Jiseong Cheon is the supporting antagonist in The Warrior Returned. He is the Martial Arts Warrior and a member of the 9-Warriors, having joined the group after going insane upon returning home from another world only to find that everyone he cared for is dead.
"Jiseong Cheon's birthday is April 14th"
Appearance[]
Jiseong Cheon wears a stone-like Oni mask that covers most of his face. He has long, waist-length black hair and a conical straw hat adorned with two silk fabrics hanging on the sides and various ornaments. His outfit consists of a white hanbok layered over dark clothing with green accents. He has purple lightning scars on both of his hands.
Personality[]
Jiseong Cheon is the most reserved member of the 9-Warriors, rarely speaking and maintaining a stoic demeanor. However, he demonstrates unwavering loyalty to the Sword Warrior, evidenced when he protects Minsu Kim from an attack by deflecting Jeongsu Park’s thrown spear.
The one remaining connection to his humanity is his deep love for his grandmother. Unaware of his identity as the Hero of Martial Arts, she receives his care and devotion during his visits to his home region, away from the conflict and destruction. However, it’s later revealed that Jiseong has developed a delusional belief that his grandmother, who actually passed away before his return from the otherworld, is still alive. The shock of finding her lifeless in her bed led him to accuse visiting government officials of causing her death. Proud and quick to take offense, Jiseong does not tolerate disrespect from others, especially when it concerns his pride or his loved ones.
History[]
Current Timeline[]
Jiseong used to live in a toxic environment where his parents argued constantly until his mother brought him to live with his grandmother. Over time, he grew close to his grandmother and loved her dearly, but one day, he slipped and fell to his death. He was summoned to the Martial Arts World, and by the time he came back, his grandmother had passed away. In his grief, he retaliated against the government agents sent to recruit him, believing them to be the ones responsible for his grandmother’s passing. At this point, the Resurrection Warrior appeared to enlist him into his and Minsu Kim's cause.
Original Timeline[]
In Chapter 61, it is revealed that Jiseong was also one of the 9-Warriors of the original timeline before Seongjun Lee traveled back in time and began altering events, having likely joined the group for the same reason as in the current timeline. At some point, however, he ended up being defeated and killed by the rebel warriors, which in this timeline included Minsu Kim and Seongjun Lee.
Synopsis[]
Reconstruction Government Raid[]
Jiseong Cheon reappears as the Warriors drill underground to destroy the hidden city. He, Hana, and Minsu form a group and head in together. When Jeongsu Park attacks Minsu Kim, Jiseong intervenes, using the Cheonma Technique to deflect Jeongsu’s spear before landing on another building, though he nearly breaks his fingers in the process.
Jeongsu then summons all the legendary spears he once wielded, launching a powerful attack, the Union of the Void, at Minsu and his group. Jiseong positions himself behind Minsu, staying protected from Jeongsu’s attack. Hana is vaporized from the ankles down but revives herself, and the two leave Minsu to confront the Spear Warrior alone, promising to keep out of sight.
After Minsu defeats Jeongsu, Yerin Ma intervenes, revealing herself as a double agent working for the restored government. She escapes, flying away with Jeongsu to ensure his survival. When Jiseong and the other warriors learn of the Magic Warrior’s betrayal, they try to stop her but are thwarted by surviving soldiers who sacrifice themselves by detonating grenades to block Jiseong’s path.
Jiseong and Jeong chase Yerin and Jeongsu from the ground, with Jiseong leaping from building to building. As he closes in, a government soldier leaps from a shattered window, detonating a grenade to hinder him. Jiseong narrowly avoids the explosion, but more soldiers grab him from windows, each detonating grenades to prevent his pursuit.
Jiseong, along with Hwarang and Jeong, attempts to continue the chase by taking an elevator, only to be blocked by the remaining 3,000 citizens who sacrifice themselves, granting the rebel warriors five minutes to escape.
Following these events, Jiseong allows the Resurrection Warrior to turn back time and alter fate, preventing the 9-Warriors’ deaths in a nuclear strike. He remains in Korea while the other warriors spread chaos worldwide.
Weapon Retrieval Operation[]
Jiseong confronts the Reconstruction Government’s efforts to recover the fallen Shield Warrior’s shield, prompting them to deploy the Metamorphosis Warrior to guard the transport. The two engage in a fierce battle, with Jiseong initially having the upper hand. However, he's taken aback by the Metamorphosis Warrior’s relentless attacks, as his opponent continues to fight despite his suit overheating, putting him at risk of being burned alive. The clash culminates in both warriors unleashing massive energy blasts. The Metamorphosis Warrior ultimately succumbs to his wounds, and his suit disintegrates from the heat. Jiseong, though victorious, is gravely injured and blasted miles from the city, landing in the countryside.
Jiseong’s death
Left severely wounded, Jiseong was forced to tap into his inner qi to survive, a decision that costs him all of his superpowers. He made his way back to his grandmother’s home, only to find her skeleton still lying on her deathbed. Delirious, he treats his wounds and pours tea for her, clinging to the illusion that she’s still with him. In this vulnerable state, a government agent sneaks up on him, rifle in hand. As the agent aims, Jiseong, lost in his delusions, asks if his grandmother invited guests over—moments before being fatally shot. In his final moments, Jiseong’s clarity returns, and he painfully realizes his grandmother has been gone for years, leaving him utterly alone.
Powers & Abilities[]
Martial Arts Hero[]
As the Martial Arts Hero, Jiseong is noted to have been trained in the martial arts of the otherworld he was summoned to. Making him one of the most physically powerful of the current generation of Heroes.
Energy Manipulation: As shown, Jiseong has been trained to utilize and channel his bodies energy through specific martial arts techniques, having showcased to release and produce green and purple energy. Using various hand motions, Jiseong has showcased various energy based techniques, such as the ability to deflect bullets by redirecting them using his fingers, creating various constructs, like releasing a small, but precise beam of energy to pierce his target and create a volley of blades to launch at his opponent. Jiseong has also shown to use this energy to further enhance his physical abilities, such as reinforcing his body for defense.
- Cheonma Aerial Spin: A move where Jiseong twists his opponent at high speeds.
- Cheonma Death Blow - Fist of Five Dragons: A powerful attack where Jiseong launches several punches and piercing attacks using index finger and middle finger in a powerful volley. As shown, it was powerful enough that the Metamorphosis Hero needed to launch his own volley of fists to counter it.
- Cheonma Ghost - Snake Blast: A powerful energy blast where Jiseong focuses and molds his energy into a green orb before then firing it as a gigantic serpent.
- Cheonma Serpent Summons: An attack where Jiseong conjures a horde of green and purple energy snakes to attack his opponent.
- Cheonma Vitality Absorption Technique: A technique where by physically holding his victim, Jiseong could begin siphoning and absorbing his opponents' vitality and life energy.
- Cheonma Hell - Wrath Explosion: A technique where by moving his hands into a vortex like motion, Jiseong could create a large explosion of purple energy.
- Cheonma Qi Blast: A Projectile made of purple Qi that auto tracks opponents through bouncing off objects
- Spear of the Heavenly Demon - Ultimate Demonic Telekinetic Sword Technique - Wicked Heavens of the Demons : A technique that summons dozens of swords made of purple Qi that fall down upon an opponent to inflict damage. The technique also allows Juseong to control the swords and blades with his mind.
- Heavenly Demon Polarity: A technique where Jiseong drastically increases his speed and shroud himself in aura that allows him to sneak up behind his opponent.
- Heavenly Demon Footwork Divine Demon Form Compression: A technique where Jiseong drastically increases his speed in order to perform a powerful speed based attack that allows him to mow down numerous targets in high speed.
Trivia[]
- His color scheme was originally going to be Purple, but was changed to Green in the final version. The artist Fungback states that while it's been a while for him to fully remember the reasoning, it's likely due to overlapping with The Transformation Warrior's Exosuit. [1]
The Original Color Scheme