Chapter 1: The Blade Awakens
The neon lights of Neo-Seoul flickered against the damp streets, casting long shadows that danced like ghosts of the past. The rain had just begun to fall, soft droplets tapping against the steel rooftops, washing away the bloodstains that had long been embedded in the city's underbelly.
Kim Han sat alone in a dimly lit ramen shop, his hood pulled low over his face. His calloused fingers traced the rim of his ceramic cup, the steam from his tea swirling like memories he had tried to bury. It had been five years since he last held a sword. Five years since he walked away from the path of a warrior.
But the past was never truly buried.
The door slid open with a harsh creak, and Han's muscles tensed. He didn't need to turn around to know who had entered—he could feel her presence, sharp and undeniable. Aya Nakamura moved like a shadow, her combat boots barely making a sound on the wooden floor. She took a seat across from him, her dark eyes scanning him with a mixture of urgency and relief.
"You've been hiding long enough, Han."
He exhaled slowly, lifting his gaze to meet hers. "And yet, you still found me."
Aya leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Daichi Sato is looking for you."
Han's grip tightened on the cup. The name sent a familiar chill down his spine. Daichi—the man who had murdered his family in cold blood. The man who had turned him into a ghost.
Aya continued, "The Black Lotus Syndicate is growing stronger. They own this city now. If you don't stop him, no one will."
Han let out a dry chuckle. "What makes you think I care?"
Aya's expression darkened. "Because you do. Because you still carry the weight of your past. You can't escape it, Han."
A long silence stretched between them. The rain outside grew heavier, drumming against the pavement like a war cry. Han closed his eyes for a brief moment, remembering the blood, the screams, the night everything was taken from him.
Aya reached into her coat and slid something across the table. A blade—his blade. The Kurozetsu, a legendary katana forged in the ashes of vengeance.
"I kept it for you," she said softly. "In case you ever decided to fight again."
Han stared at the sword for what felt like an eternity. His reflection shimmered in the polished steel, showing him a man he no longer recognized.
Aya's voice was firm. "If you don't stop Daichi, more people will die. Is that something you can live with?"
Han finally reached out, his fingers brushing against the hilt. A storm raged within him—fear, anger, purpose. He had tried to run from his destiny, but the truth was undeniable.
The blade had been waiting for him.
And now, it was time to awaken.
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