Chapter 1 – The Heavenly Demon’s Game

The rain fell quietly over the city.

Police sirens echoed in the distance, but inside the dark apartment, everything was silent.

A man sat on the floor.

Blood spread slowly across the wooden tiles.

His name was Kang Jinhyuk.

In front of him lay three bodies.

His expression was calm… almost bored.

“Is that all?” he muttered.

The thrill he once felt when killing someone had long disappeared. Every victim was the same. The same fear. The same begging.

Humans were predictable.

Footsteps suddenly echoed outside.

“POLICE! OPEN THE DOOR!”

Jinhyuk smiled faintly.

“So they finally came.”

He stood up and walked toward the window. The red and blue lights of police cars flashed below.

There was no escape.

But he never planned to escape anyway.

Life had already become boring.

The door burst open.

Armed officers rushed inside.

“DROP YOUR WEAPON!”

Jinhyuk slowly turned toward them, holding the knife loosely in his hand.

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then—

BANG.

Gunshots echoed.

Everything turned black.

Jinhyuk slowly opened his eyes.

“…Am I dead?”

But this was not heaven. And it definitely wasn’t hell.

He stood in an endless black space.

There was no ground. No sky. Only darkness.

Suddenly—

A voice echoed across the void.

Deep. Ancient. Powerful.

“Interesting.”

Jinhyuk turned around.

A man sat on a throne made of shadows.

His long black hair floated like smoke, and his eyes glowed crimson.

Even without moving, his presence crushed the surrounding space.

“Who are you?” Jinhyuk asked calmly.

The man smiled.

“I am the one humans fear and worship.”

“The ruler of the Demonic Path.”

“The one they call…”

“The Heavenly Demon.”

Jinhyuk stared at him silently.

Instead of fear… he felt curiosity.

The Heavenly Demon laughed.

“You died without regret.”

“You killed without guilt.”

“You are… quite entertaining.”

Jinhyuk crossed his arms.

“So what? Are you here to judge me?”

The Heavenly Demon leaned forward slightly.

“No.”

“I am bored.”

For thousands of years, the Heavenly Demon had watched the Murim world.

Heroes. Villains. Wars between sects.

But everything had become predictable.

Until he saw Kang Jinhyuk.

A human without empathy.

A perfect monster.

“So,” the Heavenly Demon said with a grin, “I will give you a new life.”

Suddenly the darkness trembled.

A strange energy surrounded Jinhyuk’s body.

“You will enter the world of Murim.”

“A world of martial artists… sects… and endless killing.”

Jinhyuk’s eyes slowly lit up with excitement.

“For what reason?”

The Heavenly Demon’s smile widened.

“Entertainment.”

A glowing symbol suddenly appeared on Jinhyuk’s chest.

“This is my gift.”

“Every time you kill someone strong…”

“You will absorb their memories, emotions, and martial arts.”

Jinhyuk chuckled quietly.

“That sounds fun.”

“But be careful.”

The Heavenly Demon’s voice became colder.

“The more minds you absorb…”

“The more unstable you will become.”

“Eventually, you may lose yourself.”

Jinhyuk didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t care.”

For the first time in years, his heart was beating faster.

The Heavenly Demon laughed loudly.

“Good.”

“Then let the game begin.”

The darkness shattered.

Jinhyuk felt his body falling endlessly.

Wind roared around him.

And then—

THUD.

He crashed onto the cold ground.

Pain shot through his body.

Jinhyuk slowly opened his eyes.

He was lying in the middle of a forest.

His body felt weak.

His clothes were old and torn.

But in the distance… he heard something.

The sound of swords clashing.

Martial artists fighting.

Jinhyuk slowly stood up.

A strange smile spread across his face.

“Murim, huh…”

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Let’s see how long you survive.”

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