The Coming Danger

Jinsu stood before the vast expanse of golden sand, while the desert winds swept around him, carrying grains of sand that drifted through the air. The desert stretched before his eyes until its boundaries blended into the horizon, and nothing indicated that life existed in this vast place.

Fario stood behind him, wearing a calm smile, as though he knew exactly what was about to happen in the coming moments.

Jinsu raised his hand slightly and cracked his fingers.

A moment later, he placed two fingers near his mouth and let out a sharp whistle that pierced the silence of the desert.

Nothing happened at first.

The sand continued moving with the wind, and the horizon remained empty of any visible movement. Jinsu, however, showed no concern. He merely looked ahead, as though he knew that the one he had summoned would not be long in arriving.

Suddenly, the distant sand began to tremble.

A strange disturbance appeared on the horizon, as though something enormous were making its way through a sea of sand. A cloud of dust gradually rose into the air, then began approaching at tremendous speed, until the sound of hooves striking the ground with great force became audible.

Whatever was approaching was moving so quickly that its features remained unclear amid the thick cloud of dust trailing behind it.

It drew closer and closer until it finally appeared before them.

The creature suddenly stopped a few steps away from Jinsu, sending sand flying around its feet before it settled back onto the ground.

It was a black horse with a powerful body, radiating an imposing aura. It possessed two large wings folded against its sides, while two horns protruded from its forehead, giving it an appearance completely different from that of an ordinary horse.

The horse lowered its head slightly toward Jinsu, as though greeting him after a long absence.

Jinsu approached it, raised his hand, and placed it on its head, gently running it over its black mane.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Hello, Gi. Did you miss me?"

Gi let out a deep sound that resembled an affirmative response, then moved his head slightly, as though trying to express his longing in his own way.

Jinsu chuckled softly and patted his head again.

"Looks like you haven't changed at all."

Fario watched the scene with a smile before moving a little closer to them.

Seeing Jinsu treat this creature with such familiarity was nothing unusual to him, but he always enjoyed witnessing this side of his master.

Afterward, Jinsu grabbed a part of Gi's body and climbed onto his back with ease, settling into his usual position. Only a few moments passed before Fario climbed up behind him and settled onto the horse's back.

Gi moved his wings slightly, then planted his hooves firmly in the sand, preparing to set off.

In the next instant, he charged across the desert at tremendous speed.

Sand rose behind him in a massive cloud as the dunes rushed past them one after another. Gi did not appear to exert any noticeable effort to maintain his speed. He seemed as though he had been accustomed to crossing these vast distances for a very long time.

Fario held on firmly, then leaned forward slightly so that he could speak to Jinsu.

"Boss, why don't you make Gi fly? We'll reach our destination much faster."

Jinsu turned toward him slightly, and a calm smile appeared on his face.

"Gi only uses his wings during war, Fario."

Fario's eyes widened for a moment before he smiled with obvious admiration.

"Ooooh! That's so awesome, Boss!"

Jinsu returned his gaze to the path ahead without adding anything.

Gi continued running across the sand while Fario carried on enjoying the journey. As for Jinsu, he remained calm, his eyes watching the road stretching before them.

Some time passed before the landscape began to change.

A region that looked different from the rest of the desert appeared before them, as though the air itself there did not obey the same laws. There was a slight distortion in the scenery, resembling the reflection of light on the surface of water, even though all that lay before them was an expanse of sand.

Gi gradually slowed down until he stopped in front of the strange sight.

Jinsu dismounted, followed moments later by Fario. Gi remained behind them as Jinsu approached the area that looked like an enormous mirror suspended in the air.

He stood before it and examined it for a while.

The reflection was not merely an optical illusion. A barrier separated this part of the desert from whatever lay beyond it. The barrier appeared stable from the outside, but Jinsu could notice slight disturbances in the flow of mana within it.

He raised his hand and touched its surface.

Gentle ripples moved beneath his fingers, as though the barrier had responded to his touch.

"This barrier is quite good, but I think it needs a little renovation."

Fario stood beside him and examined the barrier carefully before answering confidently.

"I agree with you, Boss."

Jinsu withdrew his hand, then took another step forward.

The moment his body touched the barrier, its surface opened smoothly around him, allowing him to pass through without any resistance.

Fario followed immediately.

But the scene that appeared before their eyes was completely different from the desert they had left behind.

The endless sands disappeared, replaced by a vast green land dotted with towering trees bearing fruits of various colors. A clear river flowed between the green spaces, reflecting the light of the sky on its surface, while flowers spread along both of its banks.

The region looked like a piece of paradise hidden in the heart of the desert.

The sounds of water and birds filled the place, and the air here was purer and more peaceful than the dry air beyond the barrier.

Nearby, a group of women were picking fruit from the trees and carrying it into large baskets. As soon as one of them noticed Jinsu's arrival, she stopped working, her eyes widening slightly before she bowed respectfully.

"Ooooh, the Lord has arrived!"

The other women turned toward the source of her voice, and when they saw Jinsu, they stopped their work and bowed to him as well.

Jinsu waved his hand at them in a simple gesture, as though telling them to continue their work without feeling the need to stop because of him.

Then he continued walking.

The garden was only a small part of a much larger place.

As Jinsu and Fario moved forward, extensive buildings, orderly roads, and courtyards containing groups of people came into view. Some carried crates, others transported supplies, and others worked in the gardens, while still more people chatted near the buildings.

The place did not look like a small refuge hidden inside the desert. Instead, it resembled an entire kingdom with its own system and daily life.

At the end of the road, an enormous palace appeared, surrounded by high walls. Its facade was decorated with broad columns and intricate carvings. Its entrance stretched before them like a gateway separating the garden from the heart of the kingdom.

Jinsu stopped for a moment before the door, then pushed it with his hand.

The heavy door swung open, revealing a spacious courtyard that extended all the way to the palace's main entrance.

The courtyard was filled with soldiers.

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Some sat on the ground, chatting with one another, while others stood in small groups, watching what was happening in the middle of the courtyard. It was clear that most of them had stopped their activities to observe something that had caught their interest.

In the center of the courtyard, two soldiers were fighting with swords.

It was not so much an official duel as it was an argument that had turned into a genuine confrontation, with both men shouting at each other without caring about the people around them.

One of them had short red hair, a powerful build, and a massive sword that suited his physique. His face bore a long scar resembling the mark of an old sword strike, stretching across a prominent portion of his features.

On the other side stood a man with slightly longer yellow hair, carrying a slender sword and appearing more agile in his movements.

Their swords clashed, and then each stepped away from the other before they resumed exchanging insults.

The red-haired man shouted:

"You bastard! I told you Celia is prettier than Mirna!"

The yellow-haired man replied loudly:

"And I told you Mirna is the prettiest, you bastard!"

The red-haired man raised his sword slightly, pointing it at his opponent.

"I'll kill you, Banana Head!"

The yellow-haired man smiled mockingly and raised his own sword.

"Show me what you've got, you Red Monkey!"

The soldiers continued watching the scene. Some tried to suppress their laughter, while others seemed to be enjoying the argument a little too much.

But all of that changed the moment Jinsu entered the courtyard.

The two soldiers did not notice his arrival at first, as they were completely absorbed in their argument.

Fario, however, saw what was happening before him, and an expression of displeasure appeared on his face.

"These two idiots! How dare they do this in front of you, Boss?"

Then he suddenly raised his voice:

"Hey, you two! What are you doing?!"

The movement of both swords stopped midway.

The red-haired man turned around first, followed by the yellow-haired man.

The moment their eyes fell upon Jinsu, their expressions froze.

The mocking smile disappeared from the yellow-haired man's face, while the red-haired man's eyes widened as though he could not comprehend what he was seeing.

In the next instant, the two quickly separated from each other and knelt on the ground before Jinsu.

The rest of the soldiers reacted no differently.

One after another, everyone in the courtyard bowed until the voices disappeared completely, replaced by a deep silence broken only by the sound of the wind passing through the palace corridors.

Then everyone's voices rose together:

"We greet our eternal king and lord!"

The greeting echoed throughout the courtyard until it seemed as though the entire palace was announcing the return of its master.

Jinsu stood before them, observing the scene without showing any obvious emotion on his face.

Then he directed his gaze toward the two soldiers who were still kneeling before him.

"You two, stand up."

The two exchanged a quick glance before immediately rising to their feet.

Sweat poured down their foreheads, and neither dared to look directly into Jinsu's eyes.

Silence fell over the courtyard once again.

But Jinsu did not seem intent on reprimanding them with words.

He slowly raised his hand.

In the next instant, an enormous amount of mana erupted from him.

The mana spread throughout the courtyard like an invisible wave sweeping across the area, pressing down on everyone present. The air trembled, and the soldiers felt an immense presence reveal itself before them, a presence that could not be ignored no matter how hard they tried.

Many expressions changed.

Some instinctively took a step backward, while others felt an unbearable weight pressing against their chests. Some soldiers felt as though they were suffocating, and the hands of others trembled despite their attempts to control themselves.

As for the most experienced among them, they realized that what they were feeling was not merely a display of power.

The difference between their strength and Jinsu's was so immense that resisting his mana felt like trying to stand before a mountain moving toward them.

And yet, no one fell.

They refused to allow themselves to fall before the man they considered their eternal king.

They resisted the pressure with everything they had, even though their bodies were screaming at them to retreat.

Jinsu remained standing where he was, as though the mana filling the courtyard were nothing more than a trivial matter unworthy of his consideration.

After a few moments, the pressure gradually subsided.

The soldiers were able to breathe normally again, but the silence that had taken hold of the place grew even deeper.

Jinsu looked at his hand, then took out a small weapon and made a cut in it.

The eyes of everyone present froze in place.

Blood flowed from his hand, and droplets fell onto the courtyard floor.

No one understood why he had done this, but no one dared to ask a question.

Fario watched his master calmly, as though he knew that what would happen next was worth waiting for.

Jinsu raised his head slightly, then spoke two words:

"Blood Creation."

Suddenly, the drops of blood gathered on the ground began to move.

They rose slowly into the air, then began gathering on top of one another, as though an invisible force were reshaping them according to Jinsu's will. The red mass stretched and condensed before transforming into a solid substance whose shape gradually became clearer.

A broad base appeared, followed by raised sides, and then a massive backrest rose above them.

Within moments, the formation of a throne made entirely of blood was complete.

The throne descended slightly until it settled into the appropriate position, while the soldiers continued watching the scene in astonishment.

Jinsu approached it and sat down calmly, leaning against its back as though he had returned to a place he knew well.

The throne rose above the courtyard floor, giving its owner a vantage point from which he could look down upon all the soldiers.

Once he had settled into his seat, Jinsu directed his gaze toward the two soldiers.

"You two, don't you want to fight each other?"

Neither answered.

It seemed that the words they had been exchanging moments earlier had completely vanished from their memories, and neither could even remember why the argument had started.

Fario raised his voice, appearing annoyed by their hesitation.

"You two! The Boss asked you a question!"

The two soldiers flinched slightly.

Then they answered simultaneously, their voices hesitant:

"Ooooh, no, we were just..."

They stopped without being able to finish the sentence.

Jinsu looked at them for several seconds before tilting his head slightly.

"Are you cowards?"

The red-haired man quickly raised his head.

"What? No! We're not, Boss!"

He said it with obvious enthusiasm, as though trying to prove his sincerity before Jinsu had a chance to doubt him.

A faint smile appeared on Jinsu's face.

"Then show me what you're capable of."

The red-haired man's expression changed immediately.

He turned toward his friend, gripped his sword tightly, and the challenging look returned to his eyes.

"Show me what you've got, Banana Head!"

The yellow-haired man raised his sword as well and replied with a confident smile:

"And you too, Red Monkey!"

In the next instant, the two charged toward each other.

Their swords clashed at tremendous speed, sending bright sparks into the air as the sound of metal echoed throughout the courtyard.

The yellow-haired man retreated half a step, then spun his body and delivered a sideways slash. The red-haired man raised his massive sword and blocked the attack with tremendous force.

The strike rebounded, and the red-haired man seized the opportunity to charge forward, attempting to force his opponent backward.

The confrontation continued for several moments, and it was clear that both men possessed considerable combat experience.

But the red-haired man suddenly decided to change his approach.

He leaped backward, planted his feet firmly on the ground, and gripped his sword with both hands.

"Rampage!"

Powerful energy surged around his body, flowing through his arms and into his sword. His aura changed noticeably, and the pressure emanating from him became stronger than before.

The yellow-haired man watched what was happening without retreating, despite realizing that his opponent had become stronger.

Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face.

Rampage... a power Jinmo possesses that makes him twice as strong as his original strength. It's a powerful offensive skill, but I have something even stronger.

He raised his slender sword and pointed it toward his opponent.

"Kyouketsu no Hikari: Wind!"

The moment he spoke the skill's name, the scene before everyone changed.

The air in the courtyard became turbulent, and the wind began gathering around Grito, the yellow-haired man, with increasing intensity. Then the surrounding area began to transform until the place before Jinsu seemed to have become a vast mountainous region battered by fierce winds.

Rocky highlands appeared, storms rose on the horizon, and the wind swirled violently around the area with ever-increasing force.

It was not merely an ordinary attack. The Kyouketsu no Hikari skill imposed an entirely different scene upon the battlefield, making its effects impossible to ignore.

Jinmo's eyes widened in astonishment before he shouted angrily:

"What?! That's cheating! You shouldn't use Kyouketsu, Grito!"

Grito laughed, keeping his sword pointed toward his opponent.

"Jinmo, do you think an enemy on the battlefield will stop to consider whether you're cheating or not? You have to fight, you Red Monkey!"

He finished speaking, then moved his sword forward.

Suddenly, enormous tornadoes surged toward Jinmo.

The winds swept across the battlefield with tremendous force, carrying sand and dust with them as the tornadoes advanced toward the red-haired man from different directions.

Jinmo tightened his grip on his sword, raised it in front of his body, and blocked the first tornado.

His body shook under the force of the impact, but he did not fall.

He spun around quickly and faced the second tornado, attempting to deflect it with his massive sword.

However, the wind's force was greater than he had expected.

Parts of the tornado broke through his defenses and inflicted multiple wounds upon his body, while the violent wind continued pushing him backward.

Jinmo could not hold his ground for long.

When the storm finally cleared, he was still standing, but only barely. He breathed heavily, and signs of exhaustion had appeared on his face.

His sword lowered slightly, but he continued holding it.

I need to find a way to destroy this Kyouketsu.

He raised his head toward Grito, who was still standing firmly amid the wind.

"Are you done?"

Grito smiled before answering:

"I'm not finished yet, Jinmo."

He raised his sword once again.

In the next instant, the wind began gathering behind him until two enormous tornadoes formed, each spinning at an increasingly rapid speed.

Grito stood before them and looked at his opponent.

"Do you surrender?"

Jinmo raised his head and, despite the exhaustion visible on his face, shouted with all the strength remaining in his voice:

"In your dreams, you bastard!"

He charged toward Grito with surprising speed, attempting to reach him before he could launch his next attack.

But Grito did not retreat.

He moved his sword, sending the two tornadoes toward Jinmo.

Jinmo attempted to defend himself, raising his massive sword in front of him and relying on the strength he had gained from his Rampage skill.

The first tornado struck him, forcing him to change the direction of his movement. Then the second tornado hit him before he could regain his balance.

His body sustained several injuries despite his continuous attempts to block the attack, and his strength gradually diminished under the relentless pressure.

Finally, he lost the ability to stand.

Jinmo fell to the ground and lost consciousness

.

The tornadoes began to dissipate, and the courtyard gradually returned to its natural appearance. The mountainous scenery disappeared, and the winds weakened until nothing remained except the ordinary movement of the air.

Grito stood before his fallen opponent, then lowered his sword slightly.

"Looks like you've lost, Jinmo."

Grito took a deep breath before deactivating his Kyouketsu no Hikari.

Afterward, he turned toward Jinsu, who had been watching everything from atop his blood throne.

Grito took a few steps forward, then knelt before him.

"I've won, Boss."

Jinsu looked at him without answering immediately.

But before anyone could say anything, the blade of a sword appeared beside Grito's neck.

Grito froze in place.

A voice came from behind him.

"No, you haven't."

His eyes widened, and the soldiers turned in astonishment toward the source of the voice.

Jinmo was standing behind Grito, holding his sword close to his neck. A tired but confident smile appeared on his face.

It was unclear when he had regained consciousness or how he had managed to approach without Grito noticing him.

Jinmo raised his chin slightly, then said:

"Looks like I'm the one who won."

Grito slowly turned around and stared at him in astonishment mixed with anger.

"Huh?! You won the battle, Jinmo! This is nothing but a dirty trick! You didn't win at all! You just wiped the floor with me!"

Jinmo did not answer immediately. He simply continued smiling while keeping his sword in position.

As for Jinsu, he began to clap.

His applause was quiet at first, but it was enough to draw everyone's attention.

Then he rose from his throne and walked toward the two soldiers.

Grito and Jinmo exchanged a quick glance before looking at Jinsu as he approached them, confusion evident on both their faces.

Jinsu stopped in front of them.

"Well done, Jinmo."

Jinmo's eyes widened slightly, as though he had not expected to hear those words.

As for Grito, he remained silent, unable to understand whether his master approved of what his opponent had done.

But Jinsu did not stop there.

He turned toward the other soldiers, looking at them one by one.

"Never stop fighting, even if you're defeated. As long as you're not dead, the fight isn't over."

Silence fell over the courtyard.

His words were simple, but their meaning was clear to everyone who heard them.

Jinsu was not talking about winning a single encounter or about the strength a fighter possessed at a particular moment. He was talking about continuing to fight even when defeat seemed inevitable.

Then he turned his gaze back toward Grito.

"You won the battle, Grito, but Jinmo won the war."

Grito froze for a moment.

He seemed to want to object, or perhaps argue that what Jinmo had done could not be considered a genuine victory, but he did not utter a word.

He slowly lowered his head and clenched his teeth, trying to accept what he had heard.

Jinmo, meanwhile, finally lowered his sword and stood beside his opponent.

His victory did not mean that he had become stronger than Grito, but he had proven something else: losing an encounter did not necessarily mean losing everything.

Jinsu watched the two of them for a few moments before turning toward the palace.

"Now, return to your training. I'll go check on the others."

The soldiers bowed respectfully as Jinsu left the courtyard, followed by Fario.

Jinmo and Grito remained standing for a few moments before exchanging a brief glance.

Then Grito let out a long sigh.

"Don't think you've become stronger than me because of what happened."

Jinmo smiled and returned his sword to its sheath.

"And who said I need to be stronger than you?"

Grito looked at him with annoyance before turning away.

"Banana Head..."

Jinmo laughed quietly before following him toward the training grounds.

As for the other soldiers, they gradually returned to their duties, but Jinsu's words continued echoing in their minds.

The return of their king was not merely an ordinary event for them. It reminded them of the person they had sworn to follow and the standards his presence demanded of them.

---

Jinsu continued toward the palace while Fario walked behind him with steady steps.

They passed through the main entrance and then proceeded along a long corridor lined with enormous pillars. The walls were decorated with intricate carvings, and doors leading to various rooms throughout the palace were spaced along both sides of the corridor.

The place was quiet compared to the courtyard outside, but activity had not ceased entirely. Several servants and guards passed them, bowing as soon as they saw the two before continuing with their duties.

Jinsu paid them little attention and continued walking until he reached a large door.

He placed his hand against it and pushed it open.

The room behind the door was spacious, resembling a meeting hall designed for making important decisions. A long table extended through its center, surrounded by numerous chairs occupied by several people who appeared to have been waiting for his arrival for a long time.

As soon as Jinsu entered, everyone rose from their seats.

"We greet our eternal king and lord!"

The greeting echoed throughout the hall before those present bowed respectfully.

Jinsu stepped forward, crossing the distance between the door and the table before sitting in the chair reserved for him at its head, where he could see everyone present clearly.

Fario took his seat, while the others returned to theirs after Jinsu gestured for them to sit.

Silence settled over the room.

The faces surrounding the table bore different expressions. Some appeared serious, others were eagerly awaiting the beginning of the discussion, while still others simply watched Jinsu in silence.

Jinsu leaned back in his chair, then raised his eyes toward those gathered before him.

He had not returned to this place merely to exchange greetings or check on how things were going.

There was much he needed to review and many matters awaiting his decisions.

After a moment of silence, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Now, shall we begin, gentlemen?"