Chapter 20

〈Chapter 20, Part 1, Episode 6〉

<April 4, 2020, 6:40 PM, Hunter's Rest near Gwangmyeong City Hall>

Special Ability users are broadly divided into Heroes or Villains, but there exist gray-area individuals between them.

Those who have awakened to their Special Abilities yet do not act as Heroes. And those who use their powers without committing evil deeds.

Except for a small number, these individuals who don’t align with either side hunt Monsters using their abilities. People refer to those who register their abilities with the government and add their names to the official database as…

Hunters.

Those who make a living by hunting Monsters and selling their by-products. While they cause headaches for the Association, both sides maintain a symbiotic relationship based on the common goal of eliminating Monsters.

Especially during Dimensional Gate incidents like this one, this partnership shines brightly. While Heroes focus on removing the Dimensional Gate, Hunters handle the Monsters that spill out.

“Hey! Hurry up with your gear!”

Kim Seong-oh urged his fellow Hunters while checking his own equipment again. There were countless other Hunter parties residing in Seoul besides theirs.

“Captain! The Association just sent us a map!”

At his subordinate’s words, Seong-oh tapped his smartwatch to bring up the map.

A flat rendering of Gwanaksan’s aerial view showed red arrows indicating the expected descent paths of the Monsters along human-made hiking trails.

“The guys from Gwacheon are gonna have it easy. Tch.”

Most of the Monsters following the trails headed south and east. Those heading northwest toward Seoul National University were fewer in number but marked as dangerous for some reason.

“What? Is that a Hazard Class?”

“It appears so.”

“This is insane. If we can’t harvest any Cores, we’ll be in the red this month.”

Seong-oh spat on the ground and climbed onto the back of their truck. Modified trucks ready to respond to Monster attacks at any moment had become essential tools for Hunters.

“If only a B Rank would show up…”

“Captain! Over there!”

At his subordinate’s shout, Seong-oh lost his words mid-curse.

“What the hell is that?”

A massive pillar of fire rising from the south.

The towering blue flame, visible even from their base 2km away, easily reached dozens of meters into the sky.

“They’re already spawning Monsters like that?”

As he considered fleeing, another Monster alert made Seong-oh furrow his brow then gape open-mouthed.

– A Rank spotted near Doksan Station! Danger! Please evacuate immediately!

The Hunters exchanged glances and nodded.

“We’ve seen enough!”

The convoy of Hunter trucks heading toward Gwanaksan abruptly turned toward the fiery pillar near Doksan Station.

* * *

“Haa… haa…”

Cheon Gaeul ran downhill without looking back. Run or get eaten by the Monster.

“Aaaah!”

Startled by the Monsters’ faster-than-expected descent down the mountain, one member of the filming crew screamed and fell. Those running alongside couldn’t spare the mental capacity to help their entangled colleague.

Watching his teammates abandon him, the crew member sank into despair. The psychological pain of being deserted by coworkers he’d shared meals with outweighed the physical pain of his sprained leg.

Grrr!

As others scrambled into their vehicles, the director among them was the first to leave. Watching the car he arrived in depart without him, the crew member swallowed his frustration.

Then a hand grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing?! Get up!”

The impossibly delicate hand he’d only seen through the camera lens belonged to Cheon Gaeul, struggling to pull him up.

“Are you crazy?!”

“Instead of yelling, help me!”

The manager stomped his feet before rushing to Gaeul’s side to support the crew member.

“Can you hop?”

“Yeah, somehow!”

Even dragging one leg behind, they had to keep running. No Hero would be coming to save them anytime soon – they were all heading to the mountaintop to deal with bigger threats.

“Lee Seung-hyeong… He could’ve helped us first before going off!”

Supporting the crew member while running, Gaeul shook her head.

“That might’ve worked against regular Monsters. But this is a Dimensional Gate.”

Though she didn’t know why Dimensional Gates appeared or their true nature as interdimensional connections, humanity clearly understood that leaving them unchecked would result in even greater Monster threats.

“There are still so many people living in Seoul. It’s right that Seung-hyeong went to stop the Dimensional Gate for their sake.”

“So we’re just gonna die here?!”

The manager shouted as he ran toward a van parked in the far corner of the parking lot. Gaeul bit her lip and dragged the crew member toward the vehicle. Other cars had already departed down the main road.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Behind them, Monsters had already descended to the university grounds. One resembling an orangutan stood on a rooftop, beating its chest and roaring.

Kyaahhhhhh!

“Wha?!”

The Monster’s magical roar knocked the crew member unconscious. Dark red blood trickled from his ears.

“Ugh?!”

Struggling to remain upright, Gaeul had a fleeting thought about jumping into the van and leaving the unconscious man behind. But she clenched her teeth, grabbed the crew member under the arms, and pulled him into the van instead.

“Hey! Get in!”

The anxious manager fumbled with the keys, shaking hands failing multiple times to start the engine due to tension or fear.

Vroom-

The engine sputtered to life. Using every ounce of strength, Gaeul hoisted the crew member into the van before turning to the manager.

“Help me, please! I can’t do this alone!”

“What? What are you…?!”

Crash!

Before they knew it, a Monster leaped from a nearby building. The heavy van rocked violently before settling back down, sending the manager into a panic as he shifted gears.

“Hey! Leave him!”

Frozen in shock, Gaeul couldn’t move.

Suggesting they abandon the crew member meant using him as bait to escape.

“But… but…”

“But nothing! Those who can survive must!”

Saliva flying, the manager shouted. But Gaeul’s hands refused to release the crew member’s shoulders.

Grrrrrr!

The earth trembled as the Monster charged forward. Gaeul’s hand instinctively moved toward the door to abandon the crew member, but the manager beat her to the punch by slamming on the accelerator.

Vrooooom!

The sudden lurch forward caused Gaeul’s hand to grasp at empty air. The crew member partially hanging out of the door was dragged along as the van turned sharply, rolling across the parking lot before being thrown clear.

“Aaah…”

Gaeul collapsed where she stood, watching helplessly as the van sped away. The manager she’d worked with since her childhood acting days had driven off without looking back.

Grrrrr!

Turning around with trembling eyes, Gaeul saw the violet-furred Monster sniffing the air, alternating its gaze between her and the departing vehicle.

Grrr.

Was the Monster smiling as it curled its lips? Snorting steam, it crouched…

Kyaahhhhhh!!

…before roaring and leaping high into the sky, easily clearing an entire lecture building, landing directly in front of the escaping van.

“Aaaaah!”

Startled by the sudden appearance, the manager swerved the wheel. Extending its arms fully, the Monster blocked the van attempting to pass.

Squeeeek….

Pushing the Monster slightly backward, the van came to a stop. Despite the manager’s frantic attempts to accelerate, the vehicle wouldn’t budge.

“Aaagh…”

Through the window, the manager locked eyes with the Monster. Enjoying the man’s terror, the Monster spat saliva at the glass before raising its fist high above its head and smashing down on the driver’s seat.

Craaack!

The crunching sound likely wasn’t just from the car frame.

The manager’s limp left arm falling through the shattered door made Gaeul cover her mouth with both hands.

Grrr. Grrr.

Wiping the blood from its fist on its fur, the Monster slowly approached Gaeul, grinding its feet. Her legs had gone completely limp, unable to hold any strength.

Grrrk.

Inserting its hand into its groin area, the Monster produced something grotesque and repulsive from beneath its thick fur.

“Ugh…”

Fighting back the rising nausea threatening to reach her chin, Gaeul turned her body. Survival instinct kicked in, giving her superhuman strength to turn her back on the Monster and attempt escape.

Grrrkrk.

“No, no closer!”

Grrrkkk.

Clear mockery. Still, despite trembling hands, Gaeul kept her high heel aimed at the Monsters.

Thud.

A massive shadow loomed over Gaeul. Turning around in shock, she found herself staring at a Monster two to three times larger than the others.

With a huge hand, the Monster grabbed Gaeul and lifted her into the air.

“Aaah!”

Even while captured, Gaeul repeatedly stabbed at the Monster’s hand with her inverted high heel. Unable to pierce even its skin, let alone wound it, her strikes kept missing until she finally dropped the shoe in exhaustion.

Grrrkk.

The giant Monster hurled Gaeul to the ground. Rolling across the asphalt, Gaeul coughed violently from the impact.

“Guh… Khaaak!”

Blood mixed with her coughs. In her fading consciousness, Gaeul watched the approaching giant Monster with despair.

‘I don’t want to die yet.’

Recalling someone amidst her scattered memories – a man much higher in social standing who had shown constant interest since their script reading day.

“No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

Perhaps he would come to save her. Like a prince defeating monsters and rescuing a princess in distress from a fairy tale.

But there were no Cinderellas in reality, even if there were Heroes.

‘That’s right. As a Hero, it’s natural he has to go stop the Dimensional Gate.’

Gaeul had always believed that protecting all of Seoul’s citizens, eliminating threats to humanity as a whole, was more important than saving just one person. That’s why she had encouraged Seung-hyeong to head toward the Dimensional Gate, pretending to be strong.

She never imagined her words urging him to fulfill his Heroic duty would lead to her own death.

‘If by some miracle I survive and see him again…’

Turning her head away as the giant Monster’s fist descended toward her head…

♪♬♪

Suddenly, a bird-like cry resonated through her eardrums. Simultaneously, the giant Monster’s body exploded.

“Phoenix Kick!”

A dropkick piercing through the explosion’s smoke, embedding itself in the giant Monster’s chest. The Monster flew several meters through the air, crashing through a building wall.

BOOM!

The Monster tumbled after traveling dozens of meters. Regaining her senses, Gaeul stared transfixed at the girl who had appeared before her, surrounded by burning Blue Flames.

Kyaahhh!

The Monsters, now glowing fiercely, lunged at the girl who had appeared before Gaeul. Their sharp claws raised, their eyes revealed a determined will to kill, even in death.

“Too slow.”

Wings of blue flame unfurled behind the girl.

The wind pressure alone from spreading her wings sent the jumping Monsters flying like the giant Monster, crashing to the ground far away.

“Hmm, Chaotic Attributes. No cores will come from these. What a waste.”

The girl’s words were incomprehensible to Gaeul. But the warmth radiating from the azure flames made her unconsciously relax.

“I’m busy, so… Incinerate.”

The girl flicked her extended finger to the side.

Snap.

Whooshh!!

With a crisp sound, blue flames erupted from the Monsters, reducing them to ashes instantly. Even the massive 3-meter tall Monsters disappeared in a single strike, prompting Gaeul to reach out toward the girl.

“Hm?”

Noticing her skirt being held, the girl turned her head. Seeing the girl’s face, as if casually taking a stroll, Gaeul lost her mind.

“Angel…?”

With that final word, Gaeul’s consciousness faded away.