CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 33: A HAZY MEMORY

With one hand pressed firmly against the snowy ground and the other severed, lying beside him, black blood poured from the stump, mingling with the crimson streams flowing from his mouth and eyes. Through the agony, Lin roared the name of the Forgotten One, unleashing his final trump card.

Far away, beyond the veil of worlds, the Forgotten One sat upon his throne. A faint, ominous smile curved his lips as his cold voice echoed:

“What you will face now is yours alone to endure, Jin. As for me... I will meet him once the summoning is complete.”

Back on the snowy battlefield, Isphyriela paid no heed to his words. Without hesitation, she unleashed her dragon blast, freezing the air itself as if his warning meant nothing.

Yet, to her shock, countless shadows erupted, devouring her attack entirely. Alarmed, she spread her wings and soared into the sky.

“Damn... WHAT ARE THESE SHADOWS?! WHAT IS THIS?!” she screamed.

The shadows gathered and sank into Lin’s body. He writhed in agony, bleeding from every pore, rolling across the snow as his skull struck the frozen ground. The crushing pressure was enough to drive even the bravest man to madness or suicide.

From the darkness, a shadowy hand emerged, linking itself to his severed arm. Black flames flared as it began to stitch his torn flesh back together, forcing another bloodcurdling scream from his throat. Then, in unison, the shadows whispered:

“We found him, Mother...”

“I have to do it... before the curse spreads further,” Lin muttered, his mouth spilling black blood with every word.

A collective mass began to converge, forming a vast, pulsating orb of darkness around him, cocooning him like a protective shell.

Before collapsing into unconsciousness, Lin raised two trembling fingers in a final gesture. His head dropped against the snow as his vision blurred, but it was all part of his plan. The motion weakened the curse, allowing the orb above him to draw in the scattered fragments of shadow. Those fragments descended onto the battlefield, seeping into the corpses strewn across the snow.

One by one, the dead began to rise, pulled upright by streams of darkness linking them to the central orb above. A massive line of shadow stretched between the sky and the sphere encasing Lin, tying them together.

And then, the true horror began.

Shadows slithered back over Lin’s body, gnawing and tearing as though they meant to devour his very flesh.

Sensing the danger, Isphyriela climbed higher, gathering power for another devastating blast. But once again, the colossal orb around Lin absorbed the full force of her attack.

Determined to intervene, she swooped downward and reached toward the orb, only to scream as shadowy lightning crackled across its surface, burning her hand on contact.

Inside that shroud of darkness, something far more terrifying was awakening. Sealed memories, buried deep within Lin’s mind, began to stir, slowly breaking free.

Lin’s soul fell to the ground.

Where am I?

Wasn’t I just in the frozen lands, fighting that lizard?

He looked around, only to see a green football field bathed in sunlight, surrounded by lush trees.

A boy with brown wavy hair, warm brown eyes, and a handsome oval face was dribbling the ball in a Barcelona No.10 jersey. He slipped past two defenders, then nutmegged the third with a quick feint before sprinting toward the corner flag.

Damn... is that me?

Behind him, a voice shouted out, filled with excitement.

It came from another boy with messy, slightly wavy black hair and dark eyes, wearing a Real Madrid No.7 jersey:

“Cross it, Jin!”

Who is that?

Aaaah... my head...

Jin smiled. Instead of making his usual pass, he pulled off a clever side-cut feint and sent the ball soaring in a perfect arc.

The black-haired boy leapt into the air, twisting his body into a flawless bicycle kick. The ball flew straight into the net, sealing the winning goal.

Joseph sprinted toward Jin, their chests colliding in celebration as they shouted together, overwhelmed with joy:

“That was amazing, Joseph!”

“We won!”

The opposing team had been completely defeated.

After the match, Jin and Joseph went to collect their winnings; the bet had been forty thousand yuan.

But the losers weren’t willing to pay. Their leader smirked and said:

“We’re not giving you a thing.”

Hey, you messing with us? Just because we’re seven years old and you’re teenagers, you think we’ll back down, you bastards?

The leader motioned for one of his followers to call in reinforcements.

In moments, the atmosphere shifted, an entire mob of opponents gathered, surrounding them.

Everyone on Jin and Joseph’s side fled...

Leaving only the two of them standing alone, encircled by furious enemies.

“Joseph, you take the ones behind me. I’ll handle the front.”

He smirked, then exploded forward. His fist slammed into the first attacker’s stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. A low side kick followed, snapping his knee and sending him crashing to the ground.

Another charged from the side, but Jin tilted his body half a step and unleashed a flurry of punches into the boy’s ribs and abdomen until he collapsed, gasping in agony.

The third didn’t even see him move. Jin vanished in a blur, then reappeared with his knee buried in the giant’s gut, his hands still tucked casually in his pockets.

On the other side, Joseph moved with calm precision. He deflected one man’s strike with a single hand, then redirected his momentum, tossing him to the ground in a smooth circular throw.

Another tried to grab him from behind, but Joseph spun, seized his arm, and sent him crashing over his shoulder.

The third opponent rushed in. Joseph caught his wrist, twisted, and executed a perfect Aikido throw, launching the boy into the air before slamming him down hard.

“Get them!” the leader screamed.

But anyone who dared approach was either crushed under Jin’s devastating kicks or sent flying by Joseph’s flawless grappling techniques.

Within minutes...

The battlefield was chaos. Dozens of bodies lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

“Damn it... you two aren’t even human,” the leader gasped.

“How could a pair of kids beat down eighty guys like this? You’re monsters...”

In the middle of the wreckage, Jin and Joseph stood panting, their clothes torn, their fists heavy with the toll of battle.

They had taken down eighty fighters, between Jin’s brutal strikes and Joseph’s relentless throws.

But exhaustion finally caught them.

Jin dropped to his knees, then collapsed.

Beside him, Joseph also fell, gasping for breath.

The football field was silent.

Only their ragged breathing remained.

Jin shouted angrily:

“Damn you, Joseph... I told you from the start we shouldn’t have played against them!”

Joseph retorted in annoyance:

“Damn you, Jin! You’re the one who insisted we buy burgers, candy, and noodles...”

Jin raised his eyebrows challengingly:

“And what was I supposed to do?! You and I don’t have any money in the first place!”

Joseph sighed in frustration:

“And the worst part... if the lady at the orphanage finds out what we did, she’ll scold us all night.”

Jin spoke with a weary smile:

“It doesn’t matter... we made money, and all we’ll get is a little scolding.”

Joseph nodded in pain:

“Fine... let’s just go support Noona.”

Jin eyed him mockingly and said:

“Do you really want to help her... or are you just admiring her beauty?”

Then he continued sharply:

“I’m not blind to you, you rascal. I know the truth.

I know you have feelings for her, but cut it out... you’re 7 years old and she’s 17!”

Joseph smirked sarcastically:

“So what, Jin? Worst case... I’ll be the victim in this.”

Jin burst into mocking laughter and said:

“Damn you, Joseph... you and your love stories.”

Then he turned his back, speaking carelessly:

“Whatever, let’s go... I want to buy a lollipop.”