Jin-Hyuk's consciousness drifted into a new realm. One moment, he was overwhelmed by exhaustion, the next, he found himself floating—light as air, weightless.
He was no longer in the dungeon chamber; instead, he hovered high, a ghostly apparition, translucent and shimmering in the pale light of an ethereal sky.
The view below stretched infinitely—vast, swirling mists, streaks of golden sunlight piercing through the sky, and in the distance, a colossal battle raged.
Two armies clashed with violence and fury—celestial beings, radiant and majestic, wielding weapons of pure light, and the demonkin, grotesque and savage, their forms twisted and dark.
Jin-Hyuk's eyes widened as he watched this conflict unfold; it was beyond something he'd ever seen before. The air vibrated with the clash of power, thunderous booms echoing across the heavens.
He saw angels with shimmering wings, their swords slicing through the air, countered by demonic forces snarling and unleashing dark energy.
He focused, trying to understand the chaos. The figures were too distant to see clearly, but one thing caught his attention—a demon commanding the demonkin army with an ominous presence.
His heart skipped a beat as he recognized the figure—Malek, the Patron of Wrath. But this was no ordinary Malek he fought in the dungeon; this was a being of unimaginable scale and power, radiating a dark energy that dwarfed even the celestial forces.
Jin-Hyuk's mind raced. How could this be? Was it a vision? Why was he seeing it?
"Fascinating, Isn't it?"
A figure materialized beside him. The figure was dressed in an immaculate suit—sharp, tailored, but with an aura of menace and authority. He was tall, with piercing eyes that seemed to see through everything.
"W-Who…?" Jin-Hyuk's voice was lost in the vastness of the sky.
The figure turned slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Relax," he said smoothly. "...you're a spectator. No need to be alarmed."
Jin-Hyuk stared at him, confused. "Who are you?"
The man inclined his head slightly. "You may call me Satanus. The Sin of Wrath. One of the Seven Demon Kings."
The name hit Jin-Hyuk like a lightning bolt. Satanus—the infamous demon king? One of the most feared entities in all of demonkind? He had heard whispers in legends, stories of chaos and destruction, but never imagined he would stand face-to-face—or rather, spirit-to-ghost-to-illusion—with one.
"Why are you showing me this?" Jin-Hyuk asked, voice trembling.
Satanus' eyes glinted with amusement. "Because you are curious, and perhaps you need to understand what you've truly awakened. The Malek you fought—he was only a fragment of his original power. A fifth, to be precise."
Jin-Hyuk's brow furrowed. "A fifth?You gotta be shittin me."
"Yes," Satanus replied. "The Malek you encountered was a mere shadow of what he once was. The true Malek—the original—was a being of unimaginable strength and my right hand man, my most trusted surbodinate. You saw a weakened echo, a trial orchestrated through I."
Jin-Hyuk looked back at the battle below, feeling a mixture of awe and dread. "If that's true, then what am I? Why did I regress? What does this battle have to do with me?"
Satanus chuckled softly, a deep, resonant sound. "You're only just beginning to understand."
Jin-Hyuk's head spun. "How do you know all this? Why are you helping me?"
Satanus's smile widened. "Because we see potential in you. You have the fury of a warrior, but also the heart of someone who seeks justice. You don't belong merely to the mortal world anymore."
"W-What do you mean 'we'??" Jin-Hyuk asked.
Satanus pointed downwards, toward the swirling chaos. "Look closer."
Jin-Hyuk's ghostly form obeyed, focusing intently. He saw Malek again, His form pulsed with dark energy, his massive wings unfurled, and his eyes burned brighter than before. He was a being of pure chaos, an unstoppable force.
Jin-Hyuk looked at Satanus, a thousand questions flooding his mind. "So… what now? What am I supposed to do with this knowledge?"
Satanus's expression grew serious. "The battle you witnessed is neverending—an eternal conflict between order and chaos. Your regression is tied to this cosmic struggle. You, Jin-Hyuk, are a wild card. One which can tip the scales."
"W-What do you fucking mean. What does this have to do with me?" Jin-Hyuk yelled.
The sky around him darkened, swirling with a powerful force. The vision began to fade, the celestial battle dissolving into mist, and the form of Satanus shimmered, his voice echoing in the fading light.
"Remember, this is only the beginning. When you wake, you will be back in your world. But now, you carry the knowledge of your true potential. Use it wisely."
And then, everything went black.Jin-Hyuk's eyes fluttered open.
He was lying in a hospital bed, the sterile smell of antiseptic filling his nostrils. Machines beeped softly by his side, and a nurse hurried through the room, adjusting his IV drip. His body ached all over, and his head was foggy, memories of the celestial battle still vivid in his mind.
He stared at the ceiling, trying to process what he had just experienced—was it real? A hallucination? Or something deeper?
His hands trembled as he sat up slowly, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him.
He knew this was only the beginning. His journey into the depths of his true power had just begun.
***