50
Ch. 50 An eye for an eye.
Realizing that what I had been dealing with so far was not an ordinary monster but an experimental subject, I stiffened, raising my guard as my fur bristled.
The second experimental subject after Gu Seo-ryong, but this one was distinctly different from Gu Seo-ryong.
...This one was much closer to a true monster.
[Was that the human tactic called 'Ring' just now? Simultaneously using multiple abilities to make countermeasures impossible—just like us.]
[...You.]
[Number 444.]
[A Number, then.]
The one who identified itself as 444 began slowly circling the grassy field around me.
From the conversations I had overheard between researchers and experimental subjects in the lab, I had gathered a few scraps of information.
Romania, Alphabet, Numbers—they shared the numbering system for experimental subjects.
I, CXI, was the 38th subject after G3—that is, the 73rd subject, Gu Seo-ryong.
The one before me now was the 333rd subject created after me.
[Did you escape the lab?]
[Escape? Don’t tell me you actually think you got out of the lab by your own power? You were discarded as a failure. And… I came here to devour you.]
Suddenly, Gu Seo-ryong’s words when she first saw me flashed through my mind.
"Did the lab send you to kill me?"
I never thought something like that could really exist… A flicker of surprise crossed me as I heightened my abilities and denied 444’s claim.
[You don’t seem capable of that.]
[Of course, it’s a shame, but I can’t devour you alone.]
That’s why there were two of them—but with one currently fighting Starlight, the one who would die here wasn’t me, but 444.
Yet, as 444 remained eerily composed, another monster identical to it appeared beside it.
[With two of us, it’s possible.]
An illusion strong enough to fool even a monster? Or was it a clone?
I hoped for the former, but unfortunately, the second one vibrated its monster core.
A clone created by an ability wouldn’t have a core.
A third one—this thing is also a Despair-class monster.
[There was another one.]
[But… How did you set up a trap with the humans?]
[Is that why you opened your mouth? Because you’re curious?]
[Curious? Is this what curiosity feels like? I see, I’m curious.]
[Curious? I’m curious, curious?]
Crunch, crunch. The grass beneath their feet gradually froze over, transforming into blades of ice.
The two monsters, their tails coated in those icy blades, scritch-scritched, enlarging the frozen spikes.
[How did you notice? I made sure to avoid being caught by more than one surveillance camera.]
[You weren’t caught by surveillance cameras.]
[I was careful to emit only one presence.]
[I didn’t make any mistakes in hiding. The alarms only ever went off once.]
[You didn’t even speak to humans, CXI. Did you devour a telepathy ability?]
[CXI devours abilities. Unlike us, it can consume any ability it wants.]
Whoosh! Whoosh! The two Despair-class monsters, now split again, erupted in black smoke as they surrounded me.
Two Despair-class monsters—once again, the odds were against me.
Judging that reckless movement would be unwise, I subtly heightened my abilities.
[Thanks for throwing 404 as bait. Just as planned.]
[404 can die for all we care! Bait!]
[Now there are no more human nuisances in the way.]
[The researchers are always right! CXI joined hands with humans!]
The sound of squelch-squelch grew faster as they circled me, their frozen spikes expanding with every step.
The residual energy embedded in the ice numbed my senses.
The two monsters were setting up a barrier, mimicking the Ring tactic the heroes had used earlier.
[But why? How can you defy a monster’s instincts?]
[Why? How? I’m curious.]
[I’m curious.]
[I’m curious.]
As they spoke, the two monsters grinned in anticipation, resonating their monster wavelengths.
The overlapping circular wavelengths, shaped like an 8, formed a unique coupling—a monster’s instinctive cooperation to kill prey. The frozen spikes cracked under the strain.
[If we eat you, we’ll find out.]
[Eat CXI! Succeed!]
Clang-clang-clang! The spikes, hardened by energy to be tougher than steel, scattered into the air, forming a blade-like mist that rushed toward me.
I wreathed myself in opposing energy—flames—erecting a wall of scorching wind to block the mist. At the same time, I used telekinesis to seize 444 as it lunged at me.
A brief restraint—just as I was about to tear into it, another monster erupted from the smoke above me and dropped down.
Screeeech! At the sound of space tearing, I released 444 and leapt back. The one who had left claw marks in the air licked its talons.
This thing… Is fast. Much faster than 444.
[I’m late on introductions. This is 499, my junior sister.]
[Introductions? Failures don’t get self-introductions! Monsters who don’t listen are failures! Hello, I’m 499!]
[...CXI.]
[Thank you! CXI?]
The one called 499 sat with its legs together, bowing politely.
After awkwardly returning the greeting, 499 immediately lunged at me, its upper body low.
[Kill CXI!]
Screeeech! With a sound like a bat’s cry, 499 tore through space to close the distance.
It used spatial tears—accelerating by filling the void left behind by the torn space.
I retreated, activating my ability to evade its pursuit.
For an instant, my body transformed into pure energy, surpassing the speed limit of physical beings.
In the blink of an eye, I became a raging bolt of lightning—just before silently piercing through 499, 444 tore open space.
Whooosh! The moment I passed through the spatial rift, the ground and sky flipped before my eyes.
Boom! Along with the delayed thunderclap, I crashed to the ground, my body numb as I regenerated. Glaring at the two monsters watching me, I bared my fangs.
[Ultimate finishing move? One use and you’re exhausted?]
[It’s useless, CXI. You’re no longer the strongest experiment.]
[Spatial manipulation is the ultimate ability! Best for offense and defense!]
Indeed, spatial manipulation seemed to be the core of their abilities.
They could open wormholes to deflect all energy and physical attacks, or tear space itself to strike—an all-purpose ability.
Unlike me, who adapted my abilities to my opponent, theirs seemed capable of handling any situation with just one power.
[I’ll become the strongest experiment. By killing you! By devouring the cores of two Despair-class monsters!]
[Will you eat me? Protect…? Eat me!]
Whoosh! Leaving behind black smoke, they crossed space in an instant, claws bared as they reached me.
I sank into the shadows to evade, but the frozen blades of energy slashed at my body.
The icy shards clung stubbornly, freezing my flesh as they dug in.
I quickly wreathed myself in flames to burn them away—only for 499 to unleash a sound-based ability.
[Fire! Put out the fire!]
[Kehahaha! Struggle all you want!]
Ooooh! A cursed low-frequency wave distorted the flames.
The sound ability was meant to block my communication and Phoenix abilities.
Every one of their abilities was designed to counter mine.
[Tag! If we catch you, you’re meat!]
They chased me as I swam through the underground darkness, relentlessly tearing apart the space around me.
While dodging, I desperately searched for a way out.
Against one, I could win easily—but two was too much.
The best option was to even the odds to 2 vs. 2. If I stalled long enough for Starlight to hunt one down and come for me…
But would they really have no counter for that?
They had said handing one monster to Starlight was part of their plan.
If I were in their place, I’d avoid an unpleasant enemy, devour one target, then flee and wait for another chance.
The easiest way to create an opening? Hunting humans.
If I didn’t deal with these two now, the past few days would repeat.
So then—how?
As I reached that thought, an idea flickered in my mind.
If they had been watching me all along, it might not work—but if that were the case, they wouldn’t have sent only three Despair-class monsters.
A gamble. It might make things worse—but it was worth trying.
[If you’re trying to buy time, it’s useless, CXI. 404 has the highest regeneration among the 400-series. Even if it fights every hero in W-City, it’ll last more than twice as long as it’ll take us to hunt you.]
[Calculations! Accurate! Data! Data? Collect!]
Crash! Releasing my intangibility, I burst from the ground and raced across the sky using Lee Han-young’s ability.
Even Lee Han-young couldn’t use this ability consecutively—but I wasn’t Lee Han-young.
Flash! Boom! With a thunderclap, I landed instantly at my destination.
[Grrr…]
[Second time! How? I’m curious!]
On the charred ground, 499 arrived first as I regenerated my numb body.
From my retreat, I’d sensed it—their spatial manipulation had limited range.
Given 499’s superior energy emission speed and physical prowess, it made sense it would arrive first.
I had a brief moment before 444 caught up. Targeting 499 now might work—but…
Now that I’d thought of another way, that didn’t appeal to me.
[Ooooooh!]
[...Nya?]
I raised my head and let out a loud roar, vibrating my monster core.
Ooooh, ooooh… The smooth, viscous wave pulsed outward like ripples. 499, exposed to the wavelength, tilted its head in confusion.
[Huh? CXI, not attacking?]
[How pathetic, CXI.]
444, arriving shortly after, snarled and stepped in front of 499.
Having sensed the monster wavelength I’d emitted, its reaction made sense.
[What, you thought if you courted her, she’d go wild and mate with you?]
[Mate?]
What I had emitted was a courtship wavelength.
499 looked baffled, while 444 scowled—misunderstanding that I was trying to lure 499 to my side.
But the place I’d landed was District 4.
"Huh? Our kitty wasn’t the one flirting, was it?"
Click-clack, click-clack. The sound of approaching heels gradually shifted into heavier, thud-thud footsteps.
Pure white scales, swaying hair, a flickering forked tongue, a thick tail.
Gu Seo-ryong licked the venom from her fingertips and spoke.
"Hey there, sweetheart. You look like you’re in trouble."
What I had summoned was W-City’s other Despair-class monster.
In her fully monstrous form, Gu Seo-ryong left the two monsters visibly stunned.
Seeing their reaction, I smirked.
They didn’t know Gu Seo-ryong.
[You… What are you?]
[What? Human? Monster?]
"Huh? What? Talking monsters?"
Gu Seo-ryong covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise, then glanced at me and narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm… I see. You called me here to deal with these guys, right? Talking monsters mean you’re lab experiments, huh?"
[Are you an experiment too?]
[You know the lab!]
"Huh? Do I look like a monster? I’m pretty, aren’t I?"
[Experiment…? Human, human? Pretty!]
"Oh? This kitty’s got good taste."
Pausing before the wary monsters, Gu Seo-ryong flicked her fingers and spun in place.
"But Black Cat? Isn’t this a bit much? Two against one… clearly unfair, no?"
With a meaningful smile, she turned back to the monsters and approached slowly.
"I’m more interested in that lab of yours—the one that hybridizes monsters and humans. How about it, guests from the lab? Help me catch the Black Cat, and I’ll let you introduce me to the lab."
[Keh… Hilarious. CXI… Abandoned?]
[Abandoned? Mama?]
Their mocking laughter faded as Gu Seo-ryong turned her back to them, facing me with claws raised like she was about to pounce.
"Hey, by the way—you two were sent by the lab to catch the Black Cat, right? You didn’t escape like him, did you~?"
[Keh… I’m nothing like that fool.]
[Lab’s orders! Catch the Black Cat!]
"Ohhh, reeeally~?"
The moment they answered, Gu Seo-ryong suddenly lashed his tail—snap!
Thwack! Thwack… thwack… The sound echoed in the air as she strode leisurely toward the two monsters, who stood frozen in caution.
Plunge. Sinking her fingertips into their throats, Gu Seo-ryong laughed.
"So, you prioritize human orders over a monster’s instincts? How… Stupid♥"
[Guh—! Y-You…!]
[Huh…? Ah!]
Squelch! The two monsters panicked, tearing space—but the rift opened not around Gu Seo-ryong, but between their own necks.
[Aaaagh! 499, what are you doing?!]
[Guh…! Big brother?!]
"Ahahahaha! Intel gathering complete~!"
Whoosh! Laughing, Gu Seo-ryong kicked off the ground, landing beside me as she licked the blood and venom from her fingers.
"Just as I thought. If the lab’s making monsters obey orders, they’d have to weaken their mental resistance. Kinda… Cruel, don’t you think?"
As the two poisoned monsters lost focus, gasping for air, Gu Seo-ryong flicked her fingers.
"Bodies of Despair-class, but brains weaker than Disaster-class. Pathetic."
[W-What is this…?! Gah, hack…!]
[Huh? Wh-What’s… This? Curious, curious…?]
"That~? Hmm, well… Does it matter what poison or ability it is?"
Still flicking her fingers, Gu Seo-ryong subtly raised one behind her back, signaling me.
"What matters is… Dealing with me is about to get much harder, right?"
A beckoning gesture—then her finger pointed at the two experiments.
"Hey, Deun-deun? Bite."