Chapter 45: The Calm Before the Storm
The air inside the abandoned temple was heavy with the scent of blood, sweat, and burning torches. The survivors of the battle—Daijin's group, the Kisaragi warriors, and Kim Han's newly arrived squad—had gathered within its stone walls, tending to their wounds and preparing for what lay ahead.
Despite the victory, the mood was far from celebratory. Everyone knew Tenshi wouldn't let this go unanswered.
Kim Han stood in the center of the room, his presence commanding yet eerily calm. His black coat, still stained with the blood of his enemies, barely moved as the cold wind howled through the cracks in the walls.
Aya leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching him with a knowing look. Taro and Mikasa sat nearby, sharpening their weapons, their expressions unreadable.
Daijin, still recovering from his wounds, sat on a stone bench, watching Kim Han with a mix of curiosity and silent gratitude.
"You came just in time," Daijin finally said, breaking the silence. "Again."
Kim Han didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied the battered warriors around him. Then, his gaze locked onto Daijin.
"I promised," Kim Han said simply.
Daijin exhaled, shaking his head. "Yeah. You did."
A Tension Unspoken
Yeon, who had been eerily quiet, finally stepped forward. Her eyes were on Kim Han, but her expression was unreadable.
"You knew," she said softly.
Kim Han didn't flinch. "I did."
Daijin's eyes flickered between the two, catching the weight in Yeon's voice. He had seen that look before—back when Kim Han first saw her in Tenshi's stronghold.
"You recognized her," Daijin murmured. "Back then, when we were trapped. That's why you moved so quickly to get here."
Kim Han's jaw tightened. "I had no choice."
Yeon stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "You knew who I was… but you didn't say anything."
The room was silent. Everyone else could feel the tension but chose not to interfere.
Finally, Kim Han spoke.
"I had nothing to say."
Yeon clenched her fists. "Is that so?"
Kim Han's eyes darkened. "The past is gone, Yeon. It died the day Daichi took everything from me."
Aya, sensing the conversation was heading into dangerous territory, stepped in. "We don't have time for this. Tenshi is regrouping. If we waste time drowning in old wounds, we'll all be dead before sunrise."
Kim Han nodded, turning back to Daijin. "She's right. We move forward."
Daijin exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if we're going to stand a chance against Tenshi, we need a plan. A real one."
Raizo, who had been listening silently, finally spoke. "My warriors are exhausted. We can't fight another battle so soon. If we're going to strike Tenshi, we need time."
Kim Han's gaze flickered toward him. "You won't get time. Not with him."
Mikasa, still sharpening her blade, spoke without looking up. "Then we need to find his weakness."
Taro smirked. "Everyone has one."
Kim Han's eyes gleamed for a brief second. "Tenshi's weakness isn't a place or a strategy. It's a person."
Daijin's brow furrowed. "Who?"
Kim Han's voice was ice-cold.
"The one thing he's been chasing all these years."
Silence fell over the room as realization dawned on them.
Yeon's face paled.
It was her.
Meanwhile – Tenshi's Inner Sanctum
Deep within his fortress, Tenshi sat in his dimly lit chamber, staring at a map of the city. His fingers tapped idly against the wooden table, his mind lost in thought.
He had suffered a setback. Not a loss—but a reminder.
Kim Han was alive.
And that changed everything.
A slow smile crept onto his lips as he whispered to himself.
"I will return for all of you."
His laughter echoed in the darkness.