Episode 7: Ember of the Forgotten Village

Kuro Jin staggered forward, each step slower than the last.

The forest trail stretched endlessly ahead, blurred by pain. His vision flickered, colors dimming at the edges. Blood trickled from a deep gash on his side, soaking through the Shadow Cloak.

[Warning: HP Critical – 12% Remaining]

[Debuff Active: Blood Loss – -5 HP per minute]

[Time Remaining to Reach Objective: 5 Hours 12 Minutes]

He gritted his teeth.

"I can't die here... not when I just started."

The smoke trail on the horizon was gone—blown away by wind, or maybe it was never a town at all.

Jin collapsed to one knee.

"I won't... make it to Elaria like this..."

His fingers trembled as he opened his inventory. No health potions left. Just the Elite Loot Chest... and a dream.

Then—

creeaak

A wooden cart wheel?

A voice?

"...Who's that? Hey! Someone's there!"

Jin's blurry vision caught silhouettes—a lantern's warm glow and soft footfalls in the brush.

Two villagers approached, wearing thick cloaks and straw hats. A girl with braided hair and sharp eyes leaned over him.

"By the gods... he's not from around here."

"We need to get him to Elder Hara. Now."

Jin tried to speak, but everything went black.

---

[Cutscene: Memory Glitch Detected]

Accessing... Hidden System File: Divine Code

Synchronizing with Host: Kuro Jin

…Synchronization 23%...

…Corrupted Data Repaired...

---

Some Time Later…

He awoke to the sound of crackling fire and the scent of herbs.

"...Where am I?"

"You're safe. For now."

The voice belonged to an old man sitting beside him, eyes glowing faintly silver. A strange rune flickered on his palm as he cast a healing spell.

"You were half-dead when my granddaughter found you. This is Ember Hollow—our village hidden in the edge of Whispering Woods."

[Location Discovered: Ember Hollow – Hidden Village]

[Population: 28 | Status: Neutral]

[World Note: This village does not exist on any known maps.]

Jin's fingers twitched.

"I should be in Elaria... there's a quest..."

The old man raised a brow.

"You're marked by something ancient. A system that shouldn't belong in this world."

Jin sat up slightly.

"You know about the system?"

Elder Hara nodded, gravely.

"I've seen fragments of it… Long ago, when another outworlder arrived."

Jin's eyes widened. "I'm not the first?"

The elder didn't answer.

Instead, he looked toward the door. "Rest for now. Tomorrow, the forest will no longer protect you."

[Quest Updated – Side Path Chosen]

Main Story: Rise of the Divine Emperor

New Objective: Recover in Ember Hollow (1 Day Remaining)

Optional Quest Unlocked: Secrets Beneath the Village

Reward: Unknown

As the fire crackled beside him, Jin stared at the wooden ceiling.

"Maybe... this detour isn't so bad."

But outside the hut, shadows moved through the trees. Eyes watched from beyond the mist—silent and ancient.

And deep beneath Ember Hollow, something stirred.

[To Be Continued…]

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