Burning the Infected
A staggering security guard came into view.
It was Sergeant Kang Gil-su. They had clashed before due to clashing personalities, but Jo Beom-gu didn't have time for other thoughts. He immediately raised his hand.
“Sergeant Kang!”
Kang Gil-su glanced toward the cafeteria, joy lighting up his face. But at that moment, a Magic Creeper lunged at his face.
There was no time to react.
In an instant, more than ten of them latched onto Kang Gil-su's body and burrowed inside. Writhing in agony, his body twisted at grotesque angles.
It took three minutes for Kang Gil-su's body to stand back up.
Stiff as a mannequin, he scanned the surroundings before heading into the cafeteria.
Jo Beom-gu immediately ducked down.
Kang Gil-su kicked a chair, tripped over a table leg, and face-planted onto the floor, breaking his nose.
His sense of direction was off too—he couldn't walk straight and kept bumping into chairs and tables.
But he was improving bit by bit.
He was heading toward the kitchen. If left alone, he'd find Yoon Cheolhui, and the Magic Creepers would devour and take him over just like they had Kang Gil-su.
Gritting his teeth, Jo Beom-gu grabbed a chair and hurled it at the back of Kang Gil-su's head.
Thwack.
The chair leg embedded perfectly into the back of his skull.
Dark brown vines emerged from the hole, wrapped around the leg, and pulled it down. Kang Gil-su slowly turned, glaring at Jo Beom-gu.
Several Magic Creepers burst from his body, scuttling toward him like spiders or scorpions. They easily dodged the chair Jo Beom-gu had thrown and charged at the fresh prey.
“I told you to stay hidden!”
Lee Taeseop swung the steel pipe he was holding down on a Magic Creeper.
The one lunging at Jo Beom-gu twisted grotesquely. He doused it with alcohol and tossed a lighter. Flames spread across its body in seconds.
Kim Jun sliced through the others with Cheonroegeom. The moment the blade touched them, sparks flew, their fluids boiled, and they ignited.
Gurgle, gurgle. Kang Gil-su staggered forward, making eerie noises.
Kim Jun eyed the security guard—who had once been a living person—and threw Cheonroegeom.
The spinning blade plunged deep into Kang Gil-su's chest, flames erupting from the wound. The Magic Creepers inside burned along with him.
Jo Beom-gu stared silently at his comrade engulfed in fire.
Kim Jun brushed past him without a word and entered the kitchen. He dumped every chemical onto the floor, but he wasn't sure which one to use.
Lee Taeseop had moved Yeom Sang-taek into the kitchen. He tore open a plastic package, grabbed a syringe, and drew from an ampoule. Tapping the needle expertly, he jabbed it into Yoon Cheolhui's arm and pushed the plunger.
“Not bad,” Kim Jun said.
“This is basic stuff. Call that guy over. We need to disinfect the wounds and change the bandages.”
After injecting Yeom Sang-taek too, Lee Taeseop pointed at Jo Beom-gu, who stood frozen in the cafeteria.
Kim Jun walked over and stood beside Jo Beom-gu.
“You knew him?”
“We weren't close. Actually, we didn't get along. The guy was obsessed with baseball, saying it was the true sport... Ridiculous. He didn't even know soccer was the greatest sport before he went and died like that.”
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Kim Jun reached into the flames and pulled out Kang Gil-su's necklace. It was singed but intact.
Jo Beom-gu took the necklace Kim Jun offered and trudged toward the kitchen.
Something stirred in the fire.
It was a tiny pink Magic Creeper, fresh out of its egg like a hatchling.
Kim Jun grabbed it with his gloved right hand. The burn-split palm inside the glove scraped against it, but the painkillers from the infirmary made it bearable.
The red tendrils trembled and twisted, trying to burrow into the glove.
After seeing a Magic Creeper up close in that car accident last time, Kim Jun had researched them. They were ordinary plants mutated by artificial core exposure—the cause was contamination.
He should crush it underfoot, but he couldn't.
The power that turned a normal plant into this monster might be the same as the power given to him.
“You saying I might end up like you?”
The Magic Creeper thrashed endlessly in his hand.
“No way.”
He clenched his fist, crushing it between his knuckles.
Irritation and rage surged simultaneously.
The thought that it might be his fate pissed him off, and the bastards who released these into the basement enraged him.
“Kim Jun.”
It was Yeom Sang-taek's voice.
Snapping back to reality, Kim Jun headed into the kitchen.
Jeong Taeksu examined the charred corpse closely.
Everything—from the hair to the Angry Root that had burst through the eyes—was burned to ash. A stab mark stood out on the chest. After checking the shoulders and sides, he flipped his hand, and the self-moving earth Spitera burrowed down, easily flipping the body.
“Hm.”
After inspecting the back and legs, Jeong Taeksu grinned.
He's using Cheonroegeom like a common knife. Far from refined swordsmanship. Wrong owner for it. Wild swings might work on trash like this, but not on a pro like me. Heh, still, it'll be fun.
Then, tapping sounds echoed from the floor.
A pack of Angry Roots rounded the corner, spotted Jeong Taeksu, and charged ferociously.
Grinning, Jeong Taeksu glanced at his glowing red ring, Domoto Ring, then thrust his hand forward.
Boom!
A massive blaze shot out like a flamethrower, engulfing the Magic Creepers. The corridor floor, walls, and ceiling were scorched by the heat.
Only black ash remained in the hallway.
Jeong Taeksu cackled.
Worth the investment.
He pulled out a compass-like item from his pocket. It was a Legio.
With a flick of his finger, Spitera approached. Jeong Taeksu peeled off the charred bits wrapping Cheonroegeom and placed it on the Legio. Infusing a bit of mana, the needle began to spin.
It finally stopped.
“Alright, time to meet the owner of Cheonroegeom.”
Jeong Taeksu started moving.
The Jackknife floated lightly in the air, slicing through space like a swift flying fish. Yoo Gwanho gazed at his knife with deep affection.
It had scratches here and there, a bit of rust at the joints, but to him, the Jackknife was special. His only family, a friend that calmed him just by being near, a soulmate for life.
Come on, tell me where the fun is. Hurry.
Yoo Gwanho whispered in his mind.
As if hearing him, the trembling Jackknife suddenly accelerated.
Yoo Gwanho sped up too.
The Jackknife knocked on a door, and Yoo Gwanho opened it.
He hoped it had found today's prey, examinee Kim Jun, but the sharp blade flying to the corner pierced a plump rat instead.
Yoo Gwanho was annoyed. Dirty blood had splattered on his friend.
The Jackknife returned.
Yoo Gwanho wiped it meticulously with a handkerchief. Then he stomped the already-dead rat.
Stepping into the corridor, Yoo Gwanho tossed the Jackknife into the air. His eyes sparkled as it gained momentum and flew.
Screams and footsteps echoed.
Two security guards came running desperately and spotted Yoo Gwanho.
“Raider!”
“You came after hearing the news. We were worried since the radios aren't working.”
The guards were mistaken.
Yoo Gwanho gleefully unleashed the Jackknife, and his soulmate sliced the backs of their ankles with precision. Even the security boots couldn't withstand its cutting power.
“Aaaagh!”
Both dropped to their knees simultaneously, staring at Yoo Gwanho in bewilderment. They had barely escaped the Magic Creepers to get here.
“Wh-what the hell are yo—?”
The Jackknife embedded into the questioning guard's palm.
The other guard drew his pistol and fired at Yoo Gwanho.
Ping ping ping.
The Jackknife blocked in front of Yoo Gwanho, deflecting bullets into the walls. As the magazine emptied, it severed the gun barrel. Seeing the halved pistol, the guard trembled speechless.
“Coin.”
Yoo Gwanho said.
Confused by the meaning, the guard panicked as the Jackknife approached slowly. He fumbled in his pocket and held up a 100-won coin. The Jackknife backed off.
At Yoo Gwanho's gesture, the coin flew to him.
He tossed it in the air and caught it, then extended his hand.
“Number? Person?”
One guard mustered courage.
“Number, I think.”
Yoo Gwanho looked at the other.
“M-me too, number.”
Yoo Gwanho opened his hand, revealing Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
The Jackknife grazed the throats of those who said "number." Blood sprayed.
One clutched his neck and collapsed forward.
The other squeezed his eyes shut, expecting the same fate.
Yoo Gwanho glared at him before standing and leaving. The Jackknife circled for a while before following its master.
The surviving guard slowly opened his eyes, gasping as he checked his comrade. Grief over the cooling body mixed with joy at his own survival.
Right then, Angry Roots drawn by the blood scent climbed the walls.
Boom!
A fireball slammed into the bulkhead and exploded.
But the alloy bulkhead only glowed red-hot—it neither melted nor shattered. Yoo Min-jeong, panting with a pale face after unleashing repeated fireballs, tried for one more but staggered as her mana cut out.
Go Cheolmin approached and supported her.
Meanwhile, Choi Muhyun stepped forward and punched the bulkhead with a golden-glowing fist.
It was Geumgangmak.
Thud thud thud. Dents formed gradually, but it wasn't enough to break through.
This time, he kicked it.
Fainter than his fist, but golden light lingered in the air with each strike. Geumganggak didn't help either.
“Stop.”
Hwang Myeong-su stepped up beside the exhausted Choi Muhyun.
Panting heavily, Choi Muhyun glared at the bulkhead and roared in frustration.
Go Cheolmin pulled out his keychain and caressed a small iron bead. He'd thought it might come to this someday, but not today... not now.
Or maybe he knew.
It wasn't easy to spend his remaining time as a Raider here.
Yeom Sang-taek was inside.
He'd cleverly left identifiable traces everywhere. They ended right here in front of this bulkhead. Kim Jun was beyond it too.
Waiting for help.
Go Cheolmin placed a hand on Choi Muhyun's shoulder.
“Step back.”
“Master.”
Under the heavy atmosphere, Choi Muhyun backed away with Hwang Myeong-su's help.
Go Cheolmin gripped the detached iron bead tightly.
As the metal crumbled, the power of the core Flodziston inside burst forth. Pure energy absorbed into his body through his palm. He took one step forward.
Thud!
A deep footprint imprinted on the floor.
His fist approaching the bulkhead moved in slow motion. Arm muscles bulged, ripping his clothes; veins popped.
The trembling fist finally touched.
Thud!
A heavy vibration rippled out, white cracks forming at the impact point. Go Cheolmin gasped and thrust his left fist.
Thud!
A faint shockwave spread through the bulkhead again.
“Urgh.”
Go Cheolmin breathed raggedly and collapsed.
“Master!”
“Are you okay?”
Choi Muhyun and Yoo Min-jeong rushed over, helping the guild master stand.
“Like hell I am.”
Go Cheolmin looked proudly at the bulkhead.
“Best damn punch of my life.”