The icy wind blew through the mountains, carrying the distant echoes of warriors training in the remote valleys of Murim. Jin Woo walked slowly along the rugged path, his gaze steady and unreadable. He had always learned not to draw attention—not by choice, but out of necessity.
His unique constitution made him different. A dark, almost tangible energy radiated from him, instinctively pushing others away. He couldn't get close to anyone without feeling that invisible wall rise between himself and the world.
Yet, within this imposed solitude, Jin Woo had come to find a refuge. He had learned to listen to his own breath, to channel the energy he could absorb from his enemies in battle. A gift—or a curse—whose full extent he still did not understand.
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the snow-capped peaks, a shiver deeper than the cold ran through him. A dull pulse rose from the depths of his chest, awakening something ancient, buried, and terrifying.
Jin Woo clenched his fists, aware that the awakening of this dark side was only the beginning of a path whose consequences he had yet to grasp.
He stopped for a moment, breath short, and let his eyes wander over the surrounding landscape. The dense forest seemed alive, as if watching his every move. The solitude that had gripped him for so long weighed heavily, but he had learned to endure it.
He often dreamed of simply being like the others, without that invisible barrier. But the averted gazes and barely whispered murmurs had convinced him otherwise.
Still, he did not complain. In the silence, he heard his heart beat, felt the strength growing inside him. A power he had discovered little by little, through pain, in fights where every drop of spilled blood nourished his being.
In the distance, the village lights began to flicker on, signaling the end of night. The tournament was approaching, bringing promises of trials, encounters, and perhaps unexpected alliances.
He slipped his hand into his pocket and felt the medallion his mother had left him—a simple object heavy with memories and hope, a silent reminder of who he was and who he had to become.
His father had disappeared long before he was born, leaving a mystery Jin Woo had never been able to solve. Perhaps that absence had carved the space for the solitude that followed him everywhere.
As the first rays of dawn brushed the mountains, Jin Woo took a deep breath. The road ahead would be long and fraught with obstacles, but he was ready to move forward.
Alone, yes. But more determined than ever.