Report
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Griffin Scans
Author – Hero of death
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Chapter 4 - The Vessel of Prophecy
Ji-Won’s hands curled into trembling fists as he faced Jojo, the mysterious leader of the Travelers of Darkness.
“What do you mean by… vessel?”
Ji-Won asked, his voice uneasy but firm.
Jojo smiled with unnerving calm, leaning back into the obsidian throne. The silver-threaded phoenix and dragon on his cloak seemed to shimmer with life.
“Just as the name suggests,” Jojo replied.
“You are to become the body through which Dell’Thos—the God of Shadows—will awaken. Through his power, you will rebuild the world. A world where no child starves. A world of balance. A world reborn through shadow.”
Ji-Won frowned. “That… sounds noble. But why me?”
“Because it was written,” Jojo said, eyes glowing faintly.
“Destiny chose you long before you were born. You’ve had the dreams, haven’t you?”
Ji-Won blinked. “What dreams?”
“The nightmares,” Jojo said softly.
“Of monsters. Of darkness. Of death. They’re not dreams… they’re echoes. Prophecies. You sent them to yourself, or perhaps Dell’Thos sent them. The future echoes backward through time when fate is strong enough.”
Ji-Won took a small step back, his breath caught in his chest. This all felt too surreal.
“So, you're telling me... I’m the chosen one, because of a dream?”
Jojo nodded. “You are the only one who can contain Dell’Thos’ power without being destroyed.”
They must be kidding, Ji-Won thought. This sounds insane. I’m not some cult leader’s fantasy puppet. I have to break their logic… challenge it.
He straightened and asked,
“If you truly believe in prophetic dreams… then you should already know what I’m going to ask next.”
Jojo smiled before Ji-Won could even finish the thought.
“would you be able to meet your mom?” jojo said gently.
“You will see your mother again.”
Ji-Won froze. His throat tightened.
How…? How did he know that was my next question?
Jojo rose from the throne slowly. His presence filled the room like the shadow of a mountain.
“In this world,” he said,
“prophecy, time, and magic are threads in the same tapestry. Your past and future are already intertwined. You may not believe it now, Ji-Won, but you are a vessel, and a savior. Dell’Thos does not choose lightly.”
For a moment, Ji-Won felt a flicker of something in his chest—hope, or perhaps pride. Could I really be a hero? A god’s chosen?
But then the darker thought returned.
Or… am I just the perfect tool?
He looked at Jojo, who stood so tall, so certain.
What if they’re not trying to make me a savior? What if they’re just raising me to be the perfect sacrifice… the perfect body for their god?
Ji-Won’s gaze lowered to his hands, the shadow cloak faintly pulsing on his skin.
I need to figure out the truth… before it’s too late.
Ji-Won’s mind raced. If I can’t escape yet… then I have to survive. I need to play along. Gather strength. Learn everything I can… then find a way out of this madness.
He looked Jojo in the eyes and took a breath.
“You’re right. I think I am the destined one. What do I need to do to contain this… ‘Shadow of Veil’? How do I become strong enough to tame it and awaken Dell’Thos?”
Jojo’s face lit up—not with surprise, but with approval, as though he had been waiting for this moment.
“You only need to learn magic,” Jojo replied simply.
Ji-Won blinked. “Magic? And who’s going to teach me that?”
Jojo’s eyes glinted.
“Of course, me. Who else? Why would I be here if not to guide the vessel of Dell’Thos? It is my destiny to prepare you. To reawaken our god. To shape you into a living shadow of power.”
Ji-Won tried to suppress a shiver. The calm certainty in Jojo’s voice made everything feel heavier.
“You’re from another world,” Jojo continued.
“Your magic origin is different. Dormant. But that also means your body holds untapped potential. However, to access it, you need to become strong enough. Mana can’t flow through a weak body. It’ll tear you apart.”
“So, what? I train?” Ji-Won asked.
Jojo smiled faintly. “No. You suffer.”
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The Month of Shadow Training
What followed was nothing short of hell.
Every morning, Ji-Won was awakened before dawn. His meals were meager—bread, soup, a few wild berries. Then came the training.
A thousand push-ups.
A thousand sit-ups.
Weighted squats with massive stones.
Balance drills on the edge of cliffs.
Hours of meditation while standing in freezing water.
Pain. Exhaustion. Blisters. Blood.
Again. Again. Again.
There were no breaks. No words of encouragement. Only Jojo’s voice cutting through the air like a blade:
“Again.”
“Your body is weak.”
“Pain is the gate to mana.”
“You are the vessel. You must not break.”
The shadow cloak clung to Ji-Won’s body tighter each day, pulsing against his skin, feeding on his sweat, his effort, his will. At times, he thought he heard it whisper to him in the dark.
At night, when he collapsed into sleep, visions plagued him—black stars, shattered worlds, whispers in languages he didn’t understand.
And through it all, Jojo watched.
I have to endure this, Ji-Won told himself.
This isn’t my end. It’s just the beginning. If I survive this… I’ll be ready for whatever comes next.
~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter End~~~~~~~~~~
