The storm was more than just a force of nature now. It was a living, breathing entity that raged across the northern wilderness with a single purpose: to tear down the world of men and remake it in its own image. And Baek Sungho, for all his cold resolve, knew that to face this storm would require more than mere force. It would require precision, strategy, and a willingness to face the unthinkable.

  The war council had assembled, but unlike past meetings, the room was filled with palpable unease. There was no question now about the magnitude of the threat they faced. The Stormborn was not simply a rebel leader; he was an elemental force — and he wielded the power of the storm itself.

  Sungho stood at the head of the table, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. His eyes were unreadable, but those who had served him for years could see the weight of the decision he was about to make.

  "Elder Hwan, what news from the Sky-Master?" Sungho’s voice broke the silence, and it was as sharp as the wind that tore through the mountains.

  Elder Hwan, who had taken it upon himself to track down the elusive Sky-Master, stepped forward with a hesitant bow. "He is... resistant, my lord. He has not yet agreed to lend his aid. The power he wields is not something he gives lightly."

  "Then remind him of his place," Sungho replied coldly. "We are not here to ask for his help. We are here to demand it."

  "But, my lord," General Jae-won interjected, his voice cautious, "the Sky-Master is an ancient one. His power is... unlike anything we’ve encountered. Forcing him to fight could turn the tide against us just as easily as it might help us."

  "Do you doubt my judgment?" Sungho’s gaze turned icy, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop.

  Jae-won hesitated for only a moment, but in that moment, Sungho’s aura was enough to make him reconsider. He lowered his head in submission. "No, my lord."

  "Good." Sungho turned back to the rest of the room, his eyes scanning the gathered leaders. "The Sky-Master will fight. And in return, we will give him what he seeks. There is no more room for negotiation. The storm will fall, and we will be the ones to direct its fury."

  Meanwhile, in the northern wilderness, the winds were picking up. The Stormborn stood alone atop a jagged cliff, his arms outstretched as he commanded the skies above. The air crackled with energy, and the clouds swirled violently in response to his call. Lightning forked across the heavens, and thunder rolled like the drums of war.

  The Stormborn felt the storm’s energy surging within him, growing with each passing moment. It was as though the very heart of the storm had become intertwined with his own, an extension of his will. But as much as he reveled in his power, there was a deep unease gnawing at him.

  He had long since known that Baek Sungho would come. The Cult’s leader was not the type to let a challenge go unanswered. But the Stormborn had never expected Sungho to wield the storm itself.

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  No, the Cult was not merely attempting to crush a rebellion. They were coming for him, trying to turn his own power against him. They would seek the Sky-Master, the one who could control the winds, and the elemental forces, and they would strike at the heart of his strength.

  He knew this war would be unlike any other. Sungho would fight with everything, using every resource at his disposal. But he would never understand the storm. And in that misunderstanding, the Stormborn knew, lay his victory.

  The Stormborn’s thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of his shadowed companion — the mysterious figure who had stood by his side since the early days of his rise.

  "You know he will not stop until he has broken you," the figure spoke, their voice barely a whisper against the wind.

  The Stormborn nodded grimly. "I know. Baek Sungho is not a man who understands fear. But neither does he understand the storm. And therein lies his mistake."

  The figure studied him for a long moment, their eyes searching for something deeper. "Then let him come. But be wary, Stormborn. His forces are vast, and there is no telling what alliances he has forged in preparation for this war."

  "Let them come," the Stormborn replied, his voice like the roar of a distant thunderclap. "The storm will rise, and when it does, there will be nothing left to stop it."

  Back at the Cult’s fortress, preparations were already underway for the coming war. Sungho had given his orders — and they were being carried out with the efficiency and precision that had become synonymous with his leadership. The Cult’s forces were gathering in droves, their ranks swelling with those eager to fight for the promise of power and dominance.

  At the heart of these preparations was the Sky-Master, a figure shrouded in mystery and power. His arrival at the fortress had been met with little fanfare, as his mind was not easily swayed by politics or promises. But Sungho had struck a deal with him — a dangerous deal — one that would see the Sky-Master lend his powers to the Cult’s cause.

  But even now, the Sky-Master’s silence was unnerving. No one knew exactly what had transpired between him and Sungho in their private meetings, but the air was thick with anticipation.

  As Sungho entered the war room, he found the Sky-Master standing alone, his back to the door. The man was cloaked in a flowing robe of deep indigo, his long hair whipping in an unseen wind. His presence was as commanding as the storm itself, yet there was something far more unsettling about him.

  "Sky-Master," Sungho greeted him coolly, his voice betraying none of the unease that had settled in his chest. "You know what we face. Are you ready?"

  The Sky-Master turned slowly, his eyes piercing as they met Sungho’s. For a moment, neither spoke. The tension was unbearable, but Sungho did not flinch. Finally, the Sky-Master spoke, his voice like a low rumble in the distance.

  "You seek the storm," he said. "But beware, Baek Sungho. There is a cost to wielding such power."

  "I am not afraid of the cost," Sungho replied firmly. "I will do whatever it takes to destroy the Stormborn."

  The Sky-Master nodded slowly, as if weighing Sungho’s resolve. "Then let the storm come. But know this: When it does, it will tear apart everything in its path — and that includes you, if you are not careful."

  Sungho met his gaze, unflinching. "I will be ready."

  And so, the storm began to gather. The battle for control over the elemental forces had begun, and both sides knew that when the tempest finally broke, only one would remain standing.