By Zephyria 
Long ago, the Four Guardian Gods and humans lived in harmony. The Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Azure Dragon looked upon humans with affection and split their respective powers into the forms of Divine Artifacts to give to them.
The Southern Vermilion Bird gifted a mirror that reveals the truth. The Western White Tiger gifted a precious sword forged from its own fang. The Northern Black Tortoise gifted a bell that hides one’s presence. The Eastern Azure Dragon gifted a ring imbued with life. These four Divine Artifacts are called the Heavenly Gift of Four Gods.
Humans, becoming arrogant, used the Heavenly Gift of Four Gods to test the Four Directional Gods. Those who possessed the ring called themselves immortals. They looked into the mirror every day, asking who was the strongest in the world. They wore the bell on their ankles and entered the dwellings of the gods as if they were their own homes. Eventually, they wielded the precious sword to kill one another. Enraged, the four divine beasts decided to take back the Divine Artifacts.
Humans resisted to protect the Heavenly Gift of Four Gods, but they were no match for the Four Symbols. They were deceived by the Black Tortoise’s mist, and their pavilions and homes were turned to ash by the Vermilion Bird’s flames. Their weapons were swept away by the lightning strikes of water sent by the Azure Dragon, and countless people were killed by the White Tiger biting through their necks.
Because of this, a quarter of the land vanished and was filled with water, and half of humanity was annihilated. The remaining humans trembled in fear and offered sacrifices to the gods. From then on, no human dared to disturb the order established by the Four Spirits.
Until, long after, a hero was born into the royal family of Wirye Fortress.
The Prisoner of the Black Tortoise
“Among the more than a thousand shrines of the Black Tortoise, this is the deepest and most secret cave.”
It was the day Lee Shim was appointed as the warden of the Snake Cave.
Originally, he had looked forward to this day so much that he had lost sleep, but as he descended further into the cave, the stench grew so severe that he frowned. As Lee Shim lightly covered his nose with his sleeve, the prison guard spoke, flicking his tongue.
“It’s a bit nauseating for someone who has lived on the surface, isn’t it?”
“It’s bearable.”
“It is the smell emanating from the failures locked in the lower prison. It’s hard to endure at first, but you’ll get used to it after about a week.”
“Failures… I see.”
Lee Shim didn’t know what the ‘failures’ were, but he muttered as if he did. At that, the guard gave him a meaningful look.
“Would you like to see those foul things first, new warden?”
“Of course. Show me.”
The guard led Lee Shim along a strangely curved path. Just following him was enough to make one dizzy, which spoke volumes about how twisted the giant labyrinth was. Walking while holding his nose due to the intensifying stench, Lee Shim stopped when he saw the blood-stained floor.
“Why are you surprised already?”
In the prison were horrific creatures that were unbearable to look at. Those with fins growing on the backs of cows were the ordinary ones. Forms created by grafting land and sea beasts together had joints that were bent and twisted. Things that should have been there were missing, and things that shouldn’t have been there were attached in bizarre places. It was a sight only seen in the Black Tortoise’s cave, and a world that he, as the manager of this place, had to become accustomed to.
“Do not touch them; you never know what these mad beasts might do.”
Lee Shim stepped back from a sheep that blinked with three crimson eyes. Fortunately, the failures were each tied to shackles connected to the walls.
The guard took Lee Shim deeper and lower.
“This is the end of the lower prison. It is the most damp and dismal place in the world. There is only one prisoner.”
In the corner the guard pointed to, there was a dark figure. Unlike the hybrids seen before, this was a single species, mixed with nothing.
“A human.”
While the grotesque beasts had been lightly bound, the human was restrained by iron chains descending from the ceiling. The sight of chains two or three times thicker than his forearm hanging in clusters looked eerie.
Lee Shim wondered why they had gone to such lengths for a mere human.
“Be careful!”
As he approached to get a closer look, the guard shouted.
“He doesn’t even look like he can stand up because the chains are so heavy, so why the warning?”
“He is no ordinary human, so you must not go near. He is a vicious fellow. Recently he has been acting as if he were dead, but in the past, he would struggle frantically, claiming he would escape at every turn.”
Indeed, an ordinary human would find it difficult to even breathe in a place with such strong Yin Energy. Lee Shim examined the prisoner closely in the darkness.
Two arms, two legs, one head. On the surface, there was nothing special. The body revealed beneath the rag-like clothes was on the lean side. Seeing the disheveled hair scattered over the shoulders was black, he seemed to be in the prime of his youth.
“He looks weak; is there a reason he is locked in the deepest part?”
The guard swallowed hard and lowered his voice.
“Lord Ji Seo-gu personally locked him here.”
“The Black Tortoise… personally?”
As he carefully uttered the name of the deity they served, he felt as if he were being swallowed by the darkness. Black Tortoise, Ji Seo-gu, was a being who evoked fear just by the thought of them.
“Of course. That man is a prisoner whom Lord Ji Seo-gu cherishes and visits often. Among the countless caves underground, there is likely no place His Lordship has visited as frequently as this one.”
Lee Shim couldn’t tell if being appointed as the warden here was a stroke of luck or misfortune.
“The Black Tortoise secretly entered hibernation not long ago. So, He will not be visiting for a while.”
“Is that true? How do you know?”
“I have my ways of knowing everything.”
In truth, he had accidentally overheard the high-ranking snakes talking, but Lee Shim bragged as if he had heard it directly. Once he did, the guard’s gaze changed.
Lee Shim cleared his throat with an air of importance and examined the human again. An unusual energy was rising above the heavy chains.
“These don’t look like ordinary chains… did Lord Ji Seo-gu’s touch reach them?”
“You have a keen eye. When that foul fellow tried to break his shackles and escape, the greatly enraged Black Tortoise punished him and personally tightened the chains around his limbs and neck.”
“Then we don’t have to worry about him escaping again?”
“Yes. Since then, he seems to have given up, as he just lies there.”
Lee Shim approached with inner tension, but the human did not budge. When he kicked the man’s chest, the torso flipped over powerlessly.
‘To think they were so terrified of something so insignificant, these snakes!’
Lee Shim snorted. The guard, still terrified, was trembling while hiding behind him.
“I told you it’s fine. Come closer and touch him.”
“I-is that so? But why… does it seem like the human isn’t breathing?”
“Huh? That can’t be.”
Lee Shim placed a finger under the human’s nose. However, no matter how long he waited, no breath flowed out. Startled, he placed his palm on the human’s chest.
“The heart… has stopped.”
“What!”
When he shook the man’s shoulder, the human swayed back and forth as if only skin remained. Lee Shim dropped him as if throwing him away.
“Don’t worry. Holding one’s breath for a while and stopping the blood flow is a trick that even low-level practitioners among humans know.”
“Is that true?”
“Tsk! What a noisy welcome greeting. Let’s put a guard on him and wait for about two Time Units. No matter how much he flies or crawls, he won’t be able to hold his breath for that long.”
Lee Shim decided to think positively. The human must be playing a trick to prank him, the newly appointed warden. A human whom the Black Tortoise personally chained would not die so easily. There was no way such an unfortunate incident could happen right after he took office.
Lee Shim told the snake guarding the lower prison to monitor the human closely and then left the place. He then attended the welcome banquet and ate and drank to his heart’s content.
Since he had leaked the news that the Black Tortoise had entered hibernation, the rumor spread quickly, and all the snakes in the cave held a joyful drinking party together.
“Warden! That… news that the Black Tortoise has fallen asleep, is it certain?”
“I’m telling you it’s true. I heard it clearly. Pass me that liquor jar.”
“Phew, I was always on edge fearing He might visit unexpectedly. Now that I think it won’t happen for a while, my mind is finally at ease!”
As Lee Shim ate and drank companionably with all sorts of snakes, he suddenly wondered about the time.
“I wonder what time it is now…”
As he muttered to himself, a quick-witted snake who had looked at the outside world informed him that the sun had begun to set. This meant at least two Time Units had passed since the banquet started, and Lee Shim felt his sobriety returning. He sought out the guard and called him softly.
“Go to the lower prison and check on the human.”
“Aw, what does that human matter now that the Black Tortoise is asleep!”
“I can’t find the way on my own, so hurry up and guide me.”
Lee Shim urged the guard and descended along the labyrinthine caves. The guard was completely drunk and kept singing, but Lee Shim’s feeling of foreboding grew stronger.
“Here it is. Next time, you must learn the way yourself! Ehehe!”
The human tied to the lowest point of the Snake Cave was exactly as he had been when they left. The face revealed in the dim light was unmistakably that of a bloodless corpse.
Lee Shim rushed forward and slapped his cheek hard. When there was still no reaction, he checked the nostrils, and then placed his ear against the chest to check the heartbeat.
“Damn it, he’s dead.”
“What? You said earlier it was a trick!”
The smile vanished from the guard’s face. He muttered, his eyes wide with terror.
“If that human dies, Lord Ji Seo-gu will not leave you alone.”
“Why me? This human died before I was appointed. Don’t think about pinning it on me just because you managed him poorly and he died!”
“T-t-that’s nonsense! He was alive until we fed him this morning.”
The meaningless argument quickly ended. Both Lee Shim and the guard knew. If the fact that an important prisoner had died reached the Black Tortoise’s ears, everyone in this Snake Cave, without exception, would be dead.
Lee Shim examined the human’s face. The bloodless face was pale, but some color remained in the lips. Judging by the ebony-black hair and smooth cheeks, it was evident he had been healthy until the moment of death.
“It seems he hasn’t been dead long, so let’s try to save him.”
Lee Shim placed both hands on the human’s dantian and gathered the meager Yang Energy in the cave to inject it. However, because the Yin Energy of the chains was too strong, the precious power was not absorbed by the human at all and overflowed.
“Can you unlock the chains? They are in the way.”
“What? Ah, yes!”
The guard hurriedly pulled a bunch of keys from his pocket. He inserted five keys into the shackles on the wrists, ankles, and neck and turned them with a clatter. As the iron chains were released, a thin, black energy that had been hidden by them was revealed.
“I’m screwed.”
Iron would have been better; how could he possibly break chains made of sorcery? Moreover, if it was the Black Tortoise’s Arcane Art, Lee Shim’s abilities wouldn’t even leave a scratch.
“Should I just… cut off his wrists?”
“What? You’re going to damage Lord Ji Seo-gu’s property?”
“Hey, don’t say such crazy things! I meant I’d find a way to break the chains.”
Lee Shim examined the chains closely. The energy flowing inside was taut, ensuring that no matter what the bound person did, they could not escape.
‘Thinking conversely… I might be able to disrupt it from the outside. If it’s just creating a small crack in the flow, I might be able to do it with my power.’
Lee Shim was a man who had survived by his wits rather than his innate ability.
He concentrated and slowly poured spiritual energy into the chains. At first, it was all devoured by the Black Tortoise’s Arcane Art. However, as he persistently disrupted the flow, a faint vortex began to arise.
‘I am definitely a genius. The whole world should see what I am doing!’
Lee Shim sharpened his spiritual energy like a needle. As he continued to probe the binding, the vortex grew violent. Then, a crack appeared on the surface of the chain.
Sizzle.
A vibration occurred, and the crack spread in a gruesome pattern.
Clang!
The iron chains shattered, and a massive explosion of power sent Lee Shim sprawling backward.
“I broke it. I broke Lord Ji Seo-gu’s chains! Did you see my skill?”
To break chains made by a god! He, and no one else, had achieved it. Now, if he dragged the human to a bright place, injected Yang Energy, fed him some water, let him wake up, and then locked him back up, it would be as if nothing had happened.
“W-w-w-warden!”
“Goodness, why are you stuttering?”
Laughing heartily, Lee Shim looked down and saw that the human’s pupils were a black darker than the underground. The moment a terrifyingly evil smile appeared on the expressionless face, the smile vanished from Lee Shim’s own.
“Heh.”
The moment the human, who was thought to be dead, let out a sneer, goosebumps broke out all over Lee Shim’s body, but he reacted quickly. As soon as the sharp and eerie energy rushed toward his neck, he disguised himself as a small Silk Snake.
Since there were plenty of snakes here, he thought he could somehow blend in and hide. However, before he could even feel pain, his waist was torn apart by the human’s teeth.
The human stuffed Lee Shim’s halved body into his trouser pocket and spat out what remained in his mouth. Then, he braced one hand on the cave floor and leaped lightly.
—The warden has been murdered!
Snakes are by nature a race that cares only for themselves rather than being loyal. However, the snakes of this cave were different from ordinary snakes in that they feared their master to their very bones. No matter how terrifying a person was before them, there was no existence more feared than the Black Tortoise.
Snakes and anacondas hiding in every nook and cranny appeared, covering the walls and ceiling. Yellow, white, black, and bloodshot eyes all pointed toward one spot.
—Bite the prisoner!
The human stood still even as he saw the swarm of snakes lunging at him as if they were flying. As a cruel smile leaked from his lips, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
He snatched the first anaconda that lunged, placed his mouth against its snout, and breathed spiritual energy into it. Then, the limp anaconda writhed as if struck by lightning and became as rigid as an iron skewer.
The human gripped it like a sword and darted out like a bolt of lightning. Swinging his arm wide, he sliced through the swarm of snakes falling like hail and arrived right in front of the guard. In the next moment, the guard was sliced in half at the waist.
—Kyahhh! Kyahhh!
The anacondas wailed loudly. The guard’s corpse was quickly vanished, covered by the swarming mass of snakes. The human lightly sliced the air with his weapon and muttered.
“Come at me all at once, you bastards.”
—Kyah!
The snake heads pointed toward one spot in perfect unison. They all lunged at the human simultaneously. Then, the human readjusted his grip on the rigid anaconda and began to swing.
As he swung to the east, the blue-scaled azure snakes lost their lives and fell in heaps. As he swung to the west, the fierce white snakes revealed their crimson insides. As he swung south and north, the intestines of the red and black snakes opened and flew through the air.
It was a fight of one against thousands, but it was utterly one-sided. The countless snakes that lunged to eat a piece of meat were no match for a single human who didn’t even have a proper weapon. The lower prison became their grave.
The terrified swarm of snakes began to scatter up and down. The human crushed the snakes that bit his neck, arms, and legs as if they were a nuisance, and snapped the anaconda he had used as a weapon, throwing it aside.
He walked slowly, following the crowd of snakes retreating like an ebbing tide. Every time his bare feet moved, the piles of corpses sank, and the sound of bones crushing echoed.
The human’s two eyes became bloodshot. His lips twisted regardless of his will, forming an ominous and despicable smile.
The prisoner’s name was Young-pa.
In the lowest prison, he had regained consciousness after faintly hearing that the Black Tortoise had entered hibernation. That a foolish new manager was appointed at that exact time was a stroke of luck that might happen once in a thousand years.
Young-pa knew that if he missed this opportunity, he would never be able to escape the Snake Cave. Thus, he had slowed his blood flow and stopped his heart to deceive the new warden.
Killing intent gathered in eyes that had not seen the light of the outside world for a long time. Young-pa climbed atop the mountain of snake corpses and let out a horrific scream.
“Aaaaaah!”
At the sound that echoed through the cave, the snakes scurried and hid in the darkness.
Still not satisfied, Young-pa clenched his fist and gathered spiritual energy. A vortex raged around his fist. Young-pa slammed the fist entwined in the whirlwind straight down.
K-BOOM!