Daeshim, Elira, and the mysterious man stood silently in the room. The air was heavy with unspoken questions. Before anyone could speak, the grand doors opened, and the Seraphin King entered. His steps faltered as his eyes landed on the old man—but he didn't recognize him. The man's face was hidden behind a thick beard and a wild mustache, aged by time and hardship.
But the man... he recognized the King instantly.
"So, you're the King now," he said, his voice hoarse, but firm.
The King narrowed his eyes, surprised. "Wait… who are you?"
Before he could press further, Daeshim stepped forward and told the King everything — about the man, the voice he had been hearing, and the journey that led them here.
The King looked at the man again and spoke slowly, "So he's the one… the reason you're becoming powerful? Or at least… on the path to it? Is he the one who created the voice only you can hear?"
Daeshim replied, his eyes serious. "Even I don't know for sure. But we're closer to the truth than ever before."
He turned to the old man. "You should rest. We'll speak more in the morning — after we've helped you recover."
The man nodded, his shoulders sagging with exhaustion. "Yes… I need rest. But before I sleep… I'm starving."
The King smiled. "Please, wait a little. I'll have the best food prepared for you."
He called his chefs, instructing them, "Prepare the finest dishes you know. Give him a feast worthy of a forgotten guardian."
Soon, the dining hall filled with the aroma of spices and roasted meats. The old man, Daeshim, Elira, and the King sat together, eating in silence. A calmness settled over them. One by one, they returned to their rooms for the night, heavy with food — and thoughts.
The next morning, A chilly breeze rolled in — winter had arrived.
Daeshim was out early, jogging through the nearby jungle, his breath visible in the cold air. Unknown to him, the old man was watching from a distance. There was warmth in the man's eyes, a nostalgic glimmer of something long lost.
When Daeshim returned, he found the man still watching.
"You've been watching me for a while," Daeshim said, wiping sweat from his brow.
The man chuckled. "I was remembering... the old days. I used to run just like that… in this very jungle."
Daeshim's eyes widened. "You lived here too? What did you do?"
"I protected this castle. This world. The Seraphin realm," the man said softly.
"So… you were a soldier?"
He didn't answer. He only smiled and said, "Come. Let's go to the library. There's something you need to know."
The sun filtered in through massive stained-glass windows. The King and Elira were already waiting.
"We've been waiting for both of you," Elira said, her eyes intense. "We need to know... what is Daeshim?"
The man nodded. "I'll tell you everything. I've waited a long time for this moment. But... I'm not sure where to begin."
Daeshim stepped forward. "Start from the time when the Seraphins and Necravores were one."
The man nodded slowly. "Alright..."
"There was a time when Seraphins and Necravores lived together in harmony. We were one people — different in form, but united in purpose. We all drew our power from a sacred lake — the Lake of Eternum. It gave us strength, balance, and peace.
But among us was one... a being with an unquenchable thirst for power. He wasn't content with sharing strength. He wanted to rule — to be the King above all.
He discovered another method: power absorption. Unlike the lake's gift, this method took power by force, consuming others' abilities and life essence. But it came at a cost — it drained him greatly.
So he made a plan. Instead of slowly absorbing strength... he would steal the entire lake's energy in one sweep.
When we found out, we confronted him. We begged him to stop. But he had already gone too far. He had tasted hunger — and it had consumed him.
So we banished him. Shut the gates of our world. But he didn't stop.
He began seeking others… humans. In your world, Daeshim. Hungry, broken, power-obsessed men and women. People easy to twist.
His first experiment failed. The human he gave power to died instantly. But then... he realized something. Evil hearts survive his gift. So he began searching prisons, slums, dark places — and slowly created an army.
He gave them his essence. Made them into monsters.
That was the birth... of the Necravores.
Some of them, carrying fragments of lake energy, could pass through the gates to our world. They spread lies, greed, and rebellion. They claimed the Seraphin King was hoarding power.
And so... the rebellion began.
They marched toward the lake. But we got there first. We sealed it — buried its power with ancient magic.
War broke out. Chaos followed.
We knew we needed a new vessel for the lake's power… someone who could hold it without dying. That was you, Daeshim.
But your body was too young. So we carved a hidden chamber in your soul and sealed the power within. The war tore everything apart. Many of us fell. I was captured… tortured. But I never told them where the lake's energy was.
And now… after all these years… it's time to finish what we started.
With you."
Daeshim had listened quietly. But he finally spoke.
"I understand now. But… who are my parents? Why was I in the human world? And why… why am I the only one who can absorb abilities while others only take strength?"
The man took a deep breath.
"After the war, some of our loyalists took you to the human world to hide you from those hunting you. Your mother… was once a human — but was turned into a Necravore. Not fully. Her heart resisted it. She raised you... protected you. And then, she died protecting you."
"As for your childhood without powers — we suppressed them. Locked them away. They could only awaken in two cases: when your life was in danger... or when you felt the presence of a power equal to your own. That happened when you sensed the Necravore King."
Daeshim's eyes widened. "So… he's awakened?"
The man nodded grimly. "Yes. And now your powers are growing to match him. That's why you're able to absorb abilities — not just strength. You are the counterforce to his darkness. But…"
He stood and faced Daeshim.
"You are still one-thousand times weaker than him. If you want to survive... to win... I will train you myself. From now on, no more holding back. Your real journey begins now. What you've experienced so far… was only a starting."
Daeshim felt everything falling into place. A storm raged inside him — fear, fire, purpose. He clenched his fists, his voice low but certain.
"Then I'll become stronger. Whatever it takes."
But there was still one last question.
"Wait… You still haven't told me... Who are you?"
The man looked at him, a quiet sadness in his eyes… and slowly began to answer.