Chapter 2
Shin leaves the temple without looking back.
The sound of the closing gate echoes behind him.
This is the last time he will ever see this place.
Shin takes a deep breath and moves forward.
He walks for five hours without stopping.
At last, he finds a dark entrance. It does not look like a place for rest, but he steps inside anyway. Shin has no idea what awaits him.
At first, it is quiet.
Unnaturally quiet.
After a few minutes, figures emerge from the darkness.
Goblins.
But these are not ordinary goblins. Their skin is red, their eyes sharp and alert. Red Goblins—far smarter and stronger than normal ones.
Shin knows exactly what to do.
He pulls a dagger from his bag and charges forward. With a swift motion, he severs one goblin's head from its body. Without hesitation, he takes down the others. Afterward, he collects the life stones from their hearts.
Shin is an experienced dagger fighter.
As he prepares to take a short break, a disturbing sound echoes from another area. A chill runs down his spine.
In that moment, he realizes it.
The place he has entered is known as the Hell of the Iron Serpent.
Shin turns around, trying to escape—but the entrance is gone.
Fear grips his heart.
Yet he knows he cannot stop.
Gathering all his courage, Shin moves forward.
He arrives in a massive hall. The sheer size of it fascinates him—until he looks down.
A gigantic serpent lies coiled across the floor.
Shin knows he must stay quiet. Slowly, he searches for another exit, carefully moving around the hall.
Then it happens.
He slips.
The sound of his fall echoes loudly through the chamber.
The serpent awakens.
Shin cries out and tries to dodge, but the serpent has other plans. It chases him relentlessly. Shin draws his dagger and strikes—but the blade shatters on impact.
The serpent seizes the moment.
It bites into Shin's arm.
Shin screams in agony.
In the next instant, the serpent strikes him with its tail, sending him flying. Three of his ribs break. Blood spills from his mouth. A sharp blade is attached to the serpent's tail—it swings it down and cleanly severs Shin's arm.
Shin crashes to the ground.
Blood everywhere.
One arm gone.
Three broken ribs.
He accepts that this is the end.
But the serpent slams him away once more.
Shin is ready to give up.
Then he sees it.
A brilliantly glowing sword embedded in the ground. But Shin has no strength left. He is losing too much blood.
As death draws near, the sword speaks.
"Reach out your hand, boy."
Again and again.
"Reach out your hand."
Shin remembers his sister's words.
Please survive, Shin.
With his last strength, he reaches for the sword.
"Speak my name," the sword commands.
"What… is your name?" Shin asks weakly.
"My name is the Sun Sword."
Shin shouts,
"SUN SWORD!"
The sword tears itself free from the ground. Light surrounds Shin as power floods his body. He rises to his feet, the sword firmly in his hand.
Shin feels his arm—but it is gone.
"That is my power," the Sun Sword says.
Before Shin can ask anything else, the serpent attacks again.
But this time, everything is different.
The Sun Sword begins to glow. A miniature sun forms in the air.
"Swing me toward it," the sword says.
Shin obeys.
The mini sun touches the serpent—and burns it completely. Nothing remains.
Shin stares in disbelief.
Then he sees it.
An exit.
"Thank you," Shin says quietly.
"Will you guide me?" the Sun Sword asks.
Shin smiles and agrees.
Overwhelmed, he nearly collapses, but steadies himself, stands up, and leaves the hell behind. Outside, he stops.
"Did I really survive that…?"
He ties his bag around his waist and shouts into the vast world,
"I SURVIVED!"
Will Shin face even more encounters like this?