Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: 4-2. Psychic
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4-2. Psychic
If mana is humanity's sublime legacy handed down from ages past, then psychic power is the force that humanity awakened to usher in the new millennium.
It's an ability featured in games like Starcraft or Warhammer 40k, but newbies can just think of it as the superpowers from superhero movies to get a quick grasp.
[Rough Avengers meme]
Since it's a power that reaches into the human unconscious, nobody knows what lineage of awakener you'll become until it happens—but once you're deep into the game...
(Omitted)
Psychic abilities are graded using Greek letters, from alpha (α) to omega (Ω), with those edging toward omega rated as higher-risk psychics.
This rating is influenced by both innate talent and hard-earned effort, and naturally, those blessed with superior talent often struggle to rein in their power.
Omega-class psychics are seen in-story as walking tactical nukes—monsters on par with the seven patriarchs...
(Omitted)
This is just chatter, but one reason Fnega gets flak for being convoluted is the separate ranking systems per class.
Solos use levels.
Mercenaries use colors. (A tradition carried over from the Age of Light and Roses, like silver-badge mercs or gold-badge mercs.)
Criminals get risk levels.
Psychics have grades.
Classic jjamppong game—no consistency anywhere.
Blame the devs' overflowing ambition.
Newbies, just roll with it. Hierarchy covers it all anyway...
Concert day.
Jin arrived at the stadium front and plopped down on a bench, cracking open a cola from the vending machine.
Sss- The crisp, refreshing sound.
After gulping it down to quench his thirst, his face naturally turned toward the street, chasing the buzz of the murmuring crowd.
It was an unbelievable throng for North Downtown, usually so deserted.
Considering the venue only had 2,000 secured seats, most of these folks must be here just to eavesdrop on Elina's voice from afar.
That only made Jin feel more daunted.
All of them... suspects?
Which one's the bastard? Who's gonna wreck the place?
His suspicion-filled eyes darted around.
And his conclusion?
...No friggin' clue!
The detective comics he'd devoured as a kid offered zero help right now.
Yeah, honestly, it doesn't even make sense.
What was he gonna learn from a gambler detective betting his late grandpa's name at the poker table every damn day?
Don't even get started on the kid detective who'd turned his future father-in-law's neck into Swiss cheese over thirty years.
Jin squeezed his eyes shut.
Should've read some Sherlock Holmes if I knew it'd come to this!
But regrets always come too late.
All that escaped was a deep, frustrated sigh.
Crunch. He crushed the empty can and launched a three-pointer at the nearby trash bin.
"Whoa! Damn, there are a ton of people."
Drandre plopped down next to him, face twisted in disgust.
The can traced a clean arc and sank perfectly into the bin right after.
"Nice shot, boss."
Clap clap clap. Hooker applauding, and Greg standing by the android, giving a casual wave.
The trio's arrival prompted Jin to speak up.
"You guys made it?"
"Of course. Someone called us out here."
Drandre nodded like it was obvious.
Then he turned to Jin.
"So, what's the deal? Said it was something we had to talk about in person."
"Yeah, about that. I might need a little help from you guys."
"...What?!"
Drandre's eyes went wide at Jin's reply.
"Our help? Spill it."
"Well..."
Their unexpectedly eager response kicked off the explanation naturally, and their expressions shifted by the second as they listened.
Once Jin finished, Drandre narrowed his eyes.
"...So you're saying something's gonna go down during the show. This is legit insider info, right?"
As expected.
He'd pegged it as Jin leaking host-side intel while on security duty.
"Terror threat or what? Why push ahead with the concert in a spot like this?"
A fair question. Jin rolled his eyes side to side.
Before the silence dragged, he answered quick.
"They don't treat it as a big deal—happens all the time for them. Plus, they're cocky about their security. But my gut's screaming otherwise."
The reason Jin was resorting to gut feelings was simple.
Something was definitely hitting the fan during the concert.
He was worried this trio might get swept up in the chaos.
No helping it.
Strangers were one thing, but his own people tugged at his attention.
Couldn't exactly tell these glowstick-waving fans to bail with no explanation, so reminding them of the risks was the best play.
The rest was on them.
"So if shit hits the fan, grab people first and lead 'em somewhere safe. Got it?!"
Drandre nodded with grim resolve.
"...Just trust me—no, trust us."
15 minutes to concert.
Jin gazed out at the packed seats from backstage.
A massive display on the pre-show stage looped Elina footage.
The amplified hype scorched the air.
At this point, even Jin eased up.
He wasn't just window dressing, after all.
No tragic bodyguard fate of staring down cheering fans while the singer danced and sang right behind him.
Screw it.
Just watch openly.
If trouble pops, jump in then.
With responsibility fully ditched, Jin shoved hands in pockets and sauntered backstage like it was a park stroll.
"......?"
For a split second, he whipped his head back.
Not because someone called or tapped his shoulder.
Just a chill crawling up his nape.
He rubbed the goosebumped skin as an urgent voice drilled into his ear.
"Standby, one minute! You ready yet?"
Staff pounding on the tightly shut door of the outdoor waiting room.
Jin was already bolting there.
"Elina! You really gotta come out now...!"
He snagged the staff mid-stride without slowing.
Next instant.
Crunch, the warped iron door rocketed forward like a shell.
Kwaaaang!!!
The deafening boom hammered his ears alongside the roaring countdown from the seats.
"10!" "9!" "8!" "7!"
Jin spun in midair, bleeding speed, and touched down.
"Wha—what? Wh-who?"
Staff stammering in a daze.
Jin set him down, eyes locked forward.
Step.
Someone emerged from the doorless structure.
Silver-gray hair shooting skyward, gleaming inverted eyes, pristine white feet drifting off the ground.
Elina.
The fully awakened psychic slowly raised both arms.
As if answering the cheers awaiting her.
"4!" "3!" "2!" "1!"
Flick.
The overheated stadium plunged into blackout.
Then dazzling stage lights ignited one by one, arrowing through the ballooning crowd tension.
Waaaaaaah!!!
Thunderous cheers erupted.
───────Crunch!!
An ominous rupture devoured the entire stadium.
A heavy shadow draped someone's face, prompting a glance up.
And screams exploded.
"F-fuck! What the hell is that?!"
Steel girders across the stadium warped like living things.
As if struck by irresistible force.
Crunnnch!!!
Audience reactions split three ways amid the surreal sight.
Stunned speechless.
Screaming and fleeing.
Clueless to the crisis.
The last bunch weren't especially dense.
Inevitable, really.
They were the ones closest to the stage.
Right now, their eyes held only two figures clashing brilliantly onstage.
From skin-tingling clashes, the one shoved back sliding was the man wreathed in purple lightning.
Cheers like an inferno burst for Elina standing tall opposite.
"Staging is insane!"
"Fuck yeah! This is it!"
Audience in frenzy—applause, whistles, chaos.
Jin confirmed them with a sidelong glance and bellowed.
"You morons! Run already?!"
But an empty cry.
Deep, pounding bass from the amps reverberated stadium-wide.
The crowd, surrendering to the majestic thrum, waved hands and stomped—heat passing between them, rippling like flames.
"Ugh! These idiots!"
Jin gnashed his teeth in frustration.
───────!!
Invisible force clamped his body from all sides.
Pressure like the world shrinking to a pinpoint.
Instinctively, Jin curled into a ball.
Lame-looking, but minimized his profile perfectly.
Next instant, mind-numbing pressure hit. Jin clenched his jaw.
Like the outward force on an ant gripped in a fist.
Blood vessels bursting, vision crimson, he kicked off the ground.
Screw it.
Full-power boot to Elina.
Audience eyes flipped.
"You fucking asshole! Where do you live?!"
"That's too far!"
"No way he actually kicked her?!"
"Elina! Elina?!"
Shuttlecock-shaped seats—front-row nuts losing it.
Others spotted warping beams and bolted. Natural.
Ptoo!
Jin spat bloody saliva meanwhile, lip curling.
Absurdity birthed a laugh.
"Never saw this coming."
Guard Elina, my ass.
Subject mix-up.
Jin mentally cursed the status window.
But surprisingly, it never lied.
"Guard Elina" really meant shield her from her abusive producer and cronies.
Of course, facing a 2nd Hierarchy beastman and producer goons wouldn't have been cake either.
Still better than her awakening with insane potential.
Jin, oblivious.
Just sighed deep seeing the psychic rise.
"Hey, can't you just stay down?"
Having to pound a celeb he'd just started stanning.
How'd this happen?
Telekinesis? Latent psychic?
Utterly awkward—what the hell?
But Jin didn't bother puzzling it out.
Just kicked off before she recovered.
Kwang!!
Body spun midair, heel arcing for her crown.
Literal thunderbolt strike.
But invisible force slapped him first—faster than heel met target.
"Kek!"
Flung like stuck to a clear wall, Jin blinked beyond it.
Right arm cocked back.
Gripped a conjured lightning spear overhead.
Then slammed it down full force.
Kwa-rung─!!
Ear-shredding roar, purple bolt zigzagging wildly.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
Steel girders flew in, tangling before Elina into a shield.
Metallic clamor filled the stage; instant bulwark.
Then the bolt crashed down.
Kwaaaang!!
Blast shockwave battered him; Jin landed farther back than expected.
Gray gaze caught shards exploding everywhere.
But just the opener.
Thousands of steel scraps defied gravity, hovering firm—
Elina at center slowly raised her right arm.
Brain kissed by cosmic void, eyes blankly white-fixed on him.
Hand targeting Jin clenched lightly, then splayed like splashing water.
Pang─!!
Shards launched like bullets, breaking sound barrier at him—lightning sparked in Jin's eyes.
Crackle-crackle!
Fierce lightning aura whirled. Surging bioelectricity juiced his nerves.
Deepened insight pierced brain like bolts.
Superhuman flesh, embracing it fully, detonated in motion.
Kwaga-gak!!
This moment, the man parrying the meteor barrage in place was storm incarnate.
Viewers' jaws hit floors—movements too furious to track.
"...Wh-what the?"
"This a performance?"
"Fuck! Who cares right now?!"
Gaping awe morphing to cheers.
Tak!
Last shard snagged inches from his face.
He flicked his hand clean; red line bloomed on forehead, blood trickling.
"This count as guarding?"
A sidelong glance caught the updated condition in his vision's corner. Jin muttered.
"...Fine. Let's give it a shot."
Lightning cloaking his body thickened.
Neck cracked side to side.
Jin faced Elina.
"Sorry, but I don't do spectator sports."