The Start of an Adventure

I woke up with a volatile warm and wet feeling on a dirty cot. I recalled the previous events of fighting Kyung. I began to break in a sweat once I remembered what he said before dragging me into their house.

My grim thoughts were quickly dissipated once Kyung and Jiho entered the room. Their gazes seemed more sharp and harmful now that I had been subject to their scheming and assault.

The air was musty, filthy, and cold. The lamp above barely produced enough light to illuminate the entire room. The room had wooden walls covered in images depicting a demon and angel fighting in multiple scenes over a seemingly octahedron structure or item. The bed was musty and soiled with grime and filth. My clothing was covered in dirt. My sword was nestled in the worn hands of Jiho.

My observations were quickly interrupted by Jiho's voice. He spoke quickly and was concise.

"You probably think we are reprobates after what just happened but let me assure you, it was for your safety. This world is full of chaos as people strive for unending power and strength to rival that of a deity or demon. Herein this matter, we knew it was fully necessary for you to be tested in such a brutal manner to discover whether you would be able to survive in this brutal world."

"Tch, I heard such when you fucking paralyzed me dumbass."

At that reply he said nothing, pausing to contemplate what to do next.

"Well you said this world was brutal, then why don't you start with what the hell this place is then, hm?"

"You want to know? Then I'll tell you." Kyung responded with a hint of hostility in his voice mixed with annoyance. "This world is known as the Demon's Keep, a large structure similar to that of a massive octahedron as depicted on these walls. You either go up or down. It is said if you go up, you obtain the powers of a deity but if you descend, you receive the powers of a devil. However, the methods of reaching these endpoints highly differ as to climb, you slaughter anyone and everything whereas going down, you fight as a team."

"Then wouldn't going down be the deity path as gods fight together, no?"

"Wrong. Since when has a god or deity worked together. They orchestrate their powers alone, not in legions or mass forces. A devil; however, fights in large groups in a mass force."

"Then why hasn't a large number of people reached the top or bottom and asserted dominance by slaughtering everyone already if this world is so fucking brutal?"

"Only a single person has attained the powers of a god and only a single person has obtained the Devil's powers."

"Didn't you say the devil path needs a team?"

"They did had a team. Except being the weak idiots they were, they died along the way leaving him as a one man team. This world is cruel, if you want to survive, you need to learn something before going up or down, channeling."

"The hell is that."

"I'm getting there dumbass. Channeling is a form of withdrawing external and internal energy to release in another form than through fists. Channeling is essentially magic."

Jiho interrupted him saying "And Kyung over here is going to teach you."

"I was getting to that old man."

Kyung seemed quite irritable, not sure how this will go but I guess I'll have to hope for the best.

We quickly went out to a large yard. The yard had ample decorations spread out across it. There was a metal gate with vines and flowers twisting around the intricate designs with the leaves and flowers twisting together into a crown of vegetation at the top. There was an old fountain with tiles all kinds of colors with floral patterns all over. There was a pond with branches reaching over to touch the lily pads that floated peacefully over the water. There were insects flitting gaily from branch to leave to lily pad.

Kyung quickly interrupted my thoughts by saying "You ready to learn to channel or are you going to stand around looking at the decor like a toddler some more."