After returning from the headquarters of the Official Magic Organisation, Doha wastes no time. He begins painting again—following the principles from the Book of Magic Painting.
For him, magician cultivation itself is secondary. His true purpose lies elsewhere: to comprehend the Law of Painting to a profound stage.
The Law of Painting is a hybrid law, interwoven with the mysteries of countless others. Through it, one can glimpse and even recreate other Laws—shaping them on canvas, line by line, stroke by stroke.
He already senses this truth. In his Moon Series, each brushstroke captures more than light and shade—it reflects the rhythm of the celestial body itself. If he continues refining these depictions, he believes he can eventually comprehend the Law of the Moon.
And in this world, where all energy flows from the moon's radiance, that Law is a path of immense depth.
So he keeps painting. Each night, under the pale light of the moon, Doha wanders the streets of Mouel City—his home. The city is divided into twelve great wards, each with its own life, colour, and rhythm.
He paints them all—the moon reflected in the river of the First Ward, the moonlight falling across the towers of the Second, the slumbering markets of the Third, the ivy-wrapped walls of the Fourth.
Instead of submitting one inferior-grade painting every three months, as required, he submits one every month—each painting infused with the gentle, mysterious aura of moonlight.
The merit points he earns are not spent on new spells or training. He uses them to purchase painting supplies and rare books on magical artistry.
Ordinary materials can produce inferior-grade magic paintings, but the process is slow and uncertain. Without specialised ink or enchanted parchment, the magic energy often dissipates—turning the artwork into an ordinary painting, or worse, destroying it outright.
Even for him, this limitation is frustrating.
Yet he persists.
Months roll into a year, and the walls of his studio fill with moonlit visions—twelve paintings for twelve wards, each resonating faintly with the world's lunar power.
Then, one day, Doha closes the door to his painting room, locks it, and stands before his easel in silence.
He prepares a single, vast canvas.
This time, he will not paint twelve separate moons—
He will unite them, weaving the twelve scenes into one great composition.
A single moon illuminating the twelve faces of a city—and perhaps, hidden within that light, the truth of the Law of Painting itself.
Three months later, Doha sits at the breakfast table with Merilyn. Morning light filters through the wide windows, gilding the silver cutlery and the faint steam rising from their cups. Their routine is as steady as ever—casual conversation about the day ahead, soft laughter, and the comfortable rhythm of familiarity.
Near the end of breakfast, the alarm bell chimes through the house. A servant hurries to answer and returns moments later.
"Mr Kim," the servant says respectfully, "there are guests here asking for you."
Doha glances up, remembering that yesterday he had called the Magic Organisation to inspect and collect his new painting.
"Let them in," he says calmly, finishing his water before standing.
Merilyn rises with him, curious. "Guests?"
Doha keeps his tone light. "Friends."
She raises an eyebrow. "Friends?"
He offers no further explanation, and before she can press him, two figures step into the living room—Skylar and Shin Hyun, both members of the Official Magic Organisation. Their composed bearing and faint magical aura immediately set them apart from ordinary people.
Doha greets them with a polite nod and introduces them.
"Merilyn, this is Skylar and Shin Hyun—colleagues of mine."
Merilyn offers a gracious smile. "It's nice to meet you." Then she turns to Doha with a teasing warmth in her eyes. Enjoy your time with your friends. I'm heading to the office."
She hugs him lightly, pressing a brief kiss to his lips before walking toward the door. The two magicians bow politely as she leaves.
Doha waits until she's completely out of sight, then gestures for them to follow. "Come."
He leads them through the corridor to his painting room and shuts the door once they're inside. Instantly, the temperature drops. A soft luminescence fills the air—the energy of the moon, unmistakable even in daylight, hums quietly in the walls.
Skylar and Hyun both pause, instinctively channelling their mana to stabilise their bodies. The moon's magic here is so dense it stirs their own energy into motion.
Their gazes turn toward the canvas at the centre of the room.
The painting—a single moon over twelve wards—glows faintly, alive with a dreamlike pull. Looking into it, they feel their spirits slipping inward, walking under moonlight through silent streets.
Skylar's breath catches. "In just one year…" she murmurs. "You've become a Low-Rank Magic Painter."
Her eyes shine with a mixture of awe and calculation. There's potential here, she thinks. If he continues at this pace… perhaps even a Holy-Rank Magic Painter.
Hyun steps forward and gives a small, formal bow. "Congratulations, Doha. The headquarters will contact you soon to discuss your rewards and new obligations."
Doha nods silently. Hyun takes out a sealed cover made of dark, enchanted fabric and carefully slides the painting into it. The cover instantly absorbs the lunar energy, blocking its power from leaking into the room.
Before they can lift the painting to leave, Skylar turns back to him.
"Doha," Skylar asks suddenly, her tone sharp and eyes narrowing, "you haven't entered a Demon Cave, have you?"
Her question hangs in the air like a blade.
Demon Caves—the gaping wounds of the earth—are entrances to the underground world of the Fear Demons, the realm where the Fear Demon God is sealed. Beneath the crust of the world sprawls a network of dark caverns and tunnels, countless in number, all pulsating with the same ancient malice.
When one Demon Cave is sealed, another opens somewhere else. The Fear Demons are relentless.
Doha's interest sparks immediately. The Demon Caves have always fascinated him—especially the world that lies beneath. But he knows of none open near Mouel City.
He looks up calmly. "Is there a new Demon Cave open near Mouel City?"
Skylar nods. "Yes. It appeared two days ago, in the old warehouse district." She folds her arms, eyes gleaming with professional excitement. "My team will be the first to investigate it. If you've truly mastered the abilities of a Low-Rank Magic Painter, you can join us."
Hyun frowns immediately. "Skylar, that's reckless. It's too dangerous for an Apprentice Magician to enter a new Demon Cave. You don't even know where it connects."
Skylar waves off his concern. "Doha isn't just an apprentice anymore. A Low-Rank Magic Painter can rival an Official Magician in strength—if he's mastered his craft."
She glances back at Doha, her expression turning challenging. "Well? Have you?"
Doha smiles faintly at her tone and steps toward his desk. Picking up a paintbrush, he dips it into magic-infused ink. A pulse of spiritual energy flows down his arm and into the brush.
On a blank sheet of enchanted parchment, his strokes move swiftly—precise, fluid, alive.
Before their eyes, a figure takes form: a monster with a human frame, eagle wings, and a feline head, with taloned claws in place of hands and feet. The air thickens with power as he completes the final stroke.
Doha channels energy into the painting.
The monster shudders—then leaps from the canvas, landing on the floor with a low growl. Its wings twitch, and the scent of ink and moonlight fills the room.
Hyun steps back in shock, staring at the creature that barely reaches his waist. "A chimaera-type monster," he mutters. "Doha, your imagination is… rich."
Doha smiles lightly, though his thoughts drift elsewhere. Not imagination, he muses. Memory.
Skylar studies the creature, impressed. "That's more than enough proof." She straightens, authority in her voice. "Doha, I officially invite you to join my team for the Demon Cave expedition."
Doha nods once. "Thank you for the invitation. I accept."
"Good," Skylar says. "Be at White Birch Crossing before six this evening."
He inclines his head. "I'll be there."
With that, Skylar and Hyun cover the painting and leave the house, carrying it carefully between them.
As the door closes behind them, Doha turns toward his painting room again. The chimaera watches him silently before fading back into the parchment, leaving only a faint trace of lunar energy behind.
So, he thinks, eyes lifting toward the bright morning sky, a Demon Cave…
I'll have to let Merilyn know I'll be gone for a few days.
He pulls out his phone, types a short message, and sends it. Then, setting the device aside, he turns back to his desk and begins to paint.
Ink flows, brushes move—each stroke carries a fragment of intent, the weight of a will honed by years of cultivation.
Even though his true strength already stands at the first-grade extraordinary level, equal to a High Magician, he restrains himself.
His Law of Painting spiritual heart has already advanced after reaching the rank of Low-Rank Magic Painter, yet he hides it carefully. Revealing too much too soon would draw attention he does not want—not until his cultivation reaches the peak of the third grade, where no one could threaten him.
For now, the image of an ordinary Low-Rank Magic Painter suits him just fine.
He paints until the afternoon wanes, creating monster after monster—phantoms of moonlight and imagination sealed within each canvas. As he finishes packing them into a long, reinforced case, his phone buzzes.
Merilyn: Where are you going?
Doha: Outside Mouel City. I need new inspiration for my paintings.
A few seconds later, her reply arrives: Alright. Be safe.
He smiles faintly, closes the phone, and gathers his things.
By the time he reaches White Birch Crossing, the sun has dipped low, staining the sky a burnt orange. The faint hum of military vehicles echoes through the empty streets.
The old warehouse district—once bustling with trade—now lies sealed off by heavy construction cloths and military barricades. Soldiers stand guard at every intersection.
Doha shows his identification badge to the checkpoint officer. After a brief scan and verification, he's allowed through.
Following the guard's directions, he walks deeper toward the Demon Cave. The air grows colder. The faint hum of magic tightens in his chest—the kind of stillness that precedes danger.
Ahead, spotlights glare over a ring of soldiers and magicians. Communication officers shout into radios, relaying readings from the cave's unstable edge. And there, near the entrance, stands Skylar, speaking with a uniformed captain whose badge gleams under the lights.
Doha approaches quietly. Skylar glances his way, acknowledges him with a brief nod, and signals for him to wait.
While he waits, Doha studies the cave. Black mist seeps faintly from the fissure—the breath of the Fear Realm—cold, heavy, and ancient. It makes the air taste of iron and silence.
"You must be Kim Doha, the talented Magic Painter."
The voice comes from behind him. Doha turns to find a young man in a dark-blue robe, a wand strapped to his hip and the faint shimmer of a magic circle around his wrist.
"Yes," Doha replies calmly. "And you are?"
The young man grins and extends a hand. "Torai. Official Magician, support unit."
Doha shakes his hand, noting the steady mana flow beneath the man's skin—disciplined, but not refined.
Torai nods toward the long case slung across Doha's shoulder. "So, what's in there? Your magic paintings?"
"Yes," Doha answers, his tone even.
Torai's eyes gleam with curiosity. "Good. We'll need them."
Torai's gaze lingers on the cave mouth, where the air ripples faintly, as if reality itself recoils from what lies beyond. "It'll be my first time entering a Demon Cave," he admits, voice low but steady.
Doha glances at him, studying his expression. First time… He wonders if Torai, like him, was specially invited by Skylar or if he's one of her regular subordinates.
"Are you part of Captain Skylar's team?" Doha asks.
Torai nods quickly, his eyes shining with admiration as he looks toward their captain. "Yes. Like you're talented with magic paintings, Captain Skylar is a Transformation Magician—one of the youngest to reach High Magician rank at thirty. She's kind of a legend."
Doha gives a polite "Oh," showing an appropriate spark of interest, though inwardly his mind is calm and observant. "What kind of magic are you best at, then?"
Torai straightens, glad to talk about his craft. "Positive Energy Magic. I can heal minor wounds, purify dark miasma, and strengthen allies."
Doha nods thoughtfully. He recalls what he's learned—how Magicians are divided by Type and Profession.
Types: Elemental, Transformation, Defensive, Healing, Positive Energy, Negative Energy, and Prophecy.
Professions: Magic Painter, Magic Singer, Magic Doctor, Magic Engineer… and many others, ordinary professions transformed into extraordinary ones through magic. There are also the pure paths—Magic Array Masters, Magic Sensors, Spell Artisans.
Each path, a different reflection of the same pursuit—mastery of Law through magic.
Before Doha can ask more, Skylar's crisp voice cuts through the air.
"Mr Kim, are you ready to enter?"
Doha turns toward her. "Captain Skylar, I'm ready as I can be."
"Good." She gestures for him to follow. "Then let's meet the rest of my team."
She signals, and four figures approach from the group of magicians near the barricade.
Pointing first to a burly, dark-skinned man with arms like stone pillars, she says,
"This is Tyke, a Senior Magician specialising in Defensive Magic."
Next, she gestures toward another middle-aged man—fair-skinned, sharp-eyed, his long black hair tied neatly behind him.
"This is Han Doyun, also a Senior Magician, skilled in Negative Energy Magic."
Then, to a young woman with curly black hair and a confident stance.
"She's Park Haneul, an Official Magician, adept in Elemental Magic."
Lastly, she turns toward a serene figure with milky-white skin and light blonde hair, her gentle presence almost divine.
"And this is Lyra, a High Magician who excels in Healing Magic."
Skylar starts to gesture toward Torai, but he grins and interrupts. "Captain, I've already introduced myself."
That earns a faint, amused smile from Doha. He steps forward slightly and gives a polite nod to the team.
"I'm Kim Doha, Apprentice Magician—and a Low-Rank Magic Painter."
A few eyebrows lift with curiosity and faint respect.
Skylar nods. "Good. Now that introductions are done, we move."
They begin toward the cave entrance. The ground trembles faintly, and a cold wind seeps out from the black fissure in the earth—breathing, pulsing, alive.
Just as they reach the edge of the entrance, Doha raises a hand. "Wait."
Skylar halts, turning to him sharply. "What is it?"
Doha kneels, opens the long case slung across his shoulder, and withdraws four paintings.
Each canvas ripples faintly with restrained power.
He channels magic energy through his fingertips and into the paintings. The parchment glows silver—then splits open as four creatures emerge, crawling out of the canvases and taking form under the faint shimmer of moonlight.
Two are the Chimaera beasts he painted before—short, sharp, and brutish, with clawed hands and tattered wings, their eyes glinting faint red. The other two are new creations: a Sound Bat, its translucent body pulsing like rippling glass, and an Armoured Knight, fully encased in matte black steel, a broad sword resting on its shoulder.
Torai lets out a low, awed whistle. "Ohh! Incredible…"
Park Haneul grins, eyes bright with fascination. "They look like something straight out of a fantasy novel."
Doha gestures to the winged creature. "This is the Sound Bat. It'll scout ahead."
Skylar gives a curt nod. "Do it."
The Sound Bat flutters once and glides forward, dissolving into the thick, misty darkness of the cave entrance.
Skylar motions for her team to move. "Alright, formation."
They enter the Demon Cave in order—Tyke at the front, shield up and light stick glowing faint gold; Han Doyun and Torai in the middle, with Park Haneul slightly behind them; Skylar close to the center, eyes always scanning the shadows; and Doha at the rear, walking silently with his painted monsters around him—two Chimeras prowling low, the Armored Knight moving with heavy, steady steps.
Inside, the air feels heavy, thick with unseen pressure. Faint whispering sounds crawl through the walls.
Doha tries to extend his spirit sense, but as soon as his consciousness spreads outward, something pushes it back—a dense, invisible weight suppressing all spiritual perception. Even the connection with his Sound Bat flickers, unstable.
So this is Demon Cave energy… he thinks. It disrupts all spiritual networks.
The Sound Bat flies low ahead, and its faintly glowing body gradually dims. A moment later, its form ripples and fades completely—then reforms beside Doha in a wisp of silvery smoke. The group halts instantly.
Doha narrows his eyes, placing a hand on the creature's head. He channels a stream of energy into it, restoring its glow and unlocking its memory echo.
After a few seconds, he lifts his head. "There's a small cavern ahead," he says evenly. "Two creatures inside, and three tunnels branching out."
Torai frowns. "Inside a Demon Cave, that can only mean one thing—Fear Demons."
Han Doyun crosses his arms. "Can your Sound Bat tell us their strength?"
Doha shakes his head. "No. It doesn't sense aura—it perceives through ultrasonic waves only."
Park Haneul exhales, visibly disappointed. "Ah… so we're going in blind."
Before the air can grow tense, Lyra smiles faintly, her voice calm and gentle. "What are you all sighing for? Even without aura detection, Doha's doing better than any Magic Painter at his level."
That draws quiet nods of agreement.
"Alright," Skylar says, her tone clipped but steady. "We advance carefully."
They move forward. The tunnel gradually widens, opening into a dim, echoing chamber—the cavern the Sound Bat had described.
Doha's eyes sharpen.
In the centre of the chamber, two Fear Demons crouch.
Two lizard-like creatures stand upright on their hind legs, jagged black scales glistening like shards of obsidian. Their forearms end in massive hooked claws, and sickly green light flickers in their eyes. A foul, rotting stench fills the air as they growl—low, guttural, and hungry.
The sound sends ripples through everyone's nerves.
Then they lunge.
Tyke reacts instantly, slamming his palms forward. A magic shield blooms in front of the group—a glowing wall of gold light that meets the demons' claws with a deafening crack.
Doha watches them, and for the first time, he feels fear.
It's not simple fright—it's deep, primal, invasive. His chest tightens, his breath shortens, and something unseen scratches against his spirit, whispering thoughts that aren't his own.
Beside him, Torai collapses onto his knees, trembling uncontrollably, his teeth chattering. The colour drains from his face.
"Damn it!" Tyke roars, holding the barrier steady as Han Doyun steps up, channelling dark energy through his palms. A coil of Negative Energy bursts forward, hissing through the air like black fire, striking one of the fear demons square in the chest.
The creature shrieks, its body convulsing as the corruption eats into its scales.
Behind them, Park Haneul mutters an incantation, flinging fireballs to cover Tyke's defence. Bright orange flames explode against the cave walls, lighting the battle with furious brilliance.
The two Fear Demons thrash and claw wildly, but their movements are clumsy—low-ranked, unrefined, and reckless.
Compared to the magicians' combined assault, they are no match.
Within moments, Tyke drives his enchanted shield forward like a hammer, crushing one of the demons into the wall with a loud crack. Doyun finishes the other with a spiral of black fire that melts through its chest.
The air trembles—and then falls silent.
As the corpses disintegrate into dark mist, the stifling presence vanishes. The fear pressing on everyone's spirits dissolves like fog under sunlight.
Doha exhales slowly, his heartbeat steadying.
Torai, pale and sweating, stares blankly ahead. "What… what happened to me?"
Skylar steps forward, her expression calm but firm. "Everyone feels fear when they first face a Fear Demon. It attacks the spirit directly. The more you face them, the less hold that fear will have."
She glances at Doha, eyes narrowing with faint approval. "You're calm, Doha. If I didn't know this was your first time, I'd have thought you were a veteran of demon cave expeditions."
Doha gives a small smile and nods, but his mind drifts elsewhere.
That fear wasn't natural. It wasn't the kind of fear born from danger—it was spiritual, almost divine. The Fear Demon God's influence runs deep… if its power can manifest so vividly through its spawn, then perhaps—
—It's not truly sealed.
A chill passes through him, colder than the cave air. I need to recover my strength faster, he thinks, eyes darkening. If that god awakens, this world won't survive.
Skylar signals forward. "We'll take the left tunnel."
The group regroups, and Doha follows behind, his creatures walking silently in formation. The darkness grows thicker as they move deeper into the cave.
Back in Mouel City, Merilyn arrives home after another long day at the office. She places her purse down, sits on the couch, and calls Doha.
The phone rings once, twice—then cuts to silence.
She frowns and tries again, but the line shows no signal.
Staring at the darkened screen, she sighs softly. "Maybe he's gone into the deep forest again for inspiration."
Her words fade into the quiet house, unaware that her husband is now walking beneath the earth, where light—and safety—no longer reach.