfly right? It can't be - it's not possible. He told himself this every time, the outcome was always the same.

"I don't understand why you hate these poor bugs so much. It's such a pr-“

“Zhigang you have to.”

Zhigang gave a little huff as he stopped questioning, reaching for the emerald-winged being. Jinwoo had been freakishly on edge about any bugs in sight, he never really explained why, or was Zhigang just missing something? As his palm outstretched and his fingers reached to grasp, the vivid colors disappeared into thin air. He caught the butterfly, effectively killing it but it did not cure the poison that would soon reach the man laid upon the bed. Thus prompting a swarm of viridescent aphids to fly past his vision and towards the injured person. His hand stung much like a burning flame, searing through the top layers of his skin. He swung his body around, meeting the black eyes of the other as he was hoarded.

“Jinwoo!”

The butterflies transformed, dripping like splashes of paint onto the canvas of Jinwoo's skin. It seeped into the younger, travelling into the veins, circling a specific area. The trails of green left behind had turned into a web of turquoise, encasing the heart. The older one placed a hand to the other's chest, feeling for a heartbeat. The way the valves beat within his body was strange, it was coming from two different areas. As Zhigang's hand skimmed around the top area of open skin, he still was unsure whether or not the other was fine — nor what the butterflies previously were, or the reason why there were two different beating hearts, one fainter than the other.

——

The next thing Jinwoo saw was a strange looking home. The hood of a cloak drooped upon his head. At the lift of the hood, his eyes widened. He felt mini sized as he walked around humongous tables and abstract plates filled with foreign looking food. The architectural detail of the alien looking place was beyond the works of simple humans. It reminded him of all the story books of mythology he read as a kid. He strode across the mahogany like floorings, circling around the long dining table. To be able to move freely, little restrictions upon his limbs, felt quite nice. Gold outlined the pillars, twirling around each corner of the room. The carpet seams loomed into intricate floral patterns, vibrant in color. The floorings were scratched and he could see bits which had sustained a noticeable amount of damage.

He examined each area for a moment, taking as much detail in as possible. His steps echoed in the hallways as he exited the grand doorway into a corridor of magnificent design. A skylight illuminated the corridor, tinting the room soft shades of green. Marbled flooring reached every corner, almost spotless to the point he feared he would dirty the ground at each step. A clock ticked on the wall, the numbers — or whatever they were, didn’t make much sense to Jinwoo. Between all the lavish craftsmanship, what caught his eyes was not quite part of the design. The outside view was what caught his attention most in the new area. His hand pressed against the cool glass, pushing it outwards. The place was almost like a castle drawn upon mythology. It was no better than a labyrinth, almost never ending. The breeze brushed against his skin as he looked up to the viridescent sky. Well, what he thought was a sky previously. Instead as he gazed up into the area above there only stood jagged rocks jabbing into one another. A hazy mist of greenery moved through the area much like clouds. In the far distance, he could see houses bunched together and machines he had never seen before working away. Jinwoo debated jumping out the window and escaping whatever reality — one which was not his own — to somewhere far away.

He turned his head back into the room in which he stood. Numerous statues casted shadows throughout the room. Pictures of unknown people were hung upon the wall, the face of a creature was hidden under a thin sheet of fabric. Strangely enough, every statue and image captured upon the walls and never ending spiraling hallways seemed to be covered with a thin cloth, just like the large statue in front of him. Jinwoo stepped towards the painting, underneath the fabric it shone like a ray of light. He could see intricately carved details, layers of vibrant pigment on top of one another which had faded through time around the edges of the sheet. He felt compelled to move. He gravitated towards the large painting before a hand grabbed to his wrist, effectively halting his movement.

"That's where I stop you, little one," a deep voice reverberated through the area, transforming the former hallway into something else.

The words echoed through his mind, sending a chill down his spine. The other seemed in a rush, slightly hurried. Jinwoo found himself standing on a path surrounded by trees, no longer under the shelter of the rock ceiling. The night sky was shrouded by clouds. He turned to meet the eye of Ashborn, whom he would be nothing without. The hulking figure stood overhead at a tremendous height, shadows weaving in and out through the heavy armor. He felt his own fear spike through him. He wondered if Ashborn, the other part of his soul, could feel it. Ironic isn't it, the one who is supposed to be the lord of all shadows fears the shadows themselves?

Jinwoo knew very little of the customs of Ashborn’s home world. He was sure this was one of them as Ashborn, the former monarch himself, knelt on one knee as he bowed his head in greeting. Igris was once human and displayed similar manners. Did they come from the same homeland?

"I sincerely hope we never meet like this again."

Jinwoo was confused, what did he mean? He felt his insecurity, the insecurity of not being good enough. It ran deep, bringing memories of when he was nothing but a measly little hunter who wanted nothing but to support his family. Was he too greedy? Did Ashborn find another vessel —a stronger and better one? One who could achieve the things Jinwoo didn't? He knew some of these thoughts were slightly stupid but it didn’t stop him from imagining the worst.

The flames followed him like a cape as Ashborn stood up, "There has been a disconnect between our souls, there is no thread tightly bounding us to one another. Though you still hold my powers, a wall stands between you and I. Right now your body is in critical condition but the difference is that there is nothing I alone can do to help you. It is the only reason we are meeting here today, do not overthink."

Ashborn's hand wavered, flickering in the wind, as he reached to touch the shoulder of his heir. Jinwoo felt his body unintentionally stiffening and the other let out a small sigh. He transformed his body into his older form, the form of a ruler. 6 soft wings emerged from his back, sheltering the younger one. A calming aura, the same familiar one surrounding Zhigang but much more prominent, covered the forest.

With his fears no longer heightened, he took a moment to compose himself. It only left Jinwoo more confused about himself, "I don't understand - why am I so scared? Why have I felt so much anger? But in her hold, I felt nothing."

"Jinwoo, there is nothing wrong with what you fear. The first time you left that double dungeon, though you strove forward with courage of someone who wished for strength, your body was still scared. You froze, even if your mind had long forgotten the amount of pressure you felt. The situation you and I have been placed in has changed, arranged to Querehsha's orders and intentions."

Fear was an unusual feeling, but it was a feeling he had once felt so often. Jinwoo wasn’t quite sure Ashborn understood — it wasn’t just the fear that coursed through his veins. It was the terror that constantly ran in circles through his mind. He was far past the normal fear. Was it trauma? Or a phobia of some sort? He wanted to switch the topic to something further away.

"What intentions does Querehsha have towards me, and to the rest of Earth,” Jinwoo questioned.

"She's planning something. I'm not sure if the meeting was something intentional or a mistake within her plans. I may not be able to tell you right now at this moment but nowhere, not the home you secluded yourself in with that boy, nor the most hidden corner on this planet safe. If the bug that you killed is dead, you should be fine for now but be cautious."

“I’m always cautious,” Jinwoo claimed and he gripped the sleeve of his cloak tighter. It felt good to know that he wasn’t completely insane ordering Zhigang around to kill any living bugs.

Ashborn just stared at him for a moment before forewarning him, “You can always be more cautious.”

Jinwoo was captured because he wasn’t cautious — and he knew that. Just the reminder of it gave a pang to his heart. It dug at something even though Ashborn had not meant it explicitly.

“After all, cautiousness is not only paranoia. It will blind you.”

‘What is that supposed to mean? Maybe I am slightly — just slightly paranoid but I’m also cautious. If anything my ‘paranoia’ only fuels myself to be more cautious for the future to come.’

“I don’t even know what you’re trying to say, old man,” Jinwoo said as he huffed a breath of air out (almost pouting but Jinwoo would never pout, he’s a monarch) and Ashborn only raised a non-existent eyebrow at the nickname Jinwoo had given him, “But I find myself even mad at Zhigang. He's a nice guy and all, he's great I'd even say. Maybe it stems from the fact that I don't trust him-"

"You don't trust him?"

"Not completely, there's just something that feels right but that's what exactly feels wrong. He's a ruler’s vessel after all."

"Jinwoo, let me tell you this. Rulers may not be inherently good, they've definitely proven otherwise. But let me tell you this, the humans who were bestowed with the abilities of a ruler each have a reason. Thomas Andre for his strength, Go Gunhee for his resilience. Vessels are personality wise, not the rulers who had granted them their strength. Each and every single one of them has a story to tell and I will say Liu Zhigang has his own tale you will read along the way. Keep him by your side and you will find something valuable within him," disclosed the older. Ashborn had little faith in rulers but he had faith in the vessels, if only they were taught to surpass the powers in which they were given. If they could reach Selner further, there was a lot that could happen.

"What am I searching for exactly?"

At this point Jinwoo just wanted a straight answer. Find the things he needed, not much thought, and fight those who challenged him and those who went against him. Life wasn’t black and white all the time, was it?

"There are some truths I will not tell but I will not hide behind a lie. Time is a precious thing but you have plenty of it left. Maybe less so with Querehsha running around."

"Then where -- what do I do?" Jinwoo questioned, desperately in need of any piece of guidance. Something that would steer his life to the right path.

Ashborn knew that these meetings would not be frequent so he suggested, "What would you think if the system existed once again?"

The system, something he once was suspicious of, always on edge of. It had become a ray of hope.

"I would… I would like that a lot."

Ashborn turned, reading to walk away as the flowery dreamscape was already falling apart, "There are still many things I have failed to mention. Our time is being cut short."

"Wait- There's one more thing I ask of you."

"Oh? And that is?"

"I want to see my family, just once, I don’t care if it isn't real."
Ashborn bowed his head as his sword pierced the ground, "Your wish is my command."

——

Jinwoo blinked for a moment, finding himself in a completely different environment. Grassy hills rolled over as the sun set in the distance. Clouds filled the sky, reflecting the colorful skies. The soft greenery beneath him brushed against his skin while the tree branches swayed in the background. It was quite an old memory, a small perfect family living in the rural areas of South Korea. It was before the gates, before Seoul, just the 4 of them in a little residence. Home.

"Oppa! Mother says you should come in for dinner!" a young Jin-ah shouted in the distance, "You shouldn't spend all your time lazing around."

Jinwoo turned to his sister, brown locks caught in the wind. Innocent of future events, ridden of the trauma he could've prevented, a kid who didn't need to worry about his idiot brother who one day might not return. At this time he was only 10 years old, his sister couldn’t be more than 4. She tugged at his hand into the house. As he opened the door, the hunter was greeted by the aroma of freshly baked treats.

They sat around a circle table, side dishes were laid out over a small mat in an orderly fashion. His father, the father he would no longer be able to see, smiled and chatted with his wife, so happily in love. Jin-ah poked at her food while eyeing the baked goods, hoping to steal a bite. Pictures hung upon the wall, clear as day. Those photos were still there, somewhere, boxed away in a corner of their small apartment. Everything seemed ordinary, as if he was the same 10 year old child he once was.

"Kiddo, what do you think of Seoul?"
"Seoul? Where Auntie lives?" Jin-ah's eyes practically sparkled in anticipation. He recalled Jin-ah was particularly excited about visiting his aunt Eunkyung who had passed away not long before the disappearance of his father.
"Yes, that Seoul my little darling. Papa’s been offered a job there."
"Really! Oppa, oppa! We're going to the city."

The excited 3 year old hopped around the table, nearly clumsily knocking over items on the table before his mother, his dear mother, picked her up and into her arms. As Jinwoo sat at the table, his eyes shifted between the different figures in his life. His lips curled into a small smile as he nibbled but never quite biting at the food on the table. Despite being an illusion, it tasted right, just as it used to. He could get used to this.

“Hey! Why are you not responding to me?” the child whined at his ears.

Jinwoo turned to meet the pleading eyes of his sister, giving his usual reassuring smile. The first time around, Jinwoo was excited to leave the quiet town for a bustling city and energetic life. For now, he wanted to take a moment to enjoy the peaceful times. He patted Jinah’s head, ruffling her hair into messy shapes. She pouted and turned back to their father for more hugs. For the first time in quite a while, he let out a light laugh.

“If you’re not feeling good, you should head to bed,” Kyunghe said as she patted his head.
“I’m fine mother,” he said as he forced out a large smile.
“Jinwoo, it’s about time you get ready for bed anyways,” his father urged him.

He nodded in response, walking down the same old corridor to his former bedroom. His clothing laid in neat stacks on the shelves of his closet, a variety of snacks were on top of each other near the desk he always did his work at. Outside the window he could see an occasional car whizzing by as the light shone through the dark. Even the red fox that ran around the yard was there, just a shadow hopping around. He sat there for quite a while, just thinking. Jinwoo turned his head from the dark outside, still disliking the thought of darkness. He wasn’t sure much time he had spent examining the area, exploring his thoughts. But he had been sure of one thing.

Jinwoo knew he was right, it wasn't the same. His sister didn't try to sneakily steal his food only for their father to stop her. Her mother didn't add small comments, only a wide smile outstretched upon her lips. As close as this realm came to reality, it was nothing compared to what was real. Even if Jinwoo lived in the false realm of his mind, he didn't think he could bear to live with the guilt gnawing at him.

He took one last glance around the happy home and smiling faces inside the framed pictures, ones he had secured in his inventory before leaving for the latest battle. The new monarch let out a small exhale of breath before speaking aloud the words, "I think I'm ready to return."

In an instance, the happy countryside family, fake as it was, disappeared. From the moment Jinwoo was in a conscious state of mind, the idea of dealing with Querehsha haunted his thoughts, he many times doubted it. The question lingered, unleaving and unrelenting. Earth was a place he vowed to protect alongside his own family. Was it selfish to wish it wasn’t his responsibility? Was it greedy to want nothing to do with a threat which could wipe out the entire world? Was wrong to want to rest — to not want to carry the weight and burden of human life on his own shoulders. He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to suffer. He didn’t want to face more grief and tragedy. Most days he wanted to run away, live in the illusion of his own mind, leaving the world he woke up everyday to fight for behind him, like it was nothing more than a passing day. The hunter had given his all to the world but the world was manipulated against him. Yet he still stood, wavering between decisions, but he stayed. He would stay, even if he didn’t know if his decision was what quite benefited him, something in both his beating hearts told him that when his own conscious mind was filled with doubt and uncertainty. It was his responsibility, and his alone, wasn't it?

Who was he kidding? He would’ve chosen to get revenge no matter what, from the beginning yet he refused to tell himself so. Though he had long decided, his decision felt awfully bitter. He wondered if it was a decision he would regret, leading to his death alone, unavenged, or would he prosper and gain. Like he said at the conference, he would fight the world for those he cared for.

A velvety voice echoed through the empty white spacing, "I'm satisfied with the choice you have made, young one. Even if it may seem selfish of me."

——

“What’s happening? Are you alright?” the Chinese hunter asked in a panicked and concerned tone.

He wasn’t sure what happened. One moment there was a small verdant creature, it was an alluring sight but not quite enchanting. Jinwoo took notice of the bandages wrapped around the palm of Zhigang’s seared hands and how his own wrapping around his chest had been changed.

“I’m alright,” he said, glancing over to Zhigang who gave him a look that practically screamed ‘are you sure about that?’

“Well, I’m not anymore hurt than I was before?” Jinwoo commented.

“What was that? Are there side effects? What if you’re- what the…”

A blue screen was perceived in the peripheral of his sight. More screens appeared around, a lock in front of them all. There stood one message, a clear azure, shining above the rest.

[You have one unread message]

“Welcome to the system, Zhigang.”