"When the righteous gather to speak of war, blood has already decided to flow."
— Murim War Annals, Prologue
🏯 The Hall That Never Fell
Deep within the Central Murim Domain, beyond mountains that shifted with qi tides and rivers that obeyed fists rather than gravity, stood a hall older than any sect—
The Unbroken Pavilion.
It had survived dragon fire.
It had survived realm collapse.
It had survived Jin's first life.
Its roof was forged from interlocking dragon scales.
Its pillars were carved with the martial histories of ten thousand schools.
Every crack in its stone floor was a scar from a war that never truly ended.
Tonight, for the first time in eight centuries, all Murim paths gathered.
⚔ The Lords of Murim Assemble
One by one, figures arrived—some walking, some appearing between breaths, others descending like falling stars.
Grandmaster Hae Jin-Seok, Iron Fist Monastery — fists wrapped in eternal bindings, aura heavy as a mountain.
Sword Empress Seo Yul, Ninefold Sword Domain — her presence alone sharpened the air.
Heavenly Thread Matriarch Yun Wei, Ghost Silk Sect — every movement pulled invisible strings across the hall.
Blood Monk Baek Sun, Crimson Vow Temple — skin marked by oaths carved directly into flesh.
Shadow Marshal Kwon Mu, Black Step Pavilion — already standing in the hall before anyone noticed his arrival.
And at the highest seat—still empty—rested a throne sealed by ancient script:
Seat of the Hollow Flame
A throne no one had dared sit upon since him.
🌌 News of the Broken Sky
An elder struck the War Bell.
The sound rippled outward, echoing through every meridian of every cultivator present.
"The sky has broken," the elder declared.
"The Void Scar has opened.
Dragons fly once more."
A murmur spread through the hall.
"And the Reclaimer?" Sword Empress Seo Yul asked calmly.
The elder swallowed.
"He has returned from beyond the Void Scar.
Bearing the Hollow Flame… complete."
Silence.
Then—
Baek Sun laughed.
"So the demon king walks again."
Iron Fist Jin-Seok slammed his fist into the floor.
"Call him demon again and I'll break your vow-swollen jaw."
The hall trembled.
🐉 The Name That Divides Murim
Arguments erupted.
Some called Jin The Worldbreaker Returned.
Others named him The Only One Who Can Face the Dragons.
A few whispered the title forbidden even in Murim scripture:
Flame Sovereign Reborn.
Shadow Marshal Kwon Mu finally spoke, voice quiet yet cutting.
"Argue all you want.
The dragons are not waiting for consensus."
He flicked his wrist.
A projection of the realms unfolded midair—裂 fractured lands, burning skies, advancing armies of dragonkin and warped beasts spilling from thin air.
"Three Murim territories are already lost."
🩸 The Hidden Fear
Heavenly Thread Matriarch Yun Wei narrowed her eyes.
"Then why call this council?"
The elder hesitated.
Then bowed toward the sealed throne.
"Because the Hollow Flame has issued a summons."
The seals on the throne ignited.
White flame edged with shadow spiraled upward.
Every cultivator in the hall felt it—
that same pressure from legend.
"He dares summon Murim?" someone whispered.
The flame condensed into words carved into the air:
COME, IF YOU WISH TO SURVIVE YOUR LEGENDS.
🚪 Arrival of the Reclaimer
The hall's doors did not open.
They ceased to exist.
A step echoed.
Then another.
Jin walked in.
No aura explosion.
No killing intent.
Just presence—dense, quiet, absolute.
The Leviathan Blade rested at his side, now sheathed in shadow-white flame.
Every Grandmaster stood.
Some from respect.
Some from instinct.
Jin's eyes swept the hall once.
"Murim still breathes," he said.
"Good."
Baek Sun snarled.
"You burned half the world once. Why shouldn't we kill you now?"
Jin looked at him—not angrily.
Tiredly.
"Because if you try… the dragons won't even notice."
⚔ The War Proposition
Jin stepped before the sealed throne—but did not sit.
"The Broken Sky War is not sect against sect.
It is existence against consumption."
He raised his hand.
Visions poured into the hall—
dragons feeding on realms, cultivators twisted into beasts, Murim techniques unraveling like rotted cloth.
"Your martial arts were born to defy heaven," Jin continued.
"Now heaven has come to collect."
Iron Fist Jin-Seok clenched his hands.
"And your plan?"
Jin's gaze hardened.
"Murim becomes the spearhead.
I become the shield.
We take the war into the Broken Sky."
Silence followed.
Then the Sword Empress laughed—sharp and bright.
"Hah… insane."
She drew her blade and planted it point-down before him.
"I'm in."
One by one—
Fists slammed.
Threads tightened.
Shadows aligned.
Murim chose war.
🌑 Closing: The Throne Awakens
As the final vow was sworn, the sealed throne responded.
Its runes shattered.
White-black flame surged.
Jin finally turned—and sat.
The Hollow Flame Throne accepted him.
Across the Realms, dragons lifted their heads simultaneously.
"He has taken the seat."
The War of Broken Skies had found its general.