It’s been two years now at Hwaeon Academy. The lessons don’t challenge me much—sorcery, swordplay, beast training. Still, I can’t disobey my parents. And honestly, the peace gives me time to think. To become better. Stronger.
This afternoon, under the blazing summer sun, I made my way to the river near the academy—a place hidden behind old mossy rocks and a thin veil of trees. The closer I got, the louder the sound of water crashing against stone. Wind brushed past me, light and soothing.
I sat waist-deep in the clear water, letting it cool my skin, and closed my eyes. For a while, I just drifted in silence, daydreaming about home—my wives, my children, my family. My people. Then the earth trembled.
From the distance, leaves fell like warning signs.
A tree snapped.
The ground beneath me quaked.
System Nova:
“Warning: Large presence detected. Class – Corrupted Beast. Approach imminent.”
My falcon shrieked from the sky above, circling low in distress.
Then I saw it.
A massive elephant—no longer an elephant. Standing nearly forty feet tall. Its eyes burned with flame, lava pouring like tears. Molten saliva dripped from its jagged, gnarled fangs. Red-hot fissures streaked across its legs. Its trunk had twisted into a curved blade. And from its tail… snakes writhed.
It stared down at me with murderous intent—as if daring me to kneel.
I rose slowly from the water, steam rising off my skin. I grabbed my robes, tied them loosely, and stepped forward.
The elephant charged.
It bulldozed everything in its path, tearing down trees like they were made of paper. When it reached me, it reared back and let loose a blast of molten fire from its mouth.
I dodged, leaping high into the air. Fire scorched the earth where I had just stood. Still mid-air, I spun and summoned my weapon.
Asherign.
The living chain slithered from beneath my sleeve, the end morphing into a blazing scythe. I imbued it with Essence, flames licking down its length.
The beast roared and lashed its trunk, tail swinging like a whip. One strike sent me flying across the ravine. I slammed against a stone ledge but recovered quickly.
The beast stomped, and the ground shattered—jagged, diamond-sharp stones erupted beneath my feet.
System Nova:
“New Combat Pattern Detected: Seismic Spike.”
I launched a counterstrike—whipping my chain into a tornado, clearing the field of trees. But the elephant didn’t budge.
Enough.
I leapt high into the sky, scythe blazing like a comet.
And brought it down.
CRASH.
The scythe carved straight through its skull. The beast buckled, collapsed—and split apart.
There’s nothing I can’t cut.
System Nova:
“Ability Acquired: Stomp – Shatter the ground beneath enemies, unleashing diamond spike eruption followed by a shockwave explosion.”
“Nice,” I muttered.
Nova absorbed the remains, purging the corruption and gathering its essence. With every beast I defeat, I grow stronger. And so does Nova.
I turned to leave—but something felt off.
The air was still, too still. The leaves were browner than before. Footprints—big, small, massive—covered the forest floor.
I heard them before, I saw them.
Hundreds of tiny heartbeats. The scent of rot and decay.
Then—snap!
A rabbit leapt from the underbrush, snarling, eyes glowing with white flame. I slapped it mid-air, sending it flying back into the trees.
Then two more. Ten. A hundred.
All infected. All crazed.
System Nova:
“Hostile swarm detected. Purging recommended.”
I didn’t hesitate.
Time Structure—activated.
The world slowed.
I moved—slapping, slicing, dodging, eliminating them one by one. Rabbits died in waves. Then the real threats came.
A lion—its mane replaced with jagged venomous thorns. A tiger—striped with pulsing black rot, tail split into spears. A hippo—with tusks like drills and skin armored with obsidian.
All of them corrupted.
I called Asherign once more—scythe flaring with flame. I charged first. Not them.
My body ignited with Essence, lightning-fire crackling around me. I moved faster than they could blink.
This was my forest now.
I chained myself to a tree and spun—turning the tree into a bladed wrecking ball. Creatures fell around me, limbs torn, heads split.
Not a scratch on me.
When it was over, the silence returned.
Nova absorbed everything.
System Nova:
“Abilities Acquired:
- Poison Resistance
- Venomous Strike
- Water Breath
- Water Ball
- Passive Armor Generation”
Nova materialized a new robe in my hand—sleek black and gold, lion-mane trim.
“This will keep you warm, absorb shock, and resist magic,” Nova said. “It can even function as a reactive shield.”
“Thanks,” I replied, slipping it on.
Then I saw it—smoke in the distance.
The palace.
I ran.
Guards were already fighting.
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Beasts, corrupted and frenzied, swarmed the outer wall. Screams from the commoners. Fire in the streets.
Master Hwarang stood on the front line, clashing sword to claw.
I raised my hand—water swirled around my palm, compacted into a sphere.
I hurled it.
BOOM!
The explosion knocked the beasts back ten feet, blood spilling from their jaws.
Master Hwarang turned, eyes wide.
He didn’t speak.
When I arrived at the scene,
But his silence said everything.
From the distance, I spotted my three friends—the princes. They were young like me, but each was talented in their own right. With their unique sorcery skills, they fought fiercely against the incoming beasts. I, on the other hand, landed beside Master Hwarang to lend a hand.
With a single glance, I activated my fire-speed ability. My body surged with flame, and I moved so fast I could strike each beast one by one. The look on the guards’, teachers’, and even my friends’ faces was pure shock. I could already tell—I’d have a lot of questions to answer after this.
In this era, there wasn’t true magic yet, only sorcery—something close to magic, but not as powerful. Even so, the beasts fell quickly. One by one, the minions were defeated.
But then—something else came.
A shadow fell over the academy. Something massive was diving down from the sky at high speed, like a meteor ready to shatter the earth. A titan bird—at least 70 feet long—its wings spread wide like a living storm.
Everyone scrambled to find cover. There was none.
The expressions on the commoners’ faces were the worst. They looked as if they’d lost all hope.
But I hadn’t.
Because no matter what, nothing was going to stop me from this protecting people.
I launched into the air at full speed, cloaked in fire. The titan bird screamed as it descended, and in an instant, I clashed with it mid-air. The shockwave cracked the sky. Clouds split open as if the heavens themselves gasped.
Asherign—the living chain—burst out from my arm, its end shifting into a massive scythe. With a single, blinding slash, I tore through the bird like it was paper.
It shattered into pieces—feathers, blood, and ash raining from the sky.
I landed hard, steam rising from my body. Then… silence.
Everyone stood still. In awe. In fear. In relief.
I didn’t do it to show off. I did it because if I hadn’t, people would’ve died.
Master Hwarang rushed to me, eyes wide.
“Jinseo… you saved this kingdom. I, as a teacher, failed to protect my students and these people. I don’t deserve this title.”
I shook my head. “It’s not the title that matters. It’s you. You give people hope. People die believing you were their last defense. So keep teaching. Keep protecting. Keep being the man they believe in.”
The three princes ran toward me.
“Jinseo!” they shouted in unison. “Are you okay?”
I nodded. “I’m fine.”
But the truth was—I had pushed my young body beyond its limit.
And then everything went black.
System Nova
“Master Jinseo. Your body is now in recovery mode. You possess immense magicules. I’ll assist in adapting your body to the magic flowing through every fiber of your being.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you,” I replied.
System Nova
- Magical Essence: Increased
- Skills: Upgraded
- Physical Ability: Enhanced
- All defeated beasts from the forest and palace absorbed.
- Power Level: Immense
System Alert
You have defeated a Titan Bird. You’ve obtained a unique item:
Titan Feather – Allows for increased speed, aerial mobility, and temporary flight.
“You’ll be the first human to fly in this world, Master Jinseo.”
“…I guess so,” I muttered.
While my body recovered, I trained in Nova’s holographic realm. Time didn’t matter there. I didn’t wake up tired, didn’t feel drained. I could train endlessly.
System Nova
“Recovery complete.”
“I’ll take it from here,” I answered.
When I woke, the room was quiet—but I wasn’t alone.
King Ryuhwan stood at the edge of my bed, silent. As I stirred, he moved to the tea table and sat down slowly.
“You saved my kingdom,” he said. “If not for you, Geumryang would’ve fallen. Today, I pledge eternal alliance to the Kingdom of Yeonhwa. In any time of need, I will come. Just say the word.”
He paused, then looked at me with intensity.
“I’ve heard of your bond with my son. Please… teach him what you know. Make him strong. Make him worthy of standing beside you.” Master Jinseo.
“You don’t have to call me ‘Master,’” I said softly.
But he shook his head.
“No. I must. You may be young, but your strength… your wisdom… they surpass any warrior or teacher in my court.”
Then, to my surprise, King Ryuhwan got on his knees before me.
“Teach him. Make him strong. Let him walk beside you, not behind.”
I looked into the eyes of a king.
And I promised him—
“In one year, your son will be a force this world will remember.”
He thanked me and left with a big smile.
I laid back down on my soft bed, staring at the ceiling as thoughts swirled through my mind. Why are the beasts increasing? It hadn’t been like this before… not until I fought the first Fallen. Maybe that battle awakened something—or unleashed it.
The consequences of that fight were still rippling across the land.
I sighed and rose from bed, stepping outside my chamber for some air. The breeze was soft, but the energy outside was anything but calm.
A crowd had gathered. People from town, commoners and officials alike. I had sensed them earlier, waiting quietly. I hadn’t gone out because I didn’t want attention—but they waited anyway.
One by one, they bowed and thanked me, offering small gifts—fruits, herbs, scarves, hand-carved tokens. I tried to refuse, but they insisted with grateful eyes. In the end, I accepted them with a nod.
From this day forward, I knew my time at the academy would never be the same.
The next morning, I woke early and attended class like usual. The town was still under repair—scaffolding, hammers, and carts lining the streets—but the people smiled. Everywhere I went, I was greeted like someone important.
Every class felt different. The teachers admired me. The students watched me. Even my friends stared sometimes, like they didn’t know who I really was. Scholar Danji said nothing, but I could feel his curiosity burning—especially when it came to magic. He wanted to ask… but he hesitated.
Saturday morning arrived with gentle light. I walked through the city with my three friends—Ryu Seohan, Jo Wonyul, and Ban Taesung. We were just boys again for a while.
Eventually, Seohan broke the silence.
“How did you do all that, Jinseo? The way you fought… the magic…”
I couldn’t explain it—not fully. Not without revealing Nova. So I asked quietly:
Nova, is it possible to share this power with them?
System Nova:
“Yes, Master Jinseo. If they willingly form a contract to acknowledge you as their master, I can grant them access to the magicules you command.”
I nodded slightly.
“I can teach you,” I told them. “But only if you’re willing to make me your master—not just your friend.”
They looked at each other, then back at me.
And without hesitation, they agreed.
From that moment on, I became their teacher. Their master.
And yet… I still saw them as my friends.
They, however, began calling me Master Jinseo with every meeting. Bowing. Nodding. Smiling with respect. I tried to stop them—but gave up with a quiet laugh.
System Nova
Subordinates Power Assessment – Master Jinseo
Linked Contracts: Active – 3
Ryu Seohan
Prince of Geumryang – The Disciplined Flame
Power Type: Stormfire Control (Lightning-infused flame)
Theme: Precision, Intensity, Discipline
- Storm Edge – Coats his blade in fire-lightning essence that sears and shocks on contact.
- Blazing Tempest Step – Short-range teleportation using bursts of flame and light.
- Static Command – Ionizes the air to paralyze enemies in a flash.
Fit: Seohan’s inner fire burns under a layer of control. This power reflects his quiet intensity and leadership.
Jo Wonyul
Prince of Yuhwa – The Shadowed Mind
Power Type: Illusory Yin Control (Shadow & Perception)
Theme: Silence, Strategy, Illusion
- Mirror Echo – Creates afterimages or illusionary clones to confuse attackers.
- Void Silence – Silences an area, suppressing energy and sound, weakening enemies.
- Shadow Link – Temporarily links minds or bodies, mimicking movements or sensing thoughts.
Fit: Wonyul is a thinker. Calm and elusive. His powers reflect his mastery of perception and planning.
Ban Taesung
Prince of Garan – The Wild Radiance
Power Type: Elemental Beast Imbuement (Yang + Beast Enhancement)
Theme: Vitality, Earth, Raw Power
- Titan Hide – Temporarily becomes nearly invincible, like a rhino or boar.
- Beast Surge – Channels beastly strength for devastating melee strikes.
- Nature Bond – Temporarily fuses with his spirit beast, doubling power.
Fit: Taesung’s joy, strength, and wild heart shine through. His essence is built on instinct and courage.
Now… they’re not just my friends.
They’re warriors of their own kingdoms.
They’re the first disciples of the world’s future magic.
And I am their master.
Whether I like it or not.
I always knew my disciples were exceptional…
But to this extent?
That’s insane.
System Nova:
“You are the master. Any skill they possess—you possess as well.”
“Wait… isn’t that cheating?”
System Nova:
“No, Master Jinseo. It’s simply the law of power. A master’s root is deeper than his branches.”
I smirked.
For the rest of the year, I trained them—Ryu, Wonyul, and Taesung. Each of them mastered their abilities faster than I expected. Now? They’re more than ready to become heroes in their own kingdoms.
Of course, no one knows they have powers yet. That secret belongs to us.
To test them, I took them beyond the palace—out into the hunting grounds. It was meant to be light training, just tracking wild game.
But as usual… the Fallen had other plans.
We ran into an infected beast, twisted by the Fallen’s essence. No hesitation—my first disciple, Ryu, stepped forward. His fire sparked like lightning across his blade, and in a flash, the beast turned to ash.
Jo Wonyul followed. Silent. Calm. He didn’t even draw a blade. Just illusions, layers upon layers—until the beast collapsed from confusion and fear.
Then came Ban Taesung. No tricks. No subtlety. He charged forward, his arms pulsing with raw essence—and crushed the beast with his bare hands.
They didn’t just win.
They dominated.
Fearless. Focused. Fierce.
And in that moment, I knew—I had nothing to worry about. Their kingdoms… would be safe under their protection.
But I didn’t just train them to fight.
I didn’t just give them power.
I made them understand the responsibility that comes with it. The weight. The consequence. The price.
Power without purpose is just destruction.
As the evening sky darkened, we made our way back toward the academy. The night breeze carried a sense of peace—for once.
Waiting for me inside my chamber… were sealed letters. One from each of my wives. One from my mother. And one from my father.
My family still walked beside me.
Even from afar.