Episode 9: Bound by Fate

The air turned frigid.

A low whisper slithered through the room, curling around their ears, sinking into their bones.

"He will not leave this place alive."

Naabi clutched Jae-min’s arm. Cold. Too cold.

His body trembled against her touch, his breath shallow. The mark on his skin pulsed—growing darker, spreading.

The spirit wasn’t just marking him.

It was consuming him.

Joon-woo cursed under his breath. "We need to get out of here. NOW."

Greenforest nodded. “I’ll carry him.”

Naabi’s heart pounded as Greenforest hoisted Jae-min onto his back.

The spirit laughed.

"Run all you want. His fate is sealed."

Then—

The doors slammed shut.

The Descent Begins

Naabi’s breath caught in her throat. Trapped.

She turned to Joon-woo. "We have to break it down!"

But before he could move—

The ground beneath them cracked.

The stone floor split apart, and suddenly—

They were falling.

Naabi screamed as she plunged into the darkness, the cold air whipping past her.

Then—

A hard impact.

Her body slammed against something solid, the breath knocked from her lungs.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Then—

A groan beside her.

Joon-woo.

She turned her head, eyes adjusting to the dim light. They had landed in what seemed to be a buried chamber—the walls were lined with torches, burning with an eerie blue flame.

And in the center—

An altar.

The Ritual Begins

Greenforest landed with a grunt, Jae-min still slung over his shoulder. Min-kyu and the others stumbled to their feet, eyes darting around in panic.

“Where are we?” Min-kyu muttered.

Naabi’s stomach churned.

She already knew.

They were in the spirit’s domain.

The moment she thought it, a gust of icy wind blew through the chamber.

A figure appeared by the altar.

The spirit.

Only now, she wasn’t alone.

Shadows swirled around her—dark, shifting figures whispering in a language Naabi couldn’t understand.

"The debt must be paid."

Jae-min cried out in pain. The mark on his body burned brighter, his fingers clutching his chest.

Naabi ran to his side, gripping his hand.

“No! You can’t take him!”

The spirit’s eyes glowed.

"Then one of you must take his place."

The words hung in the air.

Heavy. Unforgiving.

The choice was clear.

Someone had to die.

The Sacrifice

Silence.

No one moved.

Naabi’s heart pounded. Would one of them actually step forward?

Then—

Greenforest spoke.

“I’ll do it.”

Naabi’s breath hitched.

“What? No!” She grabbed his arm, shaking her head violently. “You can’t—”

But Greenforest’s gaze was steady.

"If it’s me or Jae-min, I’d rather it be me."

The spirit smiled.

"How noble."

She lifted a hand, and suddenly—

A blade appeared.

A long, ancient dagger, gleaming in the eerie light.

"Then take it."

Greenforest’s fingers trembled as he reached for the blade.

Naabi couldn’t breathe.

If he took it—if he did this—

Would they really be safe?

Or was this only the beginning?

To Be Continued…

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