Jaden stood at the edge of Master Shang's garden, his boots pressing into the dry, cracking soil. Something felt off.
The plants—once green, lively, full of life—were drooping, their leaves turning yellow and brittle. The herbs Master Shang had so carefully raised now looked like they hadn't been watered for weeks, even though Jaden knew that couldn't be the case. Flowers that used to bloom bright and wide were withered, shriveled like they were scared of something. The air smelled different too—less fresh, almost like ash.
It wasn't just here.
As he walked through the village on his way to Master Shang's home, he noticed the same thing. Crops in the fields were dying, the ground cracked, the air heavy with something unseen. The people looked tired, worried. Something had changed in just a few days.
He stepped closer to the small house and spotted Master Shang at the doorstep, holding a bowl of rice. The old man seemed calm, as always, but the energy around him felt tense.
The moment Master Shang saw Jaden, his eyes widened. "You're back," he said, walking toward him. "What took you so long? You never—"
"What happened here?" Jaden asked sharply, cutting him off before he could finish.
Master Shang raised a brow but didn't look surprised at the urgency in Jaden's voice. "Come," he said, motioning toward the wooden chair near the table where his bowl of rice sat. "Sit first. We'll talk."
Jaden followed him and sat down, though his eyes never stopped scanning the garden. Something was wrong, and he could feel it in his bones.
Master Shang handed him a fresh bowl of rice. "Eat something. You've traveled."
Jaden took it, but he didn't touch the food. His eyes locked onto Master Shang. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.
Master Shang sighed and sat down across from him. "Levi is back."
Jaden's brows furrowed slightly. "Levi?"
Master Shang nodded slowly. "You don't know him. But you should."
He set his bowl down and leaned back in his chair.
"Levi once worked with DC. A strong demon slayer, skilled and sharp. But his heart… it was full of greed. He wanted more power than what was allowed. On missions with other slayers, he began making secret deals with demons instead of killing them. In exchange for power, he gave them something far worse."
Jaden was quiet, listening.
"He traded the souls of his own teammates," Master Shang continued. "Used them like currency."
Jaden's jaw tensed.
"When DC found out," Master Shang said, "they banned him. Cast him out. He vanished for years. But he didn't disappear. No… he made a deal with Sura, the great demon of corruption. In return for more power, Levi promised to burn cities, destroy villages, and wipe out DC itself—the very place that once gave him purpose."
Jaden's eyes narrowed. "And now he's back."
Master Shang nodded. "Everywhere he steps, life dies. Trees, crops, even the sky loses its light. He carries darkness with him like a cloak."
Jaden sat back, staring into the distance. So this was what he had missed while he was gone. In just a few days, Levi's presence had begun poisoning everything.
"Jun came looking for you," Master Shang added. "You weren't back yet, so he left. But it must be serious. For Jun to show up in person... it means Levi isn't just causing trouble. He's tearing things apart."
Jaden stayed quiet, processing.
His thoughts drifted—not to Levi, but to Luna. Her smile. Her eyes. Her voice when she handed him the amulet.
"I met Luna," he said finally, almost like it slipped out on its own.
Master Shang looked up, his expression softening. "Your sister?"
Jaden nodded.
"That's good," Master Shang said. "It's been a long time. You two needed that."
Jaden reached into his pocket and pulled out the amulet—his mother's amulet. The silver piece rested in his palm, glowing softly in the fading light.
Master Shang's eyes landed on it, and for the first time since Jaden got back, the old man smiled. "She gave that to you?"
Jaden nodded again.
"She must still believe you have something worth protecting," Master Shang said gently. "Hold onto that. You'll need it."
The wind blew through the trees, rustling the dying leaves. Jaden looked out at the garden, then down at the amulet. Whatever came next, it was clear—Levi was the storm, and he had already started to spread.
But Jaden?
He was the one walking into it.