Chapter 15
Thunder echoed across the mountains.
Dark clouds gathered above the Sanctuary.
Ji Young stood on the highest tower, looking into the distance.
Something was coming.
Something powerful.
Behind him, Kael appeared.
"You feel it too," Kael said.
Ji Young nodded.
"The darkness is different."
Kael's expression grew serious.
"It is not a Hunter.
Not a Boss.
Not even an ordinary General."
A cold wind swept across the tower.
"The General of Ruin has awakened."
---
Far beyond the mountains, an army marched.
Thousands of shadows moved together.
The ground cracked beneath their steps.
At the front walked a massive figure clad in black armor.
Its eyes glowed dark red.
A giant sword rested on its shoulder.
The General of Ruin.
Unlike the other Generals, it did not smile.
It did not speak.
It simply marched.
Everything around it withered and died.
Trees turned gray.
Grass became dust.
Even the air felt broken.
---
Back at the Sanctuary, alarms rang.
For the first time, fear spread among the Watchers.
Ji Min stepped outside.
The Life Light around her flickered nervously.
"What is happening?"
Kael looked toward the horizon.
"The greatest attack since the Great War."
Ji Young's hand tightened around the Lightbound Blade.
His sword reacted.
Its glow became stronger than before.
As if it recognized the approaching enemy.
---
That night, Ji Young couldn't sleep.
He walked through the ancient halls alone.
Then he noticed something strange.
A light.
Hidden behind an old wall.
Curious, he pushed against the stone.
A secret passage opened.
Ji Young stared.
"What is this?"
He stepped inside.
The passage led deep underground.
Ancient symbols covered the walls.
At the end stood a stone pedestal.
On it rested a crystal.
The moment Ji Young touched it—
A vision appeared.
A battlefield.
Fire.
Light.
And a king wearing shining armor.
In the king's hand was the fully awakened Lightbound Blade.
Its glow was brighter than the sun.
One swing—
And thousands of shadow soldiers vanished.
Ji Young watched in shock.
Then the king turned.
For a brief moment—
His face looked familiar.
Very familiar.
Almost like...
Ji Young.
The vision ended.
The crystal shattered.
Ji Young stepped back.
"What was that?"
A voice echoed through the chamber.
Ancient.
Powerful.
"The blood of the First King lives on..."
Ji Young froze.
Before he could ask more questions—
The voice disappeared.
---
Outside the Sanctuary, the General of Ruin finally stopped marching.
Its army filled the valley below.
Slowly, it raised its giant sword.
For the first time, it spoke.
"Guardian..."
Its voice shook the earth.
"Come and face me."
The coming battle would decide everything.