The fatigue that overwhelmed Do-hyun was so complete that it resembled anesthesia. He didn't even remember falling asleep. A sleep of lead, without dreams, where his mind, too saturated with adrenaline, information and emotions, had simply been extinguished to reconnect.
When his eyelids reopened, heavy as trunk doors, the afternoon light flooded the room, drawing a golden, dusty rectangle on the floor. For a brief moment, confused, he hoped that everything had been a particularly vivid nightmare. Then his fingers met the smooth, sensitive scar on his forearm, an indelible memory of his first hunt, and reality came back to him in the face, as brutal as a punch.
The battle. Kael. The revelation about her parents. The Heart of the Phoenix.
[Reactivated System - Hello, Host]
[PV: 78/80]
Blood Energy: 45/100
[STATUS: PERSISTENT FATIGUE, Moderate Post-Traumatic Disorders]
[RECOMPENDATION: HYDRATION AND CALORIC IMMEDIATE PORT]
"Glad to see you too," he grumbled as he sat down, his joints cracking. His mouth tasted like iron and ashes.
His first instinct was to check his phone. No message from Ji-eun. A relief gripped his chest. She was safe, far from it, oblivious to the fact that her older brother had just fought a secret war on the streets of Seoul. He sent her a quick, innocuous message, asking if everything was okay and promising to come and see her soon. Maintaining this facade of normalcy was exhausting, but essential.
Then he remembered the task he had entrusted to the System before he sank.
System? The analysis?"
[Deep analysis of personal archives - 98% ENDED]
[RESULTS: THREE POINTS OF INTEREST IDENTIFIED]
A window opened in his mind, clearer and more detailed than ever. Leveling up and access to secret archives had visibly improved the interface.
[Point of Interest 1: REFERENCE Repeated to "PIERRE GARDEN"]
[Background: Appears in 7 entries of the newspaper of Lee Mi-Young (your mother) associated with soul states ("peaceful," "meditative") and energetic circuit schematic drawings.]
[Hypothesis: place of reflection and/or temporary hiding.]
[Point of Interest 2: Digital Sequence " 7-21-3-14-1-18-5 "]
[Background: rated MARGET OF A REPORT ON BLACKING THE kernel STABILITY, WITHOUT EXPLANATION.]
[ANALYSIS: Corresponds to the alphabetical positions of letters C-A-R-N-A-G-E. "Carnage." Meaning unknown.
Point of interest 3: FLOWIE PHOTOGRAPHY OF A KOREAN TRADITIONAL EDifice (HANOK) WITH A PAGOD IN THE BACK-LAN.)
[Background: COLLED IN THE DURAL OF Dr. Kim. No legend.
Architectural recognition: style of the Joseon dynasty. Approximate GEOGRAPH: BUKCHON or SEONGSU-DONG district.
Do-hyun got up and began to walk around the small room, his mind racing. The " Garden of Stone " It vaguely told him something. A park? A temple? The "Carnage" sequence was disturbing, sinister. Was it a warning? A code name? And this Hanok... Her parents had never mentioned such a place.
"System, crosses these points of interest with Seoul's geographic data. Search for "Garden of Stone."
[SEARCH IN CURRENT...] 3 LOCATIONS correspond to this description:
[1. BOTANIC GARDEN "SEUL PIERRE GARDEN" - GWANAK DISTRICT. Open to the public, modern.
[2. "PIERRE GARDEN" - CAFÉ/RESTAURANT TRENDY IN APGUJEONG.]
[3] Former private family cemetery, now called "PIERRE JARDIN" by local residents - SEONGSU-DONG DISTRICT. restricted access.
The third place tilted. An old cemetery. In Seongsu-dong district, which also matched the possible location of the Hanok photo. It wasn't a coincidence.
"Show me the Hanok of the picture on the map, with an overlay of the cemetery."
The mental map of the System materialized, zooming in on Seongsu-dong. The cemetery, a green and grey spot, was located less than five hundred meters from a small complex of preserved Hanoks, nestled amidst the modern buildings and artist lofts that characterized the area.
[Probability of correlation: 87%]
It was there. He felt it. Her parents had chosen a discreet place, full of history and tranquility, to hide some of their work.
A new notification appeared, more urgent.
[ALERT: ANORMAL RESIDULAL ACTIVITY DETECTED]
[Source: ENERGY EMPTER OF THE PHENIX AURA]
[LOCALATION: INTERNAL - ENERGY CANAL OF THE HOST]
[EFFECT: INTERFERENCE WITH NATURAL REGENATION.] PERSISTENT ENERGY DELETION.
[DIAGNOSTIC: "Wooden Mouth" ENERGY.] The use of a master level capability has overloaded the symbiotic system.
"Energy wooden mouth?" repeated Do-hyun, puzzled and slightly worried.
[Affirmative]. ANALOGY: AS an alcoholic intoxication for the human body. The energy channels have been saturated and are in the "detoxification" phase. ACTIVE CAPACITIES WILL OPECT 50% OF THEIR EFFICIENCY FOR 24 to 48 hours.
Great. Not only was he mentally and physically exhausted, but his ultimate superpower had also given him a hangover. Kael's warning came to mind: "This light... it doesn't come from you. It will consume you from the inside." Was that what he was referring to? Just the side effect of overuse, or something deeper?
He shook his head, chasing away the paranoid thought. The system had spoken of "detoxification." It was a natural process. He had to focus on the concrete elements.
His stomach growled, brutally reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything for almost a day. He forced himself to swallow an instant bowl of ramen, mechanically eating as he planned his next step. Getting to Seongsu-dong. Explore the cemetery and Hanok. But not in a weak state. And not without preparation.
As he finished his meal, another thought struck him. The Clan of Purple Dawn. They must have been confused, perhaps even at war of succession. But they weren't going to be inactive for long. They would know that he had defeated Kael. They would fear him, but they would also seek him with renewed fury. His apartment was no longer safe. That was the first thing to settle.
As if he had been summoned by his thoughts, his phone vibrated. Soo-ah.
[Soo-ah]: Wake up and get ready. I'll pick you up in 30 minutes. We have work to do.
---
Soo-ah's car was a discreet, gray and mundane sedan that blended perfectly into traffic. Inside, it was a den of cleanliness and meticulous order, which contrasted sharply with the ambient chaos of Do-hyun's life.
"You look like an undead," she commented without a preamble, giving him an expert look as he sat down in the passenger seat.
"Thank you, you're radiant too," he replied, sinking into the seat.
A little smile touched his lips. "The Phoenix hangover, right? Normal after releasing such power. It will pass."
Do-hyun looked at her, surprised. "Do you know this phenomenon?"
I read things. Ancient texts about early Bloodline users that were pushing their abilities beyond their limits. The symptoms are similar. Your body and mind must digest the experience." She started and entered the traffic. "We don't go to Seongsu-dong right away."
"Where are we going?"
"See our new operational base. And meet a potential recruit."
She gave no further explanation, concentrated on the road. Do-hyun let himself go, too tired to talk. He watched the city pass through the window. She seemed different to him. He no longer saw only buildings and people, but energy currents, weak auras of the crowd, and most importantly, absences. Vampires were discreet, but he still felt a few, lurking in the shadows, their scarlet presences lower, more cautious. Last night's victory sent a message.
They left the city center and entered quieter alleyways in the Mapo-gu district, near the river. Soo-ah parked in front of a rehabilitated warehouse, of those that had been turned into lofts and artists' studios. This one seemed unoccupied, with a sober metal door and no windows on the ground floor.
"Here?" asked Do-hyun, skeptical.
"The perfect place not to attract attention." She pulled out an electronic pass and applied it to a discreet reader. The door slid silently.
The interior was a complete surprise. The space was vast, open and bright, lit by neon lights that simulated daylight. One side was converted into a Spartan living quarter with a sofa, a coffee table and a kitchenette. The other side looked like a high-tech training room: thick floor mats, punching bags, a series of wall screens, and even a combat simulator with holographic projectors. In the background, a mezzanine was to lead to a bedroom and a bathroom.
"Is that yours?" wondered Do-hyun.
It was a safehouse for my family. I put it back in order. Now it's the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix." She made a circular gesture. "You can't stay in your apartment anymore, Do-hyun. They know him. Here you are safe. The place is energetically shielded, thanks to these generators." She pointed to metal enclosures that emitted a barely audible hum. "No vampiric sense can detect you inside."
Do-hyun was impressed. Soo-ah had thought of everything. Having a safe, real place, after weeks of paranoia and fear, was an indescribable relief.
"What about the recruit?" he asked, remembering his message.
As if in response, the front door opened again. A man came in. He was tall, slender, dressed in a dark black coat. His hair was jet black, and his eyes, steel gray, swept the room with a speed and precision that spoke of great field experience. Her aura... she was different from Soo-ah's. Silver month, colder, more technical. It did not pulsate with life, but vibrated with intense concentration.
"Do-hyun, I introduce you to Choi Min-ho," Soo-ah announced. "Former Special Forces agent, Level 4 Bloodline user, specialty: silent neutralization and infiltration."
Min-ho bowed slightly, a polite but uncommitted gesture. His gaze analyzed Do-hyun with almost clinical intensity.
"The heir to the Phoenix," he said, his voice was calm, neutral, without intonation. "Soo-ah told me everything. Your exploits last night are... remarkable."
There was no admiration in his voice. Only one observation.
"Min-ho is one of the few people I have absolute confidence in," Soo-ah explained. "He left the special forces after realizing that the hierarchy was turning a blind eye to certain vampiric activities in exchange for favors. He's looking for a cause worth fighting for."
"Killing vampires is one thing," says Min-ho, his gray look still riveted on Do-hyun. "But Soo-ah talks about rebuilding an Order. To restore balance. These are noble concepts. But I'm a pragmatist. What are you proposing concretely? And what's your plan?"
Do-hyun felt the weight of the man's gaze. He was not an idealist like Soo-ah could be. He was a soldier. A tactician. He had to convince him.
"Concretely, we have neutralized a major threat, but the Purple Dawn Clan is still active," Do-hyun began, forcing his voice to remain stable despite his fatigue. "We have in our possession a valuable prisoner, Kael. And we have a way to find the complete legacy of my parents, the Heart of the Phoenix. My plan is simple: use Kael's information and my parents' archives to locate the Heart. Once we have it, we will have the means to train other hunters, structure a real organization, and hit the Clan in the head, not just the tail."
Min-ho listened, impassive. "Long-term goals. And in the short term?"
"In the short term," Soo-ah intervened, "we secure our rear. We're building that base. We are recruiting reliable elements. And we are investigating the Seongsu-dong trail. Do-hyun has identified a potential location."
"Seongsu-dong?" Min-ho raised an eyebrow. "It's a neutral territory. Several small clans compete for minor outposts. Going there now, while you are weakened and the Purple Dawn Clan is on alert, is risky."
"The risk is calculated," Do-hyun retorted. "They expect me to hide, to rest. This is the best time to move. And I'm not completely defenseless." He made his Blade of Light appear. The blade twinkled, but its brightness was actually weaker, less stable than usual. A dull pain crossed his forehead.
Min-ho observed the blade with professional interest. "Energy materialization ability. Rare. But unstable at the moment, like your aura." He paused, seeming to weigh the pros and cons. I will accompany you in recognition. Observation only. No commitment without my green light. My undercover skills are superior to yours. If it's a trap, I'll know."
Do-hyun looked at Soo-ah, who nodded. It was a reasonable condition.
"Okay," Do-hyun agreed. "Are we going tonight?"
"No," Min-ho cut off. "Tomorrow night. You need a minimum of 24 hours of rest. Your energetic presence is a traffic light in the fog right now. Even with the blockers on this base, when you come out, you're going to alert any vampire within a mile. Tomorrow, you'll be less... brilliant."
Do-hyun wanted to protest, but he knew Min-ho was right. His body and mind cried out for grace. To rush would be a mistake.
"Meanwhile," Min-ho continued, "I'm going to do a preliminary reconnaissance of the area. Mapping vampiric positions, identifying checkpoints. Soo-ah, you should question the prisoner again. See if the fear of being human brought back some useful memories."
The plan was solid, professional. For the first time, Do-hyun felt that he was no longer alone in bearing the weight of his decisions. He had a team. Incomplete, perhaps, but a team nonetheless.
Soo-ah agreed. "I'll take care of Kael. Do-hyun, you stay here. Rest up. Eat. Do the basic combat simulations of the System to get used to your current limitations. We don't move until 10 p.m. tomorrow."
They spent the next few hours drawing up the plan in great detail. Min-ho was meticulous, anticipating every variable, every emergency exit. Soo-ah brought his knowledge of the terrain and vampiric behaviors. Do-hyun provided the system's data and intuitions about the clues left by his parents.
When Min-ho left for his recognition and Soo-ah left to interrogate Kael, Do-hyun found himself alone in the vast silent space. Fatigue finally caught up with him, a heavy and inescapable wave.
He collapsed on the couch, letting silence envelop him. For the first time in a long time, he felt... protected. But at the same time, the weight of his new responsibilities fell on him. He was no longer just a vengeful son or a survivor. He was a leader, the nucleus of a fledgling organization. Lives depended on his decisions now. That of Soo-ah. That of Min-ho. That of Ji-eun, which he had to keep away from all this.
He closed his eyes, the images of the battle, the words of his parents, Kael's empty gaze, swirling in his mind. The Phoenix legacy was not just a power. It was a burden. And he was only beginning to feel all the weight.
[Standby system]
[QUEST: THE PHENIX HERITAGE - URRENT]
[IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVE: REST AND RECOVE]
[Estimate: 18 hours before optimal capabilities]
Tomorrow, the hunt would resume. But for now, in the silence of his new sanctuary, Do-hyun surrendered to a deep, restorative sleep, for the first time without fear of predators being sent by the dark.