The three of them stared at , their expressions a mix of disbelief and wariness. It was as if, in their eyes, I had beco sothing... alien. Sothing monstrous.
"Big sis, why didn't you tell sooner?" Kim Seong-Hoon's voice broke the silence, sharp with disappointnt. For the first ti, his usual lighthearted tone was replaced by sothing heavier—sothing resembling mistrust.
It felt as though a tiny crack had ford in the bond we shared, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of it.
"I don't even need to explain myself," I said sharply, my voice firm. "But if you really want to know so badly, it's because I didn't want to drag any of you into this—not yet."
I looked at them, my gaze unwavering. "As far as I know, we'd already be dead if that Creator found out we've started piecing things together. Or maybe he does know and simply doesn't care about the likes of us. But even so, it's better to be safe than sorry."
All of them nodded in agreent, the tension between us easing as quickly as it had risen. The weight of the mont lifted, and things began to feel normal again.
"That's amazing," Kim Seong-Hoon muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "I want to learn how to control soul power too. If that could boost my strength further, then maybe... I could even beat big sis!"
Before he could gloat further, I struck the top of his head with my fist.
"Keep dreaming," I said flatly, rolling my eyes as he yelped in exaggerated pain.
"Ouch... okay, okay, I'm just joking," Kim Seong-Hoon muttered, raising his hands in mock surrender. But I caught the subtle movent of his crossed fingers.
I sighed, resisting the urge to slap my own forehead.
"So, what do we do now? Head down and explore?" Eun-Woo asked, breaking the mont. "We can't stay here forever—it's bound to get suspicious if we linger too long."
What should I say... Even so, who knows what kind of language these people speak? If we look too suspicious, we'll end up in trouble. Best-case scenario, we get locked up sowhere. Worst-case scenario—we die struggling. Hopefully, it's neither of those.
"Try reading the text again first," I said firmly. "If that doesn't bring us back, we'll have to move down there and figure out if there's sothing we need to do. This doesn't feel like actual ti travel. It's either so sort of trial or a vision. Either way, we need answers."
My voice was resolute, even as unease churned within .
Kim Seong-Hoon tried reading the text again, but it was all in vain. Nothing happened. We were left with no choice but to descend the mountain.
The endless city lood around us, its vastness oppressive. My worst fear clawed at the edges of my mind: What if this mountain was a sacred place? What kind of disaster would we have brought upon ourselves? And how did I know I was right about it...?
"HALT!"
A booming voice interrupted my thoughts. A guard floated before us, clad in golden armor that shimred under the sun. Behind him, spectral wings of wind spread majestically, a testant to his power.
Luckily for us, he spoke Korean. That small rcy made the situation slightly less dire—but not by much.
"Who gave you permission to climb the Mountain of the Sacred Deva?!" he demanded, his voice sharp and unyielding. "Speak now, or et your fate!"
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air. His presence alone scread authority, and I could instantly tell he wasn't soone I could fight—or even attempt to challenge.
Think, Gaon. You need to co up with a lie, and fast.
"Greetings, Senior," I said respectfully, bowing slightly. My voice was steady, but my heart raced. Nudging the others, I signaled for them to follow suit. "We were carrying out a mission given by the Goddess of Fire, Agnia."
The guard's eyes narrowed sharply. "You dare lie to ? Why would the great goddess send you here?"
His golden spear shifted, its tip aid directly at . The power emanating from it was overwhelming, a force that threatened to obliterate on the spot.
"I am her disciple," I declared firmly.
Raising my palm, I willed the golden fire within to spark. A pure fla erupted, its light radiant and sacred, illuminating everything around us.
The guard's stern expression faltered as the fla's brilliance overwheld him. The sheer force of the energy it emitted sent him flying back several ters, his composure visibly shaken.
"Th-That's the sacred light of the chosen few. Y-You! Who are you?" the guard stamred, his voice trembling with shock.
The sacred fla of the chosen few? My mind raced. How co she never ntioned anything like that?
That goddess was truly up to no good. If she dared to force so kind of fate on because of these flas, I swore I'd find a way to undo her. I'd dig her out of her grave, and if that wasn't enough, I'd rewind ti itself to kill her again. Your journey continues on empire
"My na is... Surya," I said smoothly, fabricating a lie on the spot. "And these are my servants. They are not allowed to have nas, so don't bother with them."
The words spilled out effortlessly, but inside, I braced for his reaction. It was complete nonsense, and I could only hope it would work.
"S-Sorry for misunderstanding the situation," the guard stamred, lowering his spear. "Please ensure you fill out the proper paperwork next ti you wish to carry out missions on the sacred mountain. That will save us all the trouble of... misunderstandings."
"Yes, Senior, I understand. I'm sorry for the oversight," I said, bowing again with feigned humility. "May we go now?"
Every fiber of my being scread to leave as quickly as possible, before he caught a whiff of the mountain of lies I'd just served him.
"Yes, of course!" he said, stepping aside with newfound reverence. "And please, send the Goddess of Fire my regards."
"Certainly!" I said confidently, stepping forward. "Let's go, you disgusting slaves. We have a job to do."
I raised my hand, signaling my friends to follow. I could practically feel the "what the fuck was that about" looks burning into the back of my head, but I didn't care. Formalities could wait—this was about survival, and improvisation was key.
"Yes, master!" Kim Seong-Hoon replied enthusiastically, his tone far too genuine for comfort.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I had to fight the urge to gag. It was as if he actually ant it. I'm going to puke later, I thought, quickening my pace to escape his unsettling energy.
We moved swiftly, slipping behind houses that seed to be made of clay. Yet, even walking past them felt oppressive, as if their very presence radiated spiritual power.
The sensation was overwhelming, shaking to my core.
This world is... amazing.
"So, what now?" Eun-Woo whispered, his voice low as he fell into step behind . His eyes scanned the surroundings with a restrained curiosity, his discipline keeping him in check.
"Shouldn't we search for the Goddess of Fire and ask her to help us find a way out?" Jieun interrupted, her voice laced with curiosity.
"No, that's a bad idea," I said, shaking my head firmly. "She's a very prideful individual. If she found out I used her na to get past the guard, we'd all be dead in the blink of an eye."
Jieun's expression faltered, and Kim Seong-Hoon chid in before the silence could linger.
"I suggest we first learn about this place," he said thoughtfully. "We'll need food and a way to stay under the radar. Changing our outfits and masking ourselves should be easy enough. But..."
He grinned mischievously and pointed directly at . "Our flashy, beautiful big sister stands out way too much. We can't just walk around like this without drawing attention."
I glared at him, already regretting letting him talk.
"So, how about we go to a pub?" he continued, undeterred. "You know, like in video gas or ani—pick up a thing or two about this place while grabbing so food. It's the perfect plan!"
Annoying as he was, his words made sense. Information was our most valuable tool right now. I'd learned that the hard way too many tis before.
"Yeah, but we have no money," Eun-Woo said bluntly, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "How are we supposed to blend in? Right now, we're nothing more than beggars in flashy outfits. Do you want us to sell our clothes? Or should we just steal from so unlucky person?"
His words hit like a shockwave. Eun-Woo—who I couldn't even imagine stealing candy from a baby—was suggesting robbing soone. The thought shook deeply.
"No, we can find another way to—!"
My sentence was cut short as we left the alley, only to find ourselves stepping into a massive square teeming with people.
The sheer pressure of their presence hit instantly, their auras so overwhelming that it felt like the air had been sucked from my lungs.
This was the mysterious realm of cultivators.
Everywhere I looked, people radiated power and grace. Each one seed impossibly beautiful, like walking works of art. Not a single face was less than stunning.
So strode through the square with their hands behind their backs, exuding confidence and authority. Others flew gracefully on swords, their robes fluttering as they passed. The market was alive with activity—mysterious treasures of every kind being displayed and sold.
It was breathtaking, intoxicating even.
This is what the world must have been like before everything fell apart... before the system overtook it all.
This wasn't just a place—it was an immortal paradise, a dream any human would long for. And yet, I couldn't shake the feeling of how small and insignificant we were here.
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