Chapter 33: The Twist of Fate

With his newly unlocked power, Jinyoung could feel the flow of time around him, the subtle currents of reality that Eunwoo had been manipulating. But now, he could fight back. He could disrupt the temporal magic, tearing apart the threads of time that Eunwoo was trying to control.

As they clashed once more, Jinyoung’s blade seemed to move in tandem with the flow of time itself, weaving through the distortions and landing strikes that should have been impossible. Eunwoo’s confidence faltered as she realized that Jinyoung was no longer bound by the rules of time.

BOOM!

The force of their battle reached its peak, and with a final, devastating strike, Jinyoung’s sword broke through Eunwoo’s defenses, shattering the temporal field around them.

Eunwoo stumbled back, her breathing heavy, her silver eyes filled with disbelief. "This… wasn’t supposed to happen."

Jinyoung lowered his sword, his heart heavy with both victory and sadness. "You were my ally once. You didn’t have to become this."

Eunwoo’s expression flickered with regret, but before she could respond, the air around them began to warp again. The cosmic entities weren’t done. They were pulling her back—back into the void where she had come from.

"Jinyoung," she whispered, her voice soft and filled with sorrow. "You can’t win. You can’t stop what’s coming."

And with that, she vanished into the swirling mist, leaving Jinyoung and Yuna alone in the shattered courtyard.

Chapter 34: The Aftermath and Confession

As the dust settled and the reality around them returned to normal, Jinyoung and Yuna stood in silence, the weight of the battle hanging heavy in the air.

Yuna turned to Jinyoung, her eyes filled with questions. "She was from your past. Someone you trusted."

Jinyoung nodded, his chest tight with emotion. "She was… and now she’s part of them."

Yuna studied him for a long moment before speaking again. "Jinyoung, you’re fighting something much bigger than any of us. But… I want you to know that whatever happens, I’m with you. We’ll face this together."

Her words caught him off guard, and for a brief moment, the wall he had built around himself crumbled. He wasn’t alone in this fight, not anymore.

"Thank you, Yuna," he said quietly, his voice filled with gratitude.

And then, without warning, Yuna stepped closer, her eyes softening as she looked up at him. "Jinyoung… I don’t know what the future holds, but…"

Her words trailed off, but the meaning behind them was clear. There was something between them—something unspoken but undeniable.

Before he could respond, Yuna turned away, her face flushed with emotion. "We should get back to the guild. There’s still so much we don’t know."

Jinyoung watched her go, his heart pounding in his chest. The battle with Eunwoo had shaken him, but it was the realization that he wasn’t facing this war alone that gave him hope.

Chapter 35: Shadows of Betrayal

The battle with Eunwoo had shaken Jinyoung to his core, not just physically, but emotionally. The very idea that someone from his past—a trusted ally—had turned into an enemy sent by the cosmic entities haunted him. It was a reminder that no one was truly safe from the influence of those ancient beings.

Jinyoung found himself alone in the White Flame Guild’s library later that night, searching for more clues about the cosmic entities and their manipulation of time. The tomes in front of him were old, written in an ancient language that he had barely begun to decipher. But every once in a while, a phrase would jump out at him:

“The guardians of fate… the weavers of timelines… beings beyond death and life…”

Jinyoung’s hands tightened around the book. These cosmic entities weren’t just here to stop humanity—they were the ones who had crafted the dungeons, designed the trials, and determined the fate of civilizations across time. They were preparing for something far greater, and humanity was caught in the crossfire.

As he flipped another page, the door behind him creaked open, and Seo Yuna stepped into the dimly lit room.

"Can’t sleep either?" Yuna asked, her voice soft. Her presence was steadying, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in Jinyoung’s mind.

Jinyoung closed the book and leaned back in his chair. "I’ve been thinking about what Eunwoo said. The dungeons aren’t just trials. They’re part of something bigger, and we’re being tested like pawns in their cosmic game."

Yuna walked over, standing beside him. Her gaze moved over the ancient texts before settling on Jinyoung. "We’ll figure it out. You’re not alone in this, Jinyoung. I told you before—I’m with you."

Jinyoung felt the weight of her words, the sincerity behind them. He glanced up at her, the dim light of the lanterns casting soft shadows across her face. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to appreciate the quiet strength Yuna had always carried.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Before the moment could deepen, the door to the library swung open again, and Seo Minah stepped in, her brow furrowed with concern.

"You both need to see this," Minah said, her voice urgent.

Jinyoung and Yuna exchanged a glance before following Minah down the corridors of the guild to the training hall, where a large, flickering projection hovered in the center of the room. It was a magical transmission, sent directly to the White Flame Guild from an unknown source.

The image that appeared was a warning.

A massive dungeon had been discovered—one that none of the guilds had ever encountered before. The mana signature was unlike anything on record, and it radiated a dark, oppressive energy.

Minah crossed her arms, her expression grave. "This isn’t an ordinary dungeon. Something is off about it. The energy readings… it feels wrong, like it’s not even part of this world."

Jinyoung’s heart sank. He knew what this was. Anomalies. Dungeons that had been corrupted by the influence of the cosmic entities.

"It’s a trap," Jinyoung said quietly, his voice filled with certainty. "They want us to go in. It’s part of their plan."

Minah frowned. "Then what do we do? We can’t just ignore it. If this dungeon is left unchecked, it could lead to a massive break."

Jinyoung nodded slowly, his mind already calculating the risks. "We’ll have to go. But we need to be prepared. This isn’t just a normal dungeon raid. The entities are waiting for us."