The Death Walker's Seal

Chapter 3

Baekho waited until they were far enough away. Then he moved to follow them. Not because he wanted to, but because the core was in the same direction.

He kept his distance and used Shadow Step to stay hidden.

The cave opened up into a huge chamber. In the center was a floating crystal that glowed with purple light. The Gate core.

But there was a problem.

A big problem.

In front of the core was a monster that should not be there. An ogre. Grade B. Much stronger than the orcs.

The ogre was sleeping, but it would wake up soon.

"That is not supposed to be here," Moon Rael whispered. "The sensors said this was a Grade C Gate!"

"The sensors were wrong," Lee Rowoon said. His face was pale. "We need to leave. Now."

But it was too late.

The ogre's eyes opened. It saw the three students and roared

The sound shook the cave. Rocks fell from the ceiling.

"Run!" Choi Iseul screamed.

They ran back the way they came. The ogre chased them. Its huge feet made the ground shake with each step.

Lee Rowoon turned around and fired a lightning spell. It hit the ogre's chest but only made it angrier.

Moon Rael shot arrows. They bounced off the ogre's thick skin.

Choi Iseul cast a fire spell. The flames hit the ogre's face. It roared again and swung its club. The club was as big as a tree trunk.

The three students dodged, but barely. The club hit the cave wall and broke it apart. More rocks fell.

Baekho watched from his hiding spot. He knew he should leave. This was not his problem. These rich kids made their own choice to come here.

But something made him hesitate.

Maybe it was the look of fear on their faces. Maybe it was because they were just students like him. Maybe it was because he was tired of watching people die.

He did not know.

Before he could think about it more, he moved.

The ogre raised its club again, ready to smash Lee Rowoon into the ground.

Baekho jumped out from behind the rocks and threw his knife. It hit the ogre's eye.

The ogre screamed and turned around. It forgot about Lee Rowoon and focused on Baekho.

"Who are you?!" Choi Iseul shouted.

Baekho did not answer. He ran at the ogre. The monster swung its club at him. He slid under it and cut the ogre's leg with another knife.

The ogre stumbled but did not fall. It was too strong.

Baekho rolled to the side to dodge another attack. He needed a better weapon. His small knives were not enough.

"Here!" Lee Rowoon threw his sword to Baekho.

Baekho caught it. The sword was heavy and well made. He could work with this.

The ogre charged at him. Baekho waited until the last second, then jumped up. He used the ogre's knee as a step and kicked off, flying higher. The sword came down on the ogre's other eye.

The ogre was blind now. It swung its club wildly, hitting everything and nothing.

Baekho landed on the ground and rolled away. He looked at the three students. "Get the core! I will keep it busy!"

"Are you crazy?" Moon Rael shouted. "You will die!"

"Just do it!"

Choi Iseul made a decision. "Come on!" She grabbed the other two and ran toward the Gate core.

The blind ogre heard them running. It turned toward the sound.

Baekho ran faster and cut the back of the ogre's leg again. The ogre turned back to him. Good.

He kept attacking and dodging. The ogre was strong, but it was also slow and blind. As long as Baekho kept moving, he would not die.

He heard a cracking sound. The Gate core was breaking. Choi Iseul was using her fire magic to destroy it.

The ogre heard it too. It knew what was happening. If the core was destroyed, the Gate would close and the ogre would be trapped here forever. Or worse, it would disappear.

The ogre let out a final roar and charged at the students with everything it had.

Baekho cursed. He was too far away. He could not stop it in time.

But then something happened.

His body moved on its own. Faster than before. Faster than should be possible.

[Seal breaking. Current strength: 42%]

[Temporary power release: 10 seconds]

Red light exploded from Baekho's body. His speed increased ten times. He appeared in front of the ogre in an instant.

One strike.

That was all it took.

The sword cut through the ogre's neck. The head fell off. The body collapsed.

The three students stared at Baekho with wide eyes and open mouths.

The Gate core shattered completely. Purple light filled the chamber.

"We need to go!" Baekho shouted.

They ran together back through the cave and out of the Gate. They fell onto the ground in the empty lot, breathing hard.

The Gate behind them closed with a sound like breaking glass. Then it disappeared completely.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Then Lee Rowoon said, "Who are you?"

Baekho stood up slowly. The red light was gone. He looked weak and tired again. He dropped the sword on the ground.

"No one."

"That is not true," Choi Iseul said. "You just killed a Grade B monster by yourself. I know everyone in Korea who can do that. You are not on the list."

Baekho did not answer. He turned to walk away.

"Wait!" Moon Rael grabbed his arm. "At least tell us your name!"

He looked at her hand on his arm. Then he looked at her face.

"Let go."

Something in his voice made her step back.

"Why are you hiding?" Choi Iseul asked. "With that kind of power, you could join any guild. You could be famous. Rich."

"I do not want that."

"Then what do you want?"

Baekho was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "I want to be forgotten."

He walked away into the darkness, leaving the three confused students behind.

Lee Rowoon looked at the sword on the ground. His family sword. There was blood on it now. Monster blood. And something else. A single name was carved on the blade by the impact.

"Kim Baekho."