The portal world never truly slept. Its jagged cliffs and misted valleys seemed alive with whispered echoes of battles long past, the faint hum of energy that only someone attuned like Kang Jinhyuk could feel. Yet, on this morning, he wasn't alone.
A sudden gust of wind carried the faint scrape of boots over rock and soil. Jinhyuk's head snapped up, instincts sharp as ever. He tightened his grip on his blade, the refined energy of Second Rate flowing through him, coiling like a living thing.
Show yourself, he called, voice calm but edged with steel.
From the mist emerged a figure...a woman, lithe, agile, and impossibly confident. Her red and black garb contrasted sharply with the muted tones of the portal cliffs, and twin daggers flashed at her sides. She stopped a few paces away, eyes glinting with mischief, lips curved in a teasing smirk.
You must be Kang Jinhyuk, she said, voice playful yet sharp, each word measured. The infamous Crimson Bandit who survived Mount Liang's shadows. I've been sent to… observe you.
Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed. Observe me, or test me? His tone was neutral, but beneath it, a current of curiosity ran deep. He sensed the energy surrounding her, skilled, dangerous, yet contained. Not a threat to his life, but certainly to his ego.
Both, she replied, circling slowly, blades catching faint light. I'm Dan Sae-Ryeo. And I have a feeling you need a lesson… in more than just raw power.
Jinhyuk smirked, despite himself. A lesson, huh? I've faced bandits, geniuses, and fools alike. What makes you think I need yours?
Sae-Ryeo laughed, a melodic sound, sharp and teasing. Because you don't know what it's like to rely on someone other than your own skill.
Without warning, she lunged, twin daggers whistling through the air. Jinhyuk barely shifted, letting the First Rate reflexes honed through Third and Second Rate training guide him. Yet, he didn't strike back immediately. This was a test, not an attack to kill. He observed, calculating, predicting the rhythm of her movement, the subtle cues of her stance.
Not bad, she said, pulling back, panting lightly, a smirk dancing across her lips. You anticipate well. But speed alone won't win you everything.
And finesse alone won't either, Jinhyuk countered, stepping forward, energy coiling around his blade like a living serpent. What is it you want to prove, Sae-Ryeo?
Her eyes sparkled, challenging. I want to see if the Crimson Bandit can survive in more than just a duel. Teamwork, strategy, loyalty… if you can't grasp them, even Second Rate won't save you.
Fine, he said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Teach me then.
Their sparring continued for hours, the portal world becoming their arena. Each strike was a conversation: quick jabs of wit, precise footwork, subtle shifts of energy. Sae-Ryeo challenged him relentlessly, forcing him to adapt mid-combat, to anticipate attacks while thinking two moves ahead.
You hesitate too much, she teased, flipping backward to evade his counterattack. Your rage is controlled… but your instincts are too cautious. You need trust... not just in your skill, but in your allies.
Jinhyuk gritted his teeth, energy pulsing in his hands. I have learned control, Sae-Ryeo. But trust is earned, not given.
She laughed, a soft, teasing sound. And yet, you just admitted you need it.
He froze briefly, the truth in her words striking him harder than any blade. Trust. He had none to spare, none to give, yet here she was, challenging him not to dominate, but to adapt. To see beyond himself.
Fine, he muttered, refocusing, letting the energy flow through him naturally. *I will learn. But if I catch you underestimating me again… he let the words trail, a smirk tugging at his lips.
I won't underestimate you, she replied with a wink, spinning lightly to attack again. Not yet. You might surprise me… if you're lucky.
Hours turned into days...or what felt like days in the distorted time of the portal world. Under Sae-Ryeo's relentless guidance, Jinhyuk's Second Rate abilities sharpened further. He learned to read not just attacks, but intentions. To anticipate deception, to manipulate perception, to flow through combat like water shaping itself to a storm.
Yet, beyond the skill, there was something else. A tension, subtle and teasing, growing between them. Each jab of banter carried a weight of curiosity. Each near miss in combat a heartbeat closer, a playful acknowledgment of respect, of intrigue.
You think too much, Sae-Ryeo teased one evening, both of them panting from a relentless sparring session. Sometimes, you just have to act… and trust someone beside you to have your back.
Jinhyuk's eyes flicked toward her, momentarily softened by the memory of Min-Seo and the child he had lost. I act… for vengeance. For survival. Trust… is a luxury I cannot afford.
Her eyes softened in response, but only for a heartbeat. Maybe… maybe you can afford it with me. Or maybe not. But you'll need it, Kang Jinhyuk. And soon.
He said nothing, letting the words linger in the portal air. A part of him, buried deep under grief and rage, felt a faint spark of warmth he hadn't felt in years.
Training continued with more than just combat. Sae-Ryeo introduced exercises that tested cohesion and morale. They simulated multi-opponent scenarios, guerrilla tactics, and coordinated strikes using mystical artifacts scattered throughout the portal world. Each crystal enhanced perception, each relic a lesson in reliance and timing.
You can't do this alone, she reminded him during one grueling exercise. Energy flows, strategy aligns, victories are shared. No matter how strong you are, the world doesn't bend to a solitary hand.
Jinhyuk's mind raced. He understood, intellectually, the lesson. But emotionally… trusting others was not easy. Sae-Ryeo's teasing presence, however, made it possible. She challenged him, provoked him, and yet subtly guided him to see the importance of connection.
Fine, he muttered, after successfully coordinating a simulated ambush with her guidance. I will acknowledge… temporary allies. But only temporary. The Murim world leaves no room for sentiment.
Sae-Ryeo laughed, spinning away from his blade in mock defense. Temporary? Then I'll just have to test how long I can last under your definition of 'temporary ally.'
By the time the sun dipped below the jagged cliffs of the portal world, both of them were bruised, sweating, and exhilarated. Jinhyuk had pushed his Second Rate mastery further than Jeok-Ma alone had demanded, blending raw power, strategy, and the subtle art of collaboration.
You have potential, Sae-Ryeo said finally, letting her daggers fall to her sides. Not just in strength, but in leadership. Morale, loyalty… these are weapons too, and you are learning to wield them.
Jinhyuk's chest heaved as he stared at her, the portal wind whipping his hair around his face. You are… relentless, he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite exhaustion.
I know, she said, grinning. And you'll need to be just as relentless if you want to survive what's coming. Murim doesn't forgive mistakes, Kang Jinhyuk.
He inhaled deeply, letting the energy of the portal world flow through him. I know, he said softly. And with you… perhaps I will survive, learn, and grow stronger. Perhaps you are… useful, Sae-Ryeo.
Her laughter echoed, warm and teasing in the misted air. Careful, bandit. Flattery might just get you killed… or worse.
Yet, beneath the playful banter, a subtle bond had been forged. Not trust in the sense of friendship, not yet...but recognition, respect, and the faintest ember of companionship. Sae-Ryeo was a mirror, reflecting not only his strength, but his potential for leadership, for connection, and for understanding that the world could be conquered not just by power, but by the hearts he inspired and the allies he earned.
As night fell over the portal cliffs, Kang Jinhyuk stood tall, muscles taut, Second Rate energy humming like a living creature within him. Beside him, Dan Sae-Ryeo stretched, smirking as if the day's lessons had been nothing but play. Yet both knew the harsh truth...the Murim world beyond the portal was vast, dangerous, and unrelenting.
I will survive, Jinhyuk thought, letting his gaze linger on the horizon. I will grow stronger. And I will ensure that the world trembles at my name. But perhaps… I will not do it alone.
The faint ember of camaraderie, of flirtation, of alliance, had been lit. And in a world forged by chaos and vengeance, even the smallest spark could ignite a blazing path to power.