Jin froze.
The masked figure's words echoed like a curse:
"You are his son."
Bo, now hiding behind a half-broken statue, whispered,
"Okay… cool cool cool. So Jin's dad is a… terrifying shadow uncle?"
Yooha stood still, one hand clutching Jin's sleeve. "Jin… do you know what he means?"
But Jin was trembling.
Visions flickered—memories he never lived. A burning sky. A man with golden eyes. A blade splitting the heavens. And a woman's voice, soft but strong:
> "Seal him. And protect our son."
The masked figure pointed his cracked sword at them. "You carry the seal's echo. And your light… burns."
Before Jin could speak, Yooha stepped forward.
"I don't care who you are. Jin's not the past—he's the protector now."
The air exploded.
Shadow claws slashed at them. Jin drew Laughing Blade. Yooha unleashed Silent Veil. And behind them—
Bo screamed, "I HAVE NO MAGIC BUT I HAVE ROCKS—"
He chucked a chunk of ancient wall. It hit the figure in the face.
"…Did I just save the world?" Bo whispered dramatically.
The figure growled. "This is not the end. The seal will break soon… and when it does, he will rise."
A vortex of shadow wrapped him and vanished.
Back at the Academy…
Yooha pressed a cold cloth to Jin's forehead.
"You okay?"
"I… don't know. He felt familiar. Like my blood answered him."
Bo entered with his usual dramatic flair. "Soooo... do we talk about how your dad might be a sealed ancient god-ghost-warrior thingy?"
Jin: "I was hoping we'd skip that part."
Bo: "Too late. Meiqi's already writing fanfiction."
Yooha laughed softly, but her smile faded.
"I think he knew me too. Or… someone I used to be."
Jin turned to her. "Then let's find out. Together."
In a secret chamber…
The academy master stood with a scroll glowing in moonlight.
A cloaked woman stepped forward. Her hands trembled as she touched the scroll.
"I saw him… our son. He's alive."
Her voice broke.
"And that girl… She's the same one. Just like the prophecy."
The master lowered his head.
"Then it's time. Summon the Elders. The final battle approaches."
To be continue....