The fog had returned—dense, clinging, and strangely warm. It swirled around Mujin's ankles like a living thing as he and Elder Woon Gihyeon stood before a ruin that had no place in this world.
The entrance was not carved, but grown. Roots twisted into an archway, pulsing faintly with silver light. The Gate of Twilight was said to be sealed for centuries, a prison and a door, a memory and a threat.
"This is it," Gihyeon whispered, placing a hand over the markings etched in the bark. "The Skybone Emperor was buried beyond this point."
Mujin could feel it—the tremble in the air, the humming in his Seal. Each step closer made the world more silent. Even the birds had stopped singing.
"What kind of Emperor was he?" Mujin asked.
Gihyeon didn't answer. His jaw tensed. "One who defied heaven."
They entered.
Inside, the path spiraled downward, the walls covered in bones—some human, some... not. Their shapes were twisted, fossilized mid-scream, and embedded in roots that beat like hearts.
Mujin's footsteps echoed longer than they should have.
Deeper still, the path widened into a circular chamber. In the center floated an obelisk—black crystal, hovering above a pool of red mist. As Mujin approached, symbols across the obelisk lit up one by one, reacting to the Heaven's Seal embedded in his wrist.
Suddenly, a voice.
"You bear the mark... but not the memory."
Mujin spun around.
A figure stood by the edge of the pool—tall, cloaked in chains that floated like smoke. Its face was a blur, but its eyes—two stars of violet flame—burned into Mujin's thoughts.
"I am the Last Reflection of the Emperor. You were not meant to be here yet."
"I was pulled here," Mujin said. "Or maybe… I chose this."
"Then choose again."
The Reflection raised a hand. From the walls, bones ripped free and formed armored warriors, each bearing weapons older than any dynasty. They charged.
Mujin unleashed the Skycut Fang, his aura surging into blue fire. He ducked, spun, struck. But for every enemy he felled, another took its place. His breath grew ragged.
"Why are you testing me?" he roared.
The Reflection's voice echoed like thunder.
"To awaken power… one must first face annihilation."
Mujin's Seal flared. His body surged with unfamiliar energy—a new glyph burned into his forearm, its shape jagged like shattered glass.
He let go of fear.
The chamber shook.
Mujin unleashed a new strike: "Twilight Rend!"
The chamber exploded in light and shadow. When it cleared, only the obelisk and Mujin remained. The Reflection had vanished.
A whisper remained in the air.
"Beyond the gate… lies your past."
The obelisk split open. Inside, a scroll. Mujin reached for it, hands trembling.
The Seal ignited once more.
Six of seven now complete.
But something else stirred. Above ground, far away, a black lotus bloomed under a red sun.
Its petals whispered his name.
To be continued…