While peace returned to one part of Seoul, danger still loomed elsewhere. Ji-ho, Dae-chul, and Ji-an walked in silence, their wrists bound tightly behind them. But it wasn't the rope that weighed them down. It was the frightened sobs of the children trailing behind them, the real prisoners in this cruel game.
Ji-ho sighed, his eyes fixed on the steep mountain ahead. "Tch…" The mountain trail led to a dark cave carved into the rock. As they were shoved forward, a man with a jagged scar on his face barked, "Tie them up over there!" Two goons rushed forward and secured Ji-ho and Dae-chul to a wooden post hammered into the cave wall. Ji-an, however, was pulled aside.
"Bring the girl over here," the scarred man ordered, a crooked smile stretching across his face. "No," Ji-an growled, struggling. "Move it," snapped the only female poacher. She grabbed Ji-an roughly and shoved her forward. Ji-an stopped resisting when she saw the children huddled together near the firepit, trembling. The scarred man reached out and gripped her cheek. "You've got a mouth on you, huh?"
Ji-an jerked away, disgusted. He slapped her hard. She crashed to the ground, her cheek red and throbbing. "You're dead," Ji-ho roared, trying to rip free from the ropes. "Quiet that one up!" the scarred man ordered. Two goons lunged forward and started punching Ji-ho, he tried to break free but couldn't. He gritted his teeth, refusing to scream. Ji-an wiped her mouth, glaring at Dae-chul. "You just gonna stand there?"
Dae-chul said nothing. His head remained low. Silent. Still. "You really are pathetic," she muttered bitterly. Suddenly, the cave fell quiet. A man stepped into the light. He had one arm. His other sleeve hung empty. His eyes were bloodshot, hollow, and heavy.
"Boss!" one of the goons stammered, moving toward him. Without a word, the one-armed man smashed the scarred man's face into the ground. Blood spattered the stone floor. "Why are there captives?" he asked quietly.
"They… they might be useful," the scarred man said, trembling. The man's expression twisted in disgust as his eyes fell on the children. "Why are there children?" "B-Boss, it was to keep the prisoners in line..." Before he could finish, the one-armed man thrust his hand through the scarred man's chest. Blood burst from his back. He dropped to the ground, dead. "You know I despise unnecessary conflict," the man muttered.
Silence followed. He turned to the children. His hand, still dripping in blood, gently touched a boy's head. "Are you hurt?" The boy whimpered and shook his head. Then the man looked at Ji-ho and the others. "They've seen too much. Dispose of them."
"Yes, sir." One of the younger goons walked toward Ji-ho with a knife. "It's not personal, okay?" Just as he raised the blade, "Now!" Ji-ho shouted. The boy froze.
In a flash, Dae-chul broke free and tackled the boy. Then untied Ji-ho's ropes. Ji-an's eyes widened. "You had a plan?" she muttered. "Take the kids and run!" Dae-chul shouted. "But!" "GO!" Ji-an gritted her teeth, raised her hand, and summoned a dense mist. She grabbed the children and vanished through the fog. The goons charged. Ji-ho dodged a punch, grabbed a fallen stick, and slammed it across the goon's face.
Another swung a knife, but Ji-ho ducked and drove his fist into the man's gut, knocking him cold. Dae-chul disarmed a goon and tossed Ji-ho a dagger. Ji-ho caught it in a back-hand grip. The mist cleared. Ji-an was gone. The one-armed man clapped slowly.
"I truly despise conflict… but if you insist."
He moved in a blur. In a second, he was behind Dae-chul. "Fast," Dae-chul muttered, barely turning in time to block.
The man's only hand glowed with dense, dark energy shaped like a claw around his fist. He struck hard. Ji-ho intercepted, blocking with his dagger. Sparks flew. The force sent him sliding back. "You really think you can stop me?" the man said coldly. Ji-ho didn't answer. He exhaled slowly. His eyes narrowed. Dae-chul watched in silence. He noticed a change in Ji-ho physical appearance, he had noticed it before During Ji-ho encounter with the Captain.
His hair, it was longer than before. No, it wasn't just the hair. His movements were faster. His footwork more precise. The raw power he showed was evolving. The one-armed man charged again, swinging a darkened fist. Ji-ho spun to the side, dodging and countering with a sharp elbow to the man's ribs. The man grunted but retaliated, slamming Ji-ho into the cave wall.
Ji-ho staggered, wiped blood from his lip, then dashed forward again. They clashed, fist to dagger. Every blow shook the walls. Dae-chul jumped in briefly but was knocked back by a pulse of dark energy. "Stay back," Ji-ho muttered, eyes locked on the enemy.
The one-armed man lifted his hand. Black mist coiled around his fingers. Ji-ho sprinted, slipped under a strike, and rolled.
He kicked off a rock and launched into the air, slamming his foot into the man's face.
The enemy stumbled. Ji-ho landed and rushed forward. He ducked under a punch, stabbed upward with the dagger, Right through the man's side. Blood sprayed across Ji-ho's hand. The man staggered. He grabbed Ji-ho by the collar and leaned in, face twitching with pain. He whispered something into Ji-ho's ear.
Ji-ho's eyes widened slightly. Then the man dropped to the floor, lifeless. Dae-chul was quiet, not saying anything. He just stood there, arms crossed, watching the lifeless body on the ground. Then he finally spoke, "Good work," Ji-ho let out a tired laugh. "I think you're being modest here. Without your plan, we'd be dead." "Nah… it's luck, I guess," Dae-chul replied, forcing a smile.
Just then, Ji-an returned with the children. The little ones looked exhausted, but safe.
Ji-an's eyes scanned the cave and landed on the corpse. Her brows twitched. "He's dead," she muttered in disbelief. She turned sharply to Dae-chul. "You scum!" But Ji-ho stepped in. "It was all a plan. Dae-chul created it... though he only told me later." Ji-an paused, confused. "He had a ring," Ji-ho explained, He used the sharp side to cut his ropes. I think… he anticipated something like this might happen."
Ji-an looked between the two of them, then glanced at the kids. She didn't say anything. Dae-chul smiled faintly, suddenly, the little boy tugged on Ji-an's coat. His voice was soft. "Thank You." Ji-an smiled gently and rubbed the little girl's head beside him. "Let's catch up with the village." But even then, she refused to look at Dae-chul. She walked ahead with the children, cold and quiet.
As they exited the cave, Ji-ho chuckled. "She must really hate you." "I guess," Dae-chul replied. Just as Ji-ho turned to leave, Dae-chul grabbed his arm. "Wait. Your wounds… what happened to them?"
Ji-ho blinked, looking down at himself. No bruises. No cuts. Not even a scar. He patted his chest, arms, face, everything was fine. "I really… don't know," he muttered, frowning. Dae-chul's expression turned serious. "Okay. If something comes up, let me know." Ji-ho nodded slowly. Dae-chul walked ahead.
Ji-ho glanced one last time at the corpse on the ground, then down at his own hands.
Not a scratch. Not a single ache in his body. It was like he'd never been injured at all.
They returned to the village just before dusk. The people were chattering among themselves, the curse was gone. Villagers gathered around, eyes wide in disbelief. One elder stepped forward, tears in her eyes. "We're sorry, we couldn't be of help to You," she said softly. That group… they cursed us. Controlled us."
Ji-ho gave a quiet nod. "It's over now." The elder bowed deeply. "Thank you… all of you." The villagers broke into small cheers. The Children clung to Ji-an's legs. Ji-ho watched from the side, Dae-chul standing beside him. Neither said much. But something had shifted. They had survived, and the village had hope again. Thus, their mission was complete