[POV — Seongji Yuk]
The fog had rolled in thick that morning, curling around the forest like fingers of a restless spirit. Cheonliang was quiet—a silence that was never natural. The kind of quiet that made every snap of a twig scream.
Seongji Yuk adjusted the strap of his worn bag, watching the small group approaching from the edge of the path. Five kids, faces smeared with dirt and determination, walked in a line that was more tentative than disciplined. They had heard the rumors—the stories of a boy who couldn't be beaten, and of the monster that walked the mountains.
They were strong… but not enough to survive what Cheonliang demanded.
The tallest among them, a boy with broad shoulders, puffed his chest out as if proving something to the forest itself. The girl trailing slightly behind him, however, Seongji immediately noticed, held herself differently. Calm, precise, and exuding a quiet confidence. Mary Kim. Judo champion of her school. He had heard of her reputation. She would be the backbone of this group.
Seongji stepped out from the shadows of the trees, letting his presence fall heavy on them before he even spoke.
"You're early," he said, voice low, smooth. Not threatening—but every word carried weight.
The children froze, scanning the forest nervously, until one of the boys, the self-declared leader, stepped forward. "Are you the monster?" he asked, voice shaking despite his bravado.
Seongji smiled faintly. "Depends on who's asking."
He motioned for them to sit on a flat section of rock. The fog swirled around them like smoke from an invisible fire. "Cheonliang doesn't care about strength alone," Seongji began. "It tests everything—your resolve, your instincts, your fear, your loyalty. You think you're strong… but out here, everyone starts as weak."
Mary Kim folded her arms, eyes narrowing. "I've won tournaments. Beat boys twice my size."
Seongji's smile deepened, amused. "You've beaten children. Cheonliang doesn't play by school rules."
The boys shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other. Their confidence was obvious, but untested. At most, they were school-bully strong. Not enough for the mountains. Not enough for Cheonliang.
[POV — Ethan Cross]
From the shadows across the clearing, Ethan watched them. Small, bruised, half-expecting them to run when the fog got heavier. But Mary Kim… now she was interesting. She held herself like she was used to controlling fights. Her calm, calculating gaze met his from a distance.
Ethan's lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile.
The boy leading them—Jewoo, he introduced himself—was loud, brash, trying to act bigger than he was. He didn't notice Ethan at first. That was good. It made things… more fun.
A leaf fell in front of Ethan. He caught it mid-air without looking. That alone told him these kids had instinct. Raw instinct. But unrefined. Broken. Hungry. Perfect.
Seongji had done well to call them here. This mountain was the first step.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
The lesson was simple. Survival depended on observation first.
"Follow me," Seongji instructed. "Do not speak unless I tell you. Do not act unless necessary. Watch. Move with intention. One mistake, and Cheonliang will remind you why monsters eat the unprepared."
The kids followed hesitantly, Mary Kim stepping lightly as if already calculating every branch, stone, and slope. The others tripped over roots, complained quietly, but they followed.
Seongji glanced back and nodded slightly at Ethan. "You know your role."
Ethan only grinned, shadows of teeth flashing. "Always."
[POV — Vin Jin]
He had been hiding near the ridge, watching. The rumors of Seongji Yuk's group, the so-called "monsters," had reached him through whispers in Cheonliang's streets.
Vin Jin had grown up believing the world wanted him dead. His polycoria—multiple pupils in one eye—had marked him as a monster in the cult that raised him. He had learned early that arrogance was survival, cruelty a shield, and trust a lie.
But something about the group down there… something about Seongji, caught his attention.
He adjusted his sunglasses, hiding the pain and the constant whirl of trauma behind them. A group of children—stronger than average, yes—but only one truly remarkable: Mary Kim. That girl could move like wind and strike like iron. He felt the pull of competition. Respect. And the shadow of something darker… curiosity.
He would wait. Watch. And when the time came, he would decide if they were worth his allegiance—or his challenge.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
They reached a clearing where the wind whistled through jagged rocks.
"Here," Seongji said, "you will see what Cheonliang truly is."
From the fog emerged movement. At first, just shadows. Then, a figure—small, emaciated, yet moving with a predator's grace. Ethan stepped forward, the boy with the smile that could split a skull and charm a monster in the same breath.
The children gasped. Mary Kim's eyes widened slightly, the first sign of real surprise.
Seongji spoke calmly. "This is your first lesson: strength alone does not save you. Awareness, instinct, and courage do."
Ethan's smile widened. He crouched lightly, eyes glinting. "And a little madness helps too."
Mary Kim stepped forward instinctively, muscles coiling. "I want to try."
Seongji raised an eyebrow. "Are you ready?"
She nodded. Not bravely. Not recklessly. With measured certainty.
[POV — Ethan Cross]
The first engagement was simple but brutal.
Mary Kim moved first. A dodge, a roll, a grab. Her judo skill was flawless—enough to flip Ethan off balance, if only slightly. He let her, feeling the thrill of a fight that wasn't about survival yet, but about testing limits.
The other kids tried, failed, but learned instantly. Reflexes sharpened, fear morphed into focus, and under Seongji's watchful eye, they began to understand the difference between a playground fight and Cheonliang training.
Vin Jin watched from the ridge. The way Mary Kim's movements tore through the chaos of the forest… he felt respect stir for the first time in years. The instinct to dominate faded, replaced by something unfamiliar: anticipation.
[POV — Seongji Yuk]
By nightfall, the children sat around a fire, exhausted and exhilarated.
"Cheonliang does not forgive weakness," Seongji reminded them. "You will train, you will fight, and you will survive. If you cannot learn from this mountain, you cannot survive the streets, the cult, or your own mistakes."
Ethan sat beside him, polishing his fingers on the edge of the firelight. "And if you try hard enough," he said, grinning like a demon, "you might just enjoy it."
Mary Kim glanced at him, frowning slightly, then back at Seongji. For the first time, she considered the idea that surviving Cheonliang didn't just mean living—it meant becoming stronger than anyone around you, faster, smarter, deadlier.
The mountain watched silently. Shadows moved in the fog, eyes waiting. And somewhere beyond the ridge, Vin Jin made his decision.
Cheonliang had found its monsters—and its future allies.