The audience erupted in a cascade of applause as the beautiful, statuesque talk show host, Kim Green, stepped confidently onto the brightly lit stage. Her long, chestnut-brown hair shimmered under the studio lights, and her teal suit hugged her figure, exuding both elegance and authority. She strode gracefully across the polished floor, her high heels clicking in rhythm, waving enthusiastically to the crowd. The energy in the room was palpable, the excitement of the audience charging the atmosphere like an electric current, amplifying Kim’s natural charisma. She reached the center of the stage, pausing to bask in the crowd's fervor, her smile radiant and disarming.

  “Thank you all for coming out tonight!” she called out, her voice clear and exuberant, cutting through the cheers and clapping like a melody. The crowd roared in response, their enthusiasm shaking the walls of the studio.

  With a quick, practiced motion, Kim gestured toward her sleek, black leather sofa on the right side of the stage and glided over to take her seat. The audience settled into an anticipatory hush as the lights dimmed slightly, and her tone shifted to one of poised excitement.

  “I know you're all eagerly awaiting tonight's guest," Kim began, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "His exploits have become the stuff of legend, his name etched into the annals of history. There isn’t a soul who doesn’t know of his heroism. He is the man who has conquered devils of every shape and size, saving countless lives along the way. Without further ado, please give a thunderous welcome to the hero who singlehandedly defeated Red Death—Jin Kai!”

  The room exploded with deafening cheers and applause as the spotlight illuminated the entrance on the opposite side of the stage. A strikingly handsome man in his mid-twenties emerged, his presence commanding yet unassuming. Jin’s athletic build was evident beneath the sharp lines of his tailored tuxedo. His long, raven-black hair cascaded slightly over his face, the loose strands framing a matte black eyepatch that concealed his left eye. His remaining eye—a piercing stormy gray—glistened with quiet intensity. A faint smile played across his lips, exuding both humility and a calm self-assurance.

  Jin raised his right arm in a smooth, effortless wave, acknowledging the adoring crowd before crossing the stage with deliberate, confident strides. Taking his place next to Kim on the sleek black sofa, he settled into the cushions, his demeanor serene despite the thunderous ovation.

  Kim leaned forward, clasping her hands together as she addressed him. “Jin, first off, I want to thank you—for your service not just to our country, but to the world.”

  Jin ran a hand through his tousled hair, his gaze steady and composed. “I was just doing what anyone in my position would have done,” he replied, his voice calm but carrying a weight of sincerity.

  Kim laughed softly, her emerald-green eyes twinkling. “Cute and modest—your wife is lucky to have you.” The audience chuckled warmly at her playful jab. “But seriously,” she continued, her tone shifting to one of genuine curiosity, “you’ve sacrificed so much to get to where you are. Was there ever a moment when you stopped and thought you might be giving up too much?”

  Jin tilted his head slightly, a faint shadow passing over his expression. He had grown accustomed to this question, asked time and again by those fascinated by his journey. “Not once,” he answered with conviction, his voice steady. “I gladly gave up what I could to the Gods in order to achieve my strength. Sometimes…” He paused for a brief moment, the weight of his words settling in the air. “Sometimes I wonder if I haven’t given up enough compared to other ‘heroes.’ Take Adeline, for example. She gave up the use of her legs to gain her miraculous healing powers, while they only took my left eye and arm.”

  Kim’s brows lifted in admiration, her expression softening. “Adeline… another legend I’d love to have on the show one day. There’s even a rumor she brought you back from the dead after your battle with Red Death. Is that true?”

  Jin's thoughts drifted back to that harrowing night—the night he faced the crimson-robed Grim Reaper. It had been the most brutal fight of his life. Every motion had been a desperate gamble, and every breath had burned with the agony of survival. After a titanic struggle, he finally managed to crush its skull, his weapon tearing through bone with a sickening finality. Barely clinging to life, he stumbled back to the makeshift base camp, his body a patchwork of mortal wounds—a savage slash across his throat and a gaping hole through his chest threatening to snuff out his existence.

  Yet, luck—or perhaps divine intervention—was on his side. Adeline, the miracle worker blessed by the Goddess of Spirits, had been there to save him. Her touch, imbued with the ethereal glow of spiritual power, pulled Jin back from the brink of death. She mended his shredded body, weaving life into flesh that had nearly given up. But even her extraordinary gift couldn’t erase the aftermath entirely. Jin’s body remained a canvas of scars, their jagged lines tracing the battles he had endured.

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  His thoughts returned to the present as he spoke with a calm, almost rehearsed ease. “That is true, Kim,” Jin said, his voice steady but carrying subtle undertones of weariness. “I’ll put in a good word for her, and I’m sure she’d love to stop by sometime. But Adeline’s work keeps her constantly in demand. Wherever there’s someone fighting Devils, she’s there to save the heroes.”

  His tone was even, but Jin’s mind bristled with hidden disdain. He thought to himself, That conniving bitch. Adeline doesn’t save for charity—she heals those who can pay her the most, ignoring the ones who truly need her gift.

  Kim leaned forward, her expression growing more serious as the topic shifted. “Now let’s talk about the Devils. Ever since that fateful day six years ago, they’ve been appearing relentlessly, wreaking destruction unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

  Jin nodded, his jaw tightening. “As you know, Kim, we’re still working on a reliable way to predict their emergence, but it’s an uphill battle. They seem to follow natural disasters—Fire Devils rise from the ashes of wildfires, Hydro Devils emerge from the chaos of floods and tsunamis—”

  “And Hell Devils from earthquakes,” Kim interjected, her voice somber. “The worst of them all. They claw their way out from cracks in the earth, as if crawling straight out of hell itself. They’ve ravaged Australia, leaving millions dead in their wake.”

  Kim’s words hung heavily in the air, the audience visibly subdued by the grim reality. Jin reached over and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch firm yet gentle. “We’re still working on a plan to retake it,” he said softly, his voice carrying both determination and a quiet sorrow. “Even with my power, it’s proving to be one of the toughest challenges we’ve faced.” He glanced at the audience, his stormy gray eye flickering with resolve. “But we haven’t given up on Australia. Not by a long shot.”

  Few heroes were willing to face the unending hordes of Hell Devils, and Jin knew it all too well. The rise of mercenary heroes—those who fought only for wealth—had left the world vulnerable. Many refused to engage with such overwhelming foes, leaving Jin as one of the rare few still willing to take on the impossible. It was a lonely fame he bore, one that made him revered by the public but resented by other heroes who felt diminished in comparison.

  Kim, sensing the crowd’s unease, shifted the conversation to something more hopeful. “Now, onto what everyone’s been dying to know,” she said, her tone lifting. “Is it true you and your team are finally going to retake Los Angeles?”

  Her question stirred excitement in the audience, and a few scattered cheers broke through the tension.

  Jin smiled faintly. “I am confident that by this time next week, Los Angeles will be free of Devils. I wouldn’t have traveled all the way from Korea if I didn’t believe we could do it.” His words carried an unshakeable conviction, the kind that ignited hope in even the darkest corners.

  Kim gestured playfully toward his eyepatch. “Nowhere’s too far for you, right?” she teased, a warm smile tugging at her lips.

  Jin chuckled, his voice rich with amusement. “I guess you’ve got me there.”

  Unlike most heroes, who drew their strength from a single deity, Jin had been blessed by two gods. In addition to his pact with the God of War, the God of the Void had recognized his valor and granted him the gift of teleportation, a power he had earned through the sacrifice of his left eye. Now, with but a thought, Jin could vanish and reappear anywhere in the blink of an eye.

  Kim’s curiosity sparkled anew. “Rumor has it you won’t be tackling this mission alone. Can you confirm if other legendary heroes will be joining you?”

  Jin offered a knowing smile. “The rumors are true. Two names you might recognize: Shadow and King.”

  The announcement drew a collective gasp from the audience. “King?” Kim’s eyes widened. “The man many call your greatest rival? You two will actually be working together?”

  Jin let out a sheepish laugh. “That’s right.”

  King’s name carried weight, a symbol of raw, primal power. Blessed by the God of Beasts, King possessed superhuman strength and instincts that bordered on precognition. But his gift came at a price—he had sacrificed his capacity for most emotions, rendering him ruthless and unrelenting. His only motivation was the thrill of the hunt, and casualties were of little concern to him. Jin’s unease about working alongside King was palpable, though he took comfort in the presence of Shadow, a longtime ally.

  Shadow, too, was bound to the God of the Void, his sacrifices shaping his powers in haunting ways. Stripped of his voice and hearing, Shadow wielded the terrifying ability to summon armies from the shadows of his enemies. He had been Jin’s trusted partner since their early days of Devil hunting in Seoul, a bond forged in blood and fire.

  Kim turned back to the audience, her voice steady. “I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s a relief to know such strong heroes are on their way to take back Los Angeles.”

  Jin stood, his expression resolute. “The others and I will fight harder knowing we have all of you behind us.”

  As he finished speaking, a faint vibration in his pocket signaled an incoming message. Jin pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen. His features tightened for a brief moment—it was time to go.

  Kim noticed the shift in his demeanor. “As much as we love having you here, it seems you’re needed elsewhere. Everyone, let’s give Jin one last round of applause before he heads out!”

  The studio erupted into cheers as Kim stood, and the crowd rose to their feet. Jin offered them a final wave, his smile genuine but fleeting. In the next instant, he vanished, leaving behind only a wisp of black mist where he had been.

  For a moment longer, the cheers persisted, the crowd's admiration undeterred by his sudden absence.