The emergency bells of Thunder Palace began ringing with desperate urgency just as the first light of dawn touched the mountain peaks. The deep, resonant toll that traditionally announced important visitors instead carried a note of panic that had everyone in the main hall instantly alert.
"That's not the normal visitor signal," Blood Wolf said grimly, his hand moving instinctively to his weapon. "That's the invasion alarm."
Jin Ho rushed to the main windows, and what he saw below made his blood turn to ice. Three separate armies had converged on Thunder Palace during the night, surrounding it in a carefully coordinated pincer movement that spoke of meticulous planning.
"Ice Soul Palace banners to the north," he reported tensely. "Shadow Society forces to the east, and... I don't recognize the third army to the south, but their numbers are massive."
『Three thousand soldiers at minimum,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor assessed with military precision. 『Against our two hundred defenders. The odds are approximately fifteen to one.』
『I like those odds!』 the Thunder Lightning King declared with characteristic enthusiasm. 『More enemies means more fun!』
Blood Flower had produced a spyglass and was examining the approaching forces with scholarly intensity. "The southern army bears the banner of the Crimson Hand Mercenary Company. They're expensive—whoever hired them paid a fortune for this level of coordination."
"Seol Hwa Rin came prepared," Blood Protector observed grimly. "She's not taking any chances."
As if summoned by the mention of her name, a figure detached itself from the Ice Soul Palace formation and began walking calmly toward the main gate. Even at this distance, the distinctive ice-blue robes and flowing hair were unmistakable.
"She's coming," Jin Ho said, his voice carrying a mixture of anger and anticipation.
『Finally,』 both demons said simultaneously. 『Time to settle accounts.』
They gathered in the main courtyard as Seol Hwa Rin approached the gates. When she was close enough to speak without shouting, she stopped and looked up at them with an expression Jin Ho had never seen before—cold, calculating, and completely devoid of the warmth she had once shown.
"Good morning, Jin Ho," she called out, her voice carrying perfectly in the still mountain air. "I trust you had an educational evening exploring Jin Noeumu's little treasure room?"
The casual revelation that she knew about their vault discovery sent a chill through the assembled defenders.
"You knew we would find the correspondence," Jin Ho realized.
"Of course I did," Seol Hwa Rin replied with a smile that held no warmth whatsoever. "Every step of this process has been carefully orchestrated. Did you really think you were discovering secrets by accident?"
She gestured casually toward the surrounding armies. "Even this confrontation is proceeding exactly according to plan. Though I must admit, I'm slightly impressed that you managed to eliminate Jin Noeumu ahead of schedule. That does show a certain... initiative."
『She's enjoying this,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor observed with cold fury. 『The psychological manipulation gives her pleasure.』
『Can I kill her now?』 the Thunder Lightning King asked with barely contained violence. 『Please say I can kill her now.』
"What do you want, Seol Hwa Rin?" Jin Ho called down to her, his voice steady despite the rage building inside him.
"What I've always wanted," she replied with that horrible smile. "The fragments you carry, and the death of everyone foolish enough to stand in my way."
As she spoke, another figure began to materialize beside her—literally emerging from the shadows as if the darkness itself were taking human form. The temperature dropped noticeably as Eum Mugeuk's presence made itself known, his form shifting and wavering like smoke given substance.
"Ah, Jin Ho," Eum Mugeuk said, his voice echoing from multiple directions at once. "How delightful to finally meet face to face. You've grown so much since we last... spoke."
"We've never spoken," Jin Ho replied through gritted teeth.
"Haven't we?" Eum Mugeuk's laugh was like winter wind through dead leaves. "Every nightmare you've had, every moment of doubt, every whisper in the dark telling you that you weren't strong enough—that was me, watching, guiding, ensuring you developed exactly as needed."
The psychological violation of that revelation hit Jin Ho like a physical blow.
『That shadow-weaving parasite!』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor raged. 『He's been infiltrating your dreams!』
『I'm going to tear him apart!』 the Thunder Lightning King declared with murderous intent.
"But enough pleasantries," Seol Hwa Rin interrupted with cruel efficiency. "We have a simple offer for you, Jin Ho. Surrender yourself willingly, allow us to extract the fragments without resistance, and we'll make the deaths of everyone here quick and painless."
"And if I refuse?" Jin Ho asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Then we kill them slowly, one by one, starting with the youngest disciples, until you change your mind," Eum Mugeuk replied with casual malice. "We have all day, and quite frankly, their suffering might provide some entertainment while we wait."
As if to emphasize the point, several figures were dragged forward from the surrounding armies—Thunder Palace disciples who had been captured during their morning training exercises outside the main compound. Among them, Jin Ho recognized several of the younger students who had looked at him with such gratitude just yesterday.
"You have five minutes to decide," Seol Hwa Rin announced, producing an ornate timepiece. "For every minute past that deadline, we execute one hostage. Starting with the children."
The cruelty of the ultimatum was breathtaking. They weren't just demanding surrender—they were forcing Jin Ho to watch innocent people die for his defiance.
But as Jin Ho looked around at the faces of the people counting on him—the Blood Flame Sect members who had chosen to stand with him, the Thunder Palace disciples who saw him as their protector, and felt the solid presence of his demonic partners—he realized something fundamental had changed within him.
The boy who had started this journey seeking revenge would have been paralyzed by such a choice, torn between his personal desires and the welfare of others. But the person he had become through friendship, loss, and hard-won wisdom saw the situation with crystal clarity.
"I have a counter-offer," Jin Ho called down to them, his voice carrying across the courtyard with absolute determination.
"Oh?" Seol Hwa Rin raised an eyebrow with mock interest. "And what might that be?"
Jin Ho stepped forward to the edge of the balcony, his Blood Thunder energy beginning to manifest as visible crimson lightning around his form. "Release the hostages immediately, and I'll give you the fight you actually came here for."
"You're hardly in a position to make demands," Eum Mugeuk observed with amusement.
"Aren't I?" Jin Ho replied with a smile that held genuine confidence for the first time in his life. "You see, you made one critical miscalculation in all your elaborate planning."
"And what was that?" Seol Hwa Rin asked, though something in her expression suggested she was beginning to sense that events weren't proceeding exactly as anticipated.
"You planned for me to be alone, desperate, and driven purely by personal vendetta," Jin Ho explained, his energy building to visible levels. "You didn't account for the possibility that I might have genuine allies, or that I might choose to fight for something larger than revenge."
He looked around at his companions one more time, drawing strength from their unwavering support.
"You wanted the fragments? Come and take them. But you're not fighting a broken boy seeking vengeance anymore. You're fighting a protector defending his people."
With that declaration, Jin Ho leaped from the balcony, his form wreathed in blazing Blood Thunder energy as he descended toward the courtyard where his enemies waited. Behind him, the unified roar of his allies filled the air as they prepared to follow him into what would certainly be the most important battle of their lives.
『Now THIS is what I call a proper challenge!』 the Thunder Lightning King declared with explosive enthusiasm.
『Indeed,』 the Blood Heaven Great Emperor agreed with aristocratic satisfaction. 『Time to remind these upstarts why emperors are not to be trifled with.』
As Jin Ho's feet touched the ground and he faced the overwhelming odds arrayed against him, he felt no fear—only the burning determination to protect the innocent people counting on him. The age of revenge was truly over, but the age of protection had begun with thunderous force.