A Man in The Shadows

The chaos of the fight continued to echo in the distance, the sounds of clashing metal and shouts resonating through the air. Away from the battle, a shadow slipped through the wreckage of the village, its movements swift and calculated. A man in the black, clad in black and masked, tread softly among the ruins, his sharp eyes scanning the devastation. His steps came to an abrupt halt as a muffled groan reached his ears from beneath a pile of collapsed beams.

He crouched by the debris, his slender hands working quickly to remove the rubble. The moonlight caught faintly on his frame, highlighting a figure that looked more scholar than fighter. As he pulled away a particularly heavy beam, he uncovered Leader Yang, bloodied but alive. The older man's leg was bent unnaturally, and his face bore streaks of dirt and blood.

"Hang on, Leader Yang," He murmured, his voice calm and soothing. He slipped off his mask, revealing a pale snow white face and intense, focused eyes. From a pouch on his side, he retrieved a small vial of fragrant herbal salve and began carefully applying it to the mangled leg. Leader Yang grimaced but bore the pain in silence as he wrapped the wound with a clean bandage.

After a moment, Leader Yang's eyes opened, blinking away the haze of pain. His gaze settled on Him,

recognition flickering in his expression. "San Woo…" he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "You… got me out."

San Woo nodded as he secured the bandage. "Yes, Leader Yang. Rest easy for a moment."

The older man coughed, his lips curling into a wry smile despite the agony in his body. "Thank you, San Woo. If not for you, I'd still be under that building."

San Woo sat back on his heels, his eyes flicking toward the distant sounds of battle. Leader Yang, noticing the tense look in his savior's eyes, asked weakly, "What's going on out there? What's all the noise?"

San Woo hesitated for a brief moment before answering. "Lee Kang and So Hyeon are fighting. They've engaged the enemy and are holding their ground, but it's not an easy fight."

Leader Yang's eyes sharpened despite his weakened state. "They're holding their ground?"

"Yes," San Woo affirmed, his voice steady though doubt lingered in his heart. "Don't worry, old man. Lee Kang and So Hyeon will handle it. They've held out against worse."

Leader Yang gave a faint nod, but his gaze remained troubled. "What about the children? Did you find them?"

San Woo paused before answering, his voice softer this time. "Yes. They're in good shape. I'll go to them once I've handled your injuries." The words were a lie, but his tone carried conviction, easing Leader Yang's concerns.

The older man exhaled deeply, relief washing over his features. "Good… Go to them already. I'll be fine."

San Woo stood, pulling his mask back over his face. "Take care, Leader Yang," he said before slipping back into the shadows, leaving the elder to rest.

San Woo moved swiftly through the ruins, his sharp eyes scanning every corner as he navigated the village. The moonlight illuminated patches of broken walls and shattered carts, but he found no sign of the children. His heart pounded as he continued his search, the distant sounds of battle spurring him on.

Finally, he reached a partially intact house near the village's edge. Inside, the faint glow of moonlight revealed two figures arguing in hushed tones. Peering through the broken wooden slats, San Woo identified the children—Jin Seok and Min Joon.

"What the hell do you mean by touching him?" Jin Seok demanded, his voice low but laced with frustration.

Min Joon, despite the tense situation, looked almost excited. "I'm serious! The grunt earlier fell to the ground the moment he touched you. If you can just touch this guy, I think you can—"

"—And get myself sliced in half by that scythe?" Jin Seok interrupted, his tone incredulous. "We need a real plan, not suicide."

San Woo's lips twitched beneath his mask, suppressing a small smile. The kids were sharp, even in dire circumstances. Pushing the door open gently, he stepped into the house. "Good to see you both are still alive," he said quietly, his voice startling the duo.

They spun around, eyes wide. Jin Seok's hand instinctively went to a nearby stick, while Min Joon grabbed a jagged piece of wood both ready to fight.

"Easy," San Woo said, holding his hands up in a gesture of peace. "I'm here to help."

San Woo looked at Min Joon, a glimmer of doubt in his eyes. "Hey, kid, what do you mean by the one next to you touching him?" he asked, his voice wondering the answer.

Min Joon remained silent, his face serious. He didn't answer to the man they had just met, choosing instead to focus on him,wondering who was he.His expression was firm, though, showing he wasn't about to give any information easily.

San Woo sighed heavily, and with a swift motion, he pulled off his mask with one hand. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small wooden plate engraved with the words "Iron Will Sect." "Do you trust me now?" he asked, his voice taking on a more serious tone.

Jin Seok, still wary but a bit less hostile, glanced at Min Joon before sighting and talking to Min Joon. "If he wanted to hurt us, he would've done it already instead of trying to convince us Min Joon," Jin Seok whispered, his annoyance clear. Min Joon looked at him deeply, then began to explain. "I don't know how, but I think he will be able to help you guys, just by touching him."

Min Joon's words seemed to weigh heavily on Jin Seok, but he tried to ignore them. San Woo raised an eyebrow and stepped closer, his gaze sharpening. "And how do you know that?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity.

Min Joon's tone was grim as he continued. "While we were bound and blindfolded, that man Lee Kang and So Hyeon are fighting talked about Jin Seok... he killed some of his men just by them touching him."

San Woo's mind raced as he processed this information. But how? he thought to himself, Did he have poison around his body? But if he had poison IQ, So Hyeon would've told us...

His confusion deepened as Min Joon spoke again. "He also mentioned something about draining their Demonic... something."

San Woo's eyes widened at this revelation. His thoughts became more chaotic as he pieced the fragments together, but before he could respond, his attention turned back to Jin Seok, who was looking both confused and irritated.

"That's not possible," San Woo muttered under his breath, his suspicion giving way to curiosity and concern. He stepped toward Jin Seok, his movements deliberate.

Jin Seok tensed, his body instinctively going on guard. "What are you doing?" he growled, taking a step back.

But before Jin Seok could react, San Woo was faster. With a single, swift motion, San Woo pinned Jin Seok to the ground, his strength overwhelming. Jin Seok tried to push him off, but San Woo's grip was ironclad.

"Calm down," San Woo said, his voice firm. With slow, calculated movements, he placed his hand on Jin Seok's pulse, feeling for any unusual signs. His eyes widened as he felt the faint but unmistakable flow of energy beneath his skin.

Jin Seok's pulse was steady, but it was the energy flowing through him that shocked San Woo—Demonic IQ. His mind raced. How could this be? he wondered. How does he have Demonic IQ inside his body did Min Joon was right,Did this boy could drain the IQ of Demons?

San Woo looked at Jin Seok with new understanding and confusion, his thoughts swirling. Jin Seok tried to shake him off, struggling to free himself, but San Woo held firm.

"What is this?" San Woo muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

Jin Seok shot him an annoyed glare. "Let me go," he demanded, growing more irritated by the second.