The creature rose from the long, twisting shadow—its body thin and jagged, like a living silhouette torn from the pavement. Its eyes glowed bright yellow, fixed directly on Rumi.
Zoey clutched Mira's hand tightly, keeping her behind her.
"Rumi," she whispered shakily, "whatever that thing is… it's coming for you."
"Not just her," Jinu muttered.
Rumi turned to him.
"What do you mean—"
The shadow creature screeched and lunged.
Jinu didn't hesitate.
"Stay behind me!"
He swung his glowing blade, but the creature slid backward, its form bending unnaturally out of reach.
Mira shrieked, "UNNIE IT'S LIKE A GIANT SHADOW SPAGHETTI—"
"Mira, FOCUS!" Zoey snapped, pulling her aside just as the creature's claws slashed the air where they stood moments ago.
Rumi felt her mark burn again—hotter, stronger.
The supernatural energy crackled in her veins.
"Jinu… my shoulder—!"
"It's reacting," Jinu said urgently. "You're awakening faster than expected!"
The creature hissed and suddenly split into three shadowy clones, surrounding them from all sides.
Mira panicked. "THAT'S ILLEGAL! YOU CAN'T MULTIPLY LIKE THAT—"
"Mira, move!" Zoey yanked her away as one clone slashed down.
Jinu fought one side, Rumi instinctively blasted another clone with raw energy from her shoulder, sending it dissolving into black dust.
Zoey and Mira were left facing the third.
Rumi reached for them— "Zoey! Mira!"
But the creature was faster.
It lunged at Zoey—
Zoey shoved Mira behind her and raised her arm to shield herself.
A scream tore from Mira—
"UNNIE!!"
The shadow's claws struck Zoey's arm—
And exploded in light.
BRRRRRRMMMM—!
A shockwave burst from Zoey, pure white and gold, disintegrating the demon clone instantly.
Zoey staggered backward, clutching her arm, breathless.
"What… what was that?" she whispered.
Rumi stared, astonished. "Zoey… you have a mark too."
Zoey looked down.
A faint glowing symbol—different from Rumi's crescent—shimmered on her forearm like a radiant starburst.
Jinu's eyes widened.
"No way… not another one."
Before he could explain, the real creature reformed behind Mira.
"MI—RA!!!" Rumi screamed.
Mira turned too late—
But something deep inside her snapped awake.
Her body moved on instinct.
She kicked upward—
a smooth, perfect dancer's spin kick—
But it wasn't the kick that saved her.
It was the burst of violet energy that erupted from her foot.
BOOM!
The creature slammed into the wall, its form crumpling into smoke.
Mira froze mid-pose, eyes wide.
"…Did I just EXORCISE something with my DANCE MOVE?!"
Zoey stared at her. "Apparently… yes."
Jinu lowered his blade slowly, disbelief etched on his face.
"This… This shouldn't be possible."
Rumi ran to them. "Zoey, Mira! Are you hurt?"
Zoey shook her head, still stunned. "No… I'm fine. But Rumi… what is this?"
"I think…" Rumi said softly, "you both awakened too."
Mira held up her leg like a confused flamingo. "I HAVE A DEMON-HUNTING LEG?!"
Rumi laughed nervously even as the ground pulsed beneath them.
Jinu stepped close, voice low with awe and fear.
"There's an ancient prophecy among Demon Hunters…
Three Marks.
Three Lights.
Three Destinies intertwined.
But it was said to be myth."
Rumi's crescent mark glowed.
Zoey's radiant star symbol flickered.
Mira's ankle burned with a purple dancer's sigil.
All three marks pulsed together—
as if answering a silent call.
Jinu stepped back, breath caught.
"You three…
You're not ordinary marked ones."
He swallowed.
"You're the Triad of Lights.
The ones destined to stand against the uprising of demons."
Zoey blinked slowly. "That sounds… inconvenient."
Mira pointed at herself excitedly. "WAIT — are we like a magical girl trio now?!"
Rumi took both their hands, voice trembling.
"Whatever we are… we face this together."
Zoey nodded.
Mira squeezed back.
Jinu watched them—these three girls who moments ago were ordinary trainees, now connected by fate.
He exhaled shakily.
"From today on… you're all in danger," he warned.
Zoey smirked. "Then teach us to survive."
Mira threw a fist in the air. "YEAH! SHOW US HOW TO KICK DEMON BUTT!"
Rumi stared at Jinu, determination burning through her fear.
"We're not running anymore."
The night wind carried a faint whisper around them.
A warning.
Or perhaps… a promise.
The Triad of Lights had awakened.
And the demons were far from done.