109
Ch.109 Is Not A Drug
[...Is that the stimulant again?]
As Kage lets out a sigh, Yeo Woon-jae takes several pills from the bottle and swallows them.
With a grinding, chewing sound, Yeo Woon-jae’s energy surges, and the camera screen facing the wave of his ability begins to glitch.
[I do think it’s impressive that such a drug can make your ruined body move, but haven’t you already confirmed its limits? You can’t fight anymore.]
[You were the one who said a superpower human is someone who challenges the impossible.]
I focused harder to understand the nature of the drug.
The name of the drug, the process taken to create it, the contents of the experiment, the joy when the test succeeded.
[...Sacrificing the innocent is not a necessary sacrifice.]
[Go home and rest while I’m still being nice about it.]
[If you antagonize humanity like this! No one will believe in superpower humans anymore! Was this the world you wanted to create—one only for superpower humans?!]
[I told you there’s no time. Don’t let those you sacrificed die in vain, Yeo Woon-jae.]
The fusion of humans and monsters.
It involves grafting fragments of monster cells and cores onto a human body.
Using the regenerative power of the monster core, it slowly adapts, like grafting a plant.
In the end, the dying body is tricked into thinking it is its own, regenerating until—
The monster core takes over the human body.
[Please, cool your head. Kang Ho-young… This can’t be the right way.]
[...Hah… Let’s end this conversation here.]
The hypothesis that gradually took shape through the creation of test subjects.
For a human undergoing fusion to withstand the core of a powerful monster, they must possess equally strong regenerative abilities.
A powerful superpower human becomes a powerful monster.
Then, what kind of monster would the strongest superpower human become?
[Enter first with the superpower humans, Baskerville.]
The fatal injury to Yeo Woon-jae’s aged body—a piercing wound to the center of his ability, his heart.
Researchers were thrilled at the news that Yeo Woon-jae’s heart could be operated on.
An unexpected stroke of luck—they succeeded in implanting a fragment of a monster core into Yeo Woon-jae’s heart.
[Come at me, old man.]
Contrary to expectations, Yeo Woon-jae’s heart began fighting the monster, nearly causing them to lose the test subject.
However, by gradually feeding him fragments of the core, they managed to prolong Yeo Woon-jae’s weakened life.
The higher the ratio of the core, the more it recognized Yeo Woon-jae’s body as its own.
Taking shape within him—
Devouring Yeo Woon-jae.
“Honey? Despair-class monsters are in A-City….”
Ignoring Gu Seo-ryong’s words as she processed different information, I opened a portal.
The destination was the center of A-City, where Yeo Woon-jae currently was.
But unlike when I arrived at the lab, there was no target to extend the distance by linking abilities.
At this rate—
I’ll be too late.
***
After the Black Cat disappeared, W-City struggled with the increasing number of monsters.
Before anyone realized, the number of monsters had grown to the point where a single S-rank could no longer handle them as before.
To be precise, it had become difficult to avoid even a single casualty.
To completely eliminate civilian casualties, an overkill strategy—excessive force—was necessary.
A strategy already demonstrated by A-City, with guaranteed effectiveness.
This required many S-rank heroes, but W-City solved the problem by having Yoo Anna move even busier.
In the headquarters building, Yoo Anna, exhausted as always, woke from a nap in the operations room and headed out.
In stark contrast, Electress glowed with vitality every time she appeared in the cafeteria.
Rumors began circulating among the heroes—wasn’t this too much? The next day, in front of everyone, Iron Might volunteered to talk to Electress.
Despite everyone’s concerns, Iron Might succeeded in persuading her.
And so, Yoo Anna finally got some rest.
“But what exactly are you making?”
During her break, Yoo Anna, while escorting Meister during mealtime, struck up a conversation.
Lately, Meister had been busy building something with W-City’s technicians.
“When I asked what was the most urgent thing to do for W-City, they said this was what the ability required.”
“What is it?”
“A railgun for launching superpower humans. Hmm… Kage called it the hero cannon.”
“Ah, that… So this is what it looks like…”
Unlike Electress’s projectile or Baskerville’s Magic Bullet, this was a device to reduce the time it took for Kage, who had to run to move, to arrive on the scene.
It would also be useful when providing support to other cities… But for Yoo Anna, who could fly at speeds second only to Electress, it was unnecessary.
“I don’t really need it, but Iron Might could make good use of it. He’s the only one in W-City who can withstand the recoil.”
“Wouldn’t it let you move much faster, Anna? Theoretically, about 1.8 times your usual speed…”
“That might be useful for emergencies in other cities.”
Still, it was a helpful device.
Yoo Anna ate her sandwich while watching Nam Kyung, grateful for her work.
“You’ve changed a bit.”
“Me? How?”
“Yeah, you seem more at ease. Your dark circles are lighter too. More than anything, you’ve hardly used your ability lately, right?”
“Ah… Yeah, a little… I’ve been avoiding it. Sleeping well too.”
Nam Kyung’s complexion was brighter than before, as she checked the cannon’s program.
No matter how much I told her to use her ability in moderation, she never listened. Why the sudden change?
Maybe because no one in W-City pressured her to use it.
“See? W-City is fine even without you using your ability. Like I said before, you don’t have to carry it all alone.”
“…Thank you, Anna.”
For whatever reason, Yoo Anna was delighted.
If this meant Nam Kyung could rest properly and find peace—
“Is there anything I can help with? Welding, maybe?”
“Ah, not right now. It’s just programming, so only I can do it.”
“Senior!”
Just then, a hero rushed into the workshop.
“Right now, on—on the broadcast! A-City is—!”
“What’s going on?”
“A-City…?”
Sensing something ominous from the urgent expression, Yoo Anna and Nam Kyung left the workshop and headed to the operations room.
Inside, all the standby heroes had gathered around the TV.
On the screen, Kage’s two secretaries—female heroes always by his side—were broadcasting from A-City’s station.
The content was shocking.
[To the citizens of A-City, and to the citizens and heroes of all cities: we announce that the heroes of A-City are currently fighting against the long-standing corruption and evil deeds of high-ranking government officials. They are no different from monsters wearing human masks…]
“Is this for real?”
“Aah…! Jung Ho-young…!”
Led by Kage, the heroes of A-City had begun purging corrupt politicians and executing collaborators—humans and superpower humans alike.
Kage’s aides busily relayed the process on screen, vowing transparency.
The names and numbers of those killed by Kage and Baskerville, along with innocent casualties caught in the chaos, were tallied in real time.
[We offer our condolences to the late citizen Oh Hyun-wook and his family, who were taken hostage by the security chief and sacrificed as human shields. Additionally…]
“A coup? Is this a coup? By the heroes…?”
“This is why superpower humans can’t be trusted…!”
“Heroes harming citizens—how is this different from villains?”
“Using power meant for monsters like this…”
The heroes of W-City, along with some from A-City and soldiers stationed there, were divided as the broadcast continued.
[Environment Minister Kim Chi-san: during visits to other cities, he lured starving citizens from slums to torture and rape them in secret rooms…]
[Finance Vice Minister Yoo Jung-hyuk: under the guise of offering loans to those who lost homes to monsters, he forced sexual favors from their families…]
[Family Affairs Director Sung Tae-sik: under the pretense of protecting orphans, he turned orphanages into brothels, exploiting citizens…]
“What the hell? These scumbags?”
“Are they insane?”
“I knew the higher-ups were dirty, but this is beyond imagination.”
On screen, Kage’s secretary listed the targets of the purge, exposing their crimes.
Secrets so well-hidden that only Kage could have uncovered them.
The atrocities left no room for doubt—these people deserved death.
“How can you believe that? It’s just Kage’s word.”
“Some might be guilty, but others are probably just obstacles to his power.”
“If they cut this many at once, how will they manage the aftermath…?”
“Still, they’re people who need to be removed.”
“They’re not killing everyone—some are just forced to resign.”
“The technology minister? Embezzlement is bad, but we can’t afford to lose him…”
“Jang Hyuk is innocent! That was a false accusation before. I know it!”
Yet, some resistance arose because this was all being carried out by superpower humans—specifically, those loyal to Kage
Moreover, the broadcasters didn’t deny that innocents might be among the dead.
[We apologize again for the possibility of innocent casualties. But this is a necessary sacrifice. We live in an era of monsters, yet these people only sought their own comfort, grew complacent, and wallowed in greed.]
“Bullshit…!”
“Necessary sacrifice? That’s not something the killers should say!”
[The damage, inconvenience, and countless casualties caused by their betrayal. To honor their spirits, we can no longer delay. Citizens, we ask for your trust.]
“Trust that? After they just announced they’re about to start killing?”
“No… Oddly, that makes them more credible. This broadcast feels transparent.”
“What? Are you sane?”
“They’re not hiding it—they’re admitting it’s dirty but necessary. Better than the government’s underhanded tactics.”
“They’re both just dirty criminals!”
“It’s realism.”
As the operations room grew louder with clashing opinions, Yoo Anna realized why Kage had aired this.
To divide the citizens—even the soldiers—and pit them against each other.
Prevent them from acting freely while he moved swiftly to finish the job.
Then, he’d argue his transparency to sway public opinion in his favor.
Knowing his actions were evil, he didn’t hide them.
“Jung Ho-young…!”
As an S-rank hero, Yoo Anna knew exactly how corrupt high-ranking officials were.
But they were untouchable because of the Master Code that managed the cities.
Especially the officials in A-City, who held access to all cities—they practically held the code’s creator, Meister, hostage.
Those officials, tempted by the unique monster the Black Cat, had briefly released Meister.
If they were to act, it had to be now.
This was necessary.
But it was also something that should never be done.
An act that shattered the fundamental dynamic between heroes and citizens—protectors and the protected.
Once done, citizens would never truly trust heroes again.
Kage knew all this—yet he did it anyway.
Believing he could bear it all alone.
That even if citizens distrusted all heroes, it was fine as long as they trusted only him.
“You… Insane bastard!”
Superpower humans are not gods.
Bearing everything alone is impossible.
No matter how strong, endurance has its limits—and the end is inevitable.
“Nam Kyung, prepare the hero cannon! Now—!”
Yoo Anna couldn’t let Jung Ho-young continue like this.
Just as she thought that, the screen switched to a hero cam, broadcasting Kage’s current situation.
Facing him was someone Yoo Anna knew well.
The former strongest hero—Yeo Woon-jae.
“It’s… Yeo Woon-jae.”
“Is he there to stop Kage?”
“He should’ve come later! If he delays things now, the officials might misuse the Master Code…!”
Likely thinking the same, Yeo Woon-jae exchanged words with Kage before taking a stance.
Pulling a pill bottle from his pocket, Yoo Anna, having heard about the pills during her contact with Kage, realized Yeo Woon-jae had resolved to fight.
And seeing the pills, Nam Kyung covered his mouth with both hands.
“Can Yeo Woon-jae stop Kage?”
“Is he trying to die? Why?”
“He must be staking his life to tell Kage this is wrong.”
Yeo Woon-jae’s injuries were already widely known.
A fatal strike to the heart—the source of a superpower human’s power—during battle.
After a long heart surgery, he survived, but his body was no longer normal.
So no one watching expected Yeo Woon-jae to win.
“Ah…”
“As expected…”
True to predictions, Yeo Woon-jae collapsed against Kage’s shield.
A brief delay—that was Yeo Woon-jae’s limit now.
Kage, clad in full armor, turned away, leaving Yeo Woon-jae behind.
At that moment—
Yoo Anna sensed something ominous in Yeo Woon-jae’s figure on screen.
“Huh?”
“Yeo Woon-jae is…”
The screen glitched—camera noise from the intense ability waves.
Yeo Woon-jae’s body rose again, his head lifting toward the sky.
His hair spiked like horns, his neck bent low, body twitching.
The moment Kage turned back and raised his shield—
“Huh?”
In an instant, Yeo Woon-jae’s hand shattered Kage’s ability—
And pierced his heart.