Arc 1: Cheonliang Survival Arc
Chapter 1: The Shore That Swallows Names
[POV – Ethan Cross]
Cold.
That was the first thing Ethan felt.
Cold water licking his legs, sharp pebbles biting into his skin, and the sound of waves crashing like they were trying to erase him. He lay half-conscious on the shore of Cheonliang, body trembling, clothes torn and soaked. Every breath burned.
So this is how it ends, huh?
He laughed weakly, a sound swallowed instantly by the wind.
In his previous life, Ethan had lived fast and hard. He remembered competition. Pressure. Strength. The thrill of standing against someone powerful and winning by the smallest margin. Then came death—sudden, meaningless—and now this.
A child's body.
Thin arms. Weak legs. Hunger clawing at his stomach like an animal.
And abandonment.
He remembered it clearly. The figures standing above him earlier that day. His family. Their faces blurred, voices cold, words sharp enough to cut deeper than any knife.
"Don't follow us."
"Stay here."
"We're done."
They hadn't even looked back.
Ethan pushed himself up on trembling arms, coughing as saltwater spilled from his mouth. His vision swam, but something inside him burned hot.
I'm not dying here.
He dragged himself farther up the shore, each movement painful, each breath a challenge. The sky above was gray and heavy, like it was watching to see if he'd break.
Instead, he smiled.
It was small at first. Then wider.
A grin that didn't belong on a starving, abandoned kid.
If this world wants me dead…
Then it better send something stronger.
His consciousness flickered.
Just before everything went black, Ethan sensed something—or someone—standing nearby.
Heavy footsteps.
A presence that pressed down on the air itself.
[POV – Mujin Jin]
The boy should have been dead.
Mujin Jin stood on the Cheonliang shore, coat fluttering slightly in the wind, eyes fixed on the collapsed child near the rocks. He had seen plenty of corpses wash up here over the years. Runaways. Failures. Trash the world didn't want.
This one was different.
Even unconscious, the boy's jaw was clenched. His hands were curled, not limp, not accepting. Like he was ready to swing even in his sleep.
Interesting.
Mujin crouched, placing two fingers against the boy's neck. The pulse was weak, but steady.
"Tch," Mujin muttered. "Stubborn."
He lifted the child with ease, slinging him over his shoulder. The weight was nothing, but Mujin could feel something else.
Will.
Raw. Untamed. Dangerous.
This shore keeps giving me monsters, Mujin thought.
[POV – Ethan Cross]
Pain greeted him before sight.
His body screamed as he regained consciousness. Warmth replaced the cold, and the smell of smoke and herbs filled his nose. He forced his eyes open.
A ceiling.
Wooden. Old.
He tried to sit up and immediately failed.
"Don't move," a rough voice said.
Ethan turned his head. A man stood near the fire, tall, broad, scarred. His eyes were sharp, like they cut through lies without effort.
Who the hell…
"You were dying," the man continued. "Now you're not. That's all you need to know."
Ethan stared at him for a long moment.
Then he laughed.
A dry, hoarse laugh that shouldn't have existed.
"Guess… I won," Ethan said.
The man's eyebrow twitched.
"…You're strange."
Ethan grinned, eyes gleaming despite his weak body. "You saved me. So what now? Kill me later?"
The man studied him in silence.
Finally, he spoke.
"My name is Mujin Jin."
Ethan didn't bow. Didn't thank him. Didn't plead.
Instead, he asked, "Are you strong?"
The fire crackled.
Mujin smiled faintly.
"Strong enough."
Ethan's grin widened, something dark and delighted flashing behind his eyes.
"Good," he said. "Then this place won't be boring."
[POV – Seongji Yuk]
Seongji Yuk had been bleeding since morning.
Not badly—but enough to sting every time he moved. He wiped his knuckles against his pants, scowling as he stood near the edge of the Cheonliang forest.
Another fight. Another win.
Another day of survival.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned, already tense. When he saw Mujin Jin approaching, Seongji straightened instinctively.
"Old man," Seongji said. "You're late."
Mujin glanced at him. "You're alive."
"Obviously."
Mujin's gaze shifted past him, toward the small cabin.
"I found someone," Mujin said.
Seongji frowned. "Another stray?"
"Another problem," Mujin replied.
Seongji's interest sparked.
"A problem?" He cracked his neck, a grin tugging at his lips. "That sounds fun."
They reached the cabin. Mujin pushed the door open.
Inside, a boy sat up on the futon, bandaged, thin—but smiling like he owned the place.
Their eyes met.
Something snapped in the air.
Seongji felt it instantly.
Danger.
Not strength—not yet—but something worse.
Intent.
The boy looked at Seongji like he was measuring him.
Then he smiled wider.
"So," the boy said, voice calm, eyes burning. "You're the other one."
Seongji scoffed. "The hell are you smiling for?"
The boy chuckled. "Because you look strong."
Mujin watched silently as the two stared each other down.
This was it.
The beginning.
Two wolves, circling.
Neither willing to bow.
End of Chapter 1