Far from the mystical forest, deep within the caverns of Mt. Inwang, he stirred.
The walls pulsed with a crimson glow as ancient glyphs shimmered to life. A massive obsidian mirror at the chamber's center cracked down the middle.
From the shadows emerged a figure—tall, clad in tattered robes stained with old blood. Long black hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his fox ears twitched at the hum of awakening magic.
His name once echoed through legend like a curse: The Crimson Fang.
But now, the world had nearly forgotten him.
Nearly.
His eyes snapped open—deep red and burning. "She returns…" he whispered, voice ragged but sharp. "The flame I bled to break."
From the side of the chamber, a lesser spirit trembled. "My lord… the Seal has shattered. The gumiho prince walks again… and the Flamebearer—she breathes."
The Crimson Fang's smile was cruel and thin.
"So fate dares to rethread what I unraveled."
He walked toward the obsidian mirror. "Let them rekindle their pact. Let the girl remember who she was. I will burn it all again… and this time, I will make her watch."
He raised a clawed hand. With a swift motion, the mirror rippled and revealed Taemin and Hana standing in the Shaman's sanctuary.
He focused on Hana.
"You still wear that innocent face," he muttered. "But I know what's behind those eyes. And I will drag it out of you, flame or not."
The spirit bowed low. "Should we strike now?"
"No," the Crimson Fang replied. "Let the flame grow. Let them hope."
He turned away, disappearing into a swirling vortex of dark fire.
"And then I will be the one to extinguish it forever."
---
Back in the forest shrine, Hana flinched.
"Did you feel that?" she whispered.
Taemin looked up sharply. "Yes. A thread of darkness just reached through the Veil."
The Shaman's face was pale. "He knows. The Crimson Fang has awakened."
Hana looked between them.
"Then we'd better start running… or we learn how to fight back."
---